Patent ID: 9731685
Date: 2017-08-15
CPC Classifications: B60S

Claim:
1. A windshield wiper assembly adapted to be mounted to the attachment portion of a wiper arm that imparts reciprocal motion to the windshield wiper assembly across a surface to be wiped, said windshield wiper assembly comprising: a wiper blade adapted to contact the surface to be wiped; a coupler assembly operatively mounted to said wiper blade and serving to interconnect said wiper blade to the wiper arm; said coupler assembly including a coupler having a body defining a retainer, said body including a pair of sidewalls, a channel defined between said sidewalls and extending substantially parallel thereto, said channel adapted to cooperatively receive the attachment portion of the wiper arm; and a latching mechanism operatively mounted to said body and moveable between an open position spaced from said channel and a closed position disposed over said channel to secure the attachment portion of the wiper arm between said latching mechanism and said body thereby securing said coupler to the attachment portion of the wiper arm, said latching mechanism including a locking member, said locking member serving to secure said latching mechanism in said closed position; said latching mechanism defining a top wall and a pair of sidewalls depending therefrom, said locking member includes a pair of flexible arms interconnected by a cross member, each of said pair of flexible arms having a first portion extending cantilevered from said sidewalls in a first direction, and a second portion spaced from said first portion extending in a direction opposite said first portion and terminating in said cross member, a hinge portion interconnecting each of the first and second portions such that said second portions flex upon coming in contact with said retainer to move toward said first portion until engaging said retainer and locking said latching mechanism in said closed position.