Wiper blade package
First Claim
1. A wiper blade package for a beam-type wiper blade comprising:
- a plurality of elongate package panels, at least one of which is three dimensionally contoured along a longitudinal extent to substantially conform to at least a portion of an elongate pre-curved beam-type wiper blade;
wherein one of the package panels releasably engages the other one of the package panels releasably retaining the beam-type wiper blade therebetween;
wherein longitudinally extending side edges of a beam of the beam-type wiper blade are retained captive between the package panels by engagement between the beam and the package panels when the package panels are releasably engaged in a closed position without the package panels contacting a hinged wiping edge of a wiping element of the beam-type wiper blade; and
wherein the package panels are constructed and arranged to engage the beam-type wiper blade in a manner that retains the beam-type wiper blade in a substantially straight condition when the package panels are releasably engaged in the closed position.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An elongate article holding package for a wiper blade having a pair of package panels with at least one of the panels including a blade beam receiving seat and a support flat upon which part of the blade rests during packaging. When closed, the flats position and can clamp the blade therebetween. In a preferred embodiment, both panels are so configured and preferably include one or more longitudinal stiffeners that oppose bending moments created by force transmitted to the package by the blade beam. The package preferably is of tri-fold construction having a spine that is spaced from and protects the wiper element. The spine preferably includes at least a plurality of spaced apart longitudinally extending stiffeners. One or more stiffening flanges preferably are also provided. When closed, the panels and spine advantageously cooperate with each other to increase package crush and bending resistance.
81 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A wiper blade package for a beam-type wiper blade comprising:
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a plurality of elongate package panels, at least one of which is three dimensionally contoured along a longitudinal extent to substantially conform to at least a portion of an elongate pre-curved beam-type wiper blade; wherein one of the package panels releasably engages the other one of the package panels releasably retaining the beam-type wiper blade therebetween; wherein longitudinally extending side edges of a beam of the beam-type wiper blade are retained captive between the package panels by engagement between the beam and the package panels when the package panels are releasably engaged in a closed position without the package panels contacting a hinged wiping edge of a wiping element of the beam-type wiper blade; and wherein the package panels are constructed and arranged to engage the beam-type wiper blade in a manner that retains the beam-type wiper blade in a substantially straight condition when the package panels are releasably engaged in the closed position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A wiper blade package comprising:
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(a) a pair of package halves that each has (i) a recessed wiper blade cradle formed to receive a portion of a wiper element of a beam-type wiper blade therein and (ii) at least one wiper blade beam seat extending alongside the wiper blade cradle that is comprised of a pair of opposed upraised abutments between which an elongate beam of the beam-type wiper blade is releasably received; (b) a package spine comprised of a hinge arrangement interconnecting the package halves enabling one of the package halves to be moved relative to the other one of the package halves between an open position and a closed position defining a wiper blade package of tri-fold construction having a clearance recess between the package spine and the package halves in which a working segment that includes a wiping edge of an elastomeric wiper element of the beam-type wiper blade is disposed; (c) wherein one of the package halves releasably engages the other one of the package halves at a plurality of spaced apart releasable latching arrangements when disposed in the closed position releasably retaining the beam-type wiper blade between the closed package halves. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A wiper blade package in combination with a beam-type wiper blade comprising:
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(a) the beam-type wiper blade comprising an elongate curved beam, an elongate wiping element that includes a spine attached to the beam and a working segment with a wiping tip extending outwardly therefrom; (b) the wiper blade package comprising a pair of package halves attached by a hinge arrangement and movable between an open position where it accepts the beam-type wiper blade and a closed position where the beam-type wiper blade is retained therebetween, wherein the package halves are constructed and arranged to engage the beam of the beam-type wiper blade in a manner that retains the beam-type wiper blade in a substantially straight condition without any part of the package contacting the wiping tip of the wiping element. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A wiper blade package in combination with a beam-type wiper blade comprising:
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(a) the beam-type wiper blade comprising an elongate curved beam, an elongate wiping element that includes a spine attached to the beam and a working segment with a wiping tip extending outwardly therefrom; (b) the wiper blade package comprising (1) a pair of elongate reclosable package halves with each one of the package halves comprising an elongate blade cradle formed therein in which part of the beam-type wiper blade is received, and a beam seat formed therein in which the beam of the beam-type wiper blade is received, (2) an elongate spine comprising a first hinge attaching the spine to one of the package halves and a second hinge attaching the spine to the other one of the package halves, and (3) wherein one of the package halves is closeable over the other one of the package halves with a portion of the beam-type wiper blade disposed in the blade cradle of both package halves with the beam of the beam-type wiper blade received in the beam seat of both package halves when closed.
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20. A wiper blade package in combination with a beam-type wiper blade comprising:
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(a) the beam-type wiper blade comprising an elongate curved beam, an elongate wiping element that includes a spine attached to the beam and a working segment with a wiping tip extending outwardly therefrom; (b) the wiper blade package comprising (1) a pair of elongate reclosable package halves with each one of the package halves comprising an elongate blade cradle formed therein in which part of the beam-type wiper blade is received, and a beam seat formed therein in which the beam of the beam-type wiper blade is received, (2) an elongate spine comprising a first hinge attaching the spine to one of the package halves and a second hinge attaching the spine to the other one of the package halves, (3) wherein one of the package halves is closeable over the other one of the package halves with a portion of the beam-type wiper blade disposed in the blade cradle of both package halves and with the beam of the beam-type wiper blade received in the beam seat of both package halves when closed, and (4) wherein the first hinge and the second hinge form a C-shaped stiffening rib when the package halves are closed.
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21. A wiper blade package in combination with a beam-type wiper blade comprising:
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(a) the beam-type wiper blade comprising an elongate curved beam, an elongate wiping element that includes a spine attached to the beam and a working segment with a wiping tip extending outwardly therefrom; (b) the wiper blade package comprising (1) a pair of elongate reclosable package halves with at least one of the package halves comprising at least one beam seat formed therein in which the beam of the beam-type wiper blade is received and retained in a straightened condition, a blade cradle formed therein against which a portion of the wiping element of the beam-type wiper blade bears when the beam of the beam-type wiper blade is received in the beam seat, and a latching arrangement, and, (2) a hinge arrangement interconnecting the package halves, and (3) wherein one of the package halves is closeable over the other one of the package halves clamping against the sides of the wiping element of the beam-type wiper with the wiping tip protected by the package halves and hinge arrangement and not in contact with any part of the wiper blade package.
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Specification