HEATED WINDSHIELD WIPER BLADE AND HOLDER

摘要

An electrically heated windshield wiper blade assembly (10) is provided which includes an elongated resilient blade (202), and a blade carrier (100) comprising an elongated body member (102) and a pair of pivotable blade holder end members (104) located on opposite ends of the body member (102). The body member (102) of the blade carrier (100) includes a pair of first flexible electrical conductors (402, 404) extending therethrough. Each conductor enters the body member and terminates at a first end (414) located beyond a respective end of the body member. The wiper blade (202) includes a relatively long first resistance heating element (420) fully enclosed within a longitudinal passageway (228) and which is electrically connected at each end to a first end of a respective one of a pair of second flexible electrical conductors (422). Each of the blade holding end members (104) comprises a hollow sealed portion (185) through which a second resistance heating element (410) extends. A second end of each second conductor (422) is electrically connected to one end of the second heating element (410) within the hollow portion (185). The other end of the second heating element (410) is connected within the hollow sealed portion (185) to the first end (414) of one of the first conductors (402, 404). The first conductors (402, 404) are arranged to be connected to an electrical power source (not shown) so that upon the passage of electrical current therethrough the first heating element (420) in the blade (202) heats the blade while the second heating elements (410) heat the blade holder end members (104).