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Iceless windshield

 who wants to scrape ice off the windshield?
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The reason why ice is so hard to scrape is because it tends to expand when it freezes. This creates compressive stresses on the interface between the ice and the glass. Compressive stresses make it difficult to scrape because when ever you start to form a crack in the ice, the ice tries to close that crack.

So the solution to our problem is simple. Make stretchy windshields. When you find an inch thick sheet of ice on your windshield, simply push the 'stretch' button, and peel the ice right off.

—gabe, Nov 21 2003

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       Would these be made out of the material from the center of Stretch Armstrong dolls? Because I heard that stuff was very, very bad.
—bungston, Nov 21 2003
   

       well, lets see...transparent, stretchable material....Saran wrap comes to mind.
—gabe, Nov 21 2003
   

       I'm a proponent of embeding heating coils in the glass
—Letsbuildafort, Nov 21 2003
   

       I'm a proponent of living somewhere warm.   

       I'm not sure I want the windshield billowing in my face while I'm driving...
—darksasami, Nov 21 2003
   

       // Make stretchy windshields. //   

       How do you do that?   

       Wouldn't it be simpler to use heat?
—waugsqueke, Nov 21 2003
   

       I was going to say, that's how I do it - just run the heat on high for five minutes, and the ice slides right off.
—DrCurry, Nov 21 2003
   

       Any plexi-glass would be able to bend enough to have the ice shatter or slide off.
—sartep, Nov 21 2003
   

       Your windshield is already slightly stretchy. Why not apply a healthy dose of ultrasound to loosen the ice-glass bond?
—TIB, Nov 22 2003
   

       That sounds like a great idea to me, using an ultrasonic device to break the bond would be fantastic!
—KLRico, Nov 22 2003
   

       ...and it would play a pretty tune too...uh, no wait!
—silverstormer, Nov 22 2003
   

       at least all the dogs in the neighborhood would perk up...
—gabe, Nov 22 2003
   

       ...Coming soon, 'The Dog Breath De-icer'; Melts ice in seconds via the genius of multiple canine slobber stations...
—silverstormer, Nov 22 2003
   

       Halfbakery winter parking. There's enough hot air around here to defrost your windscreen in seconds.
—Fishrat, Nov 22 2003
   

       I know some older Jeeps etc have plastic windows, or at least the side windows. There should be ice proof. Does anyone have any experience with how these plastic windows do in an ice storm?
—bungston, Nov 22 2003
   

       Today I saw an outdoor step cover made of a thin sponge material encased in vinyl. Lay it down on the treads of your outdoor stairs. Ice accumulates on the surface... step on it, the ice breaks up and falls away.   

       Don't see how you could make a flexible windshield/screen that would still function as a windshield/screen, though.
—waugsqueke, Nov 22 2003
   


 

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