Patent ID: 7007340

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 first blade and a second blade disposed relative to each other to define a longitudinal channel therebetween, the longitudinal channel being open at least at the distal end of the wiper, the middle segment being at least 0.35 L in length, at least the first blade 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 first blade into the channel when the wiper moves across such surface in a first direction, and (b) to inhibit passage of liquid through the first blade 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 0.05 L in length.