Patent Abstract:
A wiper assembly for sweeping a glass surface on a vehicle. The wiper assembly includes a windshield washer assembly connected to the windshield wiper drive arm of the vehicle for controllably dispensing washer fluid onto the glass surface of the vehicle. The wiper assembly includes a pivotally mounted wiper blade and a washer liquid feed conduit carried by the body of the wiper blade that is connected to the fluid reservoir of the vehicle for supplying a washing liquid directly upon the glass surface of the vehicle via the wiper assembly. Uniquely, the flow of fluid onto the glass surface of the vehicle is determined by the position of the wiper blade relative to the glass surface. Advantageously, the washer liquid feed conduit and blade assembly can be interconnected with the supporting structure of the windshield wiper assembly without the need for special tools and without the need for any substantial modification to the conventional wiper assembly.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    Not applicable 
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not applicable 
       INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC 
       [0003]    Not applicable 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0005]    The present invention relates generally to wiper assemblies for sweeping a glass surface on a vehicle. More particularly, the invention concerns a wiper assembly that includes a feed conduit connected to a fluid pump and liquid reservoir of a vehicle. Uniquely, the position of the wiper blade of the wiper assembly controls the flow of washing liquid to the glass surface of the vehicle. 
         [0006]    2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98 
         [0007]    Most modern motor vehicles provide a wiper assembly for wiping the windshield of the vehicle and some type of washing system for washing the windshield of the vehicle. As a general rule, a washing liquid reservoir is provided in the engine compartment of the vehicle along with a pump which pumps the washing liquid from the reservoir toward hood-mounted washer heads that deliver the washing liquid to the windshield at a location about the windshield wiper. 
         [0008]    A common drawback of the vehicle systems which include two hood-mounted washer heads is that during the windshield washing process the cleaning fluid is delivered to the windshield either at a location above the wiper blade, which is typically partly through its upward cycle, or alternatively at a point below the wiper blade when the wiper blade is partly through its downward path. This arrangement results in the washing fluid being spread in a solid fan dispersement, temporarily impairing the driver&#39;s vision while also allowing the upward path of the wiper blade to smear the residue on the glass, further impairing the view of the driver. Because of this drawback the vehicle operator is required to repeatedly supply washing fluid to the windshield in order to adequately clean the windshield and thus repeatedly impairing the vision of the driver. 
         [0009]    A number of prior art patents disclose various types of windshield washer apparatus that can be removably attached to a conventional wiper blade. Exemplary of such an apparatus is that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,517,704 issued to Benson. This apparatus includes an elongated member defining a generally U-shaped cross section and including adjacent one side thereof a tubular portion extending the longitudinal extent of the elongated member, the tubular portion defining a plurality of apertures therein. The elongated member further includes adjacent an opposite side thereof, a U-shaped channel portion extending longitudinally of the elongated member. An elongated hollow tubing removably retained by the U-shaped channel portion is interconnected at one end to an open end of the tubular portion and at the other end to a conduit from a cleaning solution source. 
         [0010]    Another prior art windshield washer apparatus is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,516,288 issued to Benson. This apparatus includes apparatus that is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,517,704 issued to Fizyta. This apparatus includes a spray nozzle mounted on the wiper arm intermediate the ends of the wiper blade. The nozzle includes a first baffle surface disposed at an obtuse angle relative to a base surface and at an acute angle relative to a transverse frontal wall surface upstanding from the base surface. A fluid dispensing orifice extends through the transverse wall with its axis normal to the frontal wall surface. Secondary baffle surfaces are provided by means of a notched-out portion formed in the first baffle surface. The orifice directs a stream of fluid such that a primary spray of the fluid is dispersed to upper and intermediate bladed areas of the windshield and a secondary spray of fluid is dispersed normal to the lower bladed area of the windshield. 
         [0011]    Still another prior art windshield washer apparatus is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,793,670 issued to Riester, et al. This apparatus includes an arm mounted spray nozzle. The nozzle includes a baffle projecting from a base member having a surface at a compound angle with respect to the member for dispersing the fluid into a conical-shaped configuration of droplets and directing the array of droplets toward the windshield in the path of the windshield wiper. Washer solvent under pressure is directed through an orifice toward the baffle. A nipple is provided at the orifice to which flexible tubing extending along the length of the arm is connected at one end. At the other end the tubing is connected to a washer pump so that washer fluid can be directed through the tubing and the orifice against the baffle. 
         [0012]    As a general rule, the prior art vehicle windshield washing systems fail to effectively and efficiently clean the vehicle windshield without undesirable smearing and in use tend to be only slightly better than conventional hood-mounted washer heads typically found on most modern vehicles. 
         [0013]    The thrust of the present invention is to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art vehicle windshield washing systems by providing a novel vehicle wiper assembly that includes not only a liquid feed conduit carried directly by the vehicle wiper system, but also uniquely includes a novel wiper blade assembly that precisely regulates the flow of fluid onto the windshield. More particularly, the wiper blade assembly includes a pivotally mounted wiper blade that controls the flow of washing fluid onto the vehicle windshield based upon the position of the wiper blade. The elongated washing liquid feed conduit, carried by the body of the wiper blade which extends from the blade assembly, is interconnected with the vehicle washing fluid reservoir by an elongated flexible tube which can readily be connected to the washing liquid pump that is typically housed within the vehicle engine compartment. 
         [0014]    With this novel arrangement, the wiper assembly of the present invention can be used to readily replace the original wiper assembly supplied with the vehicle and can be easily interconnected with the washing liquid reservoir by simply removing the flexible tube used to connect the liquid pump with the hood-mounted spray head and replacing it with the flexible tube and combined washer tube and blade assembly unit that is interconnected with the liquid feed conduit of the vehicle. This replacement can be accomplished quickly and easily and without the necessity of making any major changes to the stock vehicle windshield washing system. 
         [0015]    One embodiment of the invention comprises a single, pre-assembled unit containing a washer blade assembly with an extended washer tube permanently attached to, and made an integral part of, the washer blade assembly. 
         [0016]    This unit can be placed on vehicles at the point of manufacture or retro-fitted to existing vehicles by simply detaching the existing washer blade assembly and replacing it with the combination washer tube and blade invention 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0017]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel wiper assembly and associated regulated fluid conduit for sweeping a glass surface on a vehicle. More particularly, it is an object of the invention to provide a wiper assembly which includes a pivotally mounted wiper blade and an elongated washer liquid feed conduit, carried by the body of the wiper blade, that is connected to the fluid reservoir of the vehicle for supplying a regulated amount of washing liquid directly upon the glass surface of the vehicle via the wiper assembly 
         [0018]    Another object of the invention is to provide a combination of the aforementioned character in which the flow of fluid onto the glass surface of the vehicle is determined and regulated by the position of the wiper blade relative to the glass surface. 
         [0019]    Another object of the invention is to provide a wiper assembly of the character described in the preceding paragraphs in which the washer liquid feed conduit and blade assembly can be interconnected with the supporting structure of the windshield wiper assembly without the need for specialty tools and without the need for any substantial modification to the conventional wiper assembly. 
         [0020]    Another object of the invention is to provide a wiper assembly of the class described in which the washer liquid is uniformly sprayed directly down onto the surface to be cleaned immediately in advance of the wiper blade of the windshield wiper assembly so that the wiper blade can efficiently and effectively clean the glass surface as the wiper blade assembly sweeps over the vehicle windshield without the unsafe glare and vision impairment common with conventional windshield wiper systems. 
         [0021]    Another object of the invention is to provide a wiper assembly as described in the preceding paragraph in which the washer liquid is carried by a single elongated conduit, carried by the body of the wiper blade, and is uniformly sprayed from the conduit directly down onto the surface to be cleaned immediately in advance of the wiper blade of the windshield wiper assembly. 
         [0022]    Another object of the invention is to provide a wiper assembly as described in the preceding paragraphs in which the washer liquid is carried by a pair of side-by-side conduits and is uniformly sprayed from the 86 conduits directly down onto the surface to be cleaned immediately in advance of the wiper blade of the windshield wiper assembly. 
         [0023]    Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the character described in the preceding paragraphs in which the apparatus can be installed on vehicles at the point of manufacture, or alternatively can be retro-fitted to existing vehicles by simply detaching the existing washer blade assembly and replacing it with the combination washer tube and blade assembly of the invention. 
         [0024]    Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the character described in the preceding paragraphs which is reliable in operation and one which can be inexpensively manufactured in quantity. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0025]      FIG. 1  is a general perspective, bottom view of one form of the wiper blade apparatus of the present invention for sweeping a glass surface on a vehicle shown releasably affixed to a conventional windshield wiper assembly of the type that can be connected to the vehicle drive arm that drives the wiper assembly relative to the glass surface of the vehicle windshield. 
           [0026]      FIG. 2  is an enlarged, cross-sectional view of the wiper blade apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0027]      FIG. 3  is a top plan view of a conventional vehicle drive arm assembly to which the wiper assembly shown in  FIG. 1  is connected. 
           [0028]      FIG. 4  is a generally illustrative view illustrating the wiper blade apparatus illustrated in  FIG. 2  disposed in three operative positions relative to the vehicle windshield. 
           [0029]      FIG. 5  is a general perspective, bottom view of an alternate form of the wiper blade apparatus of the present invention for sweeping a glass surface on a vehicle shown releasably affixed to a conventional windshield wiper assembly of the type that can be connected to the vehicle drive arm that drives the wiper assembly relative to the glass surface of the vehicle windshield. 
           [0030]      FIG. 6  is a greatly enlarged view of the area designated as “ 6 ” in  FIG. 5 . 
           [0031]      FIG. 7  is an enlarged, cross-sectional view of the wiper blade apparatus shown in  FIG. 5 . 
           [0032]      FIG. 8  is a general illustrative view illustrating the wiper blade apparatus illustrated in  FIG. 7 , disposed in three operative positions relative to the vehicle windshield. 
           [0033]      FIG. 9  is a general perspective, bottom view of yet another form of the wiper blade apparatus of the present invention for sweeping a glass surface on a vehicle shown releasably affixed to a conventional windshield wiper assembly of the type that can be connected to the vehicle drive arm that drives the wiper assembly relative to the glass surface of the vehicle windshield. 
           [0034]      FIG. 10  is an enlarged, cross-sectional view of the wiper blade apparatus shown in  FIG. 9   
           [0035]      FIG. 11  is a general illustrative view illustrating the wiper blade apparatus illustrated in  FIG. 10 , disposed in three operative positions relative to the vehicle windshield. 
           [0036]      FIG. 12  is a general perspective, bottom view of still another form of the wiper blade apparatus of the present invention for sweeping a glass surface on a vehicle shown releasably affixed to a conventional windshield wiper assembly of the type that can be connected to the vehicle drive arm that drives the wiper assembly relative to the glass surface of the vehicle windshield. 
           [0037]      FIG. 13  is a general illustrative, cross-sectional view illustrating the wiper blade apparatus illustrated in  FIG. 12 , disposed in three operative positions relative to the vehicle windshield. 
           [0038]      FIG. 14  is a general perspective, bottom view of yet another form of the wiper blade apparatus of the present invention for sweeping a glass surface on a vehicle, shown releasably affixed to a conventional windshield wiper assembly of the type that can be connected to the vehicle drive arm. 
           [0039]      FIG. 15  is a greatly enlarged, fragmentary view of the area designated as “ 15 ” in  FIG. 14 . 
           [0040]      FIG. 16  is a general illustrative, cross-sectional view illustrating the wiper blade apparatus illustrated in  FIG. 14 , disposed in three operative positions relative to the vehicle windshield. 
           [0041]      FIG. 17  is a greatly enlarged, fragmentary view of the area designated as “ 17 ” in  FIG. 16 . 
           [0042]      FIG. 18  is a greatly enlarged, fragmentary view of the area designated as “ 18 ” in  FIG. 16 . 
           [0043]      FIG. 19  is a general perspective, bottom view of yet another form of the wiper blade apparatus of the present invention for sweeping a glass surface on a vehicle shown affixed to a conventional windshield wiper assembly of the type that can be connected to the vehicle drive arm that drives the wiper assembly relative to the glass surface of the vehicle windshield. 
           [0044]      FIG. 20  is a greatly enlarged view of the area designated as “ 20 ” in  FIG. 19 . 
           [0045]      FIG. 21  is a general illustrative view illustrating the wiper blade apparatus illustrated in  FIG. 19 , disposed in three operative positions relative to the vehicle windshield. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0046]    Referring to the drawings and particularly to  FIGS. 1 through 4 , one form of washing apparatus for washing a glass surface on a vehicle windshield is there shown. The novel feature of the present invention comprises a wiper blade assembly generally designated by the numeral  14 . As depicted in  FIG. 1 , wiper blade assembly  14  can be affixed to, or alternatively readily removably connected to a conventional structural support “S” having first and second extremities “S- 1 ” and “S- 2 ”. Structural support “S” includes transversely spaced-apart side walls “SW- 1 ” and “SW- 2 ” which, as shown in  FIG. 3 , are used to pivotally interconnect the structural support with the vehicle drive arm “DA” that drives the structural support relative to the vehicle windshield. Structural support “S” also includes a plurality of spaced-apart connector brackets “CB” to which the wiper blade assembly  14  is connected in the manner shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0047]    Referring particularly to  FIG. 3  of the drawings, wiper blade assembly  14  can be seen to comprise a body portion  16  having first and second rows of longitudinally spaced apart, angularly downwardly extending fluid outlet passageways  18  and  20  that are in communication with an elongated fluid conduit  22  that is carried by the body portion  16 . Fluid conduit  22  has a first end  22   a  that is in communication with the pump “P” of the vehicle via a conventional valve “V” and a connector tube  24  (see  FIG. 1 ) and a second crimped end  22   b . As depicted in  FIG. 1 , pump “P” is in communication with a vehicle reservoir “VR” via a connector tube “C”. Elongated fluid conduit  22  has first and second rows of circumferentially spaced fluid outlets  26  and  28  that are in communication respectively with the rows of fluid outlet passageways  18  and  20  of body portion  16 . 
         [0048]    An elongated wiper blade  30  is pivotally connected to body portion  16  for movement between a first position shown in the left hand portion of  FIG. 4  blocking fluid flow first fluid passageways  18  and permitting fluid flow from second fluid passageways  20  and a second position shown in the right hand portion of  FIG. 4  blocking fluid flow from second fluid passageways  20  and permitting fluid flow from first fluid passageways  18 . When elongated wiper blade  30  is in the position shown in the center portion of  FIG. 4  the wiper blade effectively blocks fluid flow from both the first and second fluid passageways. 
         [0049]    As best seen in  FIG. 2 , wiper blade  30  is generally triangular in cross-section and has first and second yieldably deformable side edges  30   a  and  30   b  and a yieldably deformable lower extremity  30   c  that is maintained in engagement with the glass surface “GS” of the vehicle windshield “W”. When wiper blade  30  is in the position shown in the left hand portion of  FIG. 4 , edge  30   a  is in sealable engagement with body  16  at a location proximate passageway  18 . Similarly, when wiper blade  30  is in the position shown in the right hand portion of  FIG. 4 , edge  30   b  is in sealable engagement with the body  16  at a location proximate passageway  20 . 
         [0050]    To enable easy interconnection of body  16  with the connector brackets “CB” of structural support “S”, body  16  is provided with an elongated, generally rectangular shaped upper connector portion  16   a.    
         [0051]    In the form of the invention illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 4 , wiper blade assembly  14  further includes a connector member  34  that functions to interconnect wiper blade  30  with body  16  of the wiper blade assembly. Connector member  34 , which functions to simplify the molding process, here comprises an upper portion  34   a  that is generally triangular in cross-section and a lower portion  34   b  that is generally hemispherical in cross-section. In the manner shown in  FIG. 2 , upper portion  34   a  is here connected to body  16 , while lower portion  34   b  is connected to wiper blade  30 . 
         [0052]    In using the apparatus of this first form of the invention, energizing of the windshield wiper motor and of the pump “P” by the vehicle operator will cause the wiper arm to sweep over the windshield and at the same time will cause washer fluid to controllably flow into the feed conduit  22  via a conventional check valve “V”. As the wiper blade starts the “up sweep” motion, blade  30  will pivot in the manner shown in the left hand portion of  FIG. 4 , opening passageways  20  and sealing passageways  18 . Because of the strategic location of outlets  28  and passageways  20 , the washer fluid will flow uniformly onto the surface to be cleaned in advance of the travel of the wiper blade  30  in a manner such that the wiper blade can efficiently clean the glass surface during the upward sweep. 
         [0053]    Similarly, as the wiper blade starts the “down sweep” motion, blade  30  will pivot in the manner shown in the right hand portion of  FIG. 4 , opening passageways  18  and sealing passageways  20 . Because of the strategic location of outlets  26  and passageways  18 , the washer fluid will flow uniformly onto the surface to be cleaned in advance of the travel of the wiper blade  30  in a manner such that the wiper blade can efficiently clean the glass surface during the downward sweep. 
         [0054]    Turning now to  FIGS. 5 through 8 , an alternate form of washing apparatus of the invention for washing a glass surface on a vehicle windshield is there shown. This alternate form of washing apparatus is similar in many respects to the earlier described embodiment and like numerals are used in  FIGS. 5 through 8  to identify like components. The major difference between this apparatus and that previously described resides in the provision of a wiper blade assembly  38  of a slightly different construction. 
         [0055]    Wiper blade assembly  38  here comprise a body portion  40  having a single row of longitudinally spaced part, generally vertically downwardly extending fluid outlet passageways  42  that are in communication with an elongated fluid conduit  44  that is carried by body  40  ( FIGS. 5 and 7 ). As depicted in  FIG. 5 , wiper blade assembly  38  can be readily removably connected to a conventional structural support “S” having first and second extremities “S- 1 ” and “S- 2 ”. Structural support “S”, which is substantially identical in construction and operation to that previously described, includes transversely spaced-apart side walls “SW- 1 ” and “SW- 2 ” which, as before, are used to pivotally interconnect the structural support with the vehicle drive arm “DA” that drives the structural support relative to the vehicle windshield (see  FIG. 3 ). 
         [0056]    Referring particularly to  FIG. 7  of the drawings, fluid conduit  44  has a first end  44   a  that is in communication with the pump “P” of the vehicle via a conventional valve “V” and a connector tube  24  and a second crimped end  44   b . As before, pump “P” is in communication with a vehicle reservoir “VR” via a connector tube “C”. Elongated fluid conduit  44  has a row of longitudinally spaced fluid outlet passageways  46  that are in communication with passageways  42  of body portion  40 . 
         [0057]    An elongated wiper blade  50  is pivotally connected to body portion  40  for movement between a first position shown in the left hand portion of  FIG. 8  permitting fluid flow from fluid passageways  46  onto the windshield in advance of the upward sweep of the wiper blade (see arrow  51 ) and a second position shown in the right hand portion of  FIG. 8  permitting fluid flow from fluid passageways  46  onto the windshield in advance of the downward sweep of the wiper blade (see arrow  53 ). 
         [0058]    As best seen in  FIG. 7 , wiper blade  50  is generally triangular in cross-section and has first and second apertured side edges  50   a  and  50   b  and a yieldably deformable lower extremity  50   c  that is maintained in engagement with the glass surface “GS” of the vehicle windshield “W”. When wiper blade  50  is in the position shown in the left hand portion of  FIG. 8 , fluid can flow from passageway  42  past the edge of the blade via fluid flow aperture  50   a  Similarly, when wiper blade  50  is in the position shown in the right hand portion of  FIG. 8 , fluid can flow from passageway  42  past the edge of the blade via fluid flow aperture  50   b . When wiper blade  50  is in the position shown in the central portion of  FIG. 8 , blade  50  resides beneath passageway  42 . 
         [0059]    As before, to enable easy interconnection of body  40  with the connector brackets “CB” of structural support “S”, body  40  is provided with an elongated, generally rectangular shaped upper connector portion  40   a.    
         [0060]    In the form of the invention illustrated in  FIGS. 5 through 8 , wiper blade  50  is connected to body  40  by means of a yieldably deformable connector element  56 . 
         [0061]    In using the apparatus of this latest form of the invention, energizing of the windshield wiper motor and of the pump “P” by the vehicle operator will cause the wiper arm to sweep over the windshield and at the same time will cause washer fluid to controllably flow into the feed conduit  44  via a conventional check valve “V”. As the wiper blade starts the “up sweep” motion in the direction of arrow  51 , blade  50  will pivot in the manner shown in the left hand portion of  FIG. 8 . Because of the strategic location of outlets  46  and passageways  42 , the washer fluid will flow uniformly past the edge of the wiper blade and onto the surface to be cleaned in advance of the travel of the wiper blade  50  in a manner such that the wiper blade can efficiently clean the glass surface during the upward sweep. 
         [0062]    Similarly, as the wiper blade starts the “down sweep” motion in the direction of the arrow  53 , blade  50  will pivot in the manner shown in the right hand portion of  FIG. 8  permitting the washer fluid to flow uniformly past the edge of the wiper blade and onto the surface to be cleaned in advance of the travel of the wiper blade  50  in a manner such that the wiper blade can efficiently clean the glass surface during the downward sweep. 
         [0063]    Referring next to  FIGS. 12 and 13 , yet another form of windshield washing apparatus of the invention for washing a glass surface on a vehicle windshield is there shown. This latest form of washing apparatus is similar in some respects to the earlier described embodiments and like numerals are used in  FIGS. 12 and 13  to identify like components. The major difference between this latest apparatus and those previously described resides in the provision of a wiper blade assembly  74  of still another novel construction. 
         [0064]    Wiper blade assembly  74  here comprises a body portion  76  that houses an elongated fluid conduit  78  that is provided with two spaced apart rows of longitudinally spaced apart, angularly downwardly extending fluid outlet passageways  80  and  82  (Central portion of  FIG. 13 ). 
         [0065]    As before and as depicted in  FIG. 12 , wiper blade assembly  74  can be readily removably connected to a conventional structural support “S” having first and second extremities “S- 1 ” and “S- 2 ”. Structural support “S”, which is substantially identical in construction and operation to that previously described, includes transversely spaced-apart side walls “SW- 1 ” and “SW- 2 ” which, as before, are used to pivotally interconnect the structural support with the vehicle drive arm “DA” that drives the structural support relative to the vehicle windshield (see  FIG. 3 ). 
         [0066]    Referring particularly to  FIG. 12  of the drawings, the first end  78   a  of fluid conduit  78  is in communication with the pump “P” of the vehicle via a conventional valve “V” and a connector tube  83 . As before, pump “P” is in communication with a vehicle reservoir “VR” via a connector tube “C”. 
         [0067]    As best seen in  FIG. 13 , for a purpose presently to be described, a pair of spaced apart, yieldably deformable first and second blocking tabs  86  and  88  are connected to and extend downwardly from body portion  76 . Also connected to body portion  76  is an elongated wiper blade  90  that is pivotally connected to body portion  76  for movement between a first position shown in the left hand portion of  FIG. 13  to a second position shown in the right hand portion of  FIG. 13 . When the wiper blade  90  is in the first position shown in the left hand portion of  FIG. 13  fluid is free to flow from fluid passageway  80  onto the windshield in advance of the upward sweep of the wiper blade (see arrow  91 ). However, in this position, blade  90  has urged blocking tab  88  into blocking engagement with fluid passageway  82  thereby blocking fluid flow through this passageway. When the wiper blade  90  is in the second position shown in the right hand portion of  FIG. 13  fluid is free to flow from fluid passageway  82  in advance of the downward sweep of the wiper blade (see arrow  93 ). However, in this position, blade  90  has urged blocking tab  86  into blocking engagement with fluid passageway  80  thereby blocking fluid flow through this passageway onto the windshield in advance of the upward sweep of the wiper blade and a second position shown in the right hand portion of  FIG. 13  permitting fluid flow from fluid passageways  82  of conduit  76  onto the windshield in advance of the downward sweep of the wiper blade. 
         [0068]    As before, wiper blade  90  is generally triangular in cross-section and has a yieldably deformable lower extremity  90   a  that is maintained in engagement with the glass surface “GS” of the vehicle windshield “W”. As in the earlier described embodiments, to enable easy interconnection of body  76  with the connector brackets “CB” of structural support “S”, body  76  is provided with an elongated, generally rectangular shaped upper connector portion  76   a.    
         [0069]    In using the apparatus of this latest form of the invention, energizing of the windshield wiper motor and of the pump “P” by the vehicle operator will cause the wiper arm to sweep over the windshield and at the same time will cause washer fluid to controllably flow into the feed conduit  76  via a conventional check valve “V”. As the wiper blade starts the “up sweep” motion in the direction of arrow  91 , blade  90  will pivot in the manner shown in the left hand portion of  FIG. 13 . 
         [0070]    Because of the strategic location of the outlets  80  and  82 , the washer fluid will flow uniformly past the edge of the wiper blade and onto the surface to be cleaned in advance of the travel of the wiper blade in a manner such that the wiper blade can efficiently clean the glass surface during the upward sweep. 
         [0071]    Similarly, as the wiper blade starts the “down sweep” motion, blade  90  will pivot in the manner shown in the right hand portion of  FIG. 13  permitting the washer fluid to flow uniformly past the edge of the wiper blade and onto the surface to be cleaned in advance of the travel of the wiper blade  90  in a manner such that the wiper blade can efficiently clean the glass surface during the downward sweep. 
         [0072]    Referring next to  FIGS. 14 through 18 , still another form of windshield washing apparatus of the invention for washing a glass surface on a vehicle windshield is there shown. This fourth form of washing apparatus is similar in some respects to the earlier described embodiments and like numerals are used in  FIGS. 14 through 18  to identify like components. The major difference between this latest apparatus and those previously described resides in the provision of a wiper blade assembly  94  of still another novel construction. 
         [0073]    Wiper blade assembly  94  here comprises a body portion  96  that houses an elongated fluid conduit  98  that is provided with two spaced apart rows of longitudinally spaced apart, angularly downwardly extending fluid outlet passageways  100  and  102  (central portion of  FIG. 16 ). As best seen by referring to  FIG. 15 , these fluid outlet passageways in this latest form of the invention are generally rectangular in shape. 
         [0074]    As before and as depicted in  FIG. 14 , wiper blade assembly  94  can be readily removably connected to a conventional structural support “S” having first and second extremities “S- 1 ” and “S- 2 ”. Structural support “S”, which is substantially identical in construction and operation to that previously described, includes transversely spaced-apart side walls “SW- 1 ” and “SW- 2 ” which, as before, are used to pivotally interconnect the structural support with the vehicle drive arm “DA” that drives the structural support relative to the vehicle windshield (see  FIG. 3 ). 
         [0075]    Referring particularly to  FIG. 14  of the drawings, the first end  98   a  of fluid conduit  98  is in communication with the pump “P” of the vehicle via a conventional valve “V” and a connector tube  103 . As before, pump “P” is in communication with a vehicle reservoir “VR” via a connector tube “C”. 
         [0076]    As best seen in  FIG. 16 , in this latest form of the invention the pair of spaced apart, yieldably deformable first and second blocking tabs found in the previously described embodiment are absent. In this latest embodiment, the elongated wiper blade  104  is pivotally connected to body portion  96  by means of a flexible connector element  106  and is movable between a first position shown in the left hand portion of  FIG. 16  to a second position shown in the right hand portion of  FIG. 16 . When the wiper blade  104  is in the first position shown in the left hand portion of  FIG. 16 , fluid is free to flow from fluid passageway  100  onto the windshield in advance of the upward sweep of the wiper blade (see arrow  107 ). However, in this position, the shoulder  104   c  of blade  104  has moved into blocking engagement with fluid passageway  102  thereby blocking fluid flow through this passageway. When the wiper blade  104  is in the second position shown in the right hand portion of  FIG. 16 , fluid is free to flow from fluid passageway  102  in advance of the downward sweep of the wiper blade (see arrow  109 ). However, in this position, shoulder  104   b  of blade  104  has moved into blocking engagement with fluid passageway  100  thereby blocking fluid flow through this passageway onto the windshield. 
         [0077]    As before, wiper blade  104  is generally triangular in cross-section and has a yieldably deformable lower extremity  104   a  that is maintained in engagement with the glass surface “GS” of the vehicle windshield “W”. As in the earlier described embodiments, to enable easy interconnection of body  96  with the connector brackets “CB” of structural support “S”, body  96  is provided with an elongated, generally rectangular shaped upper connector portion  96   a.    
         [0078]    In using the apparatus of this latest form of the invention, energizing of the windshield wiper motor and of the pump “P” by the vehicle operator will cause the wiper arm to sweep over the windshield and at the same time will cause washer fluid to controllably flow into the feed conduits  100  and  102  via a conventional check valve “V”. As the wiper blade starts the “up sweep” motion, blade  104  will pivot in the manner shown in the left hand portion of  FIG. 16 . 
         [0079]    Because of the strategic location of outlets  100 , the washer fluid will flow uniformly past the edge of the wiper blade and onto the surface to be cleaned in advance of the travel of the wiper blade  104  in a manner such that the wiper blade can efficiently clean the glass surface during the upward sweep. 
         [0080]    Similarly, as the wiper blade starts the “down sweep” motion, blade  104  will pivot in the manner shown in the right hand portion of  FIG. 16 , permitting the washer fluid to flow uniformly past the edge of the wiper blade and onto the surface to be cleaned in advance of the travel of the wiper blade  90  in a manner such that the wiper blade can efficiently clean the glass surface during the downward sweep. 
         [0081]    Turning now to  FIGS. 19 through 21 , still another alternate form of washing apparatus of the invention for washing a glass surface on a vehicle windshield is there shown. This alternate form of washing apparatus is similar in many respects to the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 5 through 8 . The major difference between this apparatus and that previously described resides in the provision of a wiper blade assembly  112  of a slightly different construction. 
         [0082]    Wiper blade assembly  112  here comprise a body portion  114  having a single row of longitudinally spaced part, generally vertically downwardly extending fluid outlet passageways  116  that are in communication with an elongated fluid conduit  118  that is carried by body portion  114  ( FIG. 21 ). As depicted in  FIG. 19 , wiper blade assembly  112  can be readily connected to a conventional structural support that is substantially identical in construction and operation to that previously described, and includes transversely spaced-apart side walls which, as before, are used to pivotally interconnect the structural support with the vehicle drive arm that drives the structural support relative to the vehicle windshield (see  FIG. 3 ). 
         [0083]    Referring particularly to  FIG. 19  of the drawings, fluid conduit  118  has a first end  118   a  that is in communication with the pump “P” of the vehicle via a conventional valve “V” and a connector tube  120  and a second crimped end  118   b . As before, pump “P” is in communication with a vehicle reservoir “VR” via a connector tube “C”. Elongated fluid conduit  118  has a row of longitudinally spaced fluid outlet passageways that are in communication with passageways  116  of body portion  114 . 
         [0084]    An elongated wiper blade  122  is pivotally connected to body portion  114  for movement between a first position shown in the left hand portion of  FIG. 21  permitting fluid flow from fluid passageways  116  onto a first shoulder  124   a  of wiper blade  122  and then onto the windshield in advance of the upward sweep of the wiper blade (see arrow  125 ) and a second position shown in the right hand portion of  FIG. 21  permitting fluid flow from fluid passageways  116  onto a second shoulder  124   b  of wiper blade  122  and then onto the windshield in advance of the downward sweep of the wiper blade (see arrow  127 ). 
         [0085]    As best seen in  FIG. 21 , wiper blade  122  is generally triangular in cross-section and has a yieldably deformable lower extremity  126  that is maintained in engagement with the glass surface “GS” of the vehicle. Unlike the wiper blade of the embodiment of  FIGS. 5 through 8  that has first and second apertured side edges  50   a  and  50   b , wiper blade  122  is provided with uniquely configured first and second shoulders  124   a  and  124   b . When wiper blade  122  is in the position shown in the left hand portion of  FIG. 21 , fluid can flow from passageway  116  onto shoulder  124   a  and onto the windshield. Similarly, when wiper blade  122  is in the position shown in the right hand portion of  FIG. 21 , fluid can flow from passageway  116  onto shoulder  124   b  and onto the windshield. When wiper blade  122  is in the position shown in the central portion of  FIG. 21 , blade  122  resides beneath passageway  116 . 
         [0086]    As before, to enable easy interconnection of body  114  with the connector brackets “CB” of structural support, body  114  is provided with an elongated, generally rectangular-shaped upper connector portion  114   a.    
         [0087]    In using the apparatus of this latest form of the invention, energizing of the windshield wiper motor and of the pump “P” by the vehicle operator will cause the wiper arm to sweep over the windshield and at the same time will cause washer fluid to controllably flow into the feed conduit  118  via a conventional check valve “V”. As the wiper blade starts the “up sweep” motion in the direction of arrow  125 , blade  122  will pivot in the manner shown in the left hand portion of  FIG. 21 . Because of the strategic location of outlets  116  and passageways  118 , the washer fluid will flow uniformly past the shoulder of the wiper blade and onto the surface to be cleaned in advance of the travel of the wiper blade  122  in a manner such that the wiper blade can efficiently clean the glass surface during the upward sweep. 
         [0088]    Similarly, as the wiper blade starts the “down sweep” motion in the direction of the arrow  127 , blade  122  will pivot in the manner shown in the right hand portion of  FIG. 21 , permitting the washer fluid to flow uniformly past the shoulder of the wiper blade and onto the surface to be cleaned in advance of the travel of the wiper blade  122  in a manner such that the wiper blade can efficiently clean the glass surface during the downward sweep. 
         [0089]    Having now described the invention in detail in accordance with the requirements of the patent statutes, those skilled in this art will have no difficulty in making changes and modifications in the individual parts or their relative assembly in order to meet specific requirements or conditions. Such changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention, as set forth in the following claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1