Abstract:
A windshield wiper apparatus comprising a frame, a flexible wiper element and at least one scraper element expanding the length of the frame.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/833,528, filed Jun. 11, 2013, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Windshield wipers for automobiles, trucks and other vehicles are known. In general, windshield wipers comprise a frame and a blade. The frame is generally constructed from a rigid material, such as metal. The frame is either bow-shaped or has flex points to allow it to conform to a curved surface of a windshield. The blade comprises a more flexible material, such as a flexible or pliable rubber. The frame is attached to an arm powered by a motor which moves or waves the wiper blade back and forth across the window to remove water and some light materials such as light snow or other debris. 
         [0003]    Window wipers of the same general construction are used on the back windows of some vehicles such as vans or sport utility vehicles. Some vehicles employ small wipers on their headlamps. 
         [0004]    Although standard windshield wipers work well for the intended purpose of wiping away rain, for example, they do not work well to remove ice. The flexible blades do not have sufficient rigidity or a sharp edge that can remove ice. It would be advantageous, therefore to have a windshield wiper blade that can remove both accumulating rain and ice. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    A windshield wiper/scraper apparatus comprising both a flexible rain removing blade and scraping structures. 
         [0006]    In one aspect the apparatus includes a frame, flexible wiper blade and a plurality of individual scrapers. The scrapers can be position on one side of the length of the flexible blade or on each side of the flexible blade. 
         [0007]    In another aspect, the apparatus comprises a frame and flexible wiper blade and a scraper blade extending the entire length of one or both sides of the wiper blade. 
         [0008]    In another aspect, the apparatus comprises a flexible wiper blade and a plurality of individual scraping teeth or pins that extend along one or both sides of the flexible wiper blade. 
         [0009]    In yet another aspect, the apparatus comprises a flexible wiper blade and a plurality of small scrapers, position in a staggered arrangement along the length of the flexible wiper blade. 
         [0010]    The apparatus can consist of interlocking pivoting scrapers with hinged pins, non-interlocking pivoting scrapers, pivoting scrapers without hinged pins, flexible staggered teeth, or one single flexible scraper blade. The material of said scrapers can consist of any rigid material such as plastic, metal or the like capable of removing ice or other hard debris from windows/windshields. 
         [0011]    In another aspect, the flexible blade, the scraping structures or both may be provided separate from the frame and installed in a frame by the user. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1A  is a perspective view of one aspect of the wiper/scraper apparatus; 
           [0013]      FIG. 1B  is cross-sectional view taken along line  1 B- 1 B of  FIG. 1A ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2A  is a perspective view of one aspect of the wiper/scraper apparatus; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2B  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  2 B- 2 B of  FIG. 2A ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3A  is a perspective view of another aspect of the wiper/scraper apparatus; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3B  is a cross-sectional view take along line  3 B- 3 B of  FIG. 3A ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is a bottom plan of a section of another aspect of the wiper/scraper apparatus; 
           [0019]      FIGS. 5  is a bottom plan of a section of another aspect of the wiper/scraper apparatus; 
           [0020]      FIG. 6A  is a perspective view of another aspect of the wiper/scraper apparatus; and 
           [0021]      FIG. 6B  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  6 B- 6 B of  FIG. 6A . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0022]    A windshield wiper assembly or apparatus is disclosed comprising a frame, a wiper element and a scraper element for scraping snow, ice or debris from a window. In general the apparatus is employed in a vehicle having a windshield and windshield wiper system comprising motor driven wiper arms with wiper blade assemblies attached to the wiper arm. The motors effect back and forth movement of the wiper blade assemblies across the windshield. Although reference is made to a windshield, it should be understood the assembly also can be used on a rear window or on headlamps that employ wipers. 
         [0023]    It will be understood that the three primary elements, frame, wiper element and scraper element may be provided as separate parts. For example, the original equipment frame may be employed and the wiper element or scraper element installed in the frame. Any combination of original equipment and scraper element is intended to be encompassed by the claims. 
         [0024]    One aspect of the wiper/scraper apparatus is shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B  and indicated generally by number  10 . Apparatus  10  is intended to mount in a windshield wiper frame  12 . Frame  12  includes attachment means  14  for attaching the apparatus to a wiper arm (not shown) that effects movement of the apparatus across a surface, for example the surface of a vehicle windshield. In general, in a vehicle the wiper arm is motor driven to effect movement of the wiper/scraper apparatus across the surface of the window. 
         [0025]    Apparatus  10  may comprise a flexible wiper blade  16 . Flexible wiper blade  16  is suspended in frame  12  as known to the art and generally extends the length of frame  12 . Wiper blade  16  may be constructed from a resilient, flexible material such as rubber or the like. 
         [0026]    As shown, wiper/scraper  10  includes a plurality of individual scraper elements  18  positioned along the length of the frame  12 . Scraper elements or scrapers  18  can be positioned on one side of wiper blade  16 , as seen in  FIG. 1B , or can be position on both sides of the wiper blade. There can be individual hinges or hinge pins  20  securing the scrapers to a frame (or to each other) to allow the fame to bend for flex as needed. Scrapers  18  comprise a substantially rigid material, such as plastic or metal or any such material. The edges of the scrapers may be beveled or angled so as to give the scraper a sharp edge or surface. 
         [0027]      FIGS. 2A and 2B  illustrate another aspect of the apparatus, indicated generally by number  22 . Apparatus  22  is mounted in a frame  24  that has attachment means  26  for attachment to a windshield wiper arm, an optional wiper blade  28  and a single scraper element  30  that extends the length of frame  12  along one side of the wiper blade  28 . There can be a scraper element  30  on each side of wiper blade  28 , if desired. Scraper element  30  is sufficiently rigid to effect scraping, but flexible enough to conform to the contour of the surface. 
         [0028]    Another aspect of the apparatus is indicated generally by number  32  in  FIGS. 3A and 3B . Apparatus  32  is mounted in a frame  33  which includes attachment means  34 . Apparatus  32  comprises an optional wiper blade  36  and scraper element  38 . 
         [0029]    As shown, scraper element  38  comprises individual rigid teeth or pins  40 , as shown in greater detail in  FIG. 4 . The teeth are staggered and allow for the apparatus to flex to conform to a curved surface. 
         [0030]      FIG. 5  illustrates yet another aspect of a scraper element with as small or mini scraping blades  42  arranged in a staggered configuration. As with previous embodiments, teeth or pins  40  or scraping blades  42  extend the length of the frame and can be positioned on one side of wiper blade  36  or both sides. 
         [0031]      FIGS. 6A and 6B  illustrate another aspect of the apparatus indicated generally as number  44  and comprising a frame  46 , attachment means  48 , wiper blade  50  and a scraper  52  extending the length of frame  46  and comprising a plurality of individual scraper elements  54 . Scraper  52  can be constructed as a one piece element having flex areas  56  of reduced material thickness between the scraper elements  54  or the scraper elements can be connected by hinge pins to allow for flexing of the scraping blade. There can be a scraper  52  along one side of wiper blade, as shown, or along both sides. 
         [0032]    It will be appreciated that various changes and modifications may be made in the apparatus without departing from the scope of the description. Any windshield wiper that comprises a scraper element or wiper blade and scraper element is intended to be encompassed. For example, the apparatus can comprise one unit, having a frame, wiper blade and scraper element together, rather than separate elements. Separate elements have the advantage of allowing replacement of worn parts without replacing the entire unit.