Wiper blade

Abstract

A wiper blade is presented having a wiper strip, a primary frame, and a pair of secondary frames. The primary frame having a connection device capable of connecting the wiper blade to a wiper arm disposed on a top side of the primary frame, and a connection structure disposed, on opposite ends of the primary frame. The pair of secondary frame, each have a central pivot connection portion and two leg portions extending from the central pivot connection portion, a pivot structure disposed on the central pivot connection portion of the secondary frames wherein the pivot structure of the secondary frames are connected to the connection structures on the ends of the primary frame. A wiper blade is also presented having a wiper strip, a force distribution structure having opposite ends, and a cover.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A wiper blade comprising:
 a wiper strip;   a primary frame having a top side and opposite ends, a connection device capable of connecting the wiper blade to a wiper arm disposed on the top side of the primary frame, and a connection structure disposed on one of the opposite ends of the primary frame, the connection structure including pivot extension walls;   a secondary frame having a central pivot connection portion and two leg portions extending from the central pivot connection portion, a pivot structure disposed on the central pivot connection portion of the secondary frame; and   wherein the pivot structure disposed on the secondary frame is connected with the connection structure on the primary frame, the secondary frame pivotable about a pivot axis extending through the pivot structure and the connection structure.   
     
     
         2 . The wiper blade of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an additional connection structure disposed on the other opposite end of the primary frame, the additional connection structure including pivot extension walls each having a hole, the holes of the pivot extension walls substantially aligned along an additional pivot axis;   an additional secondary frame having a central pivot connection portion and two leg portions extending from the central pivot connection portion, an additional pivot structure disposed on the central pivot connection portion of the secondary frames, the additional pivot structure including a pair of holes, the wiper blade connected to at least one of the leg portions of both the secondary frame and the additional secondary frame,   wherein the pivot structure disposed on the secondary frame is connected with the connection structure on the primary frame, the holes of the pivot structure substantially aligned along the pivot axis with the holes of the pivot extension walls.   
     
     
         3 . The wiper blade of  claim 1  wherein the pivot structure is a separate structure attached to the secondary frame. 
     
     
         4 . The wiper blade of  claim 1 , wherein the pivot structure includes a bushing provided between the secondary frame and the primary frame. 
     
     
         5 . The wiper blade of  claim 1 , wherein the pivot extension walls each include a hole, the holes of the pivot extension walls substantially aligned along the pivot axis, and
 the pivot structure including a pair of holes substantially aligned with holes of the pivot connection walls along the pivot axis.   
     
     
         6 . The wiper blade of  claim 5 , wherein a rivet is insertable through the aligned holes of the pivot connection walls and the pivot structure along the pivot axis. 
     
     
         7 . The wiper blade of  claim 5 , wherein the secondary frame includes a pair of wings extending from the central pivot connection portion, each including a hole substantially aligned with the holes of the pivot connection walls and the pivot structure along the pivot axis. 
     
     
         8 . The wiper blade of  claim 7 , wherein a rivet is insertable through the aligned holes of the pivot connection walls, the pivot structure, and the wings of the secondary frame along the pivot axis. 
     
     
         9 . The wiper blade of  claim 7 , wherein the central pivot connection portion and the pair of wings, the pivot structure, and the connection structure are dimensioned to have a complimentary shape. 
     
     
         10 . The wiper blade of  claim 1  wherein one of the two leg portions is longer than the other leg portion. 
     
     
         11 . The wiper blade of  claim 1  further comprising at least one tertiary frame, wherein at least one leg portion of the secondary frame is provided with a tertiary frame connection structure, and wherein the at least one tertiary frame is connected to the tertiary frame connection structure of the least one of the secondary frames. 
     
     
         12 . The wiper blade of  claim 1  further comprising a cover. 
     
     
         13 . The wiper blade of  claim 12  wherein the primary frame further comprises a cover-connection structures. 
     
     
         14 . The wiper blade of  claim 12  wherein the cover is a segmented hard cover, and wherein the cover segments connect to one another via pivot joints, and wherein the cover is secured to the wiper blades at cover connection structures on the primary frame or secondary frame. 
     
     
         15 . The wiper blade of  claim 12  wherein the cover comprises a cover center section and two cover side sections that are made from a soft , elastic material, wherein the cover side sections cover the ends of the cover center section and extend to the ends of the wiper blade. 
     
     
         16 . A wiper blade comprising:
 a wiper strip;   a primary frame, having a top side and opposite ends, a connection device having a base attached to the primary frame on the top side, the connection device capable of connecting the wiper blade to a wiper arm disposed on the top side of the primary frame, the primary frame further including a connection structure disposed on one of the opposite ends of the primary frame;   a secondary frame having a central pivot connection portion and two leg portions extending from the central pivot connection portion, a pivot structure disposed on the central pivot connection portion of the secondary frame; and   wherein the pivot structure disposed on the secondary frame is connected with the connection structure on the primary frame, the secondary frame pivotable about a pivot axis extending through the pivot structure and the connection structure.   
     
     
         17 . The wiper blade of  claim 16  wherein the connection device is disposed side-saddle to the wiper blade. 
     
     
         18 . The wiper blade of  claim 16  wherein the base of the connection device is recessed into the top side of the primary frame 
     
     
         19 . The wiper blade of  claim 16 , wherein the connection device is attached by having a protrusion on each end of the connection device secured into a respective receiving hole in the primary frame. 
     
     
         20 . A wiper blade comprising:
 a wiper strip;   a force distribution structure having opposite ends, the wiper strip connected to the force distribution structure; and   a cover, wherein the cover is a segmented hard cover comprising a plurality of cover segments, and wherein the cover segments connect to one another via pivot joints, and wherein the cover is secured to the wiper blades at cover connection structures on the primary frame or secondary frame, wherein at least one of the cover segments has an end wall.