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`{56} Documents Cited
`EP 0316114 A2
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`
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`US 3881214A
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`{52) UK CL(Edition R)
`A4F FAG
`Applicantis)
`Rover Group Limited
`(Incorporated in the United Kingdom)
`International Headquarters,
`Warwick Technology Park, WARWICK, CV34 6RG,
`United Kingdom
`
`(43) Date of A Publication 09.08.2000
`
`
`
` (21) Application No $902206,3 (51) INT CL?
`
`B60S 1/38 Date of Filing 02.02.1999
`
`
`
`
`(74) Agent and/or Address for Service
`Rover Group Limited
`GaydonTest Centre, Banbury Road, LIGHTHORNE,
`
`Warwick, CV35 ORG, United Kingdom
`
`
`(72)
`
`Inventor(s)
`
`Peter Lumsden
`
`(58)
`
`Field of Search
`UK CL(Edition Q) A4F FAG FAJ
`INT CL® BeOS 1/38
`
`Online: WPI, EPODOC, JAPIO
`
`
`
`(54) Abstract Title
`Extruded plastics wiperblade carrier
`{57) A wiper bladecarrier comprises a plastics extrusion which is generally in the form of a channel member
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`with a cap portion 18 and a pair ofdepending side wails 20, 22. Each ofthe side walls has an in-turned flange V8LE9VEZgD
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`Costco Exhibit 1034, p. 1
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`Costco Exhibit 1034, p. 1
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`6
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`lo
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`3 “26
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`26
`Ib <4
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`Fig.
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`|
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`2
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`Costco Exhibit 1034, p. 2
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`Costco Exhibit 1034, p. 2
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`-l-
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`2346318
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`Motor Vehicle Wiper Blade Carrier
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`The present invention relates to a motor vehicle windscreen wiper blade
`carrier and to a wiper blade assembly indorporating such a carrier.
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`It is usual to produce a wiper blade carrier from spring steel. However,it also
`known to manufacture such carriers from toughplastics materials.
`
`Wiper blade assemblies may include covers or other fitments attached to the
`wiper blade carrier. Such fitments can inglude aerodynamic winddeflectors. Such
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`deflectors may be used either to urge a wiper blade into contact with a windshield
`of a motor vehicle or to act as a slipstream deflector to ease the movement of the
`wiper blade during its travel. Such deflectors may be formed as rigid profiles
`which may be attached either to the wiper blade contained within the carrier or
`the carrieritself. It is a problem to provide attachment meansthat remain for the
`life of the assembly.
`Further, such attachment means may be complex to
`manufacture and time consumingto assemble.
`
`10
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`is an advantage of the present
`It
`eliminated, or at least substantially reduced.
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`15
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`invention that
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`these problems are
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`According to a first aspect of the present invention, a wiper blade carrier
`comprises a plastics extrusion having a capping portion, a-first element depending
`from a first side of the capping portion ahd a second element depending from a
`second side of the capping portion, each element being provided with an inwardly
`directed flange at an end remote from the capping portion,
`in which an outer
`surface of at least one of the first and second elements is shaped to form an
`aerodynamic spoiler.
`
`20
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`Costco Exhibit 1034, p. 3
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`Costco Exhibit 1034, p. 3
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`
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`-2-
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`The need for a fixing for attaching the deflector to the wiper blade carrieris
`thus eliminated. Manufacture of the wiper blade carrier as a plastics extrusion
`meansthat the carrier is both cheap and quick to manufacture. Furthermore, the
`lightweight nature of the carrier means that less power is required to drive the
`motor which moves the wiper blade.
`
`According to a second aspect of the present invention a wiper blade assembly
`comprises a Wiper blade carrier according to the first aspect of the present
`invention, a wiper blade and a plurality of reinforcing members.
`
`The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference
`to the accompanying drawing:
`Figure 1, which shows a section through a wiper blade assembly in accordance
`with one aspect of the present invention.
`
`Referring to Figure 1, there is shown a section of a wiper blade assembly 2
`comprising a wiper blade 4, a wiper blade carrier 6 and first and second
`reinforcing elements 8,10.
`
`10
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`15
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`The wiper blade4is manufactured from a resilient material, such as rubber
`or plastics, and comprises a blade portion 12 connected to a support portion 14 by
`a connecting portion 16.
`It will be understood that the wiper blade is of suitable
`length and dimensions for the windscreen that is to be cleaned.
`
`20
`
`The wiper blade carrier 6 comprises a capping portion 18, a first element 20
`depending from a first side of the capping portion and a second element 22
`depending from a second side of the capping portion. Each element is provided
`with an inwardly directed flange 24,26 at an end of the element remote from the
`
`Costco Exhibit 1034, p. 4
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`Costco Exhibit 1034, p. 4
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`
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`-3-
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`capping portion. Each flange conveniently runs along the length of the carrier.
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`The carrier is of open section and will be understood to be open at both ends.
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`In the illustrated embodiment, the first element 20 has an outer surface 28
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`shaped to form an aerodynamic spoiler. The spoiler may act to urge the wiper
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`blade into contact with a wind shield of a motor vehicle or to act as a slipstream
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`deflector to ease the movementof the wiper blade duringits travel.
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`The first and second reinforcing elements 8,10 may conveniently comprise
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`strips of spring steel.
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`If the carrier is manufactured from a sufficiently rigid
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`plastics material, the reinforcing elements may not be required.
`
`10
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`The wiper blade assembly is assembled with the first and second reinforcing
`elements disposed on opposite sides of the connecting portion of the wiper blade
`adjacent the support portion of the wiper blade. The support portion and the
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`reinforcing strips are fed into an open end of the wiper blade carrier such that an
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`underside of each ofthe first and second reinforcing elements is held by an upper
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`15
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`surface of each inwardly directed flange on the respective first or second depending
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`element.
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`The wiper blade assembly may be secured to a wiper arm of a motor vehicle in
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`any suitable manner.
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`_
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`20
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`in use, has a reduced wind noise over previous
`The wiper blade carrier,
`carriers in which a separate deflector ip attached to a carrier, since it has a
`comparatively low cross sectional area as it crosses a motor vehicle windshield.
`Further, since the carrier of the present, invention can be made of smaller size
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`than carriers of the known kind less mgtor power is needed to drive the wiper
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`Costco Exhibit 1034, p. 5
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`Costco Exhibit 1034, p. 5
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`
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`-4-
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`blade assembly. In addition the small size lends an increased aesthetic appeal to
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`the wiper blade carrier.
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`Costco Exhibit 1034, p. 6
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`Costco Exhibit 1034, p. 6
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`
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`CLAIMS
`
`1.
`
`<A wiper blade carrier comprising a plastics extrusion having a capping
`
`portion, a first element depending from a first side of the capping portion and
`a second element depending from a second side of the capping portion, each
`element being provided with an inwardly directed flange at an end remote
`
`from the cappingportion, in which an outer surface of at least one of the first
`and second elements is shaped to form an aerodynamic spoiler.
`
`2. A wiper blade carrier substantially 4s described herein with reference to and
`
`as illustrated herein with reference to the accompanyingFigure.
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`3. Awiper blade assembly comprising a wiper blade carrier according either
`claim 1 or claim 2, a wiper blade and a plurality of reinforcing members.
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`4. A wiper blade assembly substantially as described herein with reference to
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`andasillustrated herein with reference to the accompanying Figure.
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`Costco Exhibit 1034, p. 7
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`Costco Exhibit 1034, p. 7
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`
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`P he
`Ofice
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`a ~y
`\_é
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`INVESTOR IN PEOPLE
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`Application No:
`Claims searched:
`
`GB 9902206.3
`1-4
`
`Examiner:
`Date of search:
`
`John Wilson
`20 May 1999
`
`Patents Act 1977
`Search Report under Section 17
`
`Databases searched:
`
` UK Patent Office collections, including GB, BP, WO & USpatent specifications, in:
`
`
` Other:
`
`UK Cl (Ed.Q): A4F[FAG FAJ]
`
`Int Cl (Ed.6): B60S 1/38
`
`Online:- WPI, EPODOC, JAPIO
`
`Documents considered to be relevant:
`
`Identity of documentandrelevant passage
`
`to claims
`
`EP 0316114 A2
`
`Tamworth Plastics - whole document - see fig.3 and
`the cross sections jn the figs. esp.
`fig.29
`
`
`X|US 3881214 Bosso Fister - whgle document- see thefigs. 1,3
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`
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`
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`Documentindicating lack of novelty or inventive step
`A Decument indicating technological background and/orstate ofthe art.
`Y
`Document indicating lack of inventive step if combined
`P Dqcument published on or after the declared priority date but before
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`
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`with one or more other documents of same category.
`thefiling date ofthis invention.
`E
`Pajent document published on orafter, but with prioritydate earlier
`
`
`& Memberofthe samepatent family
`than, the filing date of this application.
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`An Executive Agencyof the Department ofTrade and IngusicYoo Exhibit 1034, D. 8
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`Costco Exhibit 1034, p. 8
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`