Patent Document

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
     This application is a continuation-in-part patent application of U.S. Ser. No. 08/678,049 filed on Jul. 10, 1996, now abandoned, which was a continuation-in-part patent application of U.S. Ser. No. 08/369,803 filed on Jan. 9, 1995, now abandoned. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates generally to arrangements for distributing an input force to a plurality of predetermined locations, and more particularly, to an arrangement wherein an input force, such as that which is applied by a windshield wiper arm is distributed to a plurality of locations in predetermining magnitudes along a compliant member, such as a windshield wiper blade. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Conventional windshield wiper arrangements employ a plurality of metallic beams pivotally coupled to one another. The respective beams, which generally are not resilient or spring-like, are coupled to a windshield wiper blade at their free ends, and the pivoting of the beams with respect to one another approximates compliant bending of the windshield wiper as it travels across the windshield wiper. One goal to be achieved, however, is to provide a compliant support mechanism that, within predeterminable ranges of displacement of the windshield wiper blade in the direction of the windshield, cause a force to be directed by the windshield wiper blade substantially uniformly along its length onto the surface of the windshield, of a magnitude sufficient to perform the desired windshield wiping function, and for a given windshield contour. 
     The conventional windshield wiper support arrangement, with its plurality of cantilevered beams, cannot achieve a truly compliant functionality, as it stores within itself little, if any, potential energy. Instead, the arrangement of pivotally attached beams merely approximates a truly compliant mechanism. A further problem with the known arrangements lies in the fact that the cantilevered beams have a limited range of displacement in the direction toward the windshield. A beam cannot be displaced beyond the point where its other end will stop against a sequentially superior beam. The limitation on the amplitude capacity, and hence on the simulated compliance effect, places limitations on vehicle designers, as conventional windshield wiper support systems cannot perform adequately when the windshield surface contour has a relatively small radius of curvature anywhere in the wiping path. 
     In addition to failing to achieve a compliant function, the known windshield wiper support arrangement is implemented at significant complexity and expense. In most cases, the pivoted beams are made of a metal, that typically is highly reflective of light and subject to corrosion upon exposure to the elements. In order to prevent the glare of the sun on the eyes of the operator of the vehicle, as well as to protect against corrosion, each such pivoted beam must have a non-reflective coating applied thereto. This, of course, is per se a costly step that is rendered more expensive and critical when it is realized that the coating process must be executed with accuracy and precision lest the coating material effect adversely the inter-beam pivot couplings. There are numerous problems that can arise when painted or otherwise coated surfaces move pivotally with respect to one another. If the coating is installed prior to assembly of the product, the coating, at least partially as a result of its thickness, will increase the width of the beams, and decrease the size of the apertures through which the pivots are installed On the other hand, if the product is coated after assembly, the coating process is more complex to avoid leaving areas uncoated, and of course, the coating will tend to accumulate at the pivot joints and at the places where the beams communicate with one another. An overly thick coating causes interference fits and abrasion of the coating, while a coating that is too thin will wear prematurely as a result of exposure to the elements. Clearly, coatings will produce problems irrespective of the point in the manufacture of the product at which they are applied. 
     There is a need, therefore, for a windshield wiper support arrangement that overcomes the problems described hereinabove, and others. 
     It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a windshield wiper frame arrangement that is simple and inexpensive, and which does not require a complex multi-pivoted interconnection between a windshield wiper actuator arm and the windshield wiper blade. 
     It is another object of this invention to provide a windshield wiper frame arrangement having precisely controllable compliance characteristics in terms of both, force and deflection. 
     It is also an object of this invention to provide a windshield wiper frame arrangement that avoids the need for mechanical links and joints. 
     It is a further object of this invention to provide a windshield wiper frame arrangement that can simply and inexpensively be manufactured as an integral unit, and that does not require subsequent painting. 
     It is additionally an object of this invention to provide a windshield wiper frame arrangement that can be manufactured in a wide variety of aesthetically pleasing configurations, while retaining high compliance and strength characteristics. 
     It is yet a further object of this invention to provide a windshield wiper frame arrangement that has a compliance capacity that can easily and inexpensively be made to achieve a specific compliance characteristic for a windshield having a predetermined surface contour, or a group of windshields having a predetermined range of surface contours. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The foregoing and other objects are achieved by this invention which provides, in accordance with a first windshield wiper arrangement aspect of the invention, a windshield wiper arrangement for a windshield of a vehicle, the windshield wiper arrangement being coupled to a windshield wiper arm that is coupled at a first end thereof to the vehicle and at a second end thereof to the windshield wiper arrangement for applying a force thereto with respect to the vehicle. The force is applied in a first direction that urges the windshield wiper arrangement toward the windshield, and a second force is applied which moves the windshield wiper arrangement in a second direction across the windshield. The windshield wiper arrangement has a windshield wiper blade coupled thereto for communicating with the windshield of the vehicle. In accordance with the invention, the windshield wiper arrangement is provided with a windshield wiper blade support system that is integrally formed of a resilient material. The windshield wiper blade support system has a primary beam having first and second and portions arranged axially distal from one another. The primary beam additionally has a central portion between the first and second ends arranged for coupling with the windshield wiper arm. There is additionally provided a plurality of resilient members, each having first and second ends, the first ends of the resilient members being coupled to, and axially along, the primary beam. The second ends thereof are arranged to be compliantly displaceable along respective substantially linear paths of compliance. Each substantially linear path of compliance is substantially parallel to the first direction, and is axially transverse with respect to the primary beam. There additionally is provided a plurality of wiper blade coupling arrangements, each coupled to the second end of a respectively associated one of the plurality of resilient members, for coupling with the windshield wiper blade. 
     In one embodiment of the invention, there is provided a plurality of resilient interconnection elements integrally formed with the primary beam, each for coupling the second ends of sequentially adjacent ones with the plurality of resilient members to one another. In a further embodiment, a pair of further interconnection elements is further provided for coupling predetermined ones of the second ends of the plurality of resilient members to respective ones of the first and second ends of the primary beam. 
     In a further embodiment, wherein the windshield wiper is of the type having an elongated blade support extending there among for a length theft corresponds to the distance between the first and second ends of the primary beam, and also has a predetermined width and thickness, each of the wiper blade coupling arrangements is provided with an end pad coupled to the second end of a respectively associated one of the plurality of resilient members. The end pad in this specific illustrative embodiment of the invention has a width that is predetermined in response to the width of the elongated blade support. Additionally, there are provided first and second windshield wiper blade engagement members integrally formed with the respective end pad and extending substantially normal to the end pad for engaging across the width of the elongated blade support. 
     In a further embodiment, the first and second windshield wiper blade engagement members are disposed in an axially staggered arrangement on the end pad. 
     In one specific illustrative embodiment of the invention, the resilient members are each configured to form a substantially V-shaped resilient element formed of first and second resilient beams coupled to one another to form a resiliently variable angle therebetween. The substantially V-shaped resilient element has first and second ends. In accordance with this embodiment, there is additionally provided a plurality of first coupling arrangements, each for coupling an associated one of the first ends of the substantially V-shaped resilient elements to the primary beam. A plurality of second coupling arrangements are provided each for coupling an associated one of the second ends to a respectively associated one of the end pads. Each of the substantially V-shaped resilient elements and the associated first and second coupling arrangements are configured whereby an associated one of the end pads is compliantly displaceable along respective counter-arcuate paths defined by respective ones of the first and second resilient beams. The counter-arcuate paths combine to form the respective substantially linear path of compliance that is substantially parallel to the first direction and axially transverse with respect to the primary beam. 
     In accordance with a further windshield wiper arrangement aspect of the invention, there is provided a windshield wiper arrangement for a windshield of a vehicle, the windshield wiper arrangement being coupled to a windshield wiper arm that is coupled at a first end thereof to the vehicle, a second end of the windshield wiper arm is coupled to the windshield wiper arrangement for applying a force thereto with respect to the vehicle in a direction that urges the windshield wiper arrangement toward the windshield, and which moves the windshield wiper arrangement across the windshield. The windshield wiper arrangement has a windshield wiper blade coupled thereto for communicating with the windshield of the vehicle, and, in accordance with the invention, there is provided a windshield wiper blade support formed of a resilient material. The windshield wiper blade support has a primary beam arranged to couple with the windshield wiper arm. There is additionally provided a first compliant beam having a first end for coupling to the primary beam, a second end for coupling to the windshield wiper blade, and a resilient portion between the first and second ends for bending resiliently in response to a force applied between the primary beam and the windshield wiper blade. 
     In one embodiment of this second aspect of the invention, the first compliant beam has a substantially elongated configuration with an axis thereamoung. The first compliant beam is arranged with respect to the windshield wiper blade whereby a principal component of the force applied by the windshield wiper blade to the first compliant beam is applied substantially transverse to the axis of the first compliant beam. 
     In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the force applied by the windshield wiper blade to the first compliant beam is applied substantially axially at the second end of the first compliant beam. 
     In accordance with a further embodiment of the invention, there is additionally provided a first resilient coupling portion for resiliently coupling the first compliant beam to the primary beam. There is additionally provided a second compliant beam coupled to the first compliant beam. In a specific illustrative embodiment of the invention, the second compliant beam is arranged intermediate of the first compliant beam and the windshield wiper blade, and is provided with an arrangement for coupling with the windshield wiper blade. 
     In a still further embodiment, there is provided a second resilient coupling portion integrally formed with a first compliant beam for resiliently coupling the second compliant beam with the first compliant beam. In this embodiment, the first end of the second compliant beam is adopted to engage with the windshield wiper blade. 
     In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, a compliant force distribution arrangement is formed by an inventive process, the process including the steps of: 
     forming a primary beam member; 
     forming a first compliant beam member integrally with the primary beam member; 
     forming a plurality of force output portions integrally with said first compliant beam member, said force output portions each being resiliently displaceable in response to the application of a force across said first compliant beam member In one embodiment of this aspect of the invention, the first compliant beam member comprises a resilient element having a substantially S-shaped configuration. 
     In a further embodiment, there is provided the step of forming, a second compliant beam member resiliently coupled to, and integrally formed with, the first compliant beam member. The first and second compliant beam members form, in this specific illustrative embodiment of the invention, a substantially V-shaped resilient element. 
     In an alternative embodiment, there is provided the step of forming, a second compliant beam member resiliently coupled to, and integrally formed with, the, first compliant beam member to form a tiered arrangement of resilient elements. Persons of skill in the art can configure multiple-tier resilient beam arrangements that rely on the integrally formed resilient coupling portions to provide the necessary compliance characteristics the relatively firm subordinate beams. Such resilient beams can be tiered, Whereby the overall compliance characteristic of the windshield wiper blade support arrangement is responsive to the resilience characteristics of the beams themselves. 
     In an advantageous embodiment, the steps of forming a primary beam member, forming a first compliant beam member integrally with the primary beam member, and forming a second compliant beam member integrally with said first compliant beam member are, in one embodiment, performed simultaneously during performance of a step of molding. That is, the process can incorporate the various forming steps in a molding operation Alternatives to the molding step, also wherein the various portions of the apparatus are simultaneously formed, include extrusion, casting, stamping, or any other process of manufacture that, in light of the teaching herein, is deemed appropriate by persons of skill in the art. 
     Attention on the part of the designer should be directed to the choice of materials, particularly in regard of certain physical and mechanical properties. These include, for example, flexural strength, toughness (i.e., impact strength), percentage of elongation, density, weather resistance, resistance to the effects of ultraviolet light, water absorption, temperature at which heat distortion occurs, resistance to creep, density stability, and dimensional stability. Flexural strength is a measure of the magnitude of a load that can be imposed before the material breaks. The present windshield wiper application requires relatively low flexural strength. The toughness characteristic relates to the magnitude of the energy required to break a plastic material, and is used to measure impact strength. Impact strength is not a measure of the stress required to break a sample, but rather a measure of the energy needed, or absorbed, in breaking the specimen. A relatively large value of impact strength is required in the present windshield wiper application. 
     The combined effects of temperature, light radiation, moisture, gases, and other chemicals in the environment can cause dimensional and other physical changes in plastic materials. The “weatherability” of a plastic material relates to its ability to withstand direct sunlight, or the application of artificial weathering conditions. Ultraviolet radiation, in conjunction with water and other environmental oxidants, may cause color fading, pitting, crumbling, surface cracking, crazing, or brittleness. Heat stabilizers, that are well-known to persons of skill in the plastics art, can be added to the polymers to retard the damaging effects of neat, light energy, oxidation, or mechanical shear. “Deflection temperature,” or “heat distortion temperature,” represent the characteristically highest continuous operating temperature that the material will withstand. In the present windshield wiper application, the material should be effective within a range of approximately −50° F. to 150° F. 
     The compliant, force distributing arrangements of the present invention, in embodiments thereof that are applicable to windshield wiper systems, can be made of a variety of materials. These include, for example, Xenoy (from GE Plastics), low density polyethylene, polypropylene, PVC, aromatic polyesters, polycarbonate, fluoroplastics, ABS, polyallomers, and polystyrene. Some of the referenced materials are considered to be quite (expensive, notwithstanding their excellent mechanical and physical properties. For example, PTFE is about fifty times more expensive than polyethylene. 
     From the standpoint of economy of manufacture, it is self-evident to persons of skill in the art that, for a given mold configuration, a lower density material will yield more parts per pound. It is necessary, therefore, to compare costs on a unit volume basis. The plastic materials (without limitation), arranged in order of increasing cost per unit volume, are; polyethylene; polypropylene; polystyrene; ABS (polypropylene with 30% glass fill); and PTFE. Polyethylene, preferably of the low density type, or polypropylene, appear to be well-suited for the present windshield wiper application. Both such materials are characterized with low specific gravity (polyethylene is approximately 0.917, and polypropylene is approximately 0.904), excellent molding qualities, very low cost, high impact strength, and low flexural modulus. Although subject to degradation upon exposure to UV radiation, UV absorbers and other additives known to persons skilled in the art can reduce the effects of UV radiation and improve creep resistance. 
     Polypropylene, polystyrene, and polyethylene do not absorb water and therefore are good candidates for the windshield wiper application. Nylons, polyesters, polycarbonates, and ABS absorb moisture and therefore are not recommended. From the standpoint of cost and flexural strength, polypropylene is a better choice as it costs less than $0.50 per pound and has a flexural modulus of approximately between 100,000 and 150,000 psi Polyacetal (trade name “Delrin”) and polyethylene terephthalates (PET) are also good choices. 
     From the standpoint of manufacture, injection molding, appears preferred, although extrusion is a cost-effective alternative. During molding, care should be taken that a knit line is not produced. A knit line is on along which two fronts of polymer flow meet. Knit lines produce a line of weakness that is susceptible to failure during impact. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Comprehension of the invention is facilitated by reading the following detailed description, in conjunction with the annexed drawing, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a windshield wiper support frame embodiment of the invention wherein highly compliant, integrally formed coupling portions are utilized; 
     FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of a windshield wiper support frame embodiment of the invention wherein resilient, hinge-like elements are integrally formed with the beams, there being provided eight equally spaced force distribution points; 
     FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view of the configuration of a small resilient, hinge-like element; 
     FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view of the configuration of a larger resilient, hinge-like element, 
     FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view of a windshield wiper support frame embodiment of the invention wherein resilient, hinge-like elements are integrally formed with the beams, with eight equally spaced force distribution points, and with greater flexibility than the embodiment of FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 6 is a schematic plan view of a windshield wiper support frame embodiment of the invention wherein resilient, hinge-like elements are integrally formed with the beams, there being provided an odd number of unequally spaced force distribution points for each half of the support frame; 
     FIG. 7 is a schematic plan view of an illustrative embodiment of the invention wherein a plurality of resilient coupling elements couple a primary beam to a flexible working beam; 
     FIG. 8 is a schematic plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 7 showing the flexure of the resilient coupling elements in response to flexure of the flexible working beam toward the primary beam; 
     FIG. 9 is a schematic plan view of a further illustrative embodiment of the invention wherein a plurality of resilient coupling elements couple a primary beam to a respective plurality of end pads with blade coupling elements extending therefrom; 
     FIG. 10 is an enlarged schematic isometric representation of a portion of the embodiment of FIG. 9 showing certain details of the end pads with the blade coupling elements extending therefrom; and 
     FIG. 11 is an enlarged schematic isometric representation or a portion of a further specific embodiment of the invention showing certain details of the end pads with the blade coupling elements extending therefrom and a single beam resilient element. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a windshield wiper support frame  10  wherein highly compliant, integrally formed coupling portions  11 - 16  are utilized for interbeam coupling, as will be described hereinbelow. A primary beam  20  is coupled to a secondary beam  21  via coupling portion  13 . Similarly, the primary beam is coupled to a further secondary beam  22  via coupling portion  16 . Coupling portion  11  couples secondary beam  21  to a tertiary beam  23 . Similarly, on the other half of the windshield wiper support frame, coupling, portion  14  couples secondary beam  22  to a further tertiary beam  26 . Coupling portions  12  and  15  are shown to couple their respectively associated secondary beams  21  and  22  to tertiary beams  24  and  25 . 
     In this specific illustrative embodiment of the invention, output forces, which correspond to predeterminable proportions of an input force that is represented by vector  30 , are provided at tertiary beams  23 - 26 , and at secondary beams  21  and  22 . More specifically, the output forces, that are represented by vectors  31 - 36 , sum up to the magnitude of vector  30 . Vectors  31 - 36  therefore represent a distribution of the input force represented by vector  30 . The force represented by vector  30  is supplied in this embodiment by a windshield wiper actuator arm (not shown) that is conventionally coupled to the windshield wiper motor (not shown) of a vehicle (not shown) and to the windshield wiper support frame, illustratively al aperture  40  through primary beam  20 . Although not specifically shown in this figure, the terminations of the secondary and tertiary beams where the output forces are provided are adapted (not shown in this figure) in a conventional manner to be coupled to a windshield wiper blade. The windshield wiper blade may be of the conventional single blade type, or of the dual blade type 
     As indicated, the primary, secondary, and tertiary beams, along with their respectively associated compliant coupling portions, are formed integrally with one another. The coupling portions, such as coupling portions  13  and  16 , permit their respectively associated secondary beams to pivot. Moreover, terminations of the secondary and tertiary beams where the output forces are produced are translatable along paths that are parallel to the input force vector. Persons of skill in the art will readily recognize that the magnitudes of the forces represented by vectors  31 - 36  can be made not to be equal to one another, as required by the particular application. Proportions of the force magnitudes amongst the vectors are responsive to the location of the coupling portions along the respective beams, the mechanical properties of the compliant coupling portions, and the mechanical properties of the beams themselves. Persons of skill in the art can configure these characteristics in light of the teaching herein. 
     FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of a windshield wiper support frame  50  wherein resilient, hinge-like portions  51 - 56  are integrally formed with the beams, there being provided eight equally spaced force distribution points. As shown, a primary beam  60  is resiliently coupled via integrally formed resilient coupling portions  52  and  55  to respective secondary beams  61  and  62 . Each secondary beam is coupled via respective integrally formed resilient coupling portions  51  and  53 , and  54  and  56 , to respective tertiary beams  64 - 67 . In this specific illustrative embodiment of the invention, the tertiary beams are coupled to a windshield wiper blade, which is schematically represented in the figure by structural element  69 . The windshield wiper blade can, in certain embodiments, be coupled to the force output points of the tertiary beams using any of several known wiper blade coupling arrangements (not shown), or it can be formed integrally with the windshield wiper support frame. 
     FIG. 3 is a schematic plan representation of the configuration of a small resilient, hinge-like portion  70  which corresponds to coupling portions  51 ,  53 ,  54 , and  56 , shown in FIG.  2 . FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view of the configuration of a larger resilient, hinge-like portion  80 , which corresponds to coupling portion  55  in FIG.  2 . Coupling portion  52  in FIG. 2 is the mirror image of coupling portion  55 . Referring once again to FIG. 3, hinge-like portion  70  is formed with first and second resilient members  71  and  72 , that couple beams  74  and  75  resiliently to one another. When beam  75  is urged in the direction of arrow  77 , first resilient member  71  is subjected to a compression force, and second resilient member  72  is subjected i:o tension. Conversely, when beam  75  is urged in the direction of arrow  78 , first resilient member  71  is subjected to a tensile force, and second resilient member  72  is subjected to compression force. In this regard, without limitation, the present invention is distinguishable from the mere pivoting function of the interbeam couplers of the conventional windshield wiper support Frames. 
     The larger resilient, hinge-like portion  80  of FIG. 4 that corresponds to coupling portion  55  in FIG. 2, functions in a manner similar to the hinge-like portion described with respect to FIG.  3 . More specifically, when beam  85  is urged in the direction of arrow  87 , first resilient member  81  is subjected to a compression force, and second resilient member  82  is subjected to tension. Conversely, when beam  85  is urged in the direction of arrow  88 , first resilient member  81  is subjected to a tensile force, and second resilient member  82  is subjected to compression force. 
     FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view of a windshield wiper support frame  100  embodiment of the invention wherein resilient, hinge-like portions are integrally formed with the beams, with eight equally spaced force distribution points, and with greater flexibility than the embodiment of FIG.  2 . As shown in this figure, windshield wiper support frame  100  is provided with resilient, hinge-like portions  101 - 106  are integrally formed with the beams. A primary beam  110  is resiliently coupled via integrally formed resilient coupling portions  102  and  105  to respective secondary beams  111  and  12 . Each secondary beam is coupled via respective integrally formed resilient coupling portions  101  and  103 , and  104  and  106 , to respective tertiary beams  114 - 117 . The embodiment of FIG. 5 achieves a greater degree of compliance over that of FIG. 2 in that the resilient coupling portions are not only longer, but thinner. Thus, when materials having relatively high stiffness characteristics are employed in the manufacture of the product, desired compliance characteristics can be achieved by controlling the size and thickness of the resilient coupling portions. In this specific illustrative embodiment of the invention, the force output portions (not specifically designated in this figure) are shown schematically to be coupled to a windshield wiper blade  120 . As previously noted, the windshield wiper blade can, in certain embodiments, be coupled to the force output points using any of several known wiper blade coupling arrangements, or it can be formed integrally with the windshield wiper support frame. 
     FIG. 6 is a schematic plan view of a windshield wiper support frame  130 , which is a specific illustrative embodiment of the invention wherein resilient, hinge-like portions  131 ,  132 ,  133 , and  134  are integrally formed with the beams. In this embodiment, there are provided an odd number of unequally spaced force distribution points for each half of the support frame. More specifically, a primary beam  136  is resiliently coupled via integrally formed resilient coupling portions  132  and  133  to respective secondary beams  137  and  138 . Each secondary beam is coupled via respective integrally formed resilient coupling portions  131  and  134  to respective tertiary beams  140  and  141 . In this specific illustrative embodiment of the invention, the tertiary beams are coupled to a windshield wiper blade, which is schematically represented in the figure by structural element  143 . As previously stated, the windshield wiper blade can, in certain embodiments, be coupled to the force output points of the tertiary beams using any of several known wiper blade coupling arrangements (not shown), or it can be formed integrally with the windshield wiper support frame. 
     FIG. 7 is a schematic plan view of an illustrative embodiment of a windshield wiper support arrangement  150  constructed in accordance with the invention As shown, a primary beam  151  which in this specific illustrative embodiment of the invention is curved is shown to be coupled resiliently to a flexible working beam  153  by a plurality of resilient coupling elements  161 - 167 . In this specific illustrative embodiment of the invention flexible working beam  153  functions to support a windshield wiper blade (not shown). The resilient coupling elements are distributed over the length of the primary beam and are coupled thereto on the concave side of the curvature. Flexible working beam  153  is shown in this specific illustrative embodiment of the invention to be straight when undisturbed. The variations in the distance between the curved primary beam and the straight flexible working beam is accommodated by employing resilient coupling elements of varying sizes. Thus, resilient coupling, elements  161  and  167  are smaller than resilient coupling elements  162  and  166 , etc., resilient element  164  being the largest in this embodiment. 
     FIG. 8 is a schematic plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 7 showing the flexure of the resilient coupling elements  161 - 167  in response to a bending flexure in the central region of flexible working beam  153  toward primary beam  151 . As shown, as the distance between the primary beam and the flexible working beam is decreased by the application of force (not shown) on the flexible working beam toward the primary beam, resilient coupling elements  16214   166  are shown to become compressed and somewhat elongated along the direction of the primary beam. In this specific illustrative embodiment of the invention, the flexible working beam separates away from the primary beam at its extremities as it is urged toward the primary beam in its central region. 
     In the embodiment of FIGS. 7 and 8, primary beam  151  is formed so as to be fairly rigid, i.e., that it will not bend significantly in response to the forced contemplated by the designer to be applied thereto and to flexible working beam  153 . Resilient coupling elements  161 - 167  are formed of a resilient material, such as polypropylene, polystyrene, and polyethylene, as described above. 
     FIG. 9 is a schematic plan view of a further illustrative embodiment of a windshield wiper support arrangement  180  constructed in accordance with the invention As shown, a primary beam  181  which in this specific illustrative embodiment of the invention is curved is shown to be coupled resiliently to respective first ends of a plurality of resilient coupling elements  183 - 188 . In this specific illustrative embodiment of the invention, the resilient coupling elements are distributed over the length of the primary beam and are coupled thereto on the concave side of the curvature of primary beam  181 . Each of the resilient coupling elements is coupled at a second end thereof to a respective one of end pads  190 - 195 , shown from the side thereof in this figure. Each of the end pads has extending therefrom, in this specific illustrative embodiment of the invention, a pair of blade engagement members, such as engagement members  200  and  201 , which will be described in greater detail hereinbelow with respect to FIG.  10 . 
     In the embodiment of FIG. 9, each of end pads  190 - 195 , shown from the side thereof in this figure, is coupled to a sequentially adjacent one of the end pads by a coupling element, in the form of, for example, coupling element  203  which is connected at one end to end pad  192 , and at its other end to end pad  193 . Primary beam  181  has a first end  205  and a second end  206 . In this specific illustrative embodiment of the invention, the respective ends are coupled to their inwardly proximal end pads by coupling elements  208  and  209 , respectively. That is, coupling element  208  couples first end  205  to end pad  190 , and coupling element  209  couples second end  206  to end pad  195 . The end pads are shown in this embodiment to be arranged in a substantially straight-line relation to one another. As shown in FIG. 9, coupling elements  203 ,  208 ,  209 , and other such coupling elements disposed between end pads  190 - 191 ,  191 - 192 ,  193 - 194 , and  194 - 195  (all of which coupling elements are not specifically designated in the figure), with their respectively associated ones of end pads  190 - 195  form a continuous elongated compliant support element (not specifically designated) that is fixedly coupled at its distal ends (i.e., at the distal most ends of coupling elements  208  and  209 ) to respective distal ends  205  and  206  of continuous primary beam  181 . This facilitates installation of conventional windshield wiper blades. However, curved arrangements for specialized windshield contours can be provided within the scope of the invention. In such specialized embodiments, the windshield wiper blades can themselves be fabricated to have a predetermined curvature that easily would be installed in the correspondingly curved windshield wiper support arrangement. 
     The variations in the distance between the curved primary beam and the straight flexible working beam is accommodated by employing resilient coupling elements of varying sizes. Thus, resilient coupling elements  183  and  188  are smaller than resilient coupling elements  184  and  187 , which are smaller than resilient coupling elements  185  and  186  which are the largest in this embodiment. 
     FIG. 10 is an enlarged, fragmented schematic isometric representation of a portion of the embodiment of FIG. 9 showing certain illustrative details of end pad  190  with blade coupling elements  200  and  201  extending therefrom. As shown, end pad  190 , as arc the other end pads in this embodiment, is wider than the coupling elements, illustratively coupling element  208  which couples end pad  190  to first end  205  of primary beam  181 . The blade coupling elements are shown in this specific illustrative embodiment of the invention to be arranged axially offset from one another on the end pad, and are provided with respective inwardly directed protuberances  210  and  211  which engage with an elongated support (not shown) of a conventional windshield wiper blade (not shown). 
     Resilient element  183  is shown to have a substantially V-shaped configuration, wherein a first end thereof is coupled to primary beam  181 , and a second end is coupled to end pad  190 . The structure of the resilient element of this specific illustrative embodiment of the invention is comprised of two resilient beams  213  and  214  which are resiliently coupled to one another at a resilient coupling  215 . As end pad  190  is displaced toward primary beam  181  by the application of a force in the direction of arrow  220 , resilient beams are urged toward one another, effectively counter-rotating about their respective couplings to the primary beam and the end pad. The effective displacement path (not shown) of the end pad in response to the application of the force is substantially linear. In this embodiment, the entire structure is integrally formed by any of a variety of known manufacturing techniques, such as injection molding. A practicable embodiment has been formed of Xenoy, a compound that is commercially available from GE Plastics. 
     FIG. 11 is an enlarged fragmented schematic isometric representation of a portion of a further specific embodiment of the invention showing certain details of the end pads with the blade coupling elements extending therefrom and a single-beam resilient element. Elements of structure that are analogous to those discussed hereinabove with respect to FIG. 10 are similarly designated. FIG. 11 shows, as does FIG. 10, certain illustrative details of end pad  190  with blade coupling elements  200  and  201  extending therefrom. As shown in FIG. 11, end pad  190  as are the other end pads (not shown) in this embodiment, is wider than the coupling elements, illustratively coupling element  208  which couples end pad  190  to first end  205  of primary beam  181 . As previously discussed, the blade coupling elements are shown in this specific illustrative embodiment of the invention to be arranged axially offset from one another on the end pad, and are provided with respective inwardly directed protuberances  210  and  211  which engage with an elongated support (not shown) of a conventional windshield wiper blade (not shown). 
     In the various embodiments of the invention, a plurality of apertures, such as aperture  250 , are be provided through primary beam  181  to permit high speed air to flow therethrough during vehicle operation. Such air flow will impinge upon the windshield wiper blade urging same toward the windshield (not shown). 
     A resilient element  241  is shown in the embodiment of FIG. 11 to have a substantially S-shaped configuration, wherein a first end thereof is coupled to primary beam  181 , and a second end is coupled to end pad  190 . The structure of the resilient element of this specific illustrative embodiment of the invention is comprised of two resilient bends  243  and  244  which are resiliently interconnected by a resilient beam  246 . As end pad  190  is displaced toward primary beam  181  by the application of a force in the direction of arrow  220 , resilient beam  246  is caused to bend resiliently. In this embodiment, the entire structure is integrally formed, as previously noted. 
     In addition, persons of skill in the art can configure multiple-tier resilient beam arrangements, similar in appearance to the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, but instead of relying on the integrally formed resilient coupling portions (e.g.,  51  and  53 ) to provide the necessary compliance to the relatively firm subordinate beams (e.g.,  61  and  64 ), resilient beams of the type described in connection with FIGS. 9-11 can be tiered (not shown), whereby, as previously stated, the overall compliance characteristic of the windshield wiper blade support arrangement is responsive to the resilience characteristics of the beams themselves. In still further embodiments, the resilient coupling elements, such as coupling element  208  which couples end pad  190  to first end  205  of primary beam  181  in FIGS. 9-11, can themselves be configured to distribute force to the windshield wiper blade (not shown), in regions intermediate of the end pads. In such embodiments, the resilient connectors between the end pads, or between an end pad and an end of the primary beam, has a preformed curvature that applies a resilient force to the windshield wiper blade. 
     Although the invention has been described in terms of specific embodiments and applications, persons skilled in the art can, in light of this teaching, generate additional embodiments without exceeding the scope or departing from the spirit of the claimed invention. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the drawing and description in this disclosure are proffered to facilitate comprehension of the invention, and should not be construed to limit the scope thereof.

Technology Category: b