Fluid and air nozzle for headlight cleaning

Details Fluid and air nozzle for headlight cleaning Fluid and air nozzle for headlight cleaning

1999-11-29

2001-03-13

Kashnikow, Andres (Department: 3752)

Fluid sprinkling, spraying, and diffusing

Liquid sprayer for transparent panel

C239S284200, C239S295000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06199773

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a headlight cleaning apparatus and more particularly to a fluid and air nozzle for use with vehicles equipped with both pressurized air systems and pressurized windshield cleaning fluid systems, such as commonly found in commercial transport trucks and certain automobiles.
Due to the excessive mileage that commercial carriers undergo between washings, the headlight surfaces of transport trucks frequently become dirty or laden with snow and ice. Devices have been employed that clean headlights and it is known to direct pressurized air and fluid against headlights for this purpose as is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,469,088, U.S. Pat. No. 4,026,468 relates to a headlight cleaning assembly that cleans vehicle headlights by using first and second nozzles for jetting an air/fluid mixture against the headlight surface. U.S. Pat. No. 5,083,339 shows a lens cleaning apparatus employing a nozzle which cleans the lens in reciprocating movements of the arm.
A problem with the prior art is that most headlight washer nozzles are custom fitted to certain vehicles in the vicinity of the headlights, and are not adjustable. Thus, these nozzles are not readily fitted to other vehicles for either factory installations or after market installations.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention a fluid and air nozzle for headlight cleaning systems is provided for use with vehicles which have both pressurized air on board and a pressurized washer system for the windshield wipers. The invention includes a fluid outlet nozzle and an air outlet nozzle contained in a single housing capable of being directly mounted to the outer skin of the vehicle in the vicinity of the headlights. The air outlet nozzle is positioned so as to combine its air jet with a jet of cleaning fluid from the fluid outlet nozzle so as to form a spray that impinges forcefully against the headlight lens thereby cleaning the headlight.
In a preferred embodiment, the nozzle is adapted to provide an adjustable trajectory for the spray stream of the combined air and headlight cleaning fluid.
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an improved fluid-air system for cleaning headlights on vehicles.
It is another object of the invention to provide a fluid-air headlight cleaning system for vehicles of the type that have pressurized air on board and also have a manually activated pressurized windshield washer system in combination with the windshield wipers, the washer system having nozzle outlets capable of being mounted adjacent the headlights and also having valve means that automatically activate the headlight cleaning system upon activation of the windshield washer system.
Another object of the invention is to provide an improved headlight cleaning system for a vehicle that is separate and independent of the vehicle windshield washing system.
A further object of the invention is to provide a fluid-air nozzle for a vehicle headlight cleaning system that allows for adjustment of the trajectory of the fluid-air spray stream that impinges upon the headlight lenses.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a fluid-air nozzle for a vehicle headlight cleaning system that allows for positioning the nozzle on the vehicle in the vicinity of the headlight to attain optimal cleaning.
The subject matter of the present invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of this specification. However, both the organization and method of operation, together with further advantages and objects thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters refer to like elements.


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