May 9,‘ 1967
`
`i
`
`A. L. LUDWIG
`
`3,317,945
`
`MOLDED WYINDSHIELD WIPER BLADE
`
`Filed Sept. 17, 1965
`
`>
`
`3 Sheets-Sheet l_
`
`INVENT OR
`
`ARTHUR L. LU DWIG
`
`ATTORNEY
`
`Costco Exhibit 1010, p. 1
`
`

`
`May 9, 1967
`
`Filed Sept. 17, 1965
`
`A. L. LUDWIG
`MOLDED WINDSHIELD WIPER BLADE
`
`3,317,945
`
`5 Sheets-Sheet 2
`
`/
`
`.1
`
`Major
`
`7
`\
`/
`
`HfT/wr
`
`INVENTOR
`
`Ludwig
`
`ATTORNEY
`
`Costco Exhibit 1010, p. 2
`
`

`
`May 9. 1967
`
`A. L. LUDWIG
`MOLDED WINDSHIELD WIPER BLADE
`
`3,317,945
`
`Filed Sept. 17, 1965
`
`3 shee1,s_sheet 3
`
`
`
`3'-.9-\
`
`
`
`Costco Exhibit 1010,
`
`3
`
`Costco Exhibit 1010, p. 3
`
`

`
`United States Patent 0
`
`3,317,945
`Patented May 9, 1967
`
`3,317,945
`MOLDED WINDSHIELD WIPER BLADE
`Arthur L. Ludwig, Hastings, Mich, assignor to Hastings
`Manufacturing Company, Hastings, Mich, a corpora
`tion of Michigan
`Filed Sent. 17, 1965, Ser. No. 488,224
`26 Claims. (Cl. 15-25036)
`
`10
`
`15
`
`25
`
`2
`FIG. 8 is an enlarged, fragmentary longitudinal sec
`tional view of the central portion of the blade of FIGS.
`5 and 6;
`FIG. 9 is a fragmentary top plan view of the subject
`shown in FIG. 8;
`FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view, taken substantially
`in the plane of the line 10-10 in FIG. 8;
`FIG. 11 is a plan view of one form of stiffener such
`as may be used in the blade of FIGS. 5 and 6;
`FIG. 12 is a plan view of another form of stiffener;
`FIG. 13 is a side edge view of the stiffener of FIG. 12;
`FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view on an enlarged scale,
`taken substantially in the plane of the line 14—-14 in
`FIG. 12; and
`FIG. 15 is an enlarged end view, taken in the plane
`of the line 15-15 in FIG. 12.
`Referring now to the accompanying drawings in de
`tail, the windshield wiper blade in accordance with the
`invention is designated generally by the reference numer
`al 110 and comprises an elongated, longitudinally curved
`unitary blade body 11 which is formed from suitable
`resiliently ?exible elastomeric material, for example,
`natural rubber, one of the synthetic rubbers or urethane
`resin.
`As shown, the blade body '11 has a substantially cruci
`form cross-section which includes a transverse interme
`diate body portion 12, normal to the plane of curvature
`of the body. A central, longitudinally extending rib 13
`depends from one side, that is, the concave side of the
`intermediate body portion 12 and has a concave edge 14
`which constitutes the wiping edge of the blade. Similar
`ly, a central, longitudinally extending rib or spine 15 is
`provided on the other side, that is, the convex side of
`the intermediate body portion 12 and has a convex out
`er edge 16. As will be apparent from ‘FIGS. 3 and 4,
`the rib 13 and the spine 15 are formed integrally with
`the body portion 12 and the cruciform cross-section of
`the body provides longitudinally extending, concave ?l
`lets 17 ‘between the portion 12 and the rib 13, and similar
`?llets 18 between the portion :12 and the spine 15.
`For purposes of controlled ?exibility and resiliency
`the body portion 12 as well as the rib 13 and spine 15 are
`tapered longitudinally from the center of the blade
`toward its ends, so that the end portions of the blade
`are more ?exible than the center portion thereof.
`A strip-like stiffener 19 of ?exible material, such as
`spring steel for example, is embedded longitudinally in
`the intermediate body portion 12, normal to the plane
`of curvature of the blade, the purpose of the stiffener
`being to provide lateral rigidity while permitting ?exing
`of the blade in the plane of its curvature. Like the body
`portion 12, the stiffener strip 19 is tapered in width,
`longitudinally from the center of the blade toward the
`ends.
`As will be apparent, the elastomeric blade body 11
`including the transverse intermediate body portion 12
`and the rib or spine portions 13 and 15 is of unitary
`construction and is so shaped as to equally distribute
`the load applied by the wiper arm (not shown) through
`out the length of the wiper blade lip or ?n 13 and hence
`requires no external backing means in the form of a leaf
`spring or the like as in prior art devices. This is made
`possible by the curvature {16 of the convex outer edge
`which is preferably greater than the curvature of the
`inner concave wiping edge 14.
`The blade may be cast from suitable elastomeric mate
`rial or may be injection molded from such material. The
`stiffener strip 19 may be made of metal or other suitable
`?exible material such as vinyl resin. It is not necessary
`that the stiffener be made of spring material though spring
`steel may be used as desired, the sole function of the strip
`
`The present application is a continuation-in-part of
`my application Ser. No. 370,788, ?led May 25, 1964,
`entitled, “Molded Windshield Wiper Blade” now
`abandoned.
`The invention relates to new and useful improvements
`in windshield wiper blades and attaching mechanism
`therefor, and is primarily concerned with ?exible blades
`used on curved Windshields wherein the blade must con
`form to varying curvatures in a single stroke of its wip
`ing movement.
`An object of the invention is to provide an improved
`self-cleaning blade of this type which is especially suited
`for use under winter driving conditions when accumula
`tion of ice, sleet or snow on blades of conventional types
`renders them virtually in?exible and, therefore, inca
`pable of performing a satisfactory wiping operation.
`As such, the improved blade of the invention is de
`void of moving parts and requires no external backing
`member and consists of a resiliently ?exible elastomeric
`body which ?exes during its movement over a curved
`windshield and its ?exing causes ice and snow ?lms to
`crack and peel off the blade body without accumulating
`thereon and interfering with proper operation of the
`blade.
`-
`Another object of the invention is to provide suitable
`attaching means molded into or forming an integral
`part of the elastomeric body, whereby the blade may
`be secured to a suitable windshield wiper arm assembly.
`Another feature of the invention resides in forming
`the blade body with a longitudinal curvature which ex
`ists when the blade is relaxed to assure a proper wiping
`contact with the windshield along the entire length of
`the ‘blade when the latter is in its operating position.
`Another feature resides in a tapered arrangement of
`the blade body, longitudinally from its center toward
`its ends, so that the end portions thereof have a con
`trolled, greater ?exibility and resiliency than its central
`portion, again for an effective wiping contact of the full
`length of the blade with the windshield.
`Still another feature involves the provision of a stiff
`ener which is embedded longitudinally in the blade '
`body and which is preferably correspondingly tapered
`from its center toward its ends.
`With the foregoing objects and features in view and
`such other objects and features as may become apparent
`as this speci?cation proceeds, the invention will be un
`derstood from the following description taken in con
`junction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like
`characters of reference are used to designate like parts,
`and wherein:
`FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of one form of the
`improve-d wiper blade, shown partly in section;
`' FIG. 2 is an underside plan view thereof;
`FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view, taken sub
`stantially in the plane of the line 3-6 of FIG. 1;
`FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view, taken sub
`stantially in the plane of the line 4-4 of FIG. 1;
`FIG. 5 is a side elevational view showing another em
`bodirnent of the improved wiper blade;
`FIG. 6 is a top plan view thereof;
`__ FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional detail, taken sub
`stantially in the plane of the line 7—-7 of FIG. 5;
`
`35
`
`45
`
`60
`
`65
`
`70
`
`Costco Exhibit 1010, p. 4
`
`

`
`3,317,945
`
`10
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`19 being to produce lateral rigidity rather than to serve
`as a pressure distribution member.
`Where a synthetic resin stiffener strip is employed it
`will be understood that such strip will be preformed and
`embedded within the elastomeric unitary body portion 12
`during the molding or casing operation. A vinyl resin
`strip may be suitably employed.
`As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, a mounting plate 20 is
`embedded in a mid-portion of the spine 15 and a suitable
`aperture 21 is formed in the plate and in the spine for
`attachment of the entire blade to any suitable coupling
`member (not shown) on the wiper arm. The plate 20 is
`preferably provided with additional apertures 22 into
`which the material of the spine 15 may flow during fabri
`cation, whereby to assist in retaining the plate 20 em
`bedded in the spine. If desired, the plate 20 may project
`outwardly from the spine for connection to the Wiper
`arm coupling.
`The mounting plate 20 may be of metal or other suit
`able material such as a preformed synthetic resin, for ex
`ample, a vinyl resin such as vinyl chloride, and may be
`embedded within the elastomeric body 11 during the mold
`ing or casting operation as is the stiffening strip 19.
`Reference is now drawn to the modi?ed embodiment of
`the wiper blade shown in FIGS. 5—10 and designated
`generally by the numeral 28.
`Like the blade 10, the blade 28 has an elongated, longi
`tudinally ‘curved unitary body 11' formed from suitable
`resiliently ?exible elastomeric material, the blade body
`11’ also being substantially cruciform in cross-section and
`including the transverse intermediate body portion 12,
`the central longitudinal rib 13 with its wiping edge 14,
`and the central longitudinal spine 15 with its convex outer
`edge 16, as has been already described in connection with
`the blade 10. The blade body 11' is also longitudinally
`tapered from the center toward its ends, so that the end
`portions of the blade are more ?exible than the center
`portion thereof for purposes of controlled ?exibility and
`resiliency.
`The outer convex edge 16 of the blade body preferably
`has the geometrical form of a segment of an ellipse indi
`cated by the dotted lines 30, the major and minor axes of
`the ellipse being shown at 31, 32, respectively, with the
`minor axis 31 bisecting the length of the elliptical segment.
`In other words, the longitudinal center of the blade body
`lies on the minor axis of the ellipse, as shown.
`The concave wiping edge 14 of the blade body prefer
`ably has the form of an arc of a circle having a radius 33
`considerably larger, perhaps three or four times as large,
`as the minor axis 31 of the ellipse 30, so that the center 34
`of the circle is disposed outside the ellipse, on the opposite
`side of the major axis 32 from the blade body. The cir
`cle center 34 lies on an extension of the minor axis 31 so
`that the arc angle 35 included between the ends of the
`blade body is bisected by the axis 31, as will be apparent
`from FIG. 5.
`The intermediate portion 12 of the blade body concen
`trically parallels the arcuate form of the wiping edge 14,
`with the result that the spine 15 is longitudinally tapered
`from the center toward the ends of the blade body while
`the rib 13 is of uniform Width throughout its length, this
`being brought about by the geometric relationship of the
`edges 14, 16 and of the portion 12, as already described.
`The aforementioned longitudinal tapering of the spine 15
`in conjunction with the uniform width of the rib 13
`facilitates balanced distribution of load applied by the
`wiper arm throughout the length of the wiping edge.
`The body 11’ of the blade 28 also has an elongated,
`strip-like reinforcing or stiffening member 29 embedded in
`the portion 12 thereof, corresponding to the aforemen
`tioned stiffener strip 19 in the blade 10. The strip 29 may
`be made of metal or other suitable material such as vinyl
`resin, and the sole function thereof is to render the blade
`body 11' laterally rigid, that is, to resist any forces such
`as may tend to ?ex the blade in a lateral direction. The
`
`4
`sti?ener strip 29 is not at all relied upon to maintain the
`blade body in its longitudinally curved form, nor is it ex
`pected to serve in the distribution of pressure along the
`length of the wiping edge, it being understood that the
`blade body inherently retains its longitudinally curved
`form as a result of being cast or molded in such a form,
`and that a properly balanced distribution of load along
`the wiping edge inherently arises from the longitudinally ’
`taper of the blade body, as already described.
`As such, the stiffener strip 29 need not be resilient, al~
`though it should be ?exible so that it may be curved to an
`appropriate form during its placement in the mold, after
`which the material of the blade body is poured into the
`mold around the strip and the strip thus becomes em
`bedded in the blade body.
`The body 11’ of the blade 28 is provided on the mid
`portion thereof with an integral mounting block 36 for
`attachment of the blade to a wiper arm (not shown).
`The block 36 is cast or molded integrally with the blade
`body and extends outwardly from the body portion 12
`beyond the outer edge 16 of the spine 15. The block 36
`is of the same thickness as the blade portion 12, so that
`the sides 37 of the block are parallel as shown in FIG. 10.
`However, the block sides 37 are formed with recesses or
`indentations 38 and the portion of the block beyond the
`spine edge 16 is provided with an open slot 39, whereby
`one particular type of a wiper arm may be attached to
`the blade.
`In addition, the block 36 is provided with an open
`ended, longitudinally extending passage 40, one end por
`tion 40' of which is adapted to receive another particular
`type of a wiper arm, while the opposite end portion 40"
`of the passage is adapted to receive still another type of
`a wiper arm, thus permitting the same blade to be used
`selectively with wiper arms of three different types.
`Means are provided for reinforcing the mounting block
`36 with respect to the blade body 11’, particularly to pre
`vent the block from ?exing in a lateral direction when
`movement of the wiper arm is applied thereto. Such
`means comprise a strip 41 of metal, plastic, or the like,
`which may or may not be resilient. The reinforcing strip
`41 is angulated and curved substantially as shown in FIG.
`8 and has an intermediate portion 41a which overlies and
`contacts the aforementioned reinforcing strip 29, being
`rigidly secured thereto as by a rivet 42 positioned in an
`aperture 43 (see FIG. 11) formed in the strip 29.
`At one side of the intermediate portion 41a, the strip
`411 has an end portion 41b which reinforces the end
`portion 40" of the passage 40, while on the other side
`of the portion 41a the strip continues substantially per
`pendicularly as at 41c, traversing the passage 40 on its
`way into the outer portion of the block 36, where the
`other end portion 41d of the strip terminatesin a curved
`extremity 416 at the end portion 40" of the passage.
`It will be observed that the strip 41, apart from serving
`its primary purpose of reinforcing the block 36 against
`lateral de?ection, has its portions 411), 41c and 41s dis
`posed adjacent the sockets 20’, 39 and 40", respectively,
`in which wiper arms may be selectively positioned. Thus,
`the strip also serves to reinforce the block 36 so as to
`assist in retaining the wiper arms in their respective
`sockets.
`FIGS. 12-15 illustrate a modi?ed embodiment of the
`reinforcing strip 29a which may be used in substitution
`for the aforementioned strip 29. Like the strip 29, the
`strip 29a is longitudinally tapered from the center toward
`its ends. , In addition, the strip 29a is provided with a
`plurality of longitudinal slots 43, into which material of
`the blade body may ?ow during fabrication so as to hold
`the strip securely embedded in place. For the same pur
`pose, a plurality of projecting detents 44 may be pro
`vided on the longitudinal side edges of the strip, as well
`as suitable enlargements 45 at the ends thereof.
`Separate rivets may be used (such as the aforemen
`tioned rivet 42) to secure the strips 29a and 41 together,
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`75
`
`Costco Exhibit 1010, p. 5
`
`

`
`10
`
`3,317,945.
`5.
`but alternatively, the strip 29a may be formed integrally
`with one or more studs 42a. to function as rivets in se
`curing the strip 41 to the strip 29a. While FIG. 8 shows
`only one rivet 42, two or more of the rivet-like elements
`may be provided, as at 4211 in FIGS. 12 and 13, so as
`to prevent any possibility of the strip 41 twisting or turn
`ing about a single rivet on the strip 29.
`_
`While in the foregoing there has been described and
`shown the preferred embodiment of the invention, var
`ious modi?cations may become apparent to those skilled
`in the art to which the invention relates. Accordingly,
`it is not desired to limit the invention to this disclosure
`and various modi?cations and equivalents may be re
`sorted to, falling within the spirit and scope of the in
`vention as claimed.
`What is claimed is:
`1. A molded self-cleaning windshield wiper blade
`adapted for use under winter driving conditions com
`prising a unitary elongated and longitudinally curved
`body formed from elastomeric material, said body be
`ing tapered longitudinally in its plane of curvature from
`its center toward its ends and having a smoothly curved
`concave edge constituting a wiping edge and a thin longi
`tudinally curved convex edge opposite said concave wip‘
`ing edge having a curvature greater than that of the wip
`ing edge.
`2. A molded self-cleaning windshield wiper blade
`adapted for use under winter driving conditions com~
`prising a unitary elongated and longitudinally curved
`body formed from elastomeric material, said body being
`tapered longitudinally in its plane of curvature from its
`center toward its ends and having a smoothly curved
`concave edge constituting a wiping edge and a thin longi
`tudinally curved convex edge opposite s-aid concave wip
`ing edge having a curvature greater than that of the
`wiping edge, a strip-like stiffener of resiliently ?exible
`material embedded longitudinally in said body with its
`?at sides normal to the plane of curvature of the body,
`said stiffener serving to provide lateral rigidity while
`permitting ?exing of the blade in the plane of its curva
`
`30
`
`20
`
`6
`tudinally in its plane of curvature from its center toward
`its ends and having a smoothly curved inner concave edge
`constituting a wiping edge and a smoothly curved outer
`convex edge opposite said concave wiping edge having a
`curvature greater than that of the wiping edge, a thin
`longitudinally curved convex edge portion opposite said
`wiping edge having a curvature greater than that of the
`wiping edge, said blade body having a thickened trans
`verse longitudinally extending intermediate portion nor
`mal to the plane of curvature of said body and tapering
`from its center toward its ends.
`8. A molded wiper blade comprising a unitary elon
`gated and longitudinally curved body formed from elas
`tomeric material, said body being tapered longitudinally
`in its plane of curvature from its center toward its ends
`and having a smoothly curved concave edge constituting
`a wiping edge and a thin longitudinally curved elliptical
`convex edge opposite said concave wiping edge having
`a curvature greater than that of the wiping edge.
`9. A molded windshield wiper blade comprising a uni
`tary elongated and longitudinally curved body formed
`from elastomeric material, said body being tapered longi
`tudinally in its plane of curvature from its center toward
`its ends and having a thin longitudinally curved concave
`edge portion constituting a wiping edge, a thin longitudi
`nally curved convex edge portion opposite said concave
`wiping edge portion having a curvature greater than that
`of the Wiping edge, and a blade mounting plate embedded
`within the center portion of said thin convex edge por
`tion.
`10. A molded windshield wiper blade comprising a uni
`tary elongated and longitudinally curved body formed
`from elastomeric material, said body being tapered longi
`tudinally in its plane of curvature from its center toward
`its ends and having a thin longitudinally curved convex
`outer edge de?ning a segment of an ellipse and a con
`cave inner edge de?ning an arc of a circle, said arcuate
`inner edge constituting the wiping edgev of the blade.
`11. The blade as de?ned in claim 10 wherein the
`elliptical segment de?ned by said outer edge has a major
`axis and also a minor axis bisecting the length of said
`segment, the arc of the circle de?ned by said inner edge
`having a radius substantially greater than the minor axis
`of said ellipse.
`12. The blade as de?ned in claim 10 wherein the el
`liptical segment de?ned by said outer edge has a major
`axis and also a minor axis bisecting the length of said
`segment, the arc of the circle de?ned by said inner edge
`having a radius substantially greater than the minor axis
`of the ellipse with the center of the circle lying on said
`minor axis projected outside the ellipse to the opposite
`side of the major axis with respect to said blade.
`13. A windshield wiper blade comprising a unitary
`elongated and longitudinally curved body formed from
`elastomeric material, said body being tapered longitudi
`nally in its plane of curvature from its center toward its
`ends and having a convex outer edge de?ning a segment
`of an ellipse, a concave inner edge constituting the wip
`ing edge and de?ning an arc of a circle, and a trans
`versely thickened intermediate portion normal to the ‘plane
`of curvature of said body, said intermediate portion be
`ing arcuate and concentrically parallel to the arc of said
`inner wiping edge.
`14. The blade as de?ned in claim 13 wherein the el
`liptical segment de?ned by said outer edge has a major
`axis and also a minor axis bisecting the length of said
`segment, the arc of the circle de?ned by said inner wiping
`edge having a radius substantially greater than the minor
`axis of said ellipse.
`15. The blade as de?ned in claim 14 wherein the cen
`ter of the concentric arcs de?ned by said inner wiping
`edge and by said intermediate blade portion lie on said
`
`minor axis projected outside the ellipse to the opposite side of the major axis with respect to said blade.v
`
`16. A molded windshield wiper blade comprising a
`
`ture.
`'
`3. A blade as de?ned in claim 2 wherein the stiffener
`comprises a metal strip.
`4. A blade as de?ned in claim 2 wherein the stiffener
`comprises a preformed vinyl resin strip.
`5. A molded self-cleaning windshield wiper blade
`adapted for use under winter driving conditions compris
`ing a unitary elongated and longitudinally curved body
`formed from elastomeric material, said body being ta
`pered longitudinally in its plane of curvature from its
`center toward its ends and having a smoothly curved
`concave edge constituting a wiping edge and a thin longi
`tudinally curved convex edge opposite s-aid concave wip
`ing edge having a curvature greater than that of the
`wiping edge, a separate strip-like sti?ener of resiliently
`?exible material embedded longitudinally in said body
`with its ?at sides normal to the plane of curvature of the
`body, said stiffener also being tapered longitudinally from
`its center toward its ends, and serving to provide rigidity
`while permitting ?exing of the blade in the plane of its
`curvature.
`6. A molded windshield wiper blade comprising a uni
`tary elongated and longitudinally curved body formed
`from elast-orneric material, said body being tapered longi
`tudinally in its plane of curvature from its center toward
`its ends and having a curved inner concave edge con
`stituting a wiping edge and a thin longitudinally curved
`outer convex edge opposite said concave wiping edge hav
`ing a curvature greater than that of the wiping edge,
`said blade body having a thickened transverse intermedi
`ate portion normal to the plane of curvature of said
`body, and tapering toward the convex and concave edges.
`7. A molded windshield wiper blade comprising a uni
`tary elongated and longitudinally curved body formed
`from elastomeric material, said body being tapered longi
`
`45
`
`50
`
`60
`
`65
`
`70
`
`Costco Exhibit 1010, p. 6
`
`

`
`77 8,817,945
`
`10
`
`20
`
`8
`ing said rib and said spine to said intermediate portion
`of the body.
`22. A windshield wiper blade comprising an elongated
`and longitudinally curved body formed from resiliently
`?exible material, said body having a substantially ‘cruci
`form cross-section and including a transverse intermedi
`ate portion normal to the plane of curvature of the body,
`a central rib depending from one side of said intermediate
`portion and having a concave edge constituting a Wiping
`edge, a central spine provided on the other side of the
`intermediate portion coplanar with said rib in said plane
`of curvature and having a convex outer edge, and a strip
`like resiliently ?exible stiffener embedded longitudinally
`in said intermediate body portion with its ?at sides nor
`mal to the plane of curvature, said intermediate portion
`and said rib and said spine and said stiffener being ta
`pered longitudinally from the center of the body toward
`its ends.
`23. The blade as de?ned in claim 22 together with a
`blade mounting plate embedded in the center portion of
`said spine.
`24. The blade as de?ned in claim 22 wherein said
`body is formed from urethane resin.
`25. A windshield Wiper blade comprising an elongated
`and longitudinally curved body formed from resiliently
`?exible material, said body including a transverse inter
`mediate portion normal to the plane of curvature of the
`body, a central rib depending from said intermediate por
`tion and having a concave edge constituting a Wiping edge,
`and a central spine on said intermediate portion coplanar
`with said rib in said plane of curvature, said intermediate
`portion and said rib and said spine being tapered longi
`tudinally from the center of said body toward its ends,
`said central spine having a convex edge of greater curva
`ture than that of the wiping edge.
`26. A molded windshield Wiper blade as de?ned in
`claim 16 wherein the wiper arm mounting block is pro
`vided with a plurality of attaching means for wiper arms
`of different types.
`
`7
`unitary elongated and longitudinally curved body formed
`from elastomeric material, an elongated and longitudi
`nally curved stiffener strip embedded in said body to re
`inforce the same against lateral de?ection, a wiper arm
`mounting block formed integrally with the mid-portion
`of said body and projecting outwardly therefrom, and
`a strip-like stiffening member embedded in said block
`and rigidly secured to said stiffening strip in said body
`to prevent lateral de?ection of said block.
`17. A molded windshield wiper blade comprising a
`unitary elongated and longitudinally curved body formed
`from elastomeric material, said body having a convex
`outer edge, a concave inner edge constituting the wiping
`edge, and a, transversely thickened intermediate portion
`normal to the plane of curvature of said body, a wiper
`arm mounting block formed integrally with said body
`intermediate of its ends and projecting from said thick
`ened intermediate portion outwardly beyond said con
`vex outer edge, an elongated and longitudinally curved
`stiffener strip embedded in said thickened intermediate
`portion of said body to reinforce the same against lateral
`de?ection, a strip-like stiffening member embedded in said
`block, said stiffening member having an intermediate por
`tion superposed on said stiffener strip, and means rigidly
`securing the intermediate portion of said stiffening mem
`ber to said stiffener strip whereby to prevent lateral de
`?ection of said block relative to said body.
`18. A windshield wiper blade comprising an elongated
`and longitudinally curved body formed from resiliently
`?exible material, said body having a substantially cruci
`form cross-section and including a transverse intermediate
`portion normal to the plane of curvature of the body,
`a central rib depending from said intermediate portion
`and having a concave edge constituting a wiping edge,
`and a central spine on said intermediate portion coplanar
`with said rib in said plane of curvature, said intermediate
`portion and said rib and said spine being tapered lon
`gitudinally from the center of said body toward its ends.
`19. The blade as de?ned in claim 18, together with
`a strip-like stiffener embedded in said intermediate por
`tion of said body with its ?at sides normal to said plane
`of curvature, said stiffener also being tapered from its
`center toward its ends.
`20. The blade as de?ned in claim 18 together with a
`blade mounting plate embedded in the center portion of
`said spine.
`21. The blade as de?ned in claim 18 wherein the cruci
`form cross-section of said body has concave ?llets join
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`References Cited by the Examiner
`UNITED STATES PATENTS
`2/1951 Scinta et al. _____ __ 15——250.40
`2,543,383
`9/1959 Wallis __________ __ l5—250‘.42
`2,901,761
`3,107,384 10/1963 Wise ___________ __ l5—250.42.
`
`45
`
`CHARLES A. WILLMUTTH, Primary Examiner.
`
`Costco Exhibit 1010, p. 7