C4IP is recognizing Mary Anderson (1866-1953), whose patented invention of the windshield wiper improved vehicle safety and paved the way for modern automotive technologies.
- Born in Greene County, Alabama, Anderson visited New York City in 1902 where she observed that trolley car drivers had to open their windows in rain or snow to see the road — exposing themselves to the elements and endangering passengers.
- Determined to solve the problem, Anderson designed a spring-loaded, rubber-bladed device controlled from inside the vehicle. In 1903, she was granted S. Patent No. 743,801 for her “window cleaning device” — the first functional windshield wiper.
- Mechanical windshields became widely adopted within a decade — and by the 1920s, electric-powered wipers based on her design were introduced.
- Windshield wipers are now a standard feature in over 6 billion vehicles on the road worldwide. Modern wiper systems — including sensors, motors, and blades — represent a multibillion-dollar global market, reaching 9.8 billion in 2024.
- The automotive wiper blade market alone was valued at 3 billion in 2023, and is projected to exceed $10 billion globally by 2033.
- Anderson’s story is a powerful reminder that seemingly small, everyday observations can spark extraordinary inventions with lasting global impact. Her legacy lives on in every vehicle on the road — and in the generations of innovators she continues to inspire.