GB2486691A

GB2486691A - Apparatus for protecting a windscreen wiper or side view mirror

Info

Publication number: GB2486691A
Application number: GB1021763.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David John Skyers
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-12-22
Filing date: 2010-12-22
Publication date: 2012-06-27
Also published as: GB201021763D0

Abstract

An apparatus for protecting a windscreen wiper or side view mirror on a vehicle. The apparatus comprises a compartment 2, on which a windscreen wiper or side view mirror 6 is mounted, and a cover 4 which can be positioned to substantially close the compartment 2. The windscreen wiper or side view mirror 6 can therefore be enclosed within the compartment, when not in use.

Description

I

APPARATUS FOR PROTECTING A WINDSCREEN WIPER OR SIDE VIEW MIRROR

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to an apparatus for protecting a windscreen wiper or side view mirror on a vehicle.

Background to the Invention

Cars, motorbikes and other vehicles are frequently left exposed to the elements for long stretches of time. While many vehicle owners use garages and other storage spaces, many owners simply park their vehicles on the street, where the vehicles are vulnerable to the elements and any passer-by with malicious intent. Even those owners who do own garages may still need to leave their vehicle unattended on the street occasionally.

Most vehicles are therefore built with these conditions in mind. The exterior of most cars, for example, is in effect a tough metal and glass box. These cars are then also provided with various hard-wearing paints and other coatings to increase the car's resistance to damage from the weather and other environmental factors.

However there are external elements on most vehicles which are still routinely left in a vulnerable condition. In particular, the windscreen wipers and external side view mirrors of most vehicles are often subject to accidental or malicious damage.

In the case of a windscreen wiper, the arms of the wiper must operate on the exterior of the vehicle to be useful. Therefore modern designs typically situate the windscreen wiper at the base of the windscreen. While unattended, however, windscreens wipers are easily broken off by anyone who wishes to damage the vehicle.

Likewise, many countries require motor vehicles of various types to be fitted with external side view mirrors to provide a user with a view of the road behind and to either side of them. When not in use these mirrors are therefore very vulnerable, as they protrude from the outline of the car. They are easily clipped by another passing vehicle, or broken by a person with malicious intent. To alleviate this problem, many side view mirrors can be folded inwards towards the body of the car when not in use, and so present a smaller profile, but this only reduces their vulnerability to accidental damage, it does not eliminate it, and it does nothing to prevent malicious damage.

Therefore an apparatus for protecting windscreen wipers and side view mirrors more completely while they are not in use would be highly desirable.

Summary of the Invention

In pursuit of this aim, a presently preferred embodiment of the present invention provides: an apparatus for protecting a windscreen wiper or side view mirror on a vehicle, the apparatus comprising: a compartment, on which the windscreen wiper or side view mirror is mounted, in use; and a cover which can be positioned to substantially close the compartment, such that the windscreen wiper or side view mirror can be enclosed within the compartment, when not in use.

In this way, the invention provides a protective enclosure for the windscreen wiper or side view mirror without compromising their function. The windscreen wiper or side view mirror can be stored within the compartment when not in use, and the compartment can then be opened up when it is required.

Typically, the compartment comprises a cavity contained substantially within the body of the vehicle. In such embodiments the side view mirror or windscreen wiper is protected by the structure of the car, giving additional protection. Where this is the case, the cover may be sheet metal provided with a coating of paint to match the exterior of the rest of the vehicle.

It may be that the apparatus further comprises a motor for operating the cover. Where this is the case, and the vehicle comprises an engine, it may be that the motor is arranged to close the compartment when the engine is turned off. The motor may also be arranged to open compartment when engine is turned on.

Similarly, where the apparatus comprises a motor for operating the cover, and where the vehicle comprises at least one door lock, the motor may be arranged to close the compartment when the door lock is activated. The motor may also be arranged to open the compartment when the door lock is deactivated.

Similarly, where the apparatus comprises a motor for operating the cover, the vehicle may comprise a user operable control, arranged so that operating the control causes the compartment to open or close.

Alternatively, the cover may be operated directly and manually, by a user.

In some embodiments, the apparatus comprises an arm, the proximate end of the arm being hingedly joined to the inside of the compartment, and the distal end of the arm being joined to the windscreen wiper or side view mirror. By moving the arm, therefore, the windscreen wiper or side view mirror can be orientated to extend outside the compartment, in use.

Where the apparatus comprises an arm, the apparatus may further comprise a motor for moving the arm with respect to the vehicle.

This motor may be arranged to operate in response to an engine being turned on or off, or a door lock being activated or deactivated, or in response to a user operable control, in a similar fashion to the motor for operating the cover, described above.

Alternatively, the windscreen wiper or side view mirror may be joined directly to the inside of the cavity. The windscreen wiper or side view mirror may also be hingedly joined directly to the inside of the cavity. Where this is the case, the apparatus may further comprise a motor for moving the windscreen wiper or side view mirror with respect to the vehicle.

This motor may also be arranged to operate in response to an engine being turned on or off, or a door lock being activated or deactivated, or in response to a user operable control, in a similar fashion to the motor for operating the cover, described above.

The apparatus may be provided with a single motor to perform multiple tasks, for example to move both the cover and the arm, or both the cover and the windscreen wiper or side view mirror. Where this is the case the apparatus may also typically comprise a gear box to allow the motor to selectively move components as required.

Alternatively, the user may move the windscreen wiper or side view mirror, or the arm supporting them, directly and manually.

The apparatus may further comprise a lock for retaining the cover in a closed position.

This is especially desirable where the use can operate the cover directly and manually, as it prevents other people from being able to access the side view mirror or windscreen wiper. Typically, the lock will be electronically controlled, and unlocked at the same time as the vehicles door locks, or when an ignition is activated. Alternatively, the lock may be operated directly by a key, or it may require a code to be entered, or use any other suitable lock mechanism.

It may be that the vehicle is a car. Alternatively, it may be that the vehicle is a motorbike.

However, an apparatus according to the invention can be fitted to a Heavy Goods Vehicle, a van, a scooter, a pedal driven bicycle, or any other suitable vehicle.

Advantages of these embodiments are set out hereafter, and further details and features of each of these embodiments are defined in the accompanying dependent claims and

elsewhere in the following detailed description. r

Brief Description of the Drawings

C Various aspects of the teachings of the present invention, and arrangements embodying ct 20 those teachings, will hereafter be described by way of illustrative example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. I to Fig. 3 show illustrations of a car fitted with a first apparatus for protecting a side view mirror according to the invention; Fig. 4 and Figure 5 show illustrations of a car fitted with an apparatus for protecting windscreen wipers according to the invention; and Fig. 6 shows the front section of a motorbike fitted with a second apparatus for protecting a side view mirror according to the invention.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with particular reference to an apparatus for protecting a windscreen wiper or side view mirror on a vehicle Figure 1 is an illustration of a car I fitted with a first apparatus for protecting a side view mirror 2 according to the invention. The first apparatus for protecting a side view mirror 2 comprises a first cover 3, which encloses a first cavity 4. The first cavity 4 contains a motor 5. In an initial state, the first cavity 4 also contains a side view mirror 6, mounted on an arm 7, and the engine of the car I is turned off.

The motor 4 is connected to the car's engine such that, when the engine is started, the motor is activated.

The motor 4 is also connected to both the first cover 3 and the arm 6 by a gear train (not shown) such that, when the motor is activated the first cover 3 is moved in the direction of arrow 8, into a second cavity 9 in the body of the car 1, as shown in Figure 2. The motor also acts on the arm 7 so that the side view mirror 6 rotates in the direction of arrow 10. This moves the side view mirror 6 into a useable position on the side of the car, as illustrated in Figure 3.

Once the side view mirror 6 is in a useable position, the motor 4 moves the first cover 3 in the direction of arrow 11 so that the first cover 3 meets the arm 6, in order to prevent water from entering the first cavity 4, and to maintain the aerodynamic profile of the car 1.

When the engine of the car 1 is turned off the motor operates in reverse, withdrawing the side view mirror 6 into the cavity 4 and closing the first cover 3. This returns the first apparatus for protecting a side view mirror 2 to its initial state in order to protect the mirror 6 and the arm 7 while they are not in use.

The car I is provided with an override switch on the dashboard, which when operated by a user will cause the motor 5 to operate, extending or withdrawing the side view mirror 6, regardless of the whether the engine of the car I is turned on or off. This allows the user to access the side view mirror 6 without turning the engine on, for example for cleaning or for use while parked.

Figure 4 shows the car I with an enlarge section showing an apparatus for protecting windscreen wipers 20 according to the invention. The apparatus for protecting windscreen wipers 20 is located at the top of the bonnet 21 of the car I, immediately in front of the windscreen 22.

The apparatus for protecting windscreen wipers 20 comprises a second cover 23 which can be moved by a motor in a similar fashion to the first cover 3 described above. When the user operates the relevant switch, or when sensors in the car detect rainfall, the second cover 23 slides back to expose the windscreen wipers 24 as shown in Figure 5.

The windscreen wipers 24 can then operate to clear the windscreen.

Figure 6 shows a front part of a motorbike 30 fitted with a second apparatus for protecting side view mirrors according to the invention 31. The apparatus comprises two side view mirrors 32, each on an arm 33. The second apparatus for protecting side view mirrors 31 forms part of the nose of the bike 34, so that the side view mirrors 32 are visible to a user while the motorbike is being driven.

The second apparatus for protecting side view mirrors also comprises two cavities within the nose of the bike 34, each cavity protected by a third cover 35. The arms 33 are provided with hinges which allow them to be moved in the direction of the arrows 36.

When the side view mirrors 32 are not in use, therefore, they can be stored in the nose of the bike 34. Each third cover 35 is provided with a lock 37 which prevents the side view mirrors 32 from being removed without a key.

When the side view mirrors are extended as shown in Figure 6, the third covers 35 lock in place underneath the arms 33 and so prevent the side view mirrors from falling out of position while in use.

Claims

CLAIMS1. An apparatus for protecting a windscreen wiper or side view mirror on a vehicle, the apparatus comprising: a compartment, on which the windscreen wiper or side view mirror is mounted, in use; and a cover which can be positioned to substantially close the compartment, such that the windscreen wiper or side view mirror can be enclosed within the compartment, when not in use.
2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the compartment comprises a cavity contained substantially within the body of the vehicle
3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the apparatus further comprises a motor for operating the cover.
4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the vehicle comprises an engine, and the motor is arranged to close the compartment when the engine is turned off.
5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the vehicle comprises at least one door lock, and the motor is arranged to close the compartment when the door lock is activated.
6. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the apparatus comprises an arm, the proximate end of the arm being hingedly joined to the inside of the compartment, and the distal end of the arm being joined to the windscreen wiper or side view mirror.
7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the apparatus further comprises a motor for moving the arm with respect to the vehicle.
8. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the apparatus further comprises a lock for retaining the cover in a closed position.
9. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the vehicle is a car.
10. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the vehicle is a motorbike.