Windshield wiper adapter, connector and assembly

• US 10,457,252 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2015
• Issued: 10/29/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pylon Manufacturing Corporation (Qualitor Component Holdings LLC)
• Original Assignee: Pylon Manufacturing Corporation (Qualitor Component Holdings LLC)
• Inventors: Tolentino, Vambi Raymundo, Peers, Robert Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Horton, Andrew A
• Application Number:
  US14/928,457
• Publication Number:
  US 20160046263A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,460 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/3801 characterised by a blade support harness consisting of several articulated elements B60S1/3803, B60S1/3806 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/3867 pin formed on the interior of side walls
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/4003 Multi-purpose connections for two or more kinds of arm ends
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/4006 for arms provided with a hook-shaped end
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/4009 comprising a detachable intermediate element mounted on the hook-shaped end
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/4048 the element being provided with retention means co-operating with the channel-shaped end of the arm
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 2001/4012 the element being provided with bearing surfaces on its side walls

Abstract

Novel adapters, connectors and wiper blade assemblies including same for securing windshield wiper blades and arms are described, including those that accommodate side-saddle wiper arms. A wiper blade adapter may have a mounting portion comprising a wiper blade securing element, the wiper securing element being capable of securing a wiper blade, and a side-saddle portion comprising a connector securing element, the connector securing element being capable of securing a connector that is capable of securing a wiper arm.

Claims

1. A wiper blade adapter having opposed elongate ends, a top end and a bottom end spaced from and opposed to the top end, the adapter comprising:

a side saddle portion including

a pair of elongate side saddle walls aligned parallel to each other, and

a floor provided at the bottom end of the adapter, the side saddle walls spaced from each other and each attached to the floor thereby defining an elongate side saddle passage, the elongate side passage open at the top end of the adapter; and

a mounting portion connected with the side saddle portion including

a pair of elongate mounting walls aligned parallel to each other, and

a top surface provided at the top of the adapter, the mounting walls spaced from each other and attached to the top surface thereby defining an elongate mounting passage, the elongate mounting passage open at the bottom end of the adapter,

wherein the pair of side saddle walls are spaced from the mounting walls such that an interim gap is defined between the pair of side saddle walls and the pair of mounting walls; and

a plurality of reinforcing ribs provided within the interim gap, the reinforcing ribs oriented substantially transverse to the interim gap.

2. The wiper blade adapter of claim 1, wherein the top surface extends between at least one mounting wall and at least one side saddle wall, and such that the top surface projects over the interim gap.

3. The wiper blade adapter of claim 1, further comprising an arcuate rivet clip defined in each of the mounting walls configured to be connected with a rivet provided on a wiper blade.

4. A wiper blade adapter having opposed elongate ends, a top end and a bottom end spaced from and opposed to the top end, the adapter comprising:

a side saddle portion including

a pair of elongate side saddle walls aligned parallel to each other, and

a floor provided at the bottom end of the adapter, the side saddle walls spaced from each other and each attached to the floor thereby defining an elongate side saddle passage, the elongate side passage open at the top end of the adapter; and

a mounting portion connected with the side saddle portion including

a pair of elongate mounting walls aligned parallel to each other, and

a top surface provided at the top of the adapter, the mounting walls spaced from each other and attached to the top surface thereby defining an elongate mounting passage, the elongate mounting passage open at the bottom end of the adapter,

wherein the pair of side saddle walls are spaced from the mounting walls such that an interim gap is defined between the pair of side saddle walls and the pair of mounting walls; and

a plurality of reinforcing members including

a vertical reinforcing member provided on an outer surface of the side saddle wall opposite of the side saddle wall that is adjacent to the interim gap,

a horizontal reinforcing member provided on the outer surface of the side saddle wall opposite of the side saddle wall that is adjacent to the interim gap, and

a transverse reinforcing member provided on an outer surface of the floor.

5. A wiper blade adapter comprising:

a mounting portion including

an elongate inner mounting wall and an elongate outer mounting wall, and

a top surface provided between the inner mounting wall and the outer mounting wall together defining a mounting passage;

a side saddle portion including

an elongate inner side saddle wall and an elongate outer side saddle wall,

a bottom surface provided between the inner side saddle wall and the outer side saddle wall, together defining a side saddle passage,

wherein the mounting portion and the side saddle portion are substantially parallel with one another and the mounting passage is inverted with respect to the side saddle passage,

wherein the inner mounting wall and the inner side saddle wall are spaced, and an interim gap is defined between the inner mounting wall and the inner side saddle wall,

wherein the top surface extends between the inner mounting wall and the inner side saddle wall, such that the top surface projects over the interim gap, and an elongate interim wall is provided within the interim gap and attached to the top surface, the interim wall aligned parallel to the inner side saddle wall and the inner mounting wall.

6. The wiper blade adapter of claim 5, further comprising a plurality of reinforcing ribs provided within the interim gap, the reinforcing ribs oriented substantially transverse to the interim gap.

7. The wiper blade adapter of claim 5, further comprising an arcuate rivet clip defined in each of the inner mounting wall and the outer mounting wall configured to be connected with a rivet provided on a wiper blade.

8. The wiper blade adapter of claim 7, further comprising a rivet end recess provided in the interim wall adjacent to the arcuate rivet clip.

9. The wiper blade adapter of claim 5, further comprising a plurality of reinforcing members including

a vertical reinforcing member provided on an outer surface of the outer side saddle wall,

a horizontal reinforcing member provided on the outer surface of the outer side saddle wall, and

a transverse reinforcing member provided on an outer surface of the floor.

10. A wiper blade adapter having opposed elongate ends, a top end and a bottom end spaced from and opposed to the top end, the adapter comprising:

a side saddle portion including

a pair of elongate side saddle walls aligned parallel to each other, and

a floor provided at the bottom end of the adapter, the side saddle walls spaced from each other and each attached to the floor thereby defining an elongate side saddle passage, the elongate side passage open at the top end of the adapter; and

a mounting portion connected with the side saddle portion including

a pair of elongate

mounting walls aligned parallel to each other, and

a top surface provided at the top of the adapter, the mounting walls spaced from each other and attached to the top surface thereby defining an elongate mounting passage, the elongate mounting passage open at the bottom end of the adapter,

wherein the pair of side saddle walls are spaced from the mounting walls such that an interim gap is defined between the pair of side saddle walls and the pair of mounting walls, and

wherein the top surface extends between the mounting portion and the side saddle portion over the interim gap, and an interim wall is attached to the top surface and projecting into the interim gap, the interim wall aligned parallel to the side saddle walls and the mounting walls.

11. The wiper blade adapter of claim 10 further comprising:

an arcuate rivet clip defined in each of the mounting walls configured to be connected with a rivet provided on a wiper blade; and

a rivet end recess provided in the interim wall adjacent to the arcuate rivet clip.

12. A wiper blade comprising:

a wiper strip;

a connecting device; and

a wiper blade adapter having opposed elongate ends, a top end and a bottom end spaced from and opposed to the top end, the adapter comprising,

a side saddle portion including

a pair of elongate side saddle walls aligned parallel to each other, and

a floor provided at the bottom end of the adapter, the side saddle walls spaced from each other and each attached to the floor thereby defining an elongate side saddle passage, the elongate side passage open at the top end of the adapter; and

a mounting portion connected with the side saddle portion including

a pair of elongate mounting walls aligned parallel to each other, and

a top surface provided at the top of the adapter, the mounting walls spaced from each other and attached to the top surface thereby defining an elongate mounting passage, the elongate mounting passage open at the bottom end of the adapter,

wherein the pair of side saddle walls are spaced from the mounting walls such that an interim gap is defined between the pair of side saddle walls and the pair of mounting walls; and

a plurality of reinforcing ribs provided within the interim gap, the reinforcing ribs oriented substantially transverse to the interim gap.

13. A wiper blade comprising:

a wiper strip;

a connecting device; and

a wiper blade adapter having opposed elongate ends, a top end and a bottom end spaced from and opposed to the top end, the adapter comprising;

a side saddle portion including

a pair of elongate side saddle walls aligned parallel to each other, and

a floor provided at the bottom end of the adapter, the side saddle walls spaced from each other and each attached to the floor thereby defining an elongate side saddle passage, the elongate side passage open at the top end of the adapter; and

a mounting portion connected with the side saddle portion including

a pair of elongate mounting walls aligned parallel to each other, and

a top surface provided at the top of the adapter, the mounting walls spaced from each other and attached to the top surface thereby defining an elongate mounting passage, the elongate mounting passage open at the bottom end of the adapter,

wherein the pair of side saddle walls are spaced from the mounting walls such that an interim gap is defined between the pair of side saddle walls and the pair of mounting walls; and

a plurality of reinforcing members including

a vertical reinforcing member provided on an outer surface of the side saddle wall opposite of the side saddle wall that is adjacent to the interim gap,

a horizontal reinforcing member provided on the outer surface of the side saddle wall opposite of the side saddle wall that is adjacent to the interim gap, and

a transverse reinforcing member provided on an outer surface of the floor.

14. A wiper blade comprising:

a wiper strip;

a connecting device; and

wiper blade adapter comprising;

a mounting portion including

an elongate inner mounting wall and an elongate outer mounting wall, and

a top surface provided between the inner mounting wall and the outer mounting wall together defining a mounting passage;

a side saddle portion including

an elongate inner side saddle wall and an elongate outer side saddle wall,

a bottom surface provided between the inner side saddle wall and the outer side saddle wall, together defining a side saddle passage,

wherein the mounting portion and the side saddle portion are substantially parallel with one another and the mounting passage is inverted with respect to the side saddle passage,

wherein the inner mounting wall and the inner side saddle wall are spaced, and an interim gap is defined between the inner mounting wall and the inner side saddle wall,

wherein the top surface extends between the inner mounting wall and the inner side saddle wall, such that the top surface projects over the interim gap, and an elongate interim wall is provided within the interim gap and attached to the top surface, the interim wall aligned parallel to the inner side saddle wall and the inner mounting wall.

15. A wiper blade comprising:

a wiper strip;

a connecting device; and

a wiper blade adapter having opposed elongate ends, a top end and a bottom end spaced from and opposed to the top end, the adapter comprising;

a side saddle portion including

a pair of elongate side saddle walls aligned parallel to each other, and

a floor provided at the bottom end of the adapter, the side saddle walls spaced from each other and each attached to the floor thereby defining an elongate side saddle passage, the elongate side passage open at the top end of the adapter; and

a mounting portion connected with the side saddle portion including

a pair of elongate

mounting walls aligned parallel to each other, and

a top surface provided at the top of the adapter, the mounting walls spaced from each other and attached to the top surface thereby defining an elongate mounting passage, the elongate mounting passage open at the bottom end of the adapter,

wherein the pair of side saddle walls are spaced from the mounting walls such that an interim gap is defined between the pair of side saddle walls and the pair of mounting walls, and

wherein the top surface extends between the mounting portion and the side saddle portion over the interim gap, and an interim wall is attached to the top surface and projecting into the interim gap, the interim wall aligned parallel to the side saddle walls and the mounting walls.