Enhanced washing device for vehicle accessory

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018079392-A1
Application number	US-201715802933-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 3, 2017
Priority date	Sep 16, 2016
Publication date	Mar 22, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

A washing device for a vehicle accessory that includes a washer housing with a ring portion and a fluid source attachment. The ring portion has a main opening for receiving a portion of the vehicle accessory, an attachment side configured for mounting the washer housing, a washing side configured to frame the vehicle accessory, and a transition portion between the ring portion and the fluid source attachment. A nozzle end of the fluid source attachment has at least one fluid channel defined by a nozzle protrusion on the nozzle end. The fluid channel is configured to discharge the fluid to the washing side for cleaning the vehicle accessory by creating a plurality of fluid flow pathways of the fluid between the nozzle end and the transition portion, wherein the plurality fluid flow pathways interact with one another to form at least one vortex in the flow of the fluid.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A washing device for a vehicle accessory, comprising:
a washer housing including a ring portion and a fluid source attachment, the fluid source attachment being configured to receive fluid, the ring portion comprising,
a main opening for receiving at least a portion of the vehicle accessory, an attachment side configured for mounting the washer housing, a washing side configured to frame the vehicle accessory and being in fluid communication with the fluid source attachment, and a transition portion between the ring portion and the fluid source attachment, and
the fluid source attachment comprising,
a nozzle end engaging the transition portion of the ring portion, the nozzle end having at least one fluid channel defined by a nozzle protrusion on the nozzle end, the at least one fluid channel being configured to discharge the fluid to the washing side of the ring portion for cleaning the vehicle accessory by creating a plurality of fluid flow pathways of the fluid between the nozzle end and the transition portion, wherein the plurality fluid flow pathways interact with one another to form at least one vortex in the flow of the fluid.

2 . A washing device according to claim 1 , wherein
the nozzle has a plurality of channels defined by the nozzle protrusion, each of the plurality of fluid channels is configured to discharge the fluid to the washing side for cleaning the vehicle accessory by creating a plurality of fluid flow pathways of the fluid between the nozzle end and the transition portion, wherein the plurality fluid flow pathways interact with one another to form vortices.

3 . A washing device according to claim 2 , wherein
the vortices are in different planes such that the vortices are transverse to one another.

4 . A washing device according to claim 1 , wherein
the transition portion includes a curved end wall that extends from the washing side of the ring portion and covers the at least one fluid channel for directing the fluid flow pathways.

5 . A washing device according to claim 4 , wherein
the ring portion includes a curved protrusion for directing the fluid flow pathways, the curved protrusion extends from the washing side of the ring portion and that is located remote from the curved end wall of the transition portion.

6 . A washing device according to claim 1 , wherein
the plurality of fluid flow pathways flow in different directions with respect to one another.

7 . A washing device according to claim 1 , wherein
the plurality of fluid flow pathways have different rates of flow.

8 . A washing device according to claim 1 , wherein
the at least one fluid channel has a narrow section that leads to an exhaust section that is wider than the narrow section.

9 . A washing device for a vehicle accessory, comprising:
a vehicle accessory with a cleanable surface; a shroud that supports the vehicle accessory, the shroud having a front wall with an opening that displays the cleanable surface of the vehicle assembly; and a washer housing including a ring portion and a fluid source attachment, the fluid source attachment being configured to receive fluid, the ring portion comprising,
a main opening for receiving at least a portion of the vehicle accessory, an attachment side configured for mounting the washer housing to the shroud, a washing side configured to frame the cleanable surface of the vehicle accessory and being in fluid communication with the fluid source attachment, and a transition portion between the ring portion and the fluid source attachment, and
the fluid source attachment comprising,
a nozzle end engaging the transition portion of the ring portion, the nozzle end having a plurality of fluid channels defined by a nozzle protrusion on the nozzle end, each of the plurality of fluid channels being configured to discharge the fluid to the washing side of the ring portion for cleaning the cleanable surface of the vehicle accessory by creating a plurality of fluid flow pathways of the fluid between the nozzle end and the transition portion, wherein the plurality fluid flow pathways interact with one another to form vortices in the flow of the fluid.

10 . A washing device according to claim 9 , wherein
the fluid source attachment and the ring portion are separate components engageable with one another.

11 . A washing system according to claim 9 , wherein
the vortices are in different planes.

12 . A washing device according to claim 9 , wherein
the transition portion includes a curved end wall that extends from the washing side of the ring portion and covers the at least one fluid channel for directing the fluid flow pathways.

13 . A washing device according to claim 4 , wherein
the ring portion includes a curved protrusion for directing the fluid flow pathways, the curved protrusion extends from the washing side of the ring portion and that is located remote from the curved end wall of the transition portion.

14 . A washing device according to claim 13 , wherein
a bottom of the ring portion at the curved protrusion is devoid of any fluid channels.

15 . A washing device according to claim 9 , wherein
the plurality of fluid flow pathways flow in different directions with respect to one another.

16 . A washing device according to claim 19 , wherein
the plurality of fluid flow pathways have different rates of flow.

17 . A washing device according to claim 9 , wherein
each of the plurality of fluid channels has a narrow section that leads to an exhaust section that is wider than the narrow section.

18 . A washing device according to claim 17 , wherein
the exhaust section has different length sides that diverge away from one another to create the plurality of fluid pathways with different lengths.

19 . A washing device according to claim 8 , further comprising
a mounting member that has a ring body with at least one locking feature for engaging both the attachment side of the ring portion and an inner surface of the shroud.

20 . A washing device according to claim 19 , wherein
the locking feature is a substantially T-shaped leg extending from the ring body, the attachment side of the ring portion includes at least one pocket for receiving a portion of the T-shaped leg and the inner surface of the shroud has at least one pocket for receiving another portion of the T-shaped leg.

21 . A washing device for a vehicle accessory, comprising:
a vehicle accessory with a cleanable surface; a shroud that supports the vehicle accessory, the shroud having a front wall with an opening that displays the cleanable surface of the vehicle assembly; a washer housing including a ring portion and a fluid source attachment, the fluid source attachment being configured to receive fluid, the ring portion comprising,
a main opening for receiving at least a portion of the vehicle accessory, an attachment side configured for mounting the washer housing to the shroud, a washing side configured to frame the cleanable surface of the vehicle accessory and being in fluid communication with the fluid source attachment, and a transition portion between the ring portion and the fluid source attachment, and
the fluid source attachment comprising,
a nozzle end engaging the transition portion of the ring portion, the nozzle end having at least one fluid channel configured to discharge the fluid to the washing side of the ring portion for cleaning the cleanable surface of the vehicle accessory by

Assignees

• Methode Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Karasik Vladimir

Classifications

• B60S1/56

  specially adapted for cleaning other parts or devices than front windows or windscreens {(rear-view mirror arrangements mounted on vehicle exterior including cleaning devices B60R1/0602)} · CPC title

• G02B27/0006 Primary

  with means to keep optical surfaces clean, e.g. by preventing or removing dirt, stains, contamination, condensation (G02B1/18 takes precedence; cleaning in general B08B) · CPC title

• B60S1/52 Primary

  Arrangement of nozzles; {Liquid spreading means}(nozzles per se B05B) · CPC title