Backing strip for windshield wiper

A backing strip for a windshield wiper assembly includes a pair of rails. Each of the pair of rails includes a body portion and a detent portion. The detent portion includes a cut-out on each side thereof. The cut-outs are generally symmetric with each other and form a pair of hooks on each side of said detent portion. The cut-out on one side of the detent portion of each of said rails is for receiving a claw of the windshield wiper assembly and the hooks on the opposite side of the detent portion of each of the rails are for engaging a windshield wiper blade of the windshield wiper assembly.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a backing strip for a windshield wiper assembly. In particular, the present invention is directed to a backing strip for a windshield wiper assembly which stiffens the windshield wiper blade while allowing the windshield wiper blade to flex to conform to the curvature of a windshield of a vehicle. The present invention is also directed to a rail for a backing strip for a windshield wiper assembly and a method of manufacturing a rail for a backing strip for a windshield wiper assembly.

2. Description of Related Art

Various types of backing strips for windshield wiper assemblies are known. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,185,805 is directed to a method of forming a windshield wiper. The windshield wiper includes a wiping blade having two recesses for receiving a pair of backing strips. The backing strips include two teeth for retaining the backing strip and two stops which receive a claw of the windshield wiper. However, the stops which are formed on one side of each of the backing strips must be used such that they face outwardly to receive the claw of the windshield wiper. In view of this, it is not possible to use the backing strips such that either side of the backing strips can receive the claw of the windshield wiper.

In addition, U.S. Pat. No. 5,231,730 is directed to a wiper blade with a reinforcing rail locating means. The rails include recesses on opposite sides thereof that are located at opposite ends of the rail. This provides reversibility of the rails. However, the recesses in the rails are not for receiving a claw of a windshield wiper assembly, but are for receiving an increased thickness portion of the wiper blade. In view of this, the rails can only be used with a non-extruded wiper blade.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a backing strip for a windshield wiper assembly, which eliminates the above problems encountered with conventional windshield wiper frame connectors.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a backing strip for a windshield wiper assembly which includes rails having a detent portion on only one end. This allows the manufacture of a single rail, which can be used on either side of a windshield wiper blade to secure the windshield wiper blade to a windshield wiper assembly.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a backing strip for a windshield wiper assembly which can be used with an extruded windshield wiper blade and prevent the windshield wiper blade from sliding with respect to the remaining portions of the windshield wiper assembly.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide backing strip for a windshield wiper assembly, which includes rails having a detent portion with a pair of symmetric cut-outs which form a central portion therebetween. The central portion is preferably formed to have a width, which is wider than a body of the rail to increase the amount of force applied by the claw of the windshield wiper assembly.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a backing strip for a windshield wiper assembly, which is inexpensive and easy to manufacture. In addition, it is an object of the present invention to provide a backing strip for a windshield wiper assembly which requires only one type of rail that can be used on either side of a windshield wiper blade.

The above objects are accomplished by a backing strip for windshield wiper assembly, comprising a pair of rails, each of said pair of rails including a body portion and a detent portion, said detent portion including a cut-out on each side thereof, said cut-outs being generally symmetric with each other and forming a pair of hooks on each side of said detent portion, wherein the cut-out on one side of said detent portion of each of said rails is for receiving a claw of the windshield wiper assembly and the hooks on the opposite side of the detent portion of each of the rails are for engaging a windshield wiper blade of the windshield wiper assembly.

The above objects are also accomplished by a rail for a backing strip for a windshield wiper assembly, comprising a body portion and a detent portion, said detent portion including a cut-out on each side thereof, said cut-outs being generally symmetric with each other and forming a pair of hooks on each side of said detent portion, wherein the cut-out on one side of said detent portion is for receiving a claw of the windshield wiper assembly and the hooks on the opposite side of the detent portion are for engaging a windshield wiper blade of the windshield wiper assembly.

The above objects are also accomplished by a method of manufacturing a rail for a backing strip for a windshield wiper assembly, said method comprising the steps of forming a body member having a generally rectangular cross-section; stamping a portion of said body member to form a decreased thickness portion; and cutting out a portion of said decreased thickness portion to form a detent portion having a cut-out on each side thereof, said cut-outs being generally symmetric with each other and forming a pair of hooks on each side of said detent portion, wherein the cut-out on one side of said detent portion is for receiving a claw of the windshield wiper assembly and the hooks on the opposite side of the detent portion is for engaging a windshield wiper blade of the windshield wiper assembly

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now in detail to the accompanying drawings, the preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described. Referring toFIG. 1, a rail1includes a body portion3and a detent portion5. The body3of the rail1is elongated, flat and generally rectangular in cross-section. The detent portion5is formed adjacent only one end of the body3.

The rail1of the present invention can be formed of any material that can provide the necessary rigidity to a windshield wiper blade, while permitting the windshield wiper blade to conform to the curvature of the windshield of a vehicle. It is preferred that the rail1of the present invention be constructed from stainless steel; however, other materials will be readily understood to one having ordinary skill in the art.

Referring to the enlarged portion ofFIG. 1, the detent portion5includes a pair of cut-outs7, which form a pair of hooks9on each side of the detent portion5. Referring toFIGS. 3–5of the present invention, a rail1is received in a windshield wiper blade13of a windshield wiper assembly on each of opposite sides thereof. The windshield wiper blade13can also be referred to as a squeegee or rubber squeegee. Specifically, the rails1are received in slots15formed in sides of the windshield wiper blade13. A claw17of the windshield wiper assembly is received in the detent portions5of each of the rails1. Specifically, the outer openings7in each of the detent portions5of the rails1receive the claw17of the windshield wiper assembly, while the inner hooks9of the detent portion in each of the rails1cooperate with each other to secure the windshield wiper blade13therebetween.

Referring toFIGS. 2A and 3of the present invention, the rails1according to the first embodiment of the present invention include hooks9extending outwardly from a top of the detent portion5and hooks9extending from a bottom of the detent portion5. When the rails1are mounted to the windshield wiper blade13, the top hooks9in one rail1are oriented to extend toward a center of the windshield wiper assembly and the top hooks9in the opposite rail1are oriented to extend away from the center of the windshield wiper assembly. In view of this, when the claw15is received within the cut-outs7, the hooks9in each of the rails1cooperate with each other to secure the windshield wiper blade13therebetween.

Referring toFIG. 3, the windshield wiper blade13is made of a flexible material. In view of this, when the claw17is secured within the detent portions5of the rails1, the material of the windshield wiper blade13flexes and the hooks9push into the material of the windshield wiper blade13to secure the windshield wiper blade13to the windshield wiper assembly in a secure manner. In view of this, the windshield wiper blade13is prevented from sliding with respect to the claw17and therefore the windshield wiper assembly.

It should be noted that it is preferred that the hooks9of the opposite rails1overlap each other with the material of the windshield wiper blade13being located therebetween. InFIG. 3, the hooks are not illustrated in overlapping manner; however, it is preferred that each of the hooks9of the rails1cross over the center line19, so that the hooks9overlap each other. This provides a more secure attachment of the rails1to the windshield wiper blade13.

Referring toFIG. 3, the material of the windshield wiper blade3bulges at21to permit the hooks9to overlap with each other when the rails are secured by the claw17. Since the opposite rails1include hooks that are displaced vertically from each other, rather than aligned with each other, the material of the windshield wiper blade13is allowed to be displaced to form the bulges21. This bulging of the windshield wiper blade13further secures the rails1to the windshield wiper blade13.

Referring again toFIG. 1of the present invention, a central portion of the detent portion1is formed to have a width which is greater than a width of the body3. In view of this, when the claw17is mounted within the cut-outs7of the detent portion5of the rails1, a force applied to rails1is increased, such that the rails1are pushed further inward toward the center of the windshield wiper assembly. It should be understood that increasing the width of the central portion in conjunction with decreasing the width of the claw17will control the amount of overlap, if any, of the hooks9of the cooperating rails1.

Referring toFIG. 2Bof the present invention, the second embodiment of will be described.FIG. 2Bis a cross-section along the lines2—2ofFIG. 1and illustrates the second embodiment of the present invention which includes a top portion of the detent portion5having a thickness which is decreased across an entire width. In view of this, the hooks9on one side of the rail1are thicker than the hooks9on the opposite side of the rail1. Accordingly, when the rails1according to the second embodiment of the present invention are mounted to the windshield wiper blade13, the thicker hooks9on one rail cooperate with the thinner hooks of the opposite rail to secure the material of the windshield wiper blade13therebetween. The second embodiment of the present invention has not been illustrated in use with the windshield wiper blade13; however, the operation can easily be understood from a review ofFIG. 3.

Referring toFIG. 2Cof the present invention, the third embodiment of the present invention is illustrate.FIG. 2Cis also a cross-section along the line2—2ofFIG. 1. Referring toFIG. 2C, the cross-section of the detent portion5of the rail1is the same as the second embodiment ofFIG. 2C, except that the hooks9on one side have been bent upwardly and the hooks9on the opposite side have been bent downwardly.

Referring toFIG. 4of the present invention, the third embodiment of the present invention is illustrated schematically in use. Specifically, the rails1are mounted in the slots15of the windshield wiper blade13. The rail1on one side of the windshield wiper blade13is mounted such that the hooks having an upward bend extend toward the center line19, while the rail1on the opposite side is mounted such that the hooks having a downward bend extend toward the center line19. In view of this, when the claw17is received within the openings7in each of the rails1, the inner hooks of the rails1overlap each other and secure the windshield wiper blade13therebetween

The rail1according to the first embodiment of the present invention is manufactured by forming a generally rectangular base member. A portion of the base member is stamped to decrease the thickness of the base member and therefore form the base portion3and the decreased thickness portion which will be used for the detent portion5.

InFIG. 2A, the stamping is carried out by a top die and a bottom die (not shown) that have raised portions to form the decreased thickness portion to have the cross-sectional shape illustrated inFIG. 2A. Specifically, the stamping is carried out to form a decreased thickness portion23on the bottom on one side of the detent portion5and a decreased thickness portion25on the top on the opposite side of the detent portion5.

As an alternative, the bottom die can be flat and the top die can have raised portions to form the decreased thickness portion into the shape illustrated inFIG. 2B. Specifically, the stamping is carried out to form a decreased thickness portion23on one side of the detent portion5which is thinner than a decreased thickness portion25on the opposite side of the detent portion5.

The next step in the manufacture of the rail1is to cut out portions of the decreased thickness portions23,25on each side of the detent portion5to form the cut-outs7. InFIGS. 2A and 2B, the cut-outs are formed without bending the hooks9, while inFIG. 2C, the cut-outs are formed at the same time as the hooks on one side of the rail1bent upwardly and the hooks9on the opposite side are bent downwardly. The cutting and bending in the third embodiment ofFIG. 2Ccan easily be performed by a die having a cutting portion and a bending portion (not shown).

Referring toFIG. 5, the first embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in perspective view along with a windshield wiper blade13. As identified by the arrow, the rail1is inserted into the slot15on each side of the windshield wiper blade13. The inner hooks9of the illustrated rail1(the other rail is not shown) engage a bottom of the inner wall of the slot15, since the inner hooks9extend from a bottom of the detent portion5. As can be understood, the rail on the opposite side would have the inner hooks9extending from the top side of the detent portion5so that the inner rails9of the two rails cooperate with each other to secure the windshield wiper blade13therebetween. This arrangement is clearly illustrated inFIG. 3.

After the rails1are inserted into the slots15, the claw17is secured within the outer cut-outs in each of the rails1. This forces the inner hooks9to overlap with each other to strongly secure the windshield wiper blade13to the rails1to prevent sliding of the windshield wiper blade13.