Wiper assembly

• US 5,867,858 A
• Filed: 02/06/1997
• Issued: 02/09/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Wiper Shaker LLC
• Original Assignee: Michael James Kelly
• Inventors: Kelly, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Graham, Gary K.
• Application Number:
  US08/795,540
• Time in Patent Office: 733 Days
• Field of Search: 15/250.351, 15/250.352, 15/250.001, 15/250.19, 15/250.202, 15/250.203
• US Class Current: 15/250.19
• 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 1/0477 Arrangement for deicing or for removing debris from wiper blades heated wiper blade B60S1/3805
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/32 characterised by constructional features of wiper blade arms or blades
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/3411 with means for varying wiper-blade pressure on windshield during operation

Abstract

Various embodiments of a wiper assembly are disclosed which facilitate the removal or shattering of ice or snow debris lodged and trapped beneath a wiper blade during its movement. Embodiments of the invention are disclosed which provide means to overcome normal urging forces of the wiper arm in a direction toward a light transmitting screen member and to urge the wiper arm of the wiper assembly away from the surface of the screen member. Some structures according to the invention may cause the wiper blade to return with an impact force sufficient ice and snow debris trapped beneath the wiper blade and also possibly frozen to it. Other embodiments include means for imparting vibrational movement to the wiper assembly to release or shatter ice and snow trapped beneath the blade or frozen to it.

Claims

1. A combination of a wiper assembly and a light transmitting screen member comprising:

a light transmitting screen member having a surface to be cleaned and a supporting body carrying the light transmitting screen member; and

a wiper assembly comprising a wiper arm holding a wiper blade, the wiper arm moveably mounted to the supporting body and having;

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driving means for moving the wiper arm in outgoing and return directions of travel across the surface to be cleaned to carry the wiper blade on the surface for cleaning action;

resilient means operably connected to the wiper arm for urging the wiper blade with a surface engaging pressure against the surface to be cleaned; and

a vibration generating device including a driveably moveable mass disposed upon the wiper arm and driveable to provide a directionally changing inertial load to the wiper arm for imparting vibrational movement to the wiper arm to cause at least parts of the wiper blade to move repeatedly out of and into contact with the surface to be cleaned for effecting release of a frozen mass when this is trapped beneath the wiper blade, said mass being driveably movable independently of the movement of the wiper arm.

2. A combination according to claim 1 wherein the vibrational movement produced causes end regions of the blade to be repeatedly moved into and out of contact with the surface to be cleaned.

3. A combination according to claim 2 wherein the vibrational movement produced is sufficient to cause regions of the wiper blade spaced from the end regions to move repeatedly into and out of contact with the surface to be cleaned.

4. A combination according to claim 1 wherein the vibration generating device also comprises an electric motor having a rotatable shaft and the driveably moveable mass is eccentrically and driveably mounted upon the rotatable shaft.

5. A combination according to claim 1 wherein the vibration generating device also comprises a solenoid actuator and the driveably moveable mass comprises a plunger core of the solenoid actuator, and switch means is provided which, upon actuation, is automatically operable repeatedly for actuating the solenoid actuator in intermittent manner to cause repeated reciprocation of the plunger core to produce the vibrational movement to the wiper assembly.

6. A wiper assembly comprising a wiper arm having means for releasably holding a wiper blade, urging means connected to the wiper arm for urging the wiper arm towards a surface to be cleaned in use, and a vibration generating device including a driveably moveable mass disposed upon the wiper arm and driveable to provide a directionally changing inertial load to the wiper arm for imparting vibrational movement to the wiper arm to cause at least parts of the wiper blade to move repeatedly out of and into contact with the surface to be cleaned for effecting release of a frozen mass when this is trapped beneath the wiper blade, said mass being driveably moveable independently of the movement of the wiper arm.

7. A wiper assembly according to claim 6 wherein the vibration generating device is operable to impart vibrational movement to cause end regions of the blade to be repeatedly moved out of and into contact with the surface to be cleaned.

8. A wiper assembly according to claim 7 wherein the vibrational movement produced is sufficient to cause regions of the wiper blade spaced from the end regions to move repeatedly out of and into contact with the surface to be cleaned.

9. A wiper assembly according to claim 6 wherein the vibration generating device comprises an electric motor disposed upon the wiper arm and having a rotatable shaft, and the driveably moveable mass is eccentrically and driveably mounted upon the rotatable shaft to provide the directionally changing load to the wiper arm.

10. A wiper assembly according to claim 9 wherein the driveably moveable mass comprises an arcuately shaped portion radially spaced from the rotational axis of the rotatable shaft and a radially inwardly extending arm driveably connecting the arcuately shaped portion to the rotatable shaft.

11. A wiper assembly according to claim 6 wherein the vibration generating device comprises a solenoid actuator disposed upon the wiper arm and the driveably moveable mass comprises a plunger core of the solenoid actuator, and switch means is provided which, upon actuation, is automatically operable repeatedly for actuating the solenoid actuator in intermittent manner to cause repeated reciprocation of the plunger core to provide the directionally changing load to the wiper arm.

12. A wiper assembly comprising a wiper arm having means for releasably holding a wiper blade, urging means connected to the wiper arm for urging the wiper arm towards a surface to be cleaned in use, a vibration generating device mounted on the wiper arm and operable for imparting vibrational movement to the wiper arm so as to cause at least parts of the wiper blade to move repeatedly out of and into contact with the surface to be cleaned for effecting release of a frozen mass when this is trapped beneath the wiper blade and means for operating the vibration generating device, the operating means having an energizing mode and a non-energizing mode, and in the energizing mode the operating means operates the vibration generating device to continuously impart vibrational movement to the wiper arm.

13. A combination of a wiper assembly and a light transmitting screen member comprising:

a light transmitting screen member having a surface to be cleaned and a supporting body carrying the light transmitting screen member; and

a wiper assembly comprising a wiper arm holding a wiper blade, the wiper arm moveably mounted to the supporting body and having;

driving means for moving the wiper arm in outgoing and return directions of travel across the surface to be cleaned to carry the wiper blade on the surface for cleaning action;

resilient means operably connected to the wiper arm for urging the wiper blade with a surface engaging pressure against the surface to be cleaned;

a vibration generating device mounted on the wiper arm and operable for imparting vibrational movement to the wiper arm so as to cause at least parts of the wiper blade to move repeatedly out of and into contact with the surface to be cleaned for effecting release of a frozen mass when this is trapped beneath the wiper blade; and

means for operating the vibration generating device, the operating means having an energizing mode and a non-energizing mode, and in the energizing mode the operating means operates the vibration generating device to continuously impart vibrational movement to the wiper arm.