Windshield wiper blade assembly

• US 3,879,794 A
• Filed: 02/22/1974
• Issued: 04/29/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hobart V. Roberts Jr
• Original Assignee: Hobart V. Roberts Jr
• Inventors: Roberts, Hobart V. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Feldman, Peter
• Application Number:
  US05/444,862
• Time in Patent Office: 431 Days
• Field of Search: 15/250.36,250.42
• US Class Current: 15/250.452
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/3801 characterised by a blade support harness consisting of several articulated elements B60S1/3803, B60S1/3806 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 2001/3818 the backing strip being a channel-like element, e.g. not continuous
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 2001/3822 characterised by additional means to prevent longitudinal sliding of squeegee in support, e.g. clips

Abstract

A replaceable squeegee assembly or refill unit for a windshield wiper blade incorporates a multi-use backing strip for supporting a rubber-like squeegee element. The backing strip may be integrally formed of molded or extruded plastic material. A pair of squeegee holders, each in the form of a channel-shaped body having inwardly extending opposed flanges at the outer ends of the legs of the channel, are arranged in back-to-back relationship and include a common web portion. A pair of elongate side rails extending longitudinally for the entire length of the channel bodies extending laterally outwardly are provided on the legs of the channel bodies. The side rails associated with each channel body are coplanar; the distance between the longitudinal edges of one pair of side rails is greater than the distance between the longitudinal edges of the other pair of side rails. The differences in the overall lateral width of the pairs of side rails permit use of the backing strip in different superstructures having pairs of opposed claws for slidably receiving the side rails which are spaced apart different distances. The squeegee element may be slidably received in either of the squeegee holders while the side rails on the unused squeegee holder are received between the claws of the superstructure. A clip which interlocks with the backing strip adjacent the end thereof serves to retain the squeegee element within the squeegee holder and also serves to limit the longitudinal displacement of the refill unit relative to the superstructure.

Claims

1. For use in a windshield wiper blade assembly including an elongate flexible pressure distributing superstructure having a plurality of pairs of laterally spaced apart opposed blade straddling claws and an elongate replaceable refill unit comprising an elongate squeegee element of elastomeric material and a flexible resilient backing strip supporting said squeegee element, the backing strip having less flexibility in a plane parallel to the surface to be wiped than in directions perpendicular thereto;

said backing strip comprisiNg a pair of elongate channel bodies disposed back to back having elongate slots for receiving and retaining a squeegee element, a first pair and a second pair of co-planar elongate side rails disposed for slidable engagement in said pairs of opposed blade straddling claws, each side rail of said first pair extending longitudinally along and laterally outwardly of one leg of one of said pairs of channel bodies, each side rail of said second pair extending longitudinally along and outwardly of one leg of the other of said pair of channel bodies, the distance between the outer longitudinal edges of said first pair of rails being different from the distance between the outer longitudinal edges of said second pair of rails whereby said backing strip is adapted to accomodate different wiper blade superstructures having opposed pairs of claws spaced apart different distances.

2. A backing strip according to claim 1 wherein the slots of the channel bodies are T-shaped in cross section for receiving a squeegee element having a shouldered anchoring bead along one longitudinal edge.

3. A backing strip according to claim 1 wherein the pair of channel bodies have a common web at their junction.

4. A backing strip according to claim 1 wherein said side rails are disposed on the legs of the channel bodies intermediate the web and free end thereof.

5. A backing strip according to claim 1 wherein said side rails are disposed at the free ends of the legs of the channel bodies.

6. A backing strip according to claim 1 wherein said channel bodies are semicircular in cross section and include inwardly projecting longitudinal flanges at the ends of the legs thereof for retaining a squeegee element having a shouldered anchoring bead along one longitudinal edge.

7. A backing strip according to claim 1 of integrally formed plastic material.

8. A refill unit for a wiper blade assembly comprising an elongate squeegee element of elastomeric material, an integrally formed backing strip of plastic material for supporting said squeegee element and means for retaining said squeegee element in assembled relationship with said backing strip;

said backing strip comprising a pair of elongate channel bodies arranged back to back, each channel body having an elongate side rail formed on each leg thereof and extending laterally outwardly of the channel body, the side rails on each channel body being co-planar, the distance between the outer longitudinal edges of the side rails formed on one channel body being greater than the distance between the outer longitudinal edges of the side rails formed on the other channel body, said squeegee element being alternatively receivable in one or the other of said channel bodies, the side rails on the unused channel body being slidably receivable between the opposed claws of a super-structure.

9. A refill unit according to claim 8 wherein the means for retaining the squeegee element in assembled relationship with the backing strip comprises a clip interlockingly engageable with the backing strip at each end thereof having a depending abutment blocking the end of a channel body for limiting longitudinal displacement of the squeegee element.

10. A refill unit according to claim 9 wherein said clip includes shoulders disposed adjacent the end portion of a side rail to limit longitudinal displacement of the refill unit relative to a wiper blade superstructure.

11. A refill unit according to claim 8 wherein said channel bodies each include a pair of legs extending in opposite directions from the junction therebetween, each of said pairs of legs terminating in opposed edges for retaining a squeegee element having a shouldered anchoring bead.

12. A refill unit according to claim 8 wherein said means for retaining the squeegee element in assembled relationship with the backing strip comprises a clip, said clip includes a pair of resilient flexible tabs terminating in lugs, said pair of tabs straddling the junction between said channel bodies, said oPposed edges being notched said lugs engaging said notches whereby said tabs and lugs block a channel body for limiting longitudinal displacement of the squeegee element.

13. A refill unit according to claim 12 wherein said clip includes a pair of legs resiliently connected together by a web said legs overlying a pair of said side rails, at least one of said legs including a notch on its outer edge having opposed shoulders extending laterally beyond the outer edge of the corresponding side rails whereby said notch is resiliently and releasably engageable with a claw of a superstructure.

14. A refill unit according to claim 8 wherein the junction between said channel bodies is apertured adjacent an end, the refill unit including a clip for restraining said squeegee element against longitudinal displacement relative to said backing strip and for limiting longitudinal displacement of said refill unit relative to a superstructure, said clip comprising a channel for receiving a channel body and corresponding side rails therein, said channel having a web overlying the channel body, side walls terminating in inwardly directed opposed flanges embracing the side rails and an end wall, a portion of said web being cut away adjacent the open end of the channel to form a depending abutment for engaging the end of the squeegee element, the free ends of said side walls and flanages forming shoulders for engaging the claws of a superstructure, a resilient tab having a lug at its free end for releasable engagement with said aperture in said junction.