Patents Examined by Gary Graham
  • Patent number: 9463779
    Abstract: A wiper assembly for sweeping a glass surface on a vehicle. The wiper assembly includes a windshield washer assembly connected to the windshield wiper drive arm of the vehicle for controllably dispensing washer fluid onto the glass surface of the vehicle. The wiper assembly includes a pivotally mounted wiper blade and a washer liquid feed conduit carried by the body of the wiper blade that is connected to the fluid reservoir of the vehicle for supplying a washing liquid directly upon the glass surface of the vehicle via the wiper assembly. Uniquely, the flow of fluid onto the glass surface of the vehicle is determined by the position of the wiper blade relative to the glass surface. Advantageously, the washer liquid feed conduit and blade assembly can be interconnected with the supporting structure of the windshield wiper assembly without the need for special tools and without the need for any substantial modification to the conventional wiper assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Inventors: Kenneth A. Gross, Robert V. Rhodes, Michael A. Gross
  • Patent number: 9457767
    Abstract: A wiper device for removing foreign substances that are stuck on a windshield in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention includes: a contact member configured for wiping out the foreign substances; a support member made of an elastic material and configured for elastically supporting the contact member in such a way that the contact member is in close contact with the windshield; a yoke configured for supporting the support member; a center cover configured for covering the yoke and having a wiper arm connected thereto; and an extension cover having one end thereof hinge-coupled to the center cover and the other end thereof extended in a lengthwise direction of the support member. The yoke can be hinge-coupled with the center cover or the extension cover and can have a hinge-axle thereof arranged in a same line as a hinge-axle connecting the center cover with the extension cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: CAP Corporation
    Inventor: Kyoung Joon Song
  • Patent number: 9459450
    Abstract: The current document is directed to automated, electromechanical methods and devices that clean dirt, moisture, and spider webs from the lenses of surveillance cameras. In one implementation, a camera-cleaning device comprises a cleaning unit, a freely rotating L-shaped hinge, a geared electric motor, a motor-control circuit for controlling the forward and backward motion of the device, and a time-control circuit for controlling the start, finish and run time of cleaning cycles. The cleaning unit includes a cleaning head and a propeller blade that spins to lift the cleaning unit up from a rest position to a cleaning position and subsequently clean the front of the camera lens. The pivotal L-shaped linkage enables the device to transition between the cleaning position and the rest position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: AVAK HENDERSON LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
    Inventor: Vance Edward Kemege
  • Patent number: 9452736
    Abstract: The invention relates to a wiper blade for cleaning the windshields of vehicles, comprising at least one elongated carrier element (6) on which a wiper strip (5) having at least one wiper lip (5.1) is held, a wiper blade adapter attached to the carrier element (6), said adapter being designed to mechanically connect the wiper blade (2) to a wiper arm (1) or to a wiper arm adapter (11) provided on the wiper arm (1) in a joint direction, at least one electric heating element provided on the wiper blade (2), and at least one electrical connecting element provided on the wiper blade adapter on the wiper blade side, said connecting element having at least one electrical contact for establishing an electrical connection between the heating element and a power supply provided or held on the wiper arm (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: Valeo Systèmes d'Essuyage
    Inventors: Bruno Egner-Walter, Michael Schaeuble
  • Patent number: 9452738
    Abstract: The invention relates to a wiper blade (10) for cleaning vehicle windows, with a wiper-blade body (20) connected to a wiper-blade adapter (11), wherein the wiper-blade adapter (11) consists of a wiper-arm-side adapter element (12) and a wiper-blade-side adapter element (13) which are connected to one another and arranged pivotably relative to one another in an axis (14), and with a supply element (32) arranged pivotably in the axis (14) for the hydraulic and/or electrical supply of the wiper blade (10), wherein the supply element (32) is accommodated between two side walls (41, 42) of the wiper-blade-side adapter element (13).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: Valeo Systèmes d'Essuyage
    Inventor: Michael Schaeuble
  • Patent number: 9446740
    Abstract: A windshield wiper assembly for a vehicle includes a wiper motor. The wiper motor has a housing having a top surface and a side surface, a projection projecting from the top surface, a mounting bracket integrally extending from the side surface, and a rib integrally extending from the top surface and between the projection and a longitudinal end of the mounting bracket. Advantageously, the rib enhances the robustness of the housing so that it is more tolerant of stresses experienced during use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Mitsuba Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsuya Tajima, Takamichi Iizuka
  • Patent number: 9440620
    Abstract: The invention relates to a wiping device, in particular a wiping device for a motor vehicle pane, comprising a retaining element (10a-10c) with at least one longitudinal guide channel (18a-18c) for guiding at least one spring element (20a-20c). According to the invention, the retaining element (10a-10c) has at least one mounting code (34a-34c) that is designed to define exactly one explicit mounting position with a wiper blade adapter (12a-12c).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Koen Bex, Helmut Depondt, Dirk Herinckx
  • Patent number: 9434353
    Abstract: A flat wiper blade may be provided that includes: a wiper strip 10 which wipes a wiping surface; a guide spring 30 which supports the wiper strip 10; a first spoiler 41 and a second spoiler 42 which are coupled to the guide spring 30 and include at least one catching part 45; and a seating part 100 which is coupled to the guide spring 30 in an attachable and removable manner. The seating part 100 includes at least one catching recess 145 which corresponds to the catching part 45. The catching recess 145 is coupled to the catching part 45. When a curvature is formed in the flat wiper blade, the first and second spoilers 41 and 42 become farther away from the seating part 100 in the longitudinal direction thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: KBWS Corporation
    Inventors: Jae-Hyuck An, Jin-Wan Park
  • Patent number: 9428153
    Abstract: An energy-saving frameless wiper includes a connector, a steel sheet, a rubber strip, sealing strips, and a wiper head. The steel sheet is attached to the connector. Two ends of the steel sheet are sleeved by the sealing strips. The connector is connected to the wiper head. The steel sheet is an integrated structure, wherein a long groove is longitudinally arranged in the middle of the steel sheet. The long groove has an inlet opening on one end. The rubber strip is clipped in the long groove of the steel sheet. The wiper exerts even forces on glass, has an artistic appearance and curved shape, can effectively reduce the wind resistance and improves the effectiveness of rain wiping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Inventor: Xianbo Shen
  • Patent number: 9421946
    Abstract: An arrangement to reduce refreezing of meltable snow includes a wiper arm configured to wipe the meltable snow from an ambient-facing surface of a window positioned on a vehicle. The arrangement also includes a sensor coupled to the wiper arm that is configured to gather and transmit a parameter on the vehicle and environment. The arrangement also includes a processor that is configured to receiving the parameter, determining refreezability of the meltable snow based on the parameter, and defining an action to be performed by the wiper arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: John R Dangler, Thomas D Kidd
  • Patent number: 9421948
    Abstract: The invention is based on a wiper blade (10) with a supporting bracket system which can be connected to a wiper arm in an articulated manner and has at least one main bracket (12, 24) and a plurality of secondary brackets (24, 28) which are connected pivotably to one another by means of joints (20, 26), wherein, in the region of at least one joint (20, 26), the main bracket (12, 24) has a U-shaped cross-sectional profile, the side walls (18, 44) of which laterally enclose the secondary brackets (24, 28), and, on the insides of the side walls (44), has pivots (50) which, together with lateral clip cutouts (54) on the secondary bracket (28), form a clip connection and a bearing point, while the secondary bracket (28) is supported via a rolling bearing (34, 66) on a top wall (58) of the main bracket (24).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Inigo Op't Roodt, David Van Baelen
  • Patent number: 9421951
    Abstract: The present invention relates a wiper assembly having an elongated wiping element, a pair of elongated splines, and a pair of end caps. The wiping element has a head portion and a wiping portion. The splines support the wiping element and each has opposing longitudinal ends, lateral sides, top and bottom surfaces, a first pair of notches disposed at the longitudinal ends, and a second pair of notches disposed along the lateral sides spaced from the end. The end caps are mounted to the ends and have a body defined by a shell extending from a distal surface, a pair of lower shelves extending from the surface facing each other, a valley between the shelves, mounts extending from the surface and engaging the first notches, and resilient tabs extending from the mounts and having hook sections disposed within each of the second notches of the splines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: Trico Products Corporation
    Inventor: John Foss
  • Patent number: 9421949
    Abstract: A wiper for a vehicle is provided with: an arm-side connection section; a blade-side connection section; support shafts which protrude from side walls of the blade-side connection section; and shaft support recesses which are provided in the arm-side connection section. When a wiper blade is located in a mounting-dismounting enabled region, the mounting-dismounting openings and the small-diameter sections of the support shafts match with each other, and the support shafts and the shaft support recesses can be mounted to and dismounted from each other. When the wiper blade is located in a mounting-dismounting disabled region, the mounting-dismounting openings and the small-diameter sections do not match with each other, and the support shafts and the shaft support recesses cannot be mounted to and dismounted from each other. A shape retaining section is located between the pair of the shaft support recesses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: ASMO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Keita Uchiyama, Kei Hirata
  • Patent number: 9415750
    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 and a connecting device for a oscillating arm comprising two longitudinal arm sections connected to each other by means of a curved intermediate section and a resilient tongue engaging in a correspondingly shaped hole provided in the oscillating arm, wherein the resilient tongue comprises at least two, spaced-apart, downwardly extending protrusions, wherein a first protrusion is adapted to engage in a correspondingly shaped hole provided in an oscillating arm of a first type, and wherein a second protrusion is adapted to engage in a correspondingly shaped hole provided in an oscillating arm of a second type, the oscillating arms of the first and the second types mutually differing in the distance between their respective longitudinal arm sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul S.A.
    Inventor: Sophie Genet
  • Patent number: 9403510
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a wiper brush appendage that easily attaches to a wiper blade to aid in the removal of compacted solids, insect remains, light frost and the like. The wiper brush appendage is an elongated member of pliable plastic, such as one of the varieties of thermoplastics. The invention has a slot on the top side that runs the entire length that easily spreads to allow it to encompass a wiper blade, as well as multiple rows of brush hairs along the underside. It has a specific inside pocket with inturned flanges and small depressions that put pressure on the wiper blade and limits the movement of the invention while in use. Once installed over the wiper, the user turns on the wiper assembly and the brushes scrub against the windshield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Inventors: Dean Randolph Ranucci, Peter William Ranucci
  • Patent number: 9393934
    Abstract: A windscreen wiper arm, particularly for automobiles, has a mounting head mountable on a drive shaft and an arm member pivotally connected to the mounting head by means of a pivot pin, wherein the arm member has a substantially U-shaped cross-section near the pivot pin comprising two side walls, wherein a part of the mounting head extends between the side walls and beyond the pivot pin, wherein the part is provided with opposite abutting surfaces for abutting against the side walls of the arm member; structure is provided on the mounting head and the arm member for limiting a pivot angle of the arm member, in the form of at least one guiding groove on one of the abutting surfaces of the part of the mounting head, as well as at least one outwardly extending finger on the arm member cooperating with the guiding groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul S.A.
    Inventor: Xavier Boland
  • Patent number: 9387825
    Abstract: The invention relates to a wiping device, in particular a wiping device for a motor vehicle pane, comprising a retaining unit (10a-10e) that has a retaining element (12a-12e) with a longitudinal guide channel (14a-14e) for guiding a spring element (16a-16e), and comprising a spoiler unit (22a-22e). According to the invention, the spoiler unit (22a-22e) lies at least partially at the side of the retaining element (12a-12e) in the region of the longitudinal guide channel (14a-14e).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Koen Bex, Helmut Depondt, Dirk Herinckx
  • Patent number: 9387829
    Abstract: A windshield wiper connector includes a connecting plate, a connector main body, and a lock member. The connecting plate has a lock hole, a first limit protrusion, and a second protrusion. The connector main body has a connecting part for connecting a wiper arm. The connector main body has a first flange, a second flange, a first limit slot, a second limit slot, and at least one elastic claw. The lock member is to fix the connecting plate to a wiper rod. The present invention can use all the useful parts, and the connecting part is adjustably designed so it can be used widely.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: XIAMEN FUKE CAR ACCESSORIES CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Shuwu Wang
  • Patent number: 9387828
    Abstract: An adapter for a windshield wiper assembly includes a head having a sloping portion, and a body connected to the head, the body including a pommel that contacts the head, a notch formed in the body adjacent the pommel, a back extending away from the notch, and a recess formed under the back. The head is narrower in width than the body, and longer in length than the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: ALBEREE PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventor: Albert Lee
  • Patent number: 9387830
    Abstract: The invention is based on a connecting device (10) for the articulated connection of a wiper blade (11) to a wiper arm (24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34), said connecting device having a connecting element (16) which is connected to a supporting element (22) of the wiper blade (11) for conjoint rotation and on which an adaptor (18) is mounted pivotably transversely with respect to the longitudinal direction thereof, said adaptor being able to be fastened releasably and for conjoint rotation to the free end of the wiper arm (24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34) or to a joining element (36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46) connected fixedly to the latter, wherein the adaptor (18) has a plurality of means (80, 96, 100, 102, 122, 126, 130, 134, 144) in order to be able to receive different joining elements (36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46) of different wiper arms (24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34), wherein the means include stop edges (86), spring latches (88), locking cams (100), spring clips (122) and spring tongues (128, 132) with latching cams (130, 134).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Helmut Depondt