VEHICLE WINDSHIELD WIPER BLADE

Abstract

This invention relates to tape of glass cleaning brushes, mainly to automobile windscreen wipers, and can be used universally for efficient cleaning of the windscreen of a motor vehicle in any weather conditions.

The windscreen cleaning brush tape is made of an elastomeric material that can be firmly, without any gaps and installed motionless in the holder, while an axisymmetric cavity, triangular in its cross-section, runs along the entire length of the tape through the body of the scraper above its stretched out portion, and the sides of the triangular cavity run parallel to the sides of the scraper, forming sidewalls of the scraper. In another claim of this invention, the base of the triangular cavity carries at least one longitudinal symmetric rib, the vertex of which is directed towards the contacting portion of the scraper. Geometry and quantity of longitudinal ribs inside the cavity may vary. Also, the cleaning edge carries an axisymmetric longitudinal notch of triangular cross-section, which forms two symmetrically protruding wedge-shaped edges, running along both longitudinal sides of the stretched out contacting portion of the scraper.

Higher efficiency of windscreen wipers motor vehicles at sub-zero temperatures is achieved. The offered tape for wipers is simple in structure and production method and is easy to use.

Claims

1. Tape for the blade of a windscreen wiper for motor vehicles, made of an elastomeric material, comprising a base, suitable for being fixed in the holder and a wedge-shaped scraper, the stretched out portion of which carries a cleaning edge, while the scraper is connected with the base via a connecting component, different in that the tape can be tightly and fixedly installed in the holder, while an axisymmetric cavity of triangular crosswise section runs through the body of the scraper above its stretched out portion, while the base of the triangular cavity runs parallel to the base of the tape, and its sides run parallel to the sides of the scraper, thus forming sidewalls of the scraper, and the thickness of each sidewall of the scraper is proportional to the thickness of its stretched out portion; characterised in that, the cleaning edge carries, along the entire length of the scraper, an axisymmetric lengthwise notch of triangular crosswise section, which forms two symmetrically protruding wedge-shaped edges, running along both lengthwise sides of the stretched out contact portion of the scraper.

2. Tape according to claim 1, characterized in that there a plug is inserted in the butt end of the cavity that takes an upper position during the cleaning operation.

3. Tape according to claim 1, characterized in that the inner surface of the through running cavity in the centre of the scraper is made of a hydrophobic material at the butt end that is located at the bottom during the operation.

4. Tape for the blade of a windscreen wiper for motor vehicles, made of an elastomeric material, comprising a base, suitable for being fixed in the holder and a wedge-shaped scraper, the stretched out portion of which carries a cleaning edge, while the scraper is connected with the base by a connecting component, different in that the tape can be tightly and fixedly installed in the holder, while an axisymmetric cavity of triangular crosswise section runs through the body of the scraper above its stretched out portion, while the base of the triangular cavity runs parallel to the base of the tape, and its sides run parallel to the sides of the scraper, thus forming sidewalls of the scraper, and the thickness of each sidewall of the scraper is proportional to the thickness of its stretched out portion; characterised in that, the base of the cavity carries at least one symmetric, lengthwise rib, the apex of which is directed towards the contacting edge of the scraper, and also the cleaning edge carries, along the entire length of the scraper, an axisymmetric lengthwise notch of triangular crosswise section, which forms two symmetrically protruding wedge-shaped edges, running along both lengthwise sides of the stretched out contact portion of the scraper.

5. Tape according to the claim 1, characterized in that its upper and lower butt ends in the through running cavity in the scraper carry a plug each.

6. Tape according to the claim 1, characterized in that it is sealed at its upper and lower butts.

7. Tape according to the claim 1, characterized in that the inner corners of the triangular through-running hole in the scrapper are rounded.

8. Tape according to the claim 1, characterized in that the inner surface of the through running hole in the scraper is hydrophobic.

9. Tape according to claim 1, characterized in that the cleaning edge is rectangular in shape along the entire stretched out contacting portion of the scraper.

10. Tape according to the claim 4, characterized in that its upper and lower butt ends in the through running cavity in the scraper carry a plug each.

11. Tape according to the claim 4, characterized in that it is sealed at its upper and lower butts.

12. Tape according to the claim 4, characterized in that the inner corners of the triangular through-running hole in the scrapper are rounded.

13. Tape according to the claim 4, characterized in that the inner surface of the through running hole in the scraper is hydrophobic.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] This invention and its benefits will become clearer with the following detailed description and figures. The figures do not exclude from the scope of this invention other structural decisions that result from usual and suggested modifications of these concrete structural designs.

[0016] FIG. 1(A): A cross-section of the scraper with a through triangular cavity in the scraper

[0017] FIG. 1(B): Extreme angle of the scraper with a through triangular cavity when the scraper is in operation

[0018] FIG. 2(A): A cross-section of the scraper with a lengthwise inner rib made in the base of the through cavity in the body of the scraper

[0019] FIG. 2(B): Extreme angle of the scraper with a triangular through cavity with an inner lengthwise rib made in the base of the through cavity in the body of the scraper when the scraper is in operation

[0020] FIGS. 3(A, B, and C): Some other possible designs of the lengthwise inner ribs made in the base of the through cavity

[0021] FIG. 4: General view of the tape of FIG. 1 with plugs installed.

EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

[0022] The embodiments suggested in this invention are presented below with references to the figures. Tape 1 (FIG. 1(A)) consists of the base 2, suitable to be fixed in the holder 3, and the wedge-shaped scraper 4 with the stretched out contacting part 5 that carries the cleaning edge 6. The scraper 4 is connected with the base 2 by the connecting component 7. The tape 1 is installed tightly, with no gaps, and fixedly in the holder 3. The triangular cavity 8 in the centre of the scraper, centred on its axis and running through the entire length of the tape above its stretched out part, forms the sidewalls 9 of the scraper 4. Thickness of each sidewall 9 of the scraper 4 is made proportional to the thickness of the stretched out part 5 of the scraper 4. The plug 14 can be inserted in the through cavity 8 of the rubber tape 1. The cleaning edge 6 has an axisymmetric lengthwise notch 15 of triangular cross-section that runs along the entire length of the scraper 4. This notch forms two symmetrically positioned wedge-shaped edges (not shown in the figures) that run along both lengthwise sidewalls of the stretched out contacting portion 5 of the scraper 4. This design of the cleaning edge 6 reduces its stiffness, improving its contact with the glass surface, especially where there are roughness, dimples, scratches or other surface defects, which significantly improves performance of the tape 1. This design of the cleaning edge 6 extends service life of the tape 1 because the vortex of each wedge-shaped edge retains its sharp angle for longer periods of time. The cleaning edge 6 of the stretched out portion 5 of the scraper 4 can be manufactured rectangular. The classical rectangular tape with sharp edges cleans of windscreens very efficiently.

[0023] According to another embodiment (FIG. 2(A)) of this invention, the base of the through triangular cavity 8 of tape 1 carries at least one symmetrical, lengthwise rib 10, the vortex of which is directed towards the contacting portion 5 of the scraper 4. Geometry and number of inner lengthwise ribs in the cavity 8 of the scraper 4 may vary. FIGS. 3(A, B, and C) demonstrates some of the possible designs of the ribs, 11, 12, and 13 respectively. The inner corners of the through cavity 8 in the body of the scraper 4 can be rounded, which simplifies the rubber tape manufacture technology and thus simplifies its commercial production.

[0024] Wipers with rubber tapes 1 can be brought into swinging motion by the levers (arms) of the wiper when required to remove drops of water or snow from the windscreen. Consequently, one of the two butt surfaces of the tape 1 is constantly above the other butt in an ultimate, usually upper, position. A position when both butt surfaces of the tape are on the same level is possible. To prevent water droplets or snow entering the through cavity 8, it is possible to insert plugs 14 into the cavity, or else the entire surface of the cavity can be made hydrophobic. The plugs 14 can be inserted into the cavity 8 on both butts of the tape 1 (FIG. 4) or else both ends can be sealed. When there are no plugs on the butts of the tape, (the lower end is open), to minimize capillary effect and penetration of moisture into the through cavity 8, its inner surface can be made hydrophobic.

[0025] In the course of swinging, pendulum-like, motion, the wiper with tape 1 will reach its ultimate position where the motion changes its direction to the opposite. At these ultimate points the slope of the wedge-shaped scraper 4 of the tape 1 changes to opposite value with respect to the vertical to the glass surface, but then the previous working position of the wedge-shaped scraper 4 is re-established. As the tape 1 fits the holder 3 tightly, with no gaps, and fixedly, the connecting component 7 remains stationary during the cleaning process. The tight fit of the tape 1 in the holder 3 prevents accumulation of freezing fluid (water) on the tape, therefore considerably improving efficiency of the windscreen cleaning process at sub-zero temperatures. Elasticity of the sidewalls 9, formed by the walls of the triangular cavity 8 and the outer sides of the scraper 4, contribute to the capability of the scraper 4 bend during the working cycle as is shown in FIG. 1(B). When the plugs 14 are installed in the butts of the tape 1, or else when both ends of the tape 1 are sealed, gas—air for instance—pressure inside the cavity of the rubber tape 1 contributes to bending the scraper 4 during its operation. Air pressure inside the cavity is used as a pneumatic stiffening component. FIG. 2(B) shows an ultimate angle of the scraper 4 of the rubber tape 1, in its operating condition—with an inner lengthwise rib 10 made in the base of the triangular cavity in the scraper 4. When the scraper 4 bends during its working process, when the wiper swings, the sidewalls 9 of the scraper 4 press in turns against the lengthwise rib 10 in the base of the through cavity 8, which increases stiffness and prevents further undesirable increase of the slope angle of the scraper 4 in relation to the vertical to the glass surface.

[0026] FIGS. 3(A, B, and C) shows the embodiments with lengthwise ribs 11, 12, and 13 respectively in the cavity 8 in the scraper 4. These claims are not demonstrated in action. However, it is obvious that as the scraper bends during its work, the sidewalls 9 of the scraper 4 would press in turns against the inner ribs 11, increasing elastic resistance to any further increase of the deviation angle of the scraper 4 with respect to the vertical to the glass surface. If sidewalls 9 become excessively deformed inside the cavity 8, the lengthwise rib 11 would press against the central lengthwise rib 12, which would prevent its further deformation. Also, each sidewall 9 of the scraper 4 of the tape 1 would press against the nearest inner lengthwise rib 14, while if deformation of the sidewall 9 inside the cavity 8 of the scraper 4 continues, the profiled protuberance (not shown in the figures) of the scraper 14 would press against the base 2 of the tape 1, preventing further undesirable bending of the scraper 4.

[0027] Consequently, installing a tape tightly, with no gaps, and fixedly, in its holder prevents formation of areas of accumulation of iced-up fluid (water) on the tape, which makes a wiper more effective when working under sub-zero ambient conditions. It also simplifies the manufacturing process of such a tape. Having a through cavity in the scraper of the tape, possibly with inner lengthwise ribs, vouchers for a required stable bent of the scraper when cleaning the windscreen of a motor vehicle. This improves performance of a wiper on the whole.