Windshield wiper assembly
First Claim
1. In a windshield wiper assembly including a refill unit comprising an elongate elastomeric wiping element supported by an elongate flexible backing member for distributing pressure applied at spaced points along its length over the length of the wiper blade and an articulated superstructure having a plurality of longitudinally spaced pairs of laterally opposed claws for supporting and transmitting applied pressure to said backing member;
- a refill unit characterized in that said backing member consists of a pair of elongate side rails connected together at the ends thereof and is of sinuous non-angular configuration in longitudinal section defining a central zone of convex curvature on the side facing the wiping element and end zones of concave curvature facing the wiping element extending from the ends of the central zone to the outer ends of the backing element, said end zones each having its free end displaced downwardly toward the wiping element.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A windshield wiper refill wiping unit includes a squeegee element supported by a sinuous backing strip in which the central portion is convex in the direction facing the squeegee element and the end portions are concave on the side facing the squeegee element. The unit may be supported in an articulated superstructure having outboard claws which are disposed adjacent the end of the backing strip or in a superstructure having outboard claws which are spaced a substantial distance from the ends of the backing strip; it will produce improved pressure distribution in either type of superstructure.
84 Citations
9 Claims
-
1. In a windshield wiper assembly including a refill unit comprising an elongate elastomeric wiping element supported by an elongate flexible backing member for distributing pressure applied at spaced points along its length over the length of the wiper blade and an articulated superstructure having a plurality of longitudinally spaced pairs of laterally opposed claws for supporting and transmitting applied pressure to said backing member;
- a refill unit characterized in that said backing member consists of a pair of elongate side rails connected together at the ends thereof and is of sinuous non-angular configuration in longitudinal section defining a central zone of convex curvature on the side facing the wiping element and end zones of concave curvature facing the wiping element extending from the ends of the central zone to the outer ends of the backing element, said end zones each having its free end displaced downwardly toward the wiping element.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
- 6. A windshield wiper assembly including a refill unit comprising an elongate elastomeric wiping element supported by an elongate flexible backing member for distributing pressure applied at spaced points along its length over the length of the blade and an articulated superstructure having a plurality of pairs of laterally opposed claws for transmitting applied pressure to said backing element, first and second of said pairs of claws adjacent each end of said superstructure and other of said pairs of claws positioned on opposite sides of the lateral centerline of said superstructure inboard of said first and second pairs of claws to thereby define a center span, an outboard span and an inboard span, characterized in that said backing member consists of a pair of elongate side rails connected together at the ends thereof and is of sinuous non-angular configuration in longitudinal section defining a central zone of convex curvature on the side facing the wiping element and end zones of concave curvature facing the wiping element, said central zone underlying said center span and each of said end zones underlying an inboard span and an outboard span, respectively, said end zones each having its free end displaced downwardly toward the wiping element.
Specification