Multifunction wiper blade connector and assembly

• US 8,341,799 B2
• Filed: 07/08/2010
• Issued: 01/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Federal-Mogul, LLC (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Federal-Mogul Corporation (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Koppen, Scott Allen, Boland, Xavier
• Primary Examiner(s): Glessner, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): MAESTRI, PATRICK J
• Application Number:
  US12/832,134
• Publication Number:
  US 20110005020A1
• Time in Patent Office: 908 Days
• Field of Search: 152/503.2, 152/503.51, 152/503.61, 152/502.01, 152/504.3, 152/504.4, 152/504.6, 403/3, 403/4, 403/321
• 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 1/4038 for arms provided with a channel-shaped end
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/4074 with means provided on the blade for locking the side pin
• 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

Abstract

A universal connector (100) is adapted to connect a wiper blade assembly (20, 102) with a variety of wiper arm ends (300, 302, 304, 306, 308, 310, 312, 314, 316). In order to connect side pin type wiper arm ends (302, 304, 306), the connector includes a pin hole (216) having a figure “8” shape defined by larger and smaller overlapping lobes (218, 220). A flexible tongue (222) carried by the connector (100) includes a pair of scalloped pawls (224, 226) aligned with the respective larger and smaller lobes (218, 220) so as to engage either a ¼″ or 3/16″ wiper arm side pin (302-306). In order to connect wiper arm ends having hook slots (310, 312, 314 316), the connector (100) includes a generally planar upper landing (204), a generally planar lower return (206), and a forward nose profile (208). Sides (210) include cantilevered extensions (212) projecting beyond the nose profile (208) and which carry a pair of 9×4 stops (214) set below the plane of the lower return (206) by a clearance gap. When assembling a 9×3 hook end (316), the 9×4 stop (214) is bypassed entirely due to the clearance gap. However, when a 9×4 hook arm (310, 312, 314) is used, the 9×4 stops (214) retain the hook arm (310, 312, 314) in position.

Claims

1. A connector (100) for joining a wiper blade (20, 102) to any one of various style wiper arm ends (302, 304, 308, 310, 312, 314, 316), said connector (100) comprising:

a central body section (200), said central body section (200) including a rivet-receiving socket (202), a generally planar upper landing (204), a generally planar lower return (206) and a forward nose profile (208) extending between said upper landing (204) and said lower return (206);

a pair of sides (210) interconnected by said central body section (200) on respective inside faces thereof, said sides (210) including cantilevered extensions (212) projecting beyond said nose profile (208);

a 9×

4 stop (214) disposed on the inside face of the cantilevered extension (212) of at least one said side (210) and set below the plane of said lower return (206) by a clearance gap;

each side (210) further including a transversely extending pin hole (216) adapted to receive wiper arm side pins (302, 304) of different diameters; and

a flexible tongue (222) extending from said central body section (200) and disposed between said sides (210), said tongue (222) including at least one pawl (224, 226) disposed generally between said pin holes (216) for engaging a wiper arm side pin (302, 304) and a tooth (318) for engaging a din slot (320) recess in a wiper arm hook (316) wherein said pin hole (216) has a generally figure “

8”

shape defined by a larger lobe (218) and an overlapping smaller lobe (220).

2. The connector (100) of claim 1, wherein said clearance gap is greater than or equal to 3 mm and less than 4 mm.

3. The connector (100) of claim 1, wherein each said lobe (218, 220) has an inner circumference greater than 180 degrees.

4. The connector (100) of claim 1, wherein at least one of said sides (210) includes a 9×

4 support rail (228) disposed on the inside face thereof and set below the plane of said lower return (206) by said clearance gap.

5. The connector (100) of claim 1, wherein said at least one pawl (224, 226) of said flexible tongue (222) comprises a pair of scalloped pawls (224, 226).

6. The connector (100) of claim 1, further including a rear 9×

4 rest (322) spaced from said central body section (200) and interconnecting said sides (210).

7. The connector (100) of claim 1, further including a straight arm slot (324) spaced from said central body section (200) and interconnecting said sides (210).

10. The wiper assembly (20, 102) of claim 1, wherein each said lobe (218, 200) has an inner circumference greater than 180 degrees.

8. A connector (100) for joining a wiper blade (20, 102) to any one of various style wiper arm ends (302, 304, 308, 310, 312, 314, 316), said connector (100) comprising:

a central body section (200), said central body section (200) including a rivet-receiving socket (202), a generally planar upper landing (204), a generally planar lower return (206) and a forward nose profile (208) extending between said upper landing (204) and said lower return (206);

a pair of sides (210) interconnected by said central body section (200) on respective inside faces thereof, said sides (210) including cantilevered extensions (212) projecting beyond said nose profile (208);

a 9×

4 stop (214) disposed on the inside face of the cantilevered extension (212) of at least one of said sides (210) and set below the plane of said lower return (206) by a clearance gap greater than or equal to 3 mm and less than 4 mm;

each side (210) further including a pin hole (216) having a larger lobe (218) and an overlapping smaller lobe (220);

at least one of said sides (210) including a 9×

4 support rail (228) disposed on the inside face thereof and set below the plane of said lower return (206) by said clearance gap;

a flexible tongue (222) extending from said central body section (200) and disposed between said sides (210), said tongue (222) including at least one pawl (224, 226) disposed generally between said pin holes (216) in said sides (210);

said tongue (222) further including a tooth (318) opposite said at least one pawl (224, 226); and

a rear 9×

4 rest (322) spaced from said central body section (200 and interconnecting said sides (210), and a straight arm slot (324).

9. A wiper assembly (20, 102) for accommodating any one of various size side-pin style wiper arms (300, 302, 304, 306), said assembly comprising:

a wiper blade (20, 102) including a wiping element (22) and a bridge portion (36, 54, 104), the bridge portion providing a point of connection to an oscillating wiper arm, the bridge portion including a pair of spaced-apart ears (58), a rivet (78) extending transversely between said ears (58), at least one through-hole (80) offset from said rivet (78) and extending in aligned fashion through said pair of ears (58);

a wiper arm having a free swinging end, said free end including a transversely extending side pin (302, 304, 306);

a connector (100) for interconnecting said bridge portion (36, 54, 104) of said wiper blade (20, 102) to said side pin (304, 302) of said wiper arm;

said connector (100) including a central body section (200) having a rivet-receiving socket (202) and a pair of sides (210) interconnected by said central body section (200) on respective inside faces thereof;

each side (210) including a transversely extending pin hole (216) adapted to receive wiper arm side pins (302, 304, 306) of different diameters; and

said connector (100) further including a flexible tongue (222) extending from said central body section (200) and disposed between said sides (210), said tongue (222) including at least one pawl (224, 226) disposed generally between said pin holes (216) for engaging a wiper arm side pin (302, 304, 306) in locked engagement to be retained against disconnection from said wiper blade (20, 102) wherein said pin hole (216) has a generally figure “

8”

shape defined by a larger lobe (218) and an overlapping smaller lobe (220).

11. The wiper assembly (20, 102) of claim 9, wherein at least one pawl (224, 226) of said flexible tongue (222) comprises a pair of scalloped pawls (224, 226).

12. The wiper assembly (20, 102) of claim 9, wherein said connector (100) further includes:

a generally planar upper landing (204), a generally planar lower return (206) and a forward nose profile (208) extending between said upper landing (204) and said lower return (206);

said connector (100) including a pair of sides (210) interconnected by said central body section (200) on respective inside faces thereof, said sides (210) including cantilevered extensions (212) projecting beyond said nose profile (208);

a 9×

4 stop (214) disposed on the inside face of the cantilevered extension (212) of at least one said side (210) and set below the plane of said lower return (206) by a clearance gap; and

said tongue (222) including a tooth (318).

13. A wiper arm assembly (20, 102) for alternatively accommodating 9×

3 (316) and 9×

4 (310, 312, 314) hook style wiper arms, said assembly comprising;

a wiper blade (20, 102) including a wiping element (22) and a bridge portion (36, 54, 104), the bridge portion providing a point of connection to an oscillating wiper arm, the bridge portion including a pair of spaced-apart ears (58), a rivet (78) extending transversely between said ears (58), at least one through-hole (80) offset from said rivet and extending in aligned fashion through said pair of ears (58);

a wiper arm having a free swinging end, said free end including a hook formation (310, 312, 314, 316) comprising either a smaller 9×

3 style (316) or a larger 9×

4 style (310, 312, 314);

a connector (100) for interconnecting said bridge portion (36, 54, 104) of said wiper blade (20, 102) to said hook formation (310, 312, 314, 316) of said wiper arm;

said connector (100) including a central body section (200), said central body section (200) including a rivet-receiving socket (202), a generally planar upper landing (204), a generally planar lower return (206) and a forward nose profile (208) extending between said upper landing and said lower return (206);

said connector (100) including a pair of sides (210) interconnected by said central body section (200) on respective inside faces thereof, said sides (210) including cantilevered extensions (212) projecting beyond said nose profile (208);

a 9×

4 stop (214) disposed on the inside face of the cantilevered extension (212) of at least one said side (210) and set below the plane of said lower return (206) by a clearance gap; and

a flexible tongue (222) extending from said central body section (200) and disposed between said sides (210), said tongue (222) including a tooth (318) for engaging a din slot recess (320) in said 9×

3 wiper arm hook (316) each side (210) further including a transversely extending pin hole (216) adapted to receive wiper arm side pins (302, 304) of different diameters;

wherein said pin hole (216) has a generally figure “

8”

shape defined by a larger lobe (218) and an overlapping smaller lobe (220).

14. The wiper assembly (20, 102) of claim 13, wherein said clearance gap is greater than or equal to 3 mm and less than 4 mm.

15. The wiper assembly (20, 102) of claim 13, wherein at least one of said sides (210) includes a 9×

4 support rail (228) disposed on the inside face thereof and set below the plane of said lower return (206) by said clearance gap.

16. The wiper assembly (20, 102) of claim 13, further including a rear 9×

4 rest (322) spaced from said central body (200) section and interconnecting said sides (210).

17. The wiper assembly (20, 102) of claim 13, further including a straight arm slot (324).

18. The wiper assembly (20, 102) of claim 13, wherein said connector (100) further includes a transversely extending pin hole (216) in each said side (210) adapted to receive wiper arm side pins (302, 304, 306) of different diameters;

and said flexible tongue (222) includes at least one pawl (224, 226) disposed generally between said pin holes (216).