BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the construction of a windshield wiper frame and connector and more particularly, to an improved wiper arm and blade unit connector assembly for windshield wipers, whereby the wiper frame accommodates a versatile connector in a manner that permits easy assembly and replacement of the wiper arm.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Various types of windshield wiper arm and blade unit connectors for a windshield wiper assembly are well known. Such windshield wiper frame connectors include a pair of apertured ears pivotally connected to a pin of the pin type wiper arm. However, such prior art wiper frame connectors are costly to manufacture and difficult to assemble with the wiper arm and the blade unit due to their complicated structure. Furthermore, such prior art connectors are incapable of receiving the widely used hook type arm of the windshield wiper assembly that restricts their use in many applicable circumstances.
Conventionally, the windshield wiper frame connector 1 as shown in FIG. 1 is equipped with first, second, and third slots 2, 3, and 4 and an L-shaped recess 5 for receiving both the hook type arm and the pin type arm. However, the windshield wiper frame connector 1 suffers from a number of problems. For example, the difference in depth between the first slot 2 of a pin of the blade unit and the second slot of a rolled bushing of the pin type arm causes instability when the pin type arm is connected to the wiper frame connector 1. Moreover, receiving the hook type arm lacks any locking members that would securely lock the hook type arm to the wiper frame connector. The body 6 of such a wiper frame connector 1 uses much material and is heavy in weight. These characteristics and above stated problems are disadvantages in achieving an efficient and economical windshield wiper assembly.
The windshield wiper frame connector shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 accommodates different size wiper arms. The wiper assembly of this patent suffers from serious drawbacks inherent in the wiper frame structure that prevent proper assembly and disassembly of hook-type wiper arms from the wiper frame and the adaptor.
Other adaptor and wiper frame connector assemblies that accommodate certain bayonet and hook style wipe arms; however, these assemblies cannot accommodate all the necessary connector types required for modern vehicles.
The need therefore exists for an improved versatile windshield wiper frame and adaptor assembly that is easy to assemble and disassemble, particularly for unique hook-type wiper arms.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an improved windshield wiper bridge and connector assembly for use in a windshield wiper assembly for motor vehicles, that improves the assembly process when compared to the prior art designs. The adaptor is capable of connection to male pin and female wiper arms, straight and two-hole bayonet arms, regular and large hook arms, as well as reverse hook arms. A guide bar provides a stable connection for both large hook-type and reverse hook-type connector arms.
The present invention further provides a windshield wiper bridge design wherein a cutout portion is provided in the lower edge of each bridge member in order to facilitate removal of the hook-type wiper arm when it is affixed to the wiper adaptor.
Other objects and further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. It should be understood, however, that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present invention, and wherein:
FIG. 1 shows the conventional wiper frame connector;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a prior art windshield wiper frame connector for a hook type wiper arm;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a prior art windshield wiper frame connector for a pin type wiper arm;
FIG. 4 is a top elevational view of the wiper adaptor according to a preferred embodiment of this invention;
FIG. 5 is a side view of the wiper adaptor of FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the wiper adaptor of FIG. 4 and partial view of the wiper frame;
FIG. 7 is a back view of the adaptor of FIG. 4;
FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of the wiper adaptor of FIGS. 4-7 with hidden lines showing additional features;
FIG. 9 is an enlarged partial bottom view of the rear portion of the adaptor of FIG. 4 showing the cantilevered release tab and guide bar;
FIG. 10 is an enlarged partial bottom view of the front portion of the wiper adaptor of FIG. 4 showing the retention tabs;
FIG. 11 is a cross sectional view taken along line XI-XI of FIG. 4.
FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the hook-type wiper arm being engaged/disengaged from the wiper blade assembly and adaptor.
FIG. 13 is a side view showing the main bridge curve or cutout in the middle portion of the wiper frame and the adaptor as disposed during the assembly/disassembly stage.
FIG. 14 is the adaptor having the retention tabs disposed on the wing portion of the sidewalls being spread apart as during the assembly/disassembly stage.
FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the adaptor with an adaptor pin mounted therein.
FIG. 16 shows the adaptor used in conjunction with a regular hook type arm.
FIG. 17 shows the adaptor used in conjunction with a large hook type arm.
FIG. 18 shows the adaptor from a bottom perspective.
FIG. 19 shows the adaptor used in conjunction with a reverse hook type arm.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring now to the drawings illustrating preferred embodiments of the present invention, the windshield wiper frame adaptor 10 is designed to be connected to any one of a hook type wiper arm 100 (FIG. 2), a pin type wiper arm 200 (FIG. 3), or a bayonet type wiper arm (not shown). With reference to FIGS. 4 and 6, the adaptor 10 snugly fits between the sidewalls 12c of the wiper frame 12, and it snaps in connecting relation onto the transverse pin 12b. In this manner, the suitable blade unit 12 may be installed as a windshield wiper assembly for a variety of motor vehicles as exemplified by FIGS. 2 and 3.
As shown in FIGS. 4-11, the connector or adaptor 10 comprises a main body member 10a, a pair of sidewalls 1, and a first slot 13 and a second slot 15 disposed in the lower portion of the main body member 10a.
A channel 3 is formed and defined between the sidewalls 1 to accommodate a hook type wiper arm 100. Hook arms 100 of different width may be accommodated within or on top of the channel 3.
The sidewalls 1 each have a wing portion 4 extending forwardly. Two pairs of retention tabs 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d are formed on the inner surface of each of the wing portions 4. Retention tabs 5a, 5b associated with one of sidewalls each extend more inwardly than a corresponding opposite retention tab 5c, 5d. Such an arrangement has been shown to provide a dramatic improvement in the ease of installation and removal of hook type wiper arms.
A transverse notch 6 (See FIG. 5) is formed in each of the sidewalls 1 to promote flexure of the wiper adaptor. In the preferred embodiment, the transverse notch 6 extends downward from a top portion of each sidewall. Such an arrangement particularly provides proper flexure when the wiper adaptor is attached to a pin type wiper arm.
Each of the sidewalls 1 has an external surface with raised bearing surfaces 7 (See FIGS. 5 and 14) which bearing directly against the inner surface of the sidewalls 12c of the wiper frame 12 (See FIG. 6). Such raised bearing surfaces 7 are preferably arranged to define recessed radial channels 8. The recessed radial channels 8 provide space for foreign material such as grease and dirt thereby promoting free rotation of the wiper adaptor when pressed between the sidewalls 12c and onto the transverse portion or pin 12b of the main bridge of the wiper blade.
The wiper blade has a bayonet retention bore 9a passing through a top wall 9 to receive an extended portion of the bayonet type wiper arm. FIGS. 5, 6, 7, 9 and 14 show a cantilevered release tab 11 extending from the rear portion of the main body portion 10a. Referring to FIG. 14, a channel 12 is defined between the cantilevered release tab 111 and the bayonet retention top wall 9 to retain the bayonet type wiper arm. The release tab 11 extends substantially more rearwardly than the bayonet retention top wall 9 to facilitate easy removal of the bayonet arm. The release tab 11 is simply depressed at the groove terminal end of the tab 11 such that the release tab deflects downwardly sufficient to allow the extended portion of the bayonet arm to be removed from the bore 9. Such an arrangement has been shown to ease installation and removal of the bayonet arm.
A first slot 13, preferably a keyhole slot, is provided in a lower portion of the wiper adaptor for rotatably receiving and retaining the transverse pin 12b formed on the wiper blade unit. A second slot 15 is also provided in the lower portion of the wiper adaptor adjacent the first slot 13. The second slot 15 is adapted to receive and retain a pin of the pin type wiper arm. (See FIG. 15). A raised arc surface is also provided. In the preferred embodiment, the second slot 15 and the raised arc surface have dimensions to enable respective retention of ¼ inch and 3/16 inch diameter pin arms.
As seen in FIGS. 12 and 13, in order to remove the hook type wiper arm from the wiper frame, the wiper frame must be rotated to an angle of about 45 to 90 degrees from the hook type wiper arm. The wing portions 4 sidewalls 1 are then spread apart and the hook type wiper arm is released from the retention tabs 5a, 5c. FIG. 10 shows the direction of spread (direction A) for the wing portions 4. To facilitate removal of the hook type wiper arm from the wiper frame, the main bridge of the wiper frame is provided with a cutout or curve 12a as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13. With the cutout or curve 12a, the sidewalls 1 may be easily spread apart without interference or hindrance from the side frame members of the wiper frame 12; thereby permitting the hook-type wiper arm to be released from the retention tabs 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d. The exterior surfaces of the sidewalls 1 of the adaptor 10 maintain a snug-fit relation with the inner surface of the wiper frame sidewalls 12c (See FIG. 6). Therefore, without the cutout or main bride curve 12a, the sidewalls 1 are maintained in an evenly spaced relation and, as a result, the hook type wiper arm cannot effectively be removed from the wiper frame, i.e. they are effectively blocked by the retention tabs.
As a result of the cutout portion 12a, the wing portions 4 and associated retention tabs 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d are permitted to spread to the disengaged state while the adaptor 10 is still affixed to the transverse pin 12b of the wiper frame 12. This improvement is accomplished by the structural and spatial interrelation of the adaptor 10 and the cutout portion 12a formed in the wiper frame 12 (See FIGS. 12 and 13). The prior art designs did not permit efficient and effective removal of the hook-type wiper arm, and as a result, the defective prior art design caused adaptor breakage and wiper failure.
It is noted that the cutout portion 12a is slightly offset from the longitudinal mid-point of the wiper frame in order to align the cutout portion 12a with the wing portions 4 when the adaptor 10 is rotated to approximately 45-90 degrees with respect to the wiper frame (See FIG. 13).
FIG. 16 shows the adaptor 10 used in conjunction with a regular hook type arm 100′ whereby the regular hook type arm 100′ abuts one angled surface of the retaining ridges or tabs 5a, 5c at the apex of the curved portion of the hook arm 100′.
FIG. 17 shows the adaptor 10 used in conjunction with a large hook type arm 100″ whereby the large hook type arm 100″ abuts the peak of the retaining ridges or tabs 5a, 5c. For the sake of stability, the apex of the curved portion of the hook arm 100″ abuts the surface of the wedged shaped surface 5a′ and the end of the large hook arm 100″ rests against the guide bar 16. (see FIGS. 6, 9, 11 and 17). The wedge-shaped surface 5a′ is a sloped surface that defines a raised ridge as shown in the partial view shown in FIG. 18, and the guide bar 16 is a transverse bridge that stabilizes the large hook arm 100″.
FIG. 19 shows the adaptor 10 used in conjunction with a reverse hook type arm 100′″ whereby the reverse hook type arm 100′″ abuts the peak of the retaining ridges or tabs 5a, 5c. Like the large hook arm 100″, the apex of the curved portion of the reverse hook arm 100′″ abuts the surface of the wedged shaped surface 5a′ and the straight section of the hook arm 100′″ rests against the guide bar 16. (see FIG. 19).
Accordingly, the wiper frame connector 10 of the present invention can be easily used as an adaptor for the blade unit 12 to connect to the regular and large hook type wiper arm 11, conventional pin type wiper arms, conventional bayonet type wiper arms or the reverse hook type wiper arm 100′″ shown in FIG. 19. Furthermore, the wiper arms are tightly and securely connected to the blade unit 12 so that the wiper connector 10 of the present invention achieves an effective connecting operation and improves the wiping performance of the windshield wiper assembly a well as its operational lifetime.
From the invention described above, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included in the scope of the following claims.
Patent Application
20070017054
