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 byan 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.
8 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.
288 Citations
17 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.
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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 and wherein said pumping system comprises at least one solenoid in fluid communication with said reservoir and said vessel and switchable from a first position to a second position, wherein in said first position said at least one solenoid permits flow from said reservoir to said vessel and substantially prevents draining said fluid from said vessel back to said reservoir, and wherein in said second position said at least one solenoid permits draining said fluid from said vessel back to said reservoir and substantially prevents flow from said reservoir to said vessel. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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10. 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 and further comprising a controller which controls a spraying pattern of said plurality of outlets and further comprising a sensor for sensing an angular position of said windshield wiper, wherein said controller controls the spraying pattern of said plurality of outlets in accordance with the angular position of said windshield wiper. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. 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. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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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 for cleaning a vehicle window; and characterized by further comprising a fluid authorization system for verifying use of an authorized fluid and wherein said fluid authorization system comprises a membrane constructed of a material that disintegrates if it is not in the presence of a fluid authorized for use.
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Specification