Mirror wiper assembly

• US 6,343,402 B1
• Filed: 07/13/1999
• Issued: 02/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Darrel L. Smith, Donnie Knight
• Original Assignee: Darrel L. Smith, Donnie Knight
• Inventors: Knight, Donnie, Smith, Darrel L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Warden, Sr., Robert J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Olsen, Kaj K.
• Application Number:
  US09/351,393
• Time in Patent Office: 938 Days
• Field of Search: 152/503, 152/504, 152/502.4, 152/502.9, 152/504.3, 359/864
• US Class Current: 15/250.3
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/0602 comprising means for cleaning or deicing
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/3404 the wiper blades being moved substantially parallel with themselves

Abstract

An exterior rearview mirror assembly is provided for use on a vehicle which includes a rearview mirror and a wiper assembly. The wiper assembly includes a wiper arm base located behind the mirror assembly extending over the top of the mirror to attach to a resilient wiper arm having a wiper blade. The wiper blade is shaped or sectioned to substantially mate with mirrors having multiple surfaces or surface combined flat/convex mirrors. The wiper arm base is attached to a bi-directional driver system which causes the wiper arm base to laterally transverse across the mirror assembly, which in turn drives the wiper blade across the mirror. The bi-directional driver system preferably includes a uni-directional belt system, about two pulleys, connected to the wiper arm base with a unique linkage to allow the base to traverse back and forth as the belt is driven about the pulleys. In another embodiment a bi-directional system is utilized where the direction is changed by a centrally located switch activated by the traveling wiper.

Claims

1. An exterior rearview mirror assembly for use on a vehicle, comprising, in combination:

a rearview mirror having at least one flat reflective surface and at least one convex reflective surface;

a wiper assembly attached to said rearview mirror having a wiper arm base located substantially behind said mirror and extending over a top edge of said mirror to engage a top edge of a substantially resilient wiper arm;

a shaped flexible blade disposed along the length of said wiper arm base, said shaped blade being sectionally cut to allow said wiper blade to substantially mate with both said flat surface and said convex surface; and

,

a drive means, wherein said wiper arm base is attached to said drive means for bi-directionally driving said wiper blade across said reflective surfaces.

2. The mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said drive system comprises a pair of oppositely spaced sprockets and a chain, wherein said chain is affixed around said sprockets.

3. The mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said wiper arm base engages said top edge of said substantially resilient wiper arm in an offset.

4. The mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein said drive system comprises a pair of oppositely spaced pulleys and a belt, and wherein said belt is affixed around said pulleys.

5. The mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein a water stopper is affixed along the inside edge of said mirror and extending to the outer edge of said mirror.

6. The mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein a fluid sprayer is affixed to said wiper arm for applying fluid to said reflective surface of said rearview mirror.

7. An exterior rearview mirror assembly for use on a vehicle, comprising, in combination:

a rearview mirror having at least one flat reflective surface and at least one convex reflective surface;

a wiper assembly attached to said rearview mirror having a wiper arm base located substantially behind said mirror and extending over a top edge of said mirror to engage a top edge of a substantially resilient wiper arm;

a shaped flexible blade disposed along the length of said wiper arm base, said shaped blade being sectionally cut to allow said wiper blade to substantially mate with both said flat surface and said convex surface;

a water stopper affixed along the inside edge of said mirror and extending to the outer edge of said mirror; and

,

a drive means, wherein said wiper arm base is attached to said drive means for bi-directionally driving said wiper blade across said reflective surfaces.

8. The mirror assembly of claim 7, wherein said wiper arm base engages said top edge of said substantially resilient wiper arm in an offset.

9. The mirror assembly of claim 7, wherein said drive system comprises a pair of oppositely spaced pulleys and a belt, and wherein said belt is affixed around said pulleys.

10. The mirror assembly of claim 7, wherein said drive system comprises a pair of oppositely spaced sprockets and a chain, wherein said chain is affixed around said sprockets.

11. The mirror assembly of claim 7, wherein a fluid sprayer is affixed to said wiper arm for applying fluid to said reflective surface of said rearview mirror.

12. An exterior rearview mirror assembly for use on a vehicle, comprising, in combination:

a rearview mirror having at least one flat reflective surface and at least one convex reflective surface;

a wiper assembly attached to said rearview mirror having a wiper arm base located substantially behind said mirror and extending over a top edge of said mirror to engage a top edge of a substantially resilient wiper arm;

a shaped flexible blade disposed along the length of said wiper arm base, said shaped blade being sectionally cut to allow said wiper blade to substantially mate with both said flat surface and said convex surface;

a fluid sprayer affixed to said wiper arm for applying fluid to said reflective surface of said rearview mirror; and

,

a drive means, wherein said wiper arm base is attached to said drive means for bi-directionally driving said wiper blade across said reflective surfaces.

13. The mirror assembly of claim 12, wherein said wiper arm base engages said top edge of said substantially resilient wiper arm in an offset.

14. The mirror assembly of claim 12, wherein said drive system comprises a pair of oppositely spaced pulleys and a belt, and wherein said belt is affixed around said pulleys.

15. The mirror assembly of claim 12, wherein said drive system comprises a pair of oppositely spaced sprockets and a chain, wherein said chain is affixed around said sprockets.

16. The mirror assembly of claim 12, wherein a water stopper is affixed along the inside edge of said mirror and extending to the outer edge of said mirror.

17. The mirror assembly of claim 12, wherein said fluid sprayer is in communication with and part of the windshield washer system.

18. The mirror assembly of claim 12, wherein the fluid sprayer system is independent of the windshield washer system.

19. The mirror assembly of claim 12, wherein the controls of said fluid sprayer are independent of the windshield washer system controls.

20. The mirror assembly of claim 12, wherein the controls of said fluid system are integrated with the windshield washer system controls.