Wiper blade rubber and method for the production thereof

• US 8,361,595 B2
• Filed: 01/25/2008
• Issued: 01/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Van De Rostyne, Kris, Lay, Reiner, Duval, Vincent, Buseyne, Wim, Pironnet, Marc, Clerx, Bart
• Primary Examiner(s): Higgins, Gerard
• Assistant Examiner(s): POLLEY, CHRISTOPHER M
• Application Number:
  US12/527,227
• Publication Number:
  US 20100095472A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,831 Days
• Field of Search: 428/195.1, 428/141, 428/172, 152/500.01
• US Class Current: 428/141
• 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 2001/3829 characterised by the material of the squeegee or coating thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24355 Continuous and nonuniform or irregular surface on layer or component [e.g., roofing, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24612 Composite web or sheet
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24802 Discontinuous or differential coating, impregnation or bond [e.g., artwork, printing, retouched photograph, etc.]

Abstract

The invention relates to a wiper blade rubber and a method for the production thereof, in particular for a rail wiper of a motor vehicle, made from a formed, vulcanizable elastomer material the surface of which comprises a surface layer which is hydrophobic, with a contact angle with respect to water greater than 90°, preferably greater than 120°, and a surface structure with raised regions and/or recesses in the micrometer range.

Claims

1. A wiper blade rubber for a windshield wiper, comprising a molded, vulcanizable elastomeric material, and a surface layer which is hydrophobic with a contact angle greater than 90°

with respect to water, and has a surface structure with elevations and/or depressions from 1 to 100 μ

m wherein the surface layer is a foil on the elastomeric material, wherein the foil has an upper side and a lower side, wherein the lower side has an adhesive layer, and the upper side has the surface structure and is hydrophobic.

2. The wiper blade rubber as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the foil comprises a material selected from the group consisting of crosslinked or partially crosslinked polyethylene, polyamide, polypropylene, and polytetrafluoroethylene.

3. The wiper blade rubber as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the foil is applied by means of a carrier to which the foil adheres.

4. The wiper blade rubber as claimed in claim 1, wherein the surface structure comprises depressions with average height of less than 100 μ

m and separation from 1 to 100 μ

m.

5. The wiper blade rubber as claimed in claim 1, wherein the surface layer (3) has a contact angle greater than 120°

with respect to water.

11. The wiper blade rubber as claimed in claim 1, wherein the foil consists essentially of crosslinked or partially crosslinked polyethylene.

12. The wiper blade rubber as claimed in claim 1, wherein the foil consists essentially of crosslinked or partially crosslinked polyamide.

13. The wiper blade rubber as claimed in claim 1, wherein the foil consists essentially of crosslinked or partially crosslinked polypropylene.

14. The wiper blade rubber as claimed in claim 1, wherein the foil consists essentially of crosslinked or partially crosslinked polytetrafluoroethylene.

6. A windshield wiper blade, comprising a molded, vulcanizable elastomeric material, and a surface layer which is hydrophobic with a contact angle greater than 90°

with respect to water, and has a surface structure with elevations and/or depressions from 1 to 100 μ

m wherein the surface layer is a foil on the elastomeric material, wherein the foil has an upper side and a lower side, wherein the lower side has an adhesive layer, and the upper side has the surface structure and is hydrophobic.

7. The wiper blade as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that the foil comprises a material selected from the group consisting of crosslinked or partially crosslinked polyethylene, polyamide, polypropylene, and polytetrafluoroethylene.

8. The wiper blade as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that the foil is applied by means of a carrier to which the foil adheres.

9. The wiper blade as claimed in claim 6, wherein the surface structure comprises depressions with average a height of less than 100 μ

m, and separation from 1 to 100 μ

m.

10. The wiper blade as claimed in claim 6, wherein the surface layer (3) has a contact angle greater than 120°

with respect to water.