Patent Publication Number: US-9889821-B2

Title: Wiper blade and method of assembling the same

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is entitled to the benefit of and incorporates by reference subject matter in its entirety disclosed in International Patent Application No. PCT/JP2011/077662 filed on Nov. 30, 2011 and Japanese Patent Application No. JP2010-289898 filed on Dec. 27, 2010. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a wiper blade that is attached to a wiper arm swingably provided on a vehicle and carries out reciprocating wiping operation on a windshield and a method of assembling thereof. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Conventionally, a vehicle such as an automobile is equipped with a wiper device, which wipes off rainwater, dust, etc. attached on a windshield to ensure the view of a driver. The wiper device is provided with a wiper arm swingably driven by an electric motor, and a wiper blade attached to the wiper arm. The wiper blade is provided with a holder main body rotatably attached to a distal-end side of the wiper arm, and a blade rubber retained by the holder main body. The blade rubber is elastically contacted toward the windshield by the elastic force of vertebrae, thereby swingably drives the wiper arm by driving an electric motor; as a result, the blade rubber operates reciprocating wiping on the windshield. 
     As such a wiper blade, for example, the technique described in Japanese Patent (JP) Publication No. 2008-500224 is known. A wiper blade described in JP Publication No. 2008-500224 is provided with a holder main body having a fin part (spoiler), and the holder main body retains a blade rubber (wiper strip) attaching a pair of vertebrae (spring rails). The longitudinal-direction end parts of each of the vertebrae is projecting from the longitudinal-direction end parts of the holder main body by a predetermined amount, and each of the projecting parts of the vertebrae is covered with an end cap having a base part and a cover part. The cover part is provided so as to be closable/openable to the base part, and the movement of each of the vertebrae in the longitudinal direction is restricted when a cover member is closed. Thus, the end cap prevents the blade rubber from falling off from the holder main body. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     However, according to the above described wiper blade described in JP Publication No. 2008-500224, the end cap is composed of the cover part and the base part; therefore, the number of parts has been large, and there has been a risk of causing complex assembling steps of the wiper blade. Moreover, when the blade rubber is to be removed, the cover part has to be opened with respect to the base part to cancel fixation, and maintainability has been low. 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a wiper blade and a method for assembling thereof capable of improving assembling performance and improving maintainability. 
     A wiper blade of the present invention relates to a wiper blade attached to a wiper arm swingably provided on a vehicle and carrying out reciprocating wiping operation on a windshield comprising: a blade rubber having a lip part contact with the windshield and a main-body part integrally formed with the lip part; a holder main body having a retaining part retaining the main-body part; a pair of housing parts provided in short-side-direction both sides of the holder main body so as to sandwich the retaining part; a pair of vertebrae housed in the housing parts respectively and elastically deforming the blade rubber in accordance with a curvature factor of the windshield; an arm coupling member fixed to the vertebrae and coupled to the wiper arm; an end cap attached to a longitudinal-direction end part of the holder main body and preventing the blade rubber from falling off from the holder main body; an insertion opening provided between the end cap and the holder main body and enabling the main body part to be inserted thereto; and a guiding part provided in the end cap side forming the insertion opening and guiding the main-body part toward the retaining part. 
     The wiper blade of the present invention is wherein the guiding part has an inclined surface inclined from an outer part of the end cap toward the retaining part. 
     The wiper blade of the present invention is wherein the retaining part is provided with a retaining claw retaining the main-body part, and wherein the retaining claw is formed of a resin material. 
     The wiper blade of the present invention is wherein the holder main body is formed by extrusion molding. 
     A method of the present invention of assembling a wiper blade attached to a wiper arm swingably provided on a vehicle and carrying out reciprocating wiping operation on a windshield, the wiper blade comprising: a blade rubber having a lip part contact with the windshield and a main-body part integrally formed with the lip part; a holder main body having a retaining part retaining the main-body part; an end cap attached to a longitudinal-direction end part of the holder main body and preventing the blade rubber from falling off from the holder main body; an insertion opening provided between the end cap and the holder main body and enabling the main body part to be inserted thereto; and a guiding part provided in the end cap side forming the insertion opening and guides the main-body part toward the retaining part; the method comprising: inserting a first-end part of the main-body part from the insertion opening to the retaining part; completing the insertion of the main-body part to the retaining part by once compressing the blade rubber in a longitudinal direction thereof; then moving a second-end part of the main-body part toward the end cap; and retaining the main-body part by the end cap. 
     The method of the present invention, assembling the wiper blade, is wherein the blade rubber is once compressed in the longitudinal direction thereof, the second-end part of the main-body part is pulled out from the insertion opening to outside, and the main-body part is pulled out from the retaining part. 
     According to the wiper blade of the present invention, the pair of housing parts are provided at the short-side-direction both sides of the holder main body so as to sandwich the retaining part, the pair of vertebrae elastically deforming the blade rubber in accordance with the curvature factor of the windshield are housed in the housing parts, the insertion opening into which the main-body part can be inserted is provided between the end cap and the holder main body, and the guiding parts which guide the main-body part toward the retaining part are provided in the end cap side where the insertion opening is formed. 
     Since the blade rubber can be inserted from the insertion opening provided between the end cap and the holder main body, the end cap can be formed of one member to simplify the wiper blade. Accordingly, the assembling performance of the wiper blade can be improved. Moreover, since the vertebrae are housed in the holder main body, the blade rubber is not provided with the vertebrae, and the blade rubber can be easily attached to the holder main body while elastically deforming the blade rubber. Furthermore, the blade rubber can be pulled off from the insertion opening to detach the blade rubber from the holder main body; therefore, labor such as detachment of the end cap can be omitted, and maintainability can be improved. 
     Moreover, according to the wiper blade of the present invention, the guiding part has the inclined surface inclined from the outer part of the end cap toward the retaining part. Therefore, attachability of the blade rubber to the holder main body can be improved so as to further improve the assembling performance of the wiper blade. 
     According to the wiper blade of the present invention, the retaining part is provided with the retaining claws retaining the main-body part, and the retaining claws are formed of a resin material. Therefore, the blade rubber can be reliably retained by the retaining claws without falling down from the holder main body. Moreover, upon attachment of the blade rubber to the holder main body, deformation of the retaining claws of which hardness is higher than that of the blade rubber is suppressed to improve the attachability of the blade rubber to the holder main body, wherein the assembling performance of the wiper blade can be improved as a result. 
     According to the wiper blade of the present invention, the holder main body is formed by extrusion molding. Therefore, the manufacturing step of the wiper blade can be simplified. 
     According to the method of assembling the wiper blade of the present invention, the first-end part of the main-body part is inserted from the insertion opening into the retaining part, the blade rubber is once compressed in the longitudinal direction thereof to complete the insertion of the main-body part into the retaining part, and the second-end part of the main-body part is then moved toward the end cap to retain the main-body part by the end cap. Therefore, the blade rubber can be assembled with the holder main body without detaching the end cap, etc. 
     According to the method of assembling the wiper blade of the present invention, the blade rubber is once compressed in the longitudinal direction thereof, the second-end part of the main-body part is pulled from the insertion opening to the outside, and the main-body part is pulled out from the inside of the retaining part. Therefore, the blade rubber can be detached from the holder main body without detaching the end cap, etc. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an explanatory drawing explaining a wiper device mounted on a vehicle. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing a wiper blade of  FIG. 1  in an enlarged manner. 
         FIG. 3  is a cross sectional view taken along the line A-A of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4A  is an enlarged view of the part of a broken-line circle F of  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4B  is an enlarged view of the part of a broken-line circle G of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  is a cross sectional view explaining the state of flows of travel winds and corresponding to  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 6  is a cross sectional view taken along the line B-B of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 7  is an exploded perspective view showing a coupling structure (center part) of the vertebrae. 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view showing a detailed structure of a first cover member. 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view showing a detailed structure of a second cover member. 
         FIG. 10  is a cross sectional view taken along the line C-C of  FIG. 2  explaining a procedure of attaching the wiper blade to the wiper arm. 
         FIG. 11  is a cross sectional view taken along the line D-D of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 12  is an exploded perspective view showing a coupling structure (end part) of the vertebrae. 
         FIGS. 13A and 13B  are perspective views explaining a detailed structure of the end cap. 
         FIGS. 14A and 14B  are cross sectional views taken along the line E-E of FIG.  2  for explaining a procedure of attaching the end cap to the holder member. 
         FIGS. 15A and 15B  are perspective views explaining a procedure of attaching the blade rubber to the holder member (initial stage). 
         FIGS. 16A and 16B  are perspective views explaining a procedure of attaching the blade rubber to the holder member (latter stage). 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTIONS OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The embodiments of the present invention are described with attached figures in detail. 
       FIG. 1  is an explanatory drawing explaining a wiper device mounted on a vehicle;  FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing a wiper blade of  FIG. 1  in an enlarged manner;  FIG. 3  is a cross sectional view taken along the line A-A of  FIG. 2 ;  FIG. 4A  is an enlarged view of the part of a broken-line circle F of  FIG. 3 ;  FIG. 4B  is an enlarged view of the part of a broken-line circle G of  FIG. 3 ; and  FIG. 5  is a cross sectional view explaining the state of flows of travel winds and corresponding to  FIG. 3 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , a front glass  11  serving as a windshield is provided in a front side of a vehicle  10  such as an automobile, and a wiper device  12  for ensuring the view of a driver by wiping off rainwater, dust, etc. (not shown) attached onto the front glass  11  is provided in the front side of the front glass  11 . The wiper device  12  is mounted, for example, in a bulkhead (not shown), which forms an engine room of the vehicle  10 . 
     The wiper device  12  is provided with: a wiper motor  13  rotary driven as an electric motor by operating a wiper switch (not shown) provided, for example, in the vehicle; pivot shafts  14   a  and  14   b  of a driver-seat side (DR side) and a front passenger-seat side (AS side) rotatably provided on the vehicle  10 ; DR-side and AS-side wiper arms  15   a  and  15   b  of which base-end sides are fixed to the respective pivot shafts  14   a  and  14   b  and of which distal-end sides swingably move on the front glass  11 ; and a link mechanism  16  converting the rotary motion of the wiper motor  13  to the swinging motion of the wiper arms  15   a  and  15   b.    
     DR-side and AS-side wiper blades  17   a  and  17   b  are similarly formed and turnably attached to the distal-end sides of the wiper arms  15   a  and  15   b  in the vertical direction of the front glass  11 , respectively. The wiper blades  17   a  and  17   b  elastically contact with the front glass  11  by springs (not shown) provided in the wiper arms  15   a  and  15   b . When the wiper motor  13  is rotatably driven, the wiper blades  17   a  and  17   b  is operated reciprocating wiping in wiping ranges  18   a  and  18   b  on the front glass  11  shown by two-dot-chain lines in the drawing, that is, between a lower reversing position (stop position of the wiper arm) LRP and an upper reversing position URP. 
       FIG. 2  shows the DR-side wiper blade, and, since the DR-side and AS-side wiper blades have similar configurations, hereinafter, only the DR-side wiper blade will be explained. The constituent parts of the DR-side wiper blade are simply referred to as “wiper blade” and so on without denoting them with “DR-side”, and “a, b” at the ends of the symbols for distinguishing the DR-side and the AS-side are omitted. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the wiper blade  17  is provided with: a blade rubber  20  contacting with the front glass  11 ; a holder member  30  retaining the blade rubber  20 ; an arm coupling member  40  provided at a longitudinal-direction intermediate part of the holder member  30 ; a cover  50  covering the arm coupling member  40 ; and a pair of end caps  60  attached to longitudinal-direction both-end parts of the holder member  30 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the blade rubber  20  is provided with a main-body part  21 , a body part  22 , a neck part  23 , and a lip part  24 . The blade rubber  20  is formed to be elongated by extrusion molding of an elastic material such as rubber, and the cross sectional shape thereof has a uniform shape in all the entire area along the longitudinal direction. The thickness of the neck part  23  is set smaller than the thickness of the body part  22  and the neck part  23  is easily elastically deformed. As a result, sliding the wiper blade  17  on the front glass  11  allows the lip part  24  to incline, and a distal-end part of the lip part  24  therefore smoothly follows in the sliding direction of the wiper blade  17  and rainwater, dust, etc. attached onto the front glass  11  are completely wiped out. 
     The holder member  30  is provided with a holder main body  31  and a fin part  32 . The holder main body  31  and the fin part  32  are integrated by two-color molding (extrusion molding) with materials having different hardness and formed to be elongated. Therefore, the manufacturing step of the wiper blade  17  can be simplified. A two-dot chain line L in the drawing shows a border line between the holder main body  31  and the fin part  32 . 
     The holder main body  31  is formed of a flexible resin material such as plastic to be able to follow the front glass  11  and ensure sufficient strength enough to retain the blade rubber  20 . A retaining part  31   a  extending along the longitudinal direction of the holder main body  31  is formed at a short-side-direction intermediate part of the holder main body  31  (intermediate part in the left-right direction in the drawing). The retaining part  31   a  is provided with a recess-shaped retaining groove  31   b  composed of a pair of lateral walls into which the main-body part  21  of the blade rubber  20  inserted, and an upper wall mutually coupling the pair of lateral walls. A gap is formed between the main-body part  21  and the retaining groove  31   b , and the main-body part  21  is assembled with the retaining groove  31   b  via a gap. At the front glass  11  side (lower side in the drawing) of the retaining part  31   a , a pair of retaining claws  31   c  supporting and covering the front glass  11  side of the main-body part  21  by covering and opposed to each other by sandwiching the body part  22 , are provided at. The retaining part  31   a  formed of the retaining groove  31   b  and the retaining claws  31   c  to retain the main-body part  21  allows the blade rubber  20  to completely retain the holder main body  31  without removing. 
     A pair of housing parts  31   d  of which cross section is a substantially rectangular-shaped provided in short-side-direction both sides of the holder main body  31  (left/right sides in the drawing). Each of the housing part  31   d  is formed so as to extend along the longitudinal direction of the holder main body  31  as well as the retaining part  31   a , and are provided so as to sandwich the retaining part  31   a  from the short-side-direction both sides of the holder main body  31 . The height of each of the housing parts  31   d  from the front glass  11  is at substantially the same position as the height of the retaining part  31   a  from the front glass  11 . 
     Plate-like vertebrae  31   e  composed of a steel material with a spring characteristic are housed in each of the housing parts  31   d , and each of the vertebrae  31   e  is provided in the respective housing parts  31   d  movably, that is, in a non-fixed state in the longitudinal direction thereof. Therefore, the elastic force of the vertebrae  31   e  is efficiently transmitted to the holder main body  31  and the blade rubber  20 . In a natural state in which no external force is applied, each of the vertebrae  31   e  is curved by a curvature factor larger than the curvature factor of the front glass  11  and makes the holder main body  31  and the blade rubber  20  elastically deform along the curvature factor of the front glass  11 . Therefore, the entire area of the lip part  24  along the longitudinal direction tightly contacts with the front glass  11 . 
     A rubber pressing part  31   f  corresponding to the upper wall of the retaining groove  31   b  pressing the main-body part  21  of the blade rubber  20  toward the front glass  11  and, is formed at the part of the retaining groove  31   b  opposite to the front glass  11 . Each of holder pressing parts  31   g  pressing the holder main body  31  toward the front glass  11  by the elastic force of the respective vertebra  31   e  is formed in the parts of the housing parts  31   d  opposed to the front glass  11  and in the side closer to the front glass  11  than the rubber pressing part  31   f.    
     Each of the vertebrae  31   e  presses the holder pressing parts  31   g  of the housing parts  31   d  by pressing force F 1  (arrows in the drawing), and the pressing force F 1  is transmitted to the rubber pressing part  31   f  as resultant force F 2  (arrow in the drawing). As a result, the resultant force F 2  is transmitted to the main-body part  21  via the rubber pressing part  31   f , the holder main body  31  and the blade rubber  20  are elastically deformed along the curvature factor of the front glass  11 . Therefore, the entire area to the lip part  24  tightly contacts with the front glass  11  in the longitudinal direction. Since the each of the holder pressing parts  31   g  is positioned in the side closer to the front glass  11  than the rubber pressing part  31   f , the stable resultant force F 2  can be transmitted to the rubber pressing part  31   f , for example, even if the holder main body  31  is twisted, and the entire area of the lip part  24  along the longitudinal direction thereof can completely and tightly contacts with the front glass  11 . 
     An upstream-side lower-end surface part  31   h  is provided in a first side of the short-side direction of the holder main body  31  (right side in the drawing). The upstream-side lower-end surface part  31   h  is positioned in the holder main body  31  in the upstream side of the flow direction of the travel winds and in the front glass  11  side. The cross section along the short-side direction of the holder main body  31  is formed into an arc shape having a radius R 1  as shown in  FIG. 4A . The flow direction of the travel winds is directed from the right side of the drawing toward the left side of the drawing. The wiper blade  17  is positioned at a lower reversing position LRP (stop position of the wiper arm), and, in this state, the travel winds hit the wiper blade  17 . 
     A downstream-side lower-end surface part  31   i  is provided in a second side of the short-side direction of the holder main body  31  (left side in the drawing). The downstream-side lower-end surface part  31   i  is positioned in the holder main body  31  in the downstream side of the flow direction of the travel winds and in the front glass  11  side. The cross section along the short-side direction of the holder main body  31  is formed into an arc shape having a radius R 2  as shown in  FIG. 4B . The radius R 2  of the downstream-side lower-end surface part  31   i  is set larger than the radius R 1  of the upstream-side lower-end surface part  31   h  (R 2 &gt;R 1 ), that is, the curvature factor of the upstream-side lower-end surface part  31   h  is set larger than the curvature factor of the downstream-side lower-end surface part  31   i . Thus, the holder main body  31  makes the upstream side of the flow direction of the travel winds sharpen, and the travel winds can be smoothly guided along the holder main body  31  and the fin part  32  from a travel-wind branching point P toward the left side in the drawing. 
     The travel-wind branching point P is formed in the most distal-end side (rightmost side in the drawing) in the upstream side of the flow direction of the travel winds along the short-side direction of the holder main body  31 , and the travel-wind branching point P divides the travel winds directed toward the wiper blade  17  into the fin part  32  side of the holder main body  31  and the blade rubber  20  side of the holder main body  31 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the fin part  32  is formed of an elastic material such as rubber to be elongated, and the fin part is integrally provided with the holder main body  31  along in the longitudinal direction. The hardness of the fin part  32  is set to the hardness lower than the hardness of the holder main body  31 . Therefore, the fin part  32  can be elastically deformed by the wind pressure of the travel winds (see  FIG. 5 ). 
     The fin part  32  is provided in the side of the holder main body  31  that is opposite to the front glass  11  side, and a vertex part  32   a  furthest from the front glass  11  is formed at the distal-end side thereof (upper side in the drawing). The vertex part  32   a  is disposed in the downstream side of the flow direction of the travel winds along the short-side direction of the holder main body  31  (left side in the drawing) and, the blade rubber  20  is disposed in the upstream side of the flow direction of the travel winds of the fin part  32  (right side in the drawing). Therefore, the downforce (not shown) generated when the travel winds hit the fin part  32  can be efficiently applied to the blade rubber  20 . 
     An upstream-side air-current surface part  32   b  along which the travel winds flow is provided in the first side of the short-side direction of the fin part  32  (right side in the drawing), at the upstream-side air-current surface part  32   b , the cross section thereof along the short-side direction of the fin part  32  has an arc shape, and the radius of the part  32   b  is set to a radius R 3 . A connecting surface part  32   c  of which cross section along the short-side direction of the fin part  32  has an arc shape is provided between the upstream-side air-current surface part  32   b  and the upstream-side lower-end surface part  31   h . The connecting surface part  32   c  smoothly and continuously connects the upstream-side air-current surface part  32   b  and the upstream-side lower-end surface part  31   h . A downstream-side air-current surface part  32   d  set to have a radius R 4  is provided in the second side of the short-side direction of the fin part  32  (left side in the drawing), and the cross section thereof along the short-side direction of the fin part  32  is formed to have an arc shape. 
     The radius R 3  of the upstream-side air-current surface part  32   b  is set larger than the radius R 4  of the downstream-side air-current surface part  32   d  (R 3 &gt;R 4 ), that is, the curvature factor of the upstream-side air-current surface part  32   b  is set smaller than the curvature factor of the downstream-side air-current surface part  32   d . Therefore, a sufficient amount of travel winds can hit the upstream-side air-current surface part  32   b , and the amount of the downforce applied to the blade rubber  20  can be sufficiently increased. The length (height) h 1  from the travel-wind branching point P to the vertex part  32   a  is set to be longer than the length (height) h 2  from the travel-wind branching point P to the distal end of the lip part  24  (h 1 &gt;h 2 ), therefore a large amount of travel winds hit the fin part  32  side of the holder main body  31 . That is, sufficient downforce is obtained even if the size of the fin part  32  does not largely increase. It leads to weight reduction of the wiper blade  17  and improvement of the appearance of the wiper blade  17 . 
     The state of flows of travel winds will be explained based on  FIG. 5 . When the wiper blade  17  receives a travel wind W 1 , the travel wind W 1  is divided by the travel-wind branching point P into a travel wind W 2  of the fin part  32  side and a travel wind W 3  of the blade rubber  20  side. At this point, since the travel-wind branching point P is formed on the upstream-side lower-end surface part  31   h , most of the travel wind W 1  flows to the fin part  32  side as the travel wind W 2 . 
     The travel wind W 2  flows from the upstream-side lower-end surface part  31   h  toward the vertex part  32   a  along the connecting surface part  32   c  and the upstream-side air-current surface part  32   b , and then, flows to the second side of the short-side direction of the holder main body  31  (left side in the drawing) via the vertex part  32   a . Since the upstream-side lower-end surface part  31   h  and the upstream-side air-current surface part  32   b  are smoothly connected by the connecting surface part  32   c , detachment of a travel wind W 4  from the surfaces of the holder main body  31  and the fin part  32  as shown by a broken line in the drawing does not occur, and a negative pressure (broken-line circle in the drawing) is not generated in the upper side of the upstream-side air-current surface part  32   b  in the drawing. Therefore, lifting force F 4  lifting up the wiper blade  17  to the upper side in the drawing is not generated, sufficiently-large stable lifting force F 3  (downforce) can be applied toward the front glass  11  by the wind pressure of the travel wind W 2 , and the wiping performance of the wiper blade  17  is improved. 
     If the travel wind W 2  is too strong, as shown by an arrow T in the drawing, the narrow vertex part  32   a  side of the fin part  32  is bent, and the travel wind W 2  is released to the second side of the short-side direction of the holder main body  31 . Therefore, excessive increase of the lifting force F 3  can be suppressed, and the amount of the lifting force F 3  can be optimized. Similarly, movement of the wiper blade  17  over the wiping range  18   a  or  18   b  (see  FIG. 1 ) by the travel wind W 2  can be suppressed, and overloading (excessive load) to the wiper motor  13  (see  FIG. 1 ) can be prevented. 
       FIG. 6  is a cross sectional view taken along the line B-B of  FIG. 2 ;  FIG. 7  is an exploded perspective view showing a coupling structure (center part) of the vertebrae;  FIG. 8  is a perspective view showing a detailed structure of a first cover member;  FIG. 9  is a perspective view showing a detailed structure of a second cover member; and  FIG. 10  is a cross sectional view taken along the line C-C of  FIG. 2  explaining a procedure of attaching the wiper blade to the wiper arm. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the arm coupling member  40  and the cover  50  are provided at an intermediate part along the longitudinal direction of the holder main body  31 . A coupling-member attaching part  33  is formed at the intermediate part along the longitudinal direction of the holder main body  31  by cutting away part of the fin part  32 . The coupling-member attaching part  33  is provided with four cut-away parts  33   a  for exposing the vertebrae  31   e  corresponding to the coupling-member attaching part  33 , to outside. The cut-away parts  33   a  are formed by cutting away part of the holder main body  31 ; long holes  34  extending along the longitudinal directions of the vertebrae  31   e  are provided on the vertebrae  31   e  exposed from the cut-away parts  33   a ; and the long holes  34  penetrate through the vertebrae  31   e  in the thickness direction thereof (top-bottom direction in the drawing). 
     The arm coupling member  40  is formed into a predetermined shape by pressing a steel plate. The arm coupling member  40  is provided with: four swaging leg parts  41  (three of them are shown in the drawing), a pair of main-body wall parts  42 , a turning pin  43  fixed to the main-body wall part  42 , and a hook attaching member  44  rotatably provided on the turning pin  43 . The swaging leg parts  41  and the main-body wall part  42  are bent directed toward mutually opposite directions, and the swaging leg parts  41  are fixed by swaging to the vertebrae  31   e  exposed from the cut-away parts  33   a.    
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , positioning projected parts  41   a  are formed in the base-end side of the swaging leg parts  41 , and the positioning projected parts  41   a  are inserted into the long holes  34 . Therefore, the arm coupling member  40  can be assembled and positioned with good accuracy to the vertebrae  31   e . With the positioning projected parts  41   a  positioned at the long holes  34 , the distal-end sides of the swaging leg parts  41  are bent by using an unshown swaging jig as shown by broken-line arrows in  FIG. 7 ; the arm coupling member  40  can be firmly fixed to the vertebrae  31   e.    
     Upon swaging fixation of the swaging leg parts  41 , the holder main body  31  corresponding to the coupling-member attaching part  33  undergoes elastic deformation. Therefore, it is not occurred a problem on the arm coupling member  40  such as rattling to the vertebrae  31   e . In the present embodiment, steel materials (the arm coupling member  40  and the vertebrae  31   e ) are mutually fixed by swaging fixation; it is not necessary to worry about melting of, for example, the holder main body  31  caused in the case of fixation by welding or the like. 
     The turning pin  43  of a cylindrical steel material is fixed to the main-body wall parts  42  and extends along the short-side direction of the holder main body  31 . The turning pin  43  is fixed between the main-body wall parts  42  by swaging fixation of the axial-direction both-end sides thereof, and the hook attaching member  44  formed to a predetermined shape with a resin material such as plastic is rotatably provided at the turning pin  43 . A U-shaped hook  19  (see  FIG. 10 ) formed at the distal-end part of the wiper arm  15  is coupled to the hook attaching member  44 . 
     Each of through holes  42   a  (one of them is shown in the drawing) penetrating along the short-side direction of the holder main body  31  is provided in the vicinities of the turning pin  43  in the main-body wall parts  42 . Each of claw parts  51   f  (one of them is shown in the drawing) formed on a first cover member  51  forming the cover  50  is inserted into the through holes  42   a . Therefore, the cover  50  is fixed to the arm coupling member  40 . 
     The cover  50  is for covering the arm coupling member  40  and the coupling-member attaching part  33  to improve the appearance of the wiper blade  17 , and is provided with the first cover member  51  and a second cover member  52 . The cover members  51  and  52  are formed into predetermined shapes by injection molding of a melted plastic material and so on. 
     As shown in  FIG. 8 , the first cover member  51  is formed into a substantially U-shape and provided with a pair of arm parts  51   a  extending along the longitudinal direction of the holder main body  31 . A coupling part  51   b  mutually coupling the distal-end sides of the arm parts  51   a  is provided in the distal-end side of the arm parts  51   a  (left side in the drawing) and ensures predetermined strength so that the arm parts  51   a  are not separated each other. 
     A pair of pins  51   c  rotatably supporting the second cover member  52 , is provided in the side closer to the distal end than the coupling part  51   b  of each of the arm parts  51   a . Each of the pins  51   c  is inserted in each of pin holes  52   a  provided in the second cover member  52 . A pair of lock pins  51   d  retaining the second cover member  52  in a closed state is provided in the side closer to the base end than the coupling part  51   b  of each of the arm parts  51   a  (right side in the drawing), and each of the lock pins  51   d  is inserted in lock holes  52   c  provided in each of the lock claws  52   b  of the second cover member  52 . Guiding inclined surfaces  51   e  guiding climb-over of the distal-end sides of each of the lock claws  52   b  are provided on each of the lock pins  51   d ; the second cover member  52  can be easily closed. 
     A pair of claw parts  51   f  (one of them is shown in the drawing) fixing the cover  50  to the arm coupling member  40  is provided in the side closer to the base end than each of the lock pins  51   d  of each of the arm parts  51   a , and each of the claw parts  51   f  is inserted in each of the through holes  42   a  provided in the arm coupling member  40 . When the first cover member  51  is fixed to the arm coupling member  40 , each of the claw parts  51   f  is inserted into each of the through holes  42   a  while elastically deforming each of the arm parts  51   a  outward. Therefore, the cover  50  is not easily detached from the arm coupling member  40 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 9 , the second cover member  52  is formed into a substantially bowl-like shape, and a pair of pin holes  52   a  is provided in the distal-end side of the second cover member  52  (left side in the drawing). Each of the pins  51   c  of the first cover member  51  is rotatably inserted in each of the pin holes  52   a . Therefore, the second cover member  52  is rotatable about each of the pins  51   c  to the first cover member  51  (see  FIG. 10 ). 
     A pair of lock claws  52   b  are provided at intermediate parts of the second cover member  52  along the longitudinal direction thereof. The lock holes  52   c  are formed in the distal-end sides of the lock claws  52   b  (lower side in the drawing), and each of the lock pins  51   d  provided on the first cover member  51  is inserted in each of the lock holes  52   c . A guiding inclined surface  52   d  slidingly contacting with each of the guiding inclined surface  51   e  provided on each of the lock pin  51   d  and guides engagement of each of the lock pin  51   d  with each of the lock hole  52   c , is provided on the distal-end side of each of the lock claws  52   b.    
     Holding parts  52   e  are provided in the base-end sides of each of the lock claws  52   b  (upper side in the drawing) and each of the holding parts  52   e  is formed to a recessed/projected shape to facilitate holding. The engagement of each of the lock pins  51   d  with each of the lock holes  52   c  can be released by holding each of the holding parts  52   e , elastically deforming each of the lock claws  52   b  so as to be close to each other, and pulling up the second cover member  52  in this state and thus, the second cover member  52  can be opened. 
     A cut-away groove  52   f  is provided in the distal-end side of the second cover member  52 . The fin part  32  of the holder member  30  is inserted in the cut-away groove  52   f , and the second cover member  52  can be therefore smoothly opened/closed. The fin part  32  does not contact with the cut-away groove  52   f  and the fin part  32  is prevented from damaging causing along opening/closing of the second cover member  52 . 
     A procedure for attaching the wiper blade  17  to the wiper arm  15  will be explained based on  FIG. 10 . First, as shown by an arrow ( 1 ), the second cover member  52  forming the cover  50  is rotated and opened to the first cover member  51 , and, space into which the U-shaped hook  19  of the wiper arm  15  inserted is generated in the front-side of the hook attaching member  44  (left side in the drawing). Then, as shown by an arrow ( 2 ), the wiper blade  17  is moved, and the hook attaching member  44  is inserted to the inside of the U-shaped hook  19 . 
     An engagement hole  19   a  is provided in the U-shaped hook  19 , and an operating piece  44   b  having an engagement projected part  44   a  is provided in the hook attaching member  44 . Therefore, when the hook attaching member  44  is inserted to the inside of the U-shaped hook  19 , the engagement projected part  44   a  is inserted in the engagement hole  19   a , and attachment of the wiper blade  17  to the wiper arm  15  is completed. When the wiper blade  17  is detached from the wiper arm  15 , the operating piece  44   b  is operated in the direction of an arrow ( 3 ) to cancel the engagement between the engagement projected part  44   a  and the engagement hole  19   a , and the hook attaching member  44  is removed from the inside of the U-shaped hook  19 . 
     Then, as shown by an arrow ( 4 ), the second cover member  52  is closed by rotating the second cover member to the first cover member  51 , and each of the lock pins  51   d  are inserted in each of the lock holes  52   c . As a result, attachment of the wiper blade  17  to the wiper arm  15  and attachment of the cover  50  are completed. 
       FIG. 11  is a cross sectional view taken along the line D-D of  FIG. 2 ;  FIG. 12  is an exploded perspective view showing a coupling structure (end part) of the vertebrae;  FIGS. 13A and 13B  are perspective views explaining a detailed structure of the end cap;  FIGS. 14A and 14B  are cross sectional views taken along the line E-E of  FIG. 2  for explaining a procedure of attaching the end cap to the holder member;  FIGS. 15A and 15B  are perspective views explaining a procedure of attaching the blade rubber to the holder member (initial stage); and  FIGS. 16A and 16B  are perspective views explaining a procedure of attaching the blade rubber to the holder member (latter stage). 
     As shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12 , the pair of end caps  60  are attached to the longitudinal-direction both-end parts of the holder member  30 , and each of the end caps  60  covers the coupling parts of each of the vertebrae  31   e  projecting from the longitudinal-direction both-end parts of the holder main body  31  forming the holder member  30  and prevent the blade rubber  20  from falling from the holder main body  31 . Since both of the end caps  60  have the same shape, only one of the end caps  60  will be shown for explanation in the explanation hereinafter. 
     End parts of each of the vertebrae  31   e  are projected by a predetermined amount from the longitudinal-direction end parts of the holder main body  31 , and long holes  35  extending along the longitudinal direction of each of the vertebrae  31   e  are provided in the projecting parts of each of the vertebrae  31   e . Each of the vertebrae  31   e  is coupled by a coupling member  36 , and the coupling member  36  is formed into a plate-like shape by punching processing (pressing processing) a steel plate. 
     A pair of positioning projected parts  36   a  is provided in the coupling member  36  corresponding to the long holes  35  of each of the vertebrae  31   e , and each of the positioning projected parts  36   a  is inserted in each of the long holes  35 . Thus, the distances of each of the projecting parts of the vertebrae  31   e  can be constant, and the projected parts of each of the vertebrae  31   e  can be coupled so that the distance is not changed. In the state in which each of the positioning projected parts  36   a  are positioned at each of the long holes  35 , the longitudinal-direction both-sides of each of the coupling member  36  are bent by using an unshown swaging jig as shown by broken-line arrows in  FIG. 12 , and, as a result, the coupling member  36  is firmly fixed to the projecting parts of each of the vertebrae  31   e.    
     The end cap  60  is formed into a predetermined shape by injection molding malted plastic or the like. The end cap  60  is provided with a cap main body  61  covering the coupling part (coupling member  36 ) of injection molding the vertebrae  31   e , and a fin cover part  62  covering part of the fin part  32  forming the holder member  30 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 13 , a pair of fall-off-preventing claw parts  61   a  is formed in the side of the cap main body  61  opposite to the fin cover part  62  side, and each of the fall-off-preventing claw parts  61   a  is disposed to be opposed to each other along the short-side direction of the end cap  60  (left-right direction in  FIG. 11 ). The base-end side of each of each of the fall-off-preventing claw part  61   a  is integrally connected to the cap main body  61 , and a projecting part  61   b  projecting toward the inside of the cap main body  61  is provided in the distal-end side of each of each of the fall-off-preventing claw parts  61   a . As shown in  FIG. 14 , each of the fall-off-preventing claw parts  61   a  is elastically deformable; and, when the end cap  60  is to be attached to the end part of the holder member  30 , the fall-off-preventing claw parts are elastically deformed by the coupling member  36 . 
     To attach the end cap  60  to the end part of the holder member  30 , as shown by an arrow ( 5 ) of  FIG. 14A , the end cap  60  approaches along the longitudinal direction of the holder member  30 . Then, when the end cap  60  is pushed forward to the holder member  30 , the coupling member  36  fixed to each of the vertebrae  31   e  abuts each of the projecting parts  61   b  and pushes down each of the fall-off-preventing claw parts  61   a  as shown by an arrow ( 6 ). Then, when the end cap  60  is further pushed forward to the holder member  30 , as show in  FIG. 14B , the coupling member  36  moves over each of the projecting parts  61   b , and each of the fall-off-preventing claw parts  61   a  return to the original state as shown by an arrow ( 7 ). As a result, each of the fall-off-preventing claw parts  61   a  is caught by the coupling member  36 , and the end cap  60  is prevented from falling off from the holder member  30 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 13 , a cut-away part  61   c  is provided in the side of the cap main body  61  opposite to the fin cover part  62  side, the cut-away part  61   c  is provided in an intermediate part along the short-side direction of the end cap  60 . As shown in  FIGS. 15 and 16 , the cut-away part  61   c  forms an insertion opening O for inserting the main-body part  21  of the blade rubber  20  between the end cap  60  and the holder main body  31  in the state in which the end cap  60  is attached to the end part of the holder member  30 . 
     In the side of the cap main body  61  opposite to the fin cover part  62 , a pair of cap-side retaining claws  61   d  are provided, and each of the cap-side retaining claws  61   d  supports the front glass  11  side of the main-body part  21  as well as each of the retaining claws  31   c  provided on the holder main body  31 . That is, as shown in  FIGS. 15 and 16 , each of the cap-side retaining claws  61   d  is disposed on the extension of each of the retaining claws  31   c  along the longitudinal direction of the holder main body  31 . 
     Each of Guiding parts  61   e  guiding the main-body part  21  toward the retaining part  31   a  of the holder main body  31  provided in the holder main body  31  side along the longitudinal direction of each of the cap-side retaining claws  61   d  (right side in the drawing), that is, in the end cap  60  side forming the insertion opening O. Each of the guiding parts  61   e  is provided with an inclined surface  61   f  inclining from an outer part of the end cap  60  toward the retaining part  31   a , thereby facilitating guiding of the main-body part  21  to the retaining part  31   a.    
     Based on  FIGS. 15 and 16 , a procedure of attaching the blade rubber  20  to the holder main body  31  will be explained. 
     First, the blade rubber  20  corresponding to the length of the holder main body  31  and the holder member  30  attaching to the end caps  60  are prepared. As shown in  FIG. 15A , the blade rubber  20  is inclined by a predetermined angle to the holder main body  31 , and a first-end part of the blade rubber  20  (right side in the drawing) approaches the insertion opening O. The inclination angle of the blade rubber  20  to the holder main body  31  is the inclination angle of the inclined surfaces  61   f  provided at the guiding parts  61   e . As shown by an arrow ( 8 ), when the first-end part of the blade rubber  20  approaches the insertion opening O, the main-body part  21  is guided by the inclined surfaces  61   f , and the first-end part of the blade rubber  20  is inserted into the retaining part  31   a . During inserting the blade rubber  20  into the retaining part  31   a , as shown in  FIG. 15B , the blade rubber  20  is gradually attached to the holder main body  31  with undergoing elastic deformation. 
     At this point, the blade rubber  20  can be easily elastically deformed since the blade rubber  20  is not provided with the vertebrae  31   e . Therefore, the retaining claws  31   c  composed of a resin of which hardness is higher than that of the main-body part  21  is not deformed, and the blade rubber  20  can be easily assembled with the holder main body  31 . The retaining groove  31   b  has an upper wall (rubber pressing part  31   f ), and a gap is provided between the retaining groove  31   b  and the main-body part  21  of the blade rubber  20 . Therefore, the main-body part  21  is guided by the upper wall and the retaining claws  31   c  and can be smoothly and reliably inserted into the retaining groove  31   b  with almost no resistance by virtue of the gap. Furthermore, the gap between the retaining groove  31   b  and the main-body part  21  is a minute gap, the main-body part  21  is retained by three surfaces (a pair of lateral walls and the upper wall) of the retaining groove  31   b , and, for example, generation of rattling can be suppressed to the minimum. 
     Then, as shown in  FIG. 16A , the attaching operation of the blade rubber  20  to the holder main body  31  continues, and the blade rubber  20  is pressed toward the longitudinal direction thereof as shown by an arrow ( 9 ) to once compress the blade rubber  20 . Then, the main-body part  21  is completely inserted in the retaining part  31   a . Then, when the pressing force toward the blade rubber  20  is released, the blade rubber  20  is returned to a natural length as shown by an arrow ( 10 ) of  FIG. 16B , and the second-end part (left side in the drawing) of the main-body part  21  is moved toward the end cap  60 . As a result, each of the cap-side retaining claws  61   d  on the extension of each of the retaining claws  31   c  support the front glass  11  side of the main-body part  21 , and the operation of attaching the blade rubber  20  to the holder main body  31  is completed. To detach the blade rubber  20  from the holder main body  31 , an end part E of the second-end part of the blade rubber  20  shown in  FIG. 16B  is held, and the blade rubber  20  is once compressed along the longitudinal direction thereof. Then, pulling-up the end part E of the blade rubber  20  to the upper side of the drawing, the second-end part of the main-body part  21  is pulled from the insertion opening O to the outside of the end cap  60 , and the main-body part  21  is pulled out from the inside of the retaining part  31   a  (retaining groove  31   b ). 
     As described above in detail, according to the wiper blade  17  of the present embodiment, the pair of housing parts  31   d  are provided at both sides of the short-side-direction of the holder main body  31  to sandwich the retaining part  31   a  retaining the main-body part  21 ; the pair of vertebrae  31   e  elastically deforming the blade rubber  20  in response to the curvature factor of the front glass  11  are housed in each of the housing parts  31   d ; the insertion opening O enabling the main-body part  21  being inserted is provided between the end cap  60  and the holder main body  31 , and the guiding parts  61   e  guiding the main-body part  21  toward the retaining part  31   a  are provided at the side of the end cap  60  forming the insertion opening O. 
     Since the blade rubber  20  can be inserted from the insertion opening O provided between the end cap  60  and the holder main body  31 , the wiper blade  17  can be simplified by forming the end cap  60  with one member. Therefore, the assembling performance of the wiper blade  17  can be improved. Moreover, since the vertebrae  31   e  are housed in the holder main body  31 , the blade rubber  20  can be easily attached to the holder main body  31  without the vertebrae  31   e  by elastically deforming. Furthermore, the blade rubber  20  can be detached from the holder main body  31  by pulling off from the insertion opening O and the burden for detaching the end cap  60  can be omitted, and thus, maintainability can be improved. 
     Moreover, according to the wiper blade  17  of the present embodiment, the guiding part  61   e  has the inclined surface  61   f  inclined from the outer part of the end cap  60  toward the retaining part  31   a . Therefore, the assembling performance of the wiper blade  17  can be improved by improving attachability of the blade rubber  20  to the holder main body  31 . 
     Furthermore, according to the wiper blade  17  of the present embodiment, the retaining part  31   a  is provided with the retaining claws  31   c  retaining the main-body part  21 . Since the retaining claws  31   c  are formed of a resin material, the blade rubber  20  can be reliably retained by the retaining claws  31   c  without falling down from the holder main body  31 . Moreover, upon attachment of the blade rubber  20  to the holder main body  31 , the attachability of the blade rubber  20  to the holder main body  31  is improved by suppressing the deformation of the retaining claws  31   c  having a hardness higher than that of the blade rubber  20 . As a result, the assembling performance of the wiper blade  17  can be improved. 
     Moreover, according to the wiper blade  17  of the present embodiment, the manufacturing step of the wiper blade  17  can be simplified by forming the holder main body  31  by extrusion molding. 
     Furthermore, according to the method of assembling the wiper blade  17  of the present embodiment, the first-end part of the main-body part  21  is inserted from the insertion opening O into the retaining part  31   a ; the insertion of the main-body part  21  is inserted into the retaining part  31   a  by compressing the blade rubber  20  is once in the longitudinal direction thereof; and then, the second-end part of the main-body part  21  is moved toward the end cap  60  to retain the main-body part  21  by the end cap  60 . Therefore, the blade rubber  20  can be assembled with the holder main body  31  without detaching the end cap  60 , etc. 
     Moreover, according to the method of assembling the wiper blade  17  of the present embodiment, the blade rubber  20  is once compressed in the longitudinal direction thereof; the second-end part of the main-body part  21  is pulled from the insertion opening O to the outside; and the main-body part  21  is pulled out from the inside of the retaining part  31   a . Therefore, the blade rubber  20  can be detached from the holder main body  31  without detaching the end cap  60 , etc. 
     The present invention is not limited to the above described embodiment, but including various modifications within the scope of the present invention not departing from the gist thereof. For example, in the above described embodiment the wiper blade  17  is applied to the wiper device  12  wiping the front glass  11  serving as a windshield. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, but can be applied to a wiper device wiping a rear glass serving as a windshield. 
     The wiper blade is used for carrying out reciprocating wiping operation on a windshield by rotary drive of a wiper motor provided in a vehicle such as an automobile and for improving view of, for example, a driver. 
     While the present invention has been illustrated and described with respect to a particular embodiment thereof, it should be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that various modifications to this invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present.