Windshield wiper blade structure

Abstract

A windshield assembly for a curved windshield, including a pressure distributing superstructure having claws adapted to engage a blade structure at longitudinally spaced positions, together with a blade structure including a flexible holder having a pair of laterally opening slots for receiving the claws of the superstructure, and a longitudinal retention chamber receiving an enlarged retention bead along the upper edge of a resilient wiping element.

We claim: 
     
       1. An elongate backing member adapted to be attached to a superstructure for holding a flexible windshield wiping element, comprising, a. a tubular receiver having a longitudinal chamber for holding a retention bead on said wiping element,   b. the bottom of the receiver having a relatively narrow longitudinal slot opening into the chamber,   c. a pair of opposed flanges extending laterally outwardly in opposite directions from the bottom of the receiver, and   d. a second pair of opposed flanges extending laterally outwardly in opposite directions on the receiver in vertically spaced relation above said first flanges to define laterally opening slots for receiving the claws of a superstructure.   
     
     
       2. An elongate backing member as defined in claim 1, including a third pair of opposed flanges extending laterally outwardly in opposite directions on the receiver in vertically spaced relation above the second pair of flanges and having outer edges of narrower width than the outer edges of said second pair of flanges to define laterally opening slots for receiving the claws of a relatively narrow superstructure. 
     
     
       3. An elongate backing member as defined in claim 1, including a pair of upwardly directed flanges, each one connected to the outer edge of one of said first-named flanges and providing an opening between the upwardly directed flanges and the outer edge of one of said second flanges. 
     
     
       4. An elongate backing member as defined in claim 1, wherein the longitudinal chamber in the tubular receiver has a cross section of generally enlarged configuration. 
     
     
       5. An elongate support member of flexible plastic material adapted to be attached to a superstructure for holding a resilient windshield wiping element, comprising, a. a tubular receptor having a longitudinal chamber and a relatively narrow slot opening into the chamber along the bottom of the receptor,   b. a pair of opposed lower flanges extending laterally outwardly on the receptor in opposite directions from the bottom of the receptor,   c. a pair of upper opposed flanges extending laterally outwardly in opposite directions on the receptor respectively in spaced relation from the lower flanges to define laterally opening slots, and   d. a pair of upwardly directed flanges respectively extending along the outer edge of each of said lower flanges in spaced relation outwardly from the edges of said upper flanges,   e. said laterally extending flanges permitting flexibility in a plane perpendicular to a plane containing said lower flanges and limiting flexibility in said plane containing said lower flanges.   
     
     
       6. An elongate support member as defined in claim 5, wherein the longitudinal chamber in the tubular receptor has a cross section of generally enlarged configuration. 
     
     
       7. An elongate support member as defined in claim 5, wherein each of said upwardly directed flanges includes a longitudinally extending outwardly directed reinforcing rib. 
     
     
       8. An elongate blade structure adapted for use in a windshield wiper assembly for a windshield, comprising, a. a flexible tubular holder having a longitudinal chamber and a relatively narrow slot opening into the chamber along the bottom of the holder,   b. a pair of opposed lower flanges extending laterally outwardly on the holder in opposite directions from the bottom of the holder,   c. a pair of opposed upper flanges extending laterally outwardly in opposite directions on the holder respectively in spaced relation above the lower flanges to define laterally opening slots for receiving the claws of a superstructure, and   d. a resilient wiping element having a wiping edge, a relatively thin neck portion disposed in said slot, and an enlarged retention bead along the upper edge disposed in said chamber.   
     
     
       9. An elongate blade structure as defined in claim 8, wherein the chamber and retention bead have generally complementary cross sections of generally triangular configuration. 
     
     
       10. An elongate blade structure as defined in claim 8, including a pair of upwardly directed flanges respectively extending along the outer edge of each of said lower flanges in spaced relation outwardly from the edges of said upper flanges. 
     
     
       11. An elongate blade structure adapted for use in a windshield wiper assembly for a windshield, comprising a resilient wiping element having a wiping portion, a neck portion and a retention portion, said neck portion being of narrower lateral width than the wiping and retention portions and connecting them together, and an integral support member relatively flexible in a plane generally perpendicular to the surface of the windshield to be wiped and relatively inflexible in a plane parallel to said surface, said support member comprising a pair of longitudinally elongated planar means spaced apart to define a central opening, a tubular receptor integrally joined to said planar means proximate the inner edges thereof, said receptor having a maximum lateral width greater than the width of said central opening and being adapted to retain the retention portion of said wiping element, each of said planar means having an upwardly extending flange integrally joined to the outer edge thereof, said tubular receptor having on the sides thereof horizontally extending flanges spaced above said planar means and having outer edges spaced horizontally from said upwardly extending flanges, said outer edges of said horizontal flanges being adapted to be engaged by claws of superstructure. 
     
     
       12. A blade element adapted for use in a windshield wiper assembly comprising a pressure distributing superstructure adapted to apply downward pressure to the blade element at spaced locations positioned at the ends and at at least one intermediate point on the blade element, said superstructure having claws adapted to engage the blade element at said spaced locations, said blade element comprising a resilient wiping element having a wiping portion, a neck portion, and a retention portion, said neck portion being of narrower lateral width than the wiping and retention portions and connecting them together, an integral support member relatively flexible in a plane generally perpendicular to the surface of the windshield to be wiped and relatively inflexible in a plane parallel to said surface, said support member having a constant cross-sectional shape over the longitudinal extent thereof, said cross-sectional shape having a U-shaped lower portion with a central opening and an upper hollow conduit portion having an opening at the bottom thereof, said openings being in communication with each other, the upwardly extending portions of said U-shaped lower portion being relatively narrow with respect to the base portion, said upper portion having at the sides thereof means for engaging said claws and means for maintaining said resilient wiping member and said integral support member in assembled relation. 
     
     
       13. A windshield wiper assembly for a curved windshield, comprising a pressure distributing superstructure having claws adapted to engage a blade element at spaced locations to apply downward a pressure to the blade element at the ends and at intermediate points on the blade element, said blade element comprising a resilient wiping element having a wiping portion, a relatively narrow neck portion and a relatively thick retention portion, and an integral support member relatively flexible in a plane generally perpendicular to the surface of the windshield to be wiped and relatively inflexible in a plane parallel to said surface, said support member comprising a pair of longitudinally elongated planar means spaced apart to define a central opening, a tubular receptor integrally joined to said planar means proximate the inner edges thereof, said receptor having a maximum lateral width greater than the width of said central opening and being adapted to retain the retention portion of said wiping element, said tubular receptor having on the sides thereof horizontally extending flanges spaced above said planar means and adapted to be engaged by the claws of said superstructure, and means adapted to maintain said wiping element and the integral support member in assembled relation. 
     
     
       14. A windshield wiper assembly for a windshield, comprising, a. a pressure distributing superstructure having claws adapted to engage a blade structure at longitudinally spaced positions,   b. a flexible tubular holder having a longitudinal chamber and a relatively narrow slot opening into the chamber along the bottom of the holder,   c. a pair of opposed lower flanges extending laterally outwardly on the holder in opposite directions from the bottom of said holder,   d. a pair of opposed upper flanges extending laterally outwardly in opposite directions on the holder respectively in spaced relation above the lower flanges to define laterally opening slots for receiving the claws of said superstructure,   e. a resilient wiping element having a wiping edge, a relatively thin neck portion disposed in said slot, and an enlarged retention bead along the upper edge disposed in said chamber, and   f. said laterally extending flanges maintaining the receptor relatively inflexible in a plane parallel to such flanges, while permitting flexibility transverse to such plane.   
     
     
       15. A windshield wiper assembly as defined in claim 14, including a pair of upwardly directed flanges respectively extending along the outer edge of each of said lower flanges in spaced relation outwardly from the edges of said upper flanges. 
     
     
       16. A windshield wiper assembly as defined in claim 15, wherein each of said upwardly directed flanges includes a longitudinally extending outwardly directed reinforcing rib. 
     
     
       17. A windshield wiper assembly as defined in claim 14, wherein a third pair of flanges extend laterally from said receptor in vertically spaced relation with said upper flanges to define a second outwardly opening pair of slots to receive a different sized pair of claws of a superstructure. .Iadd. 18. An elongate backing member adapted to be attached to a superstructure for holding a flexible windshield wiping element, comprising, a. a tubular receiver having a longitudinal chamber for holding a retention bead on said wiping element,   b. the bottom of the receiver having a relatively narrow longitudinal slot opening into the chamber,   c. a pair of opposed flanges extending laterally outwardly in opposite directions from the receiver, and   d. a second pair of opposed flanges extending laterally outwardly in opposite directions on the receiver in vertically spaced relation above said first flanges to define laterally opening slots for receiving the claws of a superstructure. .Iaddend..Iadd. 19. An elongate backing member as defined in claim 18, including a pair of upwardly directed flanges, each one connected to the outer edge of one of said first-named flanges and providing an opening between the upwardly directed flanges and the outer edge of one of said second flanges. .Iaddend..Iadd. 20. An elongate backing member as defined in claim 18, wherein the longitudinal chamber in the tubular receiver has a cross section of generally enlarged configuration. .Iaddend..Iadd. 21. An elongate support member as defined in claim 19, wherein each of said upwardly directed flanges includes a longitudinally extending outwardly directed reinforcing rib. .Iaddend.