Vehicle Windshield Cleaning System
First Claim
Patent Images
1. Apparatus for providing a heated cleaning fluid to a vehicle surface comprising:
- a) an inlet port for receiving an amount of fluid;
b) an outlet port in fluid communication with the reservoir for dispensing an amount of heated fluid;
c) a metal heater coil having an interior passageway for heating fluid that passes from the inlet to the outlet port through said passageway;
wherein the heater coil is covered, at least in part by an elastic material for containing fluid in the event of a ruptured heating element caused by one or more freeze/thaw expansion and contraction cycles; and
d) a control circuit for energizing at least a portion of the metal heating coil with a voltage to heat the heating element and the fluid passing from the inlet to the outlet.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus and method for providing a heated cleaning fluid to a vehicle surface. The apparatus has an inlet port for receiving an amount of fluid; an outlet port for dispensing an amount of heated fluid; a heating element coil or tube covered with a plastic sheath that heats up fluid passing from the inlet to the outlet; and a control circuit for energizing at least a portion of the heating element with a voltage to heat the fluid passing from the inlet to the outlet. The apparatus also has expandable and compressible features and parts for protection against freezing.
63 Citations
39 Claims
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1. Apparatus for providing a heated cleaning fluid to a vehicle surface comprising:
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a) an inlet port for receiving an amount of fluid;
b) an outlet port in fluid communication with the reservoir for dispensing an amount of heated fluid;
c) a metal heater coil having an interior passageway for heating fluid that passes from the inlet to the outlet port through said passageway;
wherein the heater coil is covered, at least in part by an elastic material for containing fluid in the event of a ruptured heating element caused by one or more freeze/thaw expansion and contraction cycles; and
d) a control circuit for energizing at least a portion of the metal heating coil with a voltage to heat the heating element and the fluid passing from the inlet to the outlet. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for providing a heated cleaning fluid to a vehicle surface comprising:
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a) coupling an electrically conductive fluid carrying tube to a source of cleaning fluid;
b) routing a cleaning fluid into an inlet port of the tube such that the fluid flows from the inlet to an outlet port of said tube;
c) energizing said tube with a voltage to heat the fluid carrying tube and the fluid passing through the tube;
d) directing the fluid from the outlet port to a nozzle for dispensing heated fluid against said surface; and
e) covering at least a portion of the fluid carrying tube with an elastic material to contain fluid in the event of a ruptured tube caused by one or more freeze/thaw expansion and contraction cycles. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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24. Apparatus for providing a heated cleaning fluid to a motor vehicle surface comprising:
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a) a heating vessel having an interior and an inlet and outlet port, said vessel for heating fluid that passes from the inlet to the outlet through said interior; and
b) a controller comprising i) an energizing component for providing an energizing voltage to heat fluid passing from the inlet to the outlet, and ii) an integral wiper motor control for actuating a motor vehicle surface wiper. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A method for providing a heated cleaning fluid to a vehicle surface comprising:
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a) covering an electrically conductive heating element with a flexible plastic tube having an elongated length sufficient to heat fluid passing through the flexible plastic tube;
b) routing a cleaning fluid into an inlet port of the plastic tube such that the fluid flows from the inlet to an outlet port of said tube;
c) energizing the heating element to heat the fluid passing through the tube;
d) directing the fluid from the outlet port of the tube to a nozzle for dispensing heated fluid against said surface. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33)
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34. A method for providing a heated cleaning fluid to a vehicle surface comprising:
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a) coupling a source of cleaning fluid to a heating vessel;
b) routing a cleaning fluid into an inlet of the heating vessel such that the fluid flows from the inlet to an outlet of said vessel;
c) heating fluid in the heating vessel as it passes from the inlet to the outlet;
d) directing the fluid from the outlet to a nozzle for dispensing heated fluid against said vehicle surface; and
e) activating a motor in response to the user activating a switch to dispense heated fluid from a nozzle and provide wiping action of wipers. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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Specification