Dual mode windshield wiper assembly
OwnerJoe V. Sorenseninventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention is directed to a windshield wiper assembly with an expandable scrubbing element capable of washing debris from a windshield. In one embodiment, the subject invention is comprised of a windshield wiper blade holder having a first and second blade retainer, and a scrubbing element and wiper blade respectively engaged to the blade retainers. In one embodiment, the scrubbing element is comprised of a spine portion and an expandable bladder depending therefrom. At least a portion of the external surface of the bladder may include a fibrous or lightly abrasive material, or a scrubbing pad or brush-like surface, or a plurality of grooves and/or sipings The interior volume of the bladder is surrounded by a resilient fluid tight material, which serves to retain fluid in a pressurized state.
Claims21
A windshield wiper blade assembly comprising:
- a blade holder having a pair of blade retainers, each blade retainer being pivotally connected relative to a central portion of the blade holder, each blade retainer defining an open channel having a pair of inwardly directed arms;
- a wiper having a generally T-shaped sine and a blade portion extending from the spine, said wiper being connected to one of the pair of blade retainers with portions of the T-shaped spine slidably engaging the pair of inwardly directed arms of the blade retainer so as to retain the wiper;
- a scrubbing element having a generally T-shaped spine and a bladder depending from the spine, wherein the spine is adapted to slidably engage the pair of inwardly directed arms of the other blade retainer;
- and
- a fluid line in communication with the bladder.
A windshield wiper assembly comprising:
- a blade holder having a first and second blade retainers, each blade retainer being at an outer end of a secondary lever which is pivotally connected to a primary lever which is pivotally connected to a central portion of the blade holder, wherein each blade retainer is capable of moving independently relative to the other blade retainer;
- a scrubbing element hang a first spine and a bladder depending from the spine, wherein the first spine is adapted to slidably engage the first blade retainer and to locate the bladder so that the bladder depends from the blade holder;
- a blade having a second spine and a tip portion depending from the second spine, wherein the second spine is adapted to engage the second blade retainer, whereby portions of the scrubbing element and the blade are independently movable relative to each other;
- and
- a fluid line in communication with the bladder.
A windshield wiper assembly comprising:
- a first spine having a longitudinal length and being slidably connected to a first blade retainer;
- an expandable scrubbing element depending from the first spine along its longitudinal length;
- a second spine being slidably connected to a second blade retainer;
- means for pivotally connecting the first blade retainer to a central arm portion of a blade holder;
- means for pivotally connecting the second blade retainer to the central arm portion, whereby the first and second blade retainers are independently movable relative to each other;
- and
- a fluid line in communication with the scrubbing element.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.