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 force distribution structure including
 a primary frame, including a top side oriented away from the wiper strip, and opposite ends, 
 a pair of secondary frames, each secondary frame including a top surface oriented away from the wiper strip, a pivot connection portion connected with an end of the primary frame, and two leg portions, each leg portion extending from the pivot connection portion to an end of the leg portion, 
 a plurality of tertiary frames each connected one of the ends of one of the leg portions of the secondary frames, the plurality of tertiary frames including a pair of outer tertiary frames and a pair of inner tertiary frames with the outer tertiary frames being further from the primary frame than the inner tertiary frames, each of the plurality of tertiary frames including a leg; and 
   a cover including a center cover segment and a pair of end cover segments each pivotably connected with the center cover segment, the center cover segment connected to the primary, each end cover segment connected an end of the leg of one of the outer tertiary frames,   wherein the wiper strip is supported by the plurality of tertiary frames.   
     
     
         2 . The wiper blade of  claim 1 , wherein each leg portion of the secondary frame is straight and descends from the pivot connection portion at an oblique angle. 
     
     
         3 . The wiper blade of  claim 2 , wherein the force distribution structure further includes a stiffening bead provided on the top surface of each secondary frame. 
     
     
         4 . The wiper blade of  claim 1 , wherein the primary frame includes a connection structure for connecting the wiper blade with the wiper arm of a vehicle. 
     
     
         5 . The wiper blade of  claim 1 , wherein an end of the leg of the outer tertiary frames is a chamfered “T” shaped structure. 
     
     
         6 . The wiper blade of  claim 5 , wherein the end cover segments each include an internal end grip having a slotted pocket for engaging the chamfered “T” shaped structure. 
     
     
         7 . The wiper blade of  claim 1 , wherein each tertiary frame includes a claw for supporting the wiper strip. 
     
     
         8 . The wiper blade of  claim 1 , wherein the center cover segment includes end sections having receiving walls for connecting to the end cover segments. 
     
     
         9 . The wiper blade of  claim 8 , wherein the receiving walls each have a receiving channel and a receiving recess which receives a projection from the end cover segment. 
     
     
         10 . The wiper blade of  claim 1 , wherein the end cover segments are each comprised of a secondary segment and a tertiary segment, the secondary segment connected with the center segment and the tertiary segment connected with the tertiary frame. 
     
     
         11 . The wiper blade of  claim 1 , wherein the secondary cover segment and the tertiary cover segment are pivotably connected with each other. 
     
     
         12 . The wiper blade of  claim 1 , wherein the end cover segments include internal grips for gripping one of the secondary frames of the force distribution structure. 
     
     
         13 . The wiper blade of  claim 1 , wherein the primary frame, secondary frames, and tertiary frames are all beams. 
     
     
         14 . The wiper blade of  claim 1 , wherein the primary frame, secondary frames, and tertiary frames are all brackets.