Windshield wiper blade

A unitary windshield wiper blade made of an extruded synthetic elastomeric material comprising:

• an elongated body having a longitudinal axis;
• a longitudinally extending squeegee rib integral with said body and extending radially outwardly therefrom, said squeegee rib having a pair of side surfaces and an end surface that extends perpendicularly to the side surfaces to define a pair of spaced line junctions that provide squeegee edges;
• a longitudinally extending scraping rib integral with said body and projecting radially outwardly from said body on each side of and immediately adjacent the squeegee rib in the same direction of the squeegee rib, each of said scraping ribs having a side surface and an end surface located in a perpendicular relationship with respect to each other and having a line junction defining a scraping edge, said squeegee rib having a greater radial length than said scraping ribs;
• and
• a mounting portion including a mounting rib integral with said body and projecting radially outwardly from and at a location diametrically opposite said squeegee rib, the inherent flexibility of said mounting rib providing a longitudinally extending hinge about which said body can swing in either direction, the arrangement being such that when said blade moves against a windshield, the squeegee edge and the one scraping edge on the side thereof facing in the direction of movement of the blade engages the windshield wherein each of said scraping ribs has a second side surface located in perpendicular relationship to its end surface and in parallel, abutting relationship with the opposing side surface of said squeegee rib, the second side surfaces and the opposing side surfaces being formed by slitting on opposite sides of the squeegee rib, and wherein when said blade moves against the windshield, the second side surface of the scraping rib fully engages the opposing side surface of said squeegee rib on the side thereof facing opposite the direction of movement of said blade to further effect laterally stiffness of said squeegee rib.