Man patents glass tinting for windshields

BRADENTON, Fla. Afamily tragedy inspired a Bradenton resident to invent a product he hopes will save lives.

Jack Roe pursued a patent for transitional glass tinting for vehicle windshields after his 34-year-old daughter died in a car crash in February 2006.

The 72-year-old said Dawn Roe died in a car accident in Plymouth, Ind., when her vehicle crashed into the back of a truck. Because of the morning sun's glare, Roe said she did not see the truck stopped in her lane to make a turn, and the mother of four died at the scene.

"Every day I think about her," Roe said. "Time may heal some things, but time will never heal the death of a child."

Roe couldn't help but think a windshield that automatically adjusts based on changing light conditions could have prevented his daughter's accident.

"It came to my mind almost the same day," said Roe, who is a retired automobile sales manager. He also previously owned a TV and appliance store in Indiana.

Roe spent $110 to apply for a provisional patent last year, and this summer the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office issued that patent to Roe's transitional glass system. Since receiving the patent-pending status in July, Roe has been pushing his product with major automakers in hopes they will buy into his invention.

"I want this to provide a financial cushion for my grandchildren," Roe said of Dawn's four children, who range in age from 10 to 16.

Roe pitched the product to Chrysler, Ford and General Motors about a month ago.

Ronald Medford, acting deputy administrator for the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, said the organization had no knowledge of an existing design for windshields.

"Such a design could have significant safety implications because a high-level of transparency is needed for driving visibility in all types of weather conditions," Medford said.

Rae Tyson, spokesman for the highway safety administration, said the organization is aware of Roe's patent but said he could not comment on its safety potential.

"Our safety standards are performance-driven," Tyson said.

"If he was able to sell the idea to a manufacturer, it would be up to the manufacturer to determine or come to us with whether the window would meet applicable federal standards."

Roe said he will continue to pursue the transitional glass with automakers, but he may turn to manufacturers if the automakers don't invest in his patent.

Roe is confident his invention will eventually be bought and have significant safety implications for drivers.

"This is a life saver, there's no doubt about it," Roe said. "Anybody that's driven into a bright sun knows what I mean." -- McClatchy Newspapers