`Kotlarski et al.
`
`US006279191B1
`(10) Patent N0.:
`US 6,279,191 B1
`(45) Date of Patent:
`*Aug. 28, 2001
`
`(54) WIPER BLADE FOR CLEANING VEHICLE
`GLASS PANES
`
`(75) Inventors; Thomas Kotlarski, Buehlertal;
`Karlheinz Lorenz, Baden-Baden, both
`of (DE)
`
`3,116,507 * 1/1964 Scinta .
`.. 15/250.43
`3,192,551 * 7/1965 Appel
`.. 15/250.32
`3,390,416 * 7/1968 Scinta
`3,408,678 * 11/1968 Linker ............................. .. 15/250.32
`3,430,285 * 3/1969 Rickett -
`4,348,782 * 9/1982 Fournier .......................... .. 15/250.32
`
`(73) Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH, Stuttgart (DE)
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`This patent issued on a continued pros-
`ecution application ?led under 37 CFR
`1.53(d), and is subject to the tWenty year
`patent term provisions of 35 U'S'C~
`154(a)(2)
`'
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
`(21) Appl- NOJ
`09/242,869
`(22) PCT Filed,
`Jun 30 1998
`
`(*) Notice:
`
`.
`
`1028896 * 4/1958 (DE) -
`1 505 397
`10/1969 (DE)~
`316114 : 5/1989 (EP) -
`1239780
`7/1960 (FR) .............................. .. 15/250.453
`2222853 * 10/1974 (FR).
`2222855 * 10/1974 (FR).
`
`* Cited by eXaIIliner
`
`Primary Examiner—Gary K. Graham
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Michael J. Striker
`
`.
`
`,
`
`(86) PCT No.:
`
`PCT/DE98/01787
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`§371 Date;
`
`Feb, 25, 1999
`
`§ 102(6) Date: Feb‘ 25’ 1999
`(87) PCT Pub, No; W()99/02383
`
`PCT Pub‘ Date: Jan‘ 21’ 1999
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`
`(30)
`
`(DE) ............................................ .. 197 29 864
`Jul. 11, 1997
`(51) Int. c1.7 ................................ .. B60S 1/38; B60S 1/40
`(52) US. Cl. ................................ .. 15/250201, 15/25043,
`15/25032; 15/250451
`(58) Field of Search ....................... .. 15/25043, 250.451,
`15/250452, 250453, 250454, 25044,
`25032, 250201
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`A Wiper blade (10) is proposed, Which serves to clean
`vehicle WindoWs. The Wiper blade has an elongated, strip
`like spring-elastic support element (12), against one band
`face (48) of Which, facing aWay from the WindoW, a con
`nection device (16) that can be connected to a driven Wiper
`arm (18) is held, and against Whose other band face (46),
`facing toWard the WindoW, an elongated, rubber-elastic
`Wiper strip (14) is disposed parallel to the longitudinal axis,
`wherein the multipart Support element (12) has two Spring
`rails (30, 32), disposed in longitudinal grooves (38, 40)
`facing one another of tho Wiper strip (14), Which rails are
`secured in the longitudinal grooves by at least one holder
`?tting over their longitudinal edges remote from one
`another. Simpli?ed and thus economical assembly With
`improved Wiping performance is assured if the holder (34 or
`36) is divided in the longitudinal direction of the Wiper blade
`(10) into holder parts (33, 35), and if further the holder parts
`(33, 35) are joined together.
`
`3,093,856 * 6/1963 Smithers .
`
`14 Claims, 4 Drawing Sheets
`
`Costco Exhibit 1007, p. 1
`
`
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Aug. 28,2001
`
`Sheet 1 014
`
`US 6,279,191 B1
`
`Costco Exhibit 1007, p. 2
`
`
`
`Costco Exhibit 1007, p. 3
`
`
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Aug. 28,2001
`
`Sheet 3 014
`
`US 6,279,191 B1
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`52
`
`p
`
`Costco Exhibit 1007, p. 4
`
`
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Aug. 28,2001
`
`Sheet 4 014
`
`US 6,279,191 B1
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`25:
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`w
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`2 a: QM 3 a a
`s g F‘ / a
`m *7“ mm
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`a \\\\ \ a
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`NJ \Nm \3 2.9:
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`Costco Exhibit 1007, p. 5
`
`
`
`US 6,279,191 B1
`
`1
`WIPER BLADE FOR CLEANING VEHICLE
`GLASS PANES
`
`10
`
`15
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`25
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`The present invention relates to a Wiper blade for cleaning
`vehicle WindoWs.
`In Wiper blades the support element is intended to assure
`the most uniform possible distribution of the Wiper blade
`contact pressure, originating in the Wiper arm, on the Win
`doW over the entire ?eld sWept by the Wiper blade.
`By means of a suitable curvature of the unstressed support
`element—that is, When the Wiper blade is not resting on the
`WindoW—the ends of the Wiper strip placed completely
`against the WindoW While the Wiper blade is in operation are
`stressed by the support element, Which is then tensed toWard
`the WindoW even if the radii of curvature of spherically
`curved vehicle WindoWs change for every Wiper blade
`position. The curvature of the Wiper blade must accordingly
`be someWhat greater than the greatest curvature measured in
`the Wiping ?eld of the WindoW to be Wiped. The support
`element thus replaces the complicated support bracket con
`struction With tWo spring rails disposed in the Wiper strip, of
`the kind employed in conventional Wiper blades (German
`Published, Non-Examined Patent Application DE-OS 15 05
`397).
`In a knoWn Wiper blade of this type (German Patent 10 28
`896), the tWo spring rails, designated as longitudinal springs
`and belonging to the support element, are secured by one
`piece spring clamps in the longitudinal grooves, designated
`as slits, in the rubber Wiper strip. The clamps must be thrust
`onto the longitudinal springs in the longitudinal direction of
`the Wiper blade, embracing the outer edges of the springs
`With claWs. Arib connecting the claWs must be curved to suit
`the thickness of the spine of the Wiper strip, Which leads to
`unfavorable assembly conditions. A middle clamp, disposed
`in the region of the connection device, must in fact cross this
`device in an aperture, Which entails considerable expense for
`assembly, since at least one of the tWo claWs cannot be
`formed until after that.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`In accordance With the present invention in a Wiper blade
`a holder is divided in a longitudinal direction of the Wiper
`blade into holder parts, and the holder parts are joined
`together.
`In the Wiper blade of the invention, it is possible for the
`?nished holder parts to be brought to the Wiper blade
`crossWise to the longitudinal length of the support element
`and thus also of the Wiper blade and then joined together.
`This kind of assembly is especially economical, because it
`can be performed as needed by assembly robots.
`To improve the Wiping performance and quality, a plu
`rality of holders are expediently distributed over the longi
`tudinal length of the support element and spaced apart from
`one another.
`With relatively short Wiper blades, it can suf?ce for that
`purpose to dispose one holder on each end portion of the
`elongated support element.
`If the connection device is provided With fastening means
`that engage the tWo spring rails; and the connection device
`is divided in the longitudinal direction of the support ele
`ment; and the device parts are joined together in their ?nal
`assembled position, then ef?cient assembly on the support
`element for the connection device is obtained as Well.
`The design of a Wiper blade that is highly effective, even
`at high vehicle speeds, is especially advantageous if the
`
`45
`
`55
`
`65
`
`2
`region of the Wiper strip located on the band face remote
`from the WindoW is embodied as a Wind de?ector strip
`extending essentially aWay from the WindoW, and each
`holder is assigned one recess in the Wind de?ector strip.
`With regard to the structural height of the Wiper blade, it
`may be favorable if the connection device is assigned a
`recess in the Wind de?ector strip. Along With simple
`assembly, reliable securing of the spring rails in the longi
`tudinal grooves of the Wiper strip is attained if the holder
`parts, in clamplike fashion, grip an exposed portion of the
`outer edges of the spring rails.
`This embodiment is advantageous, With the same
`advantages, for the disposition of the connection device as
`Well. Moreover, the installed connection device can contrib
`ute to seating the spring rails, as prescribed, in their middle
`portion in the longitudinal grooves.
`An especially simple, stable and easily installed connec
`tion device is obtained if the connection device has tWo
`device parts, and each device part has a ?angelike
`protrusion, extending into the longitudinal direction of the
`support element and standing upright on the WindoW and
`extending aWay from it, on Which protrusion connection
`means for the Wiper arm are seated.
`Further simpli?cations in assembly both for the holders
`and for the connection device are obtained if the holder parts
`and/or the connection devices can be interlocked With one
`another.
`Further advantageous re?nements and features of the
`invention are disclosed in the ensuing description of exem
`plary embodiments shoWn in the associated draWing.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
`
`ShoWn in the draWing are:
`FIG. 1, a side vieW of a Wiper blade according to the
`invention;
`FIG. 2, a perspective vieW of the Wiper blade of FIG. 1,
`not to scale;
`FIG. 3, a plan vieW on the Wiper blade of FIG. 1;
`FIG. 4, a fragmentary section taken along the line IV—IV
`through the support element, provided With a connection
`device, of the Wiper blade of FIG. 3;
`FIG. 5, a section taken along the line V—V through the
`arrangement of FIG. 4;
`FIG. 6, a fragmentary section taken along the line VI—VI
`through the support element of the Wiper blade of FIG. 3;
`FIG. 7, a section taken along the line VII—VII through
`the support element of FIG. 3, rotated by 90°;
`FIG. 8, a fragmentary section taken along the line VIII—
`VIII through the support element of the Wiper blade of FIG.
`3;
`FIG. 9, a section taken along the line IX—IX through the
`support element of FIG. 3, rotated by 90°;
`FIG. 10, a section through FIG. 5 through a Wiper blade
`equipped With a different connection device, With the parts
`of the Wiper blade and the connection device shoWn in the
`position prior to assembly;
`FIG. 11, an arrangement according to FIG. 10 for a
`differently embodied Wiper blade, With the parts of the Wiper
`blade and connection device shoWn in their operating posi
`tion;
`FIG. 12, a section as in FIG. 9 through a Wiper blade in
`the region of a holder for the spring rails, the tWo parts of
`Which are interlocked With one another, on a larger scale;
`and
`
`Costco Exhibit 1007, p. 6
`
`
`
`US 6,279,191 B1
`
`3
`FIG. 13, a plan vieW on a support element of the Wiper
`blade of FIG. 2.
`
`DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENT
`A Wiper blade 10 shown in FIGS. 1—3 has a multipart,
`elongated, spring-elastic support element 12, Which is
`shoWn separately in FIG. 13. On the top side of the support
`element, facing aWay from the WindoW to be Wiped, a
`connection device 16 is provided, With the aid of Which the
`Wiper blade 10 can be separably joined to a driven Wiper arm
`18 guided in the body of a motor vehicle. On the underside
`of the support element 12, facing toWard the WindoW, an
`elongated, rubber-elastic Wiper strip 14 is disposed, parallel
`to the longitudinal axis. On the free end 20 of the Wiper arm
`18, a hook acting as a counterpart connection means is
`formed on; it grips a pivot pin 22 that belongs to the
`connection device 16 of the Wiper blade 10. Securing
`betWeen the Wiper arm 18 and the Wiper blade 10 is
`performed by securing means, not shoWn in further detail
`but knoWn per se and embodied as an adapter. The Wiper arm
`18 and thus also the hook on the end 20 of the arm is urged
`in the direction of the arroW 24 toWard the WindoW to be
`Wiped, Whose surface to be Wiped is suggested in FIG. 1 by
`a dot-dashed line 26. Since the dot-dashed line 26 is
`intended to represent the greatest curvature of the WindoW
`surface, it is clear that the curvature of the Wiper blade 10,
`Which contacts the WindoW With its tWo ends, is greater than
`the maximum curvature of the WindoW. Under the contact
`pressure (arroW 24), the Wiper blade presses With its Wiper
`lip 28 over its entire length against the WindoW surface 26.
`In the process, a tension builds up in the striplike spring
`elastic support element 12, and this tension assures proper
`contact of the Wiper strip 14 or Wiper lip 28, over its entire
`length, With the motor vehicle WindoW.
`The particular design of the Wiper blade of the invention
`Will noW be described in further detail. In FIG. 13, the
`support element 12 is shoWn separately. It is clear from this
`that the support element 12 has tWo spring rails 30 and 32,
`Which are spaced apart from one another. Besides the tWo
`spring rails 30 and 32, the support element 12 in the
`embodiment of FIGS. 1—3 and 13 also includes holders 34
`and 36, Whose purpose Will be explained later. It is also
`suggested in FIG. 13 that the connection device 16, shoWn
`in dot-dashed lines there, is seated in the middle region of
`the support element 12. The disposition and fastening of the
`connection device 16 to the support element 12, or to its
`spring rails 30 and 32, can best be seen from FIGS. 4 and 6.
`FIG. 12 in particular shoWs the disposition of the support
`element parts (spring rails 30 and 32) With respect to the
`Wiper strip 14. In conjunction With FIGS. 2 and 3, it can be
`seen that the spring rails 30 and 32 rest in tWo opposed
`longitudinal grooves 38 and 40 of the Wiper strip 14, Which
`are located in the same plane and betWeen Which a longi
`tudinal slit 42 remains in the support element 12 (FIG. 13).
`Extending through this longitudinal slit 42 is a riblike
`constriction 44 of the Wiper strip 14. It can also be seen from
`FIGS. 12 and 13 that the support element 12 has tWo band
`faces, of Which one band face 46 faces toWard the WindoW
`to be Wiped, While the other band face 48 points aWay from
`WindoW. It can also be seen that at least in some portions, the
`tWo spring rails 30 and 32 protrude out of the longitudinal
`grooves 38, 40 of the Wiper strip 14 With their longitudinal
`edges 50 and 52 pointing aWay from one another. To secure
`the tWo spring rails 30 and 32 in their longitudinal grooves
`38 and 40, tWo holders are used in this exemplary
`embodiment, of Which one is located on each end portion of
`
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`4
`the spring rails 30 and 32. The tWo holders 38, 40 are thus
`spaced apart. The holders themselves extend crossWise to
`the longitudinal length of the Wiper blade 10 and grip the
`outer longitudinal edges 50 and 52, Which are remote from
`one another, of the tWo spring rails 30 and 32 With claWlike
`protrusions 54. It can also be seen that the holders 34 and 36
`are divided longitudinally of the Wiper blade 10, Which is
`suggested in FIGS. 2, 3 and 13 by a longitudinal seam 50.
`In actual practice, hoWever, this longitudinal seam 56 Will
`not necessarily be embodied as shoWn in FIGS. 2, 3 and 13.
`In order for the holders to perform their securing function
`With regard to the spring rails 30 and 32, the holder parts 33
`and 35, formed by the parting seam 56, must be ?rmly joined
`together after assembly. This can be done for instance by
`Welding, adhesive bonding, or some similar production or
`assembly technique, regardless of Whether the holders are
`made from a plastic or from metal.
`One of a plurality of suitable Ways in practice to join the
`tWo holder parts 33 and 35 to one another Will noW be
`explained in conjunction With FIG. 12. It can be seen there
`that the holder parts 33 and 35 of the holder 36 are seated
`With claWlike protrusions 54 on their spring rails 30 and 32,
`respectively. Their placement is made such that the protru
`sions 54 grip the outer edges 50, 52 of the spring rails in an
`exposed portion of the spring rails 30, 32. The holder part 33
`grips the Wiper strip 14 With a protrusion 58 oriented
`crossWise to the longitudinal length of the Wiper blade. A
`U-shaped extension 60 of the holder part 35 in turn ?ts over
`the protrusion 58 of the holder part 33. The free end portion
`of the U-shaped extension 60 located on the side of the
`holder part 33 ?ts With its suitably embodied leg 62 of the
`U under an undercut 64 of the holder part 33, so that an
`unintended separation of the holder parts 33 and 35 from one
`another is not possible. To mount the tWo holder parts, that
`is, to put them in the designated operating position, they
`must be pressed against one another in the direction of the
`tWo arroWs 65 and 66, Which can be done by utiliZing the
`elasticity of the Wiper strip 14. Once the interlocking has
`been effected in accordance With FIG. 12, the tWo holder
`parts 33 and 35 are seated With a residual tension of the
`Wiper strip 14 in their prescribed position as shoWn in FIG.
`12. The holders may for instance be embodied according to
`FIG. 5, Where With a caplike end Wall 68 they cover the end
`edges of the spring rails 30 and 32. As a result, a lessening
`in the risk of injury from the sharp end edges of the spring
`rails 30, 32 is achieved. Moreover, by means of these caplike
`end holders 34, the risk of damage to the vehicle paint or to
`the Wiper blade itself can be reduced. HoWever, it is also
`possible to embody the holders as shoWn in FIG. 8, Where
`this end Wall is missing and the holder 36 is ?ush With the
`end edges of the spring rails 30, 32. The connection device
`16 has a design similar to the holders 34 and 36. As FIG. 2,
`3 and 5 shoW, the connection device is also divided in the
`longitudinal direction of the Wiper blade. This is represented
`by a seam line 72. This seam line 72 extends through both
`a plate part 74 (FIG. 5), Which contacts the support element
`12 and grips the spring rails 30 and 32 With its claWs 70, and
`the pivot pin 22. The claWs 70 thus form fastening means for
`retaining the connection device 16 on the support element
`12. In an embodiment of the connection device shoWn in
`FIGS. 2—5, this device has ?angelike Walls 75, Which are
`disposed on the plate part 74 and are spaced apart from one
`another and on each of Which half of the also divided pivot
`pin 22 is disposed. The ?angelike Walls 75 belong to tWo
`device or base parts 73, Which can be joined together along
`the seam line 72 and of Which each has a ?angelike
`protrusion (Wall 75), extending longitudinally of the support
`
`Costco Exhibit 1007, p. 7
`
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`
`US 6,279,191 B1
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`10
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`5
`element and standing upright from the WindoW and extend
`least one holder securing said rails in said longitudinal
`grooves and ?ttable over longitudinal edges of said rails
`ing away from it, on Which protrusion the connection means
`for the Wiper arm 18, Which are formed by the pivot pin 22,
`remote from one another, said holder being divided in a
`longitudinal direction of the Wiper blade into holder parts
`are seated. The tWo parts 73 of the connection device 16,
`With their claWs 70, grip an exposed middle portion of the
`Which are joined together de?ning a longitudinally extend
`outer edges of the spring rails in clamplike fashion. Just as
`ing central seam line.
`has already been explained for the holders 34 and 36, the tWo
`2. AWiper blade as de?ned in claim 1, Wherein a plurality
`device parts 73 of the connection device 16 can be joined
`of holders are distributed over a longitudinal length of said
`together by means not shoWn in further detail. Interlocking
`support element and spaced apart from one another.
`3. AWiper blade as de?ned in claim 2, Wherein one of the
`of the tWo device parts With one another is just as conceiv
`able as Welding or adhesive bonding, for instance.
`holders is disposed at least on each end portion on said
`support element.
`Another design of a connection device 116 can be seen
`4. AWiper blade as de?ned in claim 1, Wherein said holder
`from FIG. 10. There, ?angelike protrusions 175 are again
`parts grip in a clamping fashion an exposed portion of outer
`provided on the tWo base parts 174, extending longitudinally
`edges of said spring rails.
`of the support element and standing relative to the WindoW
`5. A Wiper blade as de?ned in claim 1, Wherein parts of
`and extending aWay from it, but these protrusions can be
`said connection device grip in a clamping fashion an
`joined together in direct contact With one another. In
`exposed middle portion of outer edges of said spring rails.
`addition, in this embodiment as Well, the base parts 174 grip
`6. AWiper blade as de?ned in claim 1, Wherein said holder
`the outer longitudinal edges of the spring rails 30 and 32
`parts are interlockable With one another.
`With claWlike protrusions 154, as has already been described
`7. A Wiper blade as de?ned in claim 1, Wherein said
`for the preceding exemplary embodiment of the connection
`connection device is provided With fastening means Which
`device 16. The fastening of these tWo base parts 174 can be
`engage said spring rails.
`achieved by a screW connection. To that end, the tWo
`8. A Wiper blade for cleaning vehicle WindoWs, compris
`protrusions 175 each have a bore 176, and in the installed
`ing an elongated, strip-shaped spring-elastic support ele
`state of the connection device 116 these bores are aligned
`ment; a connection device connectable to a driven Wiper arm
`With one another. A screW 177 passes through the protru
`and held against one band face of said support element; an
`sions 175 through the bores 176 and cooperates With a nut
`elongated, rubber-elastic Wiper strip disposed parallel to a
`part 178 of a pivot pin 180, on Which in a manner knoWn per
`longitudinal axis against another band face of said support
`se the suitably designed free end of a Wiper arm can be
`element, said support element being formed as a multi-part
`connected. HoWever, it is also conceivable—in a manner
`support element and having tWo spring rails disposed in
`knoWn per se—to join the pivot pin ?xedly to the Wiper arm
`longitudinal grooves facing one another of the Wiper strip; at
`and to secure the pin receptacle, belonging to it, to the
`least one holder securing said rails in said longitudinal
`protrusions 175. Then at the same time a ?xed connection of
`grooves and ?ttable over longitudinal edges of said rails
`
`the tWo base parts 174 can be realiZed. further embodiment, highly similar to the embodiment
`remote from one another, said holder being divided in a
`35
`longitudinal direction of the Wiper blade into holder parts
`Which are joined together de?ning a longitudinally extend
`ing central seam line, said connection device being divided
`in a longitudinal direction of said support part into device
`parts, said device parts being joined together.
`9. AWiper blade as de?ned in claim 8, Wherein said device
`parts are interlocked With one another.
`10. A Wiper blade for cleaning vehicle WindoWs, com
`prising an elongated, strip-shaped spring-elastic support
`element; a connection device connectable to a driven Wiper
`arm and held against one band face of said support element;
`an elongated, rubber-elastic Wiper strip disposable parallel
`to a longitudinal axis against another band face of said
`support element, said support element being formed as a
`multi-part support element and having tWo spring rails
`disposed in longitudinal grooves facing one another of the
`Wiper strip; at least one holder securing said rails in the
`longitudinal grooves and ?ttable over longitudinal edges of
`said rails remote from one another, said holder being divided
`in a longitudinal direction of the Wiper blade into holder
`parts Which are joined together; and a Wind de?ector strip
`Which is located in a region of said Wiper strip on said one
`band face, said Wind de?ector strip being provided With one
`recess assigned for each holder.
`11. A Wiper blade as de?ned in claim 10, Wherein said
`Wind de?ector strip has a recess assigned to said connection
`device.
`12. A Wiper blade for cleaning vehicle WindoWs, com
`prising a driven Wiper arm; an elongated, strip-shaped
`spring-elastic support element; a connection device con
`nected to said driven Wiper arm and held against one band
`face of said support element; an elongated, rubber-elastic
`
`of FIG. 10, is shoWn in FIG. 11. The essential difference
`from the embodiment of FIG. 10 is that the tWo spring rails
`230 and 232 are of unequal Width. A corresponding embodi
`ment therefore also has the claWlike protrusions 254 of this
`further connection device 217.
`A special feature of the Wiper blade of the invention Will
`noW also be explained in conjunction With FIGS. 1—3 and 11.
`As can be seen from these draWings, the Wiper strip 14, on
`the band face 48 of the support element 12 remote from the
`WindoW, has an extension, Which is embodied as a Wind
`de?ector strip 200 extending essentially aWay from the
`WindoW. So that in a Wiper blade embodied in this Way it is
`possible to place the holders 34, 36 and also the connection
`device 16 appropriately, recesses are assigned to these parts
`in the Wind de?ector strip 200.
`A common feature of all the exemplary embodiments of
`the holders 34, 36 is that in a Wiper blade of this type the
`holders are divided longitudinally of the Wiper blade, and
`that the holder parts 33, 35 are joined to one another.
`A corresponding embodiment is also provided for the
`various connection devices 16, 116 and 216 described.
`What is claimed is:
`1. A Wiper blade for cleaning vehicle WindoWs, compris
`ing an elongated, strip-shaped spring-elastic support ele
`ment; a connection device connectable to a driven Wiper arm
`and held against one band face of said support element; an
`elongated, rubber-elastic Wiper strip disposed parallel to a
`longitudinal axis against another band face of said support
`element, said support element being formed as a multi-part
`support element and having tWo spring rails disposed in
`longitudinal grooves facing one another of the Wiper strip; at
`
`45
`
`55
`
`65
`
`Costco Exhibit 1007, p. 8
`
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`US 6,279,191 B1
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`7
`Wiper strip disposed parallel to a longitudinal axis against
`another band face of said support element, said support
`element being formed as a rnulti-part support element and
`having tWo spring rails disposed in longitudinal grooves
`facing one another of said Wiper strip; at least one holder
`securing said rails in said longitudinal grooves and ?ttable
`over longitudinal edges of said rails remote from one
`another, said holder being divided in a longitudinal direction
`of the Wiper blade into holder parts Which are joined together
`de?ning a longitudinally extending central searn line.
`13. A Wiper blade for cleaning vehicle WindoWs, corn
`prising a driven Wiper arm; an elongated, strip-shaped
`spring-elastic support element; a connection device con
`nected to said driven Wiper arm and held against one band
`face of said support element; an elongated, rubber-elastic
`Wiper strip disposed parallel to a longitudinal axis against
`another band face of said support element, said support
`element being formed as a rnulti-part support element and
`having tWo spring rails disposed in longitudinal grooves
`facing one another of said Wiper strip; at least one holder
`securing said rails in said longitudinal grooves and ?ttable
`over longitudinal edges of said rails remote from one
`another, said holder being divided in a longitudinal direction
`of the Wiper blade into holder parts Which are joined together
`
`8
`de?ning a longitudinally extending central searn line, said
`connection device being divided in a longitudinal direction
`of said support part into device parts, said device parts being
`joined together.
`14. A Wiper blade for cleaning vehicle WindoWs, corn
`prising a driven Wiper arrn; an elongated, strip-shaped
`spring-elastic support element; a connection device con
`nected to said driven Wiper arm and held against one band
`face of said support element; an elongated, rubber-elastic
`Wiper strip disposed parallel to a longitudinal axis against
`another band face of said support element, said support
`element being formed as a rnulti-part support element and
`having tWo spring rails disposed in longitudinal grooves
`facing one another of said Wiper strip; at least one holder
`securing said rails in said longitudinal grooves and ?ttable
`over longitudinal edges of said rails remote from one
`another, said holder being divided in a longitudinal direction
`of the Wiper blade into holder parts Which are joined
`together; and a Wind de?ector strip Which is located in a
`region of said Wiper strip on said one band face, said Wind
`de?ector strip being provided With one recess assigned for
`each holder.
`
`10
`
`15
`
`Costco Exhibit 1007, p. 9