FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
THE PATENTS RULES, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
[See section 10, rule 13]
TITLE: “A LIFTING ARRANGEMENT FOR WINDSHIELD
WIPER”
NAME AND ADDRESS OF THE APPLICANT:
TATA MOTORS LIMITED, Bombay House, 24 Homi Mody Street, Hutatma Chowk,
Mumbai 400 001, Maharashtra, INDIA
Nationality: Indian
The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which
it is to be performed.
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TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a windshield wiper system for automobiles and more
particularly relates to a spacer for a windshield wiper system.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Windshield wiper assembly of a vehicle is an important component since it is responsible
for cleaning the windshield of the vehicle for giving a clear view in front of the vehicle.
When the windshield wiper assembly is operated, the blades of the windshield wiper
move back and fourth, to displace visibility limiting matter, e.g. rain, water, snow, dust
and other debris, from windshield of the vehicle. The windshield wiper assembly, in an
inoperative state thereof, typically rests on the windshield of the vehicle.
Generally, when the vehicle is kept stationary for a considerable duration of time, for
example after vehicle roll-out from production line to vehicle delivery to dealers,
visibility limiting matter, such as but not limited to, dust, dirt, bird droppings, tree glue,
small branches, leaves and the like, get deposited on the windshield of the vehicle and the
blade of the windshield wiper. Further, environmental factors such as increasing and
decreasing temperature, heat up the windshield, resultantly effecting rubber of the
windshield wiper adversely. Subsequently, when a windshield wiper loaded with such
visibility limiting matters, is operated, the possibility of damage to the windshield wiper
is considerably increased.
In light of foregoing discussion it is necessary to provide a windshield wiper assembly
which is safe, reliable, easy to install and that is configured to include all the advantages
of the prior art.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
One objective of the preset invention is to provide a spacer which may be installed in an
existing windshield wiper assembly.
Another objective of the preset invention is to provide a spacer which helps increasing
the life of the blades of the wind shield wiper assembly.
3
Further objects and features of the invention will become apparent from the following
detailed description when considered in conjunction with the drawings.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The various embodiments of the present invention disclose a windshield wiper assembly
comprising: an arm head configured to be driven by a driven shaft; a wiper arm hingedly
connected to the arm head and carrying one or more wiper blades, the wiper arm
configured to be driven by the arm head to move the one or more wiper blades back and
forth upon a windshield; and a removable spacer provided proximate to hingedly
connected ends of the arm head and the wiper arm such that the removable spacer lifts the
wiper arm from the windshield.
Embodiments of the present invention also disclose a removable spacer for a windshield
wiper assembly having an arm head driven by a driven shaft and a wiper arm hingedly
connected to the arm head. The removable spacer includes a wedging portion configured
to be substantially inserted to a gap defined at the hingedly connected end portion of the
arm head and end portion of the wiper arm, and a U-shaped end portion positioned
opposite to the wedging portion, the U-shaped end portion configured to be engaged with
a coil of a resilient member while allowing an end portion of the resilient member to pass
therethrough, whereby the removable spacer lifts the wiper arm from the windshield.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of the windshield wiper assembly, according to an
embodiment of the invention,
FIG. 2 illustrates another perspective view of a portion of windshield wiper assembly,
according to an embodiment of the invention,
FIG. 3 illustrates a side view of a portion of windshield wiper assembly, according to an
embodiment of the invention,
FIG. 4 illustrates a sectional view of a portion of windshield wiper assembly, according
to an embodiment of the invention, and
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FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of a spacer of the windshield wiper assembly,
according to an embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The exemplary embodiments described herein detail for illustrative purposes are subject
to many variations in structure and design. It should be emphasized, however, that the
present invention is not limited to a particular windshield wiper assembly, as shown and
described. It is understood that various omissions and substitutions of equivalents are
contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient, but these are intended to
cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the
claims of the present invention. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and
terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as
limiting.
A windshield wiper assembly 100 for a windshield 10 of a vehicle (not shown), in
accordance with various embodiments of the invention is illustrated in figures 1 through
5. The windshield wiper assembly 100 includes an arm head 102. The arm head 102 is
configured to be driven by a driven shaft (not illustrated). As will be apparent to those
skilled in the art, the driven shaft may be coming from a wiper motor of the vehicle, in a
conventional manner.
A wiper arm 104 is hingedly connected to the arm head 102, best shown in FIG. 2. The
wiper arm 104 typically includes one or more wiper blades106. The wiper blade 106
includes a resilient wiping member (not numbered) made up of a resilient and pliable
material. The material of the resilient wiping member facilitates the removal of visibility
limiting matter from the windshield 10. The resilient wiping member is positioned
toward the windshield 10, such that it comes in contact with the windshield 10 during
operation thereof. Again, as would be apparent to those skilled in the art that as the wiper
arm 104 moves with the arm head 102, the one or more wiper blades back and forth upon
a windshield 10.
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Referring now to FIG. 3, a removable spacer 108 is provided proximate to hingedly
connected ends of the arm head 102 and the wiper arm 104. In an embodiment of the
present invention, the removable spacer 108 is made up of plastic. The removable spacer
108 lifts the wiper arm 104 from the windshield 10. Particularly, as best shown in FIG. 1,
a portion of the wiper arm 104 gets lifted from the windshield 10. With the windshield 10
lifted angularly from the hinged connection point, a gap is created between the portion of
the wiper arm 104 and the windshield 10. In an embodiment of the present invention, the
removable spacer 108 raises the windshield wiper assembly 100 by about four (4) to
about five (5) millimetre (mm). The wiper arm 104 and the windshield 10, remain in
such position as long as the windshield wiper assembly 100 is not operated.
Due to this gap created between the blades of the wiper arm 104 and the windshield 10,
the deposit of visibility limiting matter such as, dust, dirt, bird droppings, tree glue, small
branches, leaves and the like, on the windshield and the blade of the windshield wiper is
precluded. Moreover, environmental heating and cooling of the windshield does not have
any effect on blades of the windshield wiper 100 as there is no contact between the blades
of the windshield wiper 100 and the windshield 10. Therefore, the work life of the blades
of the windshield wiper 100 is increased considerably. The removable spacer 108, as the
name suggests, is removable from the windshield wiper assembly 100. However, it may
herein be noted that the spacer 108 may, in alternative embodiments, be integral to the
windshield wiper 10, without deviating from the spirit of the present invention.
When operated, a gap is maintained between the portion of the wiper arm 104 and a
portion of the windshield 10 however a portion of blade of the wiper arm 104 does come
in contact with a portion, namely a visibility zone, of the windshield 10. Accordingly, the
windshield wiper assembly 100 wipes only from a portion of the windshield 10. In an
embodiment of the present invention, at park position i.e. when the vehicle is parked and
the windshield wiper assembly 100 is not operating, the wiper blade is parked five (5)
mm above the windshield. Whereas, when the windshield wiper assembly 100 is in
operation, the wiper blade touches the windshield at around forty five degree (45º) during
forward movement and starts wiping the critical “A” zone, (visibility zone, in front of
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driver) and during the reverse wipe, again it gets lifted at 45 º and remains lifted after
coming to park position, as desired.
Referring again to the FIG. 3, the windshield wiper assembly 100 further includes a
resilient member 110 connected to the wiper arm 104. In the disclosed embodiment, the
resilient member 110 may be a coiled helical spring with hooked end portions. A Cshaped
hook 112 joins the resilient member 110 to the arm head 102, best shown in FIG.
4.
Referring now to FIG. 5, in conjunction with the remaining figures, the removable spacer
108 includes a wedging portion 114. In order to install, the wiper arm 104 is manually
tilted about the hinged point, against the windshield 10, and the removable spacer 108 is
inserted in the thus created space, best shown in FIG. 4. The wedging portion 114 of the
removable spacer 108, is inserted at the hingedly connected end portion of the arm head
102 and end portion of the wiper arm 104. The wedging portion 114, upon insertion,
retains the wiper arm 104 tilted with respect to the arm head 102 thereby keeping the
wiper arm 104 lifted. Tabs (not numbered) present on the wedging portion 114 assist in
keeping the removable spacer 108 inserted.
The removable spacer 108 has a U-shaped end portion 116 positioned opposite to the
wedging portion 114. The U-shaped end portion 116 is configured to be engaged with a
coil of a resilient member 110 while allowing an end portion of the resilient member 110
to pass there through. The removable spacer 108 of the present invention may be installed
in an existing windshield wiper 100.
The foregoing description provides specific embodiments of the present invention. It
should be appreciated that these embodiment are described for purpose of illustration
only, and that numerous other alterations and modifications may be practiced by those
skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is
intended that all such modifications and alterations be included insofar as they come
within the scope of the invention as claimed or the equivalents thereof.
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Referral Numerals:
Reference
Numbers
Description
100 Windshield wiper
assembly
10 Windshield
102 Arm head
104 Wiper arm
106 Wiper blade
108 Removable spacer
110 Resilient member
112 C-shaped hook
114 Wedging portion
116 U-shaped end
portion
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We claim:
1. A windshield wiper assembly comprising:
an arm head configured to be driven by a driven shaft;
a wiper arm hingedly connected to the arm head and carrying one or more wiper
blades, the wiper arm configured to be driven by the arm head to move the one or more
wiper blades back and forth upon a windshield; and
a spacer provided proximate to hingedly connected ends of the arm head and the
wiper arm such that the spacer lifts the wiper arm from the windshield.
2. The windshield wiper assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the spacer includes
a wedging portion configured to be inserted at the hingedly connected end portion
of the arm head and end portion of the wiper arm to tilt the wiper arm with respect to the
arm head thereby lifting the wiper arm, and
a U-shaped end portion positioned opposite to the wedging portion, the U-shaped
end portion configured to be engaged with a coil of a resilient member while allowing an
end portion of the resilient member to pass therethrough.
3. The windshield wiper assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein the spacer lifts the
wiper arm from the windshield such that a gap is created between blades of the wiper arm
at an inoperative condition thereof and the windshield.
4. The windshield wiper assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein the spacer lifts the
wiper arm from the windshield such that the gap remains between blades of the wiper
arm at an operative condition thereof and a portion of the windshield.
5. The windshield wiper assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the spacer is removable
spacer.
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6. A removable spacer for a windshield wiper assembly having an arm head driven by a
driven shaft and a wiper arm hingedly connected to the arm head, the removable spacer
comprising;
a wedging portion configured to be substantially inserted to a gap defined at the
hingedly connected end portion of the arm head and end portion of the wiper arm, and
a U-shaped end portion positioned opposite to the wedging portion, the U-shaped
end portion configured to be engaged with a coil of a resilient member while allowing an
end portion of the resilient member to pass therethrough,
whereby the removable spacer lifts the wiper arm from the windshield.