Patent ID: 8453291

Claim:
A wiper lifter assembly for a vehicle comprising: a wiper ramp formed substantially from a first material and having an upper surface defining a ramped portion with a leading edge for lifting a wiper of an associated vehicle away from a wiping surface of the vehicle and also having at least one ridge and a hook-shaped lifter holder both spaced from said leading edge; a wiper contact member supported on an upper surface of the wiper ramp such that the wiper of an associated vehicle contacts a second surface of the wiper contact member before contacting any other component of the wiper lifter assembly, the wiper contact member being a cushioning layer made substantially from a second material that is softer than the first material, the second surface being one of flush with the upper surface and disposed above the upper surface, wherein the at least one ridge projects above both the upper surface and the second surface and is operable to lift the wiper of an associated vehicle away from and out of contact with the second surface and into the hook-shaped lifter holder; and wherein the wiper contact member includes a first layer being a contact layer defining the second surface and a second layer below the contact layer, the contact layer of the wiper contact member defining a relatively low coefficient of friction relative to the second layer to facilitate sliding of the wiper of an associated vehicle on the wiper contact member.