Self-aligning anti-lift device for windshield wipers
First Claim
1. An anti-lift device for a windshield wiper subjected to an oncoming airstream passing across a windshield as the windshield wiper sweeps the windshield through a predetermined arc of movement along directions transverse to the direction of the oncoming airstream, the anti-lift device comprising:
- a base frame for placement on the windshield wiper for movement with the windshield wiper through the predetermined arc of movement, the base frame having opposite ends and extending longitudinally between the opposite ends;
a plurality of deflector members on the base frame and spaced longitudinally along the base frame;
each deflector member including at least one deflector element and at least one director element; and
mounting means mounting each deflector member upon the base frame for pivotal movement about a pivotal axis relative to the base frame, each director element having a configuration and being oriented relative to the pivotal axis and relative to the corresponding deflector element such that upon placement of the base frame on the windshield wiper for movement of the base frame with the windshield wiper through the predetermined arc of movement the director elements are urged by the airstream into alignment with the airstream direction and maintain the corresponding deflector elements essentially normal to the airstream direction throughout the predetermined arc of movement, the deflector elements having a configuration for establishing optimum forces tending to bias the deflector members, the base frame, and the windshield wiper, toward the windshield while the base frame moves with the windshield wiper through the predetermined arc of movement, and the deflector elements are maintained by the director elements essentially normal to the airstream direction, throughout the predetermined arc of movement.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An anti-lift device for windshield wipers includes deflector members mounted for pivotal movement and including deflector elements for interacting with the airstream passing over a windshield wiper to establish a biasing force tending to urge the windshield wiper toward the windshield of a vehicle, and director elements interacting with the airstream for pivoting the deflector elements as the windshield wiper sweeps across the windshield in a predetermined arc of movement so as to maintain the deflector elements essentially normal to the airstream and thereby optimize the biasing force throughout the arc of movement.
-
Citations
14 Claims
-
1. An anti-lift device for a windshield wiper subjected to an oncoming airstream passing across a windshield as the windshield wiper sweeps the windshield through a predetermined arc of movement along directions transverse to the direction of the oncoming airstream, the anti-lift device comprising:
-
a base frame for placement on the windshield wiper for movement with the windshield wiper through the predetermined arc of movement, the base frame having opposite ends and extending longitudinally between the opposite ends; a plurality of deflector members on the base frame and spaced longitudinally along the base frame; each deflector member including at least one deflector element and at least one director element; and mounting means mounting each deflector member upon the base frame for pivotal movement about a pivotal axis relative to the base frame, each director element having a configuration and being oriented relative to the pivotal axis and relative to the corresponding deflector element such that upon placement of the base frame on the windshield wiper for movement of the base frame with the windshield wiper through the predetermined arc of movement the director elements are urged by the airstream into alignment with the airstream direction and maintain the corresponding deflector elements essentially normal to the airstream direction throughout the predetermined arc of movement, the deflector elements having a configuration for establishing optimum forces tending to bias the deflector members, the base frame, and the windshield wiper, toward the windshield while the base frame moves with the windshield wiper through the predetermined arc of movement, and the deflector elements are maintained by the director elements essentially normal to the airstream direction, throughout the predetermined arc of movement. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
Specification