Abstract:
A system and method of collecting and conditioning rainwater and other moisture, such as dew, from a windshield of a vehicle and utilizing the collected fluid to replenish the fluids in the windshield washer reservoir. A collection funnel is positioned on a vehicle in order to collect rainwater and other moisture. Rainwater and other fluids from the collection funnel are directed to a conditioning chamber where the water is treated with a concentrate and filtered. The treated fluid is then directed to a pre-existing windshield washer reservoir.

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    In accordance with 37 C.F.R. 1.76, a claim of priority is included in an Application Data Sheet filed concurrently herewith. Accordingly, the present invention claims priority as a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/676,215, entitled “WINDSHIELD WASHER CONDITIONER”, filed Apr. 1, 2015, which claims priority to U.S. Patent Registration No. 9,000,000 entitled “WINDSHIELD WASHER CONDITIONER” and issued Apr. 7, 2015. The contents of the above referenced application is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to an apparatus and method of replenishing and conditioning the fluid within a windshield washing system. In particular, to an apparatus which can recover rainwater, dew and recapture dispensed fluids from the windshield of a vehicle to replenish and condition the fluid within a windshield washing system. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Windshield cleaning systems are old and well known in the art. Most of them employ a reservoir containing a fluid, such as water. The water can include an additive which will prevent the water from freezing in the colder climates. This additive is commonly known as a deicer. The de-icer can also remove ice that has formed on the windshield of a vehicle. Other additives to the fluid reservoir include substances which enhance the cleaning properties of the water/fluid in the reservoir, such as all season windshield cleaner, all season windshield cleaner and de-icer, rain repellant with or without all season cleaner or all season windshield cleaner and de-icer. 
         [0004]    In the winter months, when slush and other substances from the roads splash up onto the windshield of vehicles, the operator of the vehicle utilizes the windshield washer system repeatedly to clean the windshield to provide a clear view for driving. This high use of the windshield washer system can and normally does result in all of the fluid in the windshield washer reservoir being used up rapidly. If the vehicle operator is not vigilant in maintaining the washer reservoir full of fluid, the operator may be without the ability to clean the windshield when the need arises. Thus there is a need to provide a system and method of readily replenishing the fluid in a windshield washer reservoir without the vehicle operator constantly monitoring the fluid in the windshield washer reservoir. 
       DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
       [0005]    U.S. Pat. No. 2,701,897 discloses a windshield cleaning system using water from the cooling system of an automobile. A metered amount of detergent is placed into the dispersed fluid. 
         [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 2,770,017 discloses a method of automatically replenishing the supply of liquefied solvent to the reservoir of a windshield washer. A trough or pipe line leads from the ventilating duct in the cowl as a means for recovering rainwater. 
         [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 3,738,575 discloses an automatic windshield washer for a vehicle of the type having a reservoir and spray nozzles. Means are provided to collect rain water and car wash water from the outer surface of the vehicle and means to feed the collected water to the reservoir. The valve means can trap sediment and add cleaning agents to the collected water. 
         [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,261,254 discloses a method and apparatus for self-replenishment of the solution contained within an automobile windshield washer system. Water is extracted from air such as through the use of a desiccant system in combination with an automobile air conditioning system. This water is combined with a stored concentrated anti-freeze liquid in a preselected ratio to produce a windshield washer solution having sufficient freezing point depression for use during winter weather conditions. 
         [0009]    U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,669,986 and 6,024,803 disclose the use of rainwater on a vehicle to clean collection surfaces which have been contaminated with agents such as road salt and for storage in a reservoir for later use in windshield washing. 
         [0010]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,266,842 discloses a windshield cleaning device for a windshield of a motor vehicle. A collecting device is provided for collecting and returning excess sprayed cleaning liquid, spray water, and rain water into the windshield fluid reservoir. A heat exchanger is provided for heating the cleaning liquid pumped by the pump by heat energy derived from the cooling water cooling the motor of the motor vehicle. A control circuit measures at least one temperature that can be the ambient temperature or the temperature of the cleaning liquid and allows pumping of the cleaning liquid onto the windshield only above a set temperature limit. A metering device automatically introduces an alcohol mixture, and optionally surface-active agents, into the cleaning liquid based on the measured temperature. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    A system and method of collecting rainwater and other moisture, such as dew and melting rainwater, from a windshield of a vehicle and conditioning the collected fluid to replenish the windshield washer reservoir. One or more collection funnels are located at various locations on a vehicle. The fluid collected is directed to a fluid conditioning cartridge. 
         [0012]    Accordingly, it is an objective of the present invention to provide a system that collects fluids and utilizes these fluids to replenish the windshield washer reservoir of a vehicle. 
         [0013]    It is a further objective of the present invention to collect rain, melted snow or dew on a windshield to condition and replenish the fluid in a windshield washer reservoir of a vehicle. 
         [0014]    It is a still further objective of the present invention to provide a disposable fluid filter to condition the fluids in a windshield washer reservoir of a vehicle. 
         [0015]    It is still yet a further objective of the present invention to provide a replaceable or refillable mixing cartridge using a wick between the collection point of rain, dew, or other fluids and a windshield washer reservoir. Fluid additives may be added to the collected fluids in the mixing cartridge and the resulting fluid delivered to a pre-existing windshield washer reservoir on a vehicle. 
         [0016]    Other objectives and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with any accompanying drawings wherein are set forth, by way of illustration and example, certain embodiments of this invention. Any drawings contained herein constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments of the present invention and illustrate various objects and features thereof. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0017]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the present invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view thereof; 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  is cross sectional side view thereof; 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  is a top view thereof; 
           [0021]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a collection funnel. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0022]    While the present invention is susceptible of embodiment in various forms, there is shown in the drawings and will hereinafter be described a presently preferred, albeit not limiting, embodiment with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the present invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated. 
         [0023]    Now referring to the figures in general, set forth is a vehicular windshield washer fluid replenishing system. The system allows for the conditioning and treating of water that impacts the windshield of a vehicle to supplement a pre-existing windshield washer reservoir. The system consists of a housing  10  having a base  12  and a lid  26 . The base  12  consists of side walls  14  and  16 , end walls  18  and  20 , and a sloped bottom wall  22 . The sloped bottom wall works as a directional ramp to expel fluid from the base through outlet  24  located along end wall  20 . The housing  10  includes a removable lid  26  formed from side edges  28  and  30 , and edges  32  and  34  and top wall  36 . An inlet  38  is located along end edge  32 . The base  12  and lid  26  form an enclosure for containing a filter assembly  40  and a solution tank assembly  50 . The filter assembly  40  employs a filter  42  capable of filtering particulates greater than 30 microns from fluid. The filter  42  has a length and a width as to approximate the length and the width of the base  12 . The filter  42  is supported by a lower frame  44  and an upper frame  46  wherein the filter  42  material can be replaced. The filter assembly  40  is releasably secured within the base  12  to allow for ease of installation and removal. The filter  42  is sized and constructed to provide a low flow rate for optimal longevity of the filter. In the preferred embodiment the filter  42  is pleated to increase the available surface area for treating fluid. 
         [0024]    The solution tank assembly is a removable concentrate housing  50  securable within the base  12  and positioned over the filter assembly  40 . The concentrate housing  50  has an internal chamber  52  for holding of a fluid concentrate. The concentrate chamber forms a single replaceable cartridge assembly and can be replenished or reconditioned upon exhaustion for reuse. 
         [0025]    A wick  54  is placed within the concentrate housing  50  is of a length to draw concentrate from the volume of the internal chamber  52  and extend outward from the chamber through exposed end  56 . The length of the wick  54  having a section within the chamber  52  will be saturated with concentrate, and an exposed end  56  of the wick extends outward from the aperture at a position beneath portal  60 . The portal  60  is fluidly coupled to the inlet  38 . Fluid collected from the windshield is directed through the inlet  38  into portal  60  which is at a position so as to direct water flow to contact the wick  54 . The water is treated by combining with concentrate drawn through the wick which is collected into mixing chamber  62 . The concentrate includes various types of fluid additives, such as, but not limited to, soap, all-season windshield cleaner, de-icer, rain repellent with or without all-season cleaner, methanol/ethanol/ethylene glycol. The wick  54  operates by use of a capillary draw of concentrated fluid from the concentrate chamber  52  so as to deliver a pre-determined amount of the concentrate into the mixing chamber  62 . The wick can be constructed of any suitable material that works with the capillary action. In a preferred embodiment, the wick is tape style and can be comprised of wool, synthetic, cotton, polyester or any other suitable material capable of wick properties having passageways. 
         [0026]    The concentrate is of a formulation sized for passing through the passageways of the wick without clogging or blocking. The treated fluid in the mixing chamber  62  is directed through the filter assembly  40  to remove particulates. In the preferred embodiment the use of a 30 micron filter provides the longest longevity while capable of filtering sufficiently to remove particles capable of clogging spray jets used in most all vehicles. The treated and filtered fluid passes through the filter assembly  40  and collects on the bottom wall  22  of the base  10 . The bottom wall  22  is sloped so as to direct the treated fluid toward outlet  24 . 
         [0027]    The base  12  includes a first bracket  70  formed along side wall  16 , with a second bracket  72  forming a reciprocal of bracket  70  position along wall  14 . Brackets  70  and  72  allow for ease of engagement with a mounting bracket  80  for securement within the engine compartment of a vehicle. The mounting bracket  80  includes receptacles  82  and  84  for receipt of tangs and  88  of bracket  70 . The mounting bracket  80  includes apertures  90 ,  92  and  94  available for receipt of a fastener, such as a screw, so as to secure the housing to the vehicle. 
         [0028]    The lid  26  includes a clear sight viewing port  98 , located along the top wall  36 , so as to allow inspection of the concentrate housing  50 , for determining concentrate levels. In the preferred embodiment, the concentrate housing  50  is made of a transparent or translucent material, allowing ease of inspection of the concentrate fluid. 
         [0029]    Water collected for introduction into the inlet aperture is performed by a collection funnel  100  having an angular shaped upper wall  102  and lower wall  104  spaced apart by opposing side walls  106  and  108  and back wall  110 . A front wall  112  is sloped wherein water entering the funnel is directed by the walls shapes to an outlet  114 . The outlet  114  is coupled to the inlet  38  of the lid  26  by a flexible tube, not shown. A stainless steel screen  116  is placed over the entry of the funnel  100  to prevent larger matter from clogging the outlet  114 . The collection funnel  100  is constructed and arranged for positioning between a windshield and hood of a vehicle for the collection of water. 
         [0030]    In a preferred embodiment the collection funnel  100  is positioned on the driver&#39;s side of the vehicle but could be positioned in another suitable location. One edge of the mouth will be contoured to fit the arc of the windshield and ensure a water tight seal. This edge will most likely be made of a soft rubber or any suitable material for creating a water tight seal. The positioning of the collection funnel  100  provides gravity feeding of collected liquid to the housing  10 . In addition to gravity flow, pumps and other types of fluid transport mechanisms can be utilized to transport the fluids from the collection funnel  100  to the housing  10 . 
         [0031]    All patents and publications mentioned in this specification are indicative of the levels of those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains. It is to be understood that while a certain form of the invention is illustrated, it is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement herein described and shown. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention and the invention is not to be considered limited to what is shown and described in the specification and any drawings/figures included herein. 
         [0032]    One skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the present invention is well adapted to carry out the objectives and obtain the ends and advantages mentioned, as well as those inherent therein. The embodiments, methods, procedures and techniques described herein are presently representative of the preferred embodiments, are intended to be exemplary and are not intended as limitations on the scope. Changes therein and other uses will occur to those skilled in the art which are encompassed within the spirit of the invention and are defined by the scope of the appended claims. Although the invention has been described in connection with specific preferred embodiments, it should be understood that the invention as claimed should not be unduly limited to such specific embodiments. Indeed, various modifications of the described modes for carrying out the invention which are obvious to those skilled in the art are intended to be within the scope of the following claims.