Brushing – scrubbing – and general cleaning – Attachments – Optical-member-attachable cleaner
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-11
2001-01-23
Parker, Fred J. (Department: 1762)
Brushing, scrubbing, and general cleaning
Attachments
Optical-member-attachable cleaner
C015S250361, C015S250410
Reexamination Certificate
active
06175986
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a method of making a profiled element from rubber or an elastomeric material, natural or synthetic, the material being vulcanised and having a surface layer which is adapted to reduce the coefficient of friction between the profiled element and a surface of a glazing element (for example a vehicle windshield) over which the profiled element is to be passed in wiping motion. A non-limiting example of such a profiled element is a wiping strip for a motor vehicle screen wiper.
The invention also relates to such a wiping strip, when made by such a method.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In a known technique, a profiled element of the general kind defined above, for example a motor vehicle windshield wiper wiping strip, is clad with a lubricating coating, which is obtained by immersing the wiping strip in a solution in which a powder, such as graphite for example, is immersed, or by applying this solution in atomised form to the profiled element.
In this known technique, the lubricant coating is formed by immersing the wiping strip in a solution which consists essentially of an acrylic resin binder in which the graphite powder is dispersed, or by applying the same solution in atomised form on the profiled element. After application of this solution, the wiping strip is dried so as to produce a surface layer which gives the wiping strip properties which considerably improve the quality of the wiping action performed by the windshield wiper in which the strip is later incorporated. Although such a coating does improve wiping quality, it has the disadvantage that it is particularly fragile, and in particular it has a very low resistance to detergents and other cleaning agents which are typically employed in the washing of vehicles. As a result, the lubricant coating has a very short useful life, in that it rapidly deteriorates and even disappears completely, thus quickly reducing wiping performance.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
The object of the invention is to provide a novel method for forming the surface layer of a profiled element such as a wiping strip, as defined above, which overcomes the above mentioned drawback by producing a low-friction surface layer of improved durability.
STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention, a method of making a profiled element of rubber or an elastomeric material, the profiled element being vulcanised and including a surface layer for reducing the coefficient of friction between the profiled element and a surface of a glazing element, in which the surface layer is formed by immersion of the profiled element in a solution in which a powder, in particular crystalline graphite, is dispersed, or by application of the said solution in atomised form on to the profiled element, is characterised in that the step of forming the surface layer is carried out during the vulcanisation of the profiled element.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3873458 (1975-03-01), Parkinson
patent: 3972850 (1976-08-01), Hamilton et al.
patent: 4209332 (1980-06-01), Tsujio
patent: 4428786 (1984-01-01), Arni
patent: 4622712 (1986-11-01), Sugita et al.
patent: 4853428 (1989-08-01), Theodore et al.
patent: 4857578 (1989-08-01), Hall
patent: 5423105 (1995-06-01), Scott
patent: 5442005 (1995-08-01), Brugarolas et al.
patent: 5447645 (1995-09-01), Marshall
patent: 5631313 (1997-05-01), Bishop et al.
patent: 32 14 267 (1982-04-01), None
patent: 3214267 (1983-10-01), None
patent: 539 585 A1 (1991-04-01), None
patent: 562 191 (1993-09-01), None
patent: 81-0210288 (1981-12-01), None
patent: 58-42624 (1983-03-01), None
patent: 84-0168951 (1984-08-01), None
patent: 3-42355 (1991-02-01), None
patent: 94-0200320 (1994-03-01), None
Patent Abstracts of Japan, vol. 007, No. 122 (C-168), May 26, 1983 & JP 58 042624 A (Toyoda Gosei KK), Mar. 12, 1983.
Database WPI, Section CH, Week 8240, Derwent Publications Ltd., London, GB; Class A18, AN 82-84795E XP002026955 & JP 57 140 159 A (Toyoda Gosei KK), Aug. 30, 1982.
Database WPI, Section CH, Week 8501, Derwent Publications Ltd., London, GB; Class A32, AN 85-002674 XP002026956 & JP 59 201 838 A (Toyoda Gosei KK), Nov. 15, 1984.
Database WPI, Section CH, Week 7913, Derwent Publications Ltd., London, GB; Class A35, AN 79-24560B XP002026957 & JP 54 022 482 A (Nippon Oil Seal Ind) Feb. 20, 1979.
French Search Report dated Mar. 21, 1997.
Form PTO 1449 from parent application S.N. 08/874,768 dated Jul. 2, 1998.
Desormiere Sophie
Oulie Michel
Morgan & Finnegan , LLP
Parker Fred J.
Valeo Systemes d'Essuyage
LandOfFree
Wiping strip for a motor vehicle screen wiper does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Wiping strip for a motor vehicle screen wiper, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Wiping strip for a motor vehicle screen wiper will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2500444