Apparatus for cleaning or de-icing a vehicle window
First Claim
1. Apparatus for cleaning or de-icing a vehicle window, comprising:
- a reservoir for containing therein a washing fluid;
a vessel having an inlet through which the washing fluid is received from the reservoir and an outlet through which the fluid is discharged for cleaning a vehicle window; and
a first heating element disposed in the vessel for heating the fluid in the vessel;
characterized by an auxiliary heating element being disposed in the vessel for heating the fluid in the vessel, wherein said auxiliary heating element is disposed at a bottom portion of the vessel and is operative to heat a quantity of fluid which is not necessarily sufficient to cover the first heating element.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus for cleaning or de-icing a vehicle window, including a reservoir for containing therein a washing fluid, a vessel having an inlet through which the washing fluid is received from the reservoir and an outlet through which the fluid is discharged for cleaning a vehicle window, and a first heating element disposed in the vessel for heating the fluid in the vessel, characterized by an auxiliary heating element being disposed in the vessel for heating the fluid in the vessel, wherein the auxiliary heating element is disposed at a bottom portion of the vessel and is operative to heat a quantity of fluid which is not necessarily sufficient to cover the first heating element.
69 Citations
47 Claims
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1. Apparatus for cleaning or de-icing a vehicle window, comprising:
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a reservoir for containing therein a washing fluid;
a vessel having an inlet through which the washing fluid is received from the reservoir and an outlet through which the fluid is discharged for cleaning a vehicle window; and
a first heating element disposed in the vessel for heating the fluid in the vessel;
characterized by an auxiliary heating element being disposed in the vessel for heating the fluid in the vessel, wherein said auxiliary heating element is disposed at a bottom portion of the vessel and is operative to heat a quantity of fluid which is not necessarily sufficient to cover the first heating element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. Apparatus for cleaning or de-icing a vehicle window, comprising:
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a reservoir for containing therein a washing fluid;
a vessel having an inlet through which the washing fluid is received from the reservoir and an outlet through which the fluid is discharged;
a spray head in fluid communication with the outlet through which the fluid is sprayed onto a vehicle window; and
a heating element disposed in the vessel for heating the fluid in said vessel;
characterized by a temperature sensor mounted in propinquity to said spray head, said temperature sensor being in communication with a controller which controls heating of said heating element in response to a temperature sensed by said temperature sensor. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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5. Apparatus for cleaning or de-icing a vehicle window, comprising:
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a reservoir for containing therein a washing fluid;
a vessel having an inlet through which the washing fluid is received from the reservoir and an outlet through which the fluid is discharged;
a spray head in fluid communication with the outlet through which the fluid is sprayed onto a vehicle window; and
a heating element disposed in the vessel for heating the fluid in said vessel;
characterized by a wind speed sensor in communication with a controller, wherein said controller correlates a wind speed sensed by said wind speed sensor to a temperature of the fluid sprayed from the spray head, and controls heating of said heating element in response to the wind speed sensed by said wind speed sensor. - View Dependent Claims (6)
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7. Apparatus for cleaning or de-icing a vehicle window, comprising:
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a reservoir for containing therein a washing fluid;
a vessel having an inlet through which the washing fluid is received from the reservoir and an outlet through which the fluid is discharged for cleaning a vehicle window; and
a first heating element disposed in the vessel for heating the fluid in the vessel;
characterized by a pumping system in fluid communication with said reservoir and said vessel which selectively pumps fluid from said reservoir to said vessel and drains said fluid from said vessel back to said reservoir. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 47)
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11. Apparatus for cleaning or de-icing a vehicle window, comprising:
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a reservoir for containing therein a washing fluid;
a vessel having an inlet through which the washing fluid is received from the reservoir and an outlet through which the fluid is discharged;
a spray head in fluid communication with the outlet through which the fluid is sprayed onto a vehicle window;
a windshield wiper for wiping said window; and
characterized by said spray head comprising a multi-outlet spray head that comprises a plurality of spray outlets. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 20, 21)
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17. Apparatus for cleaning or de-icing a vehicle window, comprising:
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a reservoir for containing therein a washing fluid;
a vessel having an inlet through which the washing fluid is received from the reservoir and an outlet through which the fluid is discharged;
a spray head in fluid communication with the outlet through which the fluid is sprayed onto a vehicle window;
a windshield wiper for wiping said window; and
characterized by said windshield wiper having a longitudinal bore formed therethrough for flow of the fluid therethrough, wherein said bore fluidly communicates with a plurality of outlet holes formed in said wiper for applying the fluid on said window.
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19. Apparatus for cleaning or de-icing a vehicle window, comprising:
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a reservoir for containing therein a washing fluid;
a vessel having an inlet through which the washing fluid is received from the reservoir and an outlet through which the fluid is discharged for cleaning a vehicle window; and
characterized by further comprising a cartridge which dispenses an-additive to the fluid prior to discharging the fluid.
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22. Apparatus for cleaning or de-icing a vehicle window, comprising:
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a reservoir for containing therein a washing fluid;
a vessel having an inlet through which the washing fluid is received from the reservoir and an outlet through which the fluid is discharged for cleaning a vehicle window; and
characterized by further comprising a fluid authorization system for verifying use of an authorized fluid. - View Dependent Claims (23, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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24. Apparatus for cleaning or de-icing a vehicle window, comprising:
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a reservoir for containing therein a washing fluid;
a vessel having an inlet through which the washing fluid is received from the reservoir and an outlet through which the fluid is discharged for cleaning a vehicle window; and
characterized by further comprising at least one tube in fluid communication with the fluid and a solenoid which selectively squeezes and seals said at least one tube to prevent passage of the fluid therethrough and selectively permits flow of the fluid therethrough.
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25. A solenoid comprising:
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a tube receiving member;
at least one tube which passes through said tube receiving member;
a shaft arranged for generally linear movement relative to said tube receiving member, said shaft selectively squeezing and sealing said at least one tube against said tube receiving member to prevent passage of the fluid therethrough, and selectively moving away from said at least one tube to permit flow of the fluid therethrough; and
electromagnetic apparatus which moves said shaft generally linearly.
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Specification