Windshield Wiper Arm with Hemmed Distal End

Abstract

A wiper arm ( 100 ) for a wiper assembly of an automotive vehicle, the wiper arm ( 100 ) being formed in a single piece from a metallic blank ( 100 ′) and having an inner end portion ( 100 a ) of generally U-shaped configuration in cross-section that is formed by drawing the blank ( 100 ′) in a progressive die, and an outer end portion ( 100 b ) that is formed with a C-shaped configuration in cross-section, by hemming. The outer end portion ( 100 b ) has a central portion ( 130 ) with edge portions ( 132 ) that are reversely folded to underlie the central portion ( 130 ), edges of the edge portions ( 132 ) being disposed in close proximity to one another. An end portion ( 100 c ) of the outer end portion ( 100 b ) of the wiper ( 100 ) is reversely folded to be spaced from and underlie a portion of the outer end portion ( 100 b ) thereabove, and the end portion ( 100 c ) is provided with an opening ( 126 ) by which a wiper blade may be attached to, or removed from, the wiper arm ( 100 ).

1 - 4 . (canceled) 
   
   
       5 . A method of making a unitary wiper arm, said method comprising the steps of:
 providing a single thickness blank adapted to be carried through a progressive die;   forming an inner portion of said unitary wiper arm in the form of a generally upward formed cross-section by a drawing operation in said progressive die, said upward formed cross-section having a bight portion with extending opposed legs;   forming an outer portion of said unitary wiper arm into a generally double thickness configuration by in-turning said material edges that extend from opposing sides of said single thickness layer of material by a hemming operation in said progressive die;   removing said formed wiper arm from said single thickness blank carried through said progressive die.   
   
   
       6 . The method as claimed in  claim 5  further comprising the step of:
 forming axially aligned openings in said extending opposed legs to permit mounting of said unitary wiper arm to a mounting head.   
   
   
       7 . The method as claimed in  claim 5  further comprising the step of:
 providing one of said extending opposed legs with a material extension; and   cam forming said material extension from said one of said opposed legs into a support bracket located between said extending opposed legs.   
   
   
       8 . The method as claimed in  claim 7  further comprising the step of:
 attaching a spray nozzle to said support bracket located between said extending opposed legs.   
   
   
       9 . The method as claimed in  claim 5  wherein said forming an outer portion of said unitary wiper arm further comprises the step of:
 forming said in-turned material edge portions over a central material layer with no appreciable spacing between said in-turned material edge portions and said central material later portion to form said double thickness configuration, said free edges of said in-turned material edge portions touching or in very close proximity with one another.   
   
   
       10 . The method as claimed in  claim 5  further comprising the step of:
 cam forming the outermost end portion of the unitary wiper arm into a reversely folded hook portion which is spaced from and extends parallel to a portion of the hemmed outer portion of said unitary wiper arm, to provide a spacing for the proper attachment of a wiper blade to the unitary wiper arm when it is required to remove said wiper blade.   
   
   
       11 . The method as claimed in  claim 6  further comprising the step of:
 final forming the width of said reversely folded hook portion so as to enable easy fitting of said hook portion between the cheeks of the support bracket attached to said wiper blade.