Universal wiper adapter and wiper blade assembly incorporating same

• US 7,055,207 B2
• Filed: 08/08/2003
• Issued: 06/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trico Products Corporation (Crowne Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: Trico Products Corporation (Crowne Group LLC)
• Inventors: Coughlin, Timothy J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Graham, Gary K.
• Application Number:
  US10/637,835
• Publication Number:
  US 20050028312A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,033 Days
• Field of Search: 152/503.2, 152/504.3, 152/504.4, 152/503.51, 152/503.61, 403/3, 403/4, 403/321, 403/326, 403/329
• US Class Current: 15/250.32
• 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 1/4019 the retention means being protrusions or holes
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/4087 the end being provided with protrusions or holes
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 2001/4032 the element being able to receive arms with hooks of different radiuses
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 2001/409 characterised by the arm or connecting part mounted on the arm presenting a shaped opening for bearing the pivot axis

Abstract

The present invention relates to a universal wiper adapter for connecting a wiper blade assembly to a wiper arm including a pair of sidewalls having an aperture and a land extending between the sidewalls cooperating to define a channel. The present invention further includes a cantilevered beam, between the sidewalls, having a super-surface and a subsurface each cooperating with the sidewalls to define an elongate passage and an elongate track, respectively. The channel and the elongate passage cooperate to receive two sizes of hook-type wiper arms, while the channel and the elongate track cooperate to receive three sizes of hook-type wiper arms. The present invention also includes a substrate between the sidewalls cooperating with the land and the apertures to receive two sizes of pin-type wiper arms. The substrate further cooperates with the sidewalls and the land to define an elongate cavity to receive a bayonet-type wiper arm.

Claims

1. A universal wiper adapter for use in connecting a wiper blade assembly to a wiper arm attachment member, said wiper adapter comprising:

a pair of sidewalls each including an aperture aligned with respect to each other and a land extending between said sidewalls cooperating to define a channel therebetween;

a cantilevered beam extending between said sidewalls in spaced parallel relation to said land, said cantilevered beam including a super-surface cooperating with said sidewalls and said land to define an elongate passage, said channel and said elongate passage cooperating to operatively receive a first hook-type wiper arm attachment member of at least two different sizes, said cantilevered beam further including a sub-surface cooperating with said sidewalls to define an elongate track, said channel and said elongate track cooperating to operatively receive a second hook-type wiper arm attachment member of at least three different sizes and;

a substrate extending between said sidewalls in parallel relation to and disposed between said land and said cantilevered beam, said substrate cooperating with said land and said apertures to receive at least two different diameter pin-type wiper arm attachment members and further cooperating with said sidewalls and said land to define an elongate cavity, said substrate including at least one elevated platform disposed therein,

wherein said elongate cavity is adapted to operatively receive at least one style bayonet-type wiper arm attachment member and said land further includes a cantilevered deck adapted to move in cantilevered fashion to releasably engage a pin-type wiper arm attachment member that is inserted through said apertures and between said cantilevered deck and said substrate.

2. The universal wiper adapter as set forth in claim 1 wherein said super-surface further includes a catch adapted to operatively engage a first hook-type wiper arm attachment member and said sub-surface further includes a tab adapted to operatively engage a second hook-type wiper arm attachment member.

3. The universal wiper adapter as set forth in claim 1 wherein said cantilevered beam further includes a flanged terminal end adapted to facilitate releasable engagement of hook-type wiper arm attachment members.

4. The universal wiper adapter as set forth in claim 1 wherein said land further includes at least two shoulders traversing said channel parallel to said sidewalls, said land and said shoulders defining a groove in said land adapted to operatively receive a hook-type wiper arm attachment member.

5. The universal wiper adapter as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said sidewalls further include a nock aligned with respect to each other having a rest at their terminal end, said rest adapted to releasably engage a wiper blade assembly.

6. The universal wiper adapter as set forth in claim 5 wherein the perimeter of said sidewalls adjacent said nock define a pair of arcuate surfaces that act to operatively retain at least a portion of the curved forward end of a hook-type wiper arm attachment member therebetween.

7. The universal wiper adapter as set forth in claim 1 wherein said substrate further includes a saddle aligned with said apertures to operatively receive a pin-type wiper arm attachment member.

8. The universal wiper adapter as set forth in claim 1 wherein said substrate further includes elevated platforms disposed within said elongate cavity parallel to said sidewalls, said elevated platforms cooperating with said sidewalls and said land to operatively receive a bayonet-type wiper attachment member.

9. The universal wiper adapter as set forth in claim 1 wherein said land includes a port disposed between said shoulders to releasably engage a bayonet-type wiper arm attachment member.

10. A wiper blade assembly replacement system for use in connection with a wiper arm having any number of wiper arm attachment members comprising:

a wiper blade assembly including a wiper element, a superstructure secured to said wiper element, and a pivot pin incorporated within a substantially central portion of said superstructure;

a universal wiper adapter including a pair of sidewalls, each having a nock including a rest at a terminal end of said nock adapted to releasably engage said pivot pin, each of said sidewalls further having an aperture aligned with respect to each other, said universal wiper adapter further including a land extending between said sidewalls cooperating to define a channel therebetween, said universal wiper adapter further including a cantilevered beam extending between said sidewalls in parallel relation to said land, including a super-surface cooperating with said sidewalls and said land to define an elongate passage, said channel and said elongate passage cooperating to operatively receive a first hook-type wiper arm attachment member of at least two different sizes, said cantilevered beam further including a sub-surface cooperating with said sidewalls to define an elongate track, said channel and said elongate track cooperating to operatively receive a second hook-type wiper arm attachment member of at least three different sizes, and said universal wiper adapter further including a substrate extending between said sidewalls in parallel relation to and juxtaposed between said land and said cantilevered beam, said substrate cooperating with said land and said apertures to receive at least two different diameter pin-type wiper arm attachment members and further cooperating with said sidewalls and said land to define an elongate cavity, said substrate including at least one elevated platform disposed therein,

wherein said elongate cavity is adapted to operatively receive at least one style bayonet-type wiper arm attachment member and said land further includes a cantilevered deck adapted to move in cantilevered fashion to releasably engage a pin-type wiper arm attachment member that is inserted through said apertures and between said cantilevered deck and said substrate.

11. The universal wiper adapter as set forth in claim 10 wherein said super-surface further includes a catch adapted to operatively engage a first hook-type wiper arm attachment member and said sub-surface further includes a tab adapted to operatively engage a second hook-type wiper arm attachment member.

12. The universal wiper adapter as set forth in claim 10 wherein said cantilevered beam further includes a flanged terminal end adapted to facilitate releasable engagement of hook-type wiper arm attachment members.

13. The universal wiper adapter as set forth in claim 10 wherein said land further includes at least two shoulders traversing said channel parallel to said sidewalls, said land and said shoulders defining a groove in said land adapted to operatively receive a hook-type wiper arm attachment member.

14. The universal wiper adapter as set forth in claim 10 wherein the perimeter of said sidewalls adjacent said nock define a pair of arcuate surfaces that act to operatively retain at least a portion of the curved forward end of a hook-type wiper arm attachment member therebetween.

15. The universal wiper adapter as set forth in claim 10 wherein said substrate further includes a saddle aligned with said apertures to operatively receive a pin-type wiper arm attachment member.

16. The universal wiper adapter as set forth in claim 10 wherein said substrate further includes two elevated platforms disposed within said elongate cavity parallel to said sidewalls, said elevated platforms cooperating with said sidewalls and said land to operatively receive a bayonet-type wiper attachment member.

17. The universal wiper adapter as set forth in claim 10 wherein said land includes a port disposed between said shoulders adapted to releasably engage a bayonet-type wiper arm attachment member.

18. A windshield wiper assembly for use in connection with a wiper arm having any number of wiper arm attachment members comprising:

a wiper including a wiper element, at least one lever secured to said wiper element, and a pivot pin incorporated within a substantially central portion of said lever;

a universal wiper adapter including a pair of sidewalls, each having a nock including a rest at a terminal end of said nock adapted to releasably engage said pivot pin, each of said sidewalls further having an aperture aligned with respect to each other, said universal wiper adapter further including a land extending between said sidewalls cooperating to define a channel therebetween, said universal wiper adapter further including a cantilevered beam extending between said sidewalls in parallel relation to said land, including a super-surface cooperating with said sidewalls and said land to define an elongate passage, said channel and said elongate passage cooperating to operatively receive a first hook-type wiper arm attachment member of at least two different sizes, said cantilevered beam further including a sub-surface cooperating with said sidewalls to define an elongate track, said channel and said elongate track cooperating to operatively receive a second hook-type wiper arm attachment member of at least three different sizes, and said universal wiper adapter further including a substrate extending between said sidewalls in parallel relation to and juxtaposed between said land and said cantilevered beam, said substrate cooperating with said land and said apertures to receive at least two different diameter pin-type wiper arm attachment members and further cooperating with said sidewalls and said land to define an elongate cavity, said substrate including at least one elevated platform disposed therein,

wherein said elongate cavity is adapted to operatively receive at least one style bayonet-type wiper arm attachment member and said land further includes a cantilevered deck adapted to move in cantilevered fashion to releasably engage a pin-type wiper arm attachment member that is inserted through said apertures and between said cantilevered deck and said substrate.