US3879794A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Windshield wiper blade assembly
Assignee: Trico Products Corp
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Filing: 1974-02-22
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Granted: 1975-04-29
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Expires: 1994-02-22
Abstract
Abstract A replaceable squeegee assembly or refill unit for a windshield wiper blade incorporates a multi-use backing strip for supporting a rubber-like squeegee element. The backing strip may be integrally formed of molded or extruded plastic material. A pair of squeegee holders, each in the form of a channel-shaped body having inwardly extending opposed flanges at the outer ends of the legs of the channel, are arranged in back-to-back relationship and include a common web portion. A pair of elongate side rails extending longitudinally for the entire length of the channel bodies extending laterally outwardly are provided on the legs of the channel bodies. The side rails associated with each channel body are coplanar; the distance between the longitudinal edges of one pair of side rails is greater than the distance between the longitudinal edges of the other pair of side rails. The differences in the overall lateral width of the pairs of side rails permit use of the backing strip in different superstructures having pairs of opposed claws for slidably receiving the side rails which are spaced apart different distances. The squeegee element may be slidably received in either of the squeegee holders while the side rails on the unused squeegee holder are received between the claws of the superstructure. A clip which interlocks with the backing strip adjacent the end thereof serves to retain the squeegee element within the squeegee holder and also serves to limit the longitudinal displacement of the refill unit relative to the superstructure.
Inventors
- 👤 Jr Hobart V Roberts
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 19:30
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60S; B60S1/00; B60S1/02; B60S1/04; B60S1/32; B60S1/38; B60S1/3801; B60S2001/3812; B60S2001/3817; B60S2001/3818; B60S2001/3822
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
219 words
For use in a windshield wiper blade assembly including an elongate flexible pressure distributing superstructure having a plurality of pairs of laterally spaced apart opposed blade straddling claws and an elongate replaceable refill unit comprising an elongate squeegee element of elastomeric material and a flexible resilient backing strip supporting said squeegee element, the backing strip having less flexibility in a plane parallel to the surface to be wiped than in directions perpendicular thereto; said backing strip comprisiNg a pair of elongate channel bodies disposed back to back having elongate slots for receiving and retaining a squeegee element, a first pair and a second pair of co-planar elongate side rails disposed for slidable engagement in said pairs of opposed blade straddling claws, each side rail of said first pair extending longitudinally along and laterally outwardly of one leg of one of said pairs of channel bodies, each side rail of said second pair extending longitudinally along and outwardly of one leg of the other of said pair of channel bodies, the distance between the outer longitudinal edges of said first pair of rails being different from the distance between the outer longitudinal edges of said second pair of rails whereby said backing strip is adapted to accomodate different wiper blade superstructures having opposed pairs of claws spaced apart different distances.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
219 words
For use in a windshield wiper blade assembly including an elongate flexible pressure distributing superstructure having a plurality of pairs of laterally spaced apart opposed blade straddling claws and an elongate replaceable refill unit comprising an elongate squeegee element of elastomeric material and a flexible resilient backing strip supporting said squeegee element, the backing strip having less flexibility in a plane parallel to the surface to be wiped than in directions perpendicular thereto; said backing strip comprisiNg a pair of elongate channel bodies disposed back to back having elongate slots for receiving and retaining a squeegee element, a first pair and a second pair of co-planar elongate side rails disposed for slidable engagement in said pairs of opposed blade straddling claws, each side rail of said first pair extending longitudinally along and laterally outwardly of one leg of one of said pairs of channel bodies, each side rail of said second pair extending longitudinally along and outwardly of one leg of the other of said pair of channel bodies, the distance between the outer longitudinal edges of said first pair of rails being different from the distance between the outer longitudinal edges of said second pair of rails whereby said backing strip is adapted to accomodate different wiper blade superstructures having opposed pairs of claws spaced apart different distances.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
A backing strip according to claim 1 wherein the slots of the channel bodies are T-shaped in cross section for receiving a squeegee element having a shouldered anchoring bead along one longitudinal edge.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
A backing strip according to claim 1 wherein the pair of channel bodies have a common web at their junction.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
A backing strip according to claim 1 wherein said side rails are disposed on the legs of the channel bodies intermediate the web and free end thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
A backing strip according to claim 1 wherein said side rails are disposed at the free ends of the legs of the channel bodies.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
A backing strip according to claim 1 wherein said channel bodies are semicircular in cross section and include inwardly projecting longitudinal flanges at the ends of the legs thereof for retaining a squeegee element having a shouldered anchoring bead along one longitudinal edge.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
12 words
A backing strip according to claim 1 of integrally formed plastic material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
156 words
A refill unit for a wiper blade assembly comprising an elongate squeegee element of elastomeric material, an integrally formed backing strip of plastic material for supporting said squeegee element and means for retaining said squeegee element in assembled relationship with said backing strip; said backing strip comprising a pair of elongate channel bodies arranged back to back, each channel body having an elongate side rail formed on each leg thereof and extending laterally outwardly of the channel body, the side rails on each channel body being co-planar, the distance between the outer longitudinal edges of the side rails formed on one channel body being greater than the distance between the outer longitudinal edges of the side rails formed on the other channel body, said squeegee element being alternatively receivable in one or the other of said channel bodies, the side rails on the unused channel body being slidably receivable between the opposed claws of a super-structure.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
156 words
A refill unit for a wiper blade assembly comprising an elongate squeegee element of elastomeric material, an integrally formed backing strip of plastic material for supporting said squeegee element and means for retaining said squeegee element in assembled relationship with said backing strip; said backing strip comprising a pair of elongate channel bodies arranged back to back, each channel body having an elongate side rail formed on each leg thereof and extending laterally outwardly of the channel body, the side rails on each channel body being co-planar, the distance between the outer longitudinal edges of the side rails formed on one channel body being greater than the distance between the outer longitudinal edges of the side rails formed on the other channel body, said squeegee element being alternatively receivable in one or the other of said channel bodies, the side rails on the unused channel body being slidably receivable between the opposed claws of a super-structure.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
54 words
A refill unit according to claim 8 wherein the means for retaining the squeegee element in assembled relationship with the backing strip comprises a clip interlockingly engageable with the backing strip at each end thereof having a depending abutment blocking the end of a channel body for limiting longitudinal displacement of the squeegee element.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
A refill unit according to claim 9 wherein said clip includes shoulders disposed adjacent the end portion of a side rail to limit longitudinal displacement of the refill unit relative to a wiper blade superstructure.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
45 words
A refill unit according to claim 8 wherein said channel bodies each include a pair of legs extending in opposite directions from the junction therebetween, each of said pairs of legs terminating in opposed edges for retaining a squeegee element having a shouldered anchoring bead.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
75 words
A refill unit according to claim 8 wherein said means for retaining the squeegee element in assembled relationship with the backing strip comprises a clip, said clip includes a pair of resilient flexible tabs terminating in lugs, said pair of tabs straddling the junction between said channel bodies, said oPposed edges being notched said lugs engaging said notches whereby said tabs and lugs block a channel body for limiting longitudinal displacement of the squeegee element.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
71 words
A refill unit according to claim 12 wherein said clip includes a pair of legs resiliently connected together by a web said legs overlying a pair of said side rails, at least one of said legs including a notch on its outer edge having opposed shoulders extending laterally beyond the outer edge of the corresponding side rails whereby said notch is resiliently and releasably engageable with a claw of a superstructure.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
156 words
A refill unit according to claim 8 wherein the junction between said channel bodies is apertured adjacent an end, the refill unit including a clip for restraining said squeegee element against longitudinal displacement relative to said backing strip and for limiting longitudinal displacement of said refill unit relative to a superstructure, said clip comprising a channel for receiving a channel body and corresponding side rails therein, said channel having a web overlying the channel body, side walls terminating in inwardly directed opposed flanges embracing the side rails and an end wall, a portion of said web being cut away adjacent the open end of the channel to form a depending abutment for engaging the end of the squeegee element, the free ends of said side walls and flanages forming shoulders for engaging the claws of a superstructure, a resilient tab having a lug at its free end for releasable engagement with said aperture in said junction.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-04-28 | 1978-10-28 | 1979-04-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-04-28 | 1982-10-28 | 1983-04-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-04-28 | 1986-10-28 | 1987-04-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |