FORM 2
The Patent Act 1970
(39 OF 1970)
AND
THE PATENT RULES, 2005
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION (SEE SECTION 10; RULE 13)
TITLE OF THE INVENTION
“DEVICE FOR AUTOMATICALLY CLEANING A SURFACE OF DOOR OF AN
AUTOMOBILE”
APPLICANT(S)
TATA MOTORS LIMITED
An Indian Company Bombay House, 24 Homi Mody Street, Hutatma Chowk, Mumbai – 400 001, Maharashtra, India.
PREAMBLE TO THE DESCRIPTION
The following specification particularly describes and ascertains the nature of this invention and the manner in which it is to be performed:-

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present disclosure relates to an automobile, in particular to an autonomous surface cleaning device for automatically cleaning a rocker panel of the automobile.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Automobiles such as a car are easily prone to dust. An outer surface of the car easily gets dirty due to the dust, mud on rods and wheels, and water on roads due rain or other sources, etc. When the car surface is dirty then while getting down from the car it is likely that clothes of a passenger or a driver gets in contact with the dirty outer surface of the car. Among various surfaces, the most common surface, which comes in touch with the clothes of the passenger or driver, is a rocker panel (1) as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B.
[0003] Consider an example, where car is coated with mud or dust. While getting down from the car, a foot of the passenger or driver touches the rocker panel (1) at a point (2), as shown in the FIG. 1B, due to which the clothes get dirty. More specifically, clothes of women wearing long gowns, sari, or such clothes easily get dirty while getting down from the car as such clothes easily come in contact with the rocker panel (1). Even if the car is cleaned before riding, due to current road conditions, the rocker panel (1) gets dirty and lead to dirty clothes while getting down from the car.
[0004] Hence, there remains a need of an efficient device that automatically cleans car exterior surfaces (especially rocker panel (1)) before entering / getting down from the car.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The principal object of the embodiment herein is to provide an autonomous surface cleaning device for automatically cleaning a rocker panel of an automobile. The driver or passenger of the automobile can automatically clean exterior surface (especially rocker panel) while sitting inside the automobile and then get down from the automobile.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] In one aspect, the object is satisfied by providing a device for automatically cleaning a door of an automobile, The device includes a first guide path attached to an exterior surface of the door of the automobile, a wash assembly mounted over a second guide path, an actuator connected to the second guide path to attach the second guide path with the first guide path so that the wash assembly moves over the first guide path along a length of a cleaning surface of the door, and a switch connected to the actuator for performing a cleaning operation of the cleaning surface of the door. The wash assembly includes a wiper arm, a wiper motor, a washer liquid tank, and a washer nozzle connected to the washer liquid tank.
[0007] In an embodiment, wherein the switch is mounted inside a passenger cabin of the automobile to energize the actuator to attach the second guide path with the first guide path.
[0008] In an embodiment, the first guide path defines a channel opened toward the cleaning surface of the door so that the wash assembly moves over the first guide path along the length of the cleaning surface of the door.

[0009] In an embodiment, the second guide path is attached beside the first guide path on the exterior surface of the door of the automobile and defines a parking position to rest the wash assembly when not in use.
[0010] In an embodiment, the switch energizes the actuator during the cleaning operation. The actuator attaches the second guide path with the first guide path by pushing the second guide path from a parking position towards the first guide path. The wiper motor is activated to start moving the wash assembly over the first guide path along a length of the cleaning surface of the door of the automobile. The washer nozzle sprays liquid from washer liquid tank on the cleaning surface and the wiper arm cleans the sprayed water from the cleaning surface while the wash assembly is moving along the length of the cleaning surface of the door. Further, the actuator detaches the second guide path with the first guide path by pulling the second guide path away from the first guide path to the parking position.
[0011] In an embodiment, the device comprises a gear to engage both the first guide path and the second guide path to control the movement of the wash assembly.
[0012] In an embodiment, the cleaning surface (11) is a rocker panel.
[0013] These and other aspects of the embodiment herein will be better appreciated and understood when considered in conjunction with the following description and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the following descriptions, while indicating preferred embodiment and numerous specific details thereof, are given by way of illustration and not of limitation. Many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the embodiment herein without departing from the spirit thereof, and the embodiment herein include all such modifications.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0014] The proposed autonomous surface cleaning device is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, throughout which like reference letters indicate corresponding parts in the various figures. The embodiment herein will be better understood from the following description with reference to the drawings, in which:
[0015] FIG. 1A illustrates an side body panel of an automobile, according to prior art;
[0016] FIG. 1B illustrates an scenario of a passenger or driver getting down from the automobile, according to prior art;
[0017] FIG. 2 illustrates an autonomous surface cleaning device mounted on the side body panel of the automobile, according to embodiment as disclosed herein;
[0018] FIG. 3 illustrates an exploded view of the autonomous surface cleaning device, according to embodiment as disclosed herein;
[0019] FIG. 4 illustrates a rack and pinion arrangement of to move the wash assembly, according to embodiment as disclosed herein; and
[0020] FIG. 5 illustrates exploded view of actuator for locating guide path for parking position, according to embodiment as disclosed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0021] The embodiment herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiment that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and detailed in the following description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiment herein. Also, the various embodiment described herein are not necessarily mutually exclusive, as some embodiment can be combined with one or more other embodiment to form new embodiment. The term “or” as used herein, refers to a non-exclusive or, unless otherwise indicated. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiment herein can be practiced and to further enable those skilled in the art to practice the embodiment herein. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiment herein.
[0022] The accompanying drawings are used to help easily understand various technical features and it should be understood that the embodiment presented herein are not limited by the accompanying drawings. As such, the present disclosure should be construed to extend to any alterations, equivalents and substitutes in addition to those, which are particularly set out in the accompanying drawings. Although the terms first, second, etc., may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are generally only used to distinguish one element from another.
[0023] Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 2-5, there are shown preferred embodiment.

[0024] FIG. 2 illustrates an autonomous surface cleaning device mounted on a side body panel of the automobile, according to embodiment as disclosed herein. The device is mounted on exterior surface (4) of a door (3) of an automobile as shown in the FIG. 2. The automobile described herein can be a car, a bus, a truck, etc. Nevertheless, the present invention is also applicable to other air, water and land automobiles. In an embodiment, the device includes a first guide path (5), a wash assembly (6), an actuator (12) (shown in FIG. 5), and a switch (not shown).
[0025] The first guide path (5) is attached to the exterior surface (4) of the door (3) of the automobile. The first guide path described are designed to guide the wash assembly (6) for cleaning a cleaning surface (11). The first guide path (5) defines a channel opened toward the cleaning surface (11) of the door (3) so that the wash assembly (6) moves over the first guide path (5) along the length of the cleaning surface (11) of the door (3). The cleaning surface (11) can be the rocker panel (3) or any other surface of the automobile.
[0026] The wash assembly (6) is mounted over a second guide path. The second guide path (7) is attached beside the first guide path (5) on the exterior surface (4) of the door (3) of the automobile and defines a parking position to rest the wash assembly (6) when not in use. The wash assembly (6) includes a wiper arm (8), a wiper motor (9), and a washer nozzle (10) connected to a washer liquid tank. One end of the wiper arm (8) is connected to the wash assembly (6) and other end includes wiper blades that is used to clean the cleaning surface (11). The wiper motor (9) can be connected to the wash assembly (6). The wiper motor (9) can be an induction motor together with a control system used to drive the wiper arm (8). The washer nozzle (10) sprays liquid from the washer liquid tank (not shown). The washer liquid tank can be the water tank available in the automobile or a separate washer liquid tank can be used.

[0027] The actuator (12) is connected to the second guide path (7) to attach the second guide path (7) with the first guide path (5) so that the wash assembly (6) moves over the first guide path (5) along a length of a cleaning surface (11) of the door (3). The switch (not shown) is connected to the actuator (12) for performing a cleaning operation of the cleaning surface (11) of the door (3). The switch is mounted inside a passenger cabin of the automobile to energize the actuator (12) to attach the second guide path (7) with the first guide path (5). The actuator (12) receives a control signal when the switch is pressed.
[0028] During the cleaning operation, the switch energizes the actuator (12) and the actuator (12) attaches the second guide path (7) with the first guide path (5) by pushing the second guide path (7) from a parking position towards the first guide path (5). After the second guide path (7) attaches with the first guide path (5), the wiper motor (9) is activated to start moving the wash assembly (6) over the first guide path (5) along a length of the cleaning surface (11) of the door (3) of the automobile. While the wash assembly (6) is moving, the washer nozzle (10) sprays liquid from washer liquid tank on the cleaning surface (11) and the wiper arm (8) cleans the sprayed water from the cleaning surface (11). The spraying of liquid and the cleaning operations happens simultaneously while the wash assembly
(6) is moving along the length of the cleaning surface (11) of the door (3). Once the cleaning is done, the actuator (12) detaches the second guide path
(7) with the first guide path (5) by pulling the second guide path (7) away from the first guide path (5) to the parking position. The wash assembly (6) then rest in the parking position and repeats this process again when the switch is pressed for performing the cleaning operation.
[0029] FIG. 3 illustrates an exploded view of the autonomous surface cleaning device, according to embodiment as disclosed herein. FIG. 4

illustrates a rack and pinion arrangement of to move the wash assembly (6), according to embodiment as disclosed herein. The device includes a gear to engage both the first guide path (5) and the second guide path (7) to control the movement of the wash assembly (6). An example rack and pinion arrangement is shown in the FIG. 3.
[0030] FIG. 5 illustrates exploded view of the actuator (12) for locating guide path for parking position, according to embodiment as disclosed herein. When the passenger presses the switch, the actuator (12) is energized and pushes the second the second guide path (7) to attach the second guide path (7) with the first guide path (5) so that the wash assembly (6) moves over the first guide path (5) along a length of a cleaning surface (11) of the door (3). When the cleaning operation is over, the actuator (12) detaches the second guide path (7) with the first guide path (5) by pulling the second guide path (7) away from the first guide path (5) to the parking position. This will allow the wash assembly (6) to rest (13) when not in use.
[0031] The foregoing description of the specific embodiment will so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiment herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiment without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiment. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiment herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiment, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiment herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the embodiment as described herein.

[0032] List to reference numerals:

Sr. No. Description
1 rocker panel
2 touches
3 door
4 exterior surface
5 first guide path
6 wash assembly
7 second guide path
8 wiper arm
9 wiper motor
10 washer nozzle
11 cleaning surface
12 actuator
13 rest

We Claim:
1. A device for automatically cleaning a door (3) of an automobile, the device
comprising:
a first guide path (5) attached to an exterior surface (4) of the door (3) of the automobile;
a wash assembly (6) mounted over a second guide path (7), wherein the wash assembly (6) comprises: a wiper arm (8), a wiper motor (9), and
a washer nozzle (10) connected to a washer liquid tank; an actuator (12) connected to the second guide path (7) to attach the second guide path (7) with the first guide path (5) so that the wash assembly (6) moves over the first guide path (5) along a length of a cleaning surface (11) of the door (3); and
a switch connected to the actuator (12) for performing a cleaning operation of the cleaning surface (11) of the door (3).
2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the switch is mounted inside a passenger cabin of the automobile to energize the actuator (12) to attach the second guide path (7) with the first guide path (5).
3. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first guide path (5) defines a channel opened toward the cleaning surface (11) of the door (3) so that the wash assembly (6) moves over the first guide path (5) along the length of the cleaning surface (11) of the door (3).
4. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second guide path (7) is attached beside the first guide path (5) on the exterior surface (4) of the door (3) of the automobile and defines a parking position to rest the wash assembly (6) when not in use.

5. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein during the cleaning operation:
the switch energizes the actuator (12),
the actuator (12) attaches the second guide path (7) with the first guide path (5) by pushing the second guide path (7) from a parking position towards the first guide path (5),
the wiper motor (9) is activated to start moving the wash assembly (6) over the first guide path (5) along a length of the cleaning surface (11) of the door (3) of the automobile,
the washer nozzle (10) sprays liquid from washer liquid tank on the cleaning surface (11) and the wiper arm (8) cleans the sprayed water from the cleaning surface (11) while the wash assembly (6) is moving along the length of the cleaning surface (11) of the door (3), and
the actuator (12) detaches the second guide path (7) with the first guide path (5) by pulling the second guide path (7) away from the first guide path (5) to the parking position.
6. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the device comprises a gear to engage both the first guide path (5) and the second guide path (7) to control the movement of the wash assembly (6).
7. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cleaning surface (11) is a rocker panel.