Double bladed windshield wiper and drive arm conector therefor

• US 5,435,041 A
• Filed: 08/05/1994
• Issued: 07/25/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Chang S.Y. Ho
• Original Assignee: Chang S.Y. Ho
• Inventors: Ho, Chang S. Y.
• Primary Examiner(s): Graham, Gary K.
• Application Number:
  US08/286,185
• Time in Patent Office: 354 Days
• Field of Search: 15/250.42, 15/250.32, 15/250.35, 15/250.41, 15/250.31, 15/250.36, 15/250.40
• US Class Current: 15/250.32
• 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 1/3806 Means, or measures taken, for influencing the aerodynamic quality of the wiper blades
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/40 Connections between blades and arms
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/4016 the element being provided with retention means co-operating with the hook-shaped end of the arm
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/4077 characterised by the connecting part of, or an intermediate element mounted on, the wiper blade means for locking the side pin B60S1/4074
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/4087 the end being provided with protrusions or holes
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 2001/3815 chacterised by the joint between elements
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 2001/3818 the backing strip being a channel-like element, e.g. not continuous
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 2001/3837 with more than one wiping edge or lip
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 2001/4093 characterised by the mounting of the pivot on the main yoke of the blade

Abstract

A double-blade wind shield wiper, the blade assembly of which comprising a frame assembly for holding two parallel wiper blades. The frame assembly includes a main frame at the middle, two end frames at two opposite ends and two intermediate frames set therebetween which are respectively connected into shape by conning pins and spring plates. The frame assembly has vent holes and bevel strips for guiding air stream to force wiper blades to firmly attach to wind shield glass. An adapter is fastened in frame assembly to match with a connector for connecting the blade assembly to either type of wiper drive arm.

Claims

1. A double-bladed windshield wiper comprising an elongated blade assembly having an adapter connected thereto, an elongated wiper drive arm, and a connector connecting said adapter to said wiper drive arm, wherein:

said blade assembly comprises an elongated central main frame, two elongated intermediate frames respectively connected to said main frame at opposite ends thereof, each of said intermediate frames having a first end extending outwardly from said main frame and a second end disposed adjacent said main frame, an elongated end frame respectively connected to each of said intermediate frames, each of said end frames having a first end extending outwardly from the first end of each of said intermediate frames and a second end disposed adjacent each of said intermediate frames, said main frame having a pair of aligned apertures disposed at each end thereof, each of said intermediate frames having two pairs of aligned apertures, one pair being disposed at the first end thereof and each of said end frames having a pair of aligned apertures, the apertures in said end frames being in registry with the apertures at the first end of its respective intermediate frame, and the other pair of apertures in each of said intermediate frames being in registry with the apertures at its respective adjacent end of said main frame, a connecting pin extending through each of said pairs of aligned and registered apertures to interconnect said frames, and a spring plate coupled to said frames such as to retain each of said connecting pins in its respective apertures, two elongated clamping plates, mounted in parallel on said assembly, connecting said intermediate and end frames, said clamping plates depending from said frames and each defining a longitudinal groove, and a wiper blade disposed in each said clamping plate groove;

said main frame being generally U-shaped in transverse cross section having spaced sidewalls and a web interconnecting said sidewalls, said frame having a plurality of elongated vent holes disposed longitudinally therealong in said web, a bevel strip extending obliquely from said main frame to a region below each vent hole, each of said intermediate frames having a main frame connecting portion located midway between the ends thereof, and a unitary hook member at the rear end thereof with two parallel grooves formed therein, each of said end frames having an intermediate frame connecting portion located midway between the ends thereof, unitary hook members disposed at each end of said end frames with each hook member having two parallel grooves respectively formed therein, and a stop plate vertically extending downward from said first end of each end frame;

said adapter comprising an elongated rectangular plate having an upper and a lower surface and having a front, central and a rear portion, front and rear clamping jaws depending respectively from the front and rear portions of the lower surface, a pair of flexible connecting members being mutually spaced apart and depending from the central portion of the lower surface of said adapter, said members each defining a semi-cylindrical portion which cooperate together to form a bore extending laterally and a strip depends from one of said members;

said connector comprising a hollow housing and a resilient elongated, U-shaped square tube member coupled together, said housing having an arcuate front end and an open rear end, said arcuate front end having a pivot pin extending outwardly from at a side thereof to a free end, said pivot pin having an annular groove adjacent the free end thereof;

said main frame web having a central opening therein and first and second mutually spaced cross bars extending therein between said side walls and a central aperture being formed in said side walls between said cross bars, and first and second stop plates extending between said side walls below said aperture, said adapter being received in the central opening of said main frame with said jaws engaging said cross bars and said bore formed by said semi-cylinders in registration with the central aperture in said side walls and the depending strip extending downwardly between said first and second stop plates, said pivot pin being received through said central apertures extending through said side walls and through the bore in said connecting members, said pin being retained by engagement with said connecting members;

the open rear end of said housing mounting an elongated spring plate with a hook portion on a free end thereof engaging said U-shaped tube member, one end of said tube member being received in said housing through the open rear end; and

said wiper drive arm being coupled to the end of said U-shaped tube member opposite the end received in the open end of said housing which is retained therein by said hook.

2. The double-bladed windshield wiper of claim 1, wherein said wiper drive arm has a flat connecting end received in said U-shaped tube member.

3. The double-bladed windshield wiper of claim 2 further comprising screw fastener means for fastening said drive arm with said U-shaped tube member.

4. The double-bladed windshield wiper of claim 1 wherein said main frame ends are respectively connected to said main frame connecting portion of said intermediate frames and the first end of each intermediate frame is connected to the connecting portion of the corresponding end frame so that said wiper blade assembly is slightly curved whereby the two opposite ends of each elongated clamping plate are inserted in the grooves of said intermediate frames and said end frames to hold said two wiper blades.

5. The double-bladed windshield wiper of claim 1 wherein said pivot pin on said housing has an annular groove and said connecting members engage the annular groove of said pin to firmly secure said wiper drive arm to said blade assembly.