Windshield wiper blade

Abstract

A wiper blade having a wiper strip having a wide portion and a lip, and an elongate backing element. The backing element having a top portion, and two opposing legs that descend from the top portion, such that each opposing leg has a claw which extends towards the other opposing leg. A gap formed between the claws that is narrower than a width of the wide portion of the wiper strip. The claws, legs, and top portion define a wiper strip cavity sized to receive the wide portion wiper strip.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A wiper blade comprising:
 a wiper strip having a top portion and a lip; and   an elongate backing element having a top portion and two opposing legs that descend from the top portion;   a wiper clip descending from the top portion between the two opposing legs of the elongate backing element, the wiper clip including a rib portion and two opposing rib legs descending from the rib portion, each rib leg including a rib claw extending towards the opposing rib leg, the rib legs and rib claws dimensioned to secure the wiper strip such that the top portion of the wiper strip.   
     
     
         2 . The wiper blade of  claim 1 , wherein the top portion of the wiper strip includes laterally projecting intermediate arms and laterally projecting lower arms positioned between the intermediate arms and the lip, a space between each intermediate and lower arm defined as a securing groove and each rib claw is securable within the securing groove. 
     
     
         3 . The wiper blade of  claim 2 , wherein the top portion of the wiper strip includes a pair of laterally adjacent grooves proximate the intermediate arms distanced from the securing groove. 
     
     
         4 . The wiper blade of  claim 3  further comprising a pair of elongate vertebrae, each vertebrae positioned in one of the pair of grooves. 
     
     
         5 . The wiper blade of  claim 1  further comprising a mounting base having a base section that is secured on the top portion of the backing element. 
     
     
         6 . The wiper blade of  claim 5  wherein the backing element has a central recess, wherein the mounting base has a structure extending below the base section wherein the central recess is sized and shaped to the structure. 
     
     
         7 . The wiper blade of  claim 5  wherein the base section of the mounting base further comprises at least one securing peg, and the top portion of the backing element comprises at least one securing hole, such that at least one securing hole receives and secures the at least one securing peg. 
     
     
         8 . The wiper blade of  claim 1  further comprising a cover having top surface comprising a spoiler. 
     
     
         9 . The wiper blade of  claim 8  wherein the spoiler includes two longitudinally opposite spoiler section separated by a spoiler gap; and
 the wiper blade comprising a mounting base disposed within the spoiler gap. 
 
     
     
         10 . The wiper blade of  claim 1  further comprising a cover having interior projections that engage complementary detents in the backing element. 
     
     
         11 . The wiper blade of  claim 9  wherein the interior projections are T-shaped. 
     
     
         12 . The wiper blade of  claim 1  wherein the backing element includes a plurality of ribs positioned laterally across the backing element between the legs.