Patent Publication Number: US-2018050666-A1

Title: Windshield Wiper Cover

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority of Provisional application 62/361,512, filed on Jul. 13, 2016, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     This disclosure relates to windshield wiper covers. 
     In cold inclement weather, windshield wiper blades can freeze to the windshield. If the wipers are used before the wiper blades thaw, the blades can tear or wear prematurely. Additionally, prolonged direct exposure to sun and heat can degrade the wipers. As the condition of the wipers deteriorates, the driver&#39;s visibility degrades, which can lead to danger. 
     SUMMARY 
     All examples and features mentioned below can be combined in any technically possible way. 
     In one aspect, a windshield wiper cover for covering a windshield wiper assembly, where the windshield wiper assembly comprises a wiper arm mounted proximate a windshield and a wiper coupled to the arm, includes a sleeve with a closed end and an open end, wherein the sleeve has a length that is greater than the length of the wiper. The sleeve is adapted to be placed over the windshield wiper assembly so as to fully cover the wiper, with the open end of the sleeve on the wiper arm. 
     Embodiments may include one of the following features, or any combination thereof. The sleeve can be made from vinyl-coated polyester fabric material, plastic, PVC, cotton, or any weatherproof/temperature-proof material. The vinyl-coated polyester fabric material may have a weight per square yard of from about 1 ounce to about 20 ounces. The sleeve can be made by folding a length of the material with two long edges lengthwise such that the long edges are on top of each other, and then heat-sealing the long edges and one end together. The sleeve may have a length of about 30 inches. The sleeve may have a width of about 3 inches. The sleeve may have a thickness of about 1 mm. 
     Embodiments may include one of the following features, or any combination thereof. The windshield wiper cover may further comprise a closure element coupled to or integral with the sleeve proximate the open end. The closure element may be selected from the group of closure elements consisting of a hem, a heat-seal, hook and loop fastener material, an elastic material, a cord, a zipper, a button, and a two-part releasable coupling device. The sleeve can be made from a material selected from the group of materials consisting of vinyl-coated polyester fabric, a plastic film, polyethylene, cotton, latex, and vinyl. The sleeve can be made by folding a length of the material with two long edges lengthwise such that the long edges are on top of each other, and then coupling the long edges and one end together by a process selected from the group of processes consisting of heat-sealing, gluing, and sewing. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is front view of one example of a windshield wiper cover. 
         FIG. 2  is front view of another example of a windshield wiper cover. 
         FIG. 3A  shows a windshield wiper cover installed on a windshield wiper (with the cover in phantom so as to illustrate the relationship of the cover to the wiper), and  FIG. 3B  is a perspective view thereof but with the cover fully shown. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The subject windshield wiper cover is constructed and arranged to be used to cover a windshield wiper assembly, where the windshield wiper assembly comprises a wiper aim mounted proximate a windshield, and a wiper coupled to the arm. The windshield wiper cover can inhibit or prevent damage and unnecessary wear to windshield wiper, such as may occur due to snow, ice and sunlight and heat, for example. The windshield wiper cover can be an elongated sleeve with a closed end and an opposite open end. The sleeve is slipped over the end of the wiper arm and slid down until it fully covers the wiper. The open end can be fashioned to close around the wiper arm, to further inhibit snow, sleet, ice, rain, and the like from infiltrating into the sleeve. This closure can be accomplished in any desired fashion, such as by sewing an elastic band or hook-and-loop fabric band or a string or cord into the sleeve near the open end, each of which can be manipulated to gather the sleeve material about the wiper arm. Other closures or fasteners can be used. 
     The sleeve can be made from a thin waterproof or water-resistant material. The sleeves can have a desired length and width, to accommodate different wiper arms and wipers. Logos, patterns, designs, and symbols can be added on the exterior, such as by printing or a label that is sewn or otherwise fastened to the outside of the sleeve. 
     The sleeve can be made from vinyl-coated polyester fabric material. The sleeve can alternatively be made from other materials such as a plastic, PVC, cotton, or any weatherproof/temperature-proof material. The vinyl-coated polyester fabric material may have a weight per square yard of from about 1 ounce to about 20 ounces, although it could be lighter or heavier than this. The sleeve can be made by folding a length of the material with two long edges lengthwise such that the long edges are on top of each other, and then coupling the long edges and one end together. This coupling can be accomplished in any known manner, such as by heat sealing, gluing, or sewing. The sleeve is long enough to fully cover the wiper. The sleeve is preferably shorter than the length of the wiper arm, so that the open end is on the wiper arm, somewhere close to where the wiper arm is connected to the vehicle. In one non-limiting example, the sleeve may have a length of about 30 inches. The sleeve may have a width that is sufficient to allow it to be slipped over the windshield wiper assembly. In one non-limiting example, this width is about 3 inches. The sleeve may have a thickness to accomplish a desired level of water resistance and protection from moisture, snow, ice, sleet and sun and heat. In one non-limiting example, this thickness is about 1 mm. 
     The windshield wiper cover may further comprise a closure element coupled to or integral with the sleeve proximate the open end. The closure element may be selected from the group of closure elements consisting of a hem, a heat-seal, a hook and loop fastener material (e.g., Velcro®), an elastic material, a cord, a zipper, a button, and a two-part releasable coupling device (e.g., a two-part plastic closure structure such as the type commonly used to seal plastic food storage bags). The sleeve can be made from a material selected from the group of materials consisting of vinyl-coated polyester fabric, a plastic film, polyethylene, cotton, latex, and vinyl. The sleeve can be made by folding a length of the material with two long edges lengthwise such that the long edges are on top of each other, and then coupling the long edges and one end together by a process selected from the group of processes consisting of heat-sealing, gluing, and sewing. 
     Several non-limiting examples are illustrated in the drawings. Windshield wiper cover  10 ,  FIG. 1 , is adapted to be used to cover a windshield wiper assembly, where the windshield wiper assembly comprises a wiper arm mounted proximate a windshield and a wiper coupled to the arm. Windshield wiper cover  10  includes a sleeve  12  with a closed end  14  and an open end  16 . Sleeve  12  has a length that is greater than the length of the wiper. Sleeve  12  is adapted to be placed over the windshield wiper assembly so as to fully cover the wiper, with the open end of the sleeve on the wiper arm. Sleeve  12  can be made from vinyl-coated polyester fabric material. The vinyl-coated polyester fabric material may have a weight per square yard of from about 1 ounce to about 20 ounces. Sleeve  12  can alternatively be made from another material, such as a plastic film, polyethylene, cotton, latex, and vinyl. 
     The sleeve  12  can be made by folding a length of the material with two long edges lengthwise such that the long edges are on top of each other, and then heat-sealing the long edges and one end together to create a tube or sleeve with one closed end  14 , leaving the other end  16  open. Alternatively, sleeve  12  can be made by folding a length of the material with two long edges lengthwise such that the long edges are on top of each other, and then coupling the long edges and one end together by a process selected from the group of processes consisting of heat-sealing, gluing, and sewing. Sleeve  12  may have a length of about 30 inches, a width of about 3 inches, and a thickness of about 1 mm. Closure element  18  (at location  20  close to but not at end  16 ) is coupled to the sleeve proximate the open end, such as by sewing. Closure element  18  in this non-limiting example is a string or cord (i.e., a draw-string) that can be pulled tight and tied off as shown. Closure element  18  can alternatively have a different construction, including but not limited to those described above, such as a hook and loop fastener material, an elastic material, a cord, a zipper, a button, and a two-part releasable coupling device. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a different configuration of windshield wiper cover  30 . Sleeve  32  has closed end  34  that is angled, to better fit the end of a wiper assembly. Also, closure  38  near open end  36  in this case is an elastic band that can be stretched to fit over the wiper arm, and when released then bunches up to grip the wiper arm more tightly and close off the open end more than would be the case without the closure element. 
       FIG. 3A  shows assembly  48  of windshield wiper cover  60  fitted over windshield wiper  50  that has wiper (wiper blade)  56  carried by wiper arm  54 . Wiper arm  54  is mounted to the vehicle close to windshield  52 , as is well known in the vehicle field. Cover  60  includes sleeve  62  with closed end  64  and open end  66 . Elastic or Velcro closure  68  is located at or near open end  66 . Sleeve  62  is long enough to fully cover wiper  56 . Sleeve  60  is preferably (but not necessarily) short enough such that it does not cover the entire length of wiper arm  54 ; this allows the end to be coupled to the arm by the closure that is at or near the open end of the sleeve.  FIG. 3B  is another view that better illustrates open end  66  located over wiper arm  54 . 
     A number of implementations have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that additional modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the inventive concepts described herein, and, accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims.