Wiper lever assembly and wiper blade

Abstract

A wiper blade (10) has a wiper lever assembly (20) with a tournament structure. The wiper lever assembly (20) includes a main lever (22) and a pair of movable covers (60). The two longitudinal sides of the main lever (22) and the movable covers (60) are each formed with rib surfaces (46, 84) each having a downward gradient advancing toward a vehicle front side, and are each formed with main accommodation spaces and movable accommodation spaces (86) open to a wiping surface. A pair of yoke levers (96) are each housed so as to span the inside of the main accommodation spaces (48) and the inside of the movable accommodation spaces (86), and are coupled so as to be rotatable relative to the main lever (22) and the movable covers (60).The main accommodation spaces (48), the movable accommodation spaces (86) and the yoke levers (96) each have a greater height on a rear side than on a front side.

Description

Technical area

[0001] The present invention relates to a wiper lever assembly and to a wiper blade. Background of the state of the art

[0002] Japanese Published Application JP 2006-513928 A discloses a flat-type wiper blade that does not employ a tournament-type wiper lever assembly (in-line structure, pivot bearing structure) composed of multiple levers coupled together in a tournament arrangement (tournament structure). In this wiper blade, a leaf spring support member (support) provides rigidity and elasticity to a wiper strip (blade rubber). The wiper blade further includes a window deflector strip fixed to the support member using first and second claws. An upper surface of the window deflector strip is formed with a rib surface for converting airflow (wind) caused by driving into a pressing force directed toward a wiping surface.

[0003] International application WO 2010 / 035794 A1 discloses a wiper blade provided with a lever element (wiper lever assembly) having a tournament structure, a blade rubber, and two movable covers. The lever element includes a main lever coupled to a wiper arm at a longitudinally central portion, and two yoke levers coupled to rotate toward two longitudinally end portions of the main lever. The respective movable covers are coupled to rotate toward the respective yoke levers, and the blade rubber is gripped by the respective yoke levers and movable covers. The upper surfaces of the main lever and the respective movable covers are formed with rib surfaces to convert the airflow into a pressing force toward a wiping surface.The main lever is configured to be coupled to a leading end portion of a wiper arm at a longitudinally central portion of the main lever, to have a first rib surface having a downward gradient advancing toward a widthwise front side and formed on upper surfaces on both longitudinal sides of the main lever, and to have main accommodation spaces formed on both longitudinal sides of the main lever. In this main lever, the main accommodation space is open to the wiping surface. Specifically, in a portion of the main lever, this space is quadrangular in cross section and has the same height dimension at the widthwise rear side and the widthwise front side. Further outward, this space has a larger height dimension at a widthwise front side than at the widthwise rear side. Summary of the inventionTechnical problem

[0004] Wiper blades with higher performance are facing increasing demand as the wiping environment of wipers changes, for example, due to the application of water-repellent coatings to wiping surfaces. In this light, the wiper blade disclosed in JP 2006-513928 A is of a flat type, allowing the protrusion of the wiper blade from the wiping surface to be kept low, and this wiper blade has improved aerodynamic properties. However, since a uniform pressure distribution against the wiping surface is more difficult to achieve than in configurations employing a wiper lever assembly with a tournament structure, the wiping performance of this wiper blade may suffer.On the other hand, in the wiper blade disclosed in WO 2010 / 035794 A1, although the tournament structure of the wiper lever assembly achieves favorable wiping performance, the protrusion height from the wiping surface increases, resulting in greater lift and drag during wiping. Accordingly, there is room for improvement from the perspective of improving aerodynamic performance.

[0005] In view of the circumstances set forth above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a wiper lever assembly and a wiper blade provided with this wiper lever assembly, which can improve aerodynamic properties while also ensuring favorable wiping performance. Solution to the task

[0006] This object is achieved by a wiper lever assembly having the features of claim 1. Advantageous further developments are the subject of the dependent claims. A wiper blade with a blade rubber and the wiper lever assembly is disclosed in claim 17.

[0007] The wiper lever assembly of a first aspect of the present invention according to claim 1 grips a blade rubber for wiping a wiper surface. The wiper lever assembly includes a main lever, a pair of movable covers, and a pair of yoke levers. The main lever is coupled to a leading end portion of a wiper arm at a longitudinally central portion of the main lever. The main lever has a first rib surface with a downward gradient advancing toward a widthwise front side formed on upper surfaces on both longitudinal sides of the main lever, and main accommodation spaces formed on both longitudinal sides of the main lever, each of the main accommodation spaces being open to a wiper surface and having a larger height dimension on a widthwise rear side than on a widthwise front side.The length of the pair of movable covers is in a longitudinal direction of the main lever, and they are arranged continuously with the main lever on both longitudinal sides of the main lever. Each of the movable covers has a gripping portion for gripping the blade rubber on an opposite side of the movable cover as viewed from the main lever, a second rib surface having a downward gradient advancing toward the widthwise front side and formed on an upper surface of the movable cover, and a movable accommodation space open to the wiping surface and having a larger height dimension on the widthwise rear side than on the widthwise front side.The length of each yoke lever is in the longitudinal direction of the main lever and the respective movable covers, and each of the yoke levers is housed so as to span the interior of a corresponding main housing space and the interior of a corresponding movable housing space, and is coupled to the main lever and the corresponding movable cover so as to be rotatable about an axis extending in a width direction. Each of the yoke levers has a gripping portion for gripping the blade rubber at both longitudinal end portions of the yoke lever, and has a larger height dimension on the rear side in the width direction than on the front side in the width direction.

[0008] In the wiper lever assembly of the first aspect, the longitudinally central portion of the main lever is coupled to the leading end portion of the wiper arm, and the pair of movable covers are continuously arranged on two longitudinal sides of the main lever. The upper surfaces of the two longitudinal sides of the main lever and the upper surfaces of the movable covers are respectively formed with the first and second rib surfaces, each of which has a downward gradient (gradient) advancing toward the widthwise front side. The two longitudinal sides of the main lever are respectively formed with the main accommodation spaces that are open to the wiping surface (lower side) and each have a larger height dimension on the widthwise rear side than on the widthwise front side.The movable covers are each formed with movable accommodation spaces open to the wiping surface (lower side) and each having a larger height dimension on the widthwise rear side than on the widthwise front side. The pair of yoke levers are housed so as to straddle the interior of the main accommodation spaces and the interior of the movable accommodation spaces, and are coupled to the main lever and the respective movable covers so as to be rotatable about axes extending in the widthwise direction. The blade rubber is gripped by the gripping portions provided on the opposite side of the respective movable covers from the main lever and by the gripping portions provided on the two longitudinal end portions of the respective yoke levers.The pressing force applied by the wiper arm to the main lever is thus distributed along the longitudinal direction of the blade rubber by the respective yoke levers, thereby achieving a uniform distribution of the pressure against the wiping surface and a favorable wiping performance.

[0009] Furthermore, the yoke levers housed so as to span the interiors of the main accommodation spaces and the interiors of the movable accommodation spaces each have a larger height dimension on the widthwise rear side than on the widthwise front side. This larger dimension ensures the strength of the yoke levers while allowing the yoke levers to be compactly housed inside the main accommodation spaces and the interiors of the movable accommodation spaces. Furthermore, the respective upper surfaces of the main lever and the movable covers are formed with the first and second rib surfaces, each having a downward gradient (progression) advancing toward the widthwise front side.Since the main lever and the movable covers each have a larger height dimension on the widthwise rear side than on the widthwise front side, an increase in the height dimension can be avoided despite the formation of the main storage spaces and the movable storage spaces each with a larger height dimension on the widthwise rear side than on the widthwise front side. Thus, the protrusion height of the wiper lever assembly from the wiping surface can be kept low, enabling an improvement in aerodynamic performance.

[0010] A wiper lever assembly of a second aspect of the present invention is the first aspect, wherein each of the yoke levers has a metal portion made of metal and a plastic portion made of plastic and provided on the outside of the metal portion.

[0011] In the wiper lever assembly of the second aspect, each of the yoke levers is constructed to have the plastic portion provided on the outside of the metal portion, thereby enabling a dual benefit of ensuring the strength and reducing the size of the yoke levers, and these goals are achieved even more easily than in cases where the yoke levers are constructed solely of plastic. Furthermore, in cases where the metal portion is embedded in the plastic portion, for example, exposure of the metal portion is reduced, thus eliminating the need for an anti-corrosion and anti-glare coating.

[0012] A wiper lever assembly of a third aspect of the present invention is the second aspect, wherein the main lever and the movable covers are made of plastic, and the plastic portion of each yoke lever is coupled to rotate relative to the main lever and the corresponding movable cover.

[0013] A wiper lever assembly of a fourth aspect of the present invention is the second aspect or third aspect, wherein the gripping portions of the yoke levers are formed on the plastic portions.

[0014] A wiper lever assembly of a fifth aspect of the present invention is any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein each of the yoke levers is coupled to be rotatable to the main lever and to the corresponding movable cover at a lower side of the yoke lever having a wider width in the front-and-rear direction than an upper side of the yoke lever.

[0015] The wiper lever assembly of the fifth aspect of the present invention is constructed as described above, allowing rotatably coupled portions, where the yoke levers are coupled to rotate relative to the main levers and the movable covers, to be set with a larger axial length in the width direction. This makes it possible to prevent a change in the orientation (i.e., the orientation viewed along the longitudinal direction, i.e., the tilt orientation) of the yoke levers with respect to the main lever and the movable covers.

[0016] A wiper lever assembly of a sixth aspect of the present invention is any one of the first to fifth aspects, wherein each of the yoke levers has a plate-shaped portion formed in a plate shape with a plate thickness direction running in an up-and-down direction, and an upstanding wall portion projecting upward from a widthwise rear side of the plate-shaped portion.

[0017] A wiper lever assembly of a seventh aspect of the present invention is the sixth aspect, wherein the main lever and each of the movable covers includes a pair of opposite walls facing each other at a front and rear side of the upright wall portion.

[0018] In the wiper lever assembly of the seventh aspect, engagement between the upright wall portion provided on each of the yoke levers and the pair of opposing walls provided on the main lever and each of the movable covers enables rattling of the yoke levers against the main lever and the movable covers to be suppressed (prevented).

[0019] A wiper lever assembly of an eighth aspect of the present invention is the sixth aspect depending on the second aspect, wherein the metal portion has a plate-shaped portion formed in a plate shape with a plate thickness direction running in the up-and-down direction, and embedded in the resin portion at a location corresponding to the plate-shaped portion of the corresponding yoke lever; and an upright wall portion projecting upward from a widthwise rear side of the plate-shaped portion and embedded in the resin portion at a location corresponding to the upright wall portion of the corresponding yoke lever.

[0020] A wiper lever assembly of a ninth aspect of the present invention is any one of the first to eighth aspects, wherein an upper surface of each of the yoke levers is formed with a pair of pressing portions projecting upward so as to be in contact with an upper surface of a corresponding main accommodation space and an upper surface of a corresponding movable accommodation space, respectively.

[0021] In the wiper lever assembly of the ninth aspect, the pair of pressing portions provided on the upper surface of each of the yoke levers contact the upper surface of the corresponding main housing space and the upper surface of the corresponding movable housing space. A pressing force from the wiper arm, a reaction force from the wiping surface, etc., are transmitted through the pair of pressing portions to a location between the yoke lever and the main lever and to a location between the yoke lever and the corresponding movable cover, thereby preventing or avoiding these forces from being applied to the respective rotationally coupled portions between the yoke lever and the main lever and between the yoke lever and the corresponding movable cover.This allows the coupling strength of the rotary-coupled sections to be set lower, allowing the size of the yoke levers to be reduced in height. This allows the protrusion height of the wiper lever assembly from the wiping surface to be kept even lower.

[0022] A wiper lever assembly of a tenth aspect of the present invention is any one of the first to ninth aspects, wherein the respective protrusions formed on both the widthwise front surface and the widthwise rear surface of each of the main accommodation spaces and each of the movable accommodation spaces are respectively fitted into four recesses formed in both the widthwise front surface and the widthwise rear surface of a corresponding yoke lever. Each of the yoke levers is coupled to rotate relative to the main lever and the corresponding movable cover.

[0023] The wiper lever assembly of the tenth aspect is constructed as described above, thereby simplifying the construction and assembly of the rotatably coupled portions between each of the yoke levers and the main lever and between the yoke lever and the corresponding movable cover, compared to, for example, those cases where the yoke lever is coupled to rotate relative to the main lever and the movable cover using shaft members.

[0024] A wiper lever assembly of an eleventh aspect of the present invention is the sixth aspect or any one of the seventh to tenth aspects depending on the sixth aspect, wherein each main housing space for the main lever has a first opening open to the wiping surface, and each of the movable housing spaces of the pair of movable covers has a second opening open to the wiping surface. The plate-shaped portions of the pair of yoke levers close the first openings and the second openings.

[0025] A wiper lever assembly of a twelfth aspect of the present invention is any one of the first to eleventh aspects, wherein the main lever has a pair of center-side blocking walls that block (obstruct) the main accommodation spaces in a longitudinal direction at a longitudinal center side of the main lever.

[0026] A wiper lever assembly of a thirteenth aspect of the present invention is any one of the first to twelfth aspects, wherein each of the movable covers has an outer side blocking wall that blocks (obstructs) a corresponding movable accommodation space in a longitudinal direction on a side of the corresponding yoke lever opposite from the main lever.

[0027] A wiper lever assembly of a fourteenth aspect of the present invention is any one of the first to thirteenth aspects, wherein the main lever and each of the movable covers have a front wall and a rear wall opposing each other in the width direction, and a top wall connecting upper end portions of the front wall and the rear wall in the width direction. Each of the front walls includes a front inner wall and a front outer wall extending from the front inner wall to a width direction side so as to be continuous with the top wall. Each of the yoke levers is coupled so as to be rotatable relative to a corresponding front inner wall and a corresponding rear wall.The first rib surface and a corresponding second rib surface are formed continuously with each other, with the first rib surface being formed on the top wall and on an upper surface of the front outer wall of the main lever. Each of the second rib surfaces is formed on the top wall and on an upper surface of the front outer wall of a corresponding movable cover.

[0028] A wiper lever assembly of a fifteenth aspect of the present invention is the fourteenth aspect, wherein one recess or projection member formed on each of the front inner walls and each of the rear walls is fitted with four of the other recess or projection members formed on both the widthwise front surface and the widthwise rear surface of a corresponding yoke lever, such that the respective yoke levers are coupled to rotate relative to the main lever and a corresponding movable cover. Each of the front inner walls has a flexible portion formed with a recess or projection member, and a reinforced portion that is more reinforced than the flexible portion.Each of the yoke levers is formed with a front projection projecting from a location corresponding to a corresponding reinforced portion so as to abut against the corresponding reinforced portion.

[0029] A wiper lever assembly of a sixteenth aspect of the present invention is any one of the first to fifteenth aspects, further comprising a load transmission portion provided as a separate body from the respective rotationally coupled portions to which the respective yoke lever is coupled, and capable of rotating relative to the main lever and the corresponding movable cover. The load transmission portion is configured by an engagement portion provided on the main lever and a corresponding movable cover, and an engaging portion provided on a corresponding yoke lever, so that a load acting along a longitudinal direction between the yoke lever and the main lever and between the yoke lever and a corresponding movable cover is supported by engagement between the engagement portion and the engaging portion.

[0030] In the wiper lever assembly of the sixteenth aspect, the load transmission portion is provided as a separate body from the respective rotationally coupled portions to which each of the yoke levers is coupled so as to be able to rotate relative to the main lever and the corresponding movable cover. The load transmission portion is constructed by the engaging portions provided on the main lever and the corresponding movable cover, and the engaging portions provided on each of the yoke levers. Thus, the load acting along the longitudinal direction between the yoke lever and the main lever and between the yoke lever and the corresponding movable cover is supported by the engagement between the engaging portions and the engaging portions of the load transmission portion. This makes it possible to prevent or suppress this load from acting on the respective rotationally coupled portions.

[0031] A wiper blade of a seventeenth aspect of the present invention includes a blade rubber for wiping a wiping surface of a vehicle, and the wiper lever assembly of any one of the first to sixteenth aspects, wherein the blade rubber is gripped by the respective gripping portions provided on the pair of movable covers and the pair of yoke levers.

[0032] In the wiper blade of the seventeenth aspect, the blade rubber for wiping the wiping surface of a vehicle is gripped by the respective gripping portions provided on the pair of movable covers and the pair of yoke levers included in the wiper lever assembly. This wiper lever assembly is the wiper lever assembly according to any one of the first to sixteenth aspects, whereby the above-described advantageous effects can be achieved.

[0033] A wiper blade of an eighteenth aspect of the present invention is the seventeenth aspect, wherein the blade rubber is disposed below the wiper lever assembly, is gripped by the yoke levers and the movable covers, is pressed against the wiping surface, and is arranged so that respective gaps are formed between the blade rubber and the yoke levers and between the blade rubber and the movable covers. The wiper blade further includes an obstruction portion formed to protrude from at least one of a lower surface of each of the movable covers, a lower surface of each of the yoke levers, or an upper surface of the blade rubber extending along a longitudinal direction of the blade rubber in an interior space of the wiper lever assembly, and obstructs outflow of a traveling wind that has flowed into at least one gap from the respective gaps.

[0034] A wiper blade of a nineteenth aspect of the present invention is the eighteenth aspect, wherein the obstruction portion is constructed by longitudinal direction ribs projecting downward from lower surfaces of the respective movable covers recessed to an upper side as viewed along a longitudinal direction of the blade rubber.

[0035] A wiper blade of a twentieth aspect of the present invention is the nineteenth aspect, wherein the longitudinal direction ribs are arranged above a widthwise rear end portion of the blade rubber. Brief description of the drawings Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a wiper blade according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 shows a top view of the wiper blade. Fig. 3 shows a front view of the wiper blade. Fig. 4 shows a side view of the wiper blade. Fig. 5 shows an exploded perspective view of the wiper blade. Fig. 6 shows an exploded perspective view of the wiper blade. Fig. Figure 7 shows a perspective view of a part of the wiper blade, with a cross section along a line F7-F7 in Fig. 3 is shown. Fig. Figure 8 shows a perspective view of a part of the wiper blade, wherein a cross-section along a line F8-F8 in Fig. 3 is shown. Fig. Figure 9 shows a perspective view of a part of the wiper blade, wherein a cross-section along a line F9-F9 in Fig. 3 is shown. Fig. Figure 10 shows a perspective view of a part of the wiper blade, wherein a cross-section along a line F10-F10 in Fig. 3 is shown. Fig. Figure 11 shows a perspective view of a part of the wiper blade, wherein a section along a line F11-F11 in Fig. 3 is shown. Fig. Figure 12 shows a perspective view of a part of the wiper blade, wherein a section along a line F12-F12 in Fig. 3 is shown. Fig. 13 shows a cross section of the cross-sectional plane in Fig. 7 viewed along the wiper blade longitudinal direction. Fig. 14 shows a cross section of the cross-sectional plane in Fig. 8 viewed along a wiper blade longitudinal direction. Fig. 15 shows a cross section of the cross-sectional plane in Fig. 9 viewed along a wiper blade longitudinal direction. Fig. 16 shows a cross section of the cross-sectional plane in Fig. 10 viewed along a wiper blade longitudinal direction. Fig. 17 shows a cross section of the cross-sectional plane in Fig. 12 viewed along a wiper blade longitudinal direction. Fig. 18 is a perspective view of a leading end side portion of a wiper lever assembly according to the first embodiment of the present invention, viewed from a lower side. Fig. 19 is a perspective view of a base end side portion of the wiper lever assembly as viewed from the lower side. Fig. 20 shows an exploded perspective view of a portion of the wiper lever assembly. Fig. 21 shows a perspective view of a main lever of the wiper lever assembly. Fig. 22 shows a perspective view of a main lever of the wiper lever assembly. Fig. 23 shows an enlarged perspective view corresponding to a part of Fig. 22. Fig. 24 shows a perspective view of a movable cover of the wiper lever assembly. Fig. 25 shows a perspective view of a yoke lever of the wiper lever assembly. Fig. 26 shows a perspective view of a yoke lever of the wiper lever assembly. Fig. 27 shows a perspective view of a metal portion of the yoke lever. Fig. 28 shows a perspective view of the metal section. Fig. 29 shows a perspective view of the metal section. Fig. 30 is a schematic diagram for explaining forces acting on a wiper blade according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 31 shows a Fig. 17 corresponding cross section for explaining a lifting amount generated in a wiper blade according to a comparative example. Fig. 32 shows a Fig. 17 corresponding cross section for explaining a lifting amount generated in a wiper blade according to the first embodiment. Fig. 33A is an aerodynamic analysis diagram for a wiper blade according to the first embodiment of the present invention, for a state where a longitudinal rib of a movable cover is arranged above a front end portion of a blade rubber. Fig. 33B is a diagram showing an aerodynamic analysis for a wiper blade according to the first embodiment of the present invention for a state in which a longitudinal direction rib of a movable cover is further to a rear side than at the position shown in Fig. 33A shown position. Fig. 33C is a diagram showing an aerodynamic analysis for a wiper blade according to the first embodiment of the present invention for a state in which a longitudinal direction rib of a movable cover is further toward a rear side than in the case of Fig. 33B shown position. Fig. 33D is a view showing an aerodynamic analysis for a wiper blade according to the first embodiment of the present invention for a state in which a longitudinal direction rib of a movable cover is further toward a rear side than in the case of Fig. 33C shown position. Fig. 33E is a diagram showing an aerodynamic analysis for a wiper blade according to the first embodiment of the present invention for a state in which a longitudinal direction rib of a movable cover is further toward a rear side than in the case of Fig. 33D shown position. Fig. 33F is a view showing an aerodynamic analysis for a wiper blade according to the first embodiment of the present invention for a state in which a longitudinal direction rib of a movable cover is further toward a rear side than in the case of Fig. 33E shown position. Fig. 33G is a diagram showing an aerodynamic analysis for a wiper blade according to the first embodiment of the present invention for a state in which a longitudinal direction rib of a movable cover is further toward a rear side than in the case of Fig. 33F shown position. Fig. 33H is a line diagram showing a relationship between the position of a longitudinal rib and a lift amount in a wiper blade according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 34A is an aerodynamic analysis diagram for a wiper blade according to the first embodiment of the present invention, in a state where a clearance between a longitudinal direction rib of a movable cover and a blade rubber is set to a small degree. Fig. 34B is an aerodynamic analysis diagram for a wiper blade according to the first embodiment of the present invention, for a state in which a gap between a longitudinal direction rib of a movable cover and a blade rubber is set to a larger degree than that in Fig. 34A shown condition. Fig. 34C is a diagram showing an aerodynamic analysis for a wiper blade according to the first embodiment of the present invention, for a state in which a gap between a longitudinal direction rib of a movable cover and a blade rubber is set to a larger degree than that in Fig. 34B shown condition. Fig. 34D is an aerodynamic analysis diagram for a wiper blade according to the first embodiment of the present invention, for a state in which a gap between a longitudinal direction rib of a movable cover and a blade rubber is set to a larger degree than that in Fig. 34C shown condition. Fig. 34E is a line graph showing a relationship between the size of a gap between a longitudinal direction rib of a movable cover and a blade rubber and a lift amount in a wiper blade according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 35 is a line diagram showing a relationship between the position of a longitudinal rib of a movable cover and a lifting amount in a wiper blade according to the first embodiment of the present invention, in a state where a gap between the longitudinal rib and a blade rubber is set as shown in Fig. 34A is shown. Fig. 35A is a line diagram showing a relationship between the position of a longitudinal rib of a movable cover and a lifting amount in a wiper blade according to the first embodiment of the present invention, in a state where a gap between the longitudinal rib and a blade rubber is set as shown in Fig. 34B is shown. Fig. 35C is a line diagram showing a relationship between the position of a longitudinal rib of a movable cover and a lifting amount in a wiper blade according to the first embodiment of the present invention, in a state where a gap between the longitudinal rib and a blade rubber is set as shown in Fig. 34C is shown. Fig. 35D is a line diagram showing a relationship between the position of a longitudinal rib of a movable cover and a lifting amount in a wiper blade according to the first embodiment of the present invention, in a state where a gap between the longitudinal rib and a blade rubber is set as shown in Fig. 34D is shown. Fig. 36A is an aerodynamic analysis diagram for a wiper blade according to the first embodiment of the present invention in a case where a movable cover is not provided with a longitudinal rib. Fig. 36B is an aerodynamic analysis diagram for a wiper blade according to the first embodiment of the present invention, for a state where a longitudinal rib of a movable cover is arranged at a front side. Fig. 36C is an aerodynamic analysis diagram for a wiper blade according to the first embodiment of the present invention, for a state where a longitudinal direction rib of a movable cover is arranged above a rear end portion of a blade rubber. Fig. 37A is an aerodynamic analysis diagram for a wiper blade according to the first embodiment of the present invention, in a state where a clearance between a longitudinal direction rib of a movable cover and a blade rubber is set to a small degree. Fig. 37B is an aerodynamic analysis diagram for a wiper blade according to the first embodiment of the present invention, in a state where a clearance between a longitudinal direction rib between a movable cover and a blade rubber is set to a large degree. Fig. 38A is an aerodynamic analysis diagram for a wiper blade according to the first embodiment of the present invention, in a state where a clearance between a front wall of a movable cover and a blade rubber is set to a small amount. Fig. 38B is an aerodynamic analysis diagram for a wiper blade according to the first embodiment of the present invention, in a state where a clearance between a front wall of a movable cover and a blade rubber is set to a large degree. Fig. 39 shows a Fig. 13 corresponding cross section of a modified example of a wiper blade according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 40 shows a Fig. 15 corresponding cross section of a modified example of a wiper blade according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 41 shows a Fig. 13 corresponding cross section of a wiper blade according to a second embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 42 shows a Fig. 18 corresponding perspective view of a leading end side portion of a wiper lever assembly according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 43A is a diagram illustrating an aerodynamic analysis for a wiper blade according to a comparative example. Fig. 43B is a diagram illustrating an aerodynamic analysis for a wiper blade according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 43C is an aerodynamic analysis diagram for a wiper blade according to the second embodiment of the present invention for a state where a lever rib is set with a large protrusion amount. Fig. 44 shows a Fig. 14 corresponding cross section of a wiper blade according to a third embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 45 shows a Fig. 44 corresponding cross section of an example in which a wiper blade according to the third embodiment of the present invention is formed with a recess in a lower surface of a yoke lever. Fig. 46A is a diagram illustrating an aerodynamic analysis for a wiper blade according to the third embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 46B is an aerodynamic analysis diagram for a wiper blade according to the third embodiment of the present invention in a case where a recess is formed in a lower surface of a yoke lever. Fig. 47 is a diagram illustrating an aerodynamic analysis for a wiper blade according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 48 shows an aerodynamic analysis diagram for a wiper blade according to a first comparative example. Fig. 49 shows an aerodynamic analysis diagram for a wiper blade according to a second comparative example. Description of the embodimentsFirst embodiment

[0036] A wiper blade 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention is described below with reference to Fig. 1 to 40. For the sake of simplicity, some reference symbols may be omitted from the respective drawings. Dimensions in the drawings may be distorted as appropriate to aid explanation.

[0037] The Fig. The wiper blade 10 shown in Figures 1 to 17 is used for wiping raindrops and the like that have adhered to a wiping surface WS forming an outer surface of a windshield G (in the drawings except for the Fig. 13 to 17 not shown) of a vehicle (motor vehicle). The wiper blade 10 is a wiper blade referred to as a tournament structure (in-line structure, pivot support structure). The wiper blade 10 is provided with a leading end portion of a (in the drawings except Fig. 1) and is configured to receive an urging force to the wiping surface WS from the wiper arm 12. Together with the wiper blade 10, the wiper arm 12 constitutes a vehicle wiper. A base end portion of the wiper arm 12 is fixed to a rotary shaft (not shown in the drawings), which reciprocates within a predetermined angular range by a driving force of a wiper motor (not shown in the drawings). The wiper arm 12 is pivoted reciprocally as the rotary shaft reciprocates. The wiper blade 10, coupled to the leading end portion of the wiper arm 12, thereby swings reciprocally between a lower reversing position set at a lower end portion of the windshield G and an upper reversing position set further toward an upper end side of the windshield G than the lower reversing position.

[0038] The wiper blade 10 is constructed by a blade rubber 14 for wiping the wiping surface WS and a wiper lever assembly 20 which grips the blade rubber 14. As shown in the Fig. 1 to 20, the wiper lever assembly 20 is constructed by a main lever 22 coupled to a longitudinally central portion of the leading end portion of the wiper arm 12, a pair of movable covers 60 provided on both longitudinal sides of the main lever 22, and a pair of yoke levers 96 coupled to rotate relative to the main lever 22 and the pair of movable covers 60 (in other words, the respective movable covers 60 are coupled to rotate relative to the pair of yoke levers 96). The wiper lever assembly 20 is constructed such that the pair of movable covers 60 and the pair of yoke levers 96 grip the blade rubber 14.

[0039] The respective structural elements of the wiper blade 10 are explained in detail below. It should be noted that in the following description, the arrows UP and FR shown in the respective drawings indicate an upward direction and a forward direction of the wiper blade 10, respectively, and the arrow BE points to a base end side (swing center side) of the wiper blade 10. An upward and downward direction of the wiper blade 10 is perpendicular to the wiping surface WS, and a front and rear direction of the wiper blade 10 corresponds to a width direction of the wiper blade 10 and is substantially aligned with a wiping direction. In the following description, when simply referring to the front, rear, upward, and downward directions, these respectively refer to the directions relative to the wiper blade 10. Leaf rubber

[0040] The blade rubber 14 is formed of, for example, rubber and has an elongated profile. The blade rubber 14 includes an upper portion 14A gripped by the wiper lever assembly 20, and a wiping portion 14B extending toward the lower side (wiping surface WS side) from the upper portion 14A and having a lower end portion pressed against the wiping surface WS. The upper portion 14A of the blade rubber 14 is formed with a pair of support grooves 16 extending along the longitudinal direction of the blade rubber 14 and open to both sides in the front-and-rear direction (width direction) of the blade rubber 14. Support pieces (not shown in the drawings) constructed by metal leaf springs are inserted into the support grooves 16. The support pieces are used to distribute the pressing force from the wiper arm 12 against the wiper disk WS along the longitudinal direction of the blade rubber 14.The upper portion 14A of the blade rubber 14 is further formed with a pair of gripping grooves 18 on the lower side of the pair of support grooves 16. The gripping grooves 18 extend along the longitudinal direction of the blade rubber 14 and are open on both sides in the front and rear directions. The position in the upward and downward directions of the gripping grooves 18 corresponds to the gripping portions 80, 110 of the wiper lever assembly 20 described below. Wiper lever assembly

[0041] The wiper lever assembly 20 is constructed by the main lever 22, the pair of movable covers 60, and the pair of yoke levers 96 as described above. Note that a leading end side location of the wiper lever assembly 20 (the side opposite the pivot center of the wiper blade 10) and a base end side location of the wiper lever assembly 20 (the side toward the pivot center of the wiper blade 10) are formed with mutually symmetrical or substantially symmetrical profiles. Main lever

[0042] The main lever 22 is formed of, for example, a plastic material and has an elongated profile along the longitudinal direction of the wiper blade 10. The main lever 22 forms a longitudinally intermediate portion (middle portion) of the wiper lever assembly 20. A longitudinally middle portion of the main lever 22 forms a coupling portion 22A, and a pair of arm portions 22B are formed on the two longitudinal sides of the coupling portion 22A.

[0043] As this is the case in the Fig. 21 and Fig. 22, the coupling portion 22A is formed in a rectangular frame shape, with its length running along the longitudinal direction of the main lever 22 when viewed in the up-and-down direction. The coupling portion 22A is formed with an opening 24 penetrating the coupling portion 22A in the up-and-down direction. The opening 24 is formed with an elongated profile, with its length running along the longitudinal direction of the main lever 22. A metal coupling shaft 26, which is connected to a front and rear wall of the coupling portion 22A, is integrally formed with the longitudinally central portion inside the opening 24. The leading end portion of the wiper arm 12 is coupled to the coupling shaft 26 by a coupling clip 28.

[0044] The pair of arm portions 22B extend integrally from the coupling portion 22A to the two longitudinal sides of the wiper blade 10. As shown in the Fig. 7, Fig. 8, Fig. 13 and Fig. 14, each of the arm portions 22B is formed with an open cross-sectional profile that is open to the lower side (wiping surface WS side) when viewed along the longitudinal direction of the main lever 22. A lower surface of each of the arm portions 22B is recessed toward the upper side when viewed along the longitudinal direction of the main lever 22 (when viewed along the longitudinal direction of the blade rubber 14). As shown in FIGS. Fig. 13, 14 and 21 to 23, each of the arm portions 22B has a top wall 30, a front wall 32 extending downward from a front end portion of the top wall 30, a rear wall 40 extending downward from a rear end portion of the top wall 30, a rear inner wall 42 extending slightly downward to the rear side of a middle portion in the front-and-rear direction of the top wall 30 (in other words, between a front inner wall 36, which will be described later, and the rear wall 40), and a plurality of reinforcing ribs 44 (see FIG. Fig. 23) that span (bridge) between a front surface of the rear inner wall 42 and a lower surface of the upper wall 30. The front wall 32 and the rear wall 40 oppose each other in the front-and-rear direction, and the upper wall 30 connects upper end portions of the front wall 32 and the rear wall 40 in the front-and-rear direction. The plurality of reinforcing ribs 44 are arranged along the longitudinal direction of the main lever 22 and are integrally connected to the upper wall 30 and the rear inner wall 42.

[0045] The front wall 32 includes a front outer wall (front outer wall) 34 and the front inner wall (front inner wall) 36, which oppose each other in the front-and-rear direction. The front wall 32 further has a plurality of reinforcing ribs 38 that connect the front outer wall 34 and the front inner wall 36 to each other in the front-and-rear direction. The front outer wall 34 extends from a front end portion of the top wall 30 to the front side (side in one width direction) and the lower side, and the front inner wall 36 extends downward from the front end portion of the top wall 30 slightly to the rear side (slightly to the other width direction side) of the front outer wall 34. Namely, the front outer wall 34 is arranged on the front side of the front inner wall 36.The front outer wall 34 is curved to form a protrusion toward the front and upper sides. The front inner wall 36 is defined to a smaller extent than the front outer wall 34 in the longitudinal direction of the main lever 22, and the front inner wall 36 is not provided on the coupling portion 22A side of the corresponding arm portion 22B. The plurality of reinforcing ribs 38 are arranged along the longitudinal direction of the main lever 22 and are integrally connected to the upper wall 30, the front outer wall 34, and the front inner wall 36.

[0046] As this is the case in the Fig. 13 and Fig. 14, the front outer wall 34 extends further downward than the front inner wall 36 in such a manner that a lower end portion of the front outer wall 34 is located slightly further downward than a lower end portion of the front inner wall 36. The lower end portion of the front inner wall 36 and a lower end portion of the rear wall 40 are located at substantially the same position (height) in the up-and-down direction. A lower end portion of the rear inner wall 42 is located further upward than the respective lower end portions of the front inner wall 36 and the rear wall 40, as viewed in the front-and-back direction. The rear wall 40 is formed with a dimension (thickness) that increases as it progresses from the upper end side where the rear wall 40 is connected to the upper wall 30 toward the lower end side.

[0047] An upper surface of each of the arm portions 22B (namely, the longitudinally both sides of the main lever 22) constructed as described above is defined by the upper wall 30 and an upper surface of the front outer wall 34. The upper surface of each of the arm portions 22B is formed with a rib surface (first rib surface) 46 having a downward gradient as it advances toward the vehicle front side (namely, the widthwise front side, one side in the width direction). Each of the rib surfaces 46 is either inclined or curved (curved in this example) away from the wiping surface WS as it advances toward the vehicle rear side. Each of the rib surfaces 46 is formed at a vehicle front side location of the upper surface of the corresponding upper wall 30 and extends along the longitudinal direction of the main lever 22.Each of the rib surfaces 46 extends to a point slightly rearward of a central portion of the corresponding arm portion 22B in the front-and-rear direction (width direction), and is curved so that the gradient increases as it advances rearward. The rib surfaces 46 are subjected to the wind (air flow) caused by traveling during vehicle travel, thereby causing an urging force to act toward the wiping surface WS side on the blade rubber 14. The respective arm portions 22B formed with the above-described rib surfaces 46 have larger height dimensions (dimensions in the up-and-down direction) on the rear side than on the front side in the front-and-rear direction.

[0048] As this is the case in the Fig. 13, 14 and 21 to 23, each of the arm portions 22B (namely, each of the two sides of the main lever 22 viewed in the longitudinal direction) is formed with a main accommodation space 48 for accommodating a part of the corresponding yoke lever 96. The main accommodation space 48 is formed below (under) the upper wall 30 between the front wall 32 and the rear wall 40 and is open to the lower side (to the side of the wiping surface WS) and the longitudinally outer side of the main lever 22. An opening 48A to the lower side in the main accommodation space 48 (see the Fig. 14, 18 to 20, 22 and 23; also without reference symbol in Fig. 13) corresponds to a first opening. The opening 48A is hereinafter referred to as the first opening 48A. The main accommodation space 48 has a larger height dimension (in the up-and-down direction) on a rear side in the width direction than on a front side in the width direction. The rear inner wall 42 described above is provided close to a central portion in the front-and-rear direction of the main accommodation space 48 such that an upper portion of the main accommodation space 48 is divided into front and rear parts by the rear inner wall 42. A center side blocking wall (reinforcing rib) 50 (see the Fig. 22 and Fig. 23) is provided between the main accommodation space 48 and the above-described clutch portion 22A. The center-side blocking wall 50 divides (separates) the main accommodation space 48 from the interior of the clutch portion 22A. As described below, the center-side blocking wall 50 has dual functions of blocking (obstructing) the main accommodation space 48 in the longitudinal direction at the longitudinally center side of the main lever 22, and reinforcing the main lever 22.

[0049] As this is the case in the Fig. 13 and 18 to 23, projections (shaft portions) 52, 54 are formed on both front and rear surfaces (surfaces in both width directions) of each of the main accommodation spaces 48, viewed in the longitudinal direction, at both end portions of the main lever 22. More specifically, the projection 52 is formed to project rearward from a lower end portion of the front inner wall 36, which forms a front surface of the main accommodation space 48, and the projection 54 is formed to project forward from a lower end portion of the rear wall 40, which forms a rear surface of the main accommodation space 48. The projections 52, 54 are arranged opposite to each other (coaxially) in the front and rear directions of the main lever 22 and project in directions approaching each other.The projections 52, 54 are each formed with a substantially semicircular profile when viewed along the front and rear directions, and are arranged so that their circular arc-shaped curved surfaces protrude upward. Opposite surfaces of the projections 52, 54 (the surfaces facing the central side of the main accommodation space 48 as viewed in the front and rear directions) are inclined or curved toward the outer side as viewed in the front and rear directions, projecting downward.

[0050] As this is the case in the Fig. 20 and Fig. 23, the front inner wall 36 is formed with a pair of vertically extending slits 56 on both sides of the projection 52 in the longitudinal direction of the main lever 22. A location of the front inner wall 36 between the pair of slits 56 (namely, a location formed with the projection 52) forms a flexible portion 36A, and locations positioned on both sides of the flexible portion 36A in the longitudinal direction of the main lever 22 form reinforced portions (reinforcement portions) 36B. The flexible portion 36A is not reinforced by the above-described reinforcing ribs 38, whereas the reinforced portions 36B are reinforced by the above-described reinforcing ribs 38. The flexible portion 36A thus bends more (easily) toward the front and rear sides in the width direction than the reinforced portions 36B.

[0051] As this is the case in the Fig. 22 and Fig. As shown in Fig. 23, a lower end portion of the rear inner wall 42 is formed with a notch 58 cut away from the lower side. The notch 58 is formed close to the projections 52, 54. The notch 58 forms an engagement portion. Movable covers

[0052] The pair of movable covers 60 are made of a plastic material, for example, and have elongated profiles. As shown in the Fig. 1 to 3, 5 and 6, the movable covers 60 are arranged on the two sides of the main lever 22 in the longitudinal direction, with their lengths running along the longitudinal direction of the main lever 22. As shown in the Fig. 9 to 12, 15 to 19 and 24, each of the movable covers 60 has an open cross-sectional profile open to the lower side (wiping surface WS side) when viewed along the longitudinal direction of the corresponding movable cover 60, and a lower surface of each of the movable covers 60 is recessed toward the upper side when viewed along the longitudinal direction of the movable cover 60 (when viewed along the longitudinal direction of the blade rubber 14). Each of the movable covers 60 has an upper wall 62, a front wall 64 extending downward from a front end portion of the upper wall 62, a rear wall 72 extending downward from a rear end portion of the upper wall 62, a longitudinal rib (inner wall) 75 extending (projecting) to the lower side (wiping surface WS side) from a lower surface of the upper wall 62 between the front wall 64 and the rear wall 72,an outer side blocking wall (outer blocking wall) 73 connecting the front wall 64, the longitudinal rib 75, and the rear wall 72 in the front-and-rear direction slightly further toward the main lever 22 side than a longitudinally central portion of the corresponding movable cover 60; and a plurality (in the present example, two) of partition walls (reinforcing walls, reinforcing ribs) 76 connecting the front wall 64, a rear inner wall 74, and the rear wall 72 to each other in the front-and-rear direction on the side of the outer blocking wall 73 opposite the main lever 22.

[0053] The front wall 64 and the rear wall 72 oppose each other in the front-and-rear direction, and the upper wall 62 connects upper end portions of the front wall 64 and the rear wall 72 to each other in the front-and-rear direction. The longitudinal rib 75 extends along the longitudinal direction of the movable cover 60. The outer blocking wall 73 and the plurality of partition walls 76 are arranged at intervals in the longitudinal direction of the movable cover 60 at a longitudinally intermediate portion of the movable cover 60. The outer blocking wall 73 and the plurality of partition walls 76 are integrally connected to the upper wall 62, the front wall 64, the rear wall 72, and the longitudinal rib 75.The outer blocking wall 73 has dual functions of blocking a movable accommodation space 86, as described above, in the longitudinal direction on the opposite side to the main lever 22, and reinforcing the movable cover 60. The multiple partition walls 76 have dual functions of separating a location of the movable cover 60 from the main lever 22 on the outer blocking wall 73 side, in other words, an internal space further toward the base end side than the movable accommodation space 86 in the longitudinal direction of the movable cover 60, and reinforcing this location. Note that each of the movable covers 60 may be configured to have only a single partition wall 76.

[0054] Each of the movable covers 60 is provided with the rear inner wall 74 but is not provided with the longitudinal rib 75 further toward the main lever 22 side than the outer locking wall 73. The rear inner wall 74 extends downward from the lower surface of the upper wall 62 slightly behind its central portion in the front-and-rear direction (projects). Each of the movable covers 60 is further provided with a plurality of reinforcing ribs 78 (see FIG. Fig. 24) that bridge (span) between a front surface of the rear inner wall 74 and a lower surface of the upper wall 62 further toward the main lever 22 side than the outer locking wall 73. The reinforcing ribs 78 are arranged at intervals in the longitudinal direction of the movable cover 60 and are integrally connected to the upper wall 62 and the rear inner wall 74.

[0055] As this is Fig. As shown in Fig. 24, a location of the front wall 64 further toward the main lever 22 side than the outer locking wall 73 is constructed by a front outer wall 66 and a front inner wall 68 that oppose each other in the front-and-rear direction, and a plurality of reinforcing ribs 70 that connect the front outer wall 66 and the front inner wall 68 to each other in the front-and-rear direction. The front outer wall 66 extends forward and downward from a front end portion of the upper wall 62, and the front inner wall 68 extends downward from a front end portion of the upper wall 62 slightly toward the rear side (slightly toward the other width direction side) of the front outer wall 66. Namely, the front outer wall 66 is disposed on the front side of the front inner wall 68.The front outer wall 66 is curved to form a protrusion toward the front and upper sides. The front inner wall 68 is defined to a smaller extent than the front outer wall 66 in the longitudinal direction of the corresponding movable cover 60, and the front inner wall 68 is not provided on the side corresponding to the outer blocking wall 73. The plurality of reinforcing ribs 70 are arranged along the longitudinal direction of the movable cover 60 and are integrally connected to the upper wall 62, the front outer wall 66, and the front inner wall 68.

[0056] As this is the case in the Fig. 15 and Fig. 16, the front outer wall 66 extends further downward than the front inner wall 68 in such a manner that a lower end portion of the front outer wall 66 is located lower than a lower end portion of the front inner wall 68. The lower end portion of the front inner wall 68 and a lower end portion of the rear wall 72 are located at substantially the same position (height) in the up-and-down direction. A lower end portion of the rear inner wall 74 is located higher than the respective lower end portions of the front inner wall 68 and the rear wall 72. Note that the arrangement in the up-and-down direction and the length in the up-and-down direction of the longitudinal rib 75 will be described in detail below.

[0057] A longitudinal end portion of each of the movable covers 60 (the end portion on the opposite side to the main lever 22) is formed with the gripping portion 80, which grips a corresponding longitudinal end portion of the sheet rubber 14. Each of the gripping portions 80 has a pair of front and rear gripping tabs (plugs, latches) 82 extending downward from the front wall 64 and the rear wall 72. Leading end portions (lower end portions) of the front and rear gripping tabs 82 in the width direction are bent toward each other and are respectively fitted in the pair of grippable grooves 18 described above. The corresponding longitudinal end portion of the sheet rubber 14 is thus gripped by the gripping portion 80.

[0058] An upper surface of each of the movable covers 60 constructed as described above is constituted by upper surfaces of the upper wall 62 and the front outer wall 66. The upper surface of each of the movable covers 60 is formed with a rib surface (second rib surface) 84 having a downward gradient as it advances toward the vehicle front side (namely, the front side in the width direction, the one width direction side). Each of the rib surfaces 84 is either inclined or curved (curved in this example) away from the wiping surface WS as it advances toward the vehicle rear side. Each of the rib surfaces 84 is formed at a vehicle front side location of the upper surface of the upper wall 62 and extends along the longitudinal direction of the corresponding movable cover 60.Each of the rib surfaces 84 extends to a point slightly rearward of a central portion of the corresponding movable cover 60 in the front-and-rear direction, and is curved so that the gradient increases as it advances rearward. The rib surfaces 84 are exposed to the wind during vehicle travel, thus causing an urging force toward the wiper surface WS side acting on the blade rubber 14. The respective movable covers 60 formed with the above-described rib surfaces 84 have a larger height dimension (dimensions in the up-and-down direction) on the rear side than on the front side in the front-and-rear direction.

[0059] Each of the movable covers 60 is formed with the movable accommodation space 86 for accommodating a part of the corresponding yoke lever 96 on the side of the main lever 22 of the above-described outer blocking wall 73. As shown in the Fig. 15, Fig. 16, Fig. 20 and Fig. As shown in Fig. 24, each of the movable accommodation spaces 86 is formed below (under) the upper wall 62 between the front wall 64 and the rear wall 72 and is open on the lower side (wiping surface WS side) and the main lever 22 side. An opening 86A to the lower side of the movable accommodation space 86 (see the Fig. 16, 18 to 20 and 24; without reference numerals in Fig. 15) corresponds to a second opening. The opening 86A is hereinafter referred to as the second opening 86A. The movable accommodation space 86 has a larger height dimension (dimension in the up-and-down direction) at a rear side as viewed in the front-and-rear direction than at a front side as viewed in the front-and-rear direction. The above-described rear inner wall 74 is provided close to a central portion of the movable accommodation space 86 as viewed in the front-and-rear direction such that an upper portion of the movable accommodation space 86 is divided into a front side and a rear side by the rear inner wall 74.

[0060] As this is the case in the Fig. 15, 18 to 20, and 24, at a different longitudinal direction end portion (end portion on the main lever 22 side) of each of the movable covers 60, projections 88, 90 are formed on both the widthwise front and rear surfaces of the corresponding movable accommodation space 86. More specifically, the projection 88 is formed to project rearward from a lower end portion of the front inner wall 68 constituting a front surface of the movable accommodation space 86, and the projection 90 is formed to project forward from a lower end portion of the rear wall 72 constituting a rear surface of the movable accommodation space 86. The projections 88, 90 are arranged to oppose each other in the front-and-rear direction of the corresponding movable cover 60, and they project in directions approaching each other.The projections 88, 90 are each formed with a substantially semicircular profile when viewed along the front-and-rear direction, and are arranged in such a manner that their circular-arc-shaped curved surfaces protrude upward. Opposite surfaces of the projections 88, 90 (surfaces facing the central side of the movable accommodation space 86 in the front-and-rear direction) are inclined or curved toward the outer side in the front-and-rear direction, advancing downward.

[0061] As this is the case in the Fig. 20 and Fig. As shown in Fig. 24, the front inner wall 68 is formed with a pair of vertically extending slits 92 on both sides of the projection 88 in the longitudinal direction of the corresponding movable cover 60. A location of the front inner wall 68 between the pair of slits 92, namely, a location formed with the projection 88, forms a bendable portion 68A, and locations positioned on either side of the flexible portion 68A in the longitudinal direction of the movable cover 60 form reinforced portions 68B. The flexible (bendable) portion 68A is not reinforced by the above-described reinforcing ribs 70, whereas the reinforced portions 68B are reinforced by the above-described reinforcing ribs 70. The bendable portion 68A thus easily bends more than the reinforced portions 68B toward the front side and the rear side in the width direction.

[0062] As this is the case in the Fig. 20 and Fig. As shown in Fig. 24, a lower end portion of the rear inner wall 74 in the movable accommodation space 86 is formed with a notch 94 cut away from the lower side. The notch 94 is formed close to the projections 88, 90. The notch 94 forms an engagement portion. yoke lever

[0063] As this is the case in the Fig. 5, 6, 18 to 20, 25 and 26, the pair of yoke levers 96 are formed with elongated profiles, the lengths running along the longitudinal directions of the main lever 22 and the movable covers 60. Each of the yoke levers 96 is connected by a metal section 98 made of metal (see the Fig. 27 to 29) and a yoke lever body 108 serving as a plastic portion made of plastic provided on the outside of the metal portion 98. The metal portion 98 is embedded in the yoke lever body 108 by, for example, insert molding. Note that no restrictions are imposed on the configurations in which the metal portion 98 is embedded in the yoke lever body 108 serving as the plastic portion, and alternative configurations may be adopted, such as attaching the plastic portion to a part of the metal portion (for example, on the periphery of the gripping portion 110 and recesses 114, 116, 118, 120, as described below) by external molding or the like.It should be noted that the respective yoke levers 96 are not limited to the configuration including the metal portion 98 and the yoke lever body 108 (plastic portion), and the yoke levers 96 may alternatively be constructed by only one portion of a metal portion or a plastic portion.

[0064] The metal portion 98 is formed by pressing a metal sheet such as stainless steel, and has an elongated profile with its length extending along the longitudinal direction of the corresponding yoke lever 96. The metal portion 98 is configured by a plate-shaped portion 98A whose plate thickness direction extends in the upward direction, and an upright wall portion (reinforcing flange) 98B extending upward from a widthwise rear end portion (the end portion of the other width direction) of the plate-shaped portion 98A. For example, the metal portion 98 has an L-shaped cross-sectional profile when viewed along its longitudinal direction.

[0065] A pair of through-holes 100, 102 are formed through a longitudinally intermediate portion of the metal portion 98 so as to be aligned with each other in the longitudinal direction of the metal portion 98. The through-holes 100, 102 are formed through a bent portion between the plate-shaped portion 98A and the upright wall portion 98B. A pair of projections 104, 106 are provided at an upper end portion of the upright wall portion 98B, aligned with each other in the longitudinal direction of the metal portion 98, and project upward. The respective projections 104, 106 are arranged above the pair of through holes 100, 102, and each of the projections 104, 106 is formed with a substantially semicircular profile so as to form a projection toward the upper side when viewed along the front and rear direction.

[0066] The yoke lever body 108, in which the metal portion 98 is embedded, is formed with a profile similar to that of the metal portion 98 and has an L-shaped cross-sectional profile when viewed along its longitudinal direction. Specifically, the yoke lever body 108 is configured by a plate-shaped portion 108A whose plate thickness direction extends in the up-and-down direction, and an upright wall portion 108B extending upward from a widthwise rear end portion of the plate-shaped portion 108A, so that the yoke lever body 108 has an L-shaped cross-sectional profile when viewed along its longitudinal direction.

[0067] The plate-shaped portion 98A of the metal portion 98 is embedded in the plate-shaped portion 108A, and the upright wall portion 98B of the metal portion 98 is embedded in the upright wall portion 108B. The plate-shaped portion 108A, which forms a lower portion of the yoke lever body 108, is set with a smaller width-direction dimension than the upright wall portion 108B, which forms an upper portion of the yoke lever body 108. A height dimension of the yoke lever body 108 (yoke lever 96) provided with the upright wall portion 108B increases stepwise in the width direction so that the yoke lever body 108 has a larger height dimension on the width-direction rear side than on the width-direction front side, and is formed with an L-shaped cross-sectional profile when viewed along the longitudinal direction.

[0068] The two longitudinal end portions of the plate-shaped portion 108A are formed with gripping portions 110 that grip a longitudinally intermediate portion (middle portion) of the blade rubber 14. Each of the gripping portions 110 has a pair of front and rear gripping tabs 112 that extend downward from a front end portion and a rear end portion of the plate-shaped portion 108A, respectively. Leading end portions (lower end portions) of the front and rear gripping tabs 112 are bent toward each other and are respectively inserted into the pair of grippable grooves 18 provided above. The corresponding longitudinally intermediate portion (middle portion) of the blade rubber 14 is thus gripped by the gripping portions 110.It should be noted that the front-side gripping tab 112 protrudes forward from the plate-shaped portion 108A, then extends downward so as to be located further to the front than the plate-shaped portion. In other words, the plate-shaped portion 108A is cut away toward the rear side between the respective front gripping tabs 112 provided at the two longitudinal end portions of the plate-shaped portion 108A. A space 97 (see FIG. 1) is formed at a location between the respective gripping portions 110. Fig. 13 to 16) between a lower surface of the plate-shaped portion 108A (lower surface of the yoke lever 96) and the upper surface of the blade rubber 14.

[0069] A front surface of a longitudinally intermediate portion (middle portion) of the plate-shaped portion 108A is formed with the pair of recesses 114, 116 arranged along the longitudinal direction of the yoke lever body 108, and a rear surface of the longitudinally intermediate portion of the plate-shaped portion is formed with the pair of recesses 118, 120 arranged along the longitudinal direction of the yoke lever body 108. The pair of recesses 114, 116 and the pair of recesses 118, 120 are arranged at positions aligned in both the longitudinal direction of the yoke lever body 108 and the up-and-down directions, so as to oppose each other in the front-and-back directions.Each of the recesses 114, 116, 118, 120 is open to the outer side and the lower side as viewed in the front-and-rear direction (has an opening on the outer side and the lower side as viewed in the front-and-rear direction), and has a substantially semicircular profile as viewed along the front-and-rear direction. The recesses 114, 116, 118, 120 are arranged in alignment with their circular-arc-shaped curved surfaces projecting upward. The recesses 118, 120 formed on the rear surface of the plate-shaped portion 108A are formed at positions corresponding to the pair of through-holes 100, 102 described above (at positions opposite to the pair of through-holes 100, 102 in the width direction).The thickness of the yoke lever body 108 peripheral to the recesses 118, 120 (around the recesses 118, 120) is thus ensured, while keeping the dimension in the front-and-rear direction and the dimension in the upward-and-down direction of the yoke lever body 108 small. Note that, instead of the above-described pair of through holes 100, 102, a structure may be designed in which recesses recessed toward the side opposite to the recesses 118, 120 are formed in the metal portion 98 at positions corresponding to the recesses 118, 120. Alternatively, a structure may be designed in which notches recessed to the opposite side to the recesses 114, 116 are formed in the metal portion 98 at positions corresponding to the recesses 114, 116.The portions of the yoke lever body 108 that are peripheral to the recesses 114, 116 form front projection portions (no reference numerals) that project forward, and the portions of the yoke lever body 108 that are peripheral to the recesses 118, 120 form rear projection portions (no reference numerals) that project rearward.

[0070] A widthwise front surface of the longitudinally intermediate portion of the plate-shaped portion 108A is formed with a plurality of front-side protrusions 122 arranged along the longitudinal direction of the yoke lever body 108 to protrude forward. A widthwise rear surface of the longitudinally intermediate portions of the plate-shaped portion 108A and the upright wall portion 108B (a widthwise rear surface of the longitudinally intermediate portion of the yoke lever body 108) is formed with a plurality of rear-side protrusions 124 arranged along the longitudinal direction of the yoke lever body 108 to protrude rearward.The front projections 122 are defined with a greater protrusion length from the front surface of the plate-shaped portion 108A than the above-described front projection portions (portions peripheral to the recesses 114, 116), and the rear projections 124 are defined with a greater protrusion length from the rear surface of the yoke lever body 108 than the above-described rear projection portions (portions peripheral to the recesses 118, 120).

[0071] A widthwise front surface of the longitudinally intermediate portion of the upright wall portion 108B is formed with a plurality of inner side protrusions 126 arranged along the longitudinal direction of the yoke lever body 108A so as to protrude forward. A dimension in the up-and-down direction of each of the inner side protrusions 126 is set to be the same as a dimension in the up-and-down direction of the upright wall portion 108B. The widthwise front surface of the longitudinally intermediate portion of the upright wall portion 108B is further formed with a pair of engaging projections 128, 130 arranged along the longitudinal direction of the yoke lever body 108A so as to protrude forward. The pair of engaging projections 128, 130 correspond to engaging portions.The pair of engaging projections 128, 130 protrude further toward the front of the upright wall portion 108B than the above-described plurality of inner side projections 126 and are integrally connected to an upper surface of the plate-shaped portion 108A. Namely, the pair of engaging projections 128, 130 are provided so as to straddle a boundary between the upright wall portion 108B and the plate-shaped portion 108A. Furthermore, the pair of engaging projections 128, 130 are set to a smaller extent in the up-and-down direction than the plurality of inner side projections 126. The pair of engaging projections 128, 130 are formed close to the pair of recesses 114, 116 and the pair of recesses 118, 120 described above.

[0072] The upper surface of the longitudinally intermediate portion of the upright wall portion 108B is formed with a pair of rear pressing portions 132, 134 arranged along the longitudinal direction of the yoke lever body 108 so as to protrude upward. The rear pressing portions 132, 134 correspond to the pressing portions. The rear pressing portions 132, 134 are arranged above the pair of the above-described recesses 118, 120 and each have a substantially semicircular profile, forming a projection toward the upper side when viewed along the front-and-rear direction. The pair of the above-described projections 104, 106 are embedded inside the rear pressing portions 132, 134.In addition, upper surfaces of the two longitudinal end portions of the upright wall portion 108B are formed with a pair of contact portions 136, 138 projecting upward.

[0073] Each of the yoke levers 96 constructed as described above is housed so as to bridge (spann) within the corresponding main housing space 48 of the main lever 22 and to bridge (spann) within the movable housing space 86 of the corresponding movable cover 60 in the longitudinal direction, and is coupled to the main lever 22 and the movable cover 60 so as to be rotatable about an axis extending along the width direction. Specifically, the coaxially arranged projections 52, 54 of the main lever 22 are fitted together with the recesses 114, 116 in the corresponding yoke lever 96 so that the main lever 22 and the yoke lever 96 are coupled to each other so as to be rotatable relative to each other.Furthermore, the coaxially arranged projections 88, 90 of the movable cover 60 are fitted together with the recesses 116, 120 in the corresponding yoke lever 96 so that the movable cover 60 and the yoke lever 96 are coupled to each other so that they can rotate relative to each other. Namely, each of the yoke levers 96 is coupled to rotate relative to the main lever 22 and the corresponding movable cover 60 at the plate-shaped portion 108A on the lower side, which has a larger width in the front-and-back direction than the upright wall portion 108B on the upper side. In addition, each of the yoke levers 96 is coupled to rotate relative to the front inner wall 36 and the rear wall 40 of the main lever 22, and is coupled to rotate relative to the front inner wall 86 and the rear wall 72 of the corresponding movable cover 60.

[0074] As this is the case in the Fig. As shown in FIGS. 13 to 16, the plate-shaped portion 108A of each yoke lever 96 is housed between the front inner wall 36 and the rear wall 40 of the main lever 22, and between the front inner wall 68 and the rear wall 72 of the corresponding movable cover 60. The upright wall portion 108B of the yoke lever 96 is housed between the rear inner wall 42 and the rear wall 40 of the main lever 22, and between the rear inner wall 74 and the rear wall 72 of the corresponding movable cover 60. Namely, the main lever 22 and the movable covers 60 have pairs of opposing walls (the rear wall 40 and the rear inner wall 42, and the rear wall 72 and the rear inner wall 74) respectively opposed to each other at the front and rear sides of the upright wall portion 108B.

[0075] Of the gripping portions 110 provided at the two longitudinal end portions of each of the yoke levers 96, the gripping portion 110 on the main lever 22 side is retractably housed inside the corresponding main accommodation space 48 between the front inner wall 36 and the central blocking wall 50 of the main lever 22 (see the Fig. 22 and Fig. 23). The gripping portion 110 on the opposite side to the main lever 22 is housed inside the movable accommodation space 86 between the front inner wall 68 and the outer blocking wall 73 of the corresponding movable cover 60.

[0076] Of the rear pressing portions 132, 134 projecting from the upper surface of the upright wall portion 108B provided at a rear portion of each of the yoke levers 96, the rear pressing portion 132 contacts an upper surface of the corresponding main accommodation space 48 (lower surface of the upper wall 30), and the rear pressing portion 134 contacts an upper surface of the corresponding movable accommodation space 86 (lower surface of the upper wall 62). Note that the rear pressing portions 132, 134 (upright wall portion 108B) are located further rearward than the rib surfaces 46, 84, and are located toward the upper and rear sides of the blade rubber 14.

[0077] The plurality of front-side protrusions 122 formed on each of the yoke levers 96 project toward the reinforced portions 36B provided on the front wall 32 of the main lever 22 and toward the reinforced portions 68B provided on the front wall 64 of the corresponding movable cover 60, such that the plurality of front-side protrusions 122 closely contact or oppose the reinforced portions 36B, 68B. The plurality of inside-side protrusions 126 formed on each of the yoke levers 96 project toward the rear inner wall 42 of the main lever 22 and toward the rear inner wall 74 of the movable cover 60, such that the inside-side protrusions 126 closely contact or oppose the rear inner walls 42, 74.The plural rear protrusions 124 formed on each of the yoke levers 96 protrude toward the rear wall 40 of the main lever 22 and the rear wall 72 of the movable cover 60 such that the plural rear protrusions 124 are in close contact with or opposed to the rear walls 40, 72. Note that, in the present embodiment, the plural rear protrusions 124 are in close contact with or opposed to the rear walls 40, 72 from an upper portion to a lower portion of the respective rear walls 40, 72. However, this is not limitative, and it is sufficient that the plural rear protrusions 124 are in close contact with or opposed to the rear walls 40, 72 at least at the upper side thereof.

[0078] Of the pair of engaging projections 128, 130 formed on each of the yoke levers 96, the engaging projection 128 is disposed inside the notch 58 (see FIG. Fig. 23) formed in the rear inner wall 42 of the main lever 22, and the engaging projection 130 is arranged inside the notch 94 (see Fig. 24) formed in the rear inner wall 74 of the corresponding movable cover 60. The engaging projections 128, 130 and the notches 58, 94 form a load transmission portion (no reference numeral). The load transmission portion is configured such that engagement between the engaging projection 128 and an edge of the notch 58 and engagement between the engaging projection 130 and an edge of the notch 94 supports a load acting in the respective longitudinal directions between the yoke lever 96 and the main lever 22 and between the yoke lever 96 and the movable cover 60.

[0079] Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the first opening 48A in each of the main accommodation spaces 48 and the second opening 86A in each of the movable accommodation spaces 86 are closed by the plate-shaped portion 108A of the corresponding yoke lever 96. Furthermore, each of the main accommodation spaces 48 is blocked in the longitudinal direction at the longitudinal center of the main lever 22 by the corresponding center-side blocking wall 50, and each of the movable accommodation spaces 86 is blocked in the longitudinal direction at the opposite side to the main lever 22 by the corresponding outer blocking wall 73.

[0080] It should be noted that narrow gaps are formed between respective edge portions of the first opening 48A and the second opening 86A and the corresponding yoke lever 96 so as to allow smooth rotation of the yoke lever 96 with respect to the main lever 22 and with respect to the corresponding movable cover 60. More specifically, as shown in the Fig. 18 and Fig. 19, between each of the yoke levers 96 and the front inner walls 36, 68 forming front edge portions of the corresponding first opening 48A and the corresponding second opening 86A, narrow gaps 150, 152 having dimensions in the front and rear directions equivalent to those of the plural front projections 122 are secured at locations where the front projections 122 are not present. This allows for smooth rotation as mentioned above. In addition, between each of the yoke levers 96 and the rear walls 40, 72 forming rear edge portions of the corresponding first opening 48A and the corresponding second opening 86A, narrow spaces 154, 156 having dimensions in the front and rear directions equivalent to those of the rear projections 124 are formed at locations where the plurality of rear projections 124 are not present.Narrow spaces 158, 160 are also formed between each of the yoke levers 96 and the corresponding center-side blocking wall 50, and between each of the yoke levers 96 and the corresponding outer blocking wall 73. Further narrow spaces 162, 164, 166, and 168 are also formed between the respective gripping portions 110 of the yoke lever 96 and the front walls 32, 64 and the rear walls 40, 72. Locations other than these respective spaces at the first opening 48A and the second opening 86A are blocked by the corresponding yoke lever 96.

[0081] In the present embodiment, each of the movable covers 60 is open to the lower side at a location on the opposite side of the movable accommodation space 86 from the main lever 22 (more specifically, a location further to the longitudinal end side than the movable accommodation space 86), and this location is provided with the plurality of partition walls 76 dividing this location in the longitudinal direction of the movable cover 60.

[0082] As this is the case in the Fig. 12 and Fig. As shown in Fig. 17, further toward the longitudinally outer side of the wiper blade 10 than the yoke lever 96, a space 61 extending along the longitudinal direction of the wiper blade 10 is formed between the lower surface of the upwardly recessed movable cover 60 and the blade rubber 14. Air currents induced by vehicle travel enter the space 61, which forms an interior space of the wiper lever assembly 20, through a gap 63 between the front wall 64 and the movable cover 60 and the blade rubber 14 (see Fig. Fig. 17; hereinafter, reference is made to the front opening 63.) The airflow that has entered the space 61 then flows out to the rear side of the wiper blade 10 in the width direction through a gap (no reference numeral) between the rear wall 72 of the movable cover 60 and the blade rubber 14.

[0083] However, in the present embodiment, each of the longitudinal ribs 75 is formed to protrude from the lower surface of the movable cover 60 further toward the longitudinal outer side of the wiper blade 10 than the corresponding yoke lever 96. The longitudinal rib 75 protrudes downward from the lower surface of the movable cover 60 so as to be located inside the space 61. The longitudinal rib 75 is arranged above a widthwise rear end portion of the blade rubber 14 and extends along the longitudinal direction of the movable cover 60. The longitudinal rib 75 corresponds to an obstruction portion and is configured to obstruct the running wind flowing into the space 61 inside the space 61.

[0084] It should be noted that the term “hinder” does not necessarily require a complete blocking of the outflow of the airstream from the space 61, and such outflow can be limited (suppressed) in a simple manner. Fig. 17, the distance in the front-and-rear direction from the longitudinal rib 75 to a front end surface of the blade rubber 14 is designated by P (hereinafter referred to as the longitudinal rib position P), a width of a gap 65 between the longitudinal rib 75 and the blade rubber 14 is designated by G (hereinafter referred to as the rib-to-rubber gap G), and a width of the front opening 63 is designated by E (hereinafter referred to as the opening width E). In the wiper blade 10 of the present embodiment, adjusting the longitudinal rib position P, the rib-to-rubber gap G, and the opening width E enables the pressure in the interior space (space 61) in each of the movable covers 60 to be regulated during high-speed travel of the vehicle. Operation and beneficial effects

[0085] The operation and advantageous effects of the present embodiment are explained below.

[0086] In the wiper blade 10 constructed as described above, the blade rubber 14 is gripped by the wiper lever assembly 20 having a tournament structure. In the wiper lever assembly 20, the leading end portion of the wiper arm 20 is coupled to the longitudinally central portion of the main lever 22, and the pair of movable covers 60 are arranged continuously on both longitudinal sides of the main lever 22. The upper surfaces on both longitudinal sides of the main lever 22 and the upper surfaces of the respective movable covers 60 are formed with the rib surfaces 46, 84, each of which has a downward gradient advancing toward the widthwise front side (vehicle front side).The two longitudinal sides of the main lever 22 are formed with main accommodation spaces 48, which are open to the wiping surface WS side and each have a larger height dimension on the front rear side in the width direction than on the front side in the width direction. The movable covers 60 are formed with respective movable accommodation spaces 86, which are open to the wiping surface WS side and each have a larger height dimension on the rear side in the width direction than on the front side in the width direction.

[0087] The pair of yoke levers 96 are housed so as to span the interior of the main housing spaces 48 and the interior of the movable housing spaces 86, and are coupled to the main lever 22 and the respective movable covers 60 so as to be rotatable about respective axes extending along the width direction. The sheet rubber 14 is gripped by the gripping portions 80 provided on the opposite side of the respective movable covers 60 from the main lever 22 and by the gripping portions 110 provided at the two longitudinal end portions of the respective yoke levers 96.A pressing force applied to the main lever 22 from the wiper arm 12 is thus distributed and dispersed along the longitudinal direction of the blade rubber 14 by the yoke levers 96 and the support pieces constructed by metal leaf springs, thereby achieving a uniform distribution of the pressure against the wiper surface WS and a favorable wiping performance.

[0088] Furthermore, the yoke levers 96, which are housed so as to straddle the interior of the main accommodation space 48 and the interior of the movable accommodation space 86, each have a larger height dimension on the widthwise rear side than on the widthwise front side. The larger height dimension ensures the strength of the yoke levers 96 while allowing the yoke levers 96 to be compactly housed inside the main accommodation spaces 48 and the interior of the movable accommodation spaces 86. Furthermore, as described above, the respective upper surfaces of the main lever 22 and the movable covers 60 are formed with the rib surfaces 46, 84 each having a downward gradient advancing toward the widthwise front side (vehicle front side).Since the main lever 22 and the movable covers 60 each have a larger height dimension on the widthwise rear side than on the widthwise front side, an increase in the height dimension can be avoided despite forming the main accommodation spaces 48 and the movable accommodation spaces 86 each with a larger height dimension on the widthwise rear side than on the widthwise front side. Accordingly, the protrusion height of the wiper blade 10 (the wiper lever assembly 20) from the wiping surface WS can be kept low even when the yoke levers 96 are housed in the main accommodation space 48 and the movable accommodation space 86. This enables a reduction in the amount of drag (drag resistance) and an improvement in aerodynamic performance.

[0089] The rib surfaces 84 of the movable covers 60 are exposed to the wind so that a pushing force occurs in the movable covers 60 themselves, and this pushing force is imparted to the blade rubber 14, and in particular, to the leading end portions of the blade rubber 14 held by the gripping portions 80 of the movable covers 60. These leading end portions, which wipe a portion of the wiping surface WS with a high degree of curvature during high-speed travel, can accordingly be biased by the pushing force while still maintaining a low protrusion height from the wiping surface WS.

[0090] Furthermore, in the wiper lever assembly 20, the main lever 22 and the movable covers 60 are each made of plastic, while each of the yoke levers 96 includes the metal portion 98 made of metal and the yoke lever body 108 made of plastic. This allows the height dimensions (dimensions in the upward and downward directions) of the respective yoke levers 96 to be reduced (kept low), while ensuring the strength of the respective yoke levers 96, compared to cases where the yoke levers 96 are constructed solely of plastic. The respective height dimensions H1, H2 (see the Fig. 14 and Fig. 16; without reference symbol in the Fig. 13 and Fig. As a result, the heights (shown in FIG. 15) of the main housing spaces 48 and the movable housing spaces 86 in which the yoke levers 96 are housed can be kept low, thereby enabling the height dimensions of the main lever 22 and the movable covers 60 in which the main housing spaces 48 and the movable housing spaces 86 are formed to be kept low. The wiper lever assembly 20 is thus capable of keeping the height of the wiping surface WS low, and is also capable of reducing a drag amount and improving aerodynamic performance.

[0091] In the present embodiment, the upper surfaces on the two longitudinal sides of the main lever 22 and the upper surfaces of the respective movable covers 60 are formed with the respective rib surfaces 46, 84, each having a downward gradient as it advances toward the widthwise front side. Accordingly, the main accommodation spaces 48 and the movable accommodation spaces 86, which are formed on the two longitudinal sides of the main lever 22 and on the movable covers 60, respectively, so as to be open to the wiping surface WS, each have a lower height dimension on the widthwise front side than on the widthwise rear side.

[0092] In view of this point, in the present embodiment, each of the yoke levers 96 accommodated so as to straddle the interior of the main accommodation space 48 and the interior of the movable accommodation space 86 is configured to include the metal portion 98 and the yoke lever body 108 (hereinafter referred to as the resin portion 108). The metal portion 98 and the resin portion 108 respectively include the plate-shaped portions 98A, 108A having plate shapes with their plate thickness directions extending in the up and down directions, and the upright wall portions 98B, 108B projecting upward from the widthwise rear end sides of the plate-shaped portions 98A, 108A.The yoke levers 96 constructed in this manner each have a lower height dimension at the widthwise front side than at the widthwise rear side, thus enabling the yoke levers 96 to be compactly housed inside the main housing space 48 and inside the movable housing space 86, which also have a lower height dimension at the widthwise front side than at the widthwise rear side as described above, while the upright wall portions 98B, 108B of the metal portion 98 and the plastic portion 108 enable the strength of the yoke levers 96 to be ensured.

[0093] In other words, the main lever 22 and the movable covers 60, which have upper surfaces formed with the rib surfaces 46, 84, each have a downward gradient advancing toward the widthwise front side as described above and each have a larger height dimension at the widthwise rear side than at the widthwise front side, thus enabling the main accommodation spaces 48 and the movable accommodation spaces 86 to be formed such that the respective height dimensions H1, H2 at the widthwise rear side are larger than at the widthwise front side.Furthermore, the main accommodation spaces 48 and the movable accommodation spaces 86 are formed in interior spaces of the wiper lever assembly 20, and the yoke levers 96, which have the plate-shaped portions 98A, 108A and the upright wall portions 98B, 108B, are housed spanning the interior spaces of the respective accommodation spaces 48, 86. An increase in height dimension can thus be avoided. This allows the height of the wiper blade 10 (of the wiper lever assembly 20) from the wiping surface WS to be kept low, thus preventing obstruction of the field of vision during driving, while also reducing a drag amount and improving aerodynamic performance.

[0094] The aerodynamic characteristics explained above are explained in more detail below. In order to improve the aerodynamic characteristics of the wiper blade 10 (the wiper lever assembly 20), in addition to setting the main lever 22 and the movable covers 60 with small height dimensions, the rib surfaces 46, 84 of the main lever 22 and the movable covers 60 are preferably also gently inclined or curved (constructed to have a gentle gradient) as they progress from the upwind side to the downwind side of the airstream. To achieve this, it is necessary to set the height dimensions of the arm portions 22B of the main lever 22 and the movable covers 60 so that they become lower as they progress toward the widthwise front side.In view of this point, in the present embodiment, each of the yoke levers 96 has a larger height dimension on the widthwise rear side than on the widthwise front side, and the height dimension is set lower on the widthwise front side, thereby increasing the degree of freedom for setting the shapes of the respective arm portions 22B and the movable covers 60. This makes it easier to set the rib surfaces 46, 84 with desired profiles. Furthermore, in the main lever 22 and the movable covers 60 of the present embodiment, the front outer walls 34, 66 extending forward and downward from the front end portions of the upper walls 30, 62 allow the rib surfaces 46, 84 to extend forward, thus enabling the rib surfaces 46, 84 to be set with smoother gradients on the front side.As a result, this allows a considerable improvement in aerodynamic properties (in particular a suppression of the amount of lift).

[0095] Each of the yoke levers 96 is formed with an L-shaped profile when viewed along the longitudinal direction, and with a gradual increase in height at the rear compared to the front. This allows the yoke levers 96 to be compactly housed inside the main housing spaces 48 and inside the movable housing spaces 86, while also efficiently ensuring the strength of the yoke levers 96. This allows the protrusion height of the wiper lever assembly 20 from the wiping surface WS to be kept low, thereby reducing the amount of drag and further improving the aerodynamic performance.

[0096] Furthermore, each of the yoke levers 96 of the present embodiment is provided with the plastic portion 108 on the outer side of the metal portion 98. The plastic portion 108 enables the degree of freedom for determining the shape to be improved, while the metal portion 98 ensures the strength of the yoke lever 96. Namely, the plastic portion 108 enables the complex shape including the pair of gripping portions 110, the multiple front-side protrusions 122, the multiple inside protrusions 126, and the multiple rear-side protrusions 124 to be easily formed.

[0097] In each of the yoke levers 96, the metal portion 98 made of metal is embedded in the yoke lever body 108 made of plastic, eliminating the need for an anti-corrosion coating and an anti-glare coating (typically black paint) because exposed portions of the metal portion 98 are reduced. This contributes to a reduction in manufacturing costs.

[0098] Furthermore, in each of the yoke levers 96, the metal portion 98 made of metal is embedded in the yoke lever body 108 made of plastic, which provides the dual benefit of ensuring the strength and reducing the size of the yoke levers, both of which are achieved even more easily than in cases where the yoke levers 96 are constructed only of plastic portions.

[0099] In the present embodiment, the projections 52, 54, 88, 90 respectively formed on both the widthwise front surface and the widthwise rear surface of each of the main accommodation spaces 48 and the movable accommodation spaces 86 (ie, the front inner walls 36, 68 and the rear walls 40, 72) are respectively fitted into the four recesses 114, 118, 116, 120 formed on the two widthwise surfaces of the resin portion 108 of each of the yoke levers 96 to couple the yoke lever 96 to rotate relative to the main lever 22 and relative to the corresponding movable cover 60.This simplifies the construction and assembly of rotatably coupled portions between the yoke lever 96 and the main lever 22 and between the yoke lever 96 and the corresponding movable cover 60, compared to those cases where the yoke lever 96 is coupled to rotate relative to the main lever 22 and the movable cover 60 using metal shaft members.

[0100] Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the four recesses 114, 116, 118, 120 formed on both the front widthwise surface and the rear widthwise surface of each of the yoke levers 96 are open to the outer side and the lower side when viewed along the front-and-rear direction, and are each formed with a substantially semicircular profile when viewed along the front-and-rear direction. This allows the height dimension of the yoke levers 96 to be set lower than in cases where the respective recesses 114, 116, 118, 120 are formed with circular profiles when viewed along the front-and-rear direction. This enables the protrusion height of the wiper lever assembly 20 from the wiping surface WS to be kept even lower as a result.

[0101] Furthermore, in the present embodiment, each of the yoke levers 96 is coupled to rotate relative to the main lever 22 and the corresponding movable cover 60 at the plate-shaped portion 108A on the lower side, which is wider in the front-and-back direction than the upright wall portion 108B on the upper side. This allows the respective rotationally coupled portions, at which the yoke levers 96 are coupled to rotate relative to the main lever 22 and the movable cover 60, to be set with a larger axial length in the width direction, thus making it possible to prevent the change in the orientation of the yoke levers 96 (namely, the orientation as viewed along the longitudinal direction, that is, the tilting orientation) with respect to the main lever 22 and the movable cover 60.

[0102] More specifically, in the present embodiment, the four recesses 114, 116, 118, and 120 formed in the resin portion 108 of each of the yoke levers 96 and constituting movable coupling portions between the yoke lever 96 and the main lever 22 and between the yoke lever 96 and the corresponding movable cover 60 are formed in the two widthwise surfaces of the plate-shaped portion 108A of the resin portion 108. The plate-shaped portion 108A is defined with a larger dimension in the width direction than the upright wall portion 108B.Accordingly, the above-described formation of the four recesses 114, 116, 118, and 120 in the two width-direction surfaces of the plate-shaped portion 108A enables the respective rotationally coupled portions of the yoke levers 96 to be set with the main lever 22 and with the movable covers 60 with a larger axial length in the width direction, thereby enabling the change in the orientation of the yoke levers 96 (tilt orientation) with respect to the main lever 22 and the movable covers 60 to be suppressed (avoided).

[0103] Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the metal portion 98 of each of the yoke levers 96 includes the through holes 100, 102 formed at the positions opposite the recesses 118, 120 in the width direction. This ensures the thickness of the plastic portion 108 at the periphery of the recesses 118, 120 such that the recess depth and the radial dimension are not limited (restricted) by the upright wall portion 98B of the metal portion 98, and allows the width direction dimension and the dimension in the up-and-down directions of the plastic portion 108 to be reduced.

[0104] Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the upright wall portion 108B is formed to protrude upwardly at the rear side of each of the yoke levers 96. The main lever 22 and each of the movable covers 60 have pairs of opposing walls (the rear wall 40 and the rear inner wall 42, and the rear wall 72 and the rear inner wall 74) that oppose each other at the front and rear sides of the upright wall portion 108B. The pair of opposing walls and the upright wall portion 108B are thus engaged with each other, thereby enabling the yoke levers 96 to suppress rattling against the main lever 22 and the movable covers 60.

[0105] Moreover, in the present embodiment, the pair of rear pressing portions 132, 134 are provided on the upper surface of the upright wall portion 108B provided on the rear side of each of the yoke levers 96 so as to cause contact with an upper surface at the rear of the corresponding main accommodation space 48 and an upper surface at the rear of the corresponding movable accommodation space 86. The urging force from the wiper arm 12, the reaction force from the wiping surface WS, the urging force from the converted running wind, and the like are transmitted through the paired rear urging portions 132, 134 to a location between the yoke lever 96 and the main lever 22 and between the yoke lever 96 and the movable cover 60, thereby preventing or suppressing these forces from being applied to the respective rotationally coupled portions between the yoke levers 96 and the main lever 22.This allows the coupling strength of these rotary-coupled portions to be set lower (for example, allows the recesses 114, 118 in the yoke lever 96 to be set with a semicircular profile or a substantially semicircular profile when viewed along the front-and-rear direction), thereby allowing the size of the yoke lever 96 to be reduced in the height direction, and also allows the protrusion height of the wiper lever assembly 20 (the wiper blade 10) from the wiping surface WS to be kept even lower. In addition, by disposing the rear pressing portions 132, 134 (upright wall portion 108B) at a location further rearward than the rib surfaces 46, 84, the rear pressing portions 132, 134 can be prevented or suppressed from imposing restrictions on the shape of the rib surfaces 46, 84.This improves the degree of freedom for determining the shape of the rib surfaces 46, 84. Furthermore, the metal portion 98 of each of the yoke levers 96 includes a pair of protrusions 104, 106 embedded in the pair of rear pressing portions 132, 134. This makes it easy to ensure the strength of the pair of rear pressing portions 134, 132.

[0106] Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the main lever 22 and the movable covers 60 each have the front walls 32, 64, which respectively form front surfaces of the main accommodation spaces 48 and the movable accommodation spaces 86. The front walls 32, 64 each have the flexible portions 36A, 68A formed with the projections 52, 88, and the reinforced portions 36B, 68B, which are more reinforced than the flexible portions 36A, 68A.Accordingly, when the projections 52, 54, 88, 90 formed on both widthwise front and rear surfaces of the main accommodation spaces 48 and the movable accommodation spaces 86 are fitted (seated) into the respective recesses 114, 116, 118, 120 formed on both widthwise front and rear surfaces of the yoke levers 96, the flexible portions 36A, 68A bend, thus allowing the projections 52, 88 formed on the flexible portions 36A, 68A to be easily fitted (seated) into the recesses 114, 116 in the yoke levers 96.

[0107] In addition, when a load acts in the widthwise front or rear direction (wiping direction) between the yoke levers 96 and the main lever 22 and between the yoke levers 96 and the movable covers 60, the many front projections 122 projecting outward from the yoke levers 96 so as to be abutted against the corresponding reinforced portions 36B, 68B abut against the reinforced portions 36B, 68B provided on the front walls 32, 64 of the main lever 22 and the movable covers 60. This prevents or suppresses such loads from being communicated to the flexible sections 36A, 68A, which can prevent the projections 52, 88 formed on the flexible sections 36A, 68A from inadvertently coming out of the recesses 114, 116 in the yoke levers 96.

[0108] Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the reinforced portions 36B, 68B provided on the front inner walls 36, 68 of the main lever 22 and the movable covers 60 are connected in the front and rear directions to the respective front outer walls 34, 66 by the reinforcing ribs 38, 70. This enables the respective reinforced portions 36B, 68B to be reinforced with a simple structure.

[0109] In the present embodiment, the main lever 22 and the movable covers 60 each have rear walls 40, 72, which respectively form the rear surfaces of the main accommodation spaces 48 and the movable accommodation spaces 86, and upper walls 30, 62 with rear end portions from which the rear walls 40, 72 extend downward. The projections 54, 90 are formed on the lower end portions of the respective rear walls 40, 72.Accordingly, when the projections 52, 54, 88, 90 formed on both widthwise front and rear surfaces of the main accommodation spaces 48 and the movable accommodation spaces 86 are fitted into the four recesses 114, 116, 118, 120 formed on both widthwise front and rear surfaces of the yoke levers 96, the rear walls 40, 72 bend, allowing the projections 54, 90 formed on the lower end portions of the respective rear walls 40, 72 to be easily fitted into the recesses 114, 116 in the yoke levers 96.

[0110] Furthermore, when a load acts in the widthwise front or rear direction between the yoke levers 96 and the main lever 22 and between the yoke levers 96 and the movable covers 60, the plurality of rear projections 124 projecting outward from the yoke levers 96 abut against upper portions of the rear walls 40, 72 (namely, locations that bend less toward the front and rear than the lower portions of the rear walls 40, 72). Accordingly, the distance from the bending point is shorter, which makes it possible to suppress bending of the rear walls 40, 72. This can prevent the projections 54, 90 formed on the rear walls 40, 72 from inadvertently coming out of the recesses 114, 116 in the yoke levers 96.

[0111] Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the respective front outer walls 34, 66 of the main lever 22 and the movable covers 60 are each curved to form a protrusion toward the front and upper sides. Thus, an airflow interacting with the front outer walls 34, 66 from the one width direction side flows even more smoothly toward the upper surface side of the upper walls 30, 62. Furthermore, the front outer walls 34, 66 extend further downward than the front inner walls 36, 68.The front outer walls 34, 66 are thus reinforced by the front inner walls 36, 68, while also being capable of preventing snow or the like from entering the interior spaces of the wiper lever assembly 20 (the spaces 61, the main accommodation spaces 48, and the movable accommodation spaces 86) when snow or the like has accumulated near the lower reversing position on the wiping surface WS, making the wiper assembly 20 compact.

[0112] Moreover, in the present embodiment, the multiple front projections 122, the multiple rear projections 124, and the multiple inner projections 126, each projecting from the yoke levers 96, create point contact with the front inner walls 36, 68, the rear walls 40, 72, and the rear inner walls 42, 74 of the main lever 22 and the movable covers 60. Thus, dimensional control is easier to achieve than in configurations where the yoke levers 96 create surface contact with these respective walls over a wide area.

[0113] The present embodiment includes the load transmission portion constructed by the notches 58, 94 formed on the rear inner walls 42, 74 of the main lever 22 and the movable covers 60, respectively, and the engaging projections 128, 130 provided on the yoke levers 96. In the load transmission portion, the load acting along the longitudinal direction between the yoke levers 96 and the main lever 22 and between the yoke levers 96 and the movable covers 60 is supported by the engagement between the edges of the notches 58, 94 and the engaging projections 128, 130. This can prevent such a load from acting on the rotatably coupled portions between the yoke levers 96 and the main lever 22 and between the yoke levers 96 and the movable covers 60.

[0114] Furthermore, in the wiper blade 10 (wiper lever assembly 20), the first openings 48A in the main accommodation spaces 48 and the second openings 86A in the movable accommodation spaces 86 are closed by the plate-shaped portions 108A of the respective yoke levers 96. Thus, an airflow interacting with the wiper blade 10 can be actively prevented from flowing into the main accommodation spaces 48 and the movable accommodation spaces 86. As a result, turbulent airflow caused by such inflow into the interiors of the wiper lever assembly can be prevented or suppressed, enabling the aerodynamic characteristics to be improved.

[0115] The plate-shaped portion 108A of each of the yoke levers 96 is formed in a plate shape, with the plate thickness direction running in the up-down direction. This allows the downwardly open first openings 48A and second openings 86A to be efficiently closed.

[0116] Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the upper surfaces on both longitudinal sides of the main lever 22 and the upper surfaces of the respective movable covers 60 are each formed with the rib surfaces 46, 84, each having a downward gradient as it advances toward the front side (one width direction side). Accordingly, the main accommodation spaces 48 and the movable accommodation spaces 86 formed on both longitudinal sides of the main lever 22 and the movable covers 60 have a smaller height dimension at the front side than at the rear.

[0117] In view of this point, in the present embodiment, the respective yoke levers 96 accommodated inside the main accommodation spaces 48 and inside the movable accommodation spaces 86 each have the plate-shaped portions 98A, 108A each plate-shaped with a plate thickness direction running in the up-and-down direction, and the upright wall portions 98B, 108B projecting upward from the end sides of the other width direction of the plate-shaped portions 98A, 108A. The yoke levers 96 constructed in this manner have a smaller height dimension at the front than at the rear, thereby enabling the strength of the yoke levers 96 to be ensured by the upper wall portions 98B, 108B, while also enabling the yoke levers 96 to be compactly housed inside the main housing spaces 48 and inside the movable housing spaces 86.Furthermore, as described above, the main lever 22 and the movable covers 60, with their upper surfaces formed with the rib surfaces 46, 84 each having a downward gradient as they advance toward the one width direction side, have a larger height dimension on the width direction rear side than on the width direction front side, thereby enabling an increase in the height dimension to be suppressed despite the formation of the main accommodation spaces 48 and the movable accommodation spaces 86 each having a larger height dimension on the width direction rear side than on the width direction front side. Accordingly, the protrusion height of the wiper blade 10 (the wiper lever assembly 20) from the wiping surface WS can be kept low, enabling a reduction in the drag amount and improving the aerodynamic performance.

[0118] Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the main lever 22 has the pair of center-side blocking walls 50 that block the respective main accommodation spaces 48 in the longitudinal direction at the longitudinal center of the main lever 22, so that airflow toward the inside of the respective main accommodation spaces 48 from the longitudinal center of the main lever 22 can be prevented or suppressed by the pair of center-side blocking walls 50. This allows a phenomenon in which raindrops or the like flow in and accumulate before suddenly spurting out accompanying such airflow to be prevented or suppressed in the main accommodation spaces 48 and even in the movable accommodation spaces 86 in some cases.

[0119] In the present embodiment, each of the movable covers 60 has the outer blocking wall 73 that blocks the corresponding movable accommodation space 86 in the longitudinal direction on the side opposite to the main lever 22. Accordingly, an airflow attempting to flow from the inside of the movable accommodation space 86 to a longitudinal end portion side 2 can be prevented or suppressed by the outer blocking wall 73. As a result, such airflow toward the longitudinal end portion side of the interior spaces of the wiper lever assembly is suppressed, thereby enabling the airflow passing through the wiper lever assembly from the widthwise front side to the widthwise rear side to be promoted.

[0120] Furthermore, in the present embodiment, each of the movable covers 60 is open to the lower side at a location on the side of the movable accommodation space 86 opposite the main lever 22. This location is provided with a plurality of partition walls 76 that divide (separate) the movable cover 60 in the longitudinal direction. This allows airflow from the movable accommodation space 86 side of the movable cover 60 to the side opposite the main lever 22 to be prevented or suppressed by the plurality of partition walls 76. This allows airflow to the longitudinal end portions inside the interior spaces of the wiper lever assembly, particularly inside the movable covers 60, to be further prevented or suppressed.

[0121] In the wiper blade 10, the longitudinal ribs 75 protrude downward from the lower surfaces of the respective movable covers 60, which are recessed toward the upper side when viewed along the longitudinal direction of the blade rubber 14. Each of the longitudinal ribs 75 extends along the longitudinal direction of the blade rubber 14 and is disposed in the interior space (space 61) of the corresponding movable cover 60, which forms an interior space of the wiper lever assembly 20 between the movable cover 60 and the blade rubber 14. The longitudinal rib 75 obstructs a traveling wind flowing into the space 61 inside the space 61. Accordingly, during high-speed travel of the vehicle, the internal pressure in the space 61 increases, and this pressure increase is regulated by the obstructing portion so that the amount of lift generated in the blade rubber 14 is appropriately reduced.As a result, the blade rubber 14 is prevented from being lifted under the movable cover 60, thus improving the wiping performance.

[0122] Below is the above-mentioned lift-reducing effect with reference to the Fig. 30 to 32. During a high-speed travel of the vehicle, a force acts on the wiper blade 10 according to the present embodiment, as shown in Fig. 30 is shown schematically. In Fig. 30, downward-pointing arrows indicate a negative lift amount (a pushing force towards the wiping surface WS) and upward-pointing arrows indicate a positive lift amount (force in the upward direction away from the wiping surface).

[0123] The negative lift amount generated in the wiper arm 12 and the main lever 22 is distributed to the gripping portions 110 (support points) of the yoke levers 96, which grip the blade rubber 14 (see dotted arrows in Fig. 30). With regard to the negative lift amount generated in the movable covers 60, during a high-speed travel of the vehicle or the like, the rib surfaces 84 of the movable covers 60 receive the wind such that a pressing force arises in the movable covers 60 themselves, and this pressing force acts on the gripping portions 110 (support points) of the yoke levers 96 that grip the blade rubber 14 and the gripping portions 80 (support points) of the movable covers 60 that grip the blade rubber 14 (see the hatched arrows in Fig. 30). On the other hand, the positive lift amount generated in the blade rubber 14 is generated over the entire longitudinal direction of the blade rubber 14 (see the open arrows in Fig. 30).

[0124] Accordingly, in a structure in which the movable covers 60 are not provided with the longitudinal direction ribs 75 as in the comparative example 400 in Fig. 31, a traveling wind W passing through a gap between the wiper lever assembly 20 and the blade rubber 14 creates a relatively low-pressure state in the interiors of the wiper lever assembly 20. Specifically, the lift amount can be generated in the blade rubber 14 between the gripping portions 80 of the movable covers 60 below the yoke lever 96 (a longitudinal direction region where the yoke levers 96 are not present in the interiors of the movable covers 60). More specifically, in Comparative Example 400, the traveling wind W during high-speed traveling creates a higher pressure in a frontal region FA in front of the blade rubber 14 and in an upper region UA ​​above the movable cover 60, while also creating a relatively low pressure in a rear region RA on the rear side (rear side) of the wiper blade 10 and in a region EA inside the space 61.This creates a negative lift on the movable covers 60, while creating a positive lift on the blade rubber 14. This positive lift causes the blade rubber 14 to lift.

[0125] In contrast, in the present embodiment, as shown in Fig. As shown in Fig. 32, by providing the longitudinal ribs 75 continuously along the longitudinal direction in the interior spaces (spaces 61) of the movable covers 60, the traveling wind W inside the spaces 61 is obstructed in a manner previously set and determined based on an assumed traveling wind at a predetermined speed. By doing this, the pressure in the area EA inside the spaces 61 is allowed to increase appropriately. The pressure in the area EA allows the amount of lift generated in the blade rubber 14 to be reduced.

[0126] Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the longitudinal ribs 75 projecting downward from the lower surfaces of the movable covers 60, which are recessed toward the upper side as viewed along the longitudinal direction of the blade rubber 14, are arranged above (over) the widthwise rear end portion of the blade rubber 14. Since the pressure of the traveling wind obstructed by the longitudinal ribs 75 is greater at the widthwise front side of the longitudinal ribs 75, namely, further toward the widthwise front side than at the widthwise rear end side of the blade rubber 14, this increased pressure can be made to act on the upper surface of the blade rubber 14 over a wider area than in cases where the longitudinal ribs 75 are arranged above a widthwise front end portion of the blade rubber 14.As a result, the effect of reducing the amount of lift generated in the blade rubber 14 is enhanced.

[0127] Furthermore, in the wiper blade 10, the front walls 32, 64 and the rear walls 40, 72, which oppose each other in the width direction, and the upper walls 30, 62, which connect the upper end portions of the front walls 32, 64 and the rear walls 40, 72 in the width direction, are provided on the two longitudinal end sides of the main lever 22 and on the movable covers 60, respectively. The front walls 32, 64 each have the front inner walls 36, 68 and the front outer walls 34, 66, which are arranged on the front side of the front inner walls 36, 68. The respective yoke levers 96 are coupled to rotate relative to the front inner walls 36, 68 and the rear walls 40, 72, and the first rib surfaces 46 and the second rib surfaces 84 are formed on the upper surfaces of the upper walls 30, 62 and the front outer walls 34, 66.That is, the front walls 32, 64 are constructed in a double-layer structure by the front inner walls 36, 68, which form the pivotally coupled portions with the respective yoke levers 96, and the front outer walls 34, 66, which form the front portions of the respective rib surfaces 46, 84. The front outer walls 34, 66 are arranged on the front side of the front inner walls 36, 68, thus allowing the respective rib surfaces 46, 84, each having a downward gradient advancing toward the front side, to be enlarged (elongated) toward the one width direction side. Thus, the respective rib surfaces 46, 84 can each be set (set) with a gentle gradient on the one width direction side, thus enabling an improvement in aerodynamic performance. Aerodynamic analysis

[0128] The following are results of an aerodynamic analysis carried out for the wiper blade 10 according to the present embodiment with reference to FIG. Fig. 33A to 38B. The Fig. 33A to 33G, 34A to 34D and 36A to 38B show representations of an aerodynamic analysis performed by a computer. It should be noted that in the Fig. 33A to 33G, the reference numerals assigned to the blade rubber 14 and the movable covers 60 are omitted. The aerodynamic analysis concerning the lift amount generated in the wiper blade 10 was carried out while measuring the longitudinal rib position P, the gap width G, and the opening width E according to Fig. 17 were adjusted (modified) independently. First, changes in the lifting amount accompanying the modifications in the longitudinal rib position P are described with reference to the Fig. 33A to 33H explained.

[0129] In the Fig. 33A to 33G, the longitudinal rib position P is modified between a position P1 and a position P7, with the gap width G and the opening width E kept constant. The longitudinal rib positions P1 to P7 are set in the relationship P1 < P2 < P3 < P4 < P5 < P6 < P7. Fig. 33H shows a line diagram of a relationship between the variations in the longitudinal rib position P and the lift amount generated in the blade rubber 14. In Fig. 33H, the lifting amount generated in the blade rubber 14 is represented by an empty triangle for each of the longitudinal rib positions P1 to P7. Similarly, this is also shown in the Fig. 34E to 35D shown.

[0130] From the Fig. 33A to 33G, it can be seen that the pressure in the space 61 is higher at the front side of the longitudinal rib 75 in the width direction, and the pressure in the space 61 is lower at the rear side of the longitudinal rib 75 in the width direction. Fig. 33A to 33H that the lift amount reducing effect on the blade rubber 14 is enhanced when the longitudinal direction rib 75 is disposed over the widthwise rear end portion of the blade rubber 14.

[0131] The following describes changes in the lifting amount of the blade rubber 14 accompanying the modifications in the gap width G1 with reference to Fig. 34A to 34E. In the Fig. 34A to 34D, the gap width G is modified between a gap width G1 and a gap width G4, with the settings of the longitudinal rib position P and the opening width E being constant. The gap widths G1 to G4 are set in the relationship G1 < G2 < G3 < G4. Fig. 34E is a line graph showing a relationship between variations in the gap width G and the lift amount generated in the blade rubber 14.

[0132] From the Fig. 34A to 34E, it is understood that the pressure inside the space 61 at the widthwise front side of the longitudinal direction rib 75 increases, and the lift amount generated in the blade rubber 14 decreases as the gap width G is decreased.

[0133] Hereinafter, changes in the lifting amount of the blade rubber 14 accompanying the modifications in both the longitudinal direction rib position P and the gap width G are described with reference to the Fig. 35A to 35D. In the Fig. 35A to 35D the setting of the opening width E is constant. In Fig. 35A, the gap width G is fixed to G1 and the longitudinal rib position P is modified. Similarly, in Fig. 35B the gap width G is set to G2, in Fig. 35C the gap width G is set to G3, and is in Fig. 35D, the gap width G is set to G4, and the longitudinal rib position P is modified.

[0134] From the Fig. 35A to 35D that the amount of change generated in the blade rubber 14 changes when the longitudinal direction rib position P and the gap width G are modified.

[0135] The aerodynamic analysis described above demonstrates the following. It has been demonstrated that the amount of lift generated in the blade rubber 14 can be regulated by modifying the internal pressure inside the spaces 61 (inside the movable covers 60), and further, that the pressure inside the spaces 61 can be regulated by modifying the rate at which the airflow (air flow rate) flows into the space 61 and the rate at which the airflow flows out of the space 61.

[0136] Furthermore, it has been demonstrated that a higher pressure inside the movable covers 60 above the blade rubber 14 in the configurations in which the movable covers 60 are provided with the longitudinal ribs 75 (see the Fig. 36B and Fig. 36C) than can be generated in the configurations in which the movable covers 60 are not provided with the longitudinal ribs 75 (see Fig. 36A). Furthermore, it has been demonstrated that disposing the longitudinal ribs 75 closely over the widthwise rear end portion of the blade rubber 14 is effective in generating a high pressure over the entire widthwise range of the upper surface of the blade rubber 14 because the pressure is higher at the widthwise front side than at the widthwise rear side of the longitudinal ribs 75.

[0137] It has also been shown that setting a small gap width G (see Fig. 37A) generates a higher pressure at the widthwise front side of the longitudinal ribs 75 than when a large gap width G is set (see Fig. 37 P). Furthermore, it has been shown that setting a large opening width E (see Fig. 38B) higher pressures are generated at the front side of the longitudinal ribs 75 as seen in the width direction than when a small opening width E is set (see Fig. 38A), despite changing (increasing) the inflow rate of the airstream into the spaces 61. It is thus apparent that the amount of lift generated in the blade rubber 14 (internal pressure of the spaces 61) can be regulated. Additional explanation of the first embodiment

[0138] In the first embodiment described above, the pair of rear pressing portions 132, 134 are each provided on an upper surface on the rear side of each of the yoke levers 96 (an upper surface of the upright wall portion 98B) so as to contact an upper surface on the rear side of the main accommodation space 48 and an upper surface on the rear side of the movable accommodation space 86, respectively. However, the invention is not limited to this. Namely, in a Fig. 39 and Fig. 40, a pair of front-side pressing portions 140, 142 may be provided on an upper surface on a front side of each of the yoke levers 96 (upper surface of the plate-shaped portion 108A) so as to contact an upper surface on the front side of the corresponding main accommodation space 48 and an upper surface on the front side of the corresponding movable accommodation space 86. The pair of front-side pressing portions 140, 142 correspond to the pressing portions.

[0139] In this modified example, an urging force from the wiper arm 12, a reaction force from the wiping surface WS, and the like are transmitted between the yoke lever 96 and the main lever 22, and between the yoke lever 96 and the corresponding movable cover 60 through the pair of front-side urging portions 140, 142, thereby preventing or suppressing these forces from being applied to the respective rotationally coupled portions between the yoke lever 96 and the main lever 22, and between the yoke lever 96 and the movable cover 60. This allows the size of these rotationally coupled portions to be reduced in the height direction of the yoke levers 96. Similar to the above-described embodiment, this allows the protrusion height of the wiper lever assembly 20 (wiper blade 10) from the wiping surface WS to be kept even lower.Moreover, since the above-described front-side pressing portions 140, 142 are arranged above the blade rubber 14, the pressing force from the wiper arm 12 can be applied to the blade rubber 14 from above (without any front-to-rear offset).

[0140] Further embodiments of the present invention will be explained below. Note that the configurations and operations that are basically the same as those of the first embodiment use the same reference numerals as those of the first embodiment, and their explanations will be omitted. Second embodiment

[0141] Fig. 41 shows a Fig. 14 corresponding cross-section, showing a wiper blade 200 according to a second embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 42 shows a Fig. 18, showing the structure at a leading-end portion of a wiper lever assembly 20 of the wiper blade 200 of the second embodiment. Although the wiper blade 200 of the second embodiment has basically the same structure as the wiper blade 10 according to the first embodiment, a lever rib 202 serving as an obstruction portion is formed to protrude from a lower surface of each of the yoke levers 96. Note that, in the second embodiment, the wiper lever assembly 20 is constructed similarly to the above-described modified example of the first embodiment. The lever rib 202 is integrally molded with each of the yoke lever bodies 101, extends along the longitudinal direction of the blade rubber 14, and protrudes from a widthwise rear end portion of a lower surface of the yoke lever body 108.The lever rib 202 is arranged further to the rear side in the front-and-rear direction than the blade rubber 14, and faces the gap 97 between the blade rubber 14 and the yoke lever 96 from the rear side in the width direction. A front end surface of the lever rib 202, as viewed in the width direction, is arranged further to the rear side in the width direction than a rear end surface of the blade rubber 14, as viewed in the width direction (see the two-dot chain line FS in FIG. Fig. 41). The yoke lever 96 is reinforced by the lever rib 202 so that the bending strength of the yoke lever 96 increases. It should be noted that in order to enhance the reinforcing effect of the lever rib 202 on the yoke lever 96, the width of the lever rib 202 is preferably increased as much as the rear end surface of the yoke lever 96 in the width direction (see the dashed line RS with two dots in Fig. 41).

[0142] The remaining structure of the present embodiment is similar to the first embodiment. Accordingly, the present embodiment achieves similar operation and advantageous effects as the first embodiment. Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the lever rib 202, which protrudes from the widthwise rear end portion of the lower surface of each of the yoke levers 96, extends along the longitudinal direction of the blade rubber 14. The lever rib 202 obstructs the airflow flowing into the gap 97 between the blade rubber 14 and the yoke lever 96 within the gap 97.Accordingly, even if the presence of the yoke levers 96 makes it difficult to form a longitudinal rib 75 on the lower surfaces of the movable covers 60 and the main lever 22, the pressure in the gap 97 can still be increased, whereby the blade rubber 14 can be prevented from being lifted below the yoke lever 96.

[0143] Furthermore, since the pressure is increased due to the lever rib 202 obstructing the traveling wind at a location further toward the widthwise front side than the lever rib 202, namely, further toward the front side than the widthwise rear end portion of the yoke lever 96, the increased pressure can be made to act over a wider area of ​​the upper surface of the blade rubber 14 than in cases where the lever rib 202 is formed at the widthwise front side of the yoke lever 96. As a result, the reducing effect on the lift amount generated in the blade rubber 14 is enhanced.

[0144] Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the lever rib 202 is arranged further to the rear side in the width direction than the blade rubber 14. Accordingly, when the blade rubber 14 moves up and down following the curvature of the wiping surface WS, this up and down movement is not hindered by the lever rib 202 in contact with the blade rubber 14.

[0145] Furthermore, in the present embodiment, each of the yoke levers 96 is reinforced by the lever rib 202. This allows, for example, the yoke levers 96 to be constructed solely from plastic (it allows the metal portion 98 to be omitted).

[0146] The following are the results of an aerodynamic analysis carried out for the wiper blade 200 according to the second embodiment with reference to the Fig. 43A to 43C explained. Fig. 43A shows an aerodynamic analysis diagram for a comparative example in which the yoke levers 96 are not provided with the lever rib 202, Fig. 43B shows an illustration of an aerodynamic analysis for the wiper blade 200 according to the second embodiment, and Fig. 43C shows an aerodynamic analysis diagram for the wiper blade 200 according to the second embodiment, in which the lever rib 202 has been set with a larger protrusion amount (measure in the upward and downward directions). Fig. 43A to 43C show that providing the lever rib 202 on the yoke lever 96 enables the pressure in the gap 97 between the blade rubber 14 and the yoke lever 96 to be increased, and setting the lever rib 202 with a larger protrusion amount further enables the lift amount generated in the blade rubber 14 to be further reduced. Third embodiment

[0147] Fig. 44 shows a Fig. 14 corresponding cross-section, showing a wiper blade 300 according to a third embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 45 shows a Fig. 44, showing an example in which the wiper blade 300 of the third embodiment is formed with a recess 304 in the lower surface of each of the yoke levers 96. Although the wiper blade 300 of the third embodiment has basically the same structure as the wiper blade 10 according to the first embodiment, a rubber rib 302 serving as an obstruction portion is formed to protrude from the upper surface of the blade rubber 14. Note that in the third embodiment, the wiper lever assembly 20 is constructed similarly to the modified example of the first embodiment described above.

[0148] The rubber rib 302 is integrally formed on the blade rubber 14 and protrudes from a rear end portion of the upper surface of the blade rubber 14 in the width direction. The rubber rib 302 spans along the entire longitudinal direction of the blade rubber 14 and is arranged in the gap 97 between each of the yoke levers 96 and the blade rubber 14. In the Fig. 45, at a position corresponding to the rubber rib 302, the lower surface of the yoke lever 96 is formed with the recess 304 capable of accommodating the rubber rib 302.

[0149] The remaining structure of the present embodiment is similar to the first embodiment. Accordingly, the present embodiment can achieve similar operation and advantageous effects as the first embodiment. Moreover, in the present embodiment, the rubber rib 302 protruding from the widthwise rear end portion of the upper surface of the blade rubber 14 extends along the longitudinal direction of the blade rubber 14 and is disposed in the gap 97 between each of the yoke levers 96 and the blade rubber 14. Accordingly, the running wind flowing into the gap 97 can be obstructed by the rubber rib 302, allowing the pressure inside the gap 97 to be increased. This allows the blade rubber 14 to be prevented from lifting under the yoke levers 96.

[0150] Furthermore, since the pressure is increased due to the traveling wind obstructed by the rubber rib 302, further to the widthwise front side than the rubber rib 302, namely, further to the front side than the widthwise rear end portion of the upper surface of the blade rubber 14, the increased pressure can be made to act over a wider area of ​​the upper surface of the blade rubber 14 than in cases where the rubber rib 302 is formed on the widthwise front side of the upper surface of the blade rubber 14. As a result, the reducing effect on the lift amount generated in the blade rubber 14 is enhanced.

[0151] In addition, the Fig. 45, the recess 304 is formed in the lower surface of each of the yoke levers 96 at a position corresponding to the rubber rib 302 so that the rubber rib 302 can be accommodated. Accordingly, when the blade rubber 14 moves up and down following the curvature of the wiping surface WS, this up and down movement is not hindered by the rubber rib 302 in contact with the yoke levers 96.

[0152] The following are the results of an aerodynamic analysis carried out for the wiper blade 300 according to the third embodiment with reference to the Fig. 46A and Fig. 46B. It should be noted that a diagram of the aerodynamic analysis for a comparative example in which the blade rubber 14 is not provided with the rubber rib 302 is the same as the diagram in Fig. 43A in the second embodiment. Fig. 46A shows an aerodynamic analysis diagram for the wiper blade 300 according to the third embodiment, and Fig. Fig. 46B is a diagram illustrating an aerodynamic analysis for the wiper blade 300 according to the third embodiment in a case where the recess 304 is formed on the lower surface of the yoke lever 96. Fig. 46A and Fig. 46B show that the provision of the rubber rib 302 on the upper surface of the blade rubber 14 enables the pressure in the gap 97 between the blade rubber 14 and each of the yoke levers 96 to be increased. Fig. 46B also shows that the recess 304 does not affect the amount of lift generated in the blade rubber 14.

[0153] Hereinafter, aerodynamic characteristics of the wiper blade 10 according to the first embodiment are described with reference to the Fig. 47 to 49 explained. Fig. 47 shows an illustration of an aerodynamic analysis for the wiper blade 10 according to the first embodiment, Fig. 48 shows an aerodynamic analysis diagram for a wiper blade 200 according to a first comparative example, and Fig. 49 shows an aerodynamic analysis diagram for a wiper blade 300 according to a second comparative example. Wiper blades 200 and 300 are wiper blades employing an existing tournament structure. Yoke levers (no reference numerals) provided on wiper blades 200, 300 have a larger height dimension than the yoke levers 96 provided on wiper blade 10. In this aerodynamic analysis, the respective height dimensions were set such that the height dimension of wiper blade 10 < the height dimension of wiper blade 200 < the height dimension of wiper blade 300.

[0154] The respective wiper blades 10, 200, and 300 were analyzed for the lift amount and drag amount acting on the respective wiper blades when the vehicle traveling speed was set to 200 km / h. The results showed a relationship of wiper blade 10 < wiper blade 200 < wiper blade 300 for both the lift amount and drag amount. In particular, the lift amount on wiper blade 10 was much smaller, at approximately 1 / 7 of that acting on wiper blade 200. This aerodynamic analysis indicates that the wiper blade 10 according to the present embodiment achieves a significant improvement in aerodynamic performance.

[0155] Although the present invention has been described using a number of embodiments, various modifications can be made within the scope of the present invention. The present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described above.

[0156] Reference is made here to the entirety of Japanese patent application JP 2018-173730 filed on September 10, 2018, Japanese patent application JP 2018-176479 filed on September 20, 2018, Japanese patent application JP 2018-176480 filed on September 20, 2018, Japanese patent application JP 2018-179440 filed on September 25, 2018, and Japanese patent application JP 2018-182682 filed on September 27, 2018. All cited documents, patent applications, and technical standards mentioned in the present invention are incorporated by reference into the present specification to the same extent as if the respective cited document, patent application, or technical standard had been specifically and separately incorporated herein.

Claims

[1] Wiper lever assembly (20) which engages a blade rubber (14) for wiping a wiping surface (WS), the wiper lever assembly (20) comprising: a main lever (22) coupled to a leading end portion of a wiper arm (12) at a longitudinally central portion of the main lever (22), having a first rib surface (46) having a downward gradient advancing toward a widthwise front side and formed on upper surfaces on both longitudinal sides of the main lever (22), and having main accommodation spaces (48) formed on both longitudinal sides of the main lever (22), each of the main accommodation spaces (48) being open to a wiping surface (WS) and having a larger height dimension on a widthwise rear side than on a widthwise front side; a pair of movable covers (60) which extend in a longitudinal direction of the main lever (22) and are arranged continuously with the main lever (22) on both longitudinal sides of the main lever (22), each of the movable covers (60) having a gripping portion (80) for gripping the blade rubber (14) on a side of the movable cover (60) opposite the main lever (22), a second rib surface (84) which has a downward gradient advancing toward the front side in the width direction and which is formed on an upper surface of the movable cover (60), and a movable accommodation space (86) which is open to the wiping surface (WS) and has a larger height dimension on the rear side in the width direction than on the front side in the width direction; and a pair of yoke levers (96), each of the yoke levers (96) having its length in the longitudinal direction of the main lever (22) and the movable covers (60), being housed so as to span inside a corresponding main accommodation space (48) and inside a corresponding movable accommodation space (86), being coupled to the main lever (22) and the corresponding movable cover (60) so as to be capable of rotation about an axis extending in a width direction, having a gripping portion (110) for gripping the blade rubber (14) at both longitudinal end portions of the yoke lever (96), and having a greater height dimension on the rear side in the width direction than on the front side in the width direction. [2] The wiper lever assembly (20) according to claim 1, wherein each of the yoke levers (96) has a metal portion (98) made of metal and a plastic portion (108) made of plastic and provided on the outside of the metal portion (98). [3] Wiper lever assembly (20) according to claim 2, wherein: the main lever (22) and the movable covers (60) are made of plastic; and the plastic portion (108) of each of the yoke levers (96) is coupled so that it can rotate relative to the main lever (22) and to the corresponding movable cover (60). [4] Wiper lever assembly (20) according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the gripping portions (110) of the yoke levers (96) are formed on the plastic portions (108). [5] The wiper lever assembly (20) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein each of the yoke levers (96) is coupled to rotate relative to the main lever (22) and the corresponding movable cover (60) at a lower side of the yoke lever (96) having a wider width in the front-and-rear direction than an upper side of the yoke lever (96). [6] The wiper lever assembly (20) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein each of the yoke levers (96) includes a plate-shaped portion (108A) constructed in a plate shape with its plate thickness direction running in an up-and-down direction, and an upstanding wall portion (108B) projecting upward from a widthwise rear side of the plate-shaped portion (108A). [7] The wiper lever assembly (20) according to claim 6, wherein the main lever (22) and each of the movable covers (60) has a pair of opposing walls (40, 42, 72, 74) opposing each other at a front side and a rear side of the upright wall portion (108B). [8] A wiper lever assembly (20) according to claim 6 when dependent on claim 2, wherein the metal portion (98) comprises: a plate-shaped portion (98A) constructed in a plate shape with a plate thickness direction running in the up-and-down direction, and embedded in the plastic portion (108) at a location corresponding to the plate-shaped portion (108A) of a corresponding yoke lever (96); and an upright wall portion (98B) projecting upward from a widthwise rear side of the plate-shaped portion (98A) and embedded in the resin portion (108) at a location corresponding to the upper wall portion (108B) of the corresponding yoke lever (96). [9] A wiper lever assembly (20) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein an upper surface of each yoke lever (96) is formed with a pair of pressing portions (132, 134) projecting upwardly to contact an upper surface of a corresponding main accommodation space (48) and an upper surface of a corresponding movable accommodation space (86), respectively. [10] Wiper lever assembly (20) according to one of claims 1 to 9, wherein: respective projections (52, 54, 88, 90) formed on both the widthwise front and widthwise rear surfaces of each of the main accommodation spaces (48) and each of the movable accommodation spaces (86) are respectively fitted into four recesses (114, 116, 118, 120) formed on both the widthwise front and widthwise rear surfaces of a corresponding yoke lever (96); and each of the yoke levers (96) is coupled so that it can rotate to the main lever (22) and to the corresponding movable cover (60). [11] A wiper lever assembly (20) according to claim 6 or any one of claims 7 to 10 when dependent on claim 6, wherein: each of the main accommodation spaces (48) of the main lever (22) has a first opening (48A) open to the wiping surface (WS); each of the movable accommodation spaces (86) of the pair of movable covers (60) has a second opening (86A) open to the wiping surface (WS); and the plate-shaped portions (108A) of the pair of yoke levers (96) close the first openings (48A) and the second openings (86A). [12] The wiper lever assembly (20) according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the main lever (22) has a pair of center-side blocking walls (50) blocking the main accommodation spaces (48) in a longitudinal direction at a longitudinally center side of the main lever (22). [13] A wiper lever assembly (20) according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein each of the movable covers (60) has an outer blocking wall (73) blocking a corresponding movable accommodation space (86) in the longitudinal direction on a side of the corresponding yoke lever (96) opposite the main lever (22). [14] Wiper lever assembly (20) according to one of claims 1 to 13, wherein: the main lever (22) and each of the movable covers (60) has a front wall (32, 64) and a rear wall (40, 72) which are opposite to each other in the width direction, and an upper wall (30, 62) which connects upper end portions of the front wall (32, 64) and the rear wall (40, 72) to each other in the width direction; each of the front walls (32, 64) comprises a front inner wall (36, 68) and a front outer wall (34, 66) extending from the front inner wall (36, 68) to one side in the width direction so as to be continuous with the top wall (30, 62); each of the yoke levers (96) is coupled so that it can rotate to a corresponding front inner wall (36, 68) and to a corresponding rear wall (40, 72); the first rib surface (46) and a corresponding second rib surface (84) are formed continuously with respect to one another, the first rib surface (46) being formed on the upper wall (30) and on an upper surface of the front outer wall (34) of the main lever (22); and each of the second rib surfaces (84) is formed on the top wall (62) and on an upper surface of the front outer wall (66) of a corresponding movable cover (60). [15] Wiper lever assembly (20) according to claim 14, wherein: one element consisting of a recess (114, 116, 118, 120) or a projection (52, 54, 88, 90) formed on each of the front inner walls (36, 68) and each of the rear walls (40, 72) is assembled with four of the other element consisting of a recess (114, 116, 118, 120) or a projection (52, 54, 88, 90) formed on both the widthwise front surface and the widthwise rear surface of a corresponding yoke lever (96) such that the respective yoke levers (96) are coupled to be rotatable relative to the main lever (22) and to a corresponding movable cover (60); each of the front inner walls (36, 68) has a flexible portion (36A, 68A) formed with an element of a recess (114, 116, 118, 120) or a projection (52, 54, 88, 90), and a reinforced portion (36B, 68B) that is more heavily reinforced than the flexible portion (36A, 68A); and each of the yoke levers (96) is formed with a front projection (122) which projects from a location corresponding to a corresponding reinforced portion (36B, 68B) so that it can abut against the corresponding reinforced portion (36B, 68B). [16] A wiper lever assembly (20) according to any one of claims 1 to 15, further comprising a load transmission portion provided as a separate body to respective rotationally coupled portions where the respective yoke lever (96) is coupled so that the main lever (22) and the corresponding movable cover (60) can rotate; wherein the load transmission portion is constructed by an engagement portion (58, 94) provided on the main lever (22) and a corresponding movable cover (60), and an engaging portion (128, 130) provided on a corresponding yoke lever, such that a load acting along a longitudinal direction between the yoke lever (96) and the main lever (22) and between the yoke lever (96) and a corresponding movable cover (60) is borne by engagement between the engagement portion (58, 94) and the engaging portion (128, 130). [17] Wiper blade (10) with: a blade rubber (14) for wiping a wiping surface (WS) of a vehicle; and the wiper lever assembly (20) according to any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein the sheet rubber (14) is gripped by the respective gripping portions (80, 110) provided on the pair of movable covers (60) and on the pair of yoke levers (96). [18] Wiper blade (10) according to claim 17, wherein: the blade rubber (14) is arranged under the wiper lever assembly (20), is gripped by the yoke levers (96) and the movable covers (60), is pressed against the wiping surface (WS), and is arranged such that respective gaps (65, 97) are formed between the blade rubber (14) and the yoke levers (96) and between the blade rubber (14) and the movable covers (60); and the wiper blade (10) further comprises an obstruction portion (75, 202) formed to protrude from at least one of a lower surface of each of the movable covers (60), a lower surface of each of the yoke levers (96), or an upper surface of the blade rubber (14), extending along a longitudinal direction of the blade rubber (14) in an interior space of the wiper lever assembly (20), and obstructing an outflow of a traveling wind that has flowed into at least one space from the respective spaces (65, 97). [19] The wiper blade (10) according to claim 18, wherein the obstruction portion (75) is constructed by longitudinal direction ribs (75) projecting downward from lower surfaces of the respective movable covers (60), which are recessed toward an upper side when viewed along a longitudinal direction of the blade rubber (14). [20] A wiper blade (10) according to claim 19, wherein the longitudinal direction ribs (75) are arranged over a widthwise rear end portion of the blade rubber (14).

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