WINDSCREEN WIPER DEVICE
A windscreen wiper device is provided. The wiper device includes a longitudinally extending wiper blade of a flexible material for sealing against a windshield of a vehicle. An elastic, elongated carrier that is self-biased into a pre-curved shape and which extends longitudinally between opposite ends operably supports and biases the wiper blade into a pre-curved configuration. A connecting device is secured to the carrier for attachment to an oscillating wiper arm. A pair of subspoilers, which are constructed as separate pieces from one another and from the wiper blade, are arranged on longitudinally opposite sides of the connecting device. Each of the subspoilers is joined with the carrier along less than a full longitudinal length of the respective subspoiler with an adhesive.
1 . A windscreen wiper device, comprising:
a longitudinally extending wiper blade of a flexible material for sealing against a windshield of a vehicle;
an elastic, elongated carrier that is self-biased into a pre-curved shape and which extends longitudinally between opposite ends, said carrier operably supporting and biasing said wiper blade into a pre-curved configuration;
a connecting device secured to said carrier for attachment to an oscillating wiper arm;
a pair of subspoilers constructed as separate pieces from one another and from said wiper blade and arranged on longitudinally opposite sides of said connecting device; and
each of said subspoilers being joined with said carrier along less than a full longitudinal length of the respective subspoiler with an adhesive.
2 . The windscreen wiper device as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said subspoilers is joined with said carrier in at least two adhesive regions which are spaced apart by a non-adhesive region.
3 . The windscreen wiper device as set forth in claim 2 wherein each of said subspoilers is joined with said carrier in at least three discrete and spaced apart adhesive regions.
4 . The windscreen wiper device as set forth in claim 1 further including a pair of end caps joined to opposite longitudinal ends of said carrier and longitudinally spaced from said connecting device.
5 . The windscreen wiper device as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said subspoilers substantially spans the space between said connecting device and one of said end caps.
6 . The windscreen wiper device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said adhesive joining said subspoilers with said carrier is a glue.
7 . The windscreen wiper device as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said subspoilers has a base surface and a pair of claws which engage around opposite lateral sides of the carrier.
8 . The windscreen wiper device as set forth in claim 7 wherein said base surface is adhesively joined to at least one of said wiper blade and said carrier.
9 . The windscreen wiper device as set forth in claim 7 wherein said claws are adhesively joined to said carrier.
10 . The windscreen wiper device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said carrier is made of two strips of metal received in side grooves of said wiper blade.
11 . The windscreen wiper device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said carrier is made of a single strip of metal which is adhesively joined to the wiper blade.
12 . A method of making a windscreen wiper device, comprising the steps of:
preparing a wiper blade of a flexible material for sealing against a windshield to be cleaned;
supporting the wiper blade with an elastic elongated carrier that extends longitudinally and is self-biased into a pre-curved shape;
engaging a connecting device with the carrier, the connecting device being configured for connection with a wiper arm;
adhesively joining a pair of subspoilers which are constructed as separate pieces from one another and from the wiper blade with the carrier on opposite longitudinal sides of the connecting device with an adhesive that is applied along less than a full longitudinal length of each respective subspoiler.
13 . The method as set forth in claim 12 wherein the joining step includes joining each subspoiler to the carrier in at least two adhesive regions which are spaced apart from one another by a non-adhesive region.
14 . The method as set forth in claim 13 wherein the joining step includes joining each subspoiler to the carrier in at least three discrete and spaced apart adhesive regions.
15 . A windscreen wiper device, comprising:
a longitudinally extending wiper blade of a flexible material for sealing against a windshield of a vehicle;
an elastic, elongated carrier that is self-biased into a pre-curved shape and which extends longitudinally between opposite ends, said carrier operably supporting and biasing said wiper blade into a pre-curved configuration;
end caps engaged with said opposite ends of said carrier;
a connecting device secured to said carrier for attachment to an oscillating wiper arm;
a pair of subspoilers constructed as separate pieces from one another and from said wiper blade and arranged on longitudinally opposite sides of said connecting device; and
each of said subspoilers being bonded with said carrier along less than a full longitudinal length of the respective subspoiler or being bonded with said connecting device or being bonded with one of said end caps.