Abstract:
An array combinational type of windshield wiper comprises an elastic curved strip, a supporting mount, and a plural of lodging blocks and counterweight blocks disposed on the elastic strip in an array. Two enclosing sheaths are disposed on the elastic strip such that they are coupled to the array of lodging blocks and counterweight blocks. This arrangement provides flexibility in matching the length of the array of lodging blocks and counterweight blocks with the length of the elastic curved strip such that various windshield wipers of different lengths and specifications can be easily produced.

Description:
FIELD OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to an array combinational type of windshield wiper, particularly for one that not only evenly distributes the pressing elastic pressure over the windshield of various curvature but also completely and closely attaches over the windshield of different length and specifications so as to increase the scraping and wiping effect of the windshield wiper by means of suitably changing the number and array of the lodging block and counterweight block together with the length of the elastic curved strip. Thus, the manufacturing cost of the windshield wiper can be considerably reduced other than the effective scraping and wiping function of the windshield wiper. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Following with the considerably increasing number of the various vehicles produced and marketed, the usage quantity of the windshield wiper is tremendously increased. To regularly replacing the windshield wiper for the safe purpose becomes one of the necessary routine jobs that also makes the consuming quantity of the windshield wiper relatively increase. However, different vehicle model has different superficial area of the windshield, so the length requirement of the windshield wiper is different from vehicle to vehicle. How to produce various windshield wipers in different lengths and specifications in effective and economical manufacturing process becomes the critical task and challenges to the businessmen of the windshield wiper. Accordingly, the structure of the windshield wiper is constantly changed and continuously improved. For examples, the U.S. Pat. No. 7,254,862 and application published cases in numbers of US2006/0090282 and US2006/0179597 are the examples of prior arts in the related technical field. By carefully studying the technical disclosure for such cases aforesaid, the primary task is to provide various windshield wipers for different vehicles having feature in even pressure distribution over the windshield with firm and close attachment other than the declaration of double benefit in simplifying structure and reducing manufacturing cost. 
   However, it is generally well known that the superficial area of the windshield for sedan, recreational vehicle, van and truck is different from vehicle to vehicle. Therefore, the length and curvature of the windshield wiper must be different in accordance with the different requirement of each type of vehicle so as to have effective scraping and wiping function of the windshield wiper. In other words, the larger superficial area of the windshield is the longer of the windshield wiper needs. For certain length of the specific windshield wiper aforesaid, it may have effective scraping and wiping function for various windshield wipers of different curvatures but can not meet the requirement for various windshield wipers of the different lengths. Thus, for another length of the specific windshield wiper aforesaid, all the related components should be additionally re-produced accordingly. Therefore, the production for design of the windshield wiper aforesaid must prepare tremendously various relevant components in stock to meet the manufacturing requirements of various windshield wipers in different lengths and specifications, which will inevitably results in laborious inventory control and strenuous production management accordingly. Basing on the 20 years of experience in manufacturing windshield wipers, the applicant of the present invention is fully aware that the design of the windshield wiper aforesaid can not actually achieve the declared benefit of reducing manufacturing cost essentially. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The primary object of the present invention is to provide an array combinational type of windshield wiper, which comprises an elastic curved strip, a supporting mount, plural lodging blocks, plural counterweight blocks, an elongate scraper, two enclosing sheaths, a saddling hood and two terminal caps. By means of changing the number and array of the lodging block and counterweight block together with the length of the elastic curved strip, the various windshield wipers of different lengths and specifications can be easily and smoothly produced by flexible and versatile manufacturing process so that not only the total manufacturing cost can be greatly decreased with enhancement of marketing competition but also the environmental protection can be accomplished. 
   The other object of the present invention is to provide an array combinational type of windshield wiper, which not only evenly distributes the pressing elastic pressure over the windshield but also completely and closely attaches over the windshield so as to increase the scraping and wiping effect of the windshield wiper by means of suitably changing the number and array of the lodging block and counterweight block together with the length of the elastic curved strip. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIGS. 1   a ,  1   b ,  1   c  are cross sectional views along lines  1   a - 1   a ,  1   b - 1   b  and  1   c - 1   c , respectively. 
       FIG. 1  is a exploded perspective view of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a front view of the lodging block of the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  is a front view of the counterweight block of the present invention. 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the elastic curved strip of the present invention. 
       FIG. 4   a  is a cross-sectional view along line  4   a - 4   a.    
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view showing the first step of the assembly procedure according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 5   a  is a cross-sectional view along line  5   a - 5   a.    
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view showing the second step of the assembly procedure according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 6   a  is a cross-sectional view along line  6   a - 6   a.    
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view showing the third step of the assembly procedure according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view showing the fourth step of the assembly procedure according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 9  is a perspective view showing the fifth step of the assembly procedure according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 9   a  is a cross-sectional view along line  9   a - 9   a.    
       FIG. 10  is a perspective view showing the sixth step of the assembly procedure according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 10   a  is a cross-sectional view along line  10   a - 10   a.    
       FIG. 11  is a perspective view showing the seventh step of the assembly procedure according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 11   a  is a cross-sectional view along line  11   a - 11   a.    
       FIG. 12  is a perspective view showing the eighth step of the assembly procedure according to the present invention. 
       FIGS. 12   a  and  12   b  are cross-sectional view along line  12   a - 12   a  and  12   b - 12   b , respectively. 
       FIG. 13  is a perspective view showing the ninth step of the assembly procedure according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 13   a  is a cross-sectional view along line  13   a - 13   a.    
       FIG. 14  is a perspective view for the enclosing sheath in another embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 15  is a sectional view for the enclosing sheath in another embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 16  is a perspective schematic view showing the combination of the wiper adapter with the present invention. 
       FIG. 17  is a perspective view showing the combination of the wiper arm with the present invention. 
       FIG. 18  is a exploded perspective view for the other embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 19  is a exploded perspective view showing the elongate scraper for another embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 19   a  is a cross-sectional view along line  19   a - 19   a.    
       FIG. 20  is a sectional illustrative view showing the elongate scraper inserted in the lodging blocks for another embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 3 , an array combinational type of windshield wiper of the present invention comprises an elastic curved strip  10 , a supporting mount  20 , plural lodging blocks  30 , plural counterweight blocks  40 , an elongate scraper  50 , two enclosing sheaths  60 , a saddling hood  70  and two terminal caps  80 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 3 , the elastic curved strip  10  which being made of metal flat strip in downwards curved slat, having a pair of rivet holes  11  punched in the middle and a fitting hole  12  penetrated near each of short lateral ends thereat. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 3 ,  FIG. 16  and  FIG. 17 , the supporting mount  20  which being pressed U-shaped metal, having a pair of perforated holes  21  punched in the middle of the internal sole for corresponding to the pair of rivet holes  11  in the elastic curved strip  10  and a fixing spindle  22  straddled over both upright flanks thereof for connection with a wiper adapter  90  (as shown in the  FIG. 16 ) such that it being securely fixed at the end of the wiper arm S (as shown in the  FIG. 17 ). 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 3 , the plural lodging blocks  30  which being unitary extruding molded body of plastic material and set on the elastic curved strip  10  in array manner, having an insetting sleeve slit  34  penetrated form front surface  32  through back surface  33  near the top surface  31  thereof so that the cross sectional shape of the insetting sleeve slit  34  being same as that of the elastic curved strip  10  with tolerance consistent with the transition fit or clearance fit after assembly; a pair of symmetrical and parallel hooks  37  being downwards juxtaposed apart at inside of the left flank  35  and right flank  36  of the insetting sleeve slit  34 ; a pair of symmetrical and parallel suspending joists  39  with a clipping jut  391  each being downwards juxtaposed apart at internal sole  38  so that an interval δ 1  being formed between the top surface  371  of the hook  37  and the internal sole  38  thereof, an interval δ 2  being formed between the lug surface  372  of the hook  37  and the outer surface of the suspending joist  39 , an interval δ 3  being formed between the pair of the suspending joists  39 , as well as an interval δ 4  being formed between the top surface of the clipping juts  391  and the internal sole  38  (as shown in the  FIG. 2 ). 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 3 , the plural counterweight blocks  40  which being unitary extruding molded body of plastic or metal material and set on the elastic curved strip  10  in interlaying array manner between the lodging blocks  30 , having same structure, shape and size as those of the lodging block  30  that an insetting sleeve slit  44  penetrated form front surface  42  through back surface  43  near the top surface  41  thereof so that the cross sectional shape of the insetting sleeve slit  44  being same as that of the elastic curved strip  10  with tolerance consistent with the transition fit or clearance fit after assembly; a pair of symmetrical and parallel hooks  47  being downwards juxtaposed apart at inside of the left flank  45  and right flank  46  of the insetting sleeve slit  44 ; a pair of symmetrical and parallel suspending joists  49  being downwards juxtaposed apart at internal sole  48  so that an interval δ 1  being formed between the top surface  471  of the hook  47  and the internal sole  48  thereof, an interval δ 2  being formed between the lug surface  472  of the hook  47  and the outer surface of the suspending joist  49 , as well as an interval δ 3  being formed between the pair of the suspending joists  49  (as shown in the  FIG. 3 ). 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the elongate scraper  50  which being unitary extruding molded body of elastic material, having a pair of symmetrical and parallel elongate flutes  51  being juxtaposed apart on both sides thereof and a scraper blade  53  formed at the lower section in taper manner, wherein, the height h between the elongate flute  51  and top surface  52  being slightly less than the interval δ 4  between the top surface of the clipping juts  391  and the internal sole  38  of the lodging block  30  (as shown in sectional view  1   a  of the  FIG. 1 ); and the upper section width w of the top surface  52  being slightly less than the interval δ 3  between the pair of the suspending joists  39  (as shown in the  FIG. 2 ) for being held therein and securely clamped by two clipping juts  391  respectively. 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , the two enclosing sheaths  60  which being unitary extruding body of elastic material molded into elongate hollow cover, having a curved ridge  62  formed at one longitudinal side of the ascending top surface  61  and a pair of symmetrical and parallel of flukes  64  being downwards juxtaposed apart at both of the elongate nosing  63  (as shown in sectional view  1   b  of the  FIG. 1 ); Wherein, the cross sectional shape of the fluke  64  being same as that of hook  37 ,  47  of the lodging block  30  and counterweight block  40 , besides, the holding space  66  enclosed by the flukes  64  and internal sole  65  thereof just encompassing exactly the top surfaces  31 ,  41 , left flanks  35 ,  45  and right flanks  36 ,  46  of the lodging block  30  and counterweight block  40  so that the fluke  64  being completely inserted between the interval δ 1  and interval δ 2  of the lodging block  30  and counterweight block  40  either. 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , the saddling hood  70  which being used to cap on the supporting mount  20 , having a pair of symmetrical and parallel of setting grooves  71  juxtaposed apart at both internal longitudinal sides thereof for insetting of the supporting mount  20  and the cross sectional shape of the both longitudinal ends just encompassing exactly the integral surface for the ascending top surface  61  and two elongate nosing  63  of the enclosing sheath  60 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , the two terminal caps  80  each of which being a hollow cuboid used to cap each flush terminal  67  of the enclosing sheath  60 , having each rear closed end  82  and front opening end  81 , whose cross sectional shape being the same as that of each flush terminal  67  of the enclosing sheath  60  but with internal size being slightly larger than the outer size of the each flush terminal  67  of the enclosing sheath  60 ; besides, a clamping tenon  83  being horizontally configured on the internal central top side near the opening end  81  towards the closed end  82  therein (as shown in sectional view  1   c  of the  FIG. 1 ). 
   Further to referring the  FIG. 4  through  FIG. 13 , the assembly steps according to the present invention are as below: 
   a. Set the insetting sleeve slit  34  of the lodging block  30  between two rivet holes  11  of the elastic curved strip  10  (as shown in the  FIG. 5  and a sectional view taken along the direction indicated by a line  5   a - 5   a  in  FIG. 5 ). 
   b. Put the supporting mount  20  in the middle of the elastic curved strip  10  and fix it thereon by two rivet holes  11  driving through the perforated holes  21  of the supporting mount  20  and rivet holes  11  of the elastic curved strip  10  (as shown in the  FIG. 6  and a sectional view taken along the direction indicated by a line  6   a - 6   a  in  FIG. 6 ). 
   c. Orderly put the lodging block  30  and counterweight block  40  in the arraying pad Y one by one, then align and run one end of one elastic curved strip  10  through the arrayed lodging blocks  30  and counterweight blocks  40  in the arraying pad Y (as shown in the  FIGS. 7 and 8 ). 
   d. As the procedure in the step c, align and run one end of the other elastic curved strip  10  through the arrayed lodging blocks  30  and counterweight blocks  40  in the arraying pad Y so that the lodging block s 30 , counterweight blocks  40  and elastic curved strip  10  are integrated together (as shown in the  FIG. 9  and a sectional view taken along the direction indicated by a line  9   a - 9   a  in  FIG. 9 ). 
   e. Align and set the pair of elongate flutes  51  of the elongate scraper  50  in the pair of suspending joists  39 ,  49  and clipping juts  391  of each lodging block  30  and counterweight block  40  so that said elongate scraper  50  is firmly held by all lodging blocks  30  and counterweight blocks  40  (as shown in the  FIG. 10  and a sectional view taken along the direction indicated by a line  10 - 10  in  FIG. 10 ). 
   f. Respectively align and set each flush terminal  67  of the two enclosing sheaths  60  in each longitudinal end of the elastic curved strip  10  up to abutting with each end edge of the supporting mount  20  so that said elastic curved strip  10 , lodging blocks  30  and counterweight blocks  40  are completely enclosed by the two enclosing sheaths  60  (as shown in the  FIG. 11  and a sectional view taken along the direction indicated by a line  11   a - 11   a  in  FIG. 11 ). 
   g. Respectively align and set each opening end  81  of the two terminal cap  80  on each longitudinal end of the elastic curved strip  10  up to the bucking snap of the clamping tenon  83  with each fitting hole  12  of the elastic curved strip  10  so that two enclosing sheaths  60 , lodging blocks  30  and counterweight blocks  40  are completely confined by the two terminal cap  80  therein unable to drop off (as shown in the  FIG. 12  and two sectional views taken along the direction indicated by a line  12   a  and  12   b  in  FIG. 12 ). Finally set the saddling hood  70  over the supporting mount  20  so that both upright flanks of said supporting mount  20  are completely inset by the two setting grooves  71 ; Meanwhile, each other flush terminal  67  of the enclosing sheath  60  abutting with each end edge of the supporting mount  20  is also enclosed therein; Thus, the entire assembly is finished (as shown in the  FIG. 13  and a sectional view taken along the direction indicated by a line  13   a - 13   a  in  FIG. 13 ). 
   Wherein, the counterweight block  40 , which is depicted in the step c, is usually unitary extruding molded of metal material and set on the elastic curved strip  10  in interlaying array manner between the lodging blocks  30  in accordance with the pressure distribution and curvature of the windshield G so as to achieve the function of counterweight. However, the counterweight block  40  can also be made of plastic material if it is not to be served as counterweight. 
   As shown in the  FIG. 14  and  FIG. 15 , in the upper portion of the enclosing sheath  60  of the present invention near the curved ridge  62  between both flush terminals  67 , plural hollow tunnels  68  can be created therein so as to reduce the total weight and save material cost without affecting the scraping and wiping function of the windshield wiper against the windshield G. 
   As further shown in the  FIG. 18 , the number of the arrayed lodging blocks  30  and counterweight blocks  40  can be accordingly increased together with the cutting length of the elongate scraper  50 ′ and enclosing sheath  601  during extruding mold if the length of the elastic curved strip  101  of the present invention is required to extend so that various windshield wipers of different length and specifications can be smoothly and easily produced without costing any extra expense to make new component for fitting in with the modified length and specifications. 
   As shown in the  FIG. 19  and  FIG. 20 , they are the schematic views showing elongate scraper  500  according to another embodiment of the present invention. The elongate scraper  500 , which being unitary extruding molded body of elastic material, having a pair of symmetrical and parallel elongate flutes  501  being juxtaposed apart on both sides thereof, a pair of elastic metal splints  503  being respectively embedded in a pair of symmetrical and parallel elongate flutes between the elongate flutes  501  and the top surface  502  and a scraper blade  504  formed at the lower section in taper manner, wherein, the height h between the elongate flute  501  and top surface  502  being slightly less than the interval δ 4  between the top surface of the clipping juts  391  and the internal sole  38  of the lodging block  30 ; and the upper section width w of the top surface  502  being slightly less than the interval δ 3  between the pair of the suspending joists  39  for being held therein and securely clamped by two clipping juts  391  respectively. 
   In summary, by means of changing the number and array of the lodging block and counterweight block, the present invention can quickly manufactures various windshield wipers of different length and specifications without any extra new component due to variation of wiper length and specifications so that the optimal flexible and versatile manufacturing process can be logically achieved to have multiple benefits in cost-saving in inventory management and manufacturing cost as well as the enhancement of the marketing competition other than the environmental protection effect.