Ski goggles inventor Bob Smith dies at 78
Ski goggles and sunglasses pioneer Robert Earl “Bob” Smith died at his home in La Quinta, California, on April 18 after succumbing to complications related to heart surgery. He was 78.
An orthodontist from profession, Smith harboured a strong passion for riding powder since as long as 1950. He was serving as a dentist in the American Army in Germany during late 1950s, but still managed to take out time to take a trip to the nearest slope
to fulfil his passion.
While the experience was satisfying, the skiing enthusiast revealed in an 1981 interview with the skiing magazine Powder that he was not too comfortable with the way his goggle got all foggy as the snow got inside them through vent holes.
After a number of frustrating skiing sessions, Smith decided to do something the foggy goggles. Need made way for innovation and thus began the development of fog-proof goggles.
He began developing prototypes for goggles that would serve the desired purpose. Utilising his dental tools and foam with his kitchen table serving as his lab and wife serving as his assistant, Smith gradually moved closer to solving the problem.
He eventually developed vented ski goggle with double lens, with the lens effectively protected from the cold and thus safe from getting foggy.
“The goggle really just came out of his need to see while skiing deep powder,” revealed his son Drew Smith during an exclusive interview with the Idaho Mountain Express “Everyone else just got to benefit from it.”
His design of goggles became an industry standard after he patented it. In 1965, he established Smith Sport Optics with its head-quarters set up in Ketchum, Idaho in 1970s. Prior to striking a deal to manufacture ski goggles, he more often than naught traded
them to get his hands on life tickets.
The Smith goggles became in-demand around the globe, with the company selling its products in about 50 counties.
The company operated successfully for 26 years before Smith sold it in 1991.
“He wanted everyone to share in his advancements,” Drew conceded. “The technology allowed other people to do what he did, which was to ski deep powder.”
Smith may have gone, but his invaluable contribution in the form of ski goggles will surely keep his name alive for as long people continue to ski.
Tags: