Windscreen wiper device
A windscreen wiper device is provided including a longitudinally extending wiper strip of a flexible material. At least one carrier of a spring-like material operatively supports and biases the wiper strip into a predetermined configuration. The windscreen wiper device further includes a connecting device for connection with a wiper arm. At least a portion of the wiper strip has a microtextured surface formed directly into the flexible material. The microtextured surface may be on, for example, any one of or any combination of a wiping portion, a channel, a hinge portion and a spoiler portion of the wiper strip.
1. A windscreen wiper device, comprising:
a longitudinally extending wiper strip fabricated of a flexible material and having an outer surface, said wiper strip includes a wiping portion, a hinge portion, and a spoiler portion integrally connected as one piece of said flexible material with one another with said hinge portion being disposed between said wiping and spoiler portions;
at least one carrier operatively supporting and biasing said wiper strip into a predetermined configuration;
a connecting device for connection with a wiper arm;
wherein at least a portion of said outer surface of said wiper strip includes microtextured surface impressions formed directly into said flexible material of said wiper strip, wherein said at least a portion of said outer surface of said wiper strip having microtextured surface impressions includes at least two distinct portions of at least two of said wiping, hinge and spoiler portions; and
wherein said microtextured surface impressions include a plurality of pillars which are spaced from one another and project from a generally flat base surface.
2. The windscreen wiper device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said microtextured surface impressions are on said hinge portion.
3. The windscreen wiper device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said microtextured surface impressions of said at least two distinct portions have different microtexturing.
4. The windscreen wiper device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said at least one carrier is self-biased into a curved shape to bias said wiper strip into a curved configuration.
5. A windscreen wiper device, comprising:
a longitudinally extending wiper strip fabricated of a flexible material and having an outer surface, said wiper strip includes a wiping portion, a hinge portion, and a spoiler portion integrally connected as one piece of said flexible material with one another with said hinge portion being disposed between said wiping and spoiler portions;
at least one carrier operatively supporting and biasing said wiper strip into a predetermined configuration;
a connecting device for connection with a wiper arm; and
a longitudinally extending channel formed into said wiper strip, wherein said longitudinally extending channel has a closed geometrical shape, wherein said at least one carrier is disposed in said longitudinally extending channel;
wherein at least a portion of said outer surface of said wiper strip includes microtextured surface impressions formed directly into said flexible material of said wiper strip, wherein said at least a portion of said outer surface of said wiper strip having microtextured surface impressions includes at least two distinct portions of at least two of said wiping, hinge and spoiler portions;
and wherein said microtextured surface impressions are in said channel; and
wherein said microtextured surface impressions include a plurality of pillars which are spaced from one another and project from a generally flat base surface.
6. The windscreen wiper device as set forth in claim 5 wherein said microtextured surface impressions are on said hinge portion.
7. The windscreen wiper device as set forth in claim 5 wherein said microtextured surface impressions of said at least two distinct portions have different microtexturing.
8. The windscreen wiper device as set forth in claim 5 wherein said at least one carrier is self-biased into a curved shape to bias said wiper strip into a curved configuration.
9. A windscreen wiper device, comprising:
a longitudinally extending wiper strip fabricated of a flexible material and having an outer surface, said wiper strip includes a wiping portion, a hinge portion, and a spoiler portion integrally connected as one piece of said flexible material with one another with said hinge portion being disposed between said wiping and spoiler portions;
at least one carrier operatively supporting and biasing said wiper strip into a predetermined configuration;
a connecting device for connection with a wiper arm;
a microtextured surface impression of a first type formed directly into an outer surface said wiping portion of said flexible material of said wiper strip to reduce total contact area and increase hydrophobicity;
a microtextured surface impression of a second type formed directly into said hinge portion of said flexible material of said wiper strip, wherein said microtextured surface impression of a first type is different from said microtextured surface impression of a second type; and
a microtextured surface impression of a third type formed directly into said spoiler portion of said flexible material of said wiping portion, wherein said microtextured surface impression of a third type is different from said microtextured surface impression of a second type and said microtextured surface impression of a first type.
10. The windscreen wiper device as set forth in claim 9 wherein said wiper strip includes a longitudinally extending channel formed into said wiper strip, wherein internal walls of said channel include a microtextured surface impression of a fourth type that is different from said microtextured surface impression of a first type and said microtextured surface impression of a first type.