Many drivers usually take windshields for
granted. Maybe because you never really see them, just right through them.
However, the history of windshields is actually quite interesting. Below are
five facts that you might not know about windshields.
Early
windshields were an extra feature for the affluent
Back
in the early days, windshields were an extra feature for those who could afford
them. Early cars didn’t have windshields and were completely exposed to the
elements. Drivers that did not have windshields had it rough when they were
driving in bad weather or when they were forced to drive against strong winds.
In fact, many drivers used goggles to protect their eyes from dust while
driving.
Car manufacturers added windshields after they
started mass-producing cars. Most manufacturers, however, thought that
windshields just helped in making the drive more comfortable. It was only later
on that they realized that windshields also made cars safer.
Early windshields
were made of ordinary window glass. However, due to an increasing number of
crashes, manufacturers sought ways to make windshields safer. The window glass
was then replaced with hardened glass, which, unfortunately, could shatter from
a single stone chip.
In 1919, Henry Ford used laminated glass in
his cars. By 1929, glass laminating became standard on all Ford cars. The
laminated glass Henry Ford used was actually invented by French chemist Edouard
Benedictus.
In 1903, Benedictus knocked a glass flask as
he was reaching for something on a high shelf. He noticed that the glass broke
but had retained its initial shape due to a layer of liquid plastic enveloped
on the flask. He used this principle for glass laminating.
Wipers
were discovered by a real estate developer
In
1903, the same year Benedictus discovered glass laminating, real estate
developer Mary Anderson visited New York City. There, she saw a trolley driver
having a hard time seeing past the windows of his car because of the falling
snow. When she returned to Alabama, she asked the help of a designer to
conceptualize a hand-operated device to keep a car’s windshield clear. That
same year, she applied and was granted a 17-year patent for the first model of
a windshield wiper.
Two years after, Anderson tried to sell her
invention but was rejected. After the patent expired in 1920, car manufacturers
used her design to create standard equipment for a wiper.
Tint
actually helps reduce damage to the windshield
Temperature
is one of a windshield’s worst enemies. Extreme heat brittles the windshield
making it more vulnerable to breakage. Some tint has special features that
filter or repels UV rays, while others have a cooling effect.
Windshields
are part of the airbag system
Modern
airbags use the windshield as a trigger to deploy. The windshield acts as a
“backstop” for your passenger-side airbag. The airbag deploys upward, bouncing
off the windshield to protect the passenger from colliding headfirst into the
glass. If your windshield is weak, it might not stand the strength of the
airbag’s deployment, which could affect the airbag’s ability to protect you.
This is why it is important to
have your windshields repaired or replaced by
a professional auto repair shop, like Auto Glass Shop in Newmarket.
Incorrect windshield installation or replacement could result in more danger
during a collision.
Last Words
The evolution of windshields has come a long
way — from being a luxury item to being an essential part of a car — but it
definitely won’t stop there. A lot of innovations are being made for
windshields. Nowadays, some even have detectors that automatically activate
wipers when the windshield comes in contact with rain. Soon who knows?
One thing is for sure, these innovations are definitely worth keeping an eye
out for.
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Lifestyle