Metal working – Method of mechanical manufacture – Assembling or joining
Reexamination Certificate
1998-10-27
2001-02-13
Graham, Gary K. (Department: 1744)
Metal working
Method of mechanical manufacture
Assembling or joining
C015S250451, C015S250452, C072S130000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06185805
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The invention relates to a windshield wiper comprising an oscillating arm and a frame connected thereto receiving a wiping element, wherein the wiping element is reinforced by at least one backing strip located in a longitudinally extending recess provided in the wiping element, wherein the frame has at least one claw which partially surrounds the backing strip and the upper portion of the wiping element, and wherein laterally extending means are provided for retaining the backing strip, which is preferably made of metal. The invention also refers to the backing strip as such, and to a process for manufacturing the windshield wiper.
BACKGROUND
Such a windshield wiper is known from the German patent publication No. 32 08 749 (Valeo Systèmes d'Essuyage S. A.). With a windshield wiper of this type the wiping element is formed by a wiping blade made of an elastic material, such as rubber, said wiping blade being reinforced by two metal backing strips respectively inserted in two longitudinally extending recesses in said wiping blade. The frame of the known windshield wiper has several claws retaining the wiping blade and the two backing strips inserted therein in such a way, that a claw located at one end of the wiping blade locally fixates said blade, whereas the other claws allow a movement of the wiping blade in its longitudinal direction. Accordingly said wiping blade is permitted to follow any curvature changes of the windshield on which it lies. The laterally extending means of the known backing strip contain outwardly bent lips on the interior as well as on the exterior longitudinal edge of each backing strip. These lips serve to retain the backing strip in its position.
A disadvantage of a windshield wiper according to the German patent publication referred to above is that, due to the complex construction of the backing strips used therein, it is difficult to manufacture and therefore rather expensive. As the outwardly bent lips on the interior longitudinal edge of each backing strip—due to their sharpness—deeply penetrate into the elastic material of the wiping blade, fractures therein occur during assembly and during any longitudinal movement mentioned earlier of the wiping blade.
It is an object of the invention to obviate these disadvantages, in the sense that at minimum costs—without using complex machinery—simple backing strips are proposed being easier to manufacture and having excellent retaining properties. It is noted that the present invention particularly relates to windshield wipers for motor cars, but is not restricted thereto; it refers also to rail coaches and all other (fast) vehicles. Furthermore, it is to be understood that the present invention also bears on a windshield wiper having an oscillating arm and a frame constructed as one part.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Thereto, according to the present invention a windshield wiper mentioned in the preamble is characterized in that the backing strip is flattened at a distance from its end over a portion of its length, in which portion said means are formed by a material removing operation. By making use of a material removing operation, preferably punching instead of a bending operation as applied in the above prior art document, a very precise shape of the retaining means can be obtained. The strength and accurate shape of said means are very important, as the rubber wiping blade has a small dimension along the longitudinal recesses wherein the backing strips are inserted. Because the ends (tips) of the backing strip are not flattened, the shape of the retaining means can be accurately controlled.
In an embodiment of a windshield wiper according to the invention flattening the backing strip and removing the material is carried out in one operation. As a result, the accuracy with which the shape of the means for retaining the back strip is manufactured, is increased.
In a further embodiment of a windshield wiper according to the invention the material removing operation is a punching operation. In another preferred embodiment the operation is a cutting/sawing operation.
In a further embodiment of a windshield wiper according to the invention the means comprise at least one tooth extending laterally from the interior longitudinal edge of the backing strip, said tooth retaining the backing strip on the wiping element.
In a further embodiment of a windshield wiper according to the invention the means comprise at least one stop extending laterally from the exterior longitudinal edge of the backing strip, said stop retaining the backing strip on the claw and, as a result, on the wiping element. In another preferred embodiment the means comprise two stops located on opposite sides of the claw, respectively.
The invention furthermore refers to a backing strip suitable for use in a windshield wiper according to the invention.
Finally, the invention relates to a process for manufacturing a windshield wiper according to the invention, comprising the steps of
flattening the backing strip at a distance from its end over a portion of its length; and
carrying out a material removing operation for forming said means in said portion.
Further objects and effects of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which
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patent: 997238 (1911-07-01), Casgrain
patent: 1923827 (1933-08-01), Holt
patent: 1959027 (1934-05-01), Hemstreet
patent: 2957226 (1960-10-01), Dibner
patent: 4782549 (1988-11-01), Beneteau et al.
patent: 5697156 (1997-12-01), Buechele
patent: 3208749 (1982-10-01), None
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patent: 260809 (1988-03-01), None
patent: 465095 (1992-01-01), None
patent: 2243991 (1991-11-01), None
patent: 2292672 (1996-03-01), None
Rosiere Alexandre Jean
Saedelaere Dieter Cecilia
Cooper Automotive S.A.
Graham Gary K.
Reising Ethington, Barnes, Kisselle, Learman & McCulloch, P.C.
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