Wiper with ice removal apparatus

Abstract

A windshield wiper can include a wiper assembly and a scrubber assembly. The scrubber assembly can include a scrubber support structure and an elongated scrubber element movably attached to the scrubber support structure. The scrubber element can have a central longitudinal axis extending in the elongate direction between a first end and a spaced apart second end. A method can include, in response to activation of a washer fluid activator, reciprocating the elongated scrubber element back and forth along the central longitudinal axis; and while reciprocating the elongated scrubber element, moving the windshield wiper across the windshield along a prescribed arcuate path such that the reciprocating motion of the scrubber element is generally parallel to the windshield and generally perpendicular to the prescribed arcuate path as the windshield wiper moves across the windshield. The acts of reciprocating the elongated scrubber element and moving the windshield wiper can automatically be performed for a predetermined period of time after activation of the washer fluid activator.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An automated method of using a windshield wiper on a windshield, the windshield wiper having a wiper assembly and a scrubber assembly, the scrubber assembly comprising a scrubber support structure and an elongated scrubber element movably attached to the scrubber support structure, the scrubber element having a central longitudinal axis extending in the elongate direction between a first end and a spaced apart second end, the method comprising:
 in response to activation of a washer fluid activator:
 reciprocating the elongated scrubber element of the scrubber assembly back and forth along the central longitudinal axis; and 
 while reciprocating the elongated scrubber element, moving the windshield wiper across the windshield along a prescribed arcuate path such that the reciprocating motion of the scrubber element is generally parallel to the windshield and generally perpendicular to the prescribed arcuate path as the windshield wiper moves across the windshield, 
 the acts of reciprocating the elongated scrubber element and moving the windshield wiper being automatically performed for a predetermined period of time after activation of the washer fluid activator. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method recited in  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined period of time is controlled by a true off-delay timer. 
     
     
         3 . The method recited in  claim 2 , wherein the scrubber assembly further comprises a motor mounted to the scrubber support structure and engaging with the scrubber element to reciprocate the scrubber element along the central longitudinal axis, the motor being controlled by the true off-delay timer. 
     
     
         4 . The method recited in  claim 3 , wherein the motor is electrically coupled to the true off-delay timer using a pass-through plug. 
     
     
         5 . The method recited in  claim 1 , wherein the wiper assembly comprises:
 a wiper support structure; and   a wiper blade attached to the wiper support structure.   
     
     
         6 . The method recited in  claim 1 , wherein the scrubber assembly further comprises a motor mounted to the scrubber support structure, the motor engaging with the scrubber element to reciprocate the scrubber element along the central longitudinal axis.