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Windshield washer machineRelated Patent Categories: Brushing, Scrubbing, And General Cleaning, Machines, Wiping, Window CleanersWindshield washer machine description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20050273956, Windshield washer machine. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This is a continuation-in-part of pending Ser. No. 10/615,024, filed Jul. 9, 2003. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The present invention relates to window washers. More specifically, the invention is a windshield washer incorporating a reciprocating squeegee head for cleaning a vehicle's windshield. [0004] 2. Description of the Related Art [0005] Vehicles are used, for example, as a personal form of transportation and to haul goods. Vehicles are exposed to various driving conditions and often get dirty. Windshields are particularly susceptible to getting dirty and thence detrimentally impact on driver visibility. It is important to maintain good visibility through a vehicle's windshield to avoid unnecessary risk to the driver, his passengers and other road users. [0006] Cleaning a vehicle's windshield can present challenges. For example, a windshield covered with insect remains presents a challenge. In addition, some vehicle operators experience difficultly performing physical tasks such as cleaning a windshield. For example, people with troublesome arthritis may find it particularly hard to clean a dirty windshield. A healthy driver can also face difficulties when cleaning a windshield spattered with hardened and dried out insect remains. Thus, there is a need for an apparatus adapted to assist a vehicle operator in the task of cleaning a vehicle's windshield. [0007] U.S. Pat. No. 6,062,491, issued May 16, 2000 to Hahn et al, describes a cleaning device for a window and headlamp cover of a motor vehicle. The '491 device has two washer nozzles that produce strip-shaped spraying regions on the window or headlamp cover. The '491 spraying regions are arranged one above the other to cover a large region of the window or headlamp cover. The '491 device does not provide a reciprocating cleaning action to boost the removal of insect remains from a windshield. [0008] U.S. Pat. No. 5,363,528, issued Nov. 15, 1994 to R. D. Brock, describes a window washing tool that comprises a squeegee head having a body, an elongated handle attached to the squeegee body, a pair of opposed wiping bars, and a means to move the wiping bars between a retracted position and a forward extended position. The '528 device does not teach or suggest a rigorous reciprocating action to remove hardened insect remains from a vehicle's windshield. [0009] U.S. Pat. No. 6,009,592, issued Jan. 4, 2000 to E. Habba, describes a linearly reciprocating wiper apparatus for wiping a non-planar window. The '592 apparatus comprises a first and second track members and a drive wheel assembly that includes at least one motorized drive wheel which engages the tracks. In view of the requirement for tracks and a motorized drive wheel system the '592 device is dedicated to cleaning a window in close proximity to the tracks. Thus, the '592 apparatus cannot be used, for example, to clean a line of cars with dirty windshields. Thus, there is a need for an apparatus that can clean windows, such as windshields or rear windows, on different cars. [0010] European patent application number EPO0074600, published Mar. 23, 1983 to B. Herbert, describes a flatbed-printing machine comprising a reciprocating doctor blade arrangement. While the Herbert patent describes a reciprocating doctor blade there is no teaching or suggestion of combining the reciprocating doctor blade with a cleaning fluid suitable for cleaning a windshield. Instead, the Herbert patent teaches away from the present invention by exploiting the reciprocating doctor blade for making it possible for a sheet to be printed on virtually up to the edge of the sheet and for excellent register to be guaranteed even for larger printing formats. [0011] None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed. Thus, a windshield washer machine solving the aforementioned problems is desired. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0012] The present invention is directed to a washing machine especially adapted to substantially clean a vehicle window such as a vehicle's windscreen. In a preferred embodiment the washing machine is a windscreen washing machine. The washing machine comprises a self-contained power supply, such as a battery, a cleaning fluid supply such as a reservoir and pump, and a reciprocating squeegee tool. The reciprocating squeegee tool includes a motor driving a mechanical reciprocator, a squeegee head, and a spraying head. The squeegee head is connected to the reciprocator that induces a reciprocating action in the squeegee head wherein the squeegee head is repeatedly moved between a first position and a second position. The spraying head is connected to the cleaning fluid reservoir and located proximate to the squeegee head thereby allowing the spraying means to spray cleaning fluid in an area proximate to the squeegee head. An extension unit is provided for connection between the liquid reservoir and the reciprocating squeegee. [0013] These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0014] FIG. 1 is an environmental, perspective view of a windshield washer machine according to the present invention. [0015] FIG. 2A is a perspective view of a reciprocating squeegee tool according to the present invention. [0016] FIG. 2B is an exploded view of the reciprocating squeegee tool of FIG. 2A. [0017] FIG. 3 is a partially exploded view of a money-operated cleaning station. [0018] FIG. 4 is a front view of a control system used to operate the money-operated cleaning station of FIG. 3. [0019] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a self-contained reciprocating squeegee tool according to the present invention. [0020] FIG. 6 is a partially exploded and cut away side elevation view of the embodiment of FIG. 5. Continue reading about Windshield washer machine... Full patent description for Windshield washer machine Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Windshield washer machine patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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