`
`(75)
`
`(73)
`
`Inventors: Godelieve Kraemer, Huegelsheim (DE);
`Juergen Mayer, Gaggenau (DE)
`
`Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH, Stuttgart (DE)
`
`( * )
`
`Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
`This patent is subject to a terminal dis
`claimer.
`
`DE
`DE
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`2,687,544 A
`8/1954 Scinta
`2,814,820 A 12/1957 Elliottet al.
`(Continued)
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`1028896
`4/1958
`1077540
`3/1960
`(Continued)
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`(12) United States Patent
`Kraemer et a].
`
`(10) Patent N0.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 8,544,136 B2
`*Oct. 1, 2013
`
`US008544136B2
`
`AUTOMOBILE WINDSHIELD WIPER BLADE
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`(21)
`
`(22)
`
`(65)
`
`(60)
`
`Appl. N0.: 13/553,094
`
`Filed:
`
`Jul. 19, 2012
`
`Prior Publication Data
`
`Nov. 15,2012
`US 2012/0284949 A1
`Related US. Application Data
`
`Continuation of application No. 13/179,132, ?led on
`Jul. 8, 2011, and a continuation of application No.
`12/364,092, ?led on Feb. 2, 2009, noW Pat. No.
`8,099,823, Which is a division of application No.
`11/760,394, ?led on Jun. 8, 2007, noW Pat. No.
`7,484,264, Which is a division of application No.
`10/312,279, ?led as application No. PCT/DE02/01336
`on Apr. 11, 2002, noW Pat. No. 7,228,588.
`
`(30)
`
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`
`Apr. 26, 2001
`
`(DE) ................................ .. 101 20 467
`
`(51)
`
`(52)
`
`(58)
`
`(2006.01)
`
`Int. Cl.
`B60S 1/38
`US. Cl.
`USPC ................................. .. 15/250.201; 15/250.43
`Field of Classi?cation Search
`USPC ......... .. 15/250.43, 250.44, 2504514250454,
`15/250.201, 250.361
`See application ?le for complete search history.
`
`International Search Report dated Aug. 19, 2002, European Patent
`Of?ce, International Application No. PCT/DE02/01336 published
`Jul. 11,2002.
`
`Primary Examiner * Gary Graham
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm * Michael Best & Friedrich
`LLP
`
`ABSTRACT
`(57)
`An automobile Windshield Wiper blade has an elongated belt
`shaped, ?exible resilient support element, on the loWer belt
`surface Which faces the Windshield and has an elastic rubber
`Wiper strip extending along the Windshield parallel to the
`longitudinal axis. A Wind de?ection strip on the upper belt
`surface has an incident surface facing the direction of driving
`Wind. The de?ection strip extends longitudinally, and has tWo
`sides that diverge from a common base point as seen in cross
`section, such that the incident surface is located at one exte
`rior side and the Wind de?ection strip has a constant cross
`section along its entire length. The support element has outer
`edges, and the sides of the Wind de?ection strip have respec
`tive free ends that have respective claW-like extensions that
`grip the outer edges of the support element, Wherein the Wind
`de?ection strip can be snapped or slid longitudinally onto the
`outer edges.
`
`21 Claims, 2 Drawing Sheets
`
`Costco Exhibit 1001, p. 1
`
`
`
`US 8,544,136 B2
`Page2
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
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`3,785,002 A
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`6/1974 Plisky .................... .. 15/250.453
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`3,925,844 A * 12/1975 Cone ........................ .. 15/250.44
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`6/2007 Kraemeretal.
`7,484,264 B2
`2/2009 Kraemeretal.
`8,099,823 B2
`l/2012 Kraemer et a1.
`2001/0008034 A1
`7/2001 Merkel et a1.
`2003/0014828 A1
`l/2003 Edner-Walter et a1.
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`EP
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`EP
`FR
`FR
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`GB
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`JP
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`W0
`W0
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`W0
`W0
`W0
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`1247161
`8/1967
`1505357
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`2336271
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`2344876
`3/1974
`2440179
`8/1974
`2311293
`9/1974
`2839587
`3/1980
`29611722
`11/1997
`19627114
`1/1998
`19627115
`1/1998
`19650159
`6/1998
`19734843
`2/1999
`19736368
`2/1999
`19802451
`7/1999
`19856300
`6/2000
`10000373
`8/2001
`0316114
`5/1989
`0624133
`2/1993
`0646507
`4/1995
`0930990
`7/1999
`2199302
`4/1974
`2679185
`1/1993
`1222648
`2/1971
`1269993
`4/1972
`1429820
`3/1976
`2036547
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`2106775
`4/1983
`2336293
`10/1999
`2346318
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`6219467
`2/1987
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`2001502638
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`W0 9850261
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`W0 0149537
`7/2001
`w00192073
`12/2001
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`Costco Exhibit 1001, p. 2
`
`
`
`US. Patent
`
`0a. 1, 2013
`
`Sheet 1 012
`
`US 8,544,136 B2
`
`Costco Exhibit 1001, p. 3
`
`
`
`US. Patent
`
`0a. 1, 2013
`
`Sheet 2 of2
`
`US 8,544,136 B2
`
`'
`
`lllAI/l/l/l/ll/l/l/JA
`
`Costco Exhibit 1001, p. 4
`
`
`
`US 8,544,136 B2
`
`1
`AUTOMOBILE WINDSHIELD WIPER BLADE
`
`RELATED APPLICATION
`
`This application is a continuation of co-pending U.S. appli
`cation Ser. No. 13/179,132, ?led Jul. 8, 2011, Which is a
`continuation of US. application Ser. No. 12/364,092, ?led
`Feb. 2, 2009, now US. Pat. No. 8,099,823, Which is a divi
`sional of US. application Ser. No. 11/760,394, ?led Jun. 8,
`2007, now US. Pat. No. 7,484,264, Which is a divisional of
`US. application Ser. No. 10/312,279, ?led Jul. 29, 2003, now
`US. Pat. No. 7,228,588, Which is a national stage ?ling under
`35 U.S.C. 371 of International Application No. PCT/
`DE2002/001336, ?led Apr. 11, 2002, Which claims foreign
`priority to German Patent Application No. 10120467.1, ?led
`Apr. 26, 2001, the entire disclosure of each of Which are
`hereby incorporated by reference.
`
`BACKGROUND
`
`In Wiper blades With a spring-action support element, the
`support element is intended to guarantee as even a distribu
`tion of Wiper blade pressure onto the Windshield issued from
`the Wiper arm as possible, and over the entire Wipe ?eld sWept
`by the Wiper blade. By appropriately bending the un-loaded
`support element into shapeithe unloaded state being When
`only the tWo ends of the Wiper blade sit against the Wind
`shieldithe ends of the Wiper strip, Which sits completely
`against the Windshield When the Wiper blade is in operation,
`are pushed toWard the Windshield by the loaded support ele
`ment, even if the radii of curvature of spherically curved
`vehicle Windshields change With the Wiper blade position.
`The curvature of the Wiper blade must therefore be someWhat
`greater than the maximum curvature measured Within the
`Wipe ?eld on the Windshield to be Wiped. This is because
`during Wiping, the Wiper strip, or its Wiping lip that sits
`against the Windshield, must be continuously pressed against
`the Windshield With a speci?c force. The support element thus
`replaces the expensive stirrup design With tWo ?exible rails
`located in the Wiper strip, as is practiced in conventional
`Wiper blades (DE-OS 15 05 257) since the support element
`provides the necessary cross-stiffening of the elastic rubber
`Wiper strip in addition to providing a distribution of pressure.
`Speci?cally, in the knoWn Wiper blade the contact force
`directed toWard the Windshield that is exerted by a Wiper arm
`onto a main stirrup is conveyed to tWo claW-like stirrups and
`distributed from these onto the elastic rubber Wiper strip via
`four claWs. The tWo ?exible rails of this Wiper blade mainly
`provide a cross-stiffening of the Wiper strip betWeen the claWs
`When the Wiper blade is pushed across the Windshield per
`pendicular to its longitudinal length.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`In a prior art Wiperblade ofthis type (DE 197 36 368.7), the
`Wiper blade is provided With a so-called Wind de?ection strip
`in order to produce a force component directed toWard the
`Windshield to counteract the tendency of the Wiper blade to
`lift off of the Windshield due to the air?oW at high vehicle
`speeds. To this end, the Wind de?ection strip has a leading
`edge during the pendulum Wiping motion that is mainly
`impacted by the driving Wind, said leading edge being
`designed as an incident surface. The cross section of the Wind
`de?ection strip has approximately the shape of a right tri
`angle, one leg of Which directly opposite the support element
`and the hypotenuse of Which represents the incident surface.
`This makes a sharp angle With the pendulum-like plane of
`
`20
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`30
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`35
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`40
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`45
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`50
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`55
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`60
`
`65
`
`2
`motion of the Wiper blade and With the surface of the Wind
`shield. The triangle pro?le used requires a relatively large
`amount of material to manufacture the Wind de?ection strip,
`Which is re?ected in the costs of the Wiper blade. Moreover,
`the Weight of the Wiper blade becomes undesirably high.
`Speci?cally, the increased mass to be accelerated in the pen
`dulum Wiping motion requires a more poWerful drive system
`as Well as a more expensive design of pendulum gear attached
`to it. Furthermore, the action of the support element and of the
`Wiper blade can be adversely affected by the bending stiff
`ness, Which depends on its pro?le, of a Wind de?ection strip
`thus formed.
`In the Wiper blade according to the invention, the Weight of
`the Wind de?ection strip is considerably reduced due to the
`cross sectional structure of an angular pro?le. Moreover, in
`addition to the material savings, there is a reduction in the
`moving mass along With the advantages With respect to the
`design of the drive system and the pendulum gear as a result.
`Also, the bending stiffness of the Wind de?ection strip is
`reduced, thus considerably reducing its in?uence on the bend
`ing and spring behavior of the Wiper blade support element.
`For more detailed shapes, this Wind de?ection strip can be
`manufactured both as an injection molded part as Well as
`using the simple, and thus cost effective, extrusion process.
`In a further development of the invention, at least one
`support means is placed betWeen the tWo sides of the Wind
`de?ection strip at a distance from their common base point,
`said support means stabiliZing the sides. This provides a
`certain degree of stiffening even When using a relatively soft
`material for the manufacture of the Wind de?ection strip,
`Which provides the necessary form stability of the Wind
`de?ection strip even at a high Wind loads.
`What is helpful here is that the support means is made up of
`a Wall that extends in the longitudinal direction of the Wind
`de?ection strip that is connected to both sides, said Wall
`extending along the entire length of the Wind de?ection strip,
`if necessary.
`If the support element is made up of tWo ?exible rails, each
`of Which sits in a longitudinal notch associated With it, respec
`tively, said longitudinal notches being open toWard the oppo
`site lateral sides of the Wiper strip, and if the outer strip edges
`of each of said ?exible rails extend out of these notches, the
`support means are positioned at a distance from the support
`element. This results in a space betWeen the Wiper strip and
`the support means into Which the area of the Wiper strip
`located above the support element can extend. By corre
`spondingly dimensioning this space, undesired friction
`betWeen the Wiper strip and the Wind de?ection strip is pre
`vented.
`In another embodiment of the concept of the invention, the
`free ends of the sides of the Wind de?ection strip are provided,
`respectively, With claW-like extensions that grip tightly
`around these exterior strip edges of the support element at
`least in sections. This provides the ability to snap the Wind
`de?ection strip onto the exterior edge or to push it onto this
`edge in the longitudinal direction. This makes it possible to do
`aWay With a glued connection betWeen the Wind de?ection
`strip and the support element. A glued connection of this type
`can limit the ?exibility of the support element needed to attain
`a satisfactory Wipe result due to its stiffness.
`In the process, it can be advantageous if the Wind de?ection
`strip is designed as a binary component Whose longitudinal
`area provided With the claW-like extensions is made of a
`harder material than the longitudinal area lying closer to the
`base. In this Way, the longitudinal area of the Wind de?ection
`strip provided With the extensions can be manufactured from
`a material that is Well suited for the purposes of securing the
`
`Costco Exhibit 1001, p. 5
`
`
`
`US 8,544,136 B2
`
`3
`Wind de?ection strip to the support element, Whereas the area
`of the Wind de?ection strip provided With the incident surface
`can be made of a material that accounts for the further require
`ments on the Wind de?ection strip.
`In a Wiper blade designed in this Way, it can be advanta
`geous if the transition from the harder longitudinal area to the
`softer longitudinal area occurs near the Wall.
`According to another embodiment of the invention, it can
`be advantageous in certain applications if the Wind de?ection
`strip and the Wiper strip form a one-piece component that is
`penetrated by a longitudinal channel in Which the support
`element sits that is designed as a one-piece ?exible belt. It is
`further advantageous for the channel Wall facing the upper
`belt surface of the support element to constitute the support
`means located betWeen the tWo sides of the Wind de?ection
`strip. Designing the Wiper blade according to the invention in
`this Way is especially cost-effective to install since the Wind
`de?ection strip is made in one piece together With the Wiper
`strip and thus some installation steps can be eliminated.
`If the Wall surfaces of the longitudinal channel facing the
`tWo belt surfaces of the support element are provided With
`longitudinal ribs that sit against the belt surfaces, this makes
`it considerably easier to insert the support element into the
`longitudinal channel as a result of the reduced friction sur
`faces.
`In a Wiper blade With a one-piece component encompass
`ing the Wind de?ection strip and the Wiper strip, the compo
`nent has three longitudinal strip areas that are permanently
`connected to one another as seen in cross section, of Which the
`Wiper strip can be pressed against the Windshield. The Wiper
`strip is located on the side of the base strip, Which contains the
`longitudinal channel, that is opposite the Wind de?ection
`strip. The three strip areas thus resulting must be designed to
`meet the requirements placed on them individually.
`Thus, it can be very helpful if at least one of the strip areas
`of the component is made of a material Whose hardness dif
`fers from the hardness of the other strip areas. In this Way, it
`is possible to optimiZe the materials to be used With respect to
`the associated tasks of the individual strip areas.
`Based on the requirements placed on the base strip, it is
`practical to make it out of a harder material than the Wind
`de?ection strip. It can also be advantageous if the transition
`from harder material to softer material occurs near the Wall of
`the longitudinal channel that faces the upper belt surface of
`the support element.
`In order to attain a satisfactory Wipe result, it is practical to
`make the Wiper strip out of a softer material than the base
`strip.
`In the process, manufacturing advantages result if the tran
`sition from softer material to harder material occurs near the
`root of the Wiper strip.
`In order to avoid material such as snoW, ice, etc. that is
`pushed aWay during the Wiping process from getting jammed
`betWeen the base strip and the Windshield, the base strip
`becomes narroWer as seen in cross section as it approaches the
`Wiper strip.
`To fasten a connector to the Wiper blade, by means of Which
`it can be attached to a driven Wiper arm, a recess is provided
`in the center section of the Wind de?ection strip to Which to
`attach this equipment. This recess can be produced by subse
`quently removing a central section of the Wind de?ection
`strip. HoWever, in a Wiper blade With a separate Wind de?ec
`tion strip, it is also conceivable to design this in tWo parts as
`seen in the longitudinal direction, so that one half of the Wind
`de?ection strip can be attached to the support element on both
`sides of the connector.
`
`4
`Other advantages of the further developments and con?gu
`rations of the invention are given in the folloWing description
`of exemplary embodiments illustrated in the associated draW
`ing.
`
`DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 a Wiper blade according to the invention in a per
`spective representation With the Wiper arm shoWn as a dot
`dashed outline,
`FIG. 2 a cross section through the Wiper blade along the
`line II-II in FIG. 1 in an enlarged representation and
`FIG. 3 the arrangement according to FIG. 2 for another
`embodiment of the Wiper blade according to the invention.
`
`DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENTS
`
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`50
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`55
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`60
`
`65
`
`A Wiper blade 10 shoWn in FIG. 1 has an elongated belt
`shaped, ?exible spring, one or more part support element 12
`that is curved in the longitudinal direction in the un-loaded
`state. Located on the convex upper, or exterior, side of the belt
`16 (FIGS. 1 and 2) of the support element facing aWay from
`the Windshield 14 to be Wiped there is a connector 18 attached
`to the center section of the support element, for example ?at.
`By means of this connector, the Wiper blade 10 can be remov
`ably connected to a driven Wiper arm 20 that leads to the body
`of an automobile. Located on the concave loWer, or inner, side
`of the belt 22 of the curved support element 12 that directly
`faces the Windshield is an elongated elastic rubber Wiper strip
`24 that extends parallel to the longitudinal axis of the support
`element 12. At the free end of the Wiper arm are mating
`connectors, Which are not illustrated in more detail, that coop
`erate With the connector 18 of the Wiper blade to form a hinge.
`The Wiper arm 20, and thus the Wiperblade 10, is forced in the
`direction of the arroW 26 toWard the Windshield to be Wiped
`Whose surface to be Wiped is indicated in FIG. 1 by the
`dot-dashed line 14. Since the dot-dashed line indicates the
`greatest amount of curvature of the Windshield surface, it can
`be clearly seen that the curvature of the as yet unloaded Wiper
`blade 10, Whose ends 10 sit against the Windshield 14, is
`greater than the maximum Windshield curvature. The Wiper
`blade thus hasiin the unloaded stateia concave shape in
`comparison to the Windshield. Under pressure (arroW 26) the
`Wiping lip 28 of the Wiper blade 10 that performs the Wiping
`presses its entire length against the Windshield surface 14 and
`assumes its Working position approximating the stretched
`position. In the process, tension builds up in the belt-shaped
`?exible spring support element 12, ensuring proper seating of
`the Wiper strip 24 and its Wiping lip 28 along its entire length
`against the automobile Windshield 14. Since the generally
`spherically curved Windshield is not in fact a section of a
`spherical surface, the Wiper blade 10 in conjunction With the
`Wiper arm 20 must be able to constantly adjust itself accord
`ing to its respective position and to the shape of the Wind
`shield surface 14 during its Wiping motion (double arroW 30).
`This necessitates a hinged connection betWeen the Wiper arm
`20 and the Wiper blade 10, Which enables a tilting motion
`(double arroW 32) about the hinge axis of the connection, if
`necessary.
`BeloW, more detail is provided on the special con?guration
`of the Wiper blade 10 according to the invention With the help
`of a ?rst embodiment of the Wiper blade shoWn in FIG. 2.
`The embodiment according to FIG. 2 of the Wiper blade
`according to the invention has a Wiper strip 24 Whose tWo
`lateral sides opposite one another are each provided With a
`longitudinal notch 34, said notches being opposite one
`
`Costco Exhibit 1001, p. 6
`
`
`
`US 8,544,136 B2
`
`5
`another, that is open toward the lateral side. Placed into each
`of the longitudinal notches 34 is a ?exible rail 36 Whose Width
`is larger than the depth of the longitudinal notches 34. The
`tWo ?exible rails 36 are part of the support element 12. Their
`outer longitudinal edges or strip edges 38 extend out from the
`longitudinal notches 34. The tWo ?exible rails 36 are properly
`secured in their longitudinal notches 34 by end caps 40 (FIG.
`1). Moreover, the connector 18 (FIG. 1) can also contribute to
`the securing of the ?exible rails 36 in their longitudinal
`notches 34. At the side of the belt of the support element
`opposite the Wiping lip 28, the Wiperblade 10 is provided With
`a Wind de?ection strip 42 that is made of tWo pieces 41,
`betWeen Which the connector 18 for the Wiper arm 20 sits on
`the support element 12 in a gap 65. The effective area of the
`Wind de?ection strip 42 extends from each end cap 40 to the
`connector 18 (FIG. 1). The Wind de?ection strip 42 is made of
`an elastic material, for example a plastic. It has an essentially
`triangular cross section With a cavity 44 that extends in the
`longitudinal direction of the Wind de?ection strip so thatias
`seen in the cross sectionitWo side 48, 50 result that diverge
`from a common base point 46 and are connected to one
`another at the base point. Of these, side 50 is provided With a
`sloped incident surface 54 at its exterior that faces the main
`?oW direction of the Wind during driving (FIG. 2). The free
`ends of the tWo sides 48 and 50, Which extend toWard the
`Windshield 14, are supported at the Wiper blade, i.e. at the
`longitudinal edges 38 of the support element 12. To this end,
`they grip around the longitudinal edges 38 With tightly ?tting
`claW-like extensions 56, at least in sections. Thus, on one side
`they sit against the upper side of the belt 16 of the support
`element 12 and grip under the loWer side of the belt 22 via the
`extensions 56. To install the Wind de?ection strip 42, it is
`pushed onto the ?exible rails 36 of the support element 12 in
`the longitudinal direction, said ?exible rails having the Wiper
`strip 24 installed on it, so that the longitudinal edges 38 are
`Wrapped tightly by the claW-like extensions 56 of the Wind
`de?ection strip 42. So that the Wind de?ection strip 42, Which
`is made of an elastic material, also has the necessary form
`stability at high rates of speed and thus at high Wind pres sures,
`a support means is placed betWeen the tWo sides 48, 50 of the
`Wind de?ection strip 42 at a distance from their common base
`point 46, said support means stabiliZing these sides. In the
`exemplary embodiment, this support means is made up of a
`Wall 58 that is connected to the tWo sides 48, 50.
`Furthermore, FIG. 2 shoWs that the Wind de?ection strip 42
`has tWo longitudinal areas 62 and 64 that are made of different
`materials. The materials have different hardnesses. In the
`exemplary embodiment, the longitudinal area 64*Wl110h
`assumes the main tasks of the Wind de?ection strip by means
`of its incident surface 54iis made of a softer material than
`longitudinal area 62, Which has in particular the claW-like
`extensions 56 that serves to secure the Wind de?ection strip 42
`to the support element 12. In the process, the transition from
`harder longitudinal area 42 to the softer longitudinal area 64
`occurs near the Wall 58. In general, the Wall 58 is placed at a
`distance from the claW-like extensions 56 and the support
`element 12 betWeen it and the common base point 46 of the
`tWo sides 48, 50, so that an recess 60 results betWeen the
`support element and the Wall 58 that provides space for the
`strip ?aps 25 of the Wiper strip 24 located above the support
`element. This prevents the Wiper strip 28 and the Wind de?ec
`tion strip 42, i.e. its Wall 58 from touching one another, Which
`disrupts the Wiping process. The binary Wind de?ection strip
`42 described has an even pro?le along its entire length. Thus
`it can be manufactured in an especially cost-effective manner
`by means of the so-called complex extrusion process.
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`The embodiment of the Wiper blade 110 according to the
`invention corresponding to FIG. 3 differs from the Wiper
`blade according to FIG. 2 especially in that the Wind de?ec
`tion strip 112 and the Wiper strip 114 are permanently con
`nected to a base strip 130. This results in a single strip-shaped
`component 116 Whose base strip area is penetrated by a
`longitudinal channel 118 into Which a support element 120 is
`placed that is designed as a one-piece ?exible spring belt. This
`longitudinal channel Wraps around both the tWo belt surfaces
`122 as Well as the tWo lateral edges 123 of the support element
`120. The channel Walls directly facing the belt surfaces are
`provided With a number of longitudinal recesses 124 so that
`longitudinal ribs 126 form betWeen the recesses that sit
`against the belt surfaces 122. This facilitates the insertion of
`the support element 120 into the longitudinal channel 118. At
`the bottom of the base strip 130 facing the Windshield 114 is
`the Wiper strip 114 With its Wiping lip 128, said Wiper strip
`sitting against the Windshield. The base strip becomes nar
`roWerias seen in cross sectioniin the direction toWard the
`Wiper strip 114 so that Walls result that slope toWard the
`Windshield 14, Which is particularly advantageous When Wip
`ing iced Windshields or Windshields covered With Wet snoW.
`On the upper side of the base strip 130 that is opposite the
`Wiper strip 114 is the Wind de?ection strip 112 With its inci
`dent surface 140. It also has a longitudinal cavity 142 that is
`placed such that betWeen it and the longitudinal channel 118
`a Wall 144 remains that connects the sides 136, 138, Which
`result from the cavity, that diverge from a common base point
`134 toWard the Windshield 14. The Wall stabiliZes the tWo side
`136, 138 of the Wind de?ection strip 112. Some of the longi
`tudinal ribs 126 are located on the bottom. Further, each of the
`three strip areas 112, 128 and 130 of the component 116 is
`made of a different material. This makes it possible to select
`the appropriate material characteristics to account for the
`different requirements placed on the respective areas. For
`example, the hardness values of a strip area can differ from the
`hardness values of the others. It is especially advantageous if
`the base strip 130 is made of a harder material than the Wind
`de?ection strip 112 and/or the Wiper strip 114. The transition
`from harder material to softer material then is intended to
`occur near the stabiliZing Wall 144 or in the root 146 of the
`Wiper strip 114 Where it transitions to the base strip 130. This
`results in transition regions betWeen tWo directly adjacent
`strip areas 112 and 130 or 130 and 114. The exact position of
`these transition regions is established on a case-by-case basis
`by one trained in the artitaking into consideration the appro
`priate special requirements placed on the Wiper blade.
`In the embodiment of the Wiper blade 110 according to
`FIG. 3, component 116 ?rst of all has the same length as the
`support element 120. To secure component 116 to the support
`element in its longitudinal direction, it is provided at both
`ends With a recess so that the tWo end areas of the support
`element 120 are exposed and accessible to snap on end caps
`40. Further, the Wind de?ection strip 112 is provided With a
`gap or recess at its center section that in principle corresponds
`to the gap 65 in FIG. 1. This recess can be designed deep
`enough that in this embodiment the support element 120 is
`exposed and thus ready for the installation of the connector
`18. In this embodiment, it has been shoWn to be especially
`helpful if this gap 65 is attached by means of a process knoWn
`as “Water jet cutting”.
`Both the Wind de?ection strip 42 and the Wiper strip 24 as
`Well as the component 116 have an even pro?le along their
`entire length and can thus be manufactured in an especially
`cost-effective manner in one piece by means of the so-called
`extrusion process. In the process, it is quite helpful to manu
`facture these parts using the so-called complex extrusion
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`Costco Exhibit 1001, p. 7
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`US 8,544,136 B2
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`7
`process. The necessary sections can then be cut to length as
`neededias Well in the embodiment according to FIG. 2.
`All exemplary embodiments share the characteristic that
`the Wind de?ection strip 42 or 112 has tWo sides 48, 50 or 136,
`138 that diverge from a common base point 46 or 134 as seen
`in cross section and that are connected to it. The free ends of
`the sides that face the Windshield 14 are supported at the
`Wiper blade. What is also common is that the incident surface
`54 or 140 is designed at the exterior ofone side 50 or 138 and
`that the pro?le of the cross section of the Wind de?ection strip
`is the same along its entire length. Further, both exemplary
`embodiments have at least one support means located
`betWeen the tWo sides 48, 50 of the Wind de?ection strip 42 or
`112 at a distance from their common base point 46 or 134.
`This support means is made up of a Wall 58 or 144 that is
`connected to both sides and extends in the longitudinal direc
`tion of the Wind de?ection strip, said Wall extending along the
`entire length of the Wind de?ection strip, if necessary.
`
`The invention claimed is:
`1. A Wiper blade (10) for an automobile Windshield (14),
`With an elongated belt-shaped, ?exible resilient support ele
`ment (12) having a longitudinal axis, on a loWer belt surface
`(22) of Which that faces the Windshield is located an elastic
`rubber Wiper strip (24) sitting against the Windshield that
`extends parallel to the longitudinal axis, and on an upper belt
`surface (16) of Which a Wind de?ection strip (42 or 112) is
`located that has an incident surface (54 or 140) facing a main
`?oW direction of a driving Wind (arroW 52), said de?ection
`strip extending in the longitudinal direction of the support
`element, characterized in that the Wind de?ection strip has
`tWo sides (48, 50 or 136, 138) that diverge from a common
`base point (46 or 134) as seen in a cross section, and that the
`incident surface (54 or 140) is located at the exterior of one
`side (50 or 138), Wherein the support element has outer edges,
`Wherein the sides of the Wind de?ection strip have respective
`free ends having thereon respective claW-shaped extensions
`that ?ttingly grip around the outer edges of the support ele
`ment at least in sections and engage at least one of the upper
`belt surface (24) and the loWer belt surface (22), so that the
`Wind de?ection strip can be snapped onto the outer edges or
`slid onto the outer edges in a longitudinal direction, Wherein
`the Wind de?ection strip has a height extending from the base
`point to ends of the sides farthest from the base point, Wherein
`a substantial majority of the height is above the upper belt
`surface in a direction facing aWay from the Windshield, and
`characterized in that the Wind de?ection strip is designed as a
`binary component Who se longitudinal area provided With the
`claW-shaped extensions is made of a harder material than a
`longitudinal area lying closer to the base point.
`2. A Wiper blade according to claim 1, characterized in that
`betWeen the tWo sides of the Wind de?ection strip there is at
`least one support means located at a distance from their com
`mon base point that stabilizes the sides.
`3. A Wiper blade according to claim 2, characterized in that
`the support means is made up of a Wall connected to both
`sides that extends in the longitudinal direction of the Wind
`de?ection strip.
`4. A Wiper blade according to claim 2, characterized in that
`the support element includes tWo ?exible rails each of Which
`sits in a longitudinal notch associated With it, respectively,
`said longitudinal notches being open toWard the opposite
`lateral sides of the Wiper strip, that the outer strip edges of
`each of said ?exible rails extend out of these notches, and that
`the support means are positioned at a distance from the sup
`port element.
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