Reclosable wiper blade package with improved package closure arrangement

A reclosable beam blade wiper blade package in combination with a pre-curved beam blade wiper blade comprising:

• (a) the pre-curved beam-type wiper blade comprising an elongate pre-curved beam carrying an elongate wiping element;
• and
• (b) the reclosable wiper blade package comprising (1) a base comprising (i) a three-dimensionally formed elongate longitudinally extending wiper blade holding cavity comprising a recessed elongate longitudinally extending channel with the wiper blade holding cavity configured to engage and releasably hold the pre-curved beam-type wiper blade in place in a substantially straightened condition, and (ii) one of a plurality of spaced apart elongate bars and a plurality of spaced apart elongate bar-receiving pockets formed therein, (2) a cover comprising the other one of the plurality of spaced apart elongate bars and the plurality of spaced apart elongate bar-receiving pockets formed therein, and (3) a hinge joining the cover to the base enabling the cover to be moved between (i) a closed position where each one of the plurality of elongate bars is received in a corresponding one of the plurality of elongate bar-receiving pockets defining a plurality of spaced apart elongate bar snaps that releasably retain the cover in the closed position, and (ii) an open position disposed from the closed position permitting access to the wiper blade holding cavity;
• and
• wherein each one of the plurality of elongate bars comprises a pair of spaced apart generally planar bar endwalls that are inclined toward one another between which extend a pair of longitudinally extending generally parallel elongate substantially straight bar sidewalls;
• and
• wherein the wiper blade holding cavity comprises a pair of oppositely extending generally straight longitudinally extending elongate wiper blade arm receiving channels formed of a pair of generally parallel channel walls integrally formed in the base that extend oppositely outwardly from a wiper blade mount or adapter receiving recess integrally formed in the base having a width greater than the wiper blade arm receiving channels;
• and
• wherein each wiper blade arm receiving channel has a pair of oppositely extending wiper blade retention arm fingers that extend from generally opposite directions into the wiper blade arm receiving channel that engage a corresponding portion of the pre-curved beam blade wiper blade received in the wiper blade holding cavity holding the pre-curved beam blade wiper blade in a substantially straightened condition in place in the wiper blade holding cavity.

A reclosable beam blade wiper blade package in combination with a pre-curved beam blade wiper blade comprising:

• (a) the pre-curved beam-type wiper blade comprising an elongate pre-curved beam carrying an elongate wiping element;
• and
• (b) the reclosable wiper blade package comprising:
• (1) a cover;
• (2) a base having (i) a longitudinally extending elongate wiper blade holding cavity that is three dimensionally formed of the base where the wiper blade holding cavity is narrower than the base and configured to receive and releasably retain the pre-curved beam blade wiper blade in place in one of a partially straightened condition and a substantially straightened condition, the wiper blade holding cavity comprised of a pair of oppositely extending generally straight longitudinally extending elongate wiper blade arm receiving channels formed of a pair of generally parallel channel walls integrally formed in the base that extend oppositely outwardly from a wiper blade mount or adapter receiving recess integrally formed in the base having a width greater than the wiper blade arm receiving channels, and each one of the wiper blade receiving channels having a narrower elongate longitudinally extending wiping element receiving channel formed therein, (ii) a first pair of oppositely extending wiper blade arm retention fingers integrally formed in the base that extend inwardly into one wiper blade arm receiving channel that engage one portion of the pre-curved beam blade wiper blade received in the wiper blade receiving cavity, and (iii) a second pair of oppositely extending wiper blade arm retention fingers integrally formed in the base that extend inwardly into the other wiper blade arm receiving cavity that engage another portion of the pre-curved beam blade wiper blade received the in the wiper blade receiving cavity;
• (3) an elongate hinge interconnecting the package cover to the package base;
• (4) a rib-and-channel arrangement that extends alongside the hinge when the cover is closed, the rib-and-channel arrangement comprising a rib formed in one of the cover and base and a channel formed in the other one of the cover and base in which the rib removably seats when the cover is closed helping to releasably keep the cover closed;
• and
• (5) a plurality of pairs of spaced apart elongate bar snaps longitudinally extending alongside the wiper blade holding cavity on a side opposite the hinge, each elongate bar snap comprising an elongate bar formed in one of the cover and base and a elongate bar-receiving pocket formed in the other one of the cover and base which receives a corresponding elongate bar when the cover is closed helping to releasably keep the cover closed;
• and
• wherein each elongate bar is formed of a pair of spaced apart generally planar bar endwalls inclined toward one another between which extend a pair of generally parallel longitudinally extending elongate bar sidewalls.