Enhanced washing device for vehicle accessory

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020156596-A1
Application number	US-202016744782-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 16, 2020
Priority date	Sep 16, 2016
Publication date	May 21, 2020
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 including,
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 including 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, wherein the at least one fluid channel is 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 at least one fluid channel has a narrow section that leads to an exhaust section that is wider than the narrow section.

8 . 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 including,
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 including 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, wherein each of the plurality of fluid channels is 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, wherein the vortices are in different planes.

9 . A washing device according to claim 8 , wherein the fluid source attachment and the ring portion are separate components engageable with one another.

10 . A washing device according to claim 8 , 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.

11 . A washing device according to claim 10 , wherein a bottom of the ring portion at the curved protrusion is devoid of any fluid channels.

12 . A washing device according to claim 8 , wherein the plurality of fluid flow pathways flow in different directions with respect to one another.

13 . A washing device according to claim 8 , wherein the plurality of fluid flow pathways have different rates of flow.

14 . 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.

15 . 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.

16 . A method for washing a vehicle accessory with a cleanable surface, comprising the steps of:
using a washer housing including a ring portion and a fluid source attachment, the fluid source attachment being configured to receive and distribute fluid, the ring portion comprising a washing side configured to frame the cleanable surface of the vehicle accessory and being in fluid communication with 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; discharging fluid from the fluid source attachment through the plurality of fluid channels to create a plurality of fluid flow pathways at the nozzle; and directing the fluid discharged through the plurality of fluid channels to the cleanable surface of the vehicle accessory such that the fluid flow pathways interact with one another to form vortices and oscillation in the fluid, thereby cleaning residue from the cleanable surface, wherein the vortices are in different planes such that the vortices are transverse to one another.

17 . A method according to claim 16 , further comprising the step of mounting the washer housing to a shroud using a mounting member that moves between locked and unlocked positions wherein at least one locking feature engages pockets in the shroud and in the ring portion of the washer housing when in the locked position.

18 . A method according to claim 16 , further comprising the step of aligning the pockets of the shroud and the ring portion when the mounting member is in the unlocked position and rotating the mounting member to the unlocked position wherein the at least one locking feature engages the pockets.

19 . 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 w

Assignees

• Methode Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Karasik Vladimir

Classifications

• 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

• B60S1/56

  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

• B60S1/52 Primary

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