US20070173186A1

US20070173186A1 - Grinder for windshield wipers

Info

Publication number: US20070173186A1
Application number: US11/307,184
Authority: US
Inventors: Arlo Lin
Original assignee: Esito International LLC
Current assignee: Esito International LLC
Priority date: 2006-01-26
Filing date: 2006-01-26
Publication date: 2007-07-26

Abstract

A grinder includes a first side, a second side, a first piece of sandpaper attached to the first side and a second piece of sandpaper attached to the second side. The second piece of sandpaper is finer than the first piece of sandpaper. The first piece of sandpaper is used to grind and turn a tip of a rubber strip of a windshield wiper from broken to flat quickly. The second piece of sandpaper is used to make the tip of the rubber strip of the windshield wiper smooth. A first mark is provided on the first side for indicating a first step of a grinding process. A second mark is provided on the second side for indicating a second step of the grinding process.

Description

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to windshield wipers and, more particularly, to a grinder for windshield wipers.
2. Related Prior Art
Windshield wipers are important equipment for vehicles. The quality of windshield wipers determines whether rain can completely be wiped from the windshields of the vehicles. Whether rain can completely be wiped from the windshields determines whether drivers can have clear view through the windshields. Clear view is very important for the safety of the drivers' safety and/or pedestrians who are nearby.
A typical windshield wiper includes a rubber strip for wiping rain from a windshield and a frame for carrying the rubber strip. When newly installed, windshield wipers generally can wipe rain from windshields completely. However, after used for some time, the rubber strips of the windshield wipers will inevitably be hardened and fail to wipe rain from the windshields completely. In early days, users have no choice but to replace used windshield wipers with new ones. Later, users can only replace used rubber strips with new ones. Now, users can grind hardened tips of used rubber strips of windshield wipers so that the used rubber strips of the windshield wipers can become like new.
Disclosed in Taiwanese Patent M267123 is a grinder for windshield wipers. The grinder includes two plates 11 each formed with a first bent portion 213 and a second bent portion 223. A piece of sandpaper 40 is attached to the first bent portion 213 of each of the plates 11.
The plates 11 are connected to each other so that the first portions 213 form a V-shaped structure and that the second portions 223 form a V-shaped structure. A cotton fabric 50 is attached to the second bent portion 223 of each of the plates 11. The sandpaper 40 can grind a tip of a rubber strip of a windshield wiper. The cotton fabrics 50 can clean the tip of the rubber strip of the windshield wiper. This conventional grinder has proven to be ineffective in removing a harden tip of a rubber strip of a windshield wiper.
The present invention is intended to obviate or at least alleviate the problems encountered in prior art.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

According to the present invention, a grinder includes a first side, a second side, a first piece of sandpaper attached to the first side and a second piece of sandpaper attached to the second side. The second piece of sandpaper is finer than the first piece of sandpaper. The first piece of sandpaper is used to grind and turn a tip of a rubber strip of a windshield wiper from broken to flat quickly. The second piece of sandpaper is used to make the tip of the rubber strip of the windshield wiper smooth. A first mark is provided on the first side for indicating a first step of a grinding process. A second mark is provided on the second side for indicating a second step of the grinding process.
The primary advantage of the grinder of the present invention is that the first piece of sandpaper can grind and turn a tip of a rubber strip of a windshield wiper from broken to flat and the second piece of sandpaper can make the same smooth.
Other advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description referring to the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The present invention will be described through detailed illustration of the preferred embodiment referring to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a grinder for windshield wipers according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is another perspective view of the grinder shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the grinder shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a windshield wiper ground by means of the grinder shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 5 is an enlarged partial side view of the windshield wiper shown in FIG. 4.
FIG. 6 is a side view of the windshield wiper shown in FIG. 4 ground by means of a first piece of sandpaper of the grinder shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 7 is a side view of the windshield wiper shown in FIG. 4 ground by means of a second piece of sandpaper of the grinder shown in FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Shown in FIGS. 1 through 3 is a grinder for windshield wipers according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The grinder includes a top 10, a bottom 20, a first flank 15, a second flank 25 and two taper ends.
The top 10 is substantially a convex surface except a groove 16 defined in a middle portion 13 between two lateral portions 11. A first piece of sandpaper 18 is attached to the floor of the groove 16. Made on one of the lateral portions 11 of the top 10 is a mark 12 such as “STEP 1.” The mark 12 may be written, painted, embossment or intaglio. The mark 12 may be replaced with a sticker.
The bottom 20 is substantially a convex surface except a groove 26 defined in a middle portion 23 between two lateral portions 21. A first piece of sandpaper 28 is attached to the floor of the groove 26. Made on one of the lateral portions 21 of the bottom 20 is a mark 22 such as “STEP 2.” The mark 22 may be written, painted, embossment or intaglio. The mark 22 may be replaced with a sticker.
The first piece of sandpaper 18 is coarser than the second piece of sandpaper 28. That is, the first piece of sandpaper 18 includes bigger abrasive particles than the second piece of sandpaper 28 does.
Hence, the first piece of sandpaper 18 can grind a harden tip of a rubber strip of a windshield wiper faster than the second piece of sandpaper 28 can. The first piece of sandpaper 18 however leaves a coarser tip of the rubber strip of a windshield wiper than the second piece of sandpaper 28 does.
The flanks 15 and 25 are concave so that a user can conveniently hold the grinder.
Shown in FIG. 4 is the grinder for grinding a rubber strip 31 of a windshield wiper 30 installed on a rocker 32 of a vehicle.
Referring to FIG. 5, the rubber strip 31 includes a tip 311 (or “edge”) that is hardened and broken (or made serrate). There are a lot of deep cuts in the tip 311 of the windshield wiper 30.
Referring to FIG. 6, the tip 311 of the rubber strip 31 is ground by means of the first piece of sandpaper 18. To this end, the grinder is moved to and fro on the tip 311 of the rubber strip 31. The groove 16 receives the rubber strip 31 so as to keep the first piece of sandpaper 18 on the tip 311 of the rubber strip 31. As mentioned, the first piece of sandpaper 18 is course so that it can quickly grind the tip 311 of the windshield wiper 30. The first piece of sandpaper 18 makes the tip 311 of the rubber strip 31 flat but not smooth. Now, the tip 311 of the rubber strip 31 is less smooth than when it is made.
Referring to FIG. 7, the tip 311 of the rubber strip 31 is ground by means of the second piece of sandpaper 28. To this end, the grinder is moved to and fro on the tip 311 of the rubber strip 31. The groove 26 receives the rubber strip 31 so as to keep the second piece of sandpaper 28 on the tip 311 of the rubber strip 31. As mentioned, the second piece of sandpaper 28 is fine so that it can grind and make the tip 311 of the windshield wiper 30 smooth. Now, the tip 311 of the rubber strip 31 is almost as smooth as when it is made.
The grinder according to the present invention exhibits advantages. Firstly, it can grind and turn a tip of a rubber strip of a windshield wiper from broken to flat and smooth. Secondly, it indicates that different pieces of sandpaper can be used in different phases.
The present invention has been described through the illustration of the preferred embodiment. Those skilled in the art can derive variations from the preferred embodiment without departing from the scope of the present invention. Hence, the preferred embodiment shall not limit the scope of the present invention defined in the claims.

Claims

1. A grinder for a windshield wiper, the grinder comprising:

a housing including a top, a bottom, first and second ends and first and second flanks, with the top being opposite to the bottom;

a first piece of sandpaper attached to the top;

a second piece of sandpaper attached to the bottom, wherein the second piece of sandpaper is fine sandpaper and the first piece of sandpaper is coarse sandpaper;

a first mark on the top for indicating a first step of a grinding process using the coarse sandpaper; and

a second mark on the bottom for indicating a second step of the grinding process using the fine sandpaper.

2. The grinder according to claim 1 wherein the first mark is an embossment.

3. The grinder according to claim 1 wherein the first mark is an intaglio.

4. The grinder according to claim 1 wherein the second mark is an embossment.

5. The grinder according to claim 1 wherein the second mark is an intaglio.

6. The grinder according to claim 1 wherein the top defines a groove for receiving the first piece of sandpaper, with the groove extending between the first and second ends and spaced from the first and second flanks.

7. The grinder according to claim 1 wherein the top is outwardly convex from the bottom and between the first and second flanks.

8. The grinder according to claim 7 wherein the top defines a groove for receiving the first piece of sandpaper, with the groove extending between the first and second ends and spaced from the first and second flanks.

9. The grinder according to claim 8 wherein the top comprises two lateral portions between which the groove is located, wherein the first mark is provided on one of the lateral portions.

10. The grinder according to claim 1 wherein the bottom defines a groove for receiving the second piece of sandpaper, with the groove extending between the first and second ends and spaced from the first and second flanks.

11. The grinder according to claim 1 wherein the bottom is outwardly convex from the top and between the first and second flanks.

12. The grinder according to claim 11 wherein the bottom defines a groove for receiving the second piece of sandpaper, with the groove extending between the first and second ends and spaced from the first and second flanks.

13. The grinder according to claim 12 wherein the bottom comprises two lateral portions between which the groove is located, wherein the second mark is provided on one of the lateral portions.

14. (canceled)

15. The grinder according to claim 1 wherein the flanks are concave towards each other and between the first and second ends.

16. The grinder according to claim 13 wherein the top is outwardly convex from the bottom and between the first and second flanks.

17. The grinder according to claim 16 wherein the top defines a groove for receiving the first piece of sandpaper, with the groove of the top extending between the first and second ends and spaced from the first and second flanks.

18. The grinder according to claim 17 wherein the top comprises two lateral portions between which the groove of the top is located, wherein the first mark is provided on one of the lateral portions of the top.

19. The grinder according to claim 18 wherein the flanks are concave towards each other and between the first and second ends.

20. The grinder according to claim 19 wherein the first and second ends are tapered between the top and the bottom.