Patent ID: 7588194

Claim:
Apparatus for providing a heated cleaning fluid to a vehicle surface comprising: a) an inlet port for receiving an amount of fluid; b) a reservoir in fluid communication with the inlet port for storing fluid which enters a reservoir interior from the inlet port; c) an outlet port in fluid communication with the reservoir for dispensing an amount of heated fluid; d) a heating element for heating fluid that passes from the inlet to the outlet; e) a heat sink in thermal communication with the heating element having heat sink projections which extend into the reservoir from a region of the heating element to transmit heat from the heating element to the fluid within the reservoir; f) a temperature sensor for sensing a temperature related to a fluid temperature of fluid in the reservoir prior to dispensing of said fluid onto the vehicle surface; g) a voltage source for energizing the heating element; h) a user actuated input for initiating a dispensing of fluid through the outlet onto the vehicle surface; and i) a control circuit coupled to the user input for energizing at least a portion of the heating element with a voltage to heat the heating element and providing a control signal to activate pumping of the fluid from the outlet when the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor reaches a threshold value.