Abstract: In an automotive vehicle, a dual directional slip clutch couples a windshield wiper arm to an electric motor and is operable to disengage the wiper arm from the drive motor during certain conditions. A range limiting system works in conjunction with the dual directional slip clutch and limits the degree of rotation of the windshield wiper arm. If the wiper arm becomes obstructed, the slip clutch will release the wiper arm from the motor thus preventing the motor from stalling ensures or damage to the system that is driving the wiper. The range limiting system ensures the correct alignment engagement when the wiper arm becomes un-obstructed. A single-direction slip clutch mechanism is provided for those instances where it is desirable to disengage the wiper arm from the motor when the arm is traveling in one direction.

Abstract: An intermittent rotary motion mechanism for use in an automotive vehicle includes an electromagnetic device, a member moving in response to selective energization of the electromagnetic device, an intermittent motion mechanism and a window wiper shaft coupled to the intermittent motion mechanism. The intermittent motion mechanism moves the wiper shaft in a first wiping positional range when the electromagnetic device moves the member a first predetermined amount. The intermittent motion mechanism further moves the wiper shaft to a park position when the electromagnetic device moves the member a second predetermined amount in a first direction. The wiper shaft is mechanically deterred from movement from the park position concurrently with the electromagnetic device further moving the member past the second predetermined amount in the first direction.

Abstract: A motion transmitting apparatus for use with an automotive vehicle multi-functional apparatus includes an electromagnetic device, a rotatable member, an interface surface, a shaft and an intermittent motion mechanism. Another aspect of the present invention provides rotation of the rotatable member within a first positional range to cause the interface surface to contact and move an arm of the intermittent motion mechanism from a first actuation position to a second actuation position. The arm subsequently moves past the actuation positions as to allow the interface surface to disengage the intermittent motion mechanism and continue rotating past the intermittent motion mechanism. The arm is thereafter biased back into a rotational path of the interface surface such that upon reversal of rotational direction of the rotatable member, the interface surface will reengage the arm and move the intermittent motion mechanism from the second actuation position to the first actuation position.