Windshield wiper blade assembly with elastic cushion joint for allowing spring-resistance rotation of wiper blade relative to windshield surface

• US 5,519,913 A
• Filed: 04/26/1995
• Issued: 05/28/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Frank Schedule
• Original Assignee: Frank Schedule
• Inventors: Schedule, Frank
• Primary Examiner(s): Graham, Gary K.
• Application Number:
  US08/427,828
• Time in Patent Office: 398 Days
• Field of Search: 15/250.31, 15/250.32, 15/250.33, 15/250.42, 15/250.41, 15/250.46, 15/250.44, 15/250.47, 403/53, 403/114, 403/79, 403/76, 403/157, 403/112, 403/113, 403/117, 403/119
• US Class Current: 15/250.46
• 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 2001/3815 chacterised by the joint between elements
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 2001/3824 the blade or squeegee pivoting about an axis parallel to blade longitudinal axis
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 11/045 with at least a pair of arms pivoting relatively to at least one other arm, all arms being mounted on one pin crank-pins F16C11/02
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2326/09 Windscreen wipers, e.g. pivots therefore in general B60S
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32196 Articulate joint is ball and socket
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32557 for pivotal motion

Abstract

An improved windshield wiper blade assembly is disclosed. The improvement is comprised of the ability of the device to allow a controlled and virtually noise free rotation of the blade with respect to the long axis of the blade. The center of such rotation is not critical but it has been found to be most effective to allow the structure to pivot at the joint of the primary yoke and the secondary yoke of the wiper assembly. In doing so, the wiper blade is allowed to be pulled across the windshield surface and not pushed into the windshield thus increasing the wear life and wiping efficiency of the blade. A spring device is disclosed that causes this device to be center seeking to an angle of perpendicular to the surface of the windshield, thereby allowing rotation in a controlled manner. This provides movement in both directions of the reciprocating blade without excessive clearance holes that can cause a noisy operation, the result being a device that is more useful and less distractive to the operator of the vehicle utilizing the invention.

Claims

1. In a windshield wiper blade assembly including an elongated wiper blade supported by a substantially rigid elongated support structure, at least one secondary yoke attached to said support structure, and a primary yoke connectable to an arm capable of driving the windshield wiper blade assembly across a windshield, the improvement comprising:

(a) a pivot rod providing a pivotal connection of said primary yoke to said secondary yoke, said pivot rod further comprising a center portion received by said secondary yoke and a pair of opposite end portions extending in opposite directions away from opposite sides of said secondary yoke and away from said center portion, said end portions being received by said primary yoke, said center portion being spherical in shape and received by said secondary yoke at said pivotal connection of said primary yoke to said secondary yoke, said pivotal connection allowing axial and planar rotation of said secondary yoke with respect to said pivot rod and primary yoke about first and second perpendicular axes; and

(b) an elastic side support means received on at least one of said opposite end portions of said pivot rod adjacent to at least one of said opposite sides of said secondary yoke, whereby said elastic side support means provides a spring resistance against said planar rotation of said secondary yoke with respect to said pivot rod and primary yoke.

2. The windshield wiper blade assembly as described in claim 1, wherein said primary yoke is comprised of a "U" shaped channel.

3. The windshield wiper blade assembly as described in claim 1, wherein said elastic side support means is comprised of at least one pair of units made from an elastic material of a cylindrical shape with a smaller cylindrical portion removed from the center thereof.

4. The windshield wiper blade assembly as described in claim 3, wherein said elastic material is comprised of a synthetic rubber.

5. In a windshield wiper blade assembly including an elongated wiper blade supported by a substantially rigid elongated support structure, at least one secondary yoke attached to said support structure, and a primary yoke connectable to an arm capable of driving the windshield wiper blade assembly across a windshield, the improvement comprising:

(a) a pivot rod providing a pivotal connection of said primary yoke to said secondary yoke, said pivot rod further comprising a center portion received by said secondary yoke and a pair of opposite end portions extending in opposite directions away from opposite sides of said secondary yoke and away from said center portion, said end portions being received by said primary yoke, said secondary yoke having a hole therethrough which tapers inwardly from said opposite sides, said hole receiving said center portion of said pivot rod, said pivotal connection allowing axial and planar rotation of said secondary yoke with respect to said pivot rod and primary yoke about first and second perpendicular axes; and

(b) an elastic side support means received on said opposite end portions of said pivot rod adjacent to said opposite sides of said secondary yoke, whereby said elastic side support means provides a spring resistance against said planar rotation of said secondary yoke with respect to said pivot rod and primary yoke.

6. The windshield wiper blade assembly as described in claim 5, wherein said primary yoke is comprised of a "U" shaped channel.

7. The windshield wiper blade assembly as described in claim 5, wherein said elastic side support means is comprised of at least one pair of units made from an elastic material of a cylindrical shape with a smaller cylindrical portion removed from the center thereof.

8. The windshield wiper blade assembly as described in claim 7, wherein said elastic material is comprised of a synthetic rubber.