Screen cleaning system for a motor vehicle

• US 9,612,712 B2
• Filed: 01/06/2015
• Issued: 04/04/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Huebner, Annette Lynn, Hellman, Kristin Ann, Dunham, Scott Holmes, Reister, Coleen, Chea, Vichit
• Primary Examiner(s): Chiang, Jennifer C
• Application Number:
  US14/590,053
• Publication Number:
  US 20160193634A1
• Time in Patent Office: 819 Days
• Field of Search: 401131, 345173
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 1/00 Cleaning by methods involving the use of tools cleaning hollow articles by methods or apparatus specially adapted thereto B08B9/00
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 1/14 Wipes; Absorbent members, e.g. swabs or sponges with integrated means for dispensing fluids B08B1/40
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 1/40 Cleaning tools with integrated means for dispensing fluids, e.g. water, steam or detergents cleaning by the force of jets or sprays B08B3/02
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 11/02 Devices for holding articles during cleaning B08B9/42 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/06 for tools or spare parts for vehicle roof parts B60J7/20; for spare wheels B62D
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 3/008 for interiors of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance

Abstract

A screen cleaning system for a motor vehicle includes a screen cleaning device and a dedicated receiver for holding the screen cleaning device. That receiver is integrated into the interior trim of the motor vehicle.

Claims

1. A screen cleaning system for a motor vehicle having a screen, comprising:

a screen cleaning device;

a dedicated receiver for holding said screen cleaning device, said receiver being integrated into interior trim of said motor vehicle;

a cleaning mode wherein all screen settings are frozen so that no setting is changed inadvertently during screen cleaning; and

an actuator to activate and deactivate the cleaning mode, wherein said actuator is a switch associated with said receiver whereby when said screen cleaning device is removed from said receiver cleaning mode is activated and when said screen cleaning device is held in said receiver cleaning mode is deactivated.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said receiver is provided on a center stack of said vehicle.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said receiver is provided on a center console.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein said receiver is provided in a storage compartment in said center console.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said receiver is provided on an instrument panel of said motor vehicle.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said screen is a touchscreen.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein when activated, cleaning mode is indicated on said touchscreen.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein said screen is a solid color in cleaning mode so as to aid in identifying dirt and dust when cleaning.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said screen cleaning device includes a base, a handle and a cleaning pad.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein said screen cleaning device includes a body having a cleaning fluid reservoir, a wet cleaning pad and a metering device for metering cleaning fluid from said reservoir to said wet pad.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein said screen cleaning device further includes a handle, a dry pad and a removable cap covering said dry pad.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said handle is connected to said body and closes said reservoir in said body.

13. The system of claim 1, further including an inductor bezel around one of a screen to be cleaned or said dedicated receiver, said bezel being illuminated when said screen cleaning device is removed from said dedicated receiver.

14. A touchscreen system for a motor vehicle, comprising:

a touchscreen having a cleaning mode wherein all screen settings are frozen so that no setting is changed inadvertently during screen cleaning; and

an actuator to activate and deactivate cleaning mode, wherein said actuator is a switch located on interior trim of said motor vehicle adjacent said touchscreen.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein said touchscreen indicates when said touchscreen is in cleaning mode.

16. A screen cleaning system for a motor vehicle, comprising:

a screen cleaning device;

a dedicated receiver for holding said screen cleaning device, said receiver being integrated into interior trim of said motor vehicle; and

an inductor bezel around one of a screen to be cleaned or said dedicated receiver, said bezel being illuminated when said screen cleaning device is removed from said dedicated receiver.