Protective Sleeve for Rear Window Wiper

• US 20100236675A1
• Filed: 03/17/2010
• Published: 09/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: John F. Schneider
• Original Assignee: John F. Schneider
• Inventors: Schneider, John F.
• Granted Patent: US 8,393,046 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 150/154
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0455 Device for lifting the wipers off the screen in its parking position or at extremes of wipe
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/583 including wiping devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 2001/3843 equipped with removable cover or protective elements

Abstract

A wiper protector fits over a rear window wiper to prevent damage to the wiper from a mechanized or automated car wash. The wiper protector is open on one end for slipping over the wiper blade, arm and wiper motor components if exposed. The sleeve includes a cutout at the open end to fit over the wiper motor components. A drawstring near the open end passes through the sleeve guided by non-marring grommets near the sleeve open end. A drawstring lock maintains tension on the drawstring during use.

Claims

1. A wiper protector comprising:

a sleeve having a sleeve interior for enclosing a wiper blade, a wiper arm and wiper motor components;

a cutout on a rear surface of the sleeve to allow an open end of the sleeve to slide over the wiper motor components;

a cinching band proximal to the open end for cinching the sleeve around the wiper.

2. The wiper protector of claim 1, wherein the cinching band is positioned on the sleeve to cinch the sleeve around the wiper arm between the wiper blade and the wiper motor components.

3. The wiper protector of claim 1, wherein the cinching band does not overlap the cutout.

4. The wiper protector of claim 1, wherein the cinching band comprises a belt and a buckle.

5. The wiper protector of claim 1, wherein the cinching band comprises a drawstring.

6. The wiper protector of claim 5, wherein:

two front grommets reside on a front surface of the sleeve and two rear grommets reside on the rear surface of the sleeve; and

the drawstring passes through the front grommets on the front surface, through the sleeve interior, through the rear grommets on the rear surface of the sleeve, and across the rear surface of the sleeve between the grommets on the rear surface of the sleeve.

7. The wiper protector of claim 6, wherein ends of the drawstring above the front surface of the sleeve pass through a drawstring lock for cinching the drawstring.

8. The wiper protector of claim 6, wherein the rear grommets are made from a material which, upon contact with the auto, will not damage the auto or its finish.

9. The wiper protector of claim 6, wherein the rear grommets are made from thermoplastic polymer to avoid damaging vehicle paint.

10. The wiper protector of claim 6, wherein a belt is sewn around the exterior of the sleeve and the grommets are attached to the belt and the drawstring passes through the belt.

11. The wiper protector of claim 1, wherein the sleeve includes a stiffening spine along the longitudinal length of the sleeve.

12. The wiper protector of claim 11, wherein the stiffening spine is a sewn seam along an inside edge of a folded sheet of flat material forming the finished sleeve.

13. The wiper protector of claim 12, wherein the stiffening spine is an approximately ½

inch wide sewn seam along the edge of the folded sheet of flat material forming the finished sleeve.

14. The wiper protector of claim 1 wherein:

the sleeve is constructed of a material wherein contact of the material with the vehicle will not harm the vehicle and will not harm the vehicle finish;

the material is sufficiently strong to withstand the impacts of the car wash mechanisms over extended periods of use; and

the material is suitable for presenting a logo, writing, graphics, and may be any of printed on, screened, and embroidered.

15. A wiper protector comprising:

a sleeve made from a folded sheet of material and having a sleeve interior for enclosing a wiper blade, a wiper arm and wiper motor components;

an open end of the sleeve allowing sliding the sleeve over a windshield wiper and a closed end opposite the open end;

a stiffening spine comprising a sewn seam along an inside edge of the sleeve;

a cutout on a rear surface of the sleeve at the open end of the sleeve to allow a portion of a front surface of the sleeve opposite the cutout to cover the wiper motor components;

a belt sewn to the exterior of the sleeve proximal to the open end and past the cutout and positioned on the sleeve between the wiper blade and the wiper motor components;

two front grommets spaced apart on the front surface of the sleeve and two rear grommets spaced apart on the rear surface of the sleeve, the grommets comprising pressed together two piece plastic grommets; and

a drawstring crossing the rear face of the sleeve between the rear grommets, passing through the rear grommets into the interior of the sleeve, passing through the interior of the sleeve and out of the interior of the sleeve through the front grommets and through a drawstring lock.

16. A vehicle and a rear wiper protector comprising:

a vehicle having a rear windshield;

a wiper mechanism attached to the vehicle for wiping water from the rear windshield, the wiper mechanism comprising a wiper blade, a wiper arm and wiper motor components;

a sleeve made from a folded sheet of material and having a sleeve interior for enclosing the wiper blade, the wiper arm and the wiper motor components;

an open end of the sleeve allowing sliding the sleeve over a windshield wiper and a closed end opposite the open end;

a stiffening spine comprising a sewn seam along an inside edge of the sleeve;

a cutout on a rear surface of the sleeve at the open end of the sleeve to allow a portion of a front surface of the sleeve opposite the cutout to cover the wiper motor components;

a belt sewn to the exterior of the sleeve proximal to the open end and past the cutout and positioned on the sleeve between the wiper blade and the wiper motor components;

two front grommets spaced apart on the front surface of the sleeve and two rear grommets spaced apart on the rear surface of the sleeve, the grommets comprising crimp together two piece plastic grommets; and

a drawstring crossing the rear face of the sleeve between the rear grommets, passing through the rear grommets into the interior of the sleeve, passing through the interior of the sleeve and out of the interior of the sleeve through the front grommets and through a drawstring lock, the drawstring cinching the sleeve between the wiper blade and the wiper motor components to hold the wiper protector in place on the wiper mechanism when the vehicle is in a car wash to protect the wiper mechanism from damage by the car wash.