Patent ID: 7555806

Claim:
A wiper for wiping liquid from a surface, the wiper having a length L, a proximal segment terminating in a proximal end, a distal segment terminating in a distal end, and a middle segment extending between the proximal and distal segments, each of the segments having a respective length and the length L of the wiper being defined by the sum of the respective lengths of the proximal, middle and distal segments, the wiper comprising: a central portion defining a longitudinal channel, the longitudinal channel being open at least at the distal end of the wiper, and the central portion having therein one or more formations disposed along the middle segment thereof and excluded from the distal segment thereof, which formations are configured: (a) to permit the passage of liquid through the formations into the channel when the wiper moves across such surface in a first direction, and (b) to inhibit passage of such liquid through the formations from the channel when the wiper moves across such surface in a second direction opposite to the first direction, and wherein the distal segment is at least about 0.01 L but less than about 0.05 L in length and wherein the cross-sectional area of the longitudinal channel increases as sensed moving in the direction toward the distal end.