Abstract:
Disclosed herein is a packaging case of a wiper blade used to wipe a windscreen of automobiles. The wiper blade includes a wiper strip to wipe a windshield of an automobile. The packaging case includes a body having an accommodation space to accommodate the wiper blade and an opening to open the accommodation space, a cover connected pivotally to a first side of the body via a first connecting part to cover the opening, and a locking section connected pivotally to a second side of the body, opposed to the first side, via a second connecting part to be engaged with the body with one end of the cover interposed between the locking section and the body. The packaging case can protect the wiper blade from external force and prevent damage of the wiper blade during delivery and distribution, and can ensure simple, compact and tight packaging of the wiper blade.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a packaging case of a wiper blade used to wipe rain or dirt from a windscreen of automobiles, and more particularly to a wiper blade packaging case that has not only a fundamental function of accommodating and packaging wiper blades in a compact state, but also additional functions of protecting an appearance of the wiper blades thereby to prevent damage of the wiper blades during delivery or distribution. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Almost all automobiles are equipped with a wiper blade serving to clean or wipe a windshield in order to prevent unclear view caused by contamination of the windshield due to dirt in air or various weather conditions. The wiper blade wipes the windshield while pivoting at a predetermined angle in a state of closely contacting the windshield, thereby securing a driver&#39;s sight for safe driving. 
     When such a wiper blade is worn out or lowered in contacting or wiping force due to long term use, it is necessary to replace it with a new wiper blade, which is generally encased in a separate packaging case and sold therewith. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an inner case of a conventional wiper blade packaging case and  FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an outer case to receive the inner case of  FIG. 1 . 
     The conventional wiper blade packaging case as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  comprises an inner case  10  to receive and secure a wiper blade or a wiper strip  1 , and an outer case  20  to receive the inner case  10  with the wiper blade  1  secured therein. Therefore, such a conventional wiper blade packaging case makes packaging of the wiper blade or the wiper strip  1  cumbersome and often results in escape of the inner case  10  from the outer case  20  due to an impact during delivery or distribution of the packaging case. Furthermore, to check condition of the wiper blade or the wiper strip  1  packaged in the packaging case, consumers have the inconvenience of opening the outer case  20 . In this regard, although some conventional packaging cases are provided with a window  22  in the outer case  20  to overcome such inconvenience, the outer case  20  having the window  22  formed therein increases manufacturing costs of the packaging case. 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of another conventional wiper blade packaging case. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , the conventional wiper blade packaging case  30  is an integral packaging case that comprises a body  32  to receive a wiper blade  40 , and a cover  34  connected to the body  32  to cover the body  32 . The body  32  is formed on the perimeter thereof with a plurality of protrusions  33 , and, the cover  34  is formed with a plurality of recesses  35  to which the protrusions  33  are fitted and secured. 
     For the packaging case  30  having such a configuration as mentioned above, the protrusions  33  are press-fitted and secured into the recesses  35 , with the cover  34  covering the body  32 . 
     However, since the packaging case  30  is not provided with means to hold the wiper blade  40  securely therein, the wiper blade  40  accommodated in the packaging case  30  is likely to experience scratching, peeling-off of paint, and the like due to contact with the packaging case  30  during delivery or distribution. Furthermore, since the wiper blade  40  is accommodated in a curved shape corresponding to a rounded face of the windshield, the packaging case occupies a large volume in a packaging state, causing an increase in delivery and distribution costs. 
     Moreover, as the various wiper blades having a variety of shapes have been recently developed to improve performance, there is a need for a new wiper blade packaging case having a proper internal shape corresponding to the various wiper blades. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is conceived to solve the problems of the conventional techniques as described above, and an object of the present invention is to provide a wiper blade packaging case that protects a wiper blade from external force to prevent damage of the wiper blade during delivery and distribution, and that enables compact, simple and tight packaging of the wiper blade such that the packaging case is not easily separated during the distribution. 
     In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the above and other objects can be accomplished by the provision of a packaging case of a wiper blade including a wiper strip to wipe a windshield of an automobile, comprising: a body having an accommodation space to accommodate the wiper blade and an opening to open the accommodation space; a cover connected pivotally to one side of the body via a first connecting part to cover the opening; and a locking section connected pivotally to the other side of the body via a second connecting part to be engaged with the body with one end of the cover interposed between the locking section and the body. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a packaging case of a wiper blade including a wiper strip to wipe a windshield of an automobile is provided, comprising: a body having an accommodation space to accommodate the wiper blade and an opening to open the accommodation space; a cover to cover the opening; and locking sections respectively connected pivotally to opposites sides of the body in a longitudinal direction via connecting parts to be engaged with the body with one end of the cover interposed between each of the locking sections and the body. 
     The body may comprise a plurality of securing protrusions formed on a face adjacent to the locking section, and the locking section may comprise a plurality of fitting holes press-fitted to the securing protrusions. The cover may comprise a plurality of through-holes through which the securing protrusions pass and are inserted. Further, each of the connecting parts has a ring-shaped cross-section and is elastically deformable. The packaging case may further comprise a projection formed in the accommodation space of the body to secure the wiper blade accommodated in the body. In particular, the accommodation space of the body may have a space to accommodate the wiper strip and preferably having a size to prevent the wiper strip from contacting an inner surface of the body when the wiper blade is completely accommodated in the body. The body may further comprise a plurality of clips formed therein to secure printed matter. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments given in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an inner case of a conventional wiper blade packaging case; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an outer case to receive the inner case of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of another conventional wiper blade packaging case; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a packaging case of a wiper blade according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which the packaging case is opened to accommodate the wiper blade; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the packaging case of the wiper blade according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which the wiper blade is accommodated in the packaging case; 
         FIGS. 6 to 8  are cross-sectional views illustrating the packaging case of the wiper blade according to an embodiment of the present invention from an open state to a closed state to accommodate the wiper blade. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings hereinafter. 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a packaging case of a wiper blade according to one embodiment of the present invention, in which the packaging case is opened to accommodate the wiper blade, and  FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the packaging case of the wiper blade according to one embodiment of the present invention, in which the wiper blade is accommodated in the packaging case. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the packaging case  60  of a wiper blade is used for packaging the wiper blade  50  serving to clean or wipe dirt from a windshield of an automobile in a state of closely contacting the windshield. 
     Generally, the wiper blade  50  comprises a wiper strip  52  to make close contact with the windshield, a frame  54  configured to mount the wiper strip  52  thereon, and a connector  56  coupled to the frame  54  so as to be coupled to a wiper arm of the automobile. 
     The windshield of the automobile has a predetermined curvature to lessen air resistance and the frame  54  elastically compresses the wiper strip  52  to make close contact with the windshield. Therefore, the wiper blade  50  is given a predetermined curvature corresponding to the curvature of the windshield. 
     Such a wiper blade  50  is provided as a replaceable component and is commonly available from automobile specialty shops, large distribution and discount stores, etc. 
     The wiper blade  50  can be sold in a separate packaging case  60  for identification and protection of the products. The packaging case  60  prevents damage of the wiper blade  50  accommodated therein and enables the wiper blades  50  to be maintained in an optimal state. In addition, the packaging case  60  allows the wiper blade  50  to be maintained in an unfolded state, reducing a volume occupied by the wiper blade  50 . 
     Such a packaging case  60  of the wiper blade comprises a body  70  having a predetermined accommodating space  71  defined therein to accommodate the wiper blade  50 , and a cover  80  connected with the body  70  to cover the accommodating space  71 . 
     The body  70  has an opening, through which the wiper blade  50  is placed in or taken out from the accommodating space  71 , and a flange  72  extending horizontally from the perimeter of the opening. 
     The cover  80  has a receiving section  81  to receive a portion of the wiper blade  50  accommodated in the body  70  and a cover flange  82  extending from an outer periphery of the receiving section  81 . 
     The cover  80  is connected pivotally to a first side of the body  70  by means of a first connection part  76  formed therebetween. The first connection part  76  may include a ring-shaped cross section and a predetermined elasticity. 
     Further, the body  70  is formed at a second side of the body  70 , opposed to the first side, with a locking section  90  to restrict the cover  80  when the cover  80  covers the opening of the body  70 . The locking section  90  is connected pivotally to the other side of the body  70  by means of a second connection part  78 . The second connection part  78  may include a ring-shaped cross section so as to have a predetermined elasticity. 
     With the cover  80  covering the opening of the body, the locking section  90  is coupled to the case flange  72  such that a portion of the cover flange  82  is interposed between the case flange  72  and the locking section  90 . 
     Preferably, the case flange  72  is formed with securing protrusions  75  adjacent the locking section  90 , and the locking section  90  is formed with fitting holes  95  into which the securing protrusions  75  will be fitted and coupled. 
     More preferably, the cover flange  82  of the cover  80  is formed with through-holes  85  corresponding to the securing protrusions  75 . Thus, with the through-holes  85  fitted to the securing protrusions  75 , the securing protrusions  75  are inserted into the fitting holes  95  and the locking section  90  restricts the cover  80 . 
     In the embodiment described above, the body  70  and the cover  80  are described as an integral component and are pivotally connected to each other via the first connecting part  76 . Alternatively, the body  70  and the cover  80  can be formed as separate components, and the first connecting part  76  has the same configuration as that of the second connecting part  78 . 
     Furthermore, the packaging case  60  of the wiper blade according to the present invention may have projections  74  respectively formed on opposite sides in the inner space of the body  70  to secure the wiper blade  50  received therein. 
     At this time, each of the projections  74  is formed to have a predetermined elasticity, so that, when the wiper blade  50  is packaged in the packaging case, the wiper frame  54  is fitted between the projections  74  and maintained in an unfolded state. Each of the projections  74  is not necessarily continuous and can be divided so as not to interfere with the connector  56  of the wiper blade  50 . Additionally, the projections  74  are not necessarily formed in a symmetrical shape. Rather, it is sufficient that the projections  74  are disposed to maintain the unfolded state of the wiper frame  54  when the wiper frame  54  is received in the body  70  and secured by the projections  74 . Furthermore, the projections  74  may be disposed in a staggered pattern on the opposite sides in the body, so that the wiper blade  50  can be more easily inserted or taken out from between the projections  74 . 
     And, a space where the wiper strip  52  is accommodated, that is, a lower portion of the accommodation space  71  of the body  70  where the wiper blade  50  is accommodated, preferably has at least a size to prevent the wiper strip  52  from contacting the inner surface of the body  70  when the wiper blade  50  is completely accommodated in the body  70 . 
     The body  70  may further comprise a plurality of clips  88  therein to secure printed matter such as publicity prints or product manual. Each of the clips  88  is formed to have a predetermined elasticity and is configured to fit and secure the printed matter therebetween. Preferably, the clips  88  are formed at one side of the cover  80  so that the printed matter can be more easily recognized from the outside. 
     The packaging case  60  of the wiper blade having such a configuration as described above may be formed of synthetic resins. Specifically, a portion or all of the packaging case  60  may be formed of a transparent material to allow a serviceman or a user to see the interior of the packaging case. Furthermore, the packaging case  60  may have various colors to allow more easy recognition of the products from other products or to provide distinction of the products and more appealing appearance to the products. 
     The packaging case  60  may have a display part  62  formed at one side such that the packaging case  60  can be hung on and kept in a display rack used for storage or selling of wiper blinds encased in the packaging case  60 . The display part  62  is formed by a combination of a circular hole  63  and a linear groove  64  such that the packaging case  60  can be hung on any display rack having a circular rack rod or a thin plate-shaped rack rod. The circular hole  63  is formed at the center of the linear groove  64 . The packaging case  60  of the wiper blade having such a configuration can be displayed in a state wherein the packaging case is suspended from a rack rod of the display rack through the display part  62  when displaying the products for sale and/or storage. 
       FIGS. 6 to 8  are cross-sectional views illustrating the packaging case of the wiper blade according to the present invention from an open state to a closed state to accommodate the wiper blade. 
     Hereinafter, a process of accommodating the wiper blade in the packaging case according to an embodiment of the present invention is described with reference to  FIGS. 6 to 8 . 
     First, the wiper blade  50  is put in the accommodating space  71  of the body  70 . At this time, when the frame  54  of the wiper blade  50  is forced to be located under lower surfaces of the projections  74  of the body  70 , the wiper blade  50  is maintained in an unfolded state without any bending, and, the wiper strip  52  is maintained without contact with the inner surface of the body  70 . 
     Then, the cover  80  connected to the one side of the body  70  is rotated to cover the opening of the body  70 . At this time, the securing protrusions  75  formed on the case flange  72  penetrate the through-holes  85  formed in the cover flange  82  of the cover  80 . 
     Then, the locking section  90  connected to the second side of the body  70  is rotated to force the fitting holes  95  of the locking section  90  to be fitted onto the securing protrusions  75  of the body  70  with the cover flange  82  of the cover  80  interposed between the locking section  90  and the case flange  72  of the body  70 . 
     On the other hand, the packaging case  60  of the wiper blade  50  is provided therein with printed matter such as publicity paper or product manual by inserting the printed matter into the clips  88  before the cover  80  is coupled to the body  70 . 
     As apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, a wiper blade can be held and firmly secured in a packaging case so that the wiper blade can be protected from the outside and prevented from being damaged by the packaging case. Furthermore, since the packaging case according to embodiments of the preset invention encases the wiper blade in an unfolded state, the packaging volume of the packaging case occupied by the wiper blade is decreased, thereby reducing physical distribution costs related to delivery and distribution. Moreover, since the packaging case can secure a cover to a body of the packaging case with ease and tightness, it can reduce time required for packaging. 
     Although the present invention has been described with reference to the embodiments and the accompanying drawings, it is not limited to the embodiments and the drawings. It should be understood that various modifications and changes can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention defined by the accompanying claims. 
     All of the above U.S. patents, U.S. patent application publications, U.S. patent applications, foreign patents, foreign patent applications and non-patent publications referred to in this specification and/or listed in the Application Data Sheet, are incorporated herein by reference, in their entirety. 
     From the foregoing it will be appreciated that, although specific embodiments of the invention have been described herein for purposes of illustration, various modifications may be made without deviating from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not limited except as by the appended claims.