Slapping windshield wiper for de-icing

• US 6,721,989 B1
• Filed: 07/03/2000
• Issued: 04/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Shadow Mountain Technologies, LLC
• Original Assignee: Shadow Mountain Technologies, LLC
• Inventors: Barlow, Robert N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Graham, Gary K.
• Application Number:
  US09/609,825
• Time in Patent Office: 1,387 Days
• Field of Search: 152/501.9, 152/500.01, 152/502.02, 152/502.03, 152/502.1, 152/503, 152/503.1
• US Class Current: 15/250.19
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0486 the cleaning device being integrated with the vehicle

Abstract

A windshield wiper system that includes a feature which will eliminate the build-up of snow and ice on windshield wiper blades. This feature is an operator initiated activation of a mechanism that produces a slapping action of the wiper blades against the windshield causing the snow and ice build-up to dislodge and fall away. The slapping device is activated by the operator pushing a tab or push button. The slapping motion is accomplished by pivoting the oscillating wiper arm shaft mount, while in the vertical position, by a linkage connected to the wiper arm shaft mount. A solenoid pulsed from a pulse generator moves the linkage which in turn lifts the blade and slaps it back against the windshield.

Claims

1. A slapping windshield wiper assembly for a motor vehicle, said windshield wiper assembly comprising:

an elongated windshield wiper arm assembly including a wiper arm pivotally supported at one end on a base, said base includes a restraint to limit pivotal movement of the arm about said base,

a wiper blade coupled to a free end of said wiper arm and adapted to contact a surface of a windshield of said motor vehicle,

a wiper arm shaft mount which includes a pivot for pivotably supporting said mount on said vehicle,

a wiper arm shaft oscillatably supported in said wiper arm shaft mount and coupled to said base,

a lever attached to said wiper arm shaft mount,

a spring providing force on said lever to bias said shaft mount about said shaft mount pivot to maintain pressure on the wiper arm assembly and keep the wiper blade against the windshield surface,

a solenoid coupled to said lever, said solenoid adapted, upon actuation, to counteract said spring force and move said lever to thus rock said shaft mount about said shaft mount pivot, such acts to lift the wiper blade away from the windshield surface.

2. The slapping windshield wiper assembly as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

an electric circuit to control said solenoid, said circuit includes,

a pulse generator to provide an electrical pulse to said solenoid,

a contact switch on a wiper drive mechanism to provide circuit closure to said pulse generator when said wiper arm assembly is in a vertical position,

a push contact switch to provide electrical power to said electrical circuit.