Patent US3581178A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3581178A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Windshield wiper control device
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1969-04-10
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Granted: 1971-05-25
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Expires: 1989-04-10
Abstract
Abstract An electric control device controlling a wiper motor to operate windshield wiper blades intermittently with a dwell period between successive wiping cycles. The wiper motor current is carried by relay contacts and a solid state timing circuit controls the energization of the relay coil.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert W Kearns
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 06:30
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60S; B60S1/00; B60S1/02; B60S1/04; B60S1/06; B60S1/08; B60S1/0803; B60S1/0807
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
124 words
A control device for activating windshield wiper drive means for driving wiper blades through repeating wiping cycles comprising relay means having first and second second positions, means for deactivating and dynamically braking said drive means in said first position and activating said drive means in said second position, and control means for actuating said relay means and driving the wiper blades through wiping cycles with dwell periods between successive wiping cycles, said control means including means responsive to the position of the wiper blades to actuate said relay means to said first position to deactivate the wiper blades for a dwell period, and timing means for actuating said relay means to said second position to activate the wiper blades for the next wiping cycle.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
124 words
A control device for activating windshield wiper drive means for driving wiper blades through repeating wiping cycles comprising relay means having first and second second positions, means for deactivating and dynamically braking said drive means in said first position and activating said drive means in said second position, and control means for actuating said relay means and driving the wiper blades through wiping cycles with dwell periods between successive wiping cycles, said control means including means responsive to the position of the wiper blades to actuate said relay means to said first position to deactivate the wiper blades for a dwell period, and timing means for actuating said relay means to said second position to activate the wiper blades for the next wiping cycle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
63 words
The control device of claim 1 wherein said drive means is an electric motor driven wiper unit, said relay includes a coil and contacts actuated thereby to said first and second positions, and said third-mentioned means comprises circuit means including said relay contacts for energizing said electric motor in said second position land deenergizing and electrodynamically braking said motor in said first position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
The control device of claim 1 including means for varying the length of time of said dwell periods, and wherein said deactivating and dynamically braking means initiates the dynamic braking action as soon as said relay means moves to said first position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The control device of claim 1 including means for selectively operating the wiper blades continuously without dwell with said relay means in said second position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
90 words
The control device of claim 2 wherein said control means includes a variable resistance adjustable through a range of resistance values, when said variable resistance is at one end of said range said control means producing maximum dwell periods, at the other end of said range said control means maintaining said relay contacts in said second position to operate the wiper blades continuously without dwell periods, the length of time of said dwell periods decreasing as said variable resistance changes from said one to the other end of said range.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
79 words
The control device of claim 1 wherein said relay means is deenergized in said first position and energized in said second position, and including manually activated switch means having high- and low-speed positions for operating said wiper blades intermittently in one of said speed positions and continuously in the other of said speed positions, and means for maintaining said relay means energized in said other speed position to render said dynamic brake means inoperative in said other speed position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
62 words
The control device of claim 1 including manually activated switch means having high- and low-speed positions for operating said wiper blades intermittently in one of said speed positions and continuously in the other of said speed positions, in said other speed position and dynamic braking being rendered inoperative and said relay means being maintained in one of said first and second positions.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
77 words
The control device of claim 2 wherein said relay coil is energized in said second position and deenergized in said first position, and including manually activated switch means having high- and low-speed positions for operating said wiper blades intermittently in one of said speed positions and continuously in said other speed positions, and means for maintaining said relay means energized in said other speed position to render said dynamic brake means inoperative in said other speed position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The control device of claim 8 wherein said last-mentioned means includes a diode connected between said circuit means and control means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
66 words
The invention as defined high-speed claim 9 wherein the electric motor is a permanent magnet motor having a first pair of brushes which produce high-speed operation when energized and a second pair of brushes which produce low-speed operation when energized, said diode being connected to one of said pairs of brushes to pass current to said control means when said one pair of brushes is energized.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-05-24 | 1974-11-23 | 1975-05-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-05-24 | 1978-11-23 | 1979-05-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-05-24 | 1982-11-23 | 1983-05-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |