Windshield wiper assembly

• US 4,028,770 A
• Filed: 09/15/1975
• Issued: 06/14/1977
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/1975
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Walter D. Appel
• Original Assignee: Walter D. Appel
• Inventors: Appel, Walter D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Feldman, Peter
• Application Number:
  US05/613,075
• Time in Patent Office: 638 Days
• Field of Search: 15/250.36-250.42
• US Class Current: 15/250.43
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/38 Wiper blades provided with liquid spreading means B60S1/524; provided with gas spreading means B60S1/546
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/3882 C-shape section
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/4064 the channel-shaped end being provided with protrusions on, or holes in, the side walls to create a pivot
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 2001/3818 the backing strip being a channel-like element, e.g. not continuous

Abstract

A windshield wiper assembly is disclosed as comprising a one-piece blade superstructure fabricated of a molded polymeric material having a curvalinear shape such that uniform wiping pressure is applied along its entire length as a result of a force being exerted at the center of the superstructure by means of an ancillary wiper arm, the superstructure being provided with a resilient windshield engaging wiper blade which is secured to the superstructure by a coextensive retainer member adapted to be secured to the superstructure by means of a plurality of longitudinally spaced retaining finger formed integrally of the superstructure.

Claims

1. A windshield wiper blade assembly comprising,

an elongated flexible arcuate-shaped one-piece superstructure fabricated of a molded plastic material,

said superstructure having a uniform radius of curvature,

connector means located adjacent a central portion of said superstructure for securing the same to an associated wiper arm,

said superstructure having a first retaining means formed intergrally thereon and spaced longitudinally therealong the entire length thereof,

said first retaining means comprising a plurality of downwardly projecting fingers formed integrally of said superstructure and defining a longitudinally extending recess, said fingers being spaced along said superstructure and each having an inwardly projecting distal end portion,

a wiper blade including a resilient windshield engaging wiping lip portion and an upwardly extending mounting portion,

an elongated flexible retaining member fabricated of a molded plastic material secured to and coextensive of said blade,

said retaining member having a first portion insertable into said recess and a pair of laterally opposed longitudinal slots adapted to receive said distal ends of said fingers for securing said retaining member to said superstructure, and a second portion defining a longitudinally extending slot formed along the undeside of said member and adapted to receive said upwardly projecting mounting portion of said blade, whereby said blade assumes said arcuate shape of said superstructure and is thereby adapted to exert a uniform wiping pressure against said windshield,

means for limiting longitudinal sliding movement of said retaining member and said blade relative to said superstructure,

said means for limiting relative movement of said retaining member comprising a pair of integral end stops projecting downwardly from the longitudinally opposite ends of said superstructure and adapted for engagement with the longitudinally opposite ends of the assemblage of said retaining member and blade for limiting longitudinal sliding movement thereof, and means for providing torsional stiffness at the opposite ends of said superstructure and comprising a pair of generally uniform rectangular crosssectional shaped end protions on said superstructure so as to maintain the opposite ends of said blade in wiping engagement with the associated windshield during oscillatory movement of said assembly, each of said end protions extending inwardly to a location approximately one third of the distance beytween said end stops and the central portion of said superstructure, said one peice superstructure being formed with an integral upwardly projecting reinforcing rib having a maximum thickness at said central portions of said superstructure and gradually tapering to a minimum thickness at said inward locations of said end protions.