Patent Application
20180029565
The present disclosure relates to a windshield wiper lifter.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,365,345 discloses a windshield wiper lifter. The windshield wiper lifter mounts to a standard vehicle windshield wiper arm. The windshield wiper lifter has an articulating arm affixed approximately perpendicular to the windshield wiper. A first block and a second block are affixed to the windshield in the arced path of the windshield wiper lifter. When the windshield wiper lifter strikes the first block it raises the wiper arm off of the windshield when the wiper arm strokes in a first direction. When the windshield wiper lifter strikes the second block it lowers the windshield wiper arm when stroking in a second direction.
The background description provided herein is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently named inventors, to the extent it is described in this background section, as well as aspects of the description that may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the present disclosure.
A windshield wiper lifter includes a bar, a first clip and a second clip. The first clip can be coupled to the bar and can be configured to engage a first windshield wiper arm. The second clip can be coupled to the bar and can be configured to connect to a second windshield wiper arm spaced from the first windshield wiper arm.
The detailed description set forth below references the following drawings:
A windshield wiper lifter 10 includes a bar 12, a first clip 14 and a second clip 16. The first clip 14 can be coupled to the bar 12 and can be configured to engage a first windshield wiper arm 18. The second clip 16 can be coupled to the bar 12 and can be configured to connect to a second windshield wiper arm 20 spaced from the first windshield wiper arm 18.
The exemplary bar 12 can include a first member 22 and second member 24. The exemplary first member 22 can have a polygonal cross-section, but can be differently shaped in other embodiments of the present disclosure. The exemplary second member 24 can have a polygonal cross-section, but can be differently shaped in other embodiments of the present disclosure. The first member 22 and the second member 24 can be telescopically engaged with one another.
The first clip 14 and the second clip 16 can be substantially the same or different in various embodiments of the present disclosure. The exemplary first clip 14 and the exemplary second clip 16 are identical in the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. Each of the clips 14, 16 can be pivotally coupled to the bar 12 such that each of the first clip 14 and the second clip 16 can rotate relative to the bar 12 while coupled to the bar 12. As shown in
Each of clips 14, 16 can include a roller ball mounted in the body. The second clip 16 includes a roller ball 30 mounted in the body 28. The body 28 captures the roller ball 30 wherein the roller ball 30 is prevented from escaping out of the body 28, but is also free to rotate about its center. First and second prongs 32, 34 are fixedly mounted to the roller ball 30. As shown in
The roller ball 30 and first and second prongs 32, 34 define a portion of the second clip 16 that can rotate relative to the bar 12 while coupled to the bar 12 about at least two axes that are perpendicular to one another. In
The exemplary windshield wiper lifter 10 can also include a handle 40 pivotally connected with the bar 12. The handle 40 can be connected to a top side 42 of the bar 12. The first clip 14 and the second clip 16 can be coupled to a bottom side 44 of the bar 12 opposite to the top side 42. The handle 40 can be connected to the bar 12 with hinge assembly 46. The hinge assembly 46 can include a plate 48 fixed to the bar, a plate 50 fixed the handle 40, and pin 52 passing through an aperture defined by the plates 48, 50.
As best shown in
The exemplary handle 40 can be telescopic, similar to the bar 12. The exemplary handle 40 can include a first link 60 pivotally connected with the bar 12 through the hinge assembly 46 and a second link 62 telescopically engaged with the first link 60. The first and second links 60, 62 can be connected through a tongue and groove arrangement, as referenced at 64 in
The handle 40 is connected with the bar 12 at a first position 66 along a length of the bar 12 (the plane of
In a method of using the windshield wiper lifter 10, the first clip 14 can be engaged to the first windshield wiper arm 18. Next, the second clip 16 can be connected to the second windshield wiper arm 20. In connecting, the second clip 16 to the arm 16, the bodies of the clips 14, 16 can be rotated as desired, the roller balls of the clips 14, 16 can be rotated as desired, and the bar 12 can be telescopically extended or retracted as desired. The bar 12 thereby interconnects the first windshield wiper arm 18 and the second windshield wiper arm 20. When it is desired to lift both arms 18, 20 concurrently, the user can grasp the handle 40 and pull both arms 18, 20 away from a windshield 70.
The windshield wiper lifter 10 can remain on the first windshield wiper arm 18 and the second windshield wiper arm 20 as the vehicle is used, in contrast to be mounted on the arms 18, 20 only when it is desired to lift the arms 18, 20. Movement of the first windshield wiper arm 18 and the second windshield wiper arm 20 can be accommodated without resistance from the windshield wiper lifter 10 through several features. First, the first member 22 and the second member 24 can be telescopically engaged with one another and can slide freely relative to one another. Second, the clips 14, 16 are able to freely rotate relative the bar 12. Third, prongs of each of the clips 14, 16 are able to freely pivot about multiple axes.
While the present disclosure has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the present disclosure without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the present disclosure not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this present disclosure, but that the present disclosure will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims. The right to claim elements and/or sub-combinations that are disclosed herein as other present disclosures in other patent documents is hereby unconditionally reserved.
