Frameless, Heated Wiper Assembly And System Utilizing Same
First Claim
1. A frameless, heated wiper assembly adapted to be mounted on a wiper arm operably connected to a wiper motor for reciprocating the wiper arm across a windshield of a vehicle and adapted to be electrically coupled to a source of electrical energy of the vehicle, the assembly including:
- an elongated, resilient blade having a top portion and a bottom squeegee portion for contacting the windshield and having first and second opposed end portions;
spaced, elongated, resilient first and second backing members positioned over the top portion of the blade, each of the backing members having interior and exterior surfaces and first and second opposed end portions;
first and second spaced, elongated, resilient spines, each of the spines extending between the end portions of the blade between the top portion of the blade and the interior surfaces of the backing members to connect the blade and the backing members and to allow the blade and the backing members to resiliently conform to the surface configuration of the windshield when the assembly is reciprocated by the wiper arm; and
a center support apparatus connecting the blade and the spines together between the backing members and to connect the assembly to the wiper arm;
wherein the improvement comprises;
elongated, flexible, first and second heaters to convert electrical energy from the source into heat, the first heater being disposed between the top portion of the blade and the interior surface of the first backing member, the first heater including a first heating element which extends sinuously between the end portions of the first backing member adjacent the spines, the second heater being disposed between the top portion of the blade and the interior surface of the second backing member, the second heater including a second heating element which extends sinuously between the end portions of the second backing member adjacent the spines wherein the heaters heat the top portion of the blade, the first and second backing members and the spines to eliminate or greatly reduce icy buildup on the assembly and the windshield; and
wiring electrically coupled to the heaters and extending through the center support apparatus to provide the heaters with electrical energy from the source.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A heated wiper system including at least one frameless, heated wiper assembly is provided. Each wiper assembly includes a flexible squeegee blade and a pair of spaced flexible backing members. The assembly includes a pair of flexible heaters disposed between the blade and their respective backing member to convert electrical energy from a source of electrical energy (i.e., a battery) into heat. Each heater includes a heating element sufficiently dimensioned to sinuously travel back and forth between the sides of the assembly substantially the entire length of its respective backing member. Wiring connects the battery to the heaters by extending through a sealed center support apparatus which connects the blade, the heaters and elongated resilient spines together between the backing members.
77 Citations
25 Claims
-
1. A frameless, heated wiper assembly adapted to be mounted on a wiper arm operably connected to a wiper motor for reciprocating the wiper arm across a windshield of a vehicle and adapted to be electrically coupled to a source of electrical energy of the vehicle, the assembly including:
- an elongated, resilient blade having a top portion and a bottom squeegee portion for contacting the windshield and having first and second opposed end portions;
spaced, elongated, resilient first and second backing members positioned over the top portion of the blade, each of the backing members having interior and exterior surfaces and first and second opposed end portions;
first and second spaced, elongated, resilient spines, each of the spines extending between the end portions of the blade between the top portion of the blade and the interior surfaces of the backing members to connect the blade and the backing members and to allow the blade and the backing members to resiliently conform to the surface configuration of the windshield when the assembly is reciprocated by the wiper arm; and
a center support apparatus connecting the blade and the spines together between the backing members and to connect the assembly to the wiper arm;
wherein the improvement comprises;elongated, flexible, first and second heaters to convert electrical energy from the source into heat, the first heater being disposed between the top portion of the blade and the interior surface of the first backing member, the first heater including a first heating element which extends sinuously between the end portions of the first backing member adjacent the spines, the second heater being disposed between the top portion of the blade and the interior surface of the second backing member, the second heater including a second heating element which extends sinuously between the end portions of the second backing member adjacent the spines wherein the heaters heat the top portion of the blade, the first and second backing members and the spines to eliminate or greatly reduce icy buildup on the assembly and the windshield; and wiring electrically coupled to the heaters and extending through the center support apparatus to provide the heaters with electrical energy from the source. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
- an elongated, resilient blade having a top portion and a bottom squeegee portion for contacting the windshield and having first and second opposed end portions;
-
13. A heated wiper system including a first wiper arm operably connected to a first wiper motor for reciprocating the first wiper arm across a windshield of a vehicle, a source of electrical energy of the vehicle, and a first frameless, heated wiper assembly mounted on the first wiper arm and electrically coupled to the source, the assembly including:
- an elongated, resilient blade having a top portion and a bottom squeegee portion for contacting the windshield and having first and second opposed end portions;
spaced, elongated, resilient first and second backing members positioned over the top portion of the blade, each of the backing members having interior and exterior surfaces and first and second opposed end portions;
first and second spaced, elongated, resilient spines extending between the end portions of the blade, each of the spines being disposed between the top portion of the blade and the interior surfaces of the backing members to connect the blade and the backing members and to allow the blade and the backing members to resiliently conform to the surface configuration of the windshield when the assembly is reciprocated by the wiper arm;
a center support apparatus connecting the blade and the spines together between the backing members and connecting the assembly to the first wiper arm;
wherein the improvement comprises;elongated, flexible, first and second heaters to convert electrical energy from the source into heat, the first heater being disposed between the top portion of the blade and the interior surface of the first backing member, the first heater including a first heating element which extends sinuously between the end portions of the first backing member adjacent the spines, the second heater being disposed between the top portion of the blade and the interior surface of the second backing member, the second heater including a second heating element which extends sinuously between the end portions of the second backing member adjacent the spines, wherein the heaters heat the top portion of the blade, the first and second backing members and the spines to eliminate or greatly reduce icy buildup on the assembly and the windshield; and wiring electrically coupled to the source and to the heaters and extending through the center support apparatus to provide the heaters with electrical energy from the source. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
- an elongated, resilient blade having a top portion and a bottom squeegee portion for contacting the windshield and having first and second opposed end portions;
Specification