A WINDSCREEN WIPER

Abstract: A windscreen wiper (10) includes a unitary elongate curved backbone in the form of a beam (18) and a rubber wiper blade (14). The beam (18) has a protective end formation (16) at each of its tips (18). The end formation (16) may be in th form of an extension to the beam (18), or it may be a separate cap of a synthetic plastics material which fits on the wiper blade tip. The application also relates to a protective end fitting for a unitary curved windscreen wiper.

Description: A WINDSCREEN WIPER This invention relates to a windscreen wiper. More particularly, the invention relates to a windscreen wiper and to a protective end fitting for a windscreen wiper. According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a windscreen wiper which includes a unitary elongate curved beam, the beam having a protective end formation at at least one of its tips. The beam may have a pair of end formations, one at each tip. Each of the end formations may include an extra length of the beam, with the beam mounted to a rubber so that the extra length projects beyond an end of the rubber. Each of the extra lengths may be folded so that an end portion thereof extends substantially parallel to an end surface of the rubber. Alternatively, each of the extra lengths may be folded back on itself. An edge portion of the length may be pre-shaped, having rounded edges. The extra length may be folded after being softened in a heating process to facilitate bending. Each of the protective end formations may include a cap of a synthetic plastics material which fits over the tip. The curved backbone may have a varying width and or thickness, along its length. The backbone may have a free form curvature in a plane or may have a compound curvature (that is curved in two planes) . According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a protective end fitting for a windscreen wiper, which includes a body member having a recess for snugly receiving a tip of a beam. The fitting may have a locating means, with the beam having complementary locating formations for securing the fitting in position on the beam. The invention is now described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a side view of a windscreen wiper, in accordance with a first aspect of the invention; Figure 2 shows a side view of a protective end fitting for a windscreen wiper, in accordance with a second aspect of the invention; Figure 3 shows an end view of the fitting of Figure 2, viewed from a section taken along Ill-Ill in Figure 2; Figure 4 shows a top view of the fitting of Figure 2; Figure 5 shows a side view of one embodiment of a protective end formation for a windscreen wiper, in accordance with the first aspect of the invention; and Figure 6 shows a side view of another embodiment of a protective end formation for a windscreen wiper, in accordance with the first aspect of the invention. In the drawings, a windscreen wiper in accordance with the invention is generally designated by the reference numeral 1 0. The windscreen wiper 1 0 includes a unitary curved backbone in the form of a beam 1 2 and a rubber wiper blade 14. The beam 1 2 has a protective end formation generally indicated by reference numeral 1 6, at each of its tips 1 8. Referring to Figures 2 to 4 of the drawings, a protective end fitting for a windscreen wiper, in accordance with a second aspect of the invention, is generally indicated by reference numeral 20. The protective end fitting 20 includes a body member 22 having a recess 24 for snugly receiving one of the tips 1 8 of the beam 1 2. Each fitting 20 is moulded and comprises a synthetic plastics material. Referring now to Figures 5 and 6 of the drawings, two different embodiments of the protective end formation 1 6 are shown. In Figure 5, the end formation 1 6 is in the form of a rounded end which was formed by folding an edge portion 26 of the tip 1 8 over, so that it extends substantially parallel to an edge 27 of the rubber. The end formation 1 6, shown in Figure 6, is also in the form of a rounded end formed by folding the edge portion 26 of the tip 1 8 over on itself. Each edge portion 26 of the tip 1 8 comprises an extra length of the beam 1 2. The edge portion 26 may be bent by clamping the tip 1 8 of the beam 1 2 in a clamping mechanism to avoid bending or damaging of the beam 1 2 during bending of the edge portion 26. The edge portion 26 may be softened in a heating process before or after clamping of the tip 1 8 to facilitate bending. It will be appreciated that the actual shape of the rounded end is cost ally determined.

Claims: CLAIMS: 1 . A windscreen wiper which includes a unitary elongate curved beam, the beam having a protective end formation at at least one of its tips. 2. The windscreen wiper as claimed in Claim 1 , in which the beam has a pair of end formations, one at each tip. 3. The windscreen wiper as claimed in Claim 2, in which each of the end formations includes an extra length of the beam, with the beam mounted to a rubber so that the extra length projects beyond an end of the rubber. 4. The windscreen wiper as claimed in Claim 3, in which each of the extra lengths is folded so that an end portion thereof extends substantially parallel to an end surface of the rubber. 5. The windscreen wiper as claimed in Claim 3, in which each of the extra lengths is folded back on itself. 6. The windscreen wiper as claimed in Claim 2, in which each of the protective end formations includes a cap of a synthetic plastics material which fits over the tip. 7. The windscreen wiper as claimed in Claim 1 , in which the curved backbone has a varying width and thickness, along its length. 8. The windscreen wiper as claimed in Claim 1 , in which the backbone has a free form curvature in a plane. 9. The windscreen wiper as claimed in Claim 1 , in which the backbone has a compound curvature. 1 0. A protective end fitting for windscreen wiper, which includes a body member having a recess for snugly receiving a tip of a beam. 1 1 . A windscreen wiper, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompany drawings. 1 2. A protective end fitting for a windscreen wiper, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Inventors: FEHRSEN JOHANNES HENDRIK, FEHRSEN, JOHANNES, HENDRIK
Applicants: FEHRSEN JOHANNES HENDRIK, TRICO PRODUCTS CORP, FEHRSEN, JOHANNES, HENDRIK, TRICO PRODUCTS CORPORATION
Application year: 1999
Main classification: B60S1
IPC codes: B60S1