ESSUIE-GLACES CHAUFFES

HEATED WIPER BLADE ASSEMBLY

Abrégé anglais

A vehicle heated windshield wiper blade assembly suitable for use with a
standard wiper arm is provided. The heated windshield wiper blade assembly of
the invention comprises attachment means for connecting the assembly to the
wiper arm of a vehicle, a quick connect electrical connector for connecting
into a
vehicle electrical system, flat electrical heating elements incorporated into
the
assembly between the wiper blade and the housing of the assembly which
elements when activated at a given temperature will provide heat directly into
the
housing and indirectly to the wiper blade and wiping edge.

Revendications

CLAIMS:
1. A vehicle heated windshield wiper apparatus for cleaning the windshield
of a vehicle of the type including a spring loaded wiper arm for holding the
apparatus under pressure against the windshield and oscillating the apparatus
across the windshield, said apparatus comprising:
attachment means for connecting said apparatus with the wiper arm of the
vehicle;
a frameless and flexible housing said housing comprising flat electrical
heating elements running the length of the apparatus arms along a center rib
and connected to a wiper blade leading to a wiping edge;
a quick connect electrical connector;
wherein once the apparatus is securely connected to the wiper arm of the
vehicle and that the quick connect has been engaged to the power supply said
apparatus will generate heat which is distributed to the housing, wiper blade
and
wiping edge.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the heating elements are thermofoil and
epoxyed to the top of the apparatus arms.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus is actuated by a
thermostat/temperature sensor.
4. A vehicle heated windshield wiper apparatus for cleaning the windshield
of a vehicle of the type including a spring loaded wiper arm for holding the
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apparatus under pressure against the windshield and oscillating the apparatus
across the windshield, said apparatus comprising:
attachment means for connecting said apparatus with the wiper arm of the
vehicle;
a frameless and flexible housing said housing comprising flat electrical
heating elements running the length of the apparatus arms along a center rib,
said elements being thermofoil and epoxyed to either side of said rib, and
connected to a wiper blade leading to a wiping edge;
a quick connect electrical connector;
a thermostat for actuating said apparatus;
wherein once the apparatus is securely connected to the wiper arm of the
vehicle and that the quick connect has been engaged to the power supply said
apparatus will generate heat which is distributed to the housing, wiper blade
and
wiping edge.
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Description

CA 02614897 2007-12-13
HEATED WIPER BLADE ASSEMBLY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to windshield wiper systems and more particularly to a
windshield wiper assembly incorporating electrical heating elements for
heating a wiper blade.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
In the prior art various types of heated windshield wiper structures have
been proposed.
It is known in the art to embed a heating wire within a windshield wiper
squeegee (the wiping edge) and to connect that heating wire to the
electrical system of a vehicle so that when the wiper is activated a heating
current will provide heat. Typically, this known structure has proved
relatively complex and expensive with systems in which the wire breaks
down over time due to the constant heating and cooling of the wire and
also as to embedding the heating element within the wiper blade and as to
providing the necessary electrical wiring and control.
The object of the present invention is therefore to remedy the
disadvantages of the prior art.
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CA 02614897 2007-12-13
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, a new and improved heating
windshield wiper assembly is provided for use with a standard wiper arm.
The invention accordingly provides an easy and convenient form of heated
windshield wiper assembly which is easy to manufacture and which will not
wear out from the heat generated within and ambient environmental
conditions.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle heated
windshield wiper apparatus for cleaning the windshield of a vehicle of the
type
including a spring loaded wiper arm for holding the apparatus under pressure
against the windshield and oscillating the apparatus across the windshield,
said
apparatus comprising: attachment means for connecting said apparatus with the
wiper arm of the vehicle; a frameless and flexible housing said housing
comprising flat electrical heating elements running the length of the
apparatus
arms along a center rib and connected to a wiper blade leading to a wiping
edge;
a quick connect electrical connector; wherein once the apparatus is securely
connected to the wiper arm of the vehicle and that the quick connect has been
engaged to the power supply said apparatus will generate heat which is
distributed to the housing, wiper blade and wiping edge.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle heated
windshield wiper apparatus for cleaning the windshield of a vehicle of the
type
including a spring loaded wiper arm for holding the apparatus under pressure
against the windshield and oscillating the apparatus across the windshield,
said
apparatus comprising: attachment means for connecting said apparatus with the
wiper arm of the vehicle; a frameless and flexible housing said housing
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CA 02614897 2007-12-13
comprising flat electrical heating elements running the length of the
apparatus
arms along a center rib, said elements being thermofoil and epoxyed to either
side of said rib, and connected to a wiper blade leading to a wiping edge; a
quick
connect electrical connector; a thermostat for actuating said apparatus;
wherein once the apparatus is securely connected to the wiper arm of the
vehicle
and that the quick connect has been engaged to the power supply said
apparatus will generate heat which is distributed to the housing, wiper blade
and
wiping edge.
Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become
apparent from the following description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a heated windshield wiper assembly for
vehicles;
Figure 2 is a top view of the wiper assembly of the present invention;
Figure 3 is a bottom view of the wiper assembly of the present invention;
Figure 4 is a further top view of the wiper assembly illustrating the heating
elements.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring to the drawings, a heated windshield wiper assembly is illustrated
and designated generally as 10. The wiper blade assembly 10 may be
installed and operated on an oscillating wiper arm said assembly 10 being
fixedly attached through attachment means 11 which is reciprocally
adapted to connect with the wiper arm of a vehicle.
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CA 02614897 2007-12-13
Specifically, the wiper blade assembly 10 is comprised of a frameless and
flexible housing 12 with centrally located attachment means 11 to connect
said housing 12 to the wiper arm of a vehicle. The housing 12 is
characterized by the presence, as illustrated in Figure 4 with the housing
cover off, of flat electrical heating elements 13 running the length of the
assembly 10 arms 14 along a center rib 15 which is itself connected to the
wiper blade 16 leading to the wiping edge 17.
Typically, the heating elements 13 are thermofoil elements, epoxyed to the
top of the arms 14 and centrally wired in the area of the attachment means
11. Attached to said attachment means 11 is a quick connect electrical
connector 18 for easy connection into a vehicle electrical system.
The design of the present invention promotes a more efficient use of
electrical power through the use of a thermostat/temperature sensor which
actuates the assembly 10 when the temperature varies beyond a fixed limit
providing for the assembly 10 to start heating up at or about 4 C, for
instance. As a result of the use of flat electrical heating elements 13
combined with the use of a thermostat, the heating elements 13 wear is
minimized thereby leading to an increased life for the assembly 10.
It is also noteworthy that the assembly 10 is flexible said flexibility
enabling
the wiper blade 16 and wiping edge 17 to be self-conforming to the
vehicle's windshield for improved performance.
In operation, once the wiper blade assembly 10 has been securely
mounted to a wiper arm of a vehicle and that the quick connect 18 has
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CA 02614897 2007-12-13
been engaged with the wire leading to the power supply, said blade
assembly 10 will generate heat, once the pre-set trigger temperature has
been met. Upon application of electricity to the heating elements 13 heat
will be directed into the housing 12 and indirectly to the wiper blade 16 and
the wiping edge 17 resulting in snow and ice melting on the assembly 10
and also providing for improved windshield wiping performance.
It will also be appreciated that the blade assembly 10 of the present
invention as embodied with its use of the quick connect 18 facilitates
removal for replacement without having to replace or re-wire the entire
structure. No hardware disconnection is required to replace the wiper
blade assembly 10.
While a particular embodiment of the heated wiper blade assembly has been
described herein, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that
changes
and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the invention in
its broader aspects and as set forth in the following claims.
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