Patents Examined by Gary Graham
  • Patent number: 9598054
    Abstract: The invention relates to a wiper lever of a motor vehicle windshield wiper, especially a rear window wiper, comprising a windshield wiper arm, a wiper blade and a cover. According to the invention, the wiper arm is designed as a spring strip on which a slider, which is connected to the wiper blade, is longitudinally adjustable. The cover is connected to the slider such and can be connected to a wiper pin such that an angle of lift of the wiper lever can be compensated. The invention provides a cost-effective wiper lever which has a structurally simple design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: DR. ING. H.C.F. PORSCHE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventor: Sven Auch
  • Patent number: 9586560
    Abstract: A windscreen wiper device is provided. The wiper device includes an elongate wiping element made of an elastic material and a support member which operably supports the wiping element. The wiper device further includes an adapter made of one piece for securely and releasably engaging an oscillating wiper arm. The adapter includes a pair of laterally spaced sidewalls that extend longitudinally from a front end to a back end. The adapter further includes a cantilever beam which is positioned between the side walls and extends longitudinally towards the back end. The cantilever beam is pivotal in a vertical direction at a hinge and has a stepped configuration which presents three longitudinally and vertically spaced protrusions which project vertically downwardly for engaging in correspondingly shaped holes in at least three of 9×3, 9×4×23, 9×4×28 and 9×4×33 sized hook-style wiper arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul Corporation
    Inventors: Dennis E. Cox, William D. Young, III
  • Patent number: 9573568
    Abstract: The invention relates to a wiper device (100) for the cleaning of vehicle windows (1), with a wiper blade (10) fastened exchangeably on a wiper arm (2), which wiper blade is connected with the wiper arm (2) via a wiper blade adapter (11), wherein in the fastening region to the wiper blade (10) the wiper arm (2) has a substantially U-shaped cross section, which embraces the wiper blade adapter (11), wherein on the wiper arm (2) in the connecting region a securing element (27) for the wiper blade adapter (11) is provided which is movably arranged at least in the longitudinal direction of the wiper arm (2) and which partially overlaps the wiper arm (2) in the connecting region and has a substantially U-shaped cross section with holding sections (46, 47) projecting inwards in the direction towards the wiper blade adapter (11). It is provided according to the invention that, in addition to its longitudinal displaceability, the securing element (27) is arranged pivotably on the wiper arm (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Valeo Systèmes d'Essuyage
    Inventors: Bruno Egner-Walter, Michael Schaeuble
  • Patent number: 9566947
    Abstract: A cleaning device is provided for a window element, which is insertably and retractably provided in a vehicle panel of a vehicle, with a cleaning element designed so as to rotate around its longitudinal axis, and with a feeder device to supply cleaning liquid to the cleaning element for cleaning the window element. A vehicle is also provided with such a cleaning device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Johannes Huth
  • Patent number: 9566951
    Abstract: The invention relates to a wiping device, in particular a wiping device for a motor vehicle pane, comprising a wiper blade adapter (12a-12c) that has at least one detent element (40a-40c, 42a-42c), said element being designed, when mounted, to prevent a movement of the wiper blade adapter (12a-12c) relative to a retaining element (10a-10c) in a longitudinal direction (22a-22c). According to the invention, the wiping device has at least one securing means (30a-30c, 32a-32c) that is provided in order to secure the at least one detent element (40a-40c, 42a-42c) when mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Koen Bex, Helmut Depondt, Dirk Herinckx
  • Patent number: 9561780
    Abstract: A windshield wiper assembly includes a telescoping wiper head having a first section fixed to a pivot drive shaft and a second section capable of translating relative to the first section between an extended position and a retracted position. A curvilinear guide rail engages the second section and guides the second section between the extended and retracted positions. A wiper blade is carried on the second section. Advantageously the wiper assembly functions to provide enhanced wiper coverage over the Zone B portion of the windscreen through which the occupants view is typically directed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: James Coleman, Brad Napier Doman, Jose Garcia Crespo
  • Patent number: 9550473
    Abstract: The invention relates to a wiper device, in particular a motor vehicle windshield wiper device, comprising a wiper strip unit (10), which comprises a wiper strip element (20) having a longitudinal guide channel (12) for guiding a carrier element (14). According to the invention, the longitudinal guide channel (12) comprises a longitudinal opening (16) which extends at least over the majority of the wiper strip element (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Koen Bex, Dirk Herinckx, Helmut Depondt
  • Patent number: 9539986
    Abstract: A vehicle wiper assembly includes a wiper blade having a length, and an active material disposed along the length of the wiper blade and coupled thereto. The active material includes a shape memory alloy material with a crystallographic phase that is changeable between austenite and martensite, and is elastically deformable and operatively applies a spring force against a portion of the wiper blade when the crystallographic phase is martensite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Nicholas W. Pinto, IV, Scott R. Webb, Alan L. Browne, Paul W. Alexander, Xiujie Gao, Nancy L. Johnson, Wendell G. Summerville, John A. Cafeo
  • Patent number: 9539985
    Abstract: A windscreen wiper arm, particularly for automobiles, includes comprising a mounting head mountable on a drive shaft and an arm member pivotally connected to the mounting head by means of a pivot pin, and wherein the arm member can be pivoted between a wiping position, wherein the arm member extends parallel to a windscreen to be wiped, and an elevated position, wherein the arm member and/or a windscreen wiper blade to be attached thereto can be repaired or replaced, characterized in that the windscreen wiper arm is provided with locking means arranged to lock the arm member onto the pivot pin in order to prevent the arm member from disengaging from the pivot pin in the elevated position of the arm member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul S.A.
    Inventor: Davy Mouth
  • Patent number: 9527481
    Abstract: A vehicle wiper device includes: a first blade having an operating range that includes an upper mid region of a vehicle windshield; a second blade having an operating range that includes a lower region of the operating range of the first blade; a cleaning-liquid feeding unit; a blade driving unit that causes each blade to reciprocate; and a controller that controls operation of the cleaning-liquid feeding unit and operation of the blade driving unit. The controller performs the control such that, after a series of normal operation in which the first blade and the second blade reciprocate while ejecting the cleaning liquid has been completed, additional movement operation is performed in a state where feeding of the cleaning liquid from the cleaning-liquid feeding unit is stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: FUJI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Kaminaga, Satoru Iwata
  • Patent number: 9517751
    Abstract: A wiper arm assembly has a load member, a wiper arm, and a blade load cam with a cam slot. The load member mates with a joint disposed between first and second ends of the wiper arm. Changes in length of the load member impose a force in a lengthwise direction of the load member. The wiper arm is configured to rotate relative to the blade load cam about an axis proximate to the first end of the wiper arm. The cam slot is configured to vary the length of the load member as a function of a wiper angle in which the wiper angle is defined as the angle between the wiper arm and a starting position of the wiper arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Rosemount Aerospace
    Inventors: Alexander N Reid, Matthew Webb
  • Patent number: 9511745
    Abstract: The invention relates to a wiper blade device comprising at least one spring strip (10a-e), at least one wiper strip support (12a-e) and at least one end sealing unit (14a-e). According to the invention, the end sealing unit (14a-e) comprises at least two detent elements (16a-e, 18a-e) for fixing the spring strip (10a-e) and/or the wiper strip support (12a-e).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Koen Bex, Helmut Depondt, Dirk Herinckx
  • Patent number: 9511749
    Abstract: A wiper washer apparatus sprays a washer liquid onto a windshield of a vehicle that has imaging areas of an imaging device and wipes the windshield. The apparatus includes a wiper arm that reciprocates a blade so as to wipe a predetermined wiping area, a spray unit that sprays the washer liquid onto the wiping area on the windshield from a nozzle provided on the wiper arm, a drive unit that drives the wiper arm in a mode selected from modes including at least a low speed mode and a high speed mode, and an input unit through which a user inputs a command for spraying the washer liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: FUJI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tomoo Shibusawa
  • Patent number: 9505381
    Abstract: The invention is based on a wiper device with at least one wiper arm (10a; 10b; 10c) and with at least one nozzle element (12a; 12b, 14b; 12c) which is provided for spraying wiping water. It is proposed that the at least one nozzle element (12a; 12b, 14b; 12c) is directly connected in a low position to the wiper arm (10a; 10b; 10c).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Sven Wolfgarten, Harald Rapp
  • Patent number: 9499130
    Abstract: The invention relates to a windshield wiper blade for a vehicle, particularly an automobile, comprising a scraper blade (1), a body (2) to which said scraper blade (1) is attached, and a spoiler (3) extending from said body and having an aerodynamic profile between a leading edge and a trailing edge, the boundary of the wiper blade between the body (2) and the spoiler (3) being defined by a horizontal surface extending through the leading edge of said profile, characterized in that said spoiler extends horizontally in the downstream direction beyond an optionally abstract portion defined so as to constitute the mirror image, relative to a vertical plane extending through a lower end of the scraper blade (1), of the portion of the body that is located upstream of said same vertical plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: Valeo Systèmes d'Essuyage
    Inventors: Philippe Billot, Franck Cathala, Grégory Villemin
  • Patent number: 9499132
    Abstract: A wiper blade assembly for a windshield wiper. In one embodiment, the wiper blade assembly includes a connector mounted on a blade support element. The connector has a receiving portion shaped to receive a first part of the end portion of a wiper arm and further has a securing portion shaped to secure a second part of the end portion of the wiper arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignees: VALEO NORTH AMERICA, Inc., Delmex de Juarez S. de R.L. de C.V.
    Inventors: Andreas Fink, Wolfgang Scholl, Gerhard Schremmer
  • Patent number: 9499131
    Abstract: The invention relates to a wiper blade adapter device having a wiper arm adapter (10) and a wiper blade adapter (12). The wiper blade adapter device comprises a pivot bearing unit (14) which is provided to rotatably mount the wiper arm adapter (10) and the wiper blade adapter (12) in an assembly process relative to each other around a longitudinal axis (16) of the wiper blade adapter (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Mike Obert, Andreas Benner, Eckhard Lichtenthaler
  • Patent number: 9481342
    Abstract: The invention relates to a wiper element comprising a wiper blade made of an elastomeric material and reinforced with at least one elongated element (30). The elongated element (30) comprises a core (32) and a coating system (36). The coating system comprises a zinc alloy coating and a polyester coating on top of the zinc alloy coating. Using this coating system, the elongated element (30) is made corrosion resistant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: NV BEKAERT SA
    Inventors: Filip Acx, Ludo Adriaensen
  • Patent number: 9475465
    Abstract: A windscreen wiper device of the flat blade type comprising an elastic, elongated carrier element, as well as an elongated wiper blade of a flexible material having one groove, in which groove a longitudinal strip of the carrier element is disposed. Free ends of the wiper blade are connected to a respective connecting piece. The wiper blade is provided with a spoiler and at least one connecting piece having an internal reinforcement rib connecting lateral sides of the connecting piece. The spoiler is removed along a portion of the length of the wiper blade at a free end of the wiper blade facing the connecting piece. In the mounted position the internal transverse reinforcement rib; abuts the spoiler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul S.A.
    Inventor: Xavier Boland
  • Patent number: 9463778
    Abstract: The invention is based on a wiper device for a motor vehicle window, with a wiper arm adaptor unit (10a-10f) and a wiper blade adaptor unit (12a-12f), which, in a fitted state, form a form-fitting connection. It is proposed that the wiper device has a housing means (18a-18f) which is arranged fixedly on the wiper blade adaptor unit (12a-12f) for receiving the wiper arm adaptor unit (10a-10f) in a linear push-in movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Helmut Depondt