Abstract: A windshield wiper assembly for an automobile, comprising a wiper arm, a wiper blade, a plurality of double claw fixtures pivotally mounted onto the wiper arm and adapted to support the wiper blade on the wiper arm, and an actuator adapted to selectively induce rotation of the wiper blade along a longitudinal axis of the wiper blade relative to the wiper arm, each of the double claw fixtures adapted to rotatably support the wiper blade.

Abstract: A windshield wiper assembly for an automobile, comprising a wiper arm, a wiper blade, a plurality of double claw fixtures pivotally mounted onto the wiper arm and adapted to support the wiper blade on the wiper arm, and an actuator adapted to selectively induce rotation of the wiper blade along a longitudinal axis of the wiper blade relative to the wiper arm, each of the double claw fixtures adapted to rotatably support the wiper blade.

Abstract: Segment openings are formed in a metal sheet separated by uncut sections at a first processing station, which define an inner blank portion of the metal flow opening. At a second processing station, the uncut sections and the inner blank portion initially transfer stress around the segment openings and across the interior flow opening during a forming operation. During the forming operation, a protrusion of one mold member contacts a first side of the inner blank portion of the interior flow opening. In addition, another mold member is contact the opposite side of the metal sheet so that the mold members cooperate to separate all but one of the uncut sections by which the inner blank portion remains attached to the metal sheet. In this way, the interior metal flow opening is completed without piercing the metal sheet at the second processing station during the forming operation.

Abstract: A wiper system incorporates a wiper motor provided with a wireless interface to provide electric power and control signals to the wiper motor. Thus, a direct electric/signal wire connection to the wiper motor is eliminated. A wireless transmitter may be provided within a first body portion of a vehicle and a wireless receiver and a wiper motor are provided in a second body portion of the vehicle. The second body portion may be moveable relative to the first body portion, such as, for example, a lift gate moving relative to a body opening.

Abstract: A wiper system incorporates a wiper motor provided with a wireless interface to provide electric power and control signals to the wiper motor. Thus, a direct electric/signal wire connection to the wiper motor is eliminated. A wireless transmitter may be provided within a first body portion of a vehicle and a wireless receiver and a wiper motor are provided in a second body portion of the vehicle. The second body portion may be moveable relative to the first body portion, such as, for example, a lift gate moving relative to a body opening.

Abstract: A washer for a vehicle includes a reservoir, a pump disposed within the reservoir and a motor operatively coupled to the pump to drive the pump responsive to an energizing electric power signal. A first transceiver is arranged to wirelessly provide the energizing electric power signal, a second transceiver is wirelessly coupled to the first transceiver to receive the energizing electric power signal. The second transceiver is further coupled to the motor to provide the energizing electric power to the motor. The washer system may further include a sensor disposed within the reservoir with the sensor being operatively coupled to the second transceiver.

Abstract: Wiper apparatuses are provided herein. In one example, a wiper apparatus includes a wiper that has a wiper arm and a wiper blade. The wiper blade is mounted to the wiper arm for contact with a window of a motor vehicle. A wiper drive motor pivots the wiper arm between an out-wipe position and an in-wipe position. A controller controls operation of the wiper drive motor to cause the wiper drive motor to selectively stop the wiper blade in a standard park position when in a standard park mode and in a high park position when in a high park mode. The wiper blade in the high park position is located further up from a bottom edge of the window than in the standard park position. A wiper control switch causes the controller to toggle between the standard park mode and the high park mode when moved according to a predetermined switching sequence.

Abstract: Wiper apparatuses are provided herein. In one example, a wiper apparatus includes a wiper that has a wiper arm and a wiper blade. The wiper blade is mounted to the wiper arm for contact with a window of a motor vehicle. A wiper drive motor pivots the wiper arm between an out-wipe position and an in-wipe position. A controller controls operation of the wiper drive motor to cause the wiper drive motor to selectively stop the wiper blade in a standard park position when in a standard park mode and in a high park position when in a high park mode. The wiper blade in the high park position is located further up from a bottom edge of the window than in the standard park position. A wiper control switch causes the controller to toggle between the standard park mode and the high park mode when moved according to a predetermined switching sequence.

Abstract: A pumping assembly is provided. The assembly includes a first movable element selectively movable within a first pump housing and an actuator including an active material. The active material is configured to undergo a change in attribute in response to an activation signal. The active material is operatively connected to the first movable element such that the change in attribute causes the first movable element to move within the first pump housing. In one example, the active material is a shape memory alloy material having a crystallographic phase that is changeable between Austenite and Martensite in response to the activation signal.

Abstract: A multi-nozzle spray head washer fluid delivery system which utilizes both a wide spray pattern nozzle and a narrow spray pattern nozzle to provide selective adjustment of the spray pattern delivered to the surface of the windshield. A control system incorporates either or both of an autonomous selection of spray pattern and driver selection of spray pattern.

Abstract: A pumping assembly is provided. The assembly includes a first movable element selectively movable within a first pump housing and an actuator including an active material. The active material is configured to undergo a change in attribute in response to an activation signal. The active material is operatively connected to the first movable element such that the change in attribute causes the first movable element to move within the first pump housing. In one example, the active material is a shape memory alloy material having a crystallographic phase that is changeable between Austenite and Martensite in response to the activation signal.

Abstract: A vehicle wiper assembly includes a wiper blade configured to wipe a surface, an armature, and an actuator. The armature has a first end spaced from a second end, and is coupled with the wiper blade at the first end, and coupled to a pivot mechanism at the second end. The pivot mechanism is configured to allow the wiper blade to articulate about the second end in a direction substantially away from the surface and between a wiping position and a parked position. The actuator is provided in mechanical communication with the armature and is configured to receive an electrical actuation signal to transition the wiper blade between a wiping position and the parked position, where the wiper blade is in contact with the surface while in the wiping position, and is separated from the surface while in the parked position.

Abstract: A method of operating a wiper system on a window of a vehicle. The method comprising: setting a park position for a wiper to one of a standard park position or a high park position, where the standard park position locates a wiper blade of the wiper closer to a bottom edge of the window; activating the wiper system to cause the wiper to be pivoted back and forth between an in-wipe position and an out-wipe position; deactivating the wiper system; if the park position is set to the standard park position when the wiper system is deactivated, stopping movement of the wiper when the wiper blade is in the standard park position; and if the park position is set to the high park position when the wiper system is deactivated, stopping movement of the wiper when the wiper blade is in the high park position.

Abstract: A multi-nozzle spray head washer fluid delivery system which utilizes both a wide spray pattern nozzle and a narrow spray pattern nozzle to provide selective adjustment of the spray pattern delivered to the surface of the windshield. A control system incorporates either or both of an autonomous selection of spray pattern and driver selection of spray pattern.

Abstract: A method of operating a wiper system on a window of a vehicle. The method comprising: setting a park position for a wiper to one of a standard park position or a high park position, where the standard park position locates a wiper blade of the wiper closer to a bottom edge of the window; activating the wiper system to cause the wiper to be pivoted back and forth between an in-wipe position and an out-wipe position; deactivating the wiper system; if the park position is set to the standard park position when the wiper system is deactivated, stopping movement of the wiper when the wiper blade is in the standard park position; and if the park position is set to the high park position when the wiper system is deactivated, stopping movement of the wiper when the wiper blade is in the high park position.

Abstract: An automotive glass washer arrangement includes a washer pump having an outlet in fluid connection with at least one automotive glass washer nozzle. The arrangement comprises a fluid coupling having a female element with a chamber therein. A replaceable filter is disposed in the chamber. The fluid coupling further has a male element connected to the female element wherein the female element is in fluid communication with the washer pump and the male element is in fluid communication with the at least one nozzle. In a preferred embodiment, the female element is connected to the washer pump with a first hose and the male element is connected to the washer nozzle with a second hose.

Abstract: A windshield wiper blade cleaning system for a vehicle includes a plurality of wiper blades for movement across a windshield of a vehicle. The windshield wiper blade cleaning system includes a nozzle body adapted to be disposed in an air intake plenum of the vehicle and connected to a source of fluid. The nozzle body has a nozzle to extend above the wiper blades in response to fluid pressure from the source of fluid to spray the fluid through the nozzle and onto the wiper blades to clean the wiper blades.