Patents Examined by Gary Graham
  • Patent number: 9371058
    Abstract: A system for maintaining a wiper blade generally perpendicular to a curved windshield as the wiper moves throughout its stroke. A four bar linkage system is coupled to a first bevel gear causing it to drive a second bevel gear coupled to the wiper, thereby maintaining the wiper in a generally perpendicular orientation relative to the curved windshield. The windshield wiper system may be used as a single blade or may be used in tandem with blades running either independently or in a synchronized manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: Hagie Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Aaron Goddard
  • Patent number: 9365189
    Abstract: A windscreen wiper device comprising an elastic, elongated carrier element, as well as an elongated wiper blade of a flexible material, which can be placed in abutment with a windscreen to be wiped, which wiper blade includes opposing longitudinal grooves on its longitudinal sides, in which grooves spaced-apart longitudinal strips of the carrier element are disposed, wherein neighboring ends of said longitudinal strips are interconnected by a respective connecting piece, which windscreen wiper device comprises a connecting device for an oscillating arm, wherein the oscillating arm is pivotally connected to the connecting device about a pivot axis near one end, with the special feature that the connecting device comprises at least two parts provided with protrusion/hole features for detachably connecting the parts together, wherein the first part is retained onto the wiper blade and wherein the second part has an at least substantially U-shaped cross-section at the location of its connection to said first part
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul S.A.
    Inventor: Xavier Boland
  • Patent number: 9358958
    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 vertical axis (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Mike Obert, Andreas Benner, Eckhard Lichtenthaler
  • Patent number: 9358957
    Abstract: A windscreen wiper device includes an elastic, elongated carrier element, as well as an elongated wiper blade, which can be placed in abutment with a windscreen to be wiped. The wiper blade includes an upper holding part holding at least one longitudinal strip of the carrier element disposed in at least one longitudinal groove of the upper holding part, as well as a lower wiping part, which windscreen wiper device includes a connecting device for an oscillating arm. The oscillating arm is pivotally connected to a rod of the connecting device about a pivot axis near one end thereof, with the interposition of a joint part, wherein the connecting device includes limitation means for limiting the maximum rotation angle of the pivotal movement of the oscillating arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul S.A.
    Inventor: Xavier Boland
  • Patent number: 9358956
    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: June 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    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: 9352725
    Abstract: A connecting arrangement for connecting a wiper blade to a wiper arm for a windscreen wiper system of a vehicle. An adaptor for holding the wiper blade is fitted onto the wiper arm in an installation direction running transversely with respect to a wiping surface definable by the wiping movement of the wiper blade. The connecting arrangement includes a securing element designed as a sliding latch arranged on the wiper arm. The sliding latch, which has a U-profile in cross section, serves for the positionally secured holding of the adaptor on the wiper arm, and the sliding latch is displaceable along the wiper arm from an installation position into a functional position securing the adaptor. The sliding latch has a back and two limbs, and at least one projection engaging around the wiper arm on the lower side is arranged on the limbs of the sliding latch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Richard Duesterhoeft, Christina Nestler, Heiko Schmid
  • Patent number: 9340183
    Abstract: The invention relates to a support device for a windscreen-wiper blade comprising a wiping strip (3) and a structure element (8), the device having an open section (5a) designed for receiving the wiping strip (3) of the windscreen-wiper blade (2), to allow it to be held substantially flat. According to the invention, the support device (1) comprises, means (7) for positioning the windscreen-wiper blade (2) in the support device (1), means (6) for attaching the windscreen-wiper blade (2) in the support device (1), said attachment means being in the form of at least one attachment point (6a) acting on the structure element (8) of the windscreen-wiper blade (2). The invention also relates to a support assembly for windscreen-wiper blades comprising two support devices, a packaging integrating a support device or assembly and a method of mounting a windscreen-wiper blade in a support device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Valeo Systèmes d'Essuyage
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Jehannet, Nathalie Baticle
  • Patent number: 9333948
    Abstract: The invention relates to a connecting device (10) for connecting a joining element (46, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60, 62, 64, 66) of a wiper arm to a wiper blade (12) in an articulated manner, the supporting element (16) of said wiper blade being rigidly connected to a connecting element (20) of the connecting device (10). The connecting element (20) has at least one mounting web (26) which runs in the longitudinal direction, protrudes into the interior of an adapter (36, 38, 40, 42, 44), and supports a mounting pin (28) that runs transversely to the longitudinal direction. The adapter (36, 38, 40, 42, 44) is pivotably mounted on said mounting pin by mounting means (88), and the adapter (36, 38, 40, 42, 44) is detachably connected to the joining element (46, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60, 62, 64, 66).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Helmut Depondt
  • Patent number: 9327687
    Abstract: A conventional wiper blade has such drawbacks that during the wiper portion is moved on the surface of the windshield in order to remove rainwater etc. attached on the surface of the windshield, the rainwater etc. trapped by the wiper portion flows from a free end portion of the wiper portion to the surface of the windshield by the centrifugal force applied to the trapped rainwater etc., so that the visibility of the windshield is lowered. [Manner for solve the Task] The wiper device of the present invention comprises a wiper portion having a lip portion sliding on a surface of the vehicle windshield for wiping the surface of the windshield, and a rainwater reserving portion formed on one side surface of a tip end portion of the lip portion, the rainwater reserving portion being extending normally to and outwardly from one side surface of the tip end portion of the lip portion and having a concave rearward surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: Trend East Yugen Kaisha
    Inventor: Keiji Tatsumi
  • Patent number: 9327686
    Abstract: A vehicle wiper device includes a wiper arm, a drive source, a drive shaft that is pivoted by the drive source, and a wiper arm urging member. The wiper arm urging member includes a swing member, an inclination member, a rod, and a compression spring. The inclination member includes a wiper fixing portion and a drawing portion. The rod includes a basal end supported by the drawing portion. A first end of the compression spring is supported by the swing member and the second end applies an urging force to a distal end of the rod. The compression spring acts to draw the drawing portion and urge a distal end of the wiper arm toward a wiped surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: ASMO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Atsushi Kato, Keigo Hikida, Yoshihisa Banno
  • Patent number: 9321431
    Abstract: A windscreen wiper device includes an elastic, elongated carrier element, as well as an elongated wiper blade, which can be placed in abutment with a windscreen to be wiped, which wiper blade includes at least one longitudinal groove in which a longitudinal strip of the carrier element is disposed, which windscreen wiper device comprises a connecting device for an oscillating arm, wherein the oscillating arm is pivotally connected to the connecting device about a pivot axis near one end thereof, with the interposition of a joint part, wherein the windscreen wiper device comprises a cover element mounted movable onto the connecting device between a closed position wherein an open end of the connecting device is covered and an open position wherein the oscillating arm can be mounted onto or removed from the connecting device through the open end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul S.A.
    Inventor: Sophie Genet
  • Patent number: 9315171
    Abstract: A wiper device includes: a pivot shaft that rotates back and forth within a predetermined angular range; an arm head that is fixed to the pivot shaft; a cover that is mounted to the arm head; and a wiper arm that is pivotally supported on the arm head to come into and out of contact with a surface to be wiped. The wiper arm includes an engagement concave portion that extends in a longitudinal direction of the wiper arm at a side portion in a pivot direction of the wiper arm. The cover includes an engagement convex portion that extends in the longitudinal direction of the wiper arm. Relative movement of the wiper arm and the cover is restricted by engagement between an engagement wall portion of the engagement concave portion and the engagement convex portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, ASMO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Akira Matsuura, Junya Nogami, Kei Hirata, Takashi Umeno, Masanori Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 9302652
    Abstract: The invention is based on a wiper device for a motor vehicle window, with a wiper arm adapter unit (10a 10j) and a wiper blade adapter unit (12a 12j), which, in a fitted state, form a form-fitting connection. It is proposed that the wiper device has at least one movably mounted latching means (56a 56j) for restricting the wiper arm adapter unit (10a 10j) in the freedom of movement thereof, in the fitted state, at least substantially in a vertical direction (44a 44j) of the wiper blade adapter unit (12a 12j).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Helmut Depondt
  • Patent number: 9296362
    Abstract: A windshield wiper (1,1a) with an even pressing force is connected to a driving arm (2) and includes a primary wiper frame (10,10a), two auxiliary wiper frames (20,20a), connecting frames (30,30a), and a wiper blade (40,40a). The primary wiper frame (10,10a) includes a fixing base (11,11a) connected to the driving arm (2). The auxiliary wiper frames (20,20a) are disposed on both ends of the primary wiper frame (10,10a). Each auxiliary wiper frame (20,20a) includes an elastic piece (21,21a) and a pivotal base (22,22a) fixed to the elastic piece (21,21a) and pivotally connected to the primary wiper frame (10,10a). The connecting frames (30,30a) are evenly provided on each auxiliary wiper frame (20). Each connecting frame (30) includes a pressing piece (31,31a) and buckling brackets (32,32a). The wiper blade (40,40a) is disposed through the buckling brackets (32,32a) to be connected below the pressing piece (31,31a).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: DANYANG UPC AUTO PARTS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chih-Ming Yang, Chuan-Chih Chang
  • Patent number: 9290155
    Abstract: A protective cover for a windshield wiper blade is provided. The cover may be secured on a windshield, or windscreen, in line with any windshield wipers adapted for use on a motor vehicle such as an automobile, watercraft, or even aircraft. The cover comprises a shell sized to envelop at least a blade portion of a windshield wiper when such wiper is not in use. The shell is defined, in part, by a rear flap that is hingedly engaged along a back edge of a base and releaseable from a closed position. In operation, an activated windshield wiper will automatically exit the shell to displace water and debris on the windshield by pressing the rear flap into an open position as it pivots across a windshield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Inventor: Andrey Isayan
  • Patent number: 9276523
    Abstract: Embodiments disclose automated systems and methods for washing solar panels. The solar panels may be arranged in rows with varying lengths. A washing device unit may be configured to clean a first row, and a second washing may be configured to clean a second row, wherein the first row may include more solar panels than the first row. The first washing device may be configured to receive cleaning fluid from a fluid source and supply the cleaning fluid to the second washing device in areas that the second row is adjacent to the first row.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Inventor: Cory Berendez
  • Patent number: 9266505
    Abstract: A flat-blade type wiper apparatus includes: a wiper lip; a spoiler-integrated lever that prevents the wiper lip from floating on the windshield of a vehicle; a vertebra that elastically supports the wiper lip; and an end cap that prevents the wiper lip from slipping in a direction of a length of the vertebra, wherein a cap fixing hole is disposed at one end of the vertebra and passes through an upper surface and a lower surface of the vertebra; a first stopper protrudes from a ceiling surface of the end cap in a downward direction and couples to the cap fixing hole; and a second stopper protrudes from a sidewall of the end cap toward the wiper lip, and prevents the wiper lip from slipping by being accommodated in a coupling groove that is formed in the wiper lip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: Dongyang Mechatronics Corp.
    Inventors: Wi Yeong Park, Sung Jun Yoon
  • Patent number: 9266504
    Abstract: The invention relates to a wiper blade (10) in a flat bar construction, having a rubber-elastic wiper strip (14), in the lateral longitudinal grooves (24) of which two band-shaped spring rails (28) which extend next to each other in a parallel manner and which are bent concavely toward a wiper lip (16) are inserted as support elements which protrude laterally out of the longitudinal grooves (24), and which are held together and attached to each other at the ends thereof by end caps (36) which, on the longitudinal sides thereof, have guide profiles (44) having a u-shaped cross section, the side jaws (46, 48, 60) of which are guided on the portions of the associated spring rail (28), which protrude out of the longitudinal grooves (24), wherein the end caps (36) comprise spring tongues having engagement lugs (50, 62) which engage in recesses (30) of the spring rails (28) and attach same in the assembly direction (52).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Peter De Block
  • Patent number: 9260082
    Abstract: A wiper arm assembly is adapted to support a wiper blade as it moves across a surface to be wiped. The wiper arm assembly includes a body and a head supported by the body and adapted to be mounted to a pivot shaft that defines a pivot axis P and drives the wiper blade in an oscillating manner across the surface to be wiped. The body also includes an opening providing access to the head mounted to the pivot shaft. The wiper arm assembly includes a cover pivotally mounted to the body at the opening and is movable about an axis A substantially perpendicular to the pivot axis P from a first position closing the opening to a second position allowing access to the head. A locking mechanism on the cover locks the cover to a nut on the pivot shaft to retain the cover in the first position closing the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: TRICO PRODUCTS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kyle Moll
  • Patent number: 9260083
    Abstract: An automobile wiper includes a fixed frame, a swing arm, a first pressing wing, a swing casing, a second pressing wing and a wiper blade. The fixed frame includes a fixed base and a fixed arm installed at the bottom of the fixed base, and the swing arm is pivotally coupled to a side of the fixed arm, and the first pressing wing is combined with an end of the swing arm, and the swing casing is coupled to the other end of the swing arm, and the second pressing wing is pivotally coupled to the swing casing, and the wiper blade is combined with the bottom of the first pressing wing and the second pressing wing, and the wiper blade is pressed by the first pressing wing and the second pressing wing and engaged flatly with a glass surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: SCAN TOP ENTERPRISE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chih-Ming Yang, Chuan-Chih Chang