Vehicle window wiper assembly with curvilinear guide rail

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016016539-A1
Application number	US-201414336015-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 21, 2014
Priority date	Jul 21, 2014
Publication date	Jan 21, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A windshield wiper assembly includes a telescoping wiper head having a first section fixed to a pivot drive shaft and a second section capable of translating relative to the first section between an extended position and a retracted position. A curvilinear guide rail engages the second section and guides the second section between the extended and retracted positions. A wiper blade is carried on the second section. Advantageously the wiper assembly functions to provide enhanced wiper coverage over the Zone B portion of the windscreen through which the occupants view is typically directed.

First claim

What is claimed:

1 . A windshield wiper assembly, comprising:
a telescoping wiper head having a first section fixed to a pivot drive shaft and a second section capable of translating relative to said first section between an extended position and a retracted position; a fixed guide rail engaging said second section and guiding said second section between said extended and retracted positions; and a wiper blade carried on said second section.

2 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein said guide rail defines a modified arc of wiper blade travel matched to the windshield being wiped so as to provide enhanced Zone B wiper coverage of said windshield.

3 . The assembly of claim 1 , further including a guide rail follower carried on said second section.

4 . The assembly of claim 3 , wherein said guide rail follower includes opposed rollers and said guide rail passes between and engages said opposed rollers.

5 . The assembly of claim 3 , wherein said guide rail follower includes a first roller and a rotating bridge plate carrying a second roller and a third roller.

6 . A windshield wiper assembly, comprising:
a pivot housing; a pivot shaft; a drive motor for rotating said pivot shaft; a curvilinear guide rail fixed to said pivot housing; a telescoping wiper arm including a first section fixed to said pivot shaft and a second section displaceable relative to said first section between a retracted position and an extended position; a guide rail follower carried on said second section, said guide rail follower engaging and following said curvilinear guide rail so as to displace said second section between said retracted and extended positions as said first section is pivoted by said pivot shaft; and a wiper blade carried on said second section.

7 . The wiper assembly of claim 6 , wherein said first section includes a socket and said second section includes a lug that freely slides in said socket.

8 . The wiper assembly of claim 7 , further including a slide bearing received in said socket between said first section and said lug.

9 . The wiper assembly of claim 8 , wherein said guide rail follower includes a first roller, a second roller and a third roller.

10 . The wiper assembly of claim 9 , wherein said guide rail follower includes a bridge plate mounted by a pivot pin to said second section.

11 . The wiper assembly of claim 10 , wherein said second roller and said third roller are secured to said bridge plate by mean of a second roller shaft and a third roller shaft.

12 . The wiper assembly of claim 11 , wherein said first roller is secured to said second section by a first roller shaft.

13 . The wiper assembly of claim 12 , wherein said curvilinear guide rail is engaged on a first face by said first roller and on a second face by said second and third rollers.

14 . The wiper assembly of claim 13 , wherein said curvilinear guide rail includes a mounting base and said pivot housing includes mounting points for engaging said mounting base.

15 . The wiper assembly of claim 14 , wherein said pivot shaft extends through a first opening in said pivot housing and a second opening in said mounting base.

16 . The wiper assembly of claim 6 , wherein said guide rail follower includes a first roller, a second roller and a third roller.

17 . The wiper assembly of claim 16 , wherein said guide rail follower includes a bridge plate mounted by a pivot pin to said second section.

18 . The wiper assembly of claim 17 , wherein said second roller and said third roller are secured to said bridge plate by mean of a second roller shaft and a third roller shaft.

19 . The wiper assembly of claim 18 , wherein said first roller is secured to said second section by a first roller shaft.

20 . The wiper assembly of claim 19 , wherein said curvilinear guide rail is engaged on a first face by said first roller and on a second face by said second and third rollers.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Coleman James
• Doman Brad Napier
• Garcia Crespo Jose

Classifications

• B60S1/3436

  Mounting heads · CPC title

• B60S1/3497

  Additional means for guiding the blade other than the arm or blade joint · CPC title

• B60S1/36 Primary

  Variable-length arms · CPC title

• B60S1/365

  the effective length being automatically varied during angular oscillation of the arm · CPC title

• B60S1/3402 Primary

  with means for obtaining particular wiping patterns (by varying the effective length of the angularly oscillating arm B60S1/365) · CPC title