Patent GB-775964-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to windscreen wipers
IPC: B60S1/38
Filed: 1953-12-30
Abstract: 775,964. Windscreen cleaners. O'SHEI, W. E. Dec. 30, 1954 [Dec. 30, 1953, Feb. 15, 1954, July 29, 1954], Nos. 36251/53, 4418/54 and 22183/54. Class 138(1) A windscreen wiper comprises a squeegee element, a yoke member extending along the back thereof and two squeegee support members respectively attached by one end adjacent opposite, ends of the yoke member and extending inwardly of the ends of the yoke member, the support members being flexible or movable against the action of resilient means in the direction of the medium plane of the squeegee element but not transversely thereto, and being connected at a plurality of points therealong to the squeegee element whereby to restrain transverse flexing of the squeegee element along the length of a support member. As shown in the embodiment of Fig. 1, a pair of yokes 1, pivoted by rivets 3 to the ends of a bridge-piece 4 carried by the end of a wiper arm, each have at their ends integral extensions, constituting squeegee support members 7, in the form of pairs of resilient metal strips 7a, 7b which members 7 are bent inwardly towards each other so that the strips 7a, 7b are engageable in grooves 8 extending along the sides and throughout the length of the squeegee element 2. The inner ends of the strips, which constitute leaf springs are prevented from splaying apart by loop portions 7c. Notches 9 in the portions 7c and notches 11 in the adjacent end portions 10a of the yokes are provided to receive the rear flange of the squeegee, the outer end portions 10 of the yokes being imperforate in order to retain the squeegee assembled with the yokes and strips. Notches 13 provided in one pair of strips 7a, 7b facilitate the insertion of the rear flange of the squeegee therethrough whereafter it is assembled with the strips. In a modification the adjacent inner ends of the pairs of strips 7a, 7b, with or without the provision of loops 7c may be interconnected by channel connectors each connector being slidable relative to at least one of the associated support members as described with reference to Fig. 3 (not shown). The embodiment of Fig. 2 differs from that of Fig. 1 in that the support members comprise single strips 17 provided along each side with fingers 18 to embrace the rear flange of the squeegee. One pair of fingers 18a are clamped against the rear flange to prevent displacement of the squeegee from the strips. Connectors between the adjacent ends of the strips 17 may be provided as in the case of the strips 7a, 7b. In further modifications a flexible strip of metal may be inserted between the strips 17 and the rear flange of the squeegee, cr two strips, joined at their ends by crosspieces may be inserted in grooves extending along both sides of the squeegee below the grooves 8 as described with reference to the drawing accompanying Provisional Specification 22183/54 (not shown). If desired a single yoke extending over the whole length of the squeegee may oe provided and connected directly to the wiper arm. Alternatively one yoke may be provided connected to one end of a bridge piece, the other end of the bridge piece having a support member directly engaging the squeegee, as described with reference to Fig. 4 (not shown). In another form described with reference to Fig. 5 (not shown) there may be three yokes, two of which are connected by a secondary yoke which is connected to one end of a bridge piece, the other end of the latter connecting with the third yoke. Finally in another form described with reference to Fig. 6 (not shown) four yokes are provided, pairs of yokes being interconnected by secondary yokes which in turn are connected to a bridge piece. In all these alternative forms the yokes are provided with inwardly extending squeegee support members. Instead of the supports members being flexible they may be rigid and pivotally or flexibly connected (e.g. by rivets) to the ends of the yokes, one or more springs then being provided to urge the rigid members away from the yokes. Moreover the lengths of the opposed support members may differ. Specifications 666,473, 666,474, 675,849, 683,201, 683,675 and 775.967 are referred to.