David Antonson, 3M Window Film Patent Holder, Plus a Little History

Recently, David Antonson, 3M™ Window Film patent holder, passed away. So we thought we might take the opportunity to write a little about Mr. Antonson and his discovery, and the history of 3M window film. You can read about Mr. Antonson here: David Antonson Obituary. 

A Minnesota Native

David got his B.A. degree from the University of Minnesota, where he majored in Mechanical Engineering in 1967. During his 38 year career with 3M, he acquired five patents in his name. His largest contribution was the Scotch Tint window film. He retired from 3M in 1993. Although David Antonson has passed on, his discovery lives on.

Window Film’s 53rd Anniversary

2016 marked the 50th anniversary of 3M Window Film. So window film has been around for 53 years. That’s a long time to be protecting your skin against UV light, and your eyes against glare. You can see all the types of window film on 3M’s website.

Window Film Has Changed Over the Years

In the beginning (in the early 1960s), window film was mainly used in solar control flat glass applications. Then during the energy crisis of the 1970s, another aspect of window film use became very interesting: the reduction of heat loss. Window film has evolved to be used for decorative purposes over the years. It has become increasingly valuable as an investment for commercial and residential owners, as outlined in the Short History of Window Film.

Examples of Decorative Window Film

Once upon a time, window film was used to control heat loss and create privacy. We’ve written about how window film can be used for decorative purposes, and you can see some of those articles here:

• 3M Fasara Decorative Window Film: Dotty for Dots
• 3M Fasara Decorative Window Film: Stripes Forever
• 3M Fasara Decorative Window Film: Patterns

See anything you might like?

Have Questions?

We’ve got answers! Give us a call. We’d love to talk to you about window film.