A vehicle wiper device and vehicle wiper device control method are provided that are capable of changing a position of a wiping range of a wiper arm in a manner that is less distracting. When a switch for an enlarged wiping operation has been switched ON, a microcomputer 58 performs control to change the position of a wiping range by starting rotation of an output shaft of a second motor 12 in a predetermined direction when a rotation angle of an output shaft of a first motor 11 has reached an angle corresponding to a position within a predetermined range in the vicinity of one out of a upper return position P1P or a lower return position P2P. Accordingly, when a front passenger seat side wiper blade 36 changes direction at either the upper return position P1P or the lower return position P2P, a front passenger seat side wiper arm 35 begins to extend, and the position of a wiping range of the front passenger seat side wiper blade 36 is moved upward on a front passenger seat side.

A wiper actuating assembly configured to actuate a windshield wiper arm includes an actuator and a linkage that connects the actuator to the wiper arm. Links of the linkage are joined by ball joints. The ball joints each include a ball stud and a ball socket. The ball portion of the ball stud has an annular ball groove that receives a retaining portion that protrudes inward from the inner surface of the ball socket. The ball groove and retaining portion cooperate to prevent withdrawal of the ball stud from the socket housing.

A wiper actuating assembly configured to actuate a windshield wiper arm includes an actuator and a linkage that connects the actuator to the wiper arm. Links of the linkage are joined by ball joints. The ball joints each include a ball stud and a ball socket. The ball portion of the ball stud has an annular ball groove that receives a retaining portion that protrudes inward from the inner surface of the ball socket. The ball groove and retaining portion cooperate to prevent withdrawal of the ball stud from the socket housing.

A vehicle cleaning system includes a wiper motor, a vehicle wiper, a washer nozzle, a washer pump, and a controller. The wiper motor forwardly and reversely rotates an output shaft. The vehicle wiper is coupled to the output shaft and reciprocally wipes a surface for wiping in accordance with forward and reverse rotations of the output shaft. The washer nozzle is arranged on the vehicle wiper. The washer pump feeds a washer fluid to the washer nozzle. The controller controls the wiper motor and the washer pump. The controller drives the washer pump so that the washer fluid is ejected in a direction in which accumulated snow is present based on a determination that the vehicle wiper is in a constrained state caused by accumulated snow.

A first driven lever of a vehicle wiper device has a proximal end pivotally connected to a distal end of a first driving lever. A second driven lever has a proximal end pivotally connected to a distal end of the first driven lever and a distal end pivotally connected to a distal end of a second driving lever. A first wiper arm operates integrally with the second driven lever and has a distal end to which a first wiper blade is connected. A swing transmission mechanism transmits a driving force to the first driving lever. The swing transmission mechanism includes a swing crank arm integrally rotatable with a rotation shaft of a single drive source. An extension-contraction transmission mechanism transmits a driving force to the second driving lever. The extension-contraction transmission mechanism includes an extension-contraction crank arm integrally rotatable with the rotation shaft of the drive source.

A vehicular wiper device is provided with a snowfall determination unit that determines whether a predetermined snowfall condition is satisfied. When the snowfall determination unit determines that a predetermined snowfall condition is satisfied, a controller that controls a wiper motor changes lower reverse positions of wiper blades to lower reverse positions during snowfall that are on the lower side with respect to lower reverse positions during normal times.

A windshield wiper assembly for a dual sweep angle and indexable wiper system is provided. The system includes a wiper motor and a wiper arm for sweeping a surface of a windshield coupled to a first eccentric, the first eccentric comprising a primary eccentric and an indexable eccentric plate, wherein the indexable eccentric plate determines an eccentric offset of the wiper arm coupled to the first eccentric. The system further includes an output wiper shaft coupled to the wiper arm, a second eccentric coupled to a cam shaft, and a link coupled to the first eccentric and the second eccentric, the link having a first effective link arm length between the first eccentric and the second eccentric for driving the first eccentric to operate the wiper arm when operated in a first direction.

A windshield wiper assembly for a dual sweep angle and indexable wiper system is provided. The system includes a wiper motor and a wiper arm for sweeping a surface of a windshield coupled to a first eccentric, the first eccentric comprising a primary eccentric and an indexable eccentric plate, wherein the indexable eccentric plate determines an eccentric offset of the wiper arm coupled to the first eccentric. The system further includes an output wiper shaft coupled to the wiper arm, a second eccentric coupled to a cam shaft, and a link coupled to the first eccentric and the second eccentric, the link having a first effective link arm length between the first eccentric and the second eccentric for driving the first eccentric to operate the wiper arm when operated in a first direction.

A ball joint (28) includes a socket assembly (60) that provides a locking feature designed to work in combination with the ball stud to retain a rotatable connection between the ball stud (30) and the ball socket. The socket assembly includes a socket housing (62) and an elastic retaining member (82) that cooperate to prevent ball stud disengagement under operating loads. The socket housing includes a sidewall (65) that has an extended length relative to some conventional socket housings, and the elastic member is disposed in a circumferential groove formed in an outer surface of the ball socket at a location corresponding to the extended length.

A ball joint (28) includes a socket assembly (60) that provides a locking feature designed to work in combination with the ball stud to retain a rotatable connection between the ball stud (30) and the ball socket. The socket assembly includes a socket housing (62) and an elastic retaining member (82) that cooperate to prevent ball stud disengagement under operating loads. The socket housing includes a sidewall (65) that has an extended length relative to some conventional socket housings, and the elastic member is disposed in a circumferential groove formed in an outer surface of the ball socket at a location corresponding to the extended length.