Specific Coupling Or Mounting For A Driving Means Or Between A Cleaning Element And Means Linking It To The Driving Means Patents (Class 15/250.31)
  • Patent number: 8136199
    Abstract: A location space in an engine compartment is made smaller. A DR-side wiper motor and an AS-side wiper motor are arranged within a projection area of a windshield into a cabin of a vehicle in comparison with a DR-side pivot holder and an AS-side pivot holder. Therefore, a location space of each wiper apparatus inside an engine compartment can be made smaller, and can further improve a degree of freedom of design on a vehicle side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignees: Mitsuba Corporation, Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masatoshi Nakamura, Nobuhide Hayakawa
  • Patent number: 8122559
    Abstract: A wiper motor has an output shaft, which is reciprocally pivoted forward and backward upon energization of the wiper motor and outputs a drive force for driving first and second wiper arms. A crank arm is integrally pivotably fixed to the output shaft. First and second connecting rods are pivotably connected to first and second connecting points, respectively, of the crank arm. A first lever arrangement is connected between the first connecting rod and the first wiper arm to reciprocally pivot the first wiper arm upon reciprocal movement of the first connecting rod. A second lever arrangement is connected between the second connecting rod and the second wiper arm to reciprocally pivot the second wiper arm upon reciprocal movement of the second connecting rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: ASMO Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takashi Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 8117710
    Abstract: The invention relates to a windshield wiper device (10), in particular for a motor vehicle, comprising a support (12), on which a bearing (18) is arranged, which supports a wiper shaft (22). In this case, a retaining element (20) is provided, which detachably connects the bearing (18) to the support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Achim Kraus, Francois Schabanel
  • Patent number: 8104135
    Abstract: A swing lever is fixed to a pivot shaft to pivot the pivot shaft about a pivot axis thereof. A wiper arm is directly connected to a distal end portion of the pivot shaft and is pivoted together with the pivot shaft about the pivot axis of the pivot shaft when the pivot shaft is driven by the swing lever. The wiper arm is pivotable about a pivot axis thereof, which is generally perpendicular to or is tilted relative to the pivot axis of the pivot shaft, toward or away from a wiping surface. A coil spring is directly or indirectly connected between the wiper arm and the swing lever to exert an urging force to urge the wiper arm toward the wiping surface in a wiping operational position of the wiper arm for wiping the wiping surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Asmo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Matsumoto, Masahiko Yamanishi
  • Patent number: 8104134
    Abstract: The invention relates to a windshield wiper device, in particular for a motor vehicle, comprising a fastening device (10) for fastening the windshield wiper device to the motor vehicle. Until now windshield wiper devices were mainly fastened to the vehicle body by means of screwed connections and plugging locations. The objective of the invention is reducing the assembly effort for fastening the windshield wiper device to the vehicle body. As a result, the inventive windshield wiper device can be clamped firmly to a vehicle body panel (13) by the fastening device (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Jean-Marc Ritt
  • Patent number: 8069706
    Abstract: The invention relates to a waste water immersion probe (10) comprising a liquid-tight housing (11), a sensor (18) which is disposed in the housing (11) and a sensor window (20) formed on the housing (11). A wiper element (22) for cleaning the sensor window (20) is arranged on the outside of the sensor window (20), and the wiper element (22) is driven by a drive motor (24) which is arranged essentially in the housing (11). The housing is devoid of openings. A magnetic element (36, 37) is associated with the drive motor (24) and a magnetic element (34, 35) is associated with the wiper element (22) in such a manner that the magnetic drive motor element (36, 37) produces a magnetic field which transverses the housing wall and transmits a drive torque to the wiper element (22) without a shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Hach Lange GmbH
    Inventors: Manfred Battefeld, Andreas Jonak, Lothar Heidemanns, Axel Leyer, Michael Schuster
  • Patent number: 8052802
    Abstract: A rear wiper assembly that moves to a parked position located out of contact with the rear windshield upon the occurrence of a specified condition. Upon resuming the normal operation of the rear wiper assembly the rear wiper arm waits a first delay prior to moving to a flip position located on the rear windshield and then waits a second delay prior to resuming its normal oscillation across the rear windshield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Michael Binfet, John Sgueglia, Dave Peterson
  • Patent number: 8046866
    Abstract: A wiper support shaft supports a wiper, which wipes a windshield glass. The wiper support shaft projects outward through an opening of a cowl louver that is placed on a vehicle front side of the windshield glass. A four-bar linkage drives the wiper support shaft to move the wiper support shaft in the opening of the cowl louver in such a manner that a wiping range of the wiper, which is installed to the wiper support shaft, changes on the windshield glass. A covering member is supported by the wiper support shaft at a location inside the cowl louver to limit direct viewing of the four-bar linkage through the opening of the cowl louver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Asmo Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takashi Hasegawa
  • Publication number: 20110258802
    Abstract: The invention relates to a wiper blade (10) comprising a connecting element (26), which comprises a base element (28) and a hinge element (68), wherein the base element (28) has a first side part (30) and a second side part (32), which are joined transversely to a longitudinal direction (40) by locking means (54, 56) and centering means (46, 48, 50, 52) interlocking, and which are held together by side walls (72) of the hinge element (68). It is proposed that the hinge element (68) is an adapter cap (68) made of plastic which comprises on the insides of the side walls (72) thereof clips (86), which in the installed state engage in recesses (66) on the outer longitudinal sides of the side parts (30, 32).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2009
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Applicant: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Inigo Op't Roodt, Helmut Depondt, Yves Janssis, Dirk Herinckx
  • Publication number: 20110232021
    Abstract: A windscreen wiper drive (300) for a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, comprises a crank device (320) which can be driven by a drive shaft (310) of an electric motor. A recess in the crank device (320) assumes an end section of the drive shaft (310), wherein an axial position of the crank device (320) on the drive shaft (310) is defined by a shoulder which bounds the recess.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2009
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventor: Lothar Trenkle
  • Patent number: 8020247
    Abstract: A rear spoiler includes a depth end wall, which bounds an accommodation space, which accommodates a wiper blade upon positioning of the wiper blade in a stop position. A distance between the depth end wall and the wiper blade in the stop position measured in a direction generally parallel to a surface of a window glass, which is wiped by the wiper blade, is set such that the distance between the depth end wall and a first longitudinal side of the wiper blade, which is opposite from the pivot axis, is larger than the distance between the depth end wall and a second longitudinal side of the wiper blade, which is opposite from the first longitudinal side of the wiper blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: ASMO Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Katou, Eiji Ina
  • Publication number: 20110197385
    Abstract: In order to reduce the extent of assembly, the invention proposes a wiper system (1) having a wiper drive (3) for driving a wiper linkage (10, 11, 12), wherein the wiper system (1) is connected to the vehicle at three positions, wherein two positions are provided at both wiper bearings (20, 21) for the wiper linkage (10, 11, 12). According to the invention, a plug-in connection (25, 30) is provided on the wiper drive (3) for connecting the wiper system (1) to the vehicle at the third position such that an elongated plug-in element (25), protruding laterally from the wiper drive (3), is provided for supporting forces and torques toward the vehicle coming from the wiper system (1), which engages into a correspondingly configured plug receptacle (30) at the end that is held on the vehicle for the torque-supporting removable connection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2008
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Applicant: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Guenter Bauer, Andreas Benner, Martin Steinmetz, Jan Dietrich, Achim Kraus
  • Patent number: 7979949
    Abstract: An actuator for rotating an oscillating disk is mounted on a rear door. A pivot shaft provided with a lever is rotatably supported on a rear door glass. The lever is provided with a first elastic portion and second elastic portions. When the rear door glass is open, the first elastic member contacts the lever between the first restrictor and the lever. As a result, the rotation of the lever toward the outside of a first angle range by a first rotational force or less is restricted. The second elastic portion contacts the lever between the first restrictor and the lever even if the lever rotates toward the outside of a second angle range by a rotational force greater than the first rotational force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: ASMO Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jirou Kamiya, Tamaki Asakura, Nozomu Tsunekawa
  • Publication number: 20110131750
    Abstract: A wiper for a vehicle including: a wiper stripe; a plurality of supports combined with the wiper strip; first and second yokes slidably supporting the plurality of supports; a first auxiliary lever having one end combined with a middle portion of the first yoke; a second auxiliary lever having one end combined with a middle portion of the second yoke; and a primary lever having one end combined with the first auxiliary lever and another end combined with the second auxiliary lever and including an arm combination hole in which a wiper arm is combined with a center of the primary lever, wherein the primary lever is combined with the first auxiliary lever and the second auxiliary lever, the first auxiliary lever and the first yoke are combined with each other, and the second auxiliary lever and the second yoke are combined with each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2010
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Inventors: Hyuk Bai Kwon, Young Eun Cho
  • Patent number: 7954198
    Abstract: A windshield wiper assembly is provided having a unitary wiper arm and post, and a mechanical linkage for receiving the post and moving the arm. The post has a breakaway feature for breaking the post in response to impact. The wiper includes a head partially containing a center post and a button biased with a spring and connected to the center post for releasing the post from the linkage. The post and linkage include a captive ball and mating groove that are mutually engageable for securing the post to the linkage. Alternately, the post has a quick-connect end having a groove and the linkage has a receiving portion with a retractable collar and captive ball bearings. A vehicle is also provided including a windshield, a windshield wiper having a post, a wiper motor, and a mechanical linkage having an opening for receiving the post and powering the wiper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Paul W. Renius, Sheryl Wolf, David A. Pritchard
  • Publication number: 20110119856
    Abstract: A window wiper device for a vehicle has a driving motor, the motor shaft of which is kinematically coupled to an output shaft, wherein the motor shaft and output shaft are releasably drive-connected via a connecting means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2010
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Applicant: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Michael Reith, Roland Bohn, Orlando Sterns
  • Publication number: 20110113581
    Abstract: A windscreen wiper device comprising an elastic, elongated carrier element, as well as an elongated wiper blade, which includes at least one longitudinal groove, in which groove a longitudinal strip of the carrier element is disposed and comprises a connecting device for an oscillating arm, the wiper blade comprises an elongated upper holding part and an elongated lower wiping part of a flexible material, wherein the holding part comprises downwardly extending side arms, seen in cross-section, for holding the wiper part from the outside in a lateral region thereof, wherein the at least one longitudinal groove having a open circumference is provided on the holding part at an upper side thereof facing away from the wiping part, and wherein the connecting device and the strip are provided with mutually cooperating protrusion/hole means for interconnecting the connecting device and the strip through a snapping connection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2009
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Inventor: Xavier Boland
  • Patent number: 7941892
    Abstract: Windshield wiper device for a motor vehicle with at least one molded tube (10) to accommodate a drive shaft to drive at least one wiper arm, wherein the at least one molded tube (10) can be attached to a holding element (11) that can be connected to the body, and to a stub (12) accommodating a mounting plate tube, and connecting bridges (14, 15) are provided to attach the at least one molded tube (10) to the holding element (11) and/or to the stub (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Achim Kraus, Jan Dietrich
  • Publication number: 20110107542
    Abstract: The invention relates to a wiper blade (10) having a wiper strip (50), the head strip (56) of which is held by a receiving profile (30, 62, 70), which is connected to a longitudinal channel (60) for a support element (12), wherein a connecting element (16) is provided in the center region of the wiper blade (10) for the articulated connection to a wiper arm. The invention provides that the connecting element (16) forms part of the longitudinal channel (60) along with a connecting plate (22) in that the connecting plate (22) forms the side facing the wiper strip (50) with the base (24) thereof, and encloses the support element (12, 92) with the side walls (26) thereof, while the connecting element (16) forms the side opposite the base (24) and overlaps the side walls (26) with side parts (44) thereof, wherein part of the receiving profile (30) is integrally formed on the base (24) of the connecting plate (22) toward the wiper strip (50).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2009
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Applicant: Robert Bosch GMBH
    Inventor: Ingio Op't Roodt
  • Publication number: 20110107543
    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 the longitudinal strips are interconnected by a respective connecting piece, which windscreen wiper device comprises a connecting device for an oscillating wiper arm wherein the strips; and the connecting piece are slidably connected by means of a snap connection with the interposition of a joint part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Inventor: Xavier Boland
  • Publication number: 20110078868
    Abstract: The invention relates to a windshield wiper drive (1) for a motor vehicle, in particular a windshield wiper drive (1), with a reverse-operating drive motor (3), for driving a wiper shaft (6) connected non-rotatably to a wiper arm (18), and with a fastening board (7) for attaching the windshield wiper drive (1) to a vehicle body or to a body-mounted component (29). The invention provides that a first end stop surface (22) for delimiting the rotary movement of the wiper shaft (6) in a first direction of rotation is provided on the fastening board (7) or on a component (29) affixed to the fastening board (7).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2008
    Publication date: April 7, 2011
    Applicant: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Norbert Wegner, Juergen Rapp, Andreas Mueller, Guillaume Boulch, Christian Acker, Pierre Harnist
  • Publication number: 20110061192
    Abstract: A windshield wiper system for a vehicle cabin has two drive motors with glass wipers for cleaning a largely rectangular surface area. Two axes of the motors are disposed diagonally in the corner regions of the surface to be wiped. One wiper arm and wiper blades are disposed on these axes, the wiping movement of the wiper blades being guided from a position largely parallel from one side of the surface to be wiped to largely parallel to the other side of the surface to be wiped. The window panes of driver cabins with largely rectangular surface areas can be kept free of dirt at any time under difficult weather conditions over their entire viewing surface so that the operating personnel is given the possibility to view all the activities taking place about the cabin without having to adopt unfavourable positions with respect to their operating equipment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2010
    Publication date: March 17, 2011
    Applicant: Noell Mobile Systems GmbH
    Inventor: Conrad Mueller
  • Publication number: 20110047739
    Abstract: A wiper apparatus is provided that reduces protrusion of a cover at a storage position of a wiper arm, and improves the appearance of the vehicle. A first link between shafts at the lower section of a four-link mechanism is formed by a mounting portion formed on a vehicle body. A second link and a third link at both ends of the first link are formed by link levers. A fourth link L4 between the end portions of the second link and the third link is formed by the proximal end portion of the first wiper arm. A cover is mounted on the proximal end portion of the first wiper arm. One of the pair of link levers, that is, the second link lever arranged closer to the wiper blade has a recess, which is recessed in the direction of a link shaft to prevent contact with the cover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2009
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Applicant: TOYOTA SHATAI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazutoshi Kinoshita, Nobuyuki Shigeoka
  • Patent number: 7895703
    Abstract: A backdoor apparatus includes a backdoor panel, a rear spoiler and a wiper mechanism. The wiper mechanism includes a motor assembly, a wiper arm and a wiper blade. A motor installation recess is formed in a top portion of the backdoor panel to receive the motor assembly. The motor assembly includes a cover, which covers a portion of a motor, which is exposed from the rear spoiler. The cover has a flange, which covers a top end part of the glass. The cover, which includes the flange, does not contact the glass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: ASMO Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eiji Ina, Masaki Kobayashi, Tomoyuki Kikuta, Atsushi Katou
  • Patent number: 7891043
    Abstract: Disclosed is a windshield wiper device (10), comprising a wiper bearing (16) which is essentially composed of a molded tube (18) that can be fastened to a motor vehicle by means of a fastening element (20). A wiper shaft (22) to which a wiper lever can be fastened is positioned in the molded tube (18). A predetermined breaking point (32) is provided on the fastening element (20) in such a way that the wiper bearing (16) is able to dip into the interior of the motor vehicle in case a defined and essentially axial force acts on the wiper shaft (22). The predetermined breaking point (32) is embodied as a hole in this case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Achim Kraus, Juergen Rapp
  • Publication number: 20110023253
    Abstract: A wiper system having an electric motor operatively associated with a primary pivot shaft assembly. Also included is a secondary pivot shaft assembly. A first windshield wiper is coupled to the primary pivot shaft assembly, and a second windshield wiper is coupled to the secondary pivot shaft assembly. The system includes a cable assembly having at least one cable operatively associated with the primary pivot shaft assembly and the secondary pivot shaft assembly, wherein the electric motor is capable of rotating the primary pivot shaft assembly and the first windshield wiper, wherein rotation of the primary pivot shaft assembly generates tension in the at least one cable, and wherein the at least one cable tension generates rotation of the secondary pivot shaft assembly and the second windshield wiper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2009
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Inventors: JOSE MARIA GARCIA CRESPO, HEATHER M. FLORES, ANDRE SYKULA, BRADLEY NAPIER DOMAN
  • Patent number: 7874037
    Abstract: A wiper system includes a motor bracket to which a wiper motor is fixed, and the motor bracket is fixed to a body with a rubber pad therebetween. A mounting leg made of a hard material extends from a first pivot holder that supports a first pivot shaft, and is directly fixed to the body. Mounting legs made of a hard material extend from a second pivot holder that supports a second pivot shaft, and are directly fixed to the body. According to the wiper system, it is possible to prevent vibration due to a wiper motor from being transferred to the body and a wiper arm from overrunning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Mitsuba Corporation
    Inventor: Fumio Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 7861364
    Abstract: An articulating ball joint for connecting a pair of driven members to a driving member such as a crank pin. In one embodiment, a single ball is held in a first, or inner, socket defined by a coupling member having a convex outer surface, and the first socket is held within a second, outer, socket defined in a second coupling member also having a convex outer surface, which is, in turn, engaged by a retainer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Albany Magneto Equipment, Inc.
    Inventor: Edward S. Powell, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7849552
    Abstract: The invention relates to a wiper drive comprising a housing, a reversing motor and a gear mechanism connected downstream of the reversing motor, wherein a swaying element for driving at least one wiper arm or a wiper arm rod is provided on the gear mechanism output shaft, and wherein the operating range of the swaying element lies within a pivoting range which is delimited by two mechanical stops, wherein at least one stop is designed such that it can be removed and/or moved in such a way that the swaying element, when the wiper drive is mounted on a support frame, can be moved from a first mounting position, which lies outside the pivoting range, into the pivoting range without being obstructed by the stop. The invention furthermore relates to methods for mounting a wiper drive on a support frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Valeo Wischersysteme GmbH
    Inventors: Bernd Walther, Harald Kapitza, Jürgen Tempel, Frank Wondratschek
  • Publication number: 20100306948
    Abstract: The invention relates to a windscreen wiping device for a motor vehicle, comprising at least one wiper, a wiper drive (1), an electronic control device (2) that controls the wiper drive (1), a first signal transmitter for capturing the angular position of the wiper, and a first control line (7) that can emit an angle position signal captured by the first signal transmitter to the control device (2). According to the invention, a second signal transmitter for capturing the angular displacement of the wiper is provided. A second control line (8) that can emit an angle modification signal captured by the second signal transmitter to the control device (2) is provided. Said claimed windscreen wiper device has the advantage that it has a permanent self-locking device for at least one wiper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2008
    Publication date: December 9, 2010
    Applicant: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventor: Florian Tisch
  • Publication number: 20100293736
    Abstract: Electric-motor auxiliary drive for vehicles, in particular screen-wiper drive, having an electric motor and a gear mechanism, having at least two housing elements which are connected to one another and having a shaft which is mounted in a first housing element by way of at least one first bearing and in a second housing element by way of at least one second and one third bearing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2008
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Applicant: VALEO SYSTEMES D'ESSUYAGE
    Inventor: Siegfried Stefani
  • Patent number: 7832045
    Abstract: Windshield wiper device (400) for a motor vehicle with at least one wiper bearing (42) and a fastening element (44) that is connected to a vehicle body, wherein a decoupling element (43) for decoupling noise is arranged between the at least one wiper bearing (42) and the fastening element (44), wherein the decoupling element (43) and/or the wiper bearing (42) is detachably connected to the fastening element (44).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Weiler, Joachim Zimmer
  • Patent number: 7832791
    Abstract: The technology described herein provides a molded trim assembly located externally at the top of a liftgate structure to provide an aerodynamic and stylish overhang above the liftgate glass. Furthermore, the technology also provides a liftgate exterior module including a plug-in module containing a motorized window wiper arm assembly, a central high mounted stop light, and a washer fluid spray nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Chrysler Group LLC
    Inventors: Frank A. Wojcik, Costantino Ranucci, Robert J. Faubert, Richard Manning, Kenneth J. Ladzinski, Raja Hazime, William G. Yadon
  • Publication number: 20100281644
    Abstract: The present invention is a wiper arm extension subassembly which allows the use of the military vehicle's original equipment wiper motor and controls; and presumes that one or more anti-ballistic sheets, panes or panels having a thickness dimension not less than 0.5 inches in size are to be or have been installed in the vehicle. In its minimalist form, the present invention comprises only three component parts: (i) an extended flange; (ii) an extended crank arm; and (iii) an optionally present support bracket. In the preferred embodiments, the wiper arm extension subassembly will replace the original equipment flange of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2008
    Publication date: November 11, 2010
    Inventor: Curtis Taufman
  • Patent number: 7823246
    Abstract: The present invention is a breakaway mounting bracket assembly for a wiper system that displaces components of the wiper system below the impact line of a vehicle in the event of, for example, a vehicle-pedestrian impact. The assembly includes a mounting bracket and a grommet removably attached to the mounting bracket. The assembly also includes a ferrule disposed within the grommet that includes a column having an internal passage and a platform connected to the column by a plurality of bridges disposed therebetween. The assembly also includes an attachment member to connect the mounting bracket to the vehicle where the attachment member includes a body engaged to the internal passage. The mounting bracket is adapted to break away from attachment with the grommet in the event of a predetermined load acting on a pivot shaft assembly and to displace the pivot shaft assembly and a portion of the wiper arm below the vehicle's impact line in the event of a pedestrian impact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Trico Products Corporation
    Inventors: Alex Reid, Mike Wilson, Wayne Francis Burke
  • Patent number: 7805799
    Abstract: The present invention is a breakaway mounting bracket assembly for a wiper system that displaces components of the wiper system below the impact line of a vehicle in the event of, for example, a vehicle-pedestrian impact. The assembly includes a mounting bracket and a grommet removably attached to the mounting bracket. The assembly also includes a ferrule disposed within the grommet that includes a column having an internal passage and a platform connected to the column. The assembly also includes an attachment member to connect the mounting bracket to the vehicle where the attachment member includes a body engaged to the internal passage. The platform breaks away from the column in the event of a predetermined load acting on the pivot shaft assembly, which disconnects the grommet from the ferrule and thereby displaces the pivot shaft assembly and a portion of a wiper arm below the impact line of a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Trico Products Corporation
    Inventors: Alex Reid, Mike Wilson, Wayne Francis Burke
  • Patent number: 7797786
    Abstract: A wiper assembly for a vehicle having at least one vision block within an outer face, generally consisting of a guide cylinder supportable on the vehicle, disposed adjacent and substantially parallel to the face of the vision block; a piston disposed in the guide cylinder and displaceable along the length thereof, provided with a magnetic element; a follower mounted on the guide cylinder, displaceable along the length thereof, provided with a magnetic element magnetically coupled to the magnetic element of the piston for displacement therewith; a wiper carried by the follower, having a portion engaging the outer face of the vision block in wiping relation therewith; and means operatively connectable to a source of fluid under pressure for alternately supplying fluid under pressure to opposite ends of the guide cylinder for reciprocating the piston and correspondingly the wiper along the outer face of the vision block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: GPV, L.L.C.
    Inventors: James C. LeBlanc, Sr., James C. LeBlanc, Jr., Adam L. Hiltunen, William A. Meyer
  • Publication number: 20100218328
    Abstract: A support for mounting a windscreen wiper blade includes at least two opposing lower lateral claws arranged transversally on either side of the support, each of the claws being able to collaborate with an associated part of a backbone of the blade for attaching the support on the blade, and an upper part on which a connector can be jointedly mounted about a transversal joint axis. The upper part includes at least one elastically deformable portion which is able to deform when the support is mounted and attached to the blade in order to allow a globally transverse movement of the lateral claws, one relative to the other between at least a parted position in which there is no collaboration with the associated part of the backbone, and a close up position in which there is a collaboration with the associated part of the backbone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2006
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Applicant: VALEO SYSTEMES D'ESSUYAGE
    Inventors: Romain Laurens, Frederic Baud
  • Publication number: 20100180395
    Abstract: The invention is based on a wiper blade (10) having a wiping strip (12) and two spring rails (22) which serve as a supporting element and are inserted into lateral longitudinal grooves (20) in the wiping blade (12) and are permanently connected to one another at their ends by a bridge (24), wherein a wiper blade termination (25) is provided at the end of the wiper blade (10), the base element (26) of which wiper blade termination (25) is guided on the spring rails (22), is secured relative to the spring rails (22) and has a pointed-tip holder (40), the tip of which (66) engages in the wiping strip (12) in the mounted state and secures the wiping strip (12) relative to the spring rails (22).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2008
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Applicant: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventor: Mohamed Aznag
  • Patent number: 7752704
    Abstract: The invention relates to a crank (14) which is intended for the windscreen wiper mechanism of a motor vehicle. The inventive crank is of the type that comprises a horizontal body (16) having a first end (14a) which is linked in rotation to a wiper arm and a second end (14b) which is articulated to a connecting rod. The aforementioned body (16) comprises: a segment (22) which can be deformed in order to adjust the distance between the ends (14a, 14b) of the crank (14), and a longitudinal oblong hole (24) which divides the aforementioned segment (22) into two deformable longitudinal branches (26) which are symmetrical in relation to a center line of said segment (22). The invention is characterized in that the oblong hole (24) takes the form of a quadrilateral with two essentially-perpendicular diagonals (E1, E2), the larger diagonal (E1) extending along the main axis (C) of symmetry of the segment (22) and intersecting the small diagonal (E2) at the midpoint thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: Valeo Systemes d'Essuyage
    Inventors: Jean-Paul Boissac, Joël Pain, Florent Meurville
  • Patent number: 7743457
    Abstract: A windshield wiper device, in particular for a motor vehicle, comprising a carrier (12) for fixing to a first part (52), especially to the body of the motor vehicle. A locking element (40) having a predetermined breaking point (41) is also provided in order to enable the carrier (12) to be fixed to the first part (52) by a rotational connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Ulrich Metz
  • Publication number: 20100146726
    Abstract: A wiper device includes first and second pivot shafts, first and second pivot holders, a hollow frame, a drive source, and a link rod. The first and second pivot holders are fixed to a vehicle body, pivotally support the first and second pivot shafts, and include first and second attachment shafts, respectively. The hollow frame couples the pivot holders to each other. The link rod transmits drive force of the drive source to the first and second pivot shafts. The hollow frame includes first and second coupling-fixing portions and a drive source fixing portion. The first and second attachment shafts are respectively crimped and fixed to the coupling-fixing portions. Axes of the first and second coupling-fixing portions lie along a straight line. The hollow frame is bent so as to arrange the drive source fixing portion spaced apart from the first and second pivot holders in a direction extending from the distal ends towards basal ends of the pivot shafts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2009
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Applicant: ASMO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinya Kawai, Takatsugu Takai
  • Publication number: 20100139025
    Abstract: An output shaft of a wiper motor is connected to a wiper to transmit a rotational force of the wiper motor to the wiper to reciprocally swing the wiper between an upper return position and a lower return position in response to forward and backward rotations of the output shaft upon energization of the wiper motor. When the wiper is stopped at the lower return position, the control unit executes a stop position holding control operation in such a manner that the control unit controls a rotational direction of the wiper motor to apply a rotational force to the wiper in a downward direction and controls the rotational force of the wiper motor based on a speed of the vehicle to substantially maintain the wiper at the lower return position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Applicant: ASMO CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takashi Natsume
  • Patent number: 7716779
    Abstract: A wiper drive system and method for installation of a wiper pivot shaft through a structure whose opposite faces may not be parallel. A mounting body supports a bearing support tube and has a concave front side. A mounting ring surrounds the bearing support tube and has a convex rear side that rests adjustably against the concave front side of the mounting body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Albany Magneto Equipment, Inc.
    Inventor: Edward S. Powell, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7707681
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a windshield wiper clip adapted for connecting a scrubbing blade to a windshield wiper, the clip comprising a base member; a first end wall connected to the base member and a second end wall connect to the base member opposite the first end wall, a first top component to the first end wall and a second top component connected to the second end wall; at least one further top component connected to the base member, the further top component including at least one finger projection, the at least one finger projection, base member, first end wall and first top component defining a scrubber receiving portion, and at least one of the finger projections, the base member, second end wall and second top component defining a wiper receiving portion; wherein the clip connects a scrubber to a wiper in order to accommodate bug removal during movement of the wiper about a windshield. The invention also includes and integrated clip and scrubber, as well as wiper-scrubber system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Inventor: Alan Cabak
  • Publication number: 20100095471
    Abstract: The present invention is a breakaway mounting bracket assembly for a wiper system that displaces components of the wiper system below the impact line of a vehicle in the event of, for example, a vehicle-pedestrian impact. The assembly includes a mounting bracket and a grommet removably attached to the mounting bracket. The assembly also includes a ferrule disposed within the grommet that includes a column having an internal passage and a platform connected to the column by a plurality of bridges disposed therebetween. The assembly also includes an attachment member to connect the mounting bracket to the vehicle where the attachment member includes a body engaged to the internal passage. The mounting bracket is adapted to break away from attachment with the grommet in the event of a predetermined load acting on a pivot shaft assembly and to displace the pivot shaft assembly and a portion of the wiper arm below the vehicle's impact line in the event of a pedestrian impact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2009
    Publication date: April 22, 2010
    Inventors: Alex Reid, Mike Wilson, Wayne Francis Burke
  • Patent number: 7685670
    Abstract: An input disk, a clutch disk and wave washers are installed to an output shaft to form an output shaft assembly of a motor apparatus. The input disk is axially non-detachable from the output shaft and is rotatable about an axis of the output shaft. The input disk is driven by a drive force supplied from a motor main body of the motor apparatus. The clutch disk is supported by the output shaft in such a manner that the clutch disk is non-rotatable relative to the output shaft and is axially movable along the output shaft relative to the input disk. The wave washers apply a resistive force against axial movement of the clutch disk from a coupled state, at which the input disk is coupled with the clutch disk to rotate together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: ASMO Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideyuki Yagi, Takayuki Imamura
  • Publication number: 20100065232
    Abstract: Methods of deploying and stowing a sunshade utilizing a wiper-based system, including selectively engaging the sunshade and wiper, actuating the wiper, so as to deploy the shade, locking the wiper in the deployed position, so as to reduce the thermal load in a confined space, and returning the wiper after use, so as to stow the shade.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2009
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Alan L. Browne, Nancy L. Johnson, Paul W. Alexander
  • Patent number: 7669275
    Abstract: In a clutch device, an output shaft supports an input disk rotatably about an axis thereof, and a clutch disk non-rotatably about the axis and movably in an axial direction of the output shaft. An elastic member exerts resistive force on the input disk or the clutch disk when the clutch disk is about to come out of an engagement with the input disk. One of the input disk and the clutch disk has a trailing surface inclined by a predetermined angle from the axis, and the other has a curved control surface to come in a line contact with the trailing surface in a circumferential direction of the output shaft. The trailing surface and the curved control surface generate a component force of a driving force in the axial direction. The other having the curved control surface is higher in hardness than the one having the trailing surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: ASMO Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideyuki Yagi
  • Publication number: 20100037416
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a wiper apparatus in which it is easy to replace a wiper blade without this leading to any erroneous operation. When a wiper operation has been stopped by a wiper driving apparatus 31, the wiper driving apparatus causes the wiper arms to first move to a housing position and then stops the wiper arms. When wiper blades are to be replaced, an IG switch 33 is turned off during a wiper operation. If the IG switch 33 is turned off while the wiper arms are within a first stopping range, then the wiper arms are stopped at that position and the blades are replaced. If the wiper arms are stopped outside the first stopping range, then they are first moved to a bottom inverted position or a housing position and are then stopped.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2007
    Publication date: February 18, 2010
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Amagasa, Hiroji Okabe