Patent Publication Number: US-2021179033-A1

Title: System for washing motor vehicle headlights

Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 16/054,786, filed Aug. 3, 2018 and entitled “System for washing Motor Vehicle Headlights”. U.S. application Ser. No. 16/054,786 is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Since the invention of the motor vehicle, significant attention has been given to improvements in safety. Although there have been many attempts to provide for the safety and efficiency of headlights, there still is a major deficiency in the industry. This deficiency relates to debris accumulating on headlights while the motor vehicle is operating. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present invention addresses the above deficiency. 
     In one embodiment, the present invention is a headlight washer system constructed and arranged to be used with an existing windshield washer system, said headlight washer system comprising: an existing windshield washer system having a windshield washer solution reservoir, a primary pump constructed and arranged to receive solution exiting from said reservoir, a primary pump actuator, a primary pump solution outlet line, and a windshield washer solution outlet; a secondary pump constructed and arranged with a dedicated actuator; a primary outlet split device that divides solution exiting from said primary solution outlet line into a windshield washer fluid solution supply line and a secondary pump inlet line; an outlet line directing solution from said secondary pump to a backflow valve, said backflow valve constructed and arranged with an outlet that divides incoming windshield washer fluid solution into two identical backflow valve outlet lines; a vehicle headlamp solution exit constructed and arranged to receive solution from a backflow valve outlet line and deliver said windshield washer solution to a vehicle headlamp, said  20  solution exits held into position by a solution exit bracket and a solution exit bracket support. 
     In one embodiment, the present invention is a headlight washer system constructed and arranged to be used with an existing windshield washer system, said headlight washer system consisting essentially of: an existing windshield washer system having a windshield washer solution reservoir, a primary pump constructed and arranged to receive solution exiting from said reservoir, a primary pump actuator, a primary pump solution outlet line, and a windshield washer solution outlet, whereby said windshield washer solution outlet is constructed and arranged to deliver windshield washer cleaning solution to a vehicle windshield as is commonly done; a secondary pump constructed and arranged with a dedicated actuator; a primary outlet split device that divides solution line exiting from said primary solution outlet line into a windshield washer fluid solution supply line and a secondary pump inlet line; an outlet line directing solution from said secondary pump to a backflow valve, said backflow valve constructed and arranged with an outlet that divides incoming windshield washer fluid solution into two identical backflow valve outlet lines; a vehicle headlamp solution exit constructed and arranged to receive solution from a backflow valve outlet line and deliver said windshield washer solution to a vehicle headlamp, said solution exits held into position by a solution exit bracket and a solution exit bracket support. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWAINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a side partial cross-section view of one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an expanded partial view of a backflow valve according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a view of a headlamp wash system according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The present invention provides a system  10  that is constructed and arranged to be fitted onto a motor vehicle with an existing windshield washer system. Reservoir  12  which is standard equipment on all motor vehicles is a reservoir for holding windshield washer solvent fluid. Primary pump  14 , also standard on all motor vehicles draws solution out of reservoir  12  and typically directs it through windshield supply line outlet onto windshield  30 . The present invention provides for components that are used with existing systems. 
     Primary pump  14  has primary pump outlet line  16 . In the present invention, primary pump outlet line  16  is cut and primary outlet split device is incorporated such that fluid passing through primary pump outlet line  16  is divided and directed into windshield washer fluid supply line  26  and secondary pump inlet. Secondary pump inlet  20  supplies fluid to secondary pump  22 . 
     Secondary pump  22  has a dedicated secondary pump actuator  24  activated by the driver as desired. When activated, secondary pump actuator  24  activates secondary pump  22  and forces windshield washer solvent through secondary pump outlet line  32  where it is directed towards backflow valve  34 . Backflow valve  34  divides the solution flow into a first backflow outlet  38  and second backflow outlet  36 . Although not shown in the figures, each of first backflow outlet  38  and second backflow outlet  36  deliver solution to identical structures. As demonstrated in  FIG. 3 , second backflow outlet  36  delivers solution to headlamp washer outlet  44  which is held in place by headlamp washer outlet bracket  42  and supported by headlamp outlet bracket support  40 . 
     As generally understood and demonstrated in  FIG. 1 , washer solution exits headlamp washer outlet  44  and is directed onto the vehicle headlamps and subsequently washes dirt and debris off of vehicle headlamps. 
     In one aspect of operation, the existing vehicle windshield washer actuator  25  will provide solution to each of windshield washer solution outlet  28  and headlamp washer outlet  44 . 
     If it is only desired to use the headlamp washer aspect of the system, a user will actuate secondary pump actuator  24  and deliver windshield washer solution only to headlamp washer outlet  44 . 
     In configuring the system, a few characteristics have demonstrated improved and favorable results. In one embodiment, each of primary pump  14 , supplied with the motor vehicle and secondary pump  22 , added as an aftermarket add-on are preferably of similar strength. 
     In another embodiment, it is preferable to position secondary pump  24  below the vertical height relative to the ground of primary pump  14 . 
     While the invention has been described in its preferred form or embodiment with some degree of particularity, it is understood that this description has been given only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction, fabrication, and use, including the combination and arrangement of parts, may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.