Method of making a backing strip for extruded windshield wiper squeegee

A method of making a rail forming part of a backing strip for a windshield wiper squeegee from a blank comprising a flat metal strip, the flat metal strip defining a longitudinal axis, a narrow width and a predetermined thickness, wherein the width is greater than the thickness, the method including the following steps:

• forming an elongated offset portion of predetermined length on an intermediate portion of the flat metal strip, the offset portion being shifted transversely to said longitudinal axis, in a direction of said width so as to protrude from the remainder of the flat metal strip on a single side thereof, said offset portion defining a hollow disposed on an opposite side of the flat metal strip;
• edge-punching said offset portion to form a claw retaining notch adapted to locate a claw forming part of a windshield wiper superstructure;
• cutting at least one opening in said intermediate portion to form at least one pair of squeegee retaining barb elements of reduced cross-sectional width from the flat metal strip on the side opposite from the offset portion and proximate to the claw retaining notch, the barb elements being longitudinally spaced from each other on the metal strip with the claw retention notch disposed between at least two barb elements;
• pulling said barb elements outwardly in a direction transverse to said longitudinal axis so as to protrude outwardly from the flat metal strip, so that pressure applied to a windshield wiper through the superstructure and transmitted by a claw retained in the claw retaining notch to the rail urges the barb elements into engagement with the squeegee.