Patent ID: 6470527
Filing Date: 2002-10-29
Classification: B60S

Abstract:
A windshield wiper assembly for cleaning a windshield while supplying cleaning fluid thereto, comprising:a motor-driven reciprocating arm; a wiper member in the form of an elongated hollow body having a connection to said arm for movement therewith, said hollow body having a fluid passage therein extending from an inlet to an outlet, said hollow body having an inner side for contacting a windshield and which is open so that fluid within the passage can contact the windshield, said inner side being surrounded by wiper blades which restrict flow of fluid along the windshield and out of the body, beyond said blades; a supply conduit leading from a pumped supply of cleaning fluid to said inlet of the hollow body; an outlet conduit leading from said outlet of the hollow body, and: a reservoir for receiving fluid from said outlet conduit, said fluid passage including both an inlet passage portion connected to said supply conduit and an outlet passage portion connected to said outlet conduit, both of said inlet and outlet passage portions communicating with said inner open side of the hollow body so that fluid in said passage is in contact with the windshield in moving through both said passage portions, said passage portions being separated by a further, intermediate wiper blade, whereby fluid which has entered the hollow body through the inlet and has served to clean the windshield can pass through the outlet conduit back to the reservoir, without leaving the wiper assembly.