CA2583885A1 - Automotive wiper assembly - Google Patents
Automotive wiper assembly Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2583885A1 CA2583885A1 CA 2583885 CA2583885A CA2583885A1 CA 2583885 A1 CA2583885 A1 CA 2583885A1 CA 2583885 CA2583885 CA 2583885 CA 2583885 A CA2583885 A CA 2583885A CA 2583885 A1 CA2583885 A1 CA 2583885A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- blade
- wiper
- stiffener
- windshield
- wiping
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60S—SERVICING, CLEANING, REPAIRING, SUPPORTING, LIFTING, OR MANOEUVRING OF VEHICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B60S1/00—Cleaning of vehicles
- B60S1/02—Cleaning windscreens, windows or optical devices
- B60S1/04—Wipers or the like, e.g. scrapers
- B60S1/32—Wipers or the like, e.g. scrapers characterised by constructional features of wiper blade arms or blades
- B60S1/38—Wiper blades
- B60S1/3806—Means, or measures taken, for influencing the aerodynamic quality of the wiper blades
- B60S1/3808—Spoiler integral with the squeegee
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60S—SERVICING, CLEANING, REPAIRING, SUPPORTING, LIFTING, OR MANOEUVRING OF VEHICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B60S1/00—Cleaning of vehicles
- B60S1/02—Cleaning windscreens, windows or optical devices
- B60S1/04—Wipers or the like, e.g. scrapers
- B60S1/32—Wipers or the like, e.g. scrapers characterised by constructional features of wiper blade arms or blades
- B60S1/38—Wiper blades
- B60S1/3848—Flat-type wiper blade, i.e. without harness
- B60S1/3849—Connectors therefor; Connection to wiper arm; Attached to blade
- B60S1/3851—Mounting of connector to blade assembly
- B60S1/3856—Gripping the blade
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60S—SERVICING, CLEANING, REPAIRING, SUPPORTING, LIFTING, OR MANOEUVRING OF VEHICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B60S1/00—Cleaning of vehicles
- B60S1/02—Cleaning windscreens, windows or optical devices
- B60S1/04—Wipers or the like, e.g. scrapers
- B60S1/32—Wipers or the like, e.g. scrapers characterised by constructional features of wiper blade arms or blades
- B60S1/40—Connections between blades and arms
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60S—SERVICING, CLEANING, REPAIRING, SUPPORTING, LIFTING, OR MANOEUVRING OF VEHICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B60S1/00—Cleaning of vehicles
- B60S1/02—Cleaning windscreens, windows or optical devices
- B60S1/04—Wipers or the like, e.g. scrapers
- B60S1/32—Wipers or the like, e.g. scrapers characterised by constructional features of wiper blade arms or blades
- B60S1/38—Wiper blades
- B60S1/3848—Flat-type wiper blade, i.e. without harness
- B60S1/3849—Connectors therefor; Connection to wiper arm; Attached to blade
- B60S1/3865—Connectors having an integral pivot pin for connection with the wiper arm
- B60S1/3867—Connectors having an integral pivot pin for connection with the wiper arm pin formed on the interior of side walls
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60S—SERVICING, CLEANING, REPAIRING, SUPPORTING, LIFTING, OR MANOEUVRING OF VEHICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B60S1/00—Cleaning of vehicles
- B60S1/02—Cleaning windscreens, windows or optical devices
- B60S1/04—Wipers or the like, e.g. scrapers
- B60S1/32—Wipers or the like, e.g. scrapers characterised by constructional features of wiper blade arms or blades
- B60S1/38—Wiper blades
- B60S1/3848—Flat-type wiper blade, i.e. without harness
- B60S1/3874—Flat-type wiper blade, i.e. without harness with a reinforcing vertebra
- B60S1/3875—Flat-type wiper blade, i.e. without harness with a reinforcing vertebra rectangular section
- B60S1/3879—Flat-type wiper blade, i.e. without harness with a reinforcing vertebra rectangular section placed in side grooves in the squeegee
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60S—SERVICING, CLEANING, REPAIRING, SUPPORTING, LIFTING, OR MANOEUVRING OF VEHICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B60S1/00—Cleaning of vehicles
- B60S1/02—Cleaning windscreens, windows or optical devices
- B60S1/04—Wipers or the like, e.g. scrapers
- B60S1/32—Wipers or the like, e.g. scrapers characterised by constructional features of wiper blade arms or blades
- B60S1/38—Wiper blades
- B60S2001/3827—Wiper blades characterised by the squeegee or blade rubber or wiping element
- B60S2001/3836—Wiper blades characterised by the squeegee or blade rubber or wiping element characterised by cross-sectional shape
Abstract
A vehicle wiper blade has a longitudinal stiffener mounted on the blade body at an offset angle from the central geometric plane of the blade edge, defined by the neck and wiping edge of the blade. When mounted in the presence of a wind stream flowing over the vehicular windshield, the protruding face surfaces of the stiffener function as an air dam to reduce lift-off effects, or as an airfoil to provide a supplemental pressure directing the wiper blade against the windshield. The proximity of the lower, forward edge of the blade to the windshield serves as an air dam. The upper trailing edge of the blade may be extended to serve as an airfoil.
Torque about the wiping edge is avoided by directing the wiper arm pressing force in alignment with the central geometric plane of the blade, and preferably through the neck portion of the blade.
Torque about the wiping edge is avoided by directing the wiper arm pressing force in alignment with the central geometric plane of the blade, and preferably through the neck portion of the blade.
Description
TITLE: Automotive Wiper Assembly FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to wiper blades for reinoving water from the windshields of vehicles. More particularly, it addresses a wiper blade assembly designed to accommodate a high-speed airflow over a vehicle windscreen.
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
An automotive windshield wiper removes water from a car windshield. It is operated by a wiper motor and mechanical linkages that move a wiper ann back and forth in a predetermined arc. At its end, the wiper ann carries a wiper blade.
Along part of the arc, when the wiper blade is elevated and generally in line with the direction of airflow passing over the windshield, the airflow has a reduced tendency to lift the blade off of the windshield. Along another part of the arc, when the wiper blade is near even to the horizontal plane, the airflow has a greater tendency to lift the wiper blade off of the windshield. This effect, particularly at high speeds, can reduce the effectiveness of the wiper blade in removing water from the windshield.
Conventional detachable wiper blades are secured to mechanically actuated wiper anns at the end of the wiper ann. The free end of the wiper arm may be provided with a transverse pin or a hook for engagement with the blade or with a connector that, in turn, engages with the blade or a blade assembly.
Some blade assemblies include a skeletal frame that carries the wiper blade.
When a skeletal frame is employed as part of the blade assembly, it often includes a first arcuate link of a length that is approximately half the length of the r-ubber blade, and two shorter, secondary links carried at the respective ends of the first arcuate link. The ends of the two shorter links are connected at four locations to the flat stiffener that is inter-fitted with the rubber blade, distributing the force being applied to the blade. All of these links in a skeletal frame are generally approximately symmetrically arranged with respect to the length of the rubber blade and the longer, first, arcuate link is fitted to the end of the wiper arm at its center point with the object of balancing the distributed force supplied by the wiper ann to the rubber blade. Other skeletal fonns may be employed as well. Such frames, as well as connectors that directly engage the end of the wiper ann, generally connect to the stiffener that is coupled to the rubber blade With or without the presence of a skeletal frame, the blade portion of a standard wiper, generally made of rubber, has mounted into it a flat, two-dimensional t strip stiffener, generally made of steel. The stiffener and wiper blade have complementary slots that allow them to inter-fit with each other. The stiffener is fitted into lateral groove-like slots fonned along the sides of the body of the wiper blade. The central spine of the rubber blade is fitted into a centrally placed slot extending down the length of the stiffener.
The stiffener is substantially rigid in the directions lateral to its longitudinal extent and parallel to the surface of the windshield. But in a plane upright to the windshield, the stiffener is generally soft enough to comply with the window-directed force applied by the wiper ann, but stiff enough to distribute this force along the blade. The stiffener is substantially constrained by its aspect ratio to bend preferably within a plane having a surface which coincides with a perpendicular extending outwardly from the upper and lower surfaces of the stiffener.
Hereafter, this is referred to as the "bending plane of the stiffener".
In the absence of a skeletal frame, a blade may be attached directly to the end of the wiper arm by connection to the sides of the stiffener or so connected through a connector. Such a latter wiper configuration may be characterized as a "beam"
blade, cf US patent 6,654,984.
The stiffener, in almost all blades as well as in a beain blade, is typically made of steel, and can function as a leaf spring. Such a flexible strip, when functioning as a spring, may be formed to assume a natural curvature when free of any external applied force. A specific curvature may be induced to improve the uniformity of the force with which the rubber blade is applied to a windshield. This is particularly appropriate when the windshield may have a degree of curvature but is also relevant to obtain a preferred, generally even distribution of the pressing force of the blade along the full length of blade. The source of the applied force is the wiper ann, which is generally spring-loaded to press the wiper blade against the windshield.
The present invention is adaptable to incorporation with either type of blade assembly mounting system.
It has been known, in order to reduce the tendency of a wiper blade to lift-off or shudder under the influence of a high velocity wind stream, to provide such blades, or their corresponding blade assemblies, with airfoils. Examples of airfoils on a blade support assembly include US patents 2,799,887; 5,319,826; 5,946,764 and 6,523,217.
Such airfoils use the force of the wind stream to increase the tendency of the wiper blade to press against the windshield. This effect is particularly appropriate when the wiper blade is in a more nearly horizontal orientation. Such airfoils have been deployed both as part of the blade assembly holding a rubber blade and on the rubber blade itself.
This invention relates to wiper blades for reinoving water from the windshields of vehicles. More particularly, it addresses a wiper blade assembly designed to accommodate a high-speed airflow over a vehicle windscreen.
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
An automotive windshield wiper removes water from a car windshield. It is operated by a wiper motor and mechanical linkages that move a wiper ann back and forth in a predetermined arc. At its end, the wiper ann carries a wiper blade.
Along part of the arc, when the wiper blade is elevated and generally in line with the direction of airflow passing over the windshield, the airflow has a reduced tendency to lift the blade off of the windshield. Along another part of the arc, when the wiper blade is near even to the horizontal plane, the airflow has a greater tendency to lift the wiper blade off of the windshield. This effect, particularly at high speeds, can reduce the effectiveness of the wiper blade in removing water from the windshield.
Conventional detachable wiper blades are secured to mechanically actuated wiper anns at the end of the wiper ann. The free end of the wiper arm may be provided with a transverse pin or a hook for engagement with the blade or with a connector that, in turn, engages with the blade or a blade assembly.
Some blade assemblies include a skeletal frame that carries the wiper blade.
When a skeletal frame is employed as part of the blade assembly, it often includes a first arcuate link of a length that is approximately half the length of the r-ubber blade, and two shorter, secondary links carried at the respective ends of the first arcuate link. The ends of the two shorter links are connected at four locations to the flat stiffener that is inter-fitted with the rubber blade, distributing the force being applied to the blade. All of these links in a skeletal frame are generally approximately symmetrically arranged with respect to the length of the rubber blade and the longer, first, arcuate link is fitted to the end of the wiper arm at its center point with the object of balancing the distributed force supplied by the wiper ann to the rubber blade. Other skeletal fonns may be employed as well. Such frames, as well as connectors that directly engage the end of the wiper ann, generally connect to the stiffener that is coupled to the rubber blade With or without the presence of a skeletal frame, the blade portion of a standard wiper, generally made of rubber, has mounted into it a flat, two-dimensional t strip stiffener, generally made of steel. The stiffener and wiper blade have complementary slots that allow them to inter-fit with each other. The stiffener is fitted into lateral groove-like slots fonned along the sides of the body of the wiper blade. The central spine of the rubber blade is fitted into a centrally placed slot extending down the length of the stiffener.
The stiffener is substantially rigid in the directions lateral to its longitudinal extent and parallel to the surface of the windshield. But in a plane upright to the windshield, the stiffener is generally soft enough to comply with the window-directed force applied by the wiper ann, but stiff enough to distribute this force along the blade. The stiffener is substantially constrained by its aspect ratio to bend preferably within a plane having a surface which coincides with a perpendicular extending outwardly from the upper and lower surfaces of the stiffener.
Hereafter, this is referred to as the "bending plane of the stiffener".
In the absence of a skeletal frame, a blade may be attached directly to the end of the wiper arm by connection to the sides of the stiffener or so connected through a connector. Such a latter wiper configuration may be characterized as a "beam"
blade, cf US patent 6,654,984.
The stiffener, in almost all blades as well as in a beain blade, is typically made of steel, and can function as a leaf spring. Such a flexible strip, when functioning as a spring, may be formed to assume a natural curvature when free of any external applied force. A specific curvature may be induced to improve the uniformity of the force with which the rubber blade is applied to a windshield. This is particularly appropriate when the windshield may have a degree of curvature but is also relevant to obtain a preferred, generally even distribution of the pressing force of the blade along the full length of blade. The source of the applied force is the wiper ann, which is generally spring-loaded to press the wiper blade against the windshield.
The present invention is adaptable to incorporation with either type of blade assembly mounting system.
It has been known, in order to reduce the tendency of a wiper blade to lift-off or shudder under the influence of a high velocity wind stream, to provide such blades, or their corresponding blade assemblies, with airfoils. Examples of airfoils on a blade support assembly include US patents 2,799,887; 5,319,826; 5,946,764 and 6,523,217.
Such airfoils use the force of the wind stream to increase the tendency of the wiper blade to press against the windshield. This effect is particularly appropriate when the wiper blade is in a more nearly horizontal orientation. Such airfoils have been deployed both as part of the blade assembly holding a rubber blade and on the rubber blade itself.
Blades intended to have an airfoil effect have included configurations where the upper body is triangular in cross-sectional form. Some designs have had an upper blade body with the cross-section of an equilateral triangle, cf US
patent 3,418,679, and US published application US2007/0022556 Al. Other designs have had the cross-section of an isosceles triangle, cf US 6,499,181; 6,516,491;
6,836,924;
6,874,195 and German patent DE10007808 (2001). In both cases, a more upright, inclined top face of the body of the blade is presented to the wind stream than where the blade body is rectangular in cross-section. Such an inclined top face functions as an airfoil to increase the pressure applying the blade to the windshield.
In German patent publication DE 198 54 372 Al the body of the wiper blade above the stiffener is angled to present its leading side face to the wind stream at an inclined angle, similarly serving the function of an airfoil. The "crooked"
orientation that this presents for coupling to the wiper arm is compensated for by a twist in the wiper arm itself.
The stiffeners in blades have also been enlarged to provide both symmetrical and asymmetrical extensions on either side of the length of a blade that provide an airfoil effect, cf US patents 6,516,491 and 6,675,433. Cases have even occurred where the stiffener itself, or portions thereof, have been inclined with respect to the wiper blade, cf US patent 3,037,233 and German patent DE10107021.
Traditionally, in the past, a rubber wiper blade has been constructed with a wiping edge that is supported by a widening strip of rubber having the general shape of an arrowhead in cross-section. This arrowhead cross-section is, in turn, coupled to the main body of the wiper blade through a long narrow strip of rubber that functions as a "neck". As the wiper blade is moved back and forth, the arrowhead cross-section portion, flexes about the neck dragging the wiping edge across the windscreen at a preferred angle of inclination suitable to remove moisture.
This may be described as blade edge "deflection" arising from a wiping action.
A degree of deflection of this type is desirable to minimize shuddering of the blade. The relative width of the neck and arrowhead portions focuses deflection primarily at the neck. The upper, wider portion of the arrowhead on deflection of the arrowhead limits the degree of deflection by contacting the underside surface of the main body of the blade to which the neck is connected.
As mentioned previously, the wiper ann is spring-loaded to direct the free, distal, end of the wiper arm towards the windshield. When a wiper blade incorporating a stiffener, with or without a blade support assembly, is fitted to the end of the wiper ann, the wiper arm applies a pressing force which is transmitted through to the wiper blade, urging the wiper blade to press against the windscreen.
Generally, the connection between the wiper blade and the end of the wiper ann is made approximately around the center region of the length of the wiper blade.
This contributes to a relatively balanced distribution of the pressing force along the length of the wiper blade. This same connection can apply the pressing force to the wiper blade, if so arranged, in a direction that is offset from the wiper edge of the blade so as to generate a torque that tends to rotate the wiper blade about its longitudinal axis, cf Gennan patent DE2627832 and Japanese patent JP 7179165.
This torque is resisted by the coupling between the blade and the end of the wiper arm, which may be relatively stiff. Consequently, the greater part of the response to this torque occurs within the rubber wiper blade itself.
Before contacting a windshield, the arrowhead portion of the wiping edge is generally presented to a windshield in an upright, near-perpendicular orientation.
The arrowhead cross-section portion of the blade will tend to bend about the neck as the blade edge is wiped across the windshield, with the blade edge trailing.
By minimizing the presence of any torque arising from the pressing force, the tendency to develop blade edge deflection significantly beyond the limit arising from contact between the arrowhead and blade body portion can be held to similar values irrespective whether the blade edge is being wiped in a first or second, reverse direction.
As indicated earlier, blade support assemblies, or in the case of a beam blade, the blade with stiffener are typically coupled to the end of the wiper arm through a connector. Such connectors may have a variety of shapes to adapt the installation of a wiper to the range of wiper arms included on vehicles made by different manufacturers.
Connectors have also been articulated to allow wiper blades to rotate not only about an axis that is transverse to its longitudinal length, but also to provide freedom for a blade to swivel sideways, about an axis parallel to such longitudinal length, cf US patents 2,942,288; 3,431,579, and 3,751,754. Further, connectors have been offset or angled so as to shift the position of the wiping edge laterally from alignment with the center of force applied by the end of the wiper arm, cf Japanese patent JP7179165.
In cases where connectors have been offset at an angle, provision has been made to ensure that the blade is mounted at an orientation that presents the wiping edge to the windshield in an upright orientation. This contributes to allowing the blade to have more nearly balanced deflections of the blade edge as it reciprocates in either lateral direction. In this latter case as well as other cases, the mounting of wiper blades has been arranged to direct the line of force applied by the end of the wiper arm to a location which is laterally displaced from the line of wiping edge.
Other prior art references of possible interest include US patent 3,089,174 and US publication US2003/0138655 Al.
It would be desirable to provide a wiper blade that has a configuration that advantageously resists the action of a wind stream in lifting the blade off a windshield at high speeds. At the same time, the wiper blade should be easy to fabricate and readily adaptable to existing wiper blade installation systems.
The invention in its general form will first be described, and then its implementation in terms of specific embodiments will be detailed with reference to the drawings following hereafter. These einbodiments are intended to demonstrate the principle of the invention, and the manner of its implementation. The invention in its broadest and more specific fonns will then be further described, and defined, in each of the individual claims which conclude this Specification.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention, according to one aspect, addresses a wiper blade with and apart from a wiper assembly for a vehicle that is adapted to improve the tendency for the wiping edge of the rubber blade to press against a vehicular windshield and remove moisture accumulated thereon in the presence of a wind stream flowing over the vehicular windshield.
In order to provide a supplemental pressure directing the wiper blade against the windshield in the presence of a wind stream, the wiper blade is adapted to function as an airfoil or air dam. The resulting airfoil effect enhances the force with which the wiper blade is pressed against the windshield in the presence of higher velocity wind streams. Alternately or concurrently a portion of the wiper blade assembly restricts the extent to which airflow is applied to the lower portion of the blade, thus reducing the tendency for lift-off to occur.
The invention applies to a flexible wiper blade having a longitudinally extending upper body and a lower, longitudinally extending wiping edge. The wiping edge is supported as part of the blade by a longitudinally extending edge support portion, generally and preferably having the shape of an arrowhead in its cross-section.
patent 3,418,679, and US published application US2007/0022556 Al. Other designs have had the cross-section of an isosceles triangle, cf US 6,499,181; 6,516,491;
6,836,924;
6,874,195 and German patent DE10007808 (2001). In both cases, a more upright, inclined top face of the body of the blade is presented to the wind stream than where the blade body is rectangular in cross-section. Such an inclined top face functions as an airfoil to increase the pressure applying the blade to the windshield.
In German patent publication DE 198 54 372 Al the body of the wiper blade above the stiffener is angled to present its leading side face to the wind stream at an inclined angle, similarly serving the function of an airfoil. The "crooked"
orientation that this presents for coupling to the wiper arm is compensated for by a twist in the wiper arm itself.
The stiffeners in blades have also been enlarged to provide both symmetrical and asymmetrical extensions on either side of the length of a blade that provide an airfoil effect, cf US patents 6,516,491 and 6,675,433. Cases have even occurred where the stiffener itself, or portions thereof, have been inclined with respect to the wiper blade, cf US patent 3,037,233 and German patent DE10107021.
Traditionally, in the past, a rubber wiper blade has been constructed with a wiping edge that is supported by a widening strip of rubber having the general shape of an arrowhead in cross-section. This arrowhead cross-section is, in turn, coupled to the main body of the wiper blade through a long narrow strip of rubber that functions as a "neck". As the wiper blade is moved back and forth, the arrowhead cross-section portion, flexes about the neck dragging the wiping edge across the windscreen at a preferred angle of inclination suitable to remove moisture.
This may be described as blade edge "deflection" arising from a wiping action.
A degree of deflection of this type is desirable to minimize shuddering of the blade. The relative width of the neck and arrowhead portions focuses deflection primarily at the neck. The upper, wider portion of the arrowhead on deflection of the arrowhead limits the degree of deflection by contacting the underside surface of the main body of the blade to which the neck is connected.
As mentioned previously, the wiper ann is spring-loaded to direct the free, distal, end of the wiper arm towards the windshield. When a wiper blade incorporating a stiffener, with or without a blade support assembly, is fitted to the end of the wiper ann, the wiper arm applies a pressing force which is transmitted through to the wiper blade, urging the wiper blade to press against the windscreen.
Generally, the connection between the wiper blade and the end of the wiper ann is made approximately around the center region of the length of the wiper blade.
This contributes to a relatively balanced distribution of the pressing force along the length of the wiper blade. This same connection can apply the pressing force to the wiper blade, if so arranged, in a direction that is offset from the wiper edge of the blade so as to generate a torque that tends to rotate the wiper blade about its longitudinal axis, cf Gennan patent DE2627832 and Japanese patent JP 7179165.
This torque is resisted by the coupling between the blade and the end of the wiper arm, which may be relatively stiff. Consequently, the greater part of the response to this torque occurs within the rubber wiper blade itself.
Before contacting a windshield, the arrowhead portion of the wiping edge is generally presented to a windshield in an upright, near-perpendicular orientation.
The arrowhead cross-section portion of the blade will tend to bend about the neck as the blade edge is wiped across the windshield, with the blade edge trailing.
By minimizing the presence of any torque arising from the pressing force, the tendency to develop blade edge deflection significantly beyond the limit arising from contact between the arrowhead and blade body portion can be held to similar values irrespective whether the blade edge is being wiped in a first or second, reverse direction.
As indicated earlier, blade support assemblies, or in the case of a beam blade, the blade with stiffener are typically coupled to the end of the wiper arm through a connector. Such connectors may have a variety of shapes to adapt the installation of a wiper to the range of wiper arms included on vehicles made by different manufacturers.
Connectors have also been articulated to allow wiper blades to rotate not only about an axis that is transverse to its longitudinal length, but also to provide freedom for a blade to swivel sideways, about an axis parallel to such longitudinal length, cf US patents 2,942,288; 3,431,579, and 3,751,754. Further, connectors have been offset or angled so as to shift the position of the wiping edge laterally from alignment with the center of force applied by the end of the wiper arm, cf Japanese patent JP7179165.
In cases where connectors have been offset at an angle, provision has been made to ensure that the blade is mounted at an orientation that presents the wiping edge to the windshield in an upright orientation. This contributes to allowing the blade to have more nearly balanced deflections of the blade edge as it reciprocates in either lateral direction. In this latter case as well as other cases, the mounting of wiper blades has been arranged to direct the line of force applied by the end of the wiper arm to a location which is laterally displaced from the line of wiping edge.
Other prior art references of possible interest include US patent 3,089,174 and US publication US2003/0138655 Al.
It would be desirable to provide a wiper blade that has a configuration that advantageously resists the action of a wind stream in lifting the blade off a windshield at high speeds. At the same time, the wiper blade should be easy to fabricate and readily adaptable to existing wiper blade installation systems.
The invention in its general form will first be described, and then its implementation in terms of specific embodiments will be detailed with reference to the drawings following hereafter. These einbodiments are intended to demonstrate the principle of the invention, and the manner of its implementation. The invention in its broadest and more specific fonns will then be further described, and defined, in each of the individual claims which conclude this Specification.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention, according to one aspect, addresses a wiper blade with and apart from a wiper assembly for a vehicle that is adapted to improve the tendency for the wiping edge of the rubber blade to press against a vehicular windshield and remove moisture accumulated thereon in the presence of a wind stream flowing over the vehicular windshield.
In order to provide a supplemental pressure directing the wiper blade against the windshield in the presence of a wind stream, the wiper blade is adapted to function as an airfoil or air dam. The resulting airfoil effect enhances the force with which the wiper blade is pressed against the windshield in the presence of higher velocity wind streams. Alternately or concurrently a portion of the wiper blade assembly restricts the extent to which airflow is applied to the lower portion of the blade, thus reducing the tendency for lift-off to occur.
The invention applies to a flexible wiper blade having a longitudinally extending upper body and a lower, longitudinally extending wiping edge. The wiping edge is supported as part of the blade by a longitudinally extending edge support portion, generally and preferably having the shape of an arrowhead in its cross-section.
The edge support portion is connected to the body by a longitudinally extending neck. A central geometric plane for the wiping edge portion of the wiper blade may be defined as a plane running the length of the blade, which includes both the wiping edge, and the neck portions of the wiper blade when the blade is extended in a straight line without being pressed against a windshield surface. Over a short interval, such a plane also can also be effectively defined in the center portion of a curved blade.
A longitudinally extending stiffener stiffens the flexible wiper blade. The stiffener can be fitted to the blade in a variety of manners. According to one aspect of the invention, the body portion of the wiper blade has a pair of lateral mounting slots to receive a generally flat, longitudinally extending stiffener. The mounting slots generally run longitudinally for the length of the main body, along the length of the sides of the wiper blade, and therefore are laterally positioned on the wiper blade.
The stiffener, according to a preferred variant of the invention, has a central, longitudinal, stiffener slot divided into two portions separated by a central bridge joining the two sides of the stiffener. The width of these two stiffener slot portions corresponds to the width of a corresponding, interrupted, "spine" running the length of the rubber blade. This spine within the rubber blade constitutes the separation between the two lateral mounting slots in the blade. The spine of the blade is fitted into the two longitudinal slot portions on the stiffener. The spine is topped by a longitudinal capping strip, divided into two portions, that extends along the top of the rubber blade. The sides of these two capping strips overlie the adjacent surfaces of the stiffener on both sides of the stiffener slot when the blade and stiffener are interengaged, anchoring the parts together.
The respective stiffener slots each has a short widening that will admit a respective portion of the two capping strips to pass there through, allowing the spine to be slid into place within the stiffener slot for the entire length of the blade.
The stiffener, when mounted engaged with the lateral slots on the wiper blade, is of a width that causes portions of the stiffener to extend outwardly from the sides of the body portion of the wiper blade, or at least on one side. Conveniently, the sides of the stiffener serve as coupling means in mounting the blade to a wiper arm as will be shown in more detail subsequently below. Additionally, the one or more outward extending sides of the stiffener provide surfaces which are useful for functioning as an airfoil or air dam.
It is a feature of the invention that the stiffener is mounted to the blade at an inclined angle. In a preferred embodiment the mounting slots on the blade are inclined at an offset angle from the central geometric plane for the wiping edge by an angle, an "offset" angle. That is, the angle between the bending plane of the stiffener and the central plane of the wiping edge constitutes the "offset angle".
The top of the capping strip of the wiper blade, when the stiffener is mounted interengaged with the blade body, is also preferably, but not necessarily, slanted in a similar manner, preferably by the same offset angle from the central plane of the wiping edge.
By providing for one or more of the sides of the stiffener to extend outwardly from the sides of the body portion of the wiper blade, the offset angle of the mounting slots causes the face surfaces of such extending side portions, (as well as the top of the capping strip of the wiper blade), to be presented, when mounted on the windshield of a car, so that protruding face surfaces are more nearly oriented towards the direction of the travel of the vehicle. In this configuration, such face surfaces (as well as the top of the body portion of the wiper blade) provide the function of an airfoil or an air dam.
By reason of the angled orientation of the stiffener, its lower, leading, edge is positioned relatively close to, and preferably evenly spaced from, the surface of the windshield when a wiper according to the invention is installed on a vehicle.
This close proximity arises from the inclination of the stiffener. The lower front edge of the single blade is thereby positioned more closely to the windshield, reducing the space for the wind stream to get beneath the blade. This lower protruding portion of the stiffener thus serves as an air dam and the tendency for lift-off to occur is reduced.
In order to enhance the airfoil effect provided by the stiffener, the higher, lateral edges of the stiffener as presented to the wind stream may extend outwardly from the opposite side of the blade. This extension may be greater than that found in the traditional parallel-sided stiffeners and greater than the extension on the lower side of the blade. The airfoil effect thereby provided will develop a force tending to press the wiper against the windshield. This extension of the stiffener's width may be tapered, narrowing towards the ends of the blade and widening towards the center portion.
An increase in widening of the stiffener on the upper side of the blade is practical because there is space above the blade for this widening to occur.
Due to the angling of the blade, such a widening is limited on the opposite, lower side by the proximity of the windshield surface. While the lower edge of the stiffener is very nearly straight when the wiper is deployed on a flat surface, it may have a slight taper as on the higher side, but preferably to a substantially lesser degree.
A longitudinally extending stiffener stiffens the flexible wiper blade. The stiffener can be fitted to the blade in a variety of manners. According to one aspect of the invention, the body portion of the wiper blade has a pair of lateral mounting slots to receive a generally flat, longitudinally extending stiffener. The mounting slots generally run longitudinally for the length of the main body, along the length of the sides of the wiper blade, and therefore are laterally positioned on the wiper blade.
The stiffener, according to a preferred variant of the invention, has a central, longitudinal, stiffener slot divided into two portions separated by a central bridge joining the two sides of the stiffener. The width of these two stiffener slot portions corresponds to the width of a corresponding, interrupted, "spine" running the length of the rubber blade. This spine within the rubber blade constitutes the separation between the two lateral mounting slots in the blade. The spine of the blade is fitted into the two longitudinal slot portions on the stiffener. The spine is topped by a longitudinal capping strip, divided into two portions, that extends along the top of the rubber blade. The sides of these two capping strips overlie the adjacent surfaces of the stiffener on both sides of the stiffener slot when the blade and stiffener are interengaged, anchoring the parts together.
The respective stiffener slots each has a short widening that will admit a respective portion of the two capping strips to pass there through, allowing the spine to be slid into place within the stiffener slot for the entire length of the blade.
The stiffener, when mounted engaged with the lateral slots on the wiper blade, is of a width that causes portions of the stiffener to extend outwardly from the sides of the body portion of the wiper blade, or at least on one side. Conveniently, the sides of the stiffener serve as coupling means in mounting the blade to a wiper arm as will be shown in more detail subsequently below. Additionally, the one or more outward extending sides of the stiffener provide surfaces which are useful for functioning as an airfoil or air dam.
It is a feature of the invention that the stiffener is mounted to the blade at an inclined angle. In a preferred embodiment the mounting slots on the blade are inclined at an offset angle from the central geometric plane for the wiping edge by an angle, an "offset" angle. That is, the angle between the bending plane of the stiffener and the central plane of the wiping edge constitutes the "offset angle".
The top of the capping strip of the wiper blade, when the stiffener is mounted interengaged with the blade body, is also preferably, but not necessarily, slanted in a similar manner, preferably by the same offset angle from the central plane of the wiping edge.
By providing for one or more of the sides of the stiffener to extend outwardly from the sides of the body portion of the wiper blade, the offset angle of the mounting slots causes the face surfaces of such extending side portions, (as well as the top of the capping strip of the wiper blade), to be presented, when mounted on the windshield of a car, so that protruding face surfaces are more nearly oriented towards the direction of the travel of the vehicle. In this configuration, such face surfaces (as well as the top of the body portion of the wiper blade) provide the function of an airfoil or an air dam.
By reason of the angled orientation of the stiffener, its lower, leading, edge is positioned relatively close to, and preferably evenly spaced from, the surface of the windshield when a wiper according to the invention is installed on a vehicle.
This close proximity arises from the inclination of the stiffener. The lower front edge of the single blade is thereby positioned more closely to the windshield, reducing the space for the wind stream to get beneath the blade. This lower protruding portion of the stiffener thus serves as an air dam and the tendency for lift-off to occur is reduced.
In order to enhance the airfoil effect provided by the stiffener, the higher, lateral edges of the stiffener as presented to the wind stream may extend outwardly from the opposite side of the blade. This extension may be greater than that found in the traditional parallel-sided stiffeners and greater than the extension on the lower side of the blade. The airfoil effect thereby provided will develop a force tending to press the wiper against the windshield. This extension of the stiffener's width may be tapered, narrowing towards the ends of the blade and widening towards the center portion.
An increase in widening of the stiffener on the upper side of the blade is practical because there is space above the blade for this widening to occur.
Due to the angling of the blade, such a widening is limited on the opposite, lower side by the proximity of the windshield surface. While the lower edge of the stiffener is very nearly straight when the wiper is deployed on a flat surface, it may have a slight taper as on the higher side, but preferably to a substantially lesser degree.
To allow a connector to engage a beam blade at its center region, that region of the stiffener may optionally revert to the standard parallel width, permitting the connector to have a width that is closer to the standard width.
In accordance with the preferred variant of the invention, the stiffener is mounted in slots along the sides of the body portion of the blade, with the downstream slot being fonned in the body at a higher location along the downstream face that on the upstream face that is directed towards the wind stream.
This rearward downstream lateral face of the blade body may be solid, fonning one side of a blade body having a triangular cross-section. Or it may contain a further longitudinal groove running the length of the blade. The presence of such a groove makes the body of the blade more flexible. Such groove may penetrate into the body of the wiper by approximately one third of the width of the blade body. The groove may be inwardly tapered with the bottom face of the groove being parallel to the underside surface of the main body portion of the blade, and the top face of the groove being parallel to the inner surface of the lateral slot fonned above it.
In order to connect the wiper blade to the end of a wiper arm, a connector is provided. Standard wiper anns generally terminate with a hook and/or transverse pin that extends parallel to the surface of a windscreen. Standard connectors engaging with such hooks/pins present a standard wiper blade to the windshield of a vehicle so that the central plane of the blade edge and backing support are generally upright and perpendicular to such windshield.
However, if a standard connector were used to couple a wiper blade according to the invention to a wiper ann, then there may be a tendency for the blade edge deflection arising from a wiping action not to be symmetrical. Such a tendency will be resisted by the linkage between the end of the wiper arm and the connector.
If this connection is not perfectly rigid some twisting in this coupling may occur.
Further, lateral twisting can arise in the flexible body of the wiper blade. Unless the central wiping edge plane of the wiper is generally upright and perpendicular to a windshield (in the absence of contact with the windshield), the blade edge deflection will not be held to similar values irrespective whether the blade edge is being wiped in a first or second, reverse direction.
It is therefore desirable for the wiping edge of the wiper blade to be pressed towards the windshield surface in a substantially upright, vertical, direction and preferably so that the pressing force passes through or near to the neck of the blade so as to minimize torque arising at the coupling between the connector and the end of the wiper ann.
In accordance with the preferred variant of the invention, the stiffener is mounted in slots along the sides of the body portion of the blade, with the downstream slot being fonned in the body at a higher location along the downstream face that on the upstream face that is directed towards the wind stream.
This rearward downstream lateral face of the blade body may be solid, fonning one side of a blade body having a triangular cross-section. Or it may contain a further longitudinal groove running the length of the blade. The presence of such a groove makes the body of the blade more flexible. Such groove may penetrate into the body of the wiper by approximately one third of the width of the blade body. The groove may be inwardly tapered with the bottom face of the groove being parallel to the underside surface of the main body portion of the blade, and the top face of the groove being parallel to the inner surface of the lateral slot fonned above it.
In order to connect the wiper blade to the end of a wiper arm, a connector is provided. Standard wiper anns generally terminate with a hook and/or transverse pin that extends parallel to the surface of a windscreen. Standard connectors engaging with such hooks/pins present a standard wiper blade to the windshield of a vehicle so that the central plane of the blade edge and backing support are generally upright and perpendicular to such windshield.
However, if a standard connector were used to couple a wiper blade according to the invention to a wiper ann, then there may be a tendency for the blade edge deflection arising from a wiping action not to be symmetrical. Such a tendency will be resisted by the linkage between the end of the wiper arm and the connector.
If this connection is not perfectly rigid some twisting in this coupling may occur.
Further, lateral twisting can arise in the flexible body of the wiper blade. Unless the central wiping edge plane of the wiper is generally upright and perpendicular to a windshield (in the absence of contact with the windshield), the blade edge deflection will not be held to similar values irrespective whether the blade edge is being wiped in a first or second, reverse direction.
It is therefore desirable for the wiping edge of the wiper blade to be pressed towards the windshield surface in a substantially upright, vertical, direction and preferably so that the pressing force passes through or near to the neck of the blade so as to minimize torque arising at the coupling between the connector and the end of the wiper ann.
According to a further feature of the invention, a connector for connecting the wiper blade of the invention to a standard wiper ann is provided wherein the connector is asymmetrically formed. Such connector engages the wiper blade by connecting to the extending sides of the stiffener.
The asymmetry in the connector is adjusted to cancel the effect of the asymmetry in the orientation of the stiffener within a wiper blade made in accordance with the invention. The combination of such an asymmetrical connector with a wiper blade that is asymmetrical in accordance with the invention serves to present the wiping edge of the wiper blade to a windshield with a nonnal, substantially upright, vertical, orientation.
Further, the angled connector is geometrically formed to engage the blade so that the line of force generated by the pressure of the end of the wiper arm lies within or generally proximate and parallel to the central wiping edge plane of the blade.
When a connector in accordance with a preferred variant of the invention is shaped so that the pressing force supplied by the end of the wiper arm is generally directed along or close to the central wiping edge plane of the wiper blade, this reduces the tendency for an undesirable torque to be generated at the coupling with the wiper arm and reduces the tendency for an undesirable deflection to occur in the wiping edge.
Accordingly, the wiping edge is pressed against the windshield with a balanced pressure which retains the desirable effect of having generally similar amounts of deflection arise irrespective of the direction that the wiper blade is being passed over a vehicle windscreen.
In the case of the beam-fonnat wiper, the stiffener is preferably in the form of a leaf spring that has a preset curvature to complement the curvature of a windshield surface and to overcome a lack of rigidity in the stiffener. This curvature allows the wiping edge of the wiper blade to bear against the windshield surface with a greater force towards the outer ends of the blade than would occur with a straight blade.
With the selection of an appropriate degree of curvature, particularly where the curvature is concentrated in the central portion of the wiper, such a curved beam-fonnat wiper can apply a relatively similar force at the wiping edge over its longitudinal length. The introduction of such an inherent curvature into the stiffener does not interfere with the function of the present invention and enhances the performance of a wiper as constructed.
The foregoing suinmarizes the principal features of the invention and some of its optional aspects. The invention may be further understood by the description of the preferred embodiments, in conjunction with the drawings, which now follow.
The asymmetry in the connector is adjusted to cancel the effect of the asymmetry in the orientation of the stiffener within a wiper blade made in accordance with the invention. The combination of such an asymmetrical connector with a wiper blade that is asymmetrical in accordance with the invention serves to present the wiping edge of the wiper blade to a windshield with a nonnal, substantially upright, vertical, orientation.
Further, the angled connector is geometrically formed to engage the blade so that the line of force generated by the pressure of the end of the wiper arm lies within or generally proximate and parallel to the central wiping edge plane of the blade.
When a connector in accordance with a preferred variant of the invention is shaped so that the pressing force supplied by the end of the wiper arm is generally directed along or close to the central wiping edge plane of the wiper blade, this reduces the tendency for an undesirable torque to be generated at the coupling with the wiper arm and reduces the tendency for an undesirable deflection to occur in the wiping edge.
Accordingly, the wiping edge is pressed against the windshield with a balanced pressure which retains the desirable effect of having generally similar amounts of deflection arise irrespective of the direction that the wiper blade is being passed over a vehicle windscreen.
In the case of the beam-fonnat wiper, the stiffener is preferably in the form of a leaf spring that has a preset curvature to complement the curvature of a windshield surface and to overcome a lack of rigidity in the stiffener. This curvature allows the wiping edge of the wiper blade to bear against the windshield surface with a greater force towards the outer ends of the blade than would occur with a straight blade.
With the selection of an appropriate degree of curvature, particularly where the curvature is concentrated in the central portion of the wiper, such a curved beam-fonnat wiper can apply a relatively similar force at the wiping edge over its longitudinal length. The introduction of such an inherent curvature into the stiffener does not interfere with the function of the present invention and enhances the performance of a wiper as constructed.
The foregoing suinmarizes the principal features of the invention and some of its optional aspects. The invention may be further understood by the description of the preferred embodiments, in conjunction with the drawings, which now follow.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a front quarter perspective view of the hood and windshield of an automobile showing the airflow over the windshield.
Figure 2 is a side view of an automobile showing the alignment of the windshield with respect to the direction of the airflow.
Figure 2A is an enlarged end view of a wiper blade according to the invention as oriented for contacting the windshield shown in Figure 2.
Figure 3 is a top quarter perspective view of the blade of the invention with a portion of the connector attached thereto showing the lateral wing or airfoil provided to the blade on one side by the stiffener fitted therein.
Figure 4 is a perspective view of the rubber blade forming part of the assembly of Figure 3.
Figure 5 is a top view of the blade of Figure 3 with the top, capping portion of the rubber blade body removed, exposing the stiffener.
Figure 6 is a side view of the blade of Figure 3 showing a generally constant degree of curvature.
Figure 6A is a side view as in Figure 6 of a blade wherein the curvature is focused in the center portion of the blade.
Figure 7 is a side view of the blade of Figure 3 having the shallow curvature of a blade of Figure 6 with a connector mounted thereto and poised over and above the windshield of a vehicle for engagement there with.
Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of the rubber blade of Figure 4 with a stiffener mounted therein positioned at the orientation of the blade of Figure 7 to the windshield of a vehicle. The blade is shown without the edge deflection that would otherwise arise from the pressing force developed by a wiper ann.
Figure 9 is a cross-section taken through the center of the bottom half of the connector as it is connected to the center of a wiper blade with the stiffener in place as depicted in Figure 8.
Figure 9A is an alternate and enlarged detail of an alternate connection between the connector and stiffener on one side of the connector.
Description of the Preferred Embodiments In Figure 1 an automobile 1 with a windshield 2 advances through airflow 3 whereby the airflow 3 is deflected upwardly as it passes over the windshield 2. In Figure 2 a wiper blade assembly 4 including a rubber blade body 5, stiffener 6 and a connector 7 is positioned at the base of the windshield 2. In Figure 2A the blade edge 12 is angled with respect to the blade body 5 but is presented to the windshield in an upright orientation.
In Figure 3 the top surface or capping strip portion 10 of the blade body 5 is shown protruding through the blade surface 6 in the same manner as in Figure 2A.
The bottom portion 7 of the connector 7 is depicted engaging the narrowed portion of the stiffener 6 in the central region of the blade 4. Only the blade-connecting portion of the connector 7 is shown. The wiper ann-connecting portion is omitted for clarity.
The stiffener 6 is provided with a winged portion 11 on one side which, beyond the narrowing in the center portion, tapers to a smaller width towards the respective outer ends of the blade 4. The blade 4 with the stiffener has a natural, unconstrained curvature shown in greater detail in Figures 6 and 6A.
In Figure 4 the blade 4, generally made of rubber includes a longitudinally extending body 5 capped with a top capping strip 10 in the form of a strip, and provided with a lower, longitudinally extending wiping edge 12. The wiping edge 12 is supported as part of the blade by a longitudinally extending edge support portion 13, generally and preferably having the shape in cross-section of an arrowhead. The edge support portion 13 is connected to the body 5 by a longitudinally extending neck 14.
The longitudinally extending stiffener 6 stiffens the flexible wiper blade 4.
In the case of the beam-format wiper, the stiffener 6 is preferably in the fonn of a leaf spring that has a preset curvature to complement the curvature of a windshield surface 2 and to overcome a lack of rigidity in the stiffener 6. This curvature, shown in Figures 6 and 6A, allows the wiping edge 12 of the wiper blade 4 to bear against the windshield surface 2 with a greater force towards the outer ends of the blade 4 than would occur with a straight blade. This curvature, as shown in Figure 6, may be generally even along the length of the blade 4. Or the curvature may be focused to be highest in the central region of the blade 4, as shown in Figure 6A.
As best shown in Figures 4 and 5, the stiffener 6 is fitted to the blade 4 through engagement with a pair of mounting slots 15, 15A formed along the upper portion of the body 5 of the wiper blade 4. The mounting slots 15, 15A generally run longitudinally down the body portion 5, along the length of the sides of the wiper blade. The top capping strip 10 of the blade 4 overlies in part the top surface of the stiffener 6, anchoring the parts together.
As shown in Figure 5, the stiffener 6 has a central, longitudinal, stiffener slot 30 divided into two portions 30, 30A separated by a central bridge 31 joining the two sides of the stiffener 6. The width of these two stiffener slot portions 30, corresponds to the width of a corresponding, interrupted, "spine" 32 running the length of the rubber blade. This spine 32 within the rubber blade 4 constitutes the separation between the two lateral mounting slots 15, 15A in the blade 4. The spine 32 of the blade 4 is fitted into the two longitudinal slot portions 30, 30A on the stiffener 6 and is correspondingly interrupted in the center to accommodate the bridge 31. The top capping strip 10 is similarly divided into two sections 10, 10A.
In order to pennit the blade 4 to be engaged with the stiffener 6, the respective stiffener slots 30, 30A each has a short widening 33 that will admit a respective portion of the two capping portions 10, 10A to pass there through, allowing the spine 32 to be slid into place within the stiffener slots 30, 30A along the full length of the blade 4.
The stiffener 6, when mounted for engagement with the lateral mounting slots 15 on the wiper blade 4, is of a width that causes edge portions of the stiffener 6 to extend outwardly from the sides of the body portion 5 of the wiper blade 4.
The outward extending sides of the stiffener 6, particularly in the widened blade portion 11, provide face surfaces areas that are useful in serving the function of an airfoil.
By reason of the locations and orientations of the slots 15, 15A the stiffener is mounted to the blade body 5 at an inclined angle. In a preferred embodiment as shown in Figure 8, the mounting slots 15, 15A are inclined at an offset angle 16 from the central geometric plane 17, defined as a plane running the length of the blade which includes both the wiping edge 12 and the neck portions 14 of the wiper blade 4 when the blade is extended in a straight line, free from contact with a surface.
Thus the outer top surfaces 19 of the stiffener 6, which would normally, in the prior art, lie in a plane oriented at 90 to the surface of the central plane 17 of a wiper blade 4, are offset by a predetermined offset angle 16 from such 90 orientation. The capping top portion 10 of the wiper blade 4, when the stiffener 6 is mounted along the lateral sides of the blade body 5, is also preferably slanted in a similar manner.
Because the sides of the stiffener 6 extend outwardly from the sides of the body portion 5 of the wiper blade 4, the offset angle 16 of the mounting slots causes the face surfaces 19 of such extending side portions, (as well as the top capping strip 10 of the body 5 of the wiper blade 4), to be presented, when mounted on the windshield 2 of a car, so that such face surfaces 19 are more nearly oriented towards the direction of the travel of the vehicle. In this configuration, such face surfaces 19 (as well as the top capping strip 10) provide the function of an airfoil.
A preferred value for the offset angle is 18 . However, this angle may fall within the range of 5 to 45 , more preferably closer to 18 and subranges there within.
It is not essential for both sides of the stiffener 6 to be extended to function as an airfoil. The lower, leading, edge 35 of the stiffener 6 may be extended so as to be positioned closer to, and preferably evenly spaced from, the surface of the windshield 2 when a wiper according to the invention is installed on a vehicle. This serves to reduce the space for the wind stream 3 to get beneath the blade 4, providing an air dam effect and the limiting tendency for lift-off to occur. While the lower, leading edge 35 of the stiffener 6 may be perfectly straight, it may also incorporate a slight taper, receding from the center portion of the wiper blade 4 when proceeding towards the outer ends of the blade 4.
The higher, lateral edges 36 of the stiffener 6 as presented to the wind stream may extend outwardly from the opposite side of the blade 4 to a degree that is greater than that found in the traditional parallel-sided stiffeners and greater than the extension in respect of the leading edge 35 of the blade 4. The airfoil effect thereby provided will develop a force tending to press the wiper 4 against the windshield 2.
This extension 36 of the stiffener's width maybe tapered, narrowing towards the ends of the blade 4 when proceeding outwardly from the center portion.
Such widening is preferably provided to a greater extent along the higher side of the blade being presented to the wind stream as shown in Figures 7 and 8.
In accordance with the preferred variant of the invention, the stiffener 6 is mounted in slots 15, 15A along the sides of the body 5 of the blade 4, with the higher, downstream slot 15A being formed in the body 5 along its higher, downstream or rearward side.
This rearward downstream lateral face of the blade body 5 may be solid (not shown), forming one side of a blade body 5 having a triangular cross-section.
Or it may contain a further longitudinal groove 24 running the length of the blade 4. In the latter case, such a groove 24 can reduce the amount of rubber in the main body of the blade, rendering it more flexible.
Preferably, such a further longitudinal groove 24 is inwardly tapered, tenninating at a root face at approximately one third of the distance across the body 5 of the wiper blade 4, at approximately the same distance across the body 5 as where the arrowhead 13 will contact the base of the blade body 5 when deflected.
This groove 24 introduces additional flexibility into the body 5, reducing shuddering when the blade is passed over a windshield 2.
In order to connect the wiper blade 4 to the end of a wiper, a wiper ann 25 is equipped with a pin 26 which engages a connector 7 fastened to the blade 4, as shown in Figures 7 and 9. The pressing force of the wiper ann 25 in the direction 27 directs the pin 26 to move in the direction 27. This force is applied to the blade body 5 through the connector 7.
The preferred connector 7 of the invention is asymmetrically shaped to press the wiping edge 12 of the wiper blade 4 towards the windshield surface 2 in a substantially upright, vertical, direction and preferably so that the pressing force 27 passes approximately through the neck 14 and wiping edge 12 of the blade 4, or parallel to that direction as shown in Figure 8. The line of force 27 so generated by the pressure of the end of the wiper ann 25 lies within or generally proximate and parallel to the central plane 17 of the blade 6. To achieve this, the connector 7 is asymmetrically formed so that the central plane 17 of the wiping edge 12 passes approximately through the center of the connector 7 in the same direction as the applied force 27.
Such connector 7 engages the wiper blade 4 by connecting to the extending sides of the stiffener 6. Tabs 28, 28A extending from the connector embrace the edges of the stiffener 6 fixing the connector 7 in place. The asymmetry in the connector 7 is adjusted to cancel the effect of the asymmetry in the orientation of the stiffener 6 within the wiper blade 4. The combination serves to present the wiping edge 14 of the wiper blade 4 to a windshield 2 with a nonnal, substantially upright, vertical, orientation in the absence of deflection arising from wiper arm pressure.
When a connector 7 in accordance with a preferred variant of the invention is shaped so that the pressing force supplied by the end of the wiper ann 25 is generally directed along the central plane 17 of the wiper blade, this reduces the tendency for an undesirable torque to be applied to the portion 13 of the wiper blade supporting the wiping edge 12. Accordingly, the wiping edge 12 is pressed against the windshield 2 with a balanced pressure which retains the desirable effect of having similar amounts of deflection arise irrespective of the direction that the wiper blade 4 is being passed over a vehicle windscreen. This arises because any tendency for the force 27 to develop a twisting torque about the blade body 5 is minimized.
A wiper according to the preferred embodiment of the invention as manufactured may have the following typical dimensions. These dimensions generally defined preferred ratios or proportions for the respective components (all dimensions are rounded-off or approximate):
- overall length of the rubber blade: 47 cm - width of the central notched portion: 6.5 cm - length of transitions to the central notched region: 1 cm - offset angle: about 18 - taper of the leading, lower, edge of the stiffener from the center narrowing towards the outer ends: about 0.9 - taper of the trailing, upper, edge of the stiffener from the center narrowing towards the outer ends: about - length of the trailing, upper, edge of the stiffener from the outer end to transition to the central notched region: 19.5 cm - height of the neck; height of the spine; height of the forward, truncated, leading edge of the blade body: all about 1 mm - width of the rubber top capping strip: 7 mm - width of the central slot in the stiffener: 2 mm - maximum body width transverse to the central plane of the wiping edge: 10 mm - protrusion of the neck and arrowhead edge support below the body of the blade: 7 mm - maximum outside width of the further longitudinal groove 24: 2 mm - width of the inner root of the further longitudinal groove: 1 mm - depth of the further longitudinal groove: 3 for mm CONCLUSION
The foregoing has constituted a description of specific embodiments showing how the invention may be applied and put into use. These embodiments are only exemplary. The invention in its broadest, and more specific aspects, is further described and defined in the claims which now follow.
These claims, and the language used therein, are to be understood in terms of the variants of the invention which have been described. They are not to be restricted to such variants, but are to be read as covering the full scope of the invention as is implicit within the invention and the disclosure that has been provided herein.
Figure 1 is a front quarter perspective view of the hood and windshield of an automobile showing the airflow over the windshield.
Figure 2 is a side view of an automobile showing the alignment of the windshield with respect to the direction of the airflow.
Figure 2A is an enlarged end view of a wiper blade according to the invention as oriented for contacting the windshield shown in Figure 2.
Figure 3 is a top quarter perspective view of the blade of the invention with a portion of the connector attached thereto showing the lateral wing or airfoil provided to the blade on one side by the stiffener fitted therein.
Figure 4 is a perspective view of the rubber blade forming part of the assembly of Figure 3.
Figure 5 is a top view of the blade of Figure 3 with the top, capping portion of the rubber blade body removed, exposing the stiffener.
Figure 6 is a side view of the blade of Figure 3 showing a generally constant degree of curvature.
Figure 6A is a side view as in Figure 6 of a blade wherein the curvature is focused in the center portion of the blade.
Figure 7 is a side view of the blade of Figure 3 having the shallow curvature of a blade of Figure 6 with a connector mounted thereto and poised over and above the windshield of a vehicle for engagement there with.
Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of the rubber blade of Figure 4 with a stiffener mounted therein positioned at the orientation of the blade of Figure 7 to the windshield of a vehicle. The blade is shown without the edge deflection that would otherwise arise from the pressing force developed by a wiper ann.
Figure 9 is a cross-section taken through the center of the bottom half of the connector as it is connected to the center of a wiper blade with the stiffener in place as depicted in Figure 8.
Figure 9A is an alternate and enlarged detail of an alternate connection between the connector and stiffener on one side of the connector.
Description of the Preferred Embodiments In Figure 1 an automobile 1 with a windshield 2 advances through airflow 3 whereby the airflow 3 is deflected upwardly as it passes over the windshield 2. In Figure 2 a wiper blade assembly 4 including a rubber blade body 5, stiffener 6 and a connector 7 is positioned at the base of the windshield 2. In Figure 2A the blade edge 12 is angled with respect to the blade body 5 but is presented to the windshield in an upright orientation.
In Figure 3 the top surface or capping strip portion 10 of the blade body 5 is shown protruding through the blade surface 6 in the same manner as in Figure 2A.
The bottom portion 7 of the connector 7 is depicted engaging the narrowed portion of the stiffener 6 in the central region of the blade 4. Only the blade-connecting portion of the connector 7 is shown. The wiper ann-connecting portion is omitted for clarity.
The stiffener 6 is provided with a winged portion 11 on one side which, beyond the narrowing in the center portion, tapers to a smaller width towards the respective outer ends of the blade 4. The blade 4 with the stiffener has a natural, unconstrained curvature shown in greater detail in Figures 6 and 6A.
In Figure 4 the blade 4, generally made of rubber includes a longitudinally extending body 5 capped with a top capping strip 10 in the form of a strip, and provided with a lower, longitudinally extending wiping edge 12. The wiping edge 12 is supported as part of the blade by a longitudinally extending edge support portion 13, generally and preferably having the shape in cross-section of an arrowhead. The edge support portion 13 is connected to the body 5 by a longitudinally extending neck 14.
The longitudinally extending stiffener 6 stiffens the flexible wiper blade 4.
In the case of the beam-format wiper, the stiffener 6 is preferably in the fonn of a leaf spring that has a preset curvature to complement the curvature of a windshield surface 2 and to overcome a lack of rigidity in the stiffener 6. This curvature, shown in Figures 6 and 6A, allows the wiping edge 12 of the wiper blade 4 to bear against the windshield surface 2 with a greater force towards the outer ends of the blade 4 than would occur with a straight blade. This curvature, as shown in Figure 6, may be generally even along the length of the blade 4. Or the curvature may be focused to be highest in the central region of the blade 4, as shown in Figure 6A.
As best shown in Figures 4 and 5, the stiffener 6 is fitted to the blade 4 through engagement with a pair of mounting slots 15, 15A formed along the upper portion of the body 5 of the wiper blade 4. The mounting slots 15, 15A generally run longitudinally down the body portion 5, along the length of the sides of the wiper blade. The top capping strip 10 of the blade 4 overlies in part the top surface of the stiffener 6, anchoring the parts together.
As shown in Figure 5, the stiffener 6 has a central, longitudinal, stiffener slot 30 divided into two portions 30, 30A separated by a central bridge 31 joining the two sides of the stiffener 6. The width of these two stiffener slot portions 30, corresponds to the width of a corresponding, interrupted, "spine" 32 running the length of the rubber blade. This spine 32 within the rubber blade 4 constitutes the separation between the two lateral mounting slots 15, 15A in the blade 4. The spine 32 of the blade 4 is fitted into the two longitudinal slot portions 30, 30A on the stiffener 6 and is correspondingly interrupted in the center to accommodate the bridge 31. The top capping strip 10 is similarly divided into two sections 10, 10A.
In order to pennit the blade 4 to be engaged with the stiffener 6, the respective stiffener slots 30, 30A each has a short widening 33 that will admit a respective portion of the two capping portions 10, 10A to pass there through, allowing the spine 32 to be slid into place within the stiffener slots 30, 30A along the full length of the blade 4.
The stiffener 6, when mounted for engagement with the lateral mounting slots 15 on the wiper blade 4, is of a width that causes edge portions of the stiffener 6 to extend outwardly from the sides of the body portion 5 of the wiper blade 4.
The outward extending sides of the stiffener 6, particularly in the widened blade portion 11, provide face surfaces areas that are useful in serving the function of an airfoil.
By reason of the locations and orientations of the slots 15, 15A the stiffener is mounted to the blade body 5 at an inclined angle. In a preferred embodiment as shown in Figure 8, the mounting slots 15, 15A are inclined at an offset angle 16 from the central geometric plane 17, defined as a plane running the length of the blade which includes both the wiping edge 12 and the neck portions 14 of the wiper blade 4 when the blade is extended in a straight line, free from contact with a surface.
Thus the outer top surfaces 19 of the stiffener 6, which would normally, in the prior art, lie in a plane oriented at 90 to the surface of the central plane 17 of a wiper blade 4, are offset by a predetermined offset angle 16 from such 90 orientation. The capping top portion 10 of the wiper blade 4, when the stiffener 6 is mounted along the lateral sides of the blade body 5, is also preferably slanted in a similar manner.
Because the sides of the stiffener 6 extend outwardly from the sides of the body portion 5 of the wiper blade 4, the offset angle 16 of the mounting slots causes the face surfaces 19 of such extending side portions, (as well as the top capping strip 10 of the body 5 of the wiper blade 4), to be presented, when mounted on the windshield 2 of a car, so that such face surfaces 19 are more nearly oriented towards the direction of the travel of the vehicle. In this configuration, such face surfaces 19 (as well as the top capping strip 10) provide the function of an airfoil.
A preferred value for the offset angle is 18 . However, this angle may fall within the range of 5 to 45 , more preferably closer to 18 and subranges there within.
It is not essential for both sides of the stiffener 6 to be extended to function as an airfoil. The lower, leading, edge 35 of the stiffener 6 may be extended so as to be positioned closer to, and preferably evenly spaced from, the surface of the windshield 2 when a wiper according to the invention is installed on a vehicle. This serves to reduce the space for the wind stream 3 to get beneath the blade 4, providing an air dam effect and the limiting tendency for lift-off to occur. While the lower, leading edge 35 of the stiffener 6 may be perfectly straight, it may also incorporate a slight taper, receding from the center portion of the wiper blade 4 when proceeding towards the outer ends of the blade 4.
The higher, lateral edges 36 of the stiffener 6 as presented to the wind stream may extend outwardly from the opposite side of the blade 4 to a degree that is greater than that found in the traditional parallel-sided stiffeners and greater than the extension in respect of the leading edge 35 of the blade 4. The airfoil effect thereby provided will develop a force tending to press the wiper 4 against the windshield 2.
This extension 36 of the stiffener's width maybe tapered, narrowing towards the ends of the blade 4 when proceeding outwardly from the center portion.
Such widening is preferably provided to a greater extent along the higher side of the blade being presented to the wind stream as shown in Figures 7 and 8.
In accordance with the preferred variant of the invention, the stiffener 6 is mounted in slots 15, 15A along the sides of the body 5 of the blade 4, with the higher, downstream slot 15A being formed in the body 5 along its higher, downstream or rearward side.
This rearward downstream lateral face of the blade body 5 may be solid (not shown), forming one side of a blade body 5 having a triangular cross-section.
Or it may contain a further longitudinal groove 24 running the length of the blade 4. In the latter case, such a groove 24 can reduce the amount of rubber in the main body of the blade, rendering it more flexible.
Preferably, such a further longitudinal groove 24 is inwardly tapered, tenninating at a root face at approximately one third of the distance across the body 5 of the wiper blade 4, at approximately the same distance across the body 5 as where the arrowhead 13 will contact the base of the blade body 5 when deflected.
This groove 24 introduces additional flexibility into the body 5, reducing shuddering when the blade is passed over a windshield 2.
In order to connect the wiper blade 4 to the end of a wiper, a wiper ann 25 is equipped with a pin 26 which engages a connector 7 fastened to the blade 4, as shown in Figures 7 and 9. The pressing force of the wiper ann 25 in the direction 27 directs the pin 26 to move in the direction 27. This force is applied to the blade body 5 through the connector 7.
The preferred connector 7 of the invention is asymmetrically shaped to press the wiping edge 12 of the wiper blade 4 towards the windshield surface 2 in a substantially upright, vertical, direction and preferably so that the pressing force 27 passes approximately through the neck 14 and wiping edge 12 of the blade 4, or parallel to that direction as shown in Figure 8. The line of force 27 so generated by the pressure of the end of the wiper ann 25 lies within or generally proximate and parallel to the central plane 17 of the blade 6. To achieve this, the connector 7 is asymmetrically formed so that the central plane 17 of the wiping edge 12 passes approximately through the center of the connector 7 in the same direction as the applied force 27.
Such connector 7 engages the wiper blade 4 by connecting to the extending sides of the stiffener 6. Tabs 28, 28A extending from the connector embrace the edges of the stiffener 6 fixing the connector 7 in place. The asymmetry in the connector 7 is adjusted to cancel the effect of the asymmetry in the orientation of the stiffener 6 within the wiper blade 4. The combination serves to present the wiping edge 14 of the wiper blade 4 to a windshield 2 with a nonnal, substantially upright, vertical, orientation in the absence of deflection arising from wiper arm pressure.
When a connector 7 in accordance with a preferred variant of the invention is shaped so that the pressing force supplied by the end of the wiper ann 25 is generally directed along the central plane 17 of the wiper blade, this reduces the tendency for an undesirable torque to be applied to the portion 13 of the wiper blade supporting the wiping edge 12. Accordingly, the wiping edge 12 is pressed against the windshield 2 with a balanced pressure which retains the desirable effect of having similar amounts of deflection arise irrespective of the direction that the wiper blade 4 is being passed over a vehicle windscreen. This arises because any tendency for the force 27 to develop a twisting torque about the blade body 5 is minimized.
A wiper according to the preferred embodiment of the invention as manufactured may have the following typical dimensions. These dimensions generally defined preferred ratios or proportions for the respective components (all dimensions are rounded-off or approximate):
- overall length of the rubber blade: 47 cm - width of the central notched portion: 6.5 cm - length of transitions to the central notched region: 1 cm - offset angle: about 18 - taper of the leading, lower, edge of the stiffener from the center narrowing towards the outer ends: about 0.9 - taper of the trailing, upper, edge of the stiffener from the center narrowing towards the outer ends: about - length of the trailing, upper, edge of the stiffener from the outer end to transition to the central notched region: 19.5 cm - height of the neck; height of the spine; height of the forward, truncated, leading edge of the blade body: all about 1 mm - width of the rubber top capping strip: 7 mm - width of the central slot in the stiffener: 2 mm - maximum body width transverse to the central plane of the wiping edge: 10 mm - protrusion of the neck and arrowhead edge support below the body of the blade: 7 mm - maximum outside width of the further longitudinal groove 24: 2 mm - width of the inner root of the further longitudinal groove: 1 mm - depth of the further longitudinal groove: 3 for mm CONCLUSION
The foregoing has constituted a description of specific embodiments showing how the invention may be applied and put into use. These embodiments are only exemplary. The invention in its broadest, and more specific aspects, is further described and defined in the claims which now follow.
These claims, and the language used therein, are to be understood in terms of the variants of the invention which have been described. They are not to be restricted to such variants, but are to be read as covering the full scope of the invention as is implicit within the invention and the disclosure that has been provided herein.
Claims (14)
1. A wiper blade for pressing against a vehicular windshield to remove moisture accumulated thereon in the presence of a wind stream flowing over the vehicular windshield coinprising:
a) a wiper blade having a flexible blade body of longitudinal extent with a body portion and a lower longitudinally extending wiping edge supported from the body portion by a longitudinally extending edge support portion which is connected to the body through a longitudinally extending neck, the body having a pair of lateral longitudinal mounting slots form therein, the wiping edge and neck defining a central geometric plane of the blade;
b) a longitudinally extending stiffener fitted to blade by engagement with the lateral longitudinal mounting slots formed on the blade, the stiffener having longitudinal sides with edges and a top face surface with at least one, first top face surface portion that protrudes outwardly from at least one of the lateral mounting slots of the blade wherein the mounting slots are inclined at an offset angle from the central geometric plane of the blade whereby, when mounted against a vehicular windshield in the presence of a wind stream flowing over the vehicular windshield, the protruding first face surface portion of the wiper blade will be presented to the wind stream so as to function as an airfoil or air dam for improving the contact of the wiper blade against the windshield in the presence of the wind stream.
a) a wiper blade having a flexible blade body of longitudinal extent with a body portion and a lower longitudinally extending wiping edge supported from the body portion by a longitudinally extending edge support portion which is connected to the body through a longitudinally extending neck, the body having a pair of lateral longitudinal mounting slots form therein, the wiping edge and neck defining a central geometric plane of the blade;
b) a longitudinally extending stiffener fitted to blade by engagement with the lateral longitudinal mounting slots formed on the blade, the stiffener having longitudinal sides with edges and a top face surface with at least one, first top face surface portion that protrudes outwardly from at least one of the lateral mounting slots of the blade wherein the mounting slots are inclined at an offset angle from the central geometric plane of the blade whereby, when mounted against a vehicular windshield in the presence of a wind stream flowing over the vehicular windshield, the protruding first face surface portion of the wiper blade will be presented to the wind stream so as to function as an airfoil or air dam for improving the contact of the wiper blade against the windshield in the presence of the wind stream.
2. The wiper blade as in claim 1 wherein the first face surface poi-tion is on the lower side of the wiper blade when the wiper blade is being presented to a wind stream to serve as an air dam.
3. The wiper blade as in claim 2 wherein the stiffener has a second top face surface portion that protrudes outwardly from the higher side of the wiper blade when the wiper blade is being presented to a wind stream to serve as an airfoil.
4. The wiper blade as in claim 3 wherein the blade body has a top capping surface that extends above and overlies at least part of the stiffener wherein the top capping surface is generally parallel with the first and second top face surface portions of the stiffener.
5. The wiper blade as in claim 3 wherein at least one of the edges of the first and second face surface portions of the stiffener is tapered as proceeding outwardly from the center of the blade, narrowing towards the ends of the blade.
6. The wiper blade as in claim 5 wherein the edge of the second, top, face surface portion of the stiffener is tapered as proceeding outwardly from the center of the blade, narrowing towards the ends of the blade.
7. The wiping blade as in any one of claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 in combination with a vehicle windshield wherein the wiping blade is mounted above the vehicle windshield so that, when the blade is at a generally horizontal orientation with respect to the vehicle, the face surface of the stiffener is presented to the wind stream more directly than the windshield is presented to the wind stream.
8. The wiping blade as in any one of claims 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7 wherein the stiffener is narrower around the center portion of the blade than on either side of such center portion.
9. The wiping blade as in any one of claims 1 to 8 inclusive wherein the body portion of the blade has a rearward, downstream lateral face with a longitudinal groove formed in said rearward face.
10. The wiping blade as in claim 9 wherein longitudinal groove is inwardly tapered, terminating at a root face at approximately one third of the distance across the body of the blade.
11. The wiping blade as in any one of claims 1 to 10 wherein orientation of the stiffener at an offset angle from the central geometric plane of the blade defines an asymmetry in the blade, the wiping blade being in combination with a connector for engagement to the end of a wiper arm on a motor vehicle, wherein the connector engages the wiper blade by connecting to the extending sides of the stiffener, the connector being asymmetrically formed to cancel the effect of the asymmetry in the orientation of the stiffener within the wiper blade so as to present the wiping edge of the wiper blade, when coupled to the wiper ann, to a windshield with a substantially upright, vertical, orientation with the central plane of the wiper in a generally upright orientation with respect to the windshield,
12. The wiping blade as in any one of claims 1 to 11 in combination with a connector for engagement to the end of a wiper arm on a motor vehicle, wherein the connector engages the wiper blade by connecting to the extending sides of the stiffener, the connector being geometrically formed to engage the blade so that the line of force generated by the pressure of the end of a wiper ann on a vehicle windshield lies within or generally proximate and parallel to the central plane of the blade.
13. The wiping blade as in any one of claims 1 to 11 in combination with a connector for engagement to the end of a wiper arm on a motor vehicle, wherein the connector engages the wiper blade by connecting to the extending sides of the stiffener, the connector being geometrically formed to engage the blade so that the line of force generated by the pressure of the end of a wiper ann on a vehicle windshield applies little or no torque to the body of the blade when the blade edge is presented to the windscreen of a motor vehicle.
14. The wiping blade as in any one of claims any one of claims 1 to 13 wherein the stiffener is in the form of a leaf spring that has a preset curvature intended to complement the curvature of a windshield surface and to overcome a lack of rigidity in the stiffener, the curvature in the stiffener allowing the wiping edge of the wiper blade to bear against the windshield surface with a greater force towards the outer ends of the blade than would occur with a straight blade, such curvature being greater towards the central portion of the wiper blade than on either side of the central portion.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2583885 CA2583885A1 (en) | 2007-04-04 | 2007-04-04 | Automotive wiper assembly |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2583885 CA2583885A1 (en) | 2007-04-04 | 2007-04-04 | Automotive wiper assembly |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2583885A1 true CA2583885A1 (en) | 2008-10-04 |
Family
ID=39796732
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2583885 Abandoned CA2583885A1 (en) | 2007-04-04 | 2007-04-04 | Automotive wiper assembly |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2583885A1 (en) |
Cited By (8)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| USD613664S1 (en) | 2009-05-12 | 2010-04-13 | Adm 21 Co., Ltd. | Wiper rubber |
| USD613665S1 (en) | 2009-05-12 | 2010-04-13 | Adm 21 Co., Ltd. | Wiper rubber |
| USD613666S1 (en) | 2009-05-12 | 2010-04-13 | Adm 21 Co., Ltd. | Wiper rubber |
| USD615474S1 (en) | 2009-05-12 | 2010-05-11 | Adm 21 Co., Ltd. | Spoiler wiper blade |
| USD615918S1 (en) | 2009-05-12 | 2010-05-18 | Adm 21 Co., Ltd. | Wiper blade |
| USD685712S1 (en) | 2011-03-23 | 2013-07-09 | Kcw Corporation | Wiper |
| US11560125B2 (en) | 2010-04-23 | 2023-01-24 | Steam Tech, Llc | Surface wiper system |
| US11702038B2 (en) | 2019-01-07 | 2023-07-18 | Steam Tech, Llc | Wiper blade with directionally differentiated motion |
-
2007
- 2007-04-04 CA CA 2583885 patent/CA2583885A1/en not_active Abandoned
Cited By (15)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| USD613665S1 (en) | 2009-05-12 | 2010-04-13 | Adm 21 Co., Ltd. | Wiper rubber |
| USD613666S1 (en) | 2009-05-12 | 2010-04-13 | Adm 21 Co., Ltd. | Wiper rubber |
| USD615474S1 (en) | 2009-05-12 | 2010-05-11 | Adm 21 Co., Ltd. | Spoiler wiper blade |
| USD615918S1 (en) | 2009-05-12 | 2010-05-18 | Adm 21 Co., Ltd. | Wiper blade |
| USD613664S1 (en) | 2009-05-12 | 2010-04-13 | Adm 21 Co., Ltd. | Wiper rubber |
| US11560125B2 (en) | 2010-04-23 | 2023-01-24 | Steam Tech, Llc | Surface wiper system |
| US11866012B2 (en) | 2010-04-23 | 2024-01-09 | Steam Tech, Llc | Surface wiper system |
| USD706704S1 (en) | 2011-03-23 | 2014-06-10 | Kcw Corporation | Wiper |
| USD712337S1 (en) | 2011-03-23 | 2014-09-02 | Kcw Corporation | Wiper |
| USD712815S1 (en) | 2011-03-23 | 2014-09-09 | Kcw Corporation | Wiper |
| USD713319S1 (en) | 2011-03-23 | 2014-09-16 | Kcw Corporation | Wiper |
| USD713318S1 (en) | 2011-03-23 | 2014-09-16 | Kcw Corporation | Wiper |
| USD709022S1 (en) | 2011-03-23 | 2014-07-15 | Kcw Corporation | Wiper |
| USD685712S1 (en) | 2011-03-23 | 2013-07-09 | Kcw Corporation | Wiper |
| US11702038B2 (en) | 2019-01-07 | 2023-07-18 | Steam Tech, Llc | Wiper blade with directionally differentiated motion |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| EEER | Examination request | ||
| FZDE | Dead |
Effective date: 20150903 |