United States Patent 1191
`Appel
`
`[54] WINDSHIELD WIPER ASSEMBLY
`[76] Inventor: Walter D. Appel, 4350 Commerce
`Road, Orchard Lake, Mich. 48033
`Sept. 15, 1975
`[22] Filed:
`[21] Appl. No.: 613,075
`[52] US. Cl. .......................................... ..15/250.42
`[511 1m. (:1.2 ......................................... .. B608 U238
`[58] Field of Search .................. .. 15/25036-25042
`[56]
`References Cited
`UNITED STATES PATENTS
`
`7/1963 Contantetal. ............... l5/250.36
`3,097,389
`7/1963 Ludwig .................. .. 15/250.42
`3,099,031
`3,408,680 11/1968 Heller .................... .. 15/25o.42
`3,881,213
`5/1975 Tilli ................... .. 15/25042
`3,903,560 9/1975 Jewell etal. ........... .. 15/25042
`3,919,736 11/1975
`Bourassa etal.
`15/25042
`3,958,295
`5/1976 Green etal. ................
`15/25042
`
`[11]
`[45]
`
`4,028,770
`June 14, 1977
`
`Primary Examiner-Peter Feldman
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Harness, Dickey & Pierce
`
`ABSTRACT
`[5 7]
`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 se
`cured to the superstructure by a coextensive retainer
`member adapted to be secured to the superstructure by
`means of a plurality of longitudinally spaced retaining
`?nger formed integrally of the superstructure.
`
`1 Claim, 6 Drawing Figures
`
`Costco Exhibit 1006, p. 1
`
`

`
`U8. Patent
`
`June 14, 1977
`
`4,028,770
`
`Costco Exhibit 1006, p. 2
`
`

`
`1
`
`WINDSI-IIELD WIPER ASSEMBLY
`
`4,028,770
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE
`INVENTION
`U.S. Pat. No. 3,192,551, issued July 6, 1965, dis
`closes a windshield wiper blade assembly having a one
`piece resilient backbone member or superstructure
`fabricated of a suitable resilient, metallic material and
`designed such that uniform wiping pressure is exerted
`along the entire length of an associated wiper blade by
`means of a wiper ann acting at a central point along the
`superstructure. The uniform wiping pressure is
`achieved by forming the wiper superstructure in a cur
`valinear manner with a radius of curvature less than
`that of the windshield to be traversed thereby, together
`with varying the width and/or thickness of the super
`structure member from a maximum through the central
`arm attachment point to a minimum at the opposite
`ends thereof, with the width and/or thickness and de
`gree of curvature being proportioned or correlated
`with the modulus of elasticity, load and length of the
`blade, so as to assure for the desired uniform wiping
`pressure.
`The present invention embodies a number of im
`proved features over the wiper blade construction
`shown in the aforesaid U.S. Pat. No. 3,192,551 and
`thus, while being related in principle to the windshield
`wiper blade assembly disclosed therein, the present
`invention incorporates signi?cant improvements which
`provide for improved economy of production, opera
`tion and assembly as compared to the blade assembly
`as shown in said patent.
`It is accordingly a general object of the present inven
`tion to provide a windshield wiper blade assembly
`which features a number of improvements over the
`comparable unit shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,192,551.
`One of the primary areas of improvement of the
`present invention over the construction shown in the
`aforementioned U.S.‘Pat. No. 3,192,551 resides in the
`fact that the superstructure or backbone member em
`bodied therein is fabricated of a one~piece, molded,
`polymeric material, which may be conveniently molded
`by any one of a number of suitable well-known and
`highly accepted techniques. The fabrication of the
`superstructure of such material not only lends itself to
`a highly durable, corrosion resistant structure, but also
`one which may have the color pigmentations embodied
`integrally thereof so as to obviate the need for subject
`ing the superstructure to subsequent printing, anodiz
`ing or other coloring and/or corrosion preventative
`treatments.
`It is accordingly another object of the present inven
`tion to provide a new and improved windshield wiper
`blade assembly which has the main superstructure or
`backbone member thereof fabricated of a molded plas
`tic material.
`Another feature of the present invention over that
`shown in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 3,192,551
`resides in the fact that the associated wiper blade is
`secured to the superstructure by means of a coexten
`sive retainer member which, like the superstructure,
`may be fabricated of a molded plastic material.‘ The
`retainer member is designed so as to have a coextensive
`slot extending along the underside of the entire length
`thereof, which slot is adapted to nestingly receive a
`complementary-shaped portion of the wiper blade. The
`entire assembly consisting of the wiper blade and re
`
`2
`tainer member is adapted to be secured to the super
`structure by means of a plurality of downwardly pro
`jecting ?ngers or retainer elements formed integrally of
`the superstructure and adapted to be received within
`laterally opposed recesses formed along the opposite
`sides of the retainer member. This arrangement pro
`vides for positive retention of the wiper blade and re
`tainer member within the con?nes of the superstruc
`ture, and assures that the wiper blade will assume the
`curvalinear shape to which the suuperstructure is
`formed. Moreover, such a construction permits conve
`nient removal of the blade for purposes of repair, re
`placement, inspection, etc.
`It is a further object of the present invention to pro
`vide a windshield wiper assembly which embodies a
`novel wiper blade retainer member and means for re
`leasably securing the same to the molded plastic super
`structure associated therewith.
`Other features and advantages of the present inven
`tion will become apparent from the following detailed
`description taken in conjunction with the accompany
`ing drawings.
`.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`FIG. 1 is a longitudinal side elevational view of the
`windshield wiper blade assembly incorporating the
`principles of the present invention;
`FIG. 2 is an exploded assembly view of the wind
`shield wiper blade assembly shown in FIG. 1;
`Flg. 3 is an enlarged transverse crosssectional view
`taken substantially along the line 3-—3 of FIG. 1;
`FIG. 4 is an enlarged transverse cross-sectional view
`taken substantially along the line 4-4 of FIG. 1;
`FIG. 5 is an enlarged transverse cross-sectional view
`taken substantially along the line 5-5 of FIG. 1; and
`FIG. 6 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a
`portion of the wiper assembly of the present invention
`with the wiper blade and retainer member partly. re
`moved.
`DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
`Referring now in detail to the drawings and in partic»
`ular to FIG. 1 thereof, a windshield wiper blade assem
`bly 10, in accordance with one preferred embodiment
`of the present invention, is shown in operative associa
`tion with a portion of a conventional pivotal wiper arm
`12 which is secured by means of a connector 14 to the
`assembly 10. As is well known in the art, the arm 12 is
`adapted to pivot or oscillate back and forth adjacent
`the associated windshield, thereby causing the blade
`assembly 10 to move across and in wiping contact with
`the adjacent surface of the windshield to effect removal
`of moisture, road dirt, etc., therefrom.
`Generally speaking, the wiper blade assembly 10
`comprises a wiper blade superstructure which is of a
`one-piece molded construction and is generally desig
`nated by the numeral 16. The superstructure 16 is
`provided with a coextensive wiping blade 18 which is
`secured to the superstructure 116 by means of a coex
`tensive blade retaining member 20. As will hereinafter
`be described in detail, the retaining member 20 is
`adapted to secure the blade 18 to the superstructure 16
`in a manner such that the blade 18 will assume the
`generally curvalinear or arcuate shape shown in FIG. 1,
`and permit the blade 18 to be conveniently removed
`from the superstructure 16 for purposes of repair, in
`spection, replacement, etc.
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`Costco Exhibit 1006, p. 3
`
`

`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`projecting portions 42 of the retaining ?ngers
`
`4,028,770
`4
`3
`pair of downwardly projecting shoulders or end stops
`Referring now in detail to the construction of the
`34 and 36. In addition, the underside of the body 22 is
`superstructure 16, as best seen in FIGS. 1 and 3-5, the
`formed with a plurality of longitudinally spaced pairs of
`superstructure 16 is comprised of a generally ?at, uni
`downwardly projecting L-shaped retaining legs or ?n
`form thickness arcuately-shaped body portion 22
`gers, generally designated by the numeral 38. As best
`which is formed with an integral upwardly projecting
`seen in FIGS. 3-5, each of the ?ngers 38 comprises a
`reinforcing rib 24 on the upper side thereof. The rib 24,
`generally downwardly projecting portion 40 and a lat
`as best seen in FIG. 5, is formed with a pair of upstand
`erally inwardly projecting portion 42. The ?ngers 38 01
`ing ?anges or ears 26 and 28, which in turn are formed
`with aligned bores or apertures, generally designated
`each of the pairs thereof may be laterally aligned or
`slightly laterally offset, as seen in FIG. 2. The longitudi~
`by the numeral 30. The ?anges 26, 28 de?ne a cavity or
`nal spacing of the pairs of ?ngers 38 is such that when
`recess 32 therebetween adapted to nestingly receive a
`the retaining member 20 and blade 18 secured thereto
`portion of the connector 14 in a manner hereinafter to
`be described.
`are engaged with the ?ngers 38, the blade 18 and mem
`As previously mentioned, the superstructure 16 is
`ber 20 will assume the same arcuate con?guration as
`the superstructure body 22, as best seen in FIG. 1.
`formed in a generally arcuate or curvalinear shape, as
`Accordingly, the particular number of pairs of ?ngers
`best seen in FIG. 1, whereby to provide a substantially
`uniform wiping pressure of the wiper blade 18 against
`38 will vary with the degree of curvature of the body 22
`and the longitudinal length thereof.
`the associated windshield. As described in US. Pat.
`No. 3,192,551, which patent is incorporated by refer
`As best seen in FIGS. 3-5, the blade 18 is formed
`with a downwardly projecting wiping lip section 44
`ence in the description portion of this speci?cation, the
`aforesaid uniform pressure may be accomplished by
`which is adapted for engagement with the surface of
`forming the superstructure 16 such that it assumes a
`the associated windshield in a manner well known in
`generally arcuate con?guration of a predetermined
`the art. The blade 18 also comprises a generally up
`wardly projecting T-shaped section 46 that is coexten
`radius in a free form or state so that as the superstruc
`sive of the wiping lip 44. The sections 44 and 46 are
`ture 16 is moved normally toward the windshield sur
`face, the opposite ends of the associated blade would
`connected by a reduced thickness intermediate portion
`of the wiper blade 18 which permits relative ?exing
`make initial contact, with progressive contact being
`made by the blade with the windshield from the ends
`therebetween as the assembly 10 oscillates back and
`thereof toward the center as increasing pressure is
`forth across the associated windshield, as is well known
`applied at the center. The particular radius of curva
`in the art.
`ture is, of course, dependent upon the length, thick
`As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the retaining member 20
`ness, width and modulus of elasticity of the material
`is of a uniform cross-sectional shape and is formed with
`a pair of laterally inwardly projecting slots or recesses
`from which the superstructure 16 is fabricated, and for
`48 and 50 on the laterally opposite side edges thereof.
`a given modulus of elasticity, relatively thinner or nar
`rower sections will require relatively greater de?ection.
`The slots 48, 50 are adapted to nestingly receive the
`In addition to forming the superstructure in the afore
`said arcuate con?guration, it is contemplated that the
`width of the body 22 thereof may be tapered from a
`maximum width at the center thereof to a minimum
`width at the opposite ends thereof. A similar result may
`be achieved by constructing the body 22 of a uniform
`width and uniformly tapering the thickness thereof
`from a maximum thickness at the center thereof to a
`minimum thickness at the opposite ends. As stated in
`the aforementioned United States patent incorporated
`by reference herein, it is also possible to combine, in a
`number of different ways, the various constructional
`approaches incorporating progressive dimensional
`variations in free-form curvature, width and/or thick
`ness to provide a superstructure 16 having the desired
`uniform pressure loading characteristics. It will be
`noted that while theoretically, the opposite ends of the
`superstructure 16 would taper to zero thickness and/or
`width to provide the desired uniform pressure loading
`along the entire length of the associated blade, in order
`to assure against undesirable twisting and provide the
`necessary torsional stiffness for the associated blade
`and retainer member to achieve proper wiping during
`back and forth wiping movement of the blade, the
`opposite ends of the superstructure 16 are formed of a
`uniform thickness and width fora distance inwardly or
`centrally of the superstructure suf?cient to assure such
`stiffness. Preferably, the uniform thickness end pro
`tions extend inwardly approximately one third of the
`distance between the end stops 34, 36 and the central
`portion of the superstructure 16.
`As best seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the opposite ends of
`the body 22 of the superstructure 16 are formed with a
`
`38 formed on the superstructure 16, with the result that
`the retaining member 20 will assume the operative
`position shown in FIG. 1. The retaining member 20 is
`also formed with a generally T-shaped slot 52 in the
`underside thereof which slot 52, like the slots 48, 50 is
`coextensive of the member 20 and is adapted to nest
`ingly receive the T-shaped section 46 of the wiper
`blade 18. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the slot 52 and
`T-shaped section 46 are complementary in shape and
`are so dimensioned as to permit relatively free sliding
`movement between the members 18, 20 facilitate
`assembly and disassembly thereof.
`The connector 14 comprises a connector body which
`is preferably, although not necessarily, fabricated of a
`molded plastic material and is provided with a blind
`bore or recess 56 adapted to removably receive the
`adjacent end of the wiper arm 12 with suitable releas
`able means (not shown) being provided to releasably
`secure the connector body 54 to the arm 12. The body
`54 includes a pair of downwardly projecting side por
`tions 58, 60 which are spaced su?iciently away from
`one another so as to lie outwardly from the ?anges 26,
`28, when the connector 14 is assembled onto the super
`structure 16, as best seen in FIG. 5. The side portions
`58, 60 are formed with aligned bores 62 which are
`intended to be axially aligned with the bores 30 of the
`?anges 26, 28 and receive a suitable pivot pin, gener
`ally designated by the ‘numeral 64. As shown in FIG. 5,
`the pin 64 is formed with a reduced diameter central
`portion 66 and is intended to be secured in place by
`means of a suitable U-shaped or hair-pin spring ele
`ment 68, one leg 70 of which is adapted to engage the
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`Costco Exhibit 1006, p. 4
`
`

`
`4,028,770
`5,
`portion 66 of the pin 64,~ while the ‘other, leg 72 is
`adapted to bear againsttheinterior of the cavity 32. At
`such time as it is desired to effect removal of the assem
`bly l0 from'the connector 14, the‘ spring‘ 68 is as to
`permit disengagement‘ of the‘ leg 70 from the pin‘ 64.
`Thereafter, the pin- 64 may be axially removed and thus
`permit disassembly of the connector, 14 from the blade
`assembly 10. It will be appreciated, of course,,thatv the
`wiper blade assembly 10 of.‘ the present invention may
`be operatively associated with various other types of
`connector mechanisms and that the connector 14
`shown in operative associatiLn with the blade assembly
`10 of the present invention is disclosed merely as an
`exemplary type of connector mechanism by which the
`assembly 10 may be secured to an associated wiper
`arm, such as the arm 12.
`In order to effect assembly of the wiper blade 10, the
`blade member 18 is initially assembled onto the retain
`ing member 20 by inserting the T-shaped section 46
`into the slot 52. Thereafter, the one end of the retaining
`member 20 is positioned in alignment with the super
`structure 16 adjacent one of the end stops 34 or 36.
`The superstructure l6 and retaining member 20 are
`then moved longitudinally relative to one another,
`whereby the respective retaining ?ngers 38 are moved
`into the slots 48, 50 on the retaining member 20. This
`procedure is continued until such time as the forward
`or leading end of the retaining member 20 engages the
`opposite of the end stops 34 or 36, whereupon the
`retaining member 20 and blade 18 mounted thereon
`will be retained against further longitudinal movement
`by the end stops 34, 36. In order to effect removal of
`the blade 18 and retaining member 20 from the super
`structure 16, the above procedure is merely reversed,
`and it will be noted that in both the assembly and disas
`sembly operations, it is necessary to de?ect or deform
`one end of the superstructure 16 upwardly or away
`from the blade 18, as seen in FIG. 6, in order to permit
`initial longitudinal movement of the retaining member
`20 into and out of the con?nes of the retaining ?ngers
`38; however, due to the resilient nature of the plastic
`material from which the superstructure 16 is fabri
`cated, such deformation may be easily accomplished
`without in any way affecting either the structure or
`operational characteristics thereof.
`The superstructure 16 is preferably, although not
`necessarily, fabricated of a polymeric material identi
`?ed by the trademark “Lexan” manufactured and dis
`tributed by the General Electric Company. While this
`material has been found to provide the desired opera
`tional characteristics and may be easily molded, it will
`be appreciated that various alternative materials having
`the requisite resilient characteristics and being suitably
`moldable may be utilized instead of “Lexan.”
`It will be seen from the foregoing that the present
`invention provides a new and improved wiper blade
`assembly which may be economically fabricated of any
`suitable polymeric material by well known molding or
`other fabricating techniques. By virtue of the extreme
`simplicity of design, no ancillary clips or additional
`hardware is required to retain the rubber blade on the
`associated superstructure, thereby minimizing the
`number of component parts and associated manufac
`turing costs to the extreme. The windshield wiper as
`sembly of the present invention will be seen to have an
`extremely
`
`

`
`4,028,770
`8
`7
`nally opposite ends of said superstructure and
`movement of said assembly, each of said end pro
`adapted for engagement with the longitudinally
`tions ‘ extending inwardly to a location approxi
`opposite ends of the assemblage of said retaining
`mately one third of the distance beytween said end
`member and blade for limiting longitudinal sliding
`stops and the central portion of said superstruc
`ture, said one peice superstructure being formed
`movement thereof, and means for providing tor
`with an integral upwardly projecting reinforcing rib
`sional stiffness at the opposite ends of said super
`structure and comprising a pair of generally uni
`having a maximum thickness at said central por
`tions of said superstructure and gradually tapering
`form rectangular crosssectional shaped end pro
`to a minimum thickness at said inward locations of
`tions on said superstructure so as to maintain the
`said end protions.
`opposite ends of said blade in wiping engagement
`with the associated windshield during oscillatory
`* * * * *
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`Costco Exhibit 1006, p. 6