Windshield touch and clean system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9707935-B1
Application number	US-201615199659-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Jun 30, 2016
Priority date	Jun 30, 2016
Publication date	Jul 18, 2017
Grant date	Jul 18, 2017

Abstract

A windshield touch and clean system that can clean either the entire windshield of an automobile or spot clean a localized area of the windshield is disclosed. The windshield touch and clean system may control a cleaning head in a number of ways including but not limited to two articulating extension members or a gantry system. The cleaning head may be retrofitted with a spray nozzle for spraying cleaning fluid and also a vibration unit to assist in cleaning of residue on the windshield.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An automobile having a windshield touch and clean system for spot cleaning a windshield of the automobile, the automobile comprising:
a plurality of wheels;
an engine connected to the plurality of wheels for propelling the automobile forward;
a steering wheel connected to at least one of the plurality of wheels for guiding a direction of the automobile;
the windshield for protecting a driver of the automobile from projectiles;
the windshield touch and clean system positioned outside of the automobile below the windshield, the windshield touch and clean system having:
a cleaning head for washing dirt off of the windshield, the head being connected to the automobile with an articulating joint system or a gantry system so that the head is positionable at a location within a primary field of view of the windshield, wherein in the articulating joint system, a first extension member is connected to the head, a second extension member is pivotally connected to the first extension member and the second extension member is pivotally connected to the automobile;

a touch screen adjacent to the automobile, the touch screen displaying a visual depiction of the windshield and the touch screen being connected to a computer which controls the articulating joint system or the gantry system to position the head.

2. The automobile of claim 1 wherein the head has a brush.

3. The automobile of claim 1 wherein the head has a vibration unit for vibrating the head while cleaning dirt off of the windshield.

4. The automobile of claim 1 wherein in the articulating joint system, the head or the first extension member has a spray nozzle for spraying cleaning fluid on the windshield.

5. The automobile of claim 1 wherein the a computer is mounted to the automobile.

6. The automobile of claim 5 wherein the computer positions the cleaning head to spot clean an area on the windshield of the automobile.

7. The automobile of claim 1 further comprising a motor for controlling the first and second extension members and the position of the head on the windshield in the articulating joint system.

8. The automobile of claim 1 further comprising a tube for routing cleaning fluid toward the cleaning head and fluidically connected to a spray nozzle disposed on or adjacent to the cleaning head.

9. The automobile of claim 1 wherein the gantry system comprises:
passenger side and driver side rails located on driver and passenger sides of the windshield of the automobile;
a horizontal member attached to the passenger side and driver side rails for controlling a vertical position of the horizontal member;
the cleaning head attached to the horizontal member;
wherein the horizontal member is manipulated with respect to the passenger side and driver side rails to vertically position the cleaning head and the cleaning head is traversable along a length of the horizontal member to horizontally position the cleaning head and pinpoint the cleaning head on the windshield of the automobile.

10. The automobile of claim 9 wherein the passenger side and driver side rails are tracks.

11. The automobile of claim 9 wherein the passenger side and driver side rails are parallel to each other.

12. The automobile of claim 9 wherein the passenger side and driver side rails are skewed with respect to each other and the horizontal member is adjustable in length.

13. The automobile of claim 1 wherein the touch screen receives a touch of a user's finger and the computer positions the cleaning head to spot clean an area associated to a location of the sensed touch on the touch screen.

14. An automobile having a windshield touch and clean system for spot cleaning a windshield of the automobile, the automobile comprising:
a plurality of wheels;
an engine connected to the plurality of wheels for propelling the automobile forward;
a steering wheel connected to at least one of the plurality of wheels for guiding a direction of the automobile;
the windshield for protecting a driver of the automobile from projectiles;
the windshield touch and clean system positioned outside of the automobile below the windshield, the windshield touch and clean system having:
a cleaning head for washing dirt off of the windshield, the head being connected to the automobile with an articulating joint system or a gantry system so that the head is positionable at a location within a primary field of view of the windshield;

a touch screen adjacent to the automobile, the touch screen displaying a visual depiction of the windshield and the touch screen being connected to a computer which controls the articulating joint system or the gantry system to position the head.

15. The automobile of claim 14 wherein the touch screen receives a touch of a user's finger and the computer positions the cleaning head to spot clean an area associated to a location of the sensed touch on the touch screen.

Assignees

• Singer Nicholas J

Inventors

• Singer Nicholas J

Classifications

• B60S1/3409 Primary

  the wiper arms consisting of two or more articulated elements · CPC title

• B60S2001/3834

  equipped with brush-like elements · CPC title

• B60S1/481 Primary

  the operation of at least part of the liquid supply being controlled by electric means (electrical washing liquid warming-up means B60S1/488) · CPC title

• B60S2001/3831

  cleaning by scrubbing or abrasive action · CPC title

• B60S1/3404

  the wiper blades being moved substantially parallel with themselves · CPC title