US3704481A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automotive headlamp cleaning system
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-05-21
•
Granted: 1972-12-05
•
Expires: 1991-05-21
Abstract
Abstract I disclose a headlamp cleaning system comprising wiper means having flexible wiper edge means in contact with headlamp means, means for rotatably supporting one of said wiper and said headlamp means, and means for driving that one of said wiper and said headlamp means so supported such that said wiper and said headlamp means are relatively rotated one against the other, said wiper being elongated and supported at its ends by annular support means which are substantially aligned with said headlamp means so that said wiper is longitudinally engaged therewith during said relative rotation of the wiper and headlamp means.
Inventors
- 👤 Lewis Harvey Fennell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 13:50
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60S; B60S1/00; B60S1/02; B60S1/56; B60S1/60
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 34
Claim 1
Independent Claim
117 words
A headlamp cleaning system comprising wiper means having flexible wiper edge means in contact with headlamp means, means for rotatably supporting one of said wiper means and said headlamp means, and means for driving that one of said wiper means and said headlamp means so supported such that said wiper means and said headlamp means are relatively rotated one against the other, said wiper means being elongated and supported at its ends by annular support means which are substantially aligned with said headlamp means, said support being mounted adjacent said headlamp means so that said wiper edge means are longitudinally engaged with said headlamp means during said relative rotation of said wiper means and said headlamp means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
117 words
A headlamp cleaning system comprising wiper means having flexible wiper edge means in contact with headlamp means, means for rotatably supporting one of said wiper means and said headlamp means, and means for driving that one of said wiper means and said headlamp means so supported such that said wiper means and said headlamp means are relatively rotated one against the other, said wiper means being elongated and supported at its ends by annular support means which are substantially aligned with said headlamp means, said support being mounted adjacent said headlamp means so that said wiper edge means are longitudinally engaged with said headlamp means during said relative rotation of said wiper means and said headlamp means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
The combination according to claim 1 wherein said support is a generally circular bracket mounted on a headlamp rim for said headlamp means and substantially aligned with the periphery of said headlamp means, and rotary mounting means are provided for rotatably mounting said bracket on said rim.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The combination according to claim 2 wherein said rotary mounting means include complementary rolled portions cooperatively formed on said bracket and on said rim respectively.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
53 words
The combination according to claim 2 wherein said driving means are coupled to said wiper means, said driving means including a circular rack secured to the outer periphery of said bracket for cooperation with a pinion also forming part of said driving means, said pinion and said rack being concealed behind said rim.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
77 words
The combination according to claim 1 wherein said annular support is a headlamp rim for said headlamp mounted generally in alignment with said headlamp means but spaced forwardly thereof, said headlamp means include a light-transmitting lens shield positioned generally between said wiper and headlamp lens, and means are provided for rotatably mounting one of said shield and said wiper means, said driving means being coupled to that one of said wiper means and said shield so mounted.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
46 words
The combination according to claim 5 wherein said lens shield is rotatably mounted upon a circular bracket which in turn is rotatably mounted upon said rim, said driving means are coupled to said shield for rotation thereof, said wiper means being Stationarily mounted with said rim.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
The combination according to claim 6 wherein said driving means include an enmeshed substantially circular rack and pinion mounted on said bracket and coupled to said lens shield and said driving means respectively, said rack and pinion being concealed behind said rim.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
69 words
The combination according to claim 1 wherein said headlamp is a dual headlamp system and said wiper means include a pair of wipers provided respectively for each pair of headlamps of said system, and means are provided for rotatably mounting one group of the group of said wipers and the group of said headlamp means, said driving means being coupled in driving relation to that one group so mounted.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
The combination according to claim 8 wherein said driving means include substantially circular racks mounted respectively on the members of said one group and enmeshed through gearing means, said driving means being coupled to one of said racks.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
44 words
The combination according to claim 9 wherein said one group is that of said headlamp means, said last-mentioned means includes light-transmitting shield members secured respectively to said racks for rotation thereby, and said wipers are stationarily mounted in contact respectively with said shield members.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
The combination according to claim 1 wherein means are provided for depositing cleaning fluid upon the surface of said headlamp means engaged by said wiper means to facilitate cleaning thereby.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
The combination according to claim 1 wherein said support is rotatably mounted on said headlamp means, and said driving means are coupled for rotating said support and said wiper means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
40 words
The combination according to claim 12 wherein said support and said driving means include an annular rack and pinion respectively, and said wiper means are supported at end thereof to brackets secured respectively to diametrically opposed surfaces of said rack.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
42 words
The combination according to claim 12 wherein said annular support is rotatably mounted on a base ring therefor which is secured to said headlamp means, and means are provided for rotatably mounting and aligning said annular support relative to said base ring.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
41 words
The combination according to claim 14 wherein said rotatably mounting and aligning means include a circumferential groove formed on a periphery of said annular support and a similarly disposed array of guiding projections extending from said base ring into said grooves.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
44 words
The combination according to claim 14 wherein said rotatably mounting and aligning means include a pair of alignable circumferential grooves formed on the inner periphery of said support and on said base ring respectively, and a retaining member shaped for insertion into said grooves.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
45 words
The combination according to claim 16 wherein a through slot is formed in one of said support and of said base ring in communication with the associated one of said grooves for insertion of said retaining member after assembly of said support and base ring.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
43 words
The combination according to claim 17 wherein said member is provided with a wire or thread imbedded in one end thereof and juxtaposed to said slot when said retaining member is fully inserted for subsequent removal of said retaining member through said slot.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
31 words
The combination according to claim 1 wherein said annular support is rotatably engaged with said headlamp means, and means are provided for tracking said annular support relative to said headlamp means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
47 words
The combination according to claim 19 wherein said tracking means include means engaging said annular support for restraining said support against forward motion thereof relative to said headlamp means, said support being restrained against rearward motion thereof by engagement of said wiper means with said headlamp means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
45 words
The combination according to claim 1 wherein said wiper means are coupled to said driving means, said driving means including a drive belt mounted in a circumferential groove on Said annular support for rotating said annular support and wiper means relative to said headlamp means.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
29 words
The combination according to claim 19 wherein said tracking means include guide means secured to said headlamp means and extending into a circumferential groove formed in said annular support.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
35 words
The combination according to claim 22 wherein said driving means include a transmission belt, and said annular support is provided with a second groove generally parallel to the first-mentioned groove for receiving said transmission belt.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
35 words
The combination according to claim 22 wherein said guide means include leg means inserted between a mounting ring for said headlamp and said headlamp means, said annular support being rotatably mounted upon said headlamp ring.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
55 words
The combination according to claim 24 wherein said guide means include a plurality of bracket members, each of said bracket members having a leg portion so inserted between said headlamp ring and said headlamp means and having a depending portion engaged in said annular support groove to track said annular support on said headlamp ring.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
52 words
The combination according to claim 1 wherein said annular support is mounted on said headlamp means for relative rotation, said annular support is provided with a relatively low profile runner extending circumferentially of its inner surface, said runner having a small surface area engaging said headlamp means for reduction in frictional losses.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
47 words
The combination according to claim 1 wherein said wiper means include a blade structure fabricated from a resilient material, a container section coextending therewith and formed integrally therewith, said container section having a relatively flat passage, and a stiffening member closely fitting and extending through said passage.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
95 words
The combination according to claim 1 wherein, said wiper means are coupled to said driving means, said headlamp means include a pair of dual headlamps, said annular support means including a wiper support ring rotatably mounted on each of said headlamps, tracking means for each of said wiper rings mounted on said headlamps, said wiper means including a wiper mounted on each of said rings for rotation therewith, and at least one circumferential groove on each of said wiper rings, said drive means including belt means seated in said grooves for rotating said wiper rings.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
65 words
The combination according to claim 28 wherein said belt means include a first belt wrapped about said wiper support rings to slave movement of one of said wiper support rings to that of the other, and a second belt wrapped about said other wiper support ring and connected to motor means forming part of said driving means for rotating both of said wiper support rings.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
33 words
The combination according to claim 1 wherein said wiper edge means is provided with a transverse slit adjacent the rotational axis thereof to facilitate cleaning of the adjacent area of said headlamp means.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
61 words
The combination according to claim 1 wherein said annular support means include a pair of substantially diametrically opposed apertured tabs, said wiper means including a resilient and structural backing member extending along the length of said wiper edge means and protruding beyond the ends thereof, the protruding end portions of said backing member being hooked for retention in said apertured tabs.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
30 words
The combination according to claim 30 wherein said wiper edge means in addition are provided with longitudinal ridges adjacent a free edge thereof to facilitate cleaning of said headlamp means.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
39 words
The combination according to claim 1 wherein said wiper means are elongated so as to extend substantially across a lens of said headlamp means, said wiper edge means including a brush portion and a resilient or flexible blade portion.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-12-05 | 1976-06-05 | 1976-12-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-12-05 | 1980-06-05 | 1980-12-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-12-05 | 1984-06-05 | 1984-12-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |