This invention relates to the field of windshield wiper blades.
Basic windshield wipers used on vehicles have a blade portion that contacts the windshield, a frame that supports the wiper strip, and a mounting base or other connection device for attaching the blade to a wiper arm. Presently, three principle styles of windshield wipers are in wide-scale use. The first style is the traditional frame windshield wiper, which implements a multi-piece frame that is directly connected to the wiper arm. The second style is the beam blade windshield wiper, which has a unitary beam that supports the wiper blade and is directly connected to the wiper arm. Wiper blades of this type have been described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/453,601, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The third style is the hybrid blade windshield wiper, which combines the multi-piece frame and the unitary beam frame. Wiper blades of this type have been described in U.S. Patent Publication No. 2010/0236008, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
One problem common among many windshield wipers is a tendency to separate from the windshield during use, thus resulting in an uneven or inconsistent clearing of the windshield. This happens when a windshield wiper encounters the slipstream created by a vehicle traveling at speed and downward force on the wiper blade is overcome by wind lift created by the wiper blade. The wind lift problem has been known in the wiper field for decades, and many attempts have been made to resolve it. For example, see U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,056,991, 3,317,945, 3,879,793, 3,942,212, 6,292,974, 6,944,905.
Many prior art windshield wipers have attempted to limit windshield wiper separation from windows by the addition of spoilers or areas that create downward force on the windshield wiper. The use of windshield wiper spoilers, however, is not without drawbacks. The use of spoilers, some of which are substantial in size, increases the material costs of the windshield wipers. Additionally, and particularly as relates to beam-blade style wipers, the use of spoilers can detrimentally impact the windshield wiper performance. Specifically, the use of spoilers tends to counter or flatten the curve of the windshield wiper. Flattening of the windshield wiper, in turn, can degrade wiper strip contact with the windshield. The use of spoilers also increases material, packaging, and delivery costs associated with each windshield wiper.
In addition, as a windshield wiper travels through a wipe cycle, the angle of incidence with the airstream changes constantly. Thus, the addition of a spoiler—although generating desirable downward force—can also generate undesirable torsion, as well as pitch, and yaw forces on the windshield wiper. This, in turn can lead to uneven or inconsistent clearing of the windshield. Such forces can also increase road or wind noise and premature wear of the windshield wiper.
In addition, the use of a spoiler can be aesthetically displeasing. Spoilers can, for example, interrupt the design liner of a vehicle or otherwise distract from the more attractive features of a vehicle.
The foregoing problems of prior art windshield wipers are resolved or at least substantially reduced and a technical advance is achieved in a windshield wiper that reduces or eliminates wind effect generated as it enters the slipstream.
According to one aspect of the present invention, a windshield wiper having neutral wind effect is provided. According to another aspect of the present invention a windshield wiper having a wind-encountering concavity is provided. According to another aspect of the present invention, a windshield wiper having aerodynamic ground effect properties is provided.
The following detailed description and the appended drawings describe and illustrate exemplary embodiments of the invention solely for the purpose of enabling one of ordinary skill in the relevant art to make and use the invention. As such, the detailed description and illustration of these embodiments are purely exemplary in nature and are in no way intended to limit the scope of the invention, or its protection, in any manner. It should also be understood that the drawings are not to scale and in certain instances details have been omitted, which are not necessary for an understanding of the present invention, such as conventional details of fabrication and assembly.
Referring to the drawings in general, a wiper blade 10 includes a cover 22, a wiper frame assembly 16 (
Referring to
Cover 22 also has been provided with a perimeter landing 68. Perimeter landing 68 abuts tapered side wall 70, lateral skirt 30, and terminal skirt 34, as depicted in
Referring to
Cover 22 is further secured to wiper frame assembly 16 (
Accordingly, as discussed above, cover 22 is secured to the windshield wiper frame assembly 16 at or along three principle sections of the windshield wiper blade to avoid inadvertent detachment of the cover from the wiper frame assembly during use. These attachment sections are beneath the collar ends 136; between the ends of the cover and the ends of the beam or wiper blade frame assembly; and along the longitudinal axis of the cover and the wiper frame assembly.
Any other undisclosed or incidental details of the construction or composition of the various elements of the disclosed embodiments of the present invention are not believed to be critical to the achievement of the advantages of the present invention, so long as the elements possess the attributes needed for them to perform as disclosed. Certainly, one of ordinary skill in this art would be able to conceive of a wide variety of valve shapes and sizes and successful combinations of the invention disclosed herein. The selection of these and other details of construction are believed to be well within the ability of one of even rudimentary skills in this area, in view of the present disclosure.
Illustrative embodiments of the present invention have been described in considerable detail for the purpose of disclosing the practical, operative structure whereby the invention may be practiced advantageously. The designs described herein are intended to be exemplary only. The novel characteristics and features of the present invention may be incorporated in other structural forms without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The invention encompasses embodiments both comprising and consisting of the elements described with reference to the illustrative embodiments. The invention illustratively disclosed herein suitably may be practiced in the absence of any element which is not specifically disclosed herein. The invention illustratively disclosed herein suitably may also be practiced in the absence of any element which is not specifically disclosed herein and that does not materially affect the basic and novel characteristics of the claimed invention.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/522,091 filed Aug. 10, 2011 and U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/560,977 filed Nov. 17, 2011, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61522091 | Aug 2011 | US | |
61560977 | Nov 2011 | US |