Wiper coupler and wiper assembly incorporating same
First Claim
1. A wiper assembly for use in connection with a wiper arm having an attachment member including a track defined by a base and rails depending therefrom, a bent tab extending outwardly from the base and guides that extend linearly downward from the rails, said wiper assembly comprising:
- a wiping element adapted to contact a surface to be wiped;
a tournament-style superstructure adapted to operatively support said wiping element; and
a wiper coupler operatively engaged to said superstructure that is adapted to releasably attach said superstructure to a wiper arm attachment member, said wiper coupler including a pair of sidewalls each having a flange adapted to engage a portion of the guides of a wiper arm attachment member, said wiper coupler further including an elevated platform and a deck each disposed between said sidewalls, said deck cooperating with a portion of said sidewalls to define a rest adapted to operatively receive the track of a wiper arm attachment member, said wiper coupler further including an aperture disposed between said elevated platform and said deck that is adapted to receive a portion of the bent tab of a wiper arm attachment member to facilitate releasable attachment between said tournament-style superstructure and a wiper arm attachment member conventionally employed for use in connection with a beam blade-style wiper assembly.
23 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to a wiper coupler and wiper assembly that includes a wiping element and a tournament-style superstructure to support the wiping element. The wiper assembly further includes a wiper coupler that releasably attaches the superstructure to a wiper arm attachment member. The wiper coupler includes a pair of sidewalls each having a flange to engage a portion of the guides of the attachment member and further includes an elevated platform and a deck each disposed between the sidewalls. The deck and a portion of the sidewalls define a rest to receive the track of the attachment member. The wiper coupler further includes an aperture between the elevated platform and the deck. The aperture receives a portion of the bent tab of the attachment member to facilitate attachment between the superstructure and the attachment member conventionally employed for use with a beam blade-style wiper assembly.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A wiper assembly for use in connection with a wiper arm having an attachment member including a track defined by a base and rails depending therefrom, a bent tab extending outwardly from the base and guides that extend linearly downward from the rails, said wiper assembly comprising:
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a wiping element adapted to contact a surface to be wiped;
a tournament-style superstructure adapted to operatively support said wiping element; and
a wiper coupler operatively engaged to said superstructure that is adapted to releasably attach said superstructure to a wiper arm attachment member, said wiper coupler including a pair of sidewalls each having a flange adapted to engage a portion of the guides of a wiper arm attachment member, said wiper coupler further including an elevated platform and a deck each disposed between said sidewalls, said deck cooperating with a portion of said sidewalls to define a rest adapted to operatively receive the track of a wiper arm attachment member, said wiper coupler further including an aperture disposed between said elevated platform and said deck that is adapted to receive a portion of the bent tab of a wiper arm attachment member to facilitate releasable attachment between said tournament-style superstructure and a wiper arm attachment member conventionally employed for use in connection with a beam blade-style wiper assembly. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A wiper assembly for use in connection with a wiper arm having an attachment member including a track defined by a base and rails depending therefrom, where the base includes a bent tab extending outwardly from the base, a passage defined within the base by a peripheral edge and a contoured protrusion extending from the peripheral edge toward the center of the passage in substantially the same direction as the bent tab, said wiper assembly comprising:
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a wiping element adapted to contact a surface to be wiped;
a tournament-style superstructure adapted to operatively engaged said wiping element; and
a wiper coupler operatively mounted to said superstructure that is adapted to releasably attach said superstructure to a wiper arm attachment member, said wiper coupler including a pair of sidewalls and a deck disposed therebetween that is adapted to operatively engage a portion of the contoured protrusion of the wiper arm attachment member, said deck and a portion of said sidewalls cooperating to define a rest adapted to operatively receive the track of a wiper arm attachment member, said coupler further including an elevated platform disposed between said sidewalls and an aperture disposed between said deck and said elevated platform that is adapted to operatively receive a portion of the bent tab of a wiper arm attachment member, said deck further including a cantilevered beam adapted to operatively engage a portion of the peripheral edge of a wiper arm attachment member to facilitate releasable attachment between said tournament-style superstructure and a wiper arm attachment member conventionally employed for use in connection with a beam blade-style wiper assembly. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26)
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22. A wiper coupler for use in releasably attaching a tournament-style wiper assembly superstructure to a wiper arm having an attachment member including a track defined by a base and rails depending therefrom, a bent tab extending outwardly from the base and guides that extend linearly downward from the rails, said wiper coupler comprising:
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a pair of sidewalls each including a post that extends transversely toward the other to operatively engage a tournament-style wiper assembly superstructure and a flange adapted to engage a portion of the guides of a wiper arm attachment member, each of said flanges including a barb that is adapted to operatively engage a portion of the guides of a wiper arm attachment member; and
a deck disposed between said sidewalls that cooperates with a portion of said sidewalls to define a rest adapted to operatively receive the track of a wiper arm attachment member, said deck including a bridge that is adapted to provide a positive stop against a portion the bent tab of a wiper arm attachment member, said wiper coupler further including an aperture disposed adjacent to said deck that is adapted to receive a portion of the bent tab of a wiper arm attachment member to facilitate releasable attachment between a tournament-style wiper assembly superstructure and a wiper arm attachment member conventionally employed for use in connection with a beam blade-style wiper assembly. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24)
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Specification