Wiper with rotating cleaning apparatus

Abstract

A windshield wiper includes a scrubbing assembly attached to a wiper assembly. The wiper assembly includes a wiper blade attached to a wiper housing. The scrubbing assembly includes a scrubbing element having a central longitudinal axis and one or more turbines attached to the scrubbing element, the turbine(s) being configured to fluidly couple with a washer fluid line of a vehicle and to rotate the scrubbing element about the central longitudinal axis when wiper fluid flows through the turbine(s). The wiper fluid may be deposited on the scrubbing element after flowing through the turbine(s) and the scrubbing assembly can also include a shield. The scrubbing assembly can be rigidly secured to the wiper assembly or can be detachable therefrom.

1 . A scrubbing assembly configured to attach to a windshield wiper, the scrubbing assembly comprising:
 a scrubbing element extending between a first end and a spaced apart second end, the scrubbing element comprising a scrubbing member formed about or attached to a core, the core extending along a central longitudinal axis of the scrubbing element;   a first turbine attached to the core of the scrubbing element and configured to rotate the scrubbing element about the central longitudinal axis; and   means for attaching the first turbine to the windshield wiper.   
     
     
         2 . The scrubbing assembly recited in  claim 1 , wherein the scrubbing member comprises at least one of a foam pad, a mesh netting, a chamois and a cloth. 
     
     
         3 . The scrubbing assembly recited in  claim 1 , wherein the scrubbing member comprises bristles extending substantially radially from the core. 
     
     
         4 . The scrubbing assembly recited in  claim 3 , wherein the bristles are substantially u-shaped. 
     
     
         5 . The scrubbing assembly recited in  claim 1 , wherein the first turbine comprises:
 a first fluid inlet;   a first fluid outlet; and   a rotatable first rotor, the first rotor being configured to rotate when fluid flows through the first turbine between the first fluid inlet and the first fluid outlet.   
     
     
         6 . The scrubbing assembly recited in  claim 5 , wherein the core of the scrubbing element is connected to the first rotor of the first turbine. 
     
     
         7 . The scrubbing assembly recited in  claim 5 , further comprising a coupler fluidly coupled with the first inlet of the first turbine, the coupler being configured to couple with a washer fluid line of a vehicle. 
     
     
         8 . The scrubbing assembly recited in  claim 5 , wherein the first rotor comprises a plurality of blades. 
     
     
         9 . The scrubbing assembly recited in  claim 5 , further comprising a conduit fluidly coupled to the first fluid outlet of the first turbine, the conduit extending alongside at least a portion of the scrubbing element and configured to deposit fluid onto the scrubbing member. 
     
     
         10 . The scrubbing assembly recited in  claim 9 , wherein the conduit comprises a main line and a plurality of fluid outlets spaced apart along the main line. 
     
     
         11 . The scrubbing assembly recited in  claim 9 , further comprising a shield attached to at least one of the first turbine and the means for attaching, the shield extending alongside at least a portion of the scrubbing element and covering at least a portion of the conduit. 
     
     
         12 . The scrubbing assembly recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a second turbine that also rotates the scrubbing element about the central longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         13 . The scrubbing assembly recited in  claim 1 , wherein the first turbine is attached to the core at the first end of the scrubbing element and the second turbine is attached to the core at the second end of the scrubbing element. 
     
     
         14 . The scrubbing assembly recited in  claim 12 , wherein the first turbine and the second turbine each comprise:
 a fluid inlet;   a fluid outlet; and   a rotatable rotor, the rotor being configured to rotate when fluid flows through the turbine between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet.   
     
     
         15 . The scrubbing assembly recited in  claim 14 , wherein the core of the scrubbing element attaches to the rotor of the first turbine and to the rotor of the second turbine. 
     
     
         16 . The scrubbing assembly recited in  claim 14 , further comprising a coupler fluidly coupled with the inlets of the first and second turbines, the coupler being configured to couple with a washer fluid line of a vehicle. 
     
     
         17 . The scrubbing assembly recited in  claim 14 , further comprising a conduit fluidly coupled to the fluid outlets of the first and second turbines, the conduit extending alongside at least a portion of the scrubbing element and configured to deposit fluid onto the scrubbing member. 
     
     
         18 . The scrubbing assembly recited in  claim 16 , further comprising a shield extending alongside at least a portion of the scrubbing element and covering at least a portion of the conduit, the shield being attached to at least one of the first turbine, the second turbine, and the means for attaching. 
     
     
         19 . The scrubbing assembly recited in  claim 1 , wherein the means for attaching the scrubbing assembly to the wiper comprises one or more clips, screws, bolts, or any combination thereof.