Rubber wiper blade element with friction reducing agent that continuously migrates to the surface

Abstract

A windscreen wiper device is provided including a longitudinally extending wiper strip of a flexible material. At least one carrier of a spring-like material operatively supports and biases the wiper strip into a predetermined configuration. The windscreen wiper device further includes a connecting device for connection with a wiper arm. The flexible material is formed of flexible material, such as rubber, with a friction reducing agent consisting of at least one amide distributed homogeneously throughout the flexible material. Upon vulcanization, a portion of the friction reducing agent migrates to an outer surface of the flexible material to form a friction reducing film having hydrophobic properties. The friction reducing film provides a low friction interface between the flexible material and a windshield under wet and dry conditions. The low friction minimizes the load on the wiper device and thus extends the life of the wiper device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of making a windscreen wiper device, comprising the steps of:
 forming a longitudinally extending wiper strip of a flexible material including a friction reducing agent, wherein the friction reducing agent includes at least one amide.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of forming the wiper strip includes forming the flexible material by disposing the at least one amide homogeneously throughout a rubber material. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the at least one amide is selected from the group consisting of oleamides and euricimides. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of forming the wiper strip includes forming the flexible material by mixing 2 parts to 5 parts of the friction reducing agent per 100 parts of rubber. 
     
     
         5 . The method as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the flexible material is formed from a mixture of rubber and the friction reducing agent, and further including the step of vulcanizing the mixture. 
     
     
         6 . The method as set forth in  claim 5  wherein the vulcanizing step includes forming a friction reducing film including the at least one friction reducing agent along an outer surface of the friction material. 
     
     
         7 . The method as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the forming step includes at least one of extruding and molding a mixture of rubber and the friction reducing agent. 
     
     
         8 . A method of manufacturing a windscreen wiper device including a wiper strip with a friction reducing film, comprising the steps of:
 forming a longitudinally extending wiper strip of a flexible material including a mixture of rubber and a friction reducing agent, wherein the friction reducing agent includes at least one amide; and   vulcanizing the mixture, wherein the vulcanizing step includes forming a friction reducing film on an outer surface of the flexible material, and the friction reducing film includes the at least one friction reducing agent.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein a portion of the friction reducing agent migrates to the outer surface of the flexible material during the vulcanizing step. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8  wherein a portion of the friction reducing agent continuously migrates to the outer surface of the flexible material to replenish the friction reducing film over time. 
     
     
         11 . A windscreen wiper element, comprising:
 a wiper element body fabricated of a molded or extruded rubber, polymer, or plastic base material and including a longitudinally extending wiper lip; and   wherein the base material has incorporated therein an additional friction reducing agent that is operative during use of said wiper element to migrate to an outer surface of said wiper element and to provide a hydrophobic effect to said outer surface that is greater than that provided by the base material itself.