Device for heating a wiper blade

US 6,499,180 B1
Device for heating a wiper blade
George Johnson, 5550 Ivanhoe, Detroit, Mich. 48204 (US); and Arlene Johnson, 5550 Ivanhoe, Detroit, Mich. 48204 (US)
Assigned to ITT Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc., Wilmington, Del. (US)
Filed on 04-May-2001, as Appl. No. ITT Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc., Wilmington, Del. (US)
Int. Cl.7B60S 1/38

US 6,499,180 B1 Device for heating a wiper blade George Johnson, 5550 Ivanhoe, Detroit, Mich. 48204 (US); and Arlene Johnson, 5550 Ivanhoe, Detroit, Mich. 48204 (US) Filed on May 04, 2001, as Appl. No. 9/849,418. Int. Cl.7B60S 1/38 U.S. Cl. 158212;250.07 6 Claims 1. A heated saddle device for removably receiving a wiper blade, the blade being elongated and having an upper rounded portion and a pointed lower portion taken transversely to a longitudinal axis of the blade, the saddle being attached to a wind shield wiper arm pivotally coupled to a vehicle, said device comprising: an elongated block having a first end and a second end, said block having a top side, a bottom side, a first-lateral side and second lateral side, said bottom side having a channel therein extending toward said top side and extending through said first and second ends; a plurality of corrugated heating elements being positioned in said block, said heating elements extending between said first and second lateral sides and extending longitudinally along said block, each one of said plurality of heating elements undulating laterally from one lateral side towards the other for increasing surface area, said plurality of heating elements being stacked to maximize heat transfer and minimize deformation of said elongated block during heating; an actuator for turning said heating elements on or off being operationally coupled to said heating elements, said actuator being operationally coupled to a power supply; wherein said wiper blade is positionable in said channel.