What do windshield wipers, the bulletproof vest,and the laser printer have in common?

Tabby Tom

At www.laserwizard.com/LWSP/Welcome/welcome.htm there's a claim that all these things, and also the fire escape, were invented by women. However, the New Shell Book of Firsts says that the inventor of the (hand-operated) windshield wiper was Prince William of Prussia in 1911 and that the bullet-proof vest was invented by a Herr Dowe in 1894. The first laser printer is said to have been the IBM 3800, produced in 1975, but no details of the inventor are given. I suspect that the 'invented by women' answer is the one that's being looked {for;} whether it's correct seems to be open to question. Nov 09 01, 1:13 AM

joeyssohungup

Women invented the following, for starters: Bullet Proof vest, fire escape {Anna Connelly built the fire escape stairs in 1887}, windshield wipers [Mary Anderson], dishwasher, home security system [burglar alarm - marie system]. For a ...longer list, see http://www.factmonster.com/ipka/A0768070.html The windshield wipers thing is preposterous as Mary Anderson is well-accreddited for creating the prototype. Okay, let me clarify because this is very important to me: Women invented the following, for starters: Bullet Proof vest, fire escape {Anna Connelly built the fire escape stairs in 1887}, windshield wipers [Mary Anderson], dishwasher, home security system [burglar alarm - marie system]. So yes, the LADDER was invented by him, but she was first to build the stairs (and prototype). I have to look up about the laser printer ... Jan 07 10, 8:11 PM joeyssohungup http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blanderson.htm There's information about the windshield wipers .... Information about the fire escape is here: http://www.answers.com/topic/188 "The first bullet proof vest was invented by Norval V Cobb, but a woman, Stephanie Louise Kwolek's research with high performance chemical compounds for the DuPont Company led to the development of a synthetic material called Kevlar which is five times stronger than the same weight of steel. Kevlar, patented by Kwolek in 1966, does not rust nor corrode and is extremely lightweight. Many police officers owe their lives to Stephanie Kwolek, for Kevlar is the material used in bullet proof vests." Jan 07 10, 8:26 PM