Patent ID: 6785930
Filing Date: 2004-09-07
Classification: B60S,F16C,Y10T

Abstract:
A method of driving at least one wiper blade in a windshield wiper system comprising the steps of:providing a drive motor for driving at least one wiper blade; providing linkage for linking said at least one wiper blade to said drive motor; said linkage comprising a flexible arm which bends to facilitate preventing damage to components in said wiper system when a tension load applied to said flexible arm exceeds a predetermined level as a result of an overload condition; wherein said providing linkage step further comprises the step of providing said flexible arm comprising a first end and a second end, at least one of said first and second ends are each over-molded with a connector, said at least one of said ends comprising at least one shear groove such for enabling said connector to separate from said first or second end if said tension load exceeds a maximum load for said flexible arm; and energizing said drive motor to drive said at least one wiper blade when said wiper blade contacts an obstruction, to cause compressive loading of the flexible arm, sufficient compression loading thus resulting in said overload condition in said flexible arm above a predetermined load, said flexible arm bending in response to such overload condition to prevent damage to components by enabling continued operation of said drive motor.