WINDSHIELD WIPER CONNECTOR
First Claim
1. A connector for coupling a wiper blade with a wiper arm, the connector comprising:
- first and second side walls spaced at a distance from each other and connected by a bridge, the first and second side walls and the bridge defining an upper channel;
a rivet passage formed into the first and second sidewalls, the rivet passage dimensioned to accept and hold a rivet of a wiper blade in order to connect the wiper blade with the connector; and
a reinforcement element provided on at least one of the first or second side walls proximate to the upper channel.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Novel connectors for coupling wiper blades with arms are described, including those that. A wiper blade connector may include first and second side walls and a bridge defining an upper channel, as well as a passage for receiving a rivet or pin. The connector may also include a reinforcement portion which may be an extension of the side walls, include a portion overhanging into the upper channel, an outward extension projecting in a direction away from the upper channel, or resilient tabs on the inside of the channel. The connector may also include a support element, such as a truss member, which extends the upper channel. A lateral brace may also be provided between side walls.
35 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A connector for coupling a wiper blade with a wiper arm, the connector comprising:
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first and second side walls spaced at a distance from each other and connected by a bridge, the first and second side walls and the bridge defining an upper channel; a rivet passage formed into the first and second sidewalls, the rivet passage dimensioned to accept and hold a rivet of a wiper blade in order to connect the wiper blade with the connector; and a reinforcement element provided on at least one of the first or second side walls proximate to the upper channel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A connector for connecting a wiper blade to a wiper arm, said connector comprising:
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first and second side walls spaced from one another; a bridge interconnecting said first and second side walls, said bridge and first and second side walls defining a pin passage and a rivet passage on an underside of the connector and further defining an upper channel on the upper side of the connector; a reinforcement element provided on at least one of the first or second side walls proximate to the upper channel; and a rail interconnecting said first and second side walls and vertically spaced from said bridge to define a tail space between said bridge and said rail, said rail having a forward most free end positioned rearward of said pin passage and said rivet passage to define a rail-free hook insertion space below said bridge, forward of said pin passage, and between said side walls. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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20. A wiper blade comprising :
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a wiper strip; a support structure, the support structure distributing force from a wiper arm to the wiper strip; a connection device disposed on the support structure; a connector for coupling the connection device of the wiper blade with a wiper arm, the connector comprising; first and second side walls spaced at a distance from each other and connected by a bridge, the first and second side walls and the bridge defining an upper channel; a rivet passage formed into the first and second sidewalls, the rivet passage dimensioned to accept and hold a rivet of a wiper blade in order to connect the wiper blade with the connector; and a reinforcement element provided on at least one of the first or second side walls proximate to the upper channel.
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21. A wiper blade comprising:
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a wiper strip; a support structure, the support structure distributing force from a wiper arm to the wiper strip; a connection device disposed on the support structure; a connector for coupling the connection device to a wiper arm, the connector comprising; first and second side walls spaced from one another; a bridge interconnecting said first and second side walls, said bridge and first and second side walls defining a pin passage and a rivet passage on an underside of the connector and further defining an upper channel on the upper side of the connector; a reinforcement element provided on at least one of the first or second side walls proximate to the upper channel; and a rail interconnecting said first and second side walls and vertically spaced from said bridge to define a tail space between said bridge and said rail, said rail having a forward most free end positioned rearward of said pin passage and said rivet passage to define a rail-free hook insertion space below said bridge, forward of said pin passage, and between said side walls.
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Specification