Windshield wiper connector

• US 10,166,951 B2
• Filed: 03/17/2014
• Issued: 01/01/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pylon Manufacturing Corporation (Qualitor Component Holdings LLC)
• Original Assignee: Pylon Manufacturing Corporation (Qualitor Component Holdings LLC)
• Inventors: Kawashima, Hiroshi, Peers, Robert Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Jennings, Michael
• Application Number:
  US14/216,082
• Publication Number:
  US 20140283325A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,751 Days
• Field of Search: 1525032, 1525044, 1525043
• 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 2001/4012 the element being provided with bearing surfaces on its side walls
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 2001/4025 the element being able to receive pivot pins of different diameters

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.

Claims

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 together with the bridge defining an upper channel oriented in a longitudinal direction, the upper channel having an entry end and a curved end opposite the entry end;

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;

a reinforcement element provided on at least one of the first or second side walls proximate to the upper channel, the reinforcement element including at least one resilient tab provided on the inner side of the reinforcement element within the upper channel; and

a support element extending from each of the first and second side walls in order to support an extension of the bridge and upper channel.

2. The connector of claim 1, wherein the reinforcement element includes an upward extension of at least one of the first and second walls thereby increasing the height of the upper channel.

3. The connector of claim 2, wherein at least a portion of the reinforcement element bends into the upper channel.

4. The connector of claim 1, wherein the reinforcement element includes an outward extension which projects in a lateral direction away from the upper channel.

5. The connector of claim 1, wherein the reinforcement element includes an overhang portion which extends over the upper channel thereby covering at least a portion of the upper channel.

6. The connector of claim 1, wherein the reinforcement element is provided on both first and second side walls.

7. The connector of claim 1, wherein the support element is an integral extension of the first and second side walls.

8. The connector of claim 1, wherein the support element is truss member.

9. The connector of claim 1, further comprising a lateral brace between the first and second side walls.

10. The connector of claim 1, further comprising a pin passage formed into the first and second side walls adjacent to the rivet passage, the pin passage dimensioned to accept and hold a pin of the wiper arm in order to connect the wiper arm with the connector.

11. The connector of claim 10, further comprising a clip including a resilient clip end extending into the pin passage in order to define at least a portion of the pin passage.

12. The connector of claim 11, wherein the clip further including a upper channel portion which at least partially defines the upper channel as substantially co-planar with the bridge.

13. The connector of claim 1, further comprising a lower channel formed between the first and second side walls below the upper channel, the lower channel dimensioned to receive the end of a hook of the wiper arm, the upper channel and lower channel thereby mutually dimensioned to accept and hold the hook of the wiper arm in order to connect the wiper arm with the connector.

14. The connector of claim 1, wherein the support element is provided proximate to the entry end.

15. The connector of claim 14, wherein the support element is a truss member.

16. The connector of claim 14, wherein a first portion of the bridge and upper channel defined proximate to the entry end is angled with respect to a second portion of the bridge and upper channel defined proximate to the curved end.

17. The connector of claim 14, further comprising a pair of wings, each wing projecting from one of the side walls proximate to the curved end, and each wing projecting beyond the bridge in the longitudinal direction.

18. A wiper blade comprising:

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 oriented in a longitudinal direction, the upper channel having an entry end and a curved end opposite the entry end;

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;

a reinforcement element provided on at least one of the first or second side walls proximate to the upper channel, the reinforcement element including at least one resilient tab provided on the inner side of the reinforcement element within the upper channel; and

a support element extending from each of the first and second side walls in order to support an extension of the bridge and upper channel.

19. A wiper blade comprising:

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 at a distance from each other and connected by a bridge, the first and second side walls together with the bridge defining an upper channel oriented in a longitudinal direction, the upper channel having an entry end and a curved end opposite the entry end;

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;

a reinforcement element provided on at least one of the first or second side walls proximate to the upper channel; and

a support element provided proximate to the entry end and extending from each of the first and second side walls in order to support an extension of the bridge and upper channel,

wherein a first portion of the bridge and upper channel defined proximate to the entry end is angled with respect to a second portion of the bridge and upper channel defined proximate to the curved end, and

wherein at least two resilient tabs are provided on the inner side of the reinforcement element within the upper channel, at least one tab provided on the first portion of the bridge and at least one tab provided on the second portion of the bridge.

20. 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 together with the bridge defining an upper channel oriented in a longitudinal direction, the upper channel having an entry end and a curved end opposite the entry end;

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;

a reinforcement element provided on at least one of the first or second side walls proximate to the upper channel; and

a support element provided proximate to the entry end and extending from each of the first and second side walls in order to support an extension of the bridge and upper channel,

wherein a first portion of the bridge and upper channel defined proximate to the entry end is angled with respect to a second portion of the bridge and upper channel defined proximate to the curved end, and

wherein at least two resilient tabs are provided on the inner side of the reinforcement element within the upper channel, at least one tab provided on the first portion of the bridge and at least one tab provided on the second portion of the bridge.