Wiper system with articulating pivot shaft

An articulating pivot assembly for a vehicle windshield wiper system, said articulating pivot assembly comprising:

• a pivot shaft having a distal end, a proximal end, and a shaft longitudinal axis;
• a first pivot ball having a first passageway extending through said first pivot ball, said first pivot ball fixedly coupled with said pivot shaft with said pivot shaft extending through said first passageway;
• a second pivot ball having at least one gear tooth projecting radially outward from an exterior surface of said second pivot ball, said second pivot ball having a second passageway extending through said second pivot ball, said second pivot ball fixedly coupled with said pivot shaft and spaced apart from said first pivot ball with said pivot shaft extending through said second passageway;
• and
• a rack having at least one notch configured to meshingly engage with said at least one gear tooth;
• wherein rotating said pivot shaft from a first rotational position wherein said at least one gear tooth meshingly engages with said at least one notch in said rack to a second rotational position wherein said at least one gear tooth meshingly disengages with said at least one notch in said rack repositions said pivot shaft proximal end which articulates said pivot shaft between a first shaft orientation and a second shaft orientation different from said first shaft orientation.

A windshield wiper system for a vehicle, said windshield wiper system comprising:

• a first link having a first end and a second end;
• a motor rotatably coupled with said first end of said first link;
• and
• a first articulating pivot assembly comprising:
• a pivot shaft having a distal end, a proximal end, and a shaft longitudinal axis;
• a lever having a proximal end and a distal end, said proximal end fixedly coupled with said pivot shaft and said distal end rotatably coupled with said second end of said first link;
• a first pivot ball having a first passageway extending through said first pivot ball, said first pivot ball fixedly coupled with said pivot shaft with said pivot shaft extending through said first passageway;
• a second pivot ball having at least one gear tooth projecting radially outward from an exterior surface of said second pivot ball, said second pivot ball having a second passageway extending through said second pivot ball, said second pivot ball fixedly coupled with said pivot shaft and spaced apart from said first pivot ball with said pivot shaft extending through said second passageway;
• and
• a rack having at least one notch configured to meshingly engage with said at least one gear tooth;
• wherein rotating said motor repositions said first link which repositions said distal end of said lever which rotates said pivot shaft such that said at least one gear tooth meshingly engages with said at least one notch in said rack and repositions said pivot shaft proximal end which articulates said pivot shaft between a first shaft orientation and a second shaft orientation different from said first shaft orientation.

A method of articulating a pivot shaft of an articulating pivot assembly for a vehicle windshield wiper system between one of a first shaft orientation and a second shaft orientation, said method comprising:

• providing an articulating pivot assembly comprising:
• a first pivot ball having a passageway therethrough and rotatably retained by a first pivot bearing;
• a second pivot ball having a passageway therethrough and a first gear tooth projecting radially outward from an exterior surface of said second pivot ball, said second pivot ball rotatably retained by a second pivot bearing;
• said second pivot bearing having a rack with a first notch configured to matingly engage with said first gear tooth;
• and
• a pivot shaft having an upper end and a lower end, said pivot shaft passing through said passageway in said first pivot ball and in said second pivot ball, said pivot shaft fixedly coupled to said first pivot ball and to said second pivot ball;
• and
• rotating said pivot shaft from a first rotational position wherein said first gear tooth is meshingly engaged with said first notch to a second rotational position wherein said first gear tooth meshingly disengages from said first notch;
• wherein said pivot shaft moves from a first pivot shaft orientation when said first gear tooth is meshingly engaged with said first notch to a second pivot shaft orientation when said first gear tooth is meshingly disengaged from said first notch.

An articulating pivot assembly for a vehicle windshield wiper system, said articulating pivot assembly comprising:

• a pivot shaft having a distal end, a proximal end, a shaft longitudinal axis, and at least one gear tooth projecting radially outward from an exterior surface of said pivot shaft;
• a lever having a proximal end and a distal end, said proximal end fixedly coupled with said pivot shaft;
• a first pivot ball having a first passageway extending through said first pivot ball, said first pivot ball fixedly coupled with said pivot shaft with said pivot shaft extending through said first passageway;
• a second pivot ball having a second passageway extending through said second pivot ball, said second pivot ball fixedly coupled with said pivot shaft with said pivot shaft extending through said second passageway;
• and
• a rack having at least one notch configured to meshingly engage with said at least one gear tooth;
• wherein moving said distal end of said lever rotates said pivot shaft such that said at least one gear tooth meshingly engages with said at least one notch in said rack repositioning said pivot shaft proximal end which articulates said pivot shaft between a first shaft orientation and a second shaft orientation different from said first shaft orientation.