Windshield wiper blade having horizontal path

Claim 2

A windshield wiping apparatus for wiping a windshield of an automotive vehicle comprising: a stationary support means which is adapted to be secured to the vehicle; a first shaft supported by said support means; a lever means having one end pivotally connected with said first shaft; a second shaft pivotally connected with the other end of said lever means; a windshield wiper comprising a wiper arm drivingly connected with said second shaft, a wiper blade assembly pivotally connected with said arm for movement about an axis extending generally normal to the windshield; articulating arm means pivotally connected with said second shaft and connected with said wiper blade assembly; a primary drive means operatively connected with said lever means adjacent its other end for swinging the same to and fro about said first shaft in an arcuate path beneath said first shaft to effect reciprocation of said wiper in a generally horizontal path across the windshield; a first planetary drive means operatively connected with said first and second shafts and operable to effect rotation of said wiper in response to said lever means being swung to and fro to increase the stroke length of the wiper; second planetary drive means operatively connected with said first shaft and said articulating arm means for actuating said articulating arm means to pivot said wiper blade assembly as the wiper arm is being rotated in response to swinging movement of said lever means to maintain the wiper blade assembly in a substantially vertical disposition as the wiper is being moved through its strokes, and a parking mechanism operable to effect rotation of said wiper to a generally horizontal position adjacent the lower edge of the windshield to park the same when wiper operation is being terminated.

Claim 3

A windshield wiping apparatus for wiping a windshield of an automotive vehicle comprising: a stationary support means adapted to be secured to the vehicle; a first shaft supported by said support means; a lever means having one end pivotally connected with said first shaft; a second shaft pivotally connected with the other end of said lever means; a windshield wiper comprising a wiper arm drivingly connected with said second shaft, a wiper blade assembly pivotally connected with said arm for movement about an axis extending generally normal to the windshield and an articulating arm means operatively connected with said wiper blade assembly and pivotally connected with said second shaft; a primary drive means operatively connected with said lever means adjacent its other end for swinging the same to and fro about said first shaft in an arcuate path beneath said first shaft to effEct reciprocable movement of the wiper in a generally horizontal path across the windshield through first and second strokes; a first planetary drive means operatively connected with said first and second shafts and operable during running operation of the wiper to effect rotation of said wiper relative to said lever means in response to said lever means being swung to and fro to increase the length of the strokes of the wiper blade assemblies; a second planetary drive means operatively connected with said first shaft and said articulating arm means for actuating said articulating arm means to pivot said wiper blade assembly relative to said wiper arm to maintain said wiper blade assembly in a substantially vertical disposition as it is moved through its stroke in response to swinging movement being imparted to said lever means; and a parking mechanism operable to permit said wiper arm and said articulating means to move relative to said lever means during running operation and operable in response to running operation being terminated to prevent said wiper and articulating means from moving relative to said lever means upon said wiper reaching a predetermined position during one of its strokes whereby said wiper is caused to be moved toward a horizontal position adjacent the lower edge of the windshield during the remaining portion of said one stroke.

Claim 4

A windshield wiping apparatus for wiping a windshield of an automotive vehicle comprising: a stationary support means adapted to be secured to the vehicle; a first shaft supported by said support means; a lever means having one end pivotally connected with said first shaft; a second shaft pivotally connected with the other end of said lever means; a windshield wiper comprising a wiper arm drivingly connected with said second shaft, a wiper blade assembly pivotally connected with said arm for movement about an axis extending generally normal to the windshield and an articulating arm means operatively connected with said wiper blade assembly and pivotally connected with said second shaft; a primary drive means operatively connected with said lever means adjacent its other end for swinging the same to and fro about said first shaft in an arcuate path beneath said first shaft to effEct reciprocable movement of the wiper in a generally horizontal path across the windshield through first and second strokes; a first planetary drive means operatively connected with said first and second shafts and operable during running operation of the wiper to effect rotation of said wiper relative to said lever means in response to said lever means being swung to and fro to increase the length of the strokes of the wiper blade assemblies; a second planetary drive means operatively connected with said first shaft and said articulating arm means for actuating said articulating arm means to pivot said wiper blade assembly relative to said wiper arm to maintain said wiper blade assembly in a substantially vertical disposition as it is moved through its stroke in response to swinging movement being imparted to said lever means; and a parking mechanism operable to permit said wiper arm and said articulating means to move relative to said lever means during running operation and operable in response to running operation being terminated to prevent said wiper and articulating means from moving relative to said lever means upon said wiper reaching a predetermined position during one of its strokes whereby said wiper is caused to be moved toward a horizontal position adjacent the lower edge of the windshield during the remaining portion of said one stroke.

Claim 5

A windshield wiping apparatus for wiping a windshield of an automotive vehicle comprising: a stationary support means which is adapted to be secured to the vehicle; a first shaft supported by said support means; a lever means having one end pivotally connected with said first shaft; a second shaft pivotally connected with the other end of said lever means; a windshield wiper comprising a wiper arm drivingly connected with said second shaft, a wiper blade assembly pivotally connected with said wiper arm for movement about an axis extending generally normal to the windshield and an articulating arm means operatively connected with said wiper blade assembly and pivotally connected with said second shaft; a primary drive means operatively connected with said lever means adjacent its other end for swinging the same to and fro about said first shaft through an arc of approximately 180* to effect reciprocation of said wiper in a generally horizontal path across the windshield through first and second strokes; a first planetary drive means operatively connected with said first and second shafts and operable to effect rotation of said second shaft and wiper relative to said lever means through an arc of substantially 90* in response to said lever means being reciprocated to and fro by said primary drive means to increase the length of the strokes of the wiper blade assembly; a second planetary drive means operatively connected with said first shaft and said articulating arm means for actuating said articulating arm means to pivot said wiper blade assembly relative to said wiper arm in response to said lever means being swung to and fro to maintain said wiper blade assembly in a substantially vertical disposition as the wiper is moved through its strokes; and a parking mechanism operable to automatically park the wiper in a generally horizontal park position adjacent the lower edge of the windshield when wiper operation is being terminated, said parking mechanism comprising a cam secured to said lever means and having an arcuate cam surface substantially concentric with said first shaft, said cam having a notch intermediate its ends; a parking arm drivingly connected with said first shaft and having a bifurcated end defining a notch; said stationary housing means having a notch; a movable detent means movable between a first position in which a detent thereof is disposed within said notches of said parking arm and stationary housing means to lock said parking arm to said stationary support means to allow said lever means to rotate relative to the parking arm and a second position in which the detent thereof iS removed from said notch of said housing means and is disposed within said notches of said parking arm and said cam of said lever means to lock said parking arm to said lever means to effect simultaneous rotation of said parking arm and lever means as well as rotation of said planetary drive means to effect movement of said windshield wiper toward a horizontal park position adjacent the lower edge of the windshield, said detent means being in its first position during running operation and being movable toward its second position when running operation is being terminated, said detent means being received in said notch of said cam when said wiper is vertically disposed and is located midway between the stroke ends of its second stroke, said parking arm when locked to said lever means causing said planetary drive to rotate while also being swung by said lever means to maintain the relative positions of the wiper and the lever means intact to enable the wiper to be moved from a generally vertical position toward a generally horizontal park position.

Claim 6

A windshield wiping apparatus for wiping a windshield of an automotive vehicle comprising: a stationary support means which is adapted to be secured to the vehicle; a first shaft supported by said support means; a lever means having one end pivotally connected with said first shaft; a second shaft pivotally connected with the other end of said lever means; a windshield wiper comprising a wiper arm drivingly connected with said second shaft, a wiper blade assembly pivotally connected with said wiper arm for movement about an axis extending generally normal to the windshield and an articulating arm means operatively connected with said wiper blade assembly and pivotally connected with said second shaft; a primary drive means operatively connected with said lever means adjacent its other end for swinging the same to and fro about said first shaft through an arc of approximately 180* to effect reciprocation of said wiper in a generally horizontal path across the windshield through first and second strokes; a first planetary drive means operatively connected with said first and second shafts and operable to effect rotation of said second shaft and wiper relative to said lever means through an arc of substantially 90* in response to said lever means being reciprocated to and fro by said primary drive means to increase the length of the strokes of the wiper blade assembly; a second planetary drive means operatively connected with said first shaft and said articulating arm means for actuating said articulating arm means to pivot said wiper blade assembly relative to said wiper arm in response to said lever means being swung to and fro to maintain said wiper blade assembly in a substantially vertical disposition as the wiper is moved through its strokes; and a parking mechanism operable to automatically park the wiper in a generally horizontal park position adjacent the lower edge of the windshield when wiper operation is being terminated, said parking mechanism comprising a cam secured to said lever means and having an arcuate cam surface substantially concentric with said first shaft, said cam having a notch intermediate its ends; a parking arm drivingly connected with said first shaft and having a bifurcated end defining a notch; said stationary housing means having a notch; a movable detent means movable between a first position in which a detent thereof is disposed within said notches of said parking arm and stationary housing means to lock said parking arm to said stationary support means to allow said lever means to rotate relative to the parking arm and a second position in which the detent thereof iS removed from said notch of said housing means and is disposed within said notches of said parking arm and said cam of said lever means to lock said parking arm to said lever means to effect simultaneous rotation of said parking arm and lever means as well as rotation of said planetary drive means to effect movement of said windshield wiper toward a horizontal park position adjacent the lower edge of the windshield, said detent means being in its first position during running operation and being movable toward its second position when running operation is being terminated, said detent means being received in said notch of said cam when said wiper is vertically disposed and is located midway between the stroke ends of its second stroke, said parking arm when locked to said lever means causing said planetary drive to rotate while also being swung by said lever means to maintain the relative positions of the wiper and the lever means intact to enable the wiper to be moved from a generally vertical position toward a generally horizontal park position.