U.S. patent application number 13/020345 was filed with the patent office on 2011-08-11 for protective sleeve for windshield wiper.
Invention is credited to William Charles Marrone.
Application Number | 20110192511 13/020345 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44352055 |
Filed Date | 2011-08-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110192511 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Marrone; William Charles |
August 11, 2011 |
PROTECTIVE SLEEVE FOR WINDSHIELD WIPER
Abstract
A device for preventing the accumulation of frozen precipitation
on and around an automobile's windshield wipers. The device is
defined by an elongated, substantially conical sleeve that is
formed of polyester laminate industrial fabric. The sleeve is slid
onto the windshield wiper of an automobile in advance of oncoming
frozen precipitation. After frozen precipitation has accumulated on
the automobile, the precipitation can be cleared from atop the
protective sleeve and the sleeve can be removed to expose a clean,
precipitation-free windshield wiper. Then windshield wiper can then
be employed immediately in a conventional manner for cleaning the
windshield of the automobile without being impeded by residual
frozen precipitation that could otherwise accumulate on the
wiper.
Inventors: |
Marrone; William Charles;
(Columbus, OH) |
Family ID: |
44352055 |
Appl. No.: |
13/020345 |
Filed: |
February 3, 2011 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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61295729 |
Feb 5, 2010 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
150/166 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60S 2001/3843 20130101;
B60J 11/06 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
150/166 |
International
Class: |
B65D 65/02 20060101
B65D065/02 |
Claims
1. A device for protecting a windshield wiper from external
elements, the device comprising a sleeve having an open end and an
opposing, closed end.
2. The device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the open end of
the sleeve is larger than the closed end of the sleeve.
3. The device in accordance with claim 2, wherein the sleeve is
conical in shape.
4. The device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the sleeve is
formed of polyester laminate industrial fabric.
5. The device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the sleeve is
formed of rubber.
6. The device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the sleeve is
formed of plastic.
7. The device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the sleeve is
substantially flattened.
8. The device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the sleeve has a
length in a range of about 15 inches to about 50 inches.
9. The device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the open end of
the sleeve has a width in a range of about 1 inch to about 10
inches.
10. The device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the closed end
of the sleeve has a width in a range of about 1 inch to about 5
inches.
11. A device for protecting a windshield wiper from external
elements, the device comprising a sleeve formed of industrial
fabric having an open end and an opposing closed end, wherein the
open end is larger than the closed end.
12. A system for protecting a windshield wiper from external
elements, the system comprising an elongated sleeve having an open
end and an opposing, closed end, the windshield wiper extending
through the open end and into a chamber defined by a sleeve
sidewall, and at least a portion of the sleeve sidewall is pressed
by the wiper arm in the chamber against a windshield, thereby
interposing and tightly gripping the sleeve sidewall portion
between the windshield wiper and the windshield.
13. The system in accordance with claim 12, wherein the open end of
the sleeve is larger than the closed end of the sleeve.
14. The system in accordance with claim 13, wherein the sleeve is
generally conical in shape.
15. The system in accordance with claim 12, wherein the sleeve is
formed of polyester laminate industrial fabric.
16. The system in accordance with claim 12, wherein the sleeve is
formed of rubber.
17. The system in accordance with claim 12, wherein the sleeve is
formed of plastic.
18. The system in accordance with claim 12, wherein the sleeve has
a length in a range of about 5 inches to about 50 inches.
19. The system in accordance with claim 12, wherein the open end of
the sleeve has a width in a range of about 1 inch to about 10
inches.
20. The system in accordance with claim 12, wherein the closed end
of the sleeve has a width in a range of about 1 inch to about 5
inches.
21. A device for protecting a windshield wiper from external
elements, the device comprising a sleeve formed of polyester
laminate industrial fabric having an open end and an opposing
closed end, wherein the open end is larger than the closed end, and
wherein the windshield wiper extends through the open end and into
a cavity defined by the sleeve.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The accumulation of snow and other wintery precipitation,
such as sleet, hail, and freezing rain, on an automobile commonly
results in the windshield wipers of the automobile becoming covered
and encased in one or more layers of snow and/or ice. This can be
problematic, because even after a majority of the snow and ice have
been removed from atop the windshield wipers an amount of frozen
precipitation will typically remain adhered to various surfaces of
the wipers, including surfaces of the wipers' blades that are
designed to engage and clean the windshield of the automobile.
Moreover, conventional methods for removing snow and ice from the
windshields of automobiles, such as by employing snow brushes or
ice scrapers, are generally ineffective for removing snow and ice
from tight areas underneath and around most windshield wipers, and
in some cases can even cause damage to the wipers.
[0002] Frozen precipitation that is not cleared from the windshield
wipers, or from the areas of the windshield surrounding the wipers,
can interfere with the operation of the wipers, such as by creating
a barrier between the working edges of the wiper blades and the
surface of the windshield. In extreme cases, heavily accumulated
snow and ice surrounding the wipers can prevent movement of the
wipers entirely.
[0003] In view of the foregoing, it would be advantageous to
provide a means for preventing the accumulation of frozen
precipitation on and around an automobile's windshield wipers. It
would further be advantageous to provide such a means that is
highly portable and relatively inexpensive.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] In accordance with the present invention, there is provided
a protective sleeve for covering the windshield wiper of an
automobile to shield the wiper from external elements such as
frozen precipitation. The sleeve is generally conical in shape and
is preferably formed of polyester laminate industrial fabric. The
sleeve is preferably made substantially flat, such as by forming
laterally-opposing, longitudinally-extending creases in the fabric
of the sleeve.
[0005] The protective sleeve is preferably used by sliding it
longitudinally onto the windshield wiper of an automobile that is
to be parked outdoors for a period of time, with the sleeve flatly
abutting the automobile's windshield. This is typically done in
advance of the predicted onset of frozen precipitation. A pair of
sleeves will usually be employed simultaneously for covering both
of the automobile's front windshield wipers (unless the automobile
only has one front wiper).
[0006] When the automobile is to be driven or otherwise needs to be
cleared of accumulated frozen precipitation, the driver of the
automobile or another individual removes any accumulated frozen
precipitation from the windshield and from atop the protective
sleeves, such as by using a conventional snow brush and/or ice
scraper. The driver then removes the sleeves from the windshield
wipers and allows the blades of the wipers to come to rest on the
surface of the windshield. Because the wipers and the areas of the
windshield surrounding the wipers were covered by the protective
sleeves, they will be substantially free of any frozen
precipitation that could have otherwise impaired the operation of
the wipers. The protective sleeves are then stored (preferably
somewhere in the automobile) for future use.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the preferred
embodiment of the present invention.
[0008] FIG. 2 is a front view illustrating a pair of the protective
sleeves of the present invention mounted on the windshield wipers
of a truck.
[0009] In describing the preferred embodiment of the invention
which is illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology will be
resorted to for the sake of clarity. However, it is not intended
that the invention be limited to the specific term so selected and
it is to be understood that each specific term includes all
technical equivalents which operate in a similar manner to
accomplish a similar purpose.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0010] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application No. 61/295,725, which is incorporated herein by
reference.
[0011] Referring to FIG. 1, a protective sleeve 10 for preventing
the accumulation of frozen precipitation on a windshield wiper of
an automobile, as well as on the areas of the automobile's
windshield that surround the windshield wiper, is shown. The term
"windshield wiper" is used herein to describe a conventional
windshield wiper that is defined by an elongated wiper blade and a
pivotably mounted wiper arm to which the wiper blade is
attached.
[0012] For the sake of convenience and clarity, terms such as
"top," "bottom," "up," "down," "inwardly," "outwardly," "lateral,"
and "longitudinal" will be used herein to describe the shape and
configuration of the invention, all with respect to the geometry
and orientation of the exemplary embodiment of the device as it
appears in FIG. 1, with the term "longitudinal" defined as the
direction in which the sleeve extends from the upper left to the
lower right, and the term "lateral" defined as a direction
perpendicular thereto. Said terminology will include the words
specifically mentioned, derivatives thereof, and words of similar
import.
[0013] The protective sleeve 10 is generally conical in shape with
a first, relatively wide end 12 that is open and a second,
relatively narrow end 14 that is closed. The sleeve 10 is formed of
a sheet of, for example, 10 mil polyester laminate industrial
fabric that is cut and sewn (in a manner that will be described in
greater detail below) to produce the desired, generally conical
shape. Polyester laminate is preferred for its durability,
flexibility, impermeability to water, ability to shed frozen
precipitation and longevity in a wide range of temperatures. In
particular, a product sold under the trademark SHELTER-RITE
manufactured by Seaman Corporation can be used. However, those of
ordinary skill in the art will recognize that any sufficiently
durable and moisture-resistant material, including, but not limited
to nylon laminate, rubber, plastic, metal, various composites, and
certain other fabrics can be substituted for the polyester-laminate
without departing from the present invention.
[0014] The sleeve 10 is preferably partially flattened, such as by
forming laterally-opposing, longitudinally-extending creases 16 and
18 in the material of the sleeve 10. This can be accomplished, for
example, by compressing the sleeve 10 between two heated plates.
When substantially flattened, the sleeve 10 has a generally
trapezoidal shape with an overall length of about 26 inches and
open and closed ends that measure about 5 inches wide and about
1.75 inches wide, respectively. These dimensions are suitable for
accommodating the windshield wipers of most passenger cars.
However, it is contemplated that the length and width of the sleeve
10 can be varied for accommodating a variety of other applications.
For example, the sleeve 10 can be made longer and wider for
accommodating the larger windshield wipers of vehicles such as
vans, trucks, buses, airplanes, and trains, as well as the
windshield wipers of some passenger cars that employ a single,
large windshield wiper instead of two, smaller wipers as is common
with most passenger cars. Alternatively, the sleeve 10 can be made
shorter and narrower for accommodating smaller windshield wipers,
such as those commonly found on the rear windshields of sport
utility vehicles. The sleeve 10 can be made smaller still for
accommodating headlight wipers that are found on some
automobiles.
[0015] In order to use the protective sleeve 10, a person first
grasps a windshield wiper that they wish to cover and then gently
pulls and pivots the wiper away from its adjacent windshield. Wiper
arms conventionally pivot to this position, for example, in order
to clean the windshield. The sleeve 10 is then slid longitudinally
onto the wiper, in the manner of a sock, with the wiper tip first
passing through the open end of the sleeve 10 and extending into
the interior of the sleeve 10. The wiper and the mounted sleeve 10
are pivoted back toward the windshield once the wiper tip has
reached or come close to the closed end 14, and are brought to rest
with the sleeve 10 flatly abutting the windshield, as shown in FIG.
2. This process is repeated with additional protective sleeves 10
for each of the automobile's windshield wipers that are to be
covered. Mounted thusly, the lowest edge of the open end 12 of the
protective sleeve 10 is positioned below the closed end 14 of the
sleeve 10. Water tends thereby to flow out of the sleeve 10 by the
force of gravity, as gravity draws the water down the sleeve's
lower crease and out of the lowest, open end 12. Water is thereby
prevented from entering the sleeve 10 except by blowing through the
open end 12. Any such water that enters the open end 12 will tend
to flow back out of the sleeve due to the force of gravity.
[0016] If, upon returning to the automobile, the person finds that
the protective sleeves and the windshield of the automobile have
been covered with frozen precipitation, the person preferably first
clears away the frozen precipitation using conventional methods,
such as by employing a snow brush or an ice scraper. During this
clearing process the protective sleeves 10 shield the wipers
against direct strikes from a brush or a scraper that could
otherwise result in damage to the wipers. After the windshield has
been substantially cleared of precipitation and the sleeves have
been substantially uncovered, the person grasps and pivots each of
the sleeved windshield wipers away from the windshield. The person
then slides the sleeves 10 longitudinally off of the wipers. The
wipers, having been covered by the sleeves during the accumulation
of precipitation on the automobile, will be substantially free of
any frozen precipitation. Moreover, the areas of the windshield
that were underneath the flattened sleeves 10 during the
accumulation of precipitation will also be substantially free of
precipitation. The clean, precipitation-free wipers are then
pivoted back against the windshield, with the working edges of the
wiper blades being brought into engagement with the clean surface
of the windshield. The windshield wipers can then be operated in a
conventional manner with the wiper blades cleanly engaging the
windshield without residual frozen precipitation interfering with
effective contact therebetween.
[0017] The protective sleeve 10 is typically employed when
near-term weather forecasts predict the onset of frozen
precipitation. For example, a person may cover the windshield
wipers of his or her automobile with a pair of the protective
sleeves before going to bed in anticipation of predicted overnight
snowfall. Alternatively, the protective sleeves can be employed to
cover the windshield wipers of an automobile that is to be parked
out-of-doors for an extended period of time without being driven or
cleared of precipitation, regardless of near-term or long-term
weather forecasts. Moreover, in addition to shielding windshield
wipers from frozen precipitation, it is contemplated that the
protective sleeves can be employed to cover the windshield wipers
of an automobile that is parked under direct sunlight which can
cause rubber windshield wiper blades to become dry and brittle
after lengthy exposure.
[0018] A preferred method for fabricating the above-described
protective sleeve 10 will now be described. It will be understood
by those having ordinary skill in the art that various others
methods for fabricating the sleeve 10, including a variety of
manual and automated processes, can be employed in addition or in
the alternative to those described below.
[0019] A first step in fabricating the above-described protective
sleeve 10 is to cut a template from a sheet of Plexiglas or other
sufficiently rigid material. To form a standard size protective
sleeve 10, the template will be trapezoidal in shape, measuring 28
inches long at center with a first end measuring 11 inches wide and
a second, opposite end measuring 3 and 3/8 inches wide. A sheet of
10 mil polyester industrial fabric measuring at least about 12
inches by 30 inches is then placed on a table or other flat surface
that is suitable for razor type cutting. The template is then
placed firmly on top of the fabric and is used as a pattern guide
for cutting the fabric with a razor to produce a work piece having
the shape of the template.
[0020] Next, using a sewing machine with a Teflon foot, a 100%
polyester thread and bobbin, and a heavy duty (size 16) sewing
needle, the wide end of the work piece is hemmed at 3/8 inch with
the rough side of the fabric facing up. The stitch is reversed at
both ends of the hem in a conventional manner for 1/2 inch to
secure the hem. The work piece is then folded in half lengthwise
with the rough side of the fabric facing outwardly (thus putting
the partially fabricated sleeve in an inside-out configuration).
The two long sides of the work piece are then sewn together with a
3/8 inch seam, with the stitch being reversed at both ends of the
seam for 1/2 inch.
[0021] Next, the configuration of the work piece must be reversed
so that the work piece is right-side-out. This is accomplished by
first inserting a string, which can be a tape, ribbon or band,
through the wide end of the work piece and extending the string a
short distance though the opposing, narrow end of the work piece.
Using the sewing machine as described above, a seam is sewn
laterally across the work piece at a distance of about 26 inches
from the wide end of the work piece, and the stitch is reversed to
secure the enclosed string in place.
[0022] Next, the inside-out work piece is longitudinally slid onto
a broom handle or other elongated instrument, with the broom handle
extending into the work piece until the broom handle engages the
closed end of the work piece. Starting at the wide, hemmed end of
the work piece, the work piece is manually turned right-side-out
for about 6 inches to form a cuff at the wide end. Next, the string
protruding from the wide end of the work piece is held securely
against the broom handle with one hand while another hand is used
to pull the partially folded cuff away from the first hand until
the work piece is right-side-out. The string is then trimmed and
the completed sleeve is ready for further processing or use. It
will be appreciated that the string can be a fabric label that
remains in place during use to hold indicia, such as a trademark or
instructions.
[0023] An alternative method for turning the work piece from
inside-out to right-side-out without using the above-described
string involves longitudinally sliding the work piece onto a first
elongated instrument, such as an elongated shaft extending
downwardly from a ceiling. A second elongated instrument, such as
an elongated shaft mounted to a base, is placed end-to-end with the
first elongated instrument in a substantially collinear
relationship therewith. The wide, open end of the work piece is
then gripped with two hands and is longitudinally pulled over the
second elongated instrument until the work piece is right-side-out.
The completed sleeve can be pulled off of the second elongated
instrument, once the instruments' ends are spaced apart, and passed
along for further processing or use.
[0024] This detailed description in connection with the drawings is
intended principally as a description of the presently preferred
embodiments of the invention, and is not intended to represent the
only form in which the present invention may be constructed or
utilized. The description sets forth the designs, functions, means,
and methods of implementing the invention in connection with the
illustrated embodiments. It is to be understood, however, that the
same or equivalent functions and features may be accomplished by
different embodiments that are also intended to be encompassed
within the spirit and scope of the invention and that various
modifications may be adopted without departing from the invention
or scope of the following claims.
* * * * *