Extinct Car Features Only Boomers Remember

In the early 1960s, Robert Kearns had an idea during a rainy drive that changed automotive history. He was annoyed by wipers that moved too quickly when only light rain was falling. Determined to solve the problem, he built a system that allowed wipers to pause between swipes.

By 1967, he had patented his invention and began pitching it to carmakers. Ford and Chrysler eventually adopted the technology, licensing Kearns’s design for production. His invention brought comfort to millions of drivers. It also marked the beginning of a lengthy legal battle over credit, innovation, and intellectual property.