Flexible vehicle wiper

Claim 2

A flexible wiper device for use on the curved surfaces of vehicle bodies and the like comprising an elongated flexible wiper portion and support portion for the wiper portion including a support frame having a pair of relatively rigid, outwardly extending spaced support arms forming a part of a grip for the user adapted to resist compression forces along said arms with relatively narrow hinge extensions at the outer ends of said support arms and a flexible backing strip attached to said hinge extensions at spaced points along the back side of said backing strip, the support arms, hinge extensions and backing strip forming the support frame being made as a one-piece, molded plastic unit, the hinge extensions having opposed concave surfaces as viewed from the side making the hinge sections narrower at the center and wider at the ends, the end portions of the backing strip project substantially beyond the hinge extensions so that the wiper portion and backing strip flex together both concavely and convexly in wiping across curved surfaces.

Claim 3

A flexible wiper device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said wiper portion is releasably connected to said backing strip.

Claim 4

A flexible wiper device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said support frame includes a handle socket portion integral with and oppositely of said support arms to releasably support a handle.

Claim 5

A flexible wiper device as set forth in claim 3 wherein said socket portion is disposed generally parallel to said backing strip and is integral with and fixedly secured to the back of said support arms.

Claim 6

A flexible wiper device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said wiper portion includes a longitudinal groove with undercut sides formed in its back side throughout its lengthwise extent and adapted to receive a complementary outwardly diverging tongue formed on a side of said backing strip.

Claim 7

A flexible wiper device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said support frame is made of a relatively rigid polyethylene material.

Claim 8

A flexible wiper device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said wiper portion is formed of a relatively soft thermosetting plastic material.

Claim 9

A flexible wiper device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said wiper portion is in the form of a generally cylindrical body having an absorbent exterior wiping surface to apply waxes and the like.

Claim 10

A flexible wiper device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said wiper portion is in the form of a downwardly converging flexible blade terminating in an elongated, relatively thin flexible wiping edge.

Claim 11

A flexible wiper device for use on the curved surfaces of vehicle bodies and the like comprising an elongated wiper portion and a support frame for the wiper portion formed of a one-piece molded plastic body including a pair of outwardly extending relatively rigid support arms arranged along an arc to resist compression forces and along the arms having narrowed flexible hinge membranes at the outer ends of the arms and integral therewith to provide spaced points of support for an elongated, flexible, backing strip integral with said hinge membranes, and coextensive with said wiper element, the end portions of the backing strip projecting substantially beyond the hinge membranes whereby said hinge membranes yield to permit said wiper element and backing strip to flex longitudinally over both concave and convex curves over which the wiper portion is moved, and a tubular handle socket slotted along one side and rigidly mounted on the back side of said support arms forming a part of a grip for the user and extending generally parallel to said backing strip, there being releasable coupling portions on said wiper portion and backing strip to facilitate the assembly and disassembly thereof.

Claim 12

A flexible wiper device for use on the curved surfaces of vehicle bodies and the like comprising an elongated wiper portion and a support frame for the wiper portion formed of a one-piece molded plastic body including a pair of outwardly extending relatively rigid support arms arranged along an arc to resist compression forces and along the arms having narrowed flexible hinge membranes at the outer ends of the arms and integral therewith to provide spaced points of support for an elongated, flexible, backing strip integral with said hinge membranes, and coextensive with said wiper element, the end portions of the backing strip projecting substantially beyond the hinge membranes whereby said hinge membranes yield to permit said wiper element and backing strip to flex longitudinally over both concave and convex curves over which the wiper portion is moved, and a tubular handle socket slotted along one side and rigidly mounted on the back side of said support arms forming a part of a grip for the user and extending generally parallel to said backing strip, there being releasable coupling portions on said wiper portion and backing strip to facilitate the assembly and disassembly thereof.

Claim 13

A flexible wiper device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said support arms have a generally I-shaped cross section with a wider Section along the peripheral edge thereof.

Claim 14

A flexible wiper device as set forth in claim 10 wherein said wiper portion is coextensive with said backing strip.

Claim 15

A flexible wiper device for use on the curved surfaces of vehicle bodies and the like comprising an elongated flexible wiper portion and a support means for the wiper portion having a support member with a pair of outwardly extending spaced flexible support hinges on the support member, and a flexible backing strip integral with the ends of said support hinges at spaced points of support along said backing strip and a handle portion integral with and fixedly secured to the support member oppositely of and generally parallel to said backing strip and transverse to said hinges forming a grip for the user, the support member, hinges and backing strip being made as a one-piece molded plastic unit, the hinges being narrower at the center and wider at the ends to permit the strip to flex inwardly and outwardly, the end portions of the backing strip projecting substantially beyond the hinges so that the wiper portion and backing strip flex together both concavely and convexly in wiping across curved surfaces.

Claim 16

A flexible wiper device for use on the curved surfaces of vehicle bodies and the like comprising an elongated flexible wiper portion and a support means for the wiper portion having a support member with a pair of outwardly extending spaced flexible support hinges on the support member, and a flexible backing strip integral with the ends of said support hinges at spaced points of support along said backing strip and a handle portion integral with and fixedly secured to the support member oppositely of and generally parallel to said backing strip and transverse to said hinges forming a grip for the user, the support member, hinges and backing strip being made as a one-piece molded plastic unit, the hinges being narrower at the center and wider at the ends to permit the strip to flex inwardly and outwardly, the end portions of the backing strip projecting substantially beyond the hinges so that the wiper portion and backing strip flex together both concavely and convexly in wiping across curved surfaces.