A similar thing happened with "energy saving brakes". The design worked but the materials would wear out too quickly. It took a few years longer than the patent lasted to make it durable enough for commercial use.
A similar thing happened with "energy saving brakes". The design worked but the materials would wear out too quickly. It took a few years longer than the patent lasted to make it durable enough for commercial use.
The title is correct, but leaves out the reasoning.
The wait wasn't to avoid the patent. At the time that she tried to sell it, cars were a novelty. Poor weather driving was mostly not a thing.
There was no market for wipers that would make a return on investment. 'Sport' drivers did not need them, and wouldn't want them ruining the beauty of their car. Other drivers mostly didn't exist.
It wasn't until the patent expired that cars exploded in number and started being used in more practical ways, and poor weather.
If they could have made a profit, they would not have waited. No smart business man would pass up 17 years of profit because he would have to share it.