Squeegee-integrated pumped-drain and heater windshield wiper system
AssigneeIntegrated Wiper Technologies, LLC
InventorLawrence Jacobowitz
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A windshield wiper having a unitary structure including: a blade with a spine; at least one drain including a plurality of inlets, integrated with the blade such that the at least one drain is aligned with a flow path of precipitation guided up the blade sidewall. A coupler for connects the at least one drain via tubing to a pump. A system incorporating the windshield wiper and vehicles having the system installed are disclosed.
Claims52
A windshield wiper comprising:
- a blade having a length;
- at least one drain having a plurality of inlets, said at least one drain formed adjacent to said blade and to said length;
- and
- a spine adjacent to said at least one drain;
- wherein said blade, said at least one drain, and said spine are a unitary structure;
- and
- at least one heater for providing, heat within a hemi-cylinder surrounding sidewalls and an edge of said blade, capable of being elevated to a temperature sufficient to obviate freezing of incident precipitation, wherein said heater is bonded to at least one said drain, and provides mechanical support to said drain during drain pumping.
A system for removing precipitation from a windshield, comprising:
- a windshield wiper comprising:
- a blade having a length;
- at least one drain having a plurality of inlets, said at least one drain formed adjacent to said blade and to said length;
- a spine adjacent to said at least one drain;
- wherein said blade, said at least one drain, and said spine are a unitary structure;
- at least one heater adjacent to said at least one drain:
- said windshield wiper mounted on a wiper arm;
- at least one coupler for coupling the at least one drain to tubing that leads to at least one pump that is capable of applying a negative pressure to the at least one drain and pumping said precipitation from the drain via said tubing;
- at least one pump connected via tubing to said at least one drain;
- a rain sensor;
- and
- a controller for controlling at least one of a rate of pumping and a speed of wiping, comprised of at least one microprocessor or microcontroller, wherein said controller varies a pump flow rate based on input from said rain sensor.
A vehicle comprising a rain removal system for wiping a windshield, the vehicle comprising:
- a windshield;
- and
- a windshield wiper comprising:
- a blade having a length;
- at least one drain having a plurality of inlets, said at least one drain formed adjacent to said blade and to said length;
- a spine adjacent to said at least one drain, wherein said blade, said at least one drain, and said spine are a unitary structure;
- said windshield wiper mounted on a wiper arm;
- at least one coupler for coupling the at least one drain to tubing that leads to at least one pump that is capable of applying a negative pressure to the at least one drain and pumping said precipitation from the windshield;
- wherein the windshield wiper is mounted to the vehicle for providing wiping of precipitation from the windshield during operation of the vehicle;
- and
- at least one heater for providing heat within a hemi-cylinder surrounding sidewalls and an edge of said blade, capable of being elevated to a temperature sufficient to obviate freezing of incident precipitation, wherein said heater is bonded to at least one said drain, and provides mechanical support to said drain during drain pumping.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.