WIPER COUPLER ADAPTER AND WIPER ASSEMBLY INCORPORATING SAME

• US 20140182075A1
• Filed: 01/03/2013
• Published: 07/03/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trico Products Corporation (Crowne Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: Trico Products Corporation (Crowne Group LLC)
• Granted Patent: US 9,260,084 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/250.32
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/3849 Connectors therefor; Connection to wiper arm; Attached to blade
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/4045 comprising a detachable intermediate element mounted on the channel-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 1/42 resilient
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 2001/4051 the intermediate element engaging the side walls of the arm
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 2001/4054 the intermediate element engaging the back part of the arm

Abstract

A wiper coupler adaptor for releasably attaching a wiper assembly to a wiper arm includes a pair of sidewalls each including a post that extends laterally toward the other and adapted to operatively engage a wiper assembly. The sidewalls include recessed sections adapted to operatively engage rails of an attachment member of a wiper arm, each of the recessed sections have a flange that extends outward beyond to provide releasable engagement with the attachment member. The wiper coupler adaptor also includes a deck disposed between the sidewalls to define a rest that is adapted to operative receive a track between the rails of the attachment member, an elevated platform disposed between the sidewalls and the deck to define an aperture adapted to receive a portion of a bent tab of the attachment member, and a snap bridge disposed within the aperture including a lip depending therefrom that is adapted to receive a portion of the bent tab of the attachment member to prevent undesired release of said wiper coupler adaptor from the attachment member.

Claims

1. A wiper coupler adaptor tor releasably attaching a wiper assembly to a wiper arm, said wiper coupler adaptor comprising:

a pair of sidewalls extending longitudinally and each including a post that extends laterally toward the other and adapted to operatively engage a wiper assembly, said sidewalls including recessed sections adapted to operatively engage rails of an attachment member of a wiper arm, each of said recessed sections having a lip that is adapted to provide a positive stop with respect to one of the rails of the attachment member and a flange that extends outward beyond said lip to provide releasable engagement with the attachment member;

a deck disposed between said sidewalls to define a rest that is adapted to operatively receive a track between the rails of the attachment member;

an elevated platform disposed between said sidewalls that cooperates with said sidewalls and said deck to define an aperture adapted to receive a portion of a bent tab of the attachment member; and

a snap bridge disposed within said aperture and depending from said elevated platform and including a cantilevered body and a head disposed at a terminal end of said cantilevered body, said head including a lip depending therefrom that is adapted to receive a portion of the bent tab of the attachment member to prevent undesired release of said wiper coupler adaptor from the attachment member.

2. A wiper coupler adaptor as set forth in claim 1 including a lock bridge extending laterally outward past each said flange and adapted to engage a trailing edge of guides on the rails of the attachment member.

3. A wiper coupler adaptor as set forth in claim 1 wherein said deck includes a cantilevered beam disposed between each said flange to define a distal end of said deck and having a retention tab that is adapted to provide an interference fit against the track of the attachment member when said cantilevered beam is disposed within the track of the attachment member.

4. A wiper coupler adaptor for releasably attaching a wiper assembly to a wiper arm, said wiper coupler adaptor comprising:

a pair of sidewalls extending longitudinally and each including a post that extends laterally toward the other and adapted to operatively engage a wiper assembly, said sidewalls including recessed sections adapted to operatively engage rails of an attachment member of a wiper arm, each of said recessed sections having a lip that is adapted to provide a positive stop with respect to one of the rails of the attachment member and a flange that extends outward beyond said lip to provide releasable engagement with the attachment member; and

a deck disposed between said sidewalls to define a rest that is adapted to operatively receive a track between the rails of the attachment member, said deck including a cantilevered beam disposed between each said flange to define a distal end of said deck and having a retention tab that is adapted to provide an interference fit against the track of the attachment member when said cantilevered beam is disposed within the track of the attachment member.

5. A wiper coupler adaptor as set forth in claim 4 including a lock bridge extending laterally outward past each said flange and adapted to engage a trailing edge of guides on the rails of the attachment member.

6. A wiper coupler adaptor as set forth in claim 5 including an elevated platform disposed between said sidewalls that cooperates with said sidewalls and said deck to define an aperture adapted to receive a portion of a bent tab of the attachment member.

7. A wiper coupler adaptor as set forth in claim 6 including a snap bridge disposed within said aperture and depending from said elevated platform and including a cantilevered body and a head disposed at a terminal end of said cantilevered body, said head including a lip depending therefrom that is adapted to receive a portion of the bent tab of the attachment member to prevent undesired release of said wiper coupler adaptor from the attachment member.

8. A wiper coupler adaptor for releasably attaching a wiper assembly to a wiper arm, said wiper coupler adaptor comprising:

a pair of sidewalls extending longitudinally and each including a post that extends laterally toward the other and adapted to operatively engage a wiper assembly, said sidewalls including recessed sections adapted to operatively engage rails of an attachment member of a wiper arm, each of said recessed sections having a lip that is adapted to provide a positive stop with respect to one of the rails of the attachment member and a flange that extends outward beyond said lip to provide releasable engagement with the attachment member;

a deck disposed between said sidewalls to define a rest that is adapted to operatively receive a track between the rails of the attachment member; and

a lock bridge extending laterally between each said flange to form a full solid bridge and laterally outward past each said flange and adapted to engage a trailing edge of guides on the rails of the attachment member to secure the wiper assembly from a lateral pull to disassemble.

9. A wiper coupler adaptor as set forth in claim 8 wherein said deck includes a cantilevered beam disposed between each said flange to define a distal end of said deck and having a retention tab that is adapted to provide an interference fit against the track of the attachment member when said cantilevered beam is disposed within the track of the attachment member.

10. A wiper coupler adaptor as set forth in claim 8 including an elevated platform disposed between said sidewalls that cooperates with said sidewalls and said deck to define an aperture adapted to receive a portion of a bent tab of the attachment member.

11. A wiper coupler adaptor as set forth in claim 10 including a snap bridge disposed within said aperture and depending from said elevated platform and including a cantilevered body and a head disposed at a terminal end of said cantilevered body, said head including a lip depending therefrom that is adapted to receive a portion of the bent tab of the attachment member to prevent undesired release of said wiper coupler adaptor from the attachment member.

12. A wiper assembly for use in connection with a wiper arm having an attachment member, said wiper assembly comprising:

a wiping element adapted to contact a surface to be wiped;

a structure adapted to operatively engaged said wiping element;

a wiper coupler operatively mounted to said structure; and

a wiper coupler adaptor operatively mounted to said wiper coupler and the attachment member that is adapted to releasably attach said wiper coupler to the attachment member, said wiper coupler adaptor including a pair of sidewalls extending longitudinally and each including a post that extends laterally toward the other and adapted to operatively engage a wiper assembly, said sidewalls including recessed sections adapted to operatively engage rails of an attachment member of a wiper arm, each of said recessed sections having a lip that is adapted to provide a positive stop with respect to one of the rails of the attachment member and a flange that extends outward beyond said lip to provide releasable engagement with the attachment member; and

a deck disposed between said sidewalls to define a rest that is adapted to operatively receive a track between the rails of the attachment member, said deck including a cantilevered beam disposed between each said flange to define a distal end of said deck and having a retention tab that is adapted to provide an interference fit against the track of the attachment member when said cantilevered beam is disposed within the track of the attachment member.

13. A wiper assembly as set forth in claim 12 wherein said wiper coupler adaptor includes a lock bridge extending laterally between each said flange to form a full solid bridge and laterally outward past each said flange and adapted to engage a trailing edge of guides on the rails of the attachment member to secure the wiper assembly from a lateral pull to disassemble.

14. A wiper assembly as set forth in claim 12 wherein said wiper coupler adaptor includes an elevated platform disposed between said sidewalls that cooperates with said sidewalls and said deck to define an aperture adapted to receive a portion of a bent tab of the attachment member.

15. A wiper assembly as set forth in claim 14 wherein said wiper coupler adaptor includes a snap bridge disposed within said aperture and depending from said elevated platform and including a cantilevered body and a head disposed at a terminal end of said cantilevered body, said head including a lip depending therefrom that is adapted to receive a portion of the bent tab of the attachment member to prevent undesired release of said wiper coupler adaptor from the attachment member.