Windshield touch and clean system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9963118-B2
Application number	US-201715782766-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 12, 2017
Priority date	Jun 30, 2016
Publication date	May 8, 2018
Grant date	May 8, 2018

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 cleaning system for 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 at least two wheels for guiding a direction of the automobile;
the windshield for protecting a driver of the automobile from projectiles;
the windshield cleaning system having:
a computer for controlling the windshield cleaning system;
a windshield cleaner positioned adjacent the windshield for washing dirt off of the windshield, the windshield cleaner being connected to the automobile, the windshield cleaner being operative to clean the windshield within a primary field of view of the windshield;
a touch screen disposed within a cabin of the automobile and displaying a visual windshield depiction and the touch screen being connected to the computer which controls the windshield cleaner.

2. The automobile of claim 1 further comprising an articulating joint system that connects the windshield cleaner to the automobile.

3. The automobile of claim 2 wherein the articulating joint system comprises:
an extension member connecting the windshield cleaner to the automobile and the extension member is sufficiently long so the windshield cleaner reaches a substantial portion of the primary field of view of the windshield.

4. The automobile of claim 3 further comprising a motor for controlling the extension member comprised of first and second extension members and a position of the windshield cleaner on the windshield.

5. The automobile of claim 2 wherein the computer controls the articulating joint system to position the windshield cleaner on the windshield.

6. The automobile of claim 1 wherein the windshield cleaner is a brush, a wiper blade or combination thereof.

7. The automobile of claim 6 wherein the windshield cleaner has a vibration unit for vibrating a brush while cleaning dirt off of the windshield.

8. The automobile of claim 6 wherein the windshield cleaner has a spray nozzle for spraying cleaning fluid on the windshield.

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

10. The automobile of claim 1 wherein the windshield cleaner is a cleaning head.

11. The automobile of claim 1 further comprising a gantry system connected to the windshield cleaner and traverses the windshield cleaner about the windshield of the automobile.

12. The automobile of claim 11 wherein the gantry system comprises:
first and second tracks are disposed on opposite sides of the windshield and an elongate member slides along a length of the first and second tracks so that as the windshield cleaner which is attached to the horizontal member traverses along a length of the elongate member and the first and second tracks, the windshield cleaner reaches a substantial portion of the primary field of view of the windshield.

13. The automobile of claim 12 wherein the gantry system comprises:
the first and second tracks are passenger side and driver side rails located on driver and passenger sides of the windshield of the automobile;
the elongate member is a horizontal member attached to the passenger side and driver side rails for controlling a vertical position of the horizontal member;
the windshield cleaner 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 windshield cleaner and the windshield cleaner is traversable along the length of the horizontal member to horizontally position the windshield cleaner and pinpoint the windshield cleaner on the windshield of the automobile.

14. The automobile of claim 1 wherein the passenger side and driver side tracks are parallel to each other.

15. The automobile of claim 1 wherein the passenger side and driver side tracks are skewed with respect to each other and the horizontal member is adjustable in length.

16. The automobile of claim 1 wherein the windshield cleaner depiction is an icon of the windshield.

Assignees

• Singer Nicholas J

Inventors

• Singer Nicholas J

Classifications

• B60S2001/3831

  cleaning by scrubbing or abrasive action · CPC title

• B60S1/3409

  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

• B60K35/22

  Display screens · CPC title