Patent ID: 8261403
Filing Date: 2012-09-11
Classification: B60S

Abstract:
1. A coupler assembly for use in connecting a beam blade wiper assembly to different wiper arm attachment members, said coupler assembly comprising: a coupler that is adapted to operatively attach to a beam blade wiper assembly, said coupler having a trailing portion and a leading portion that includes a merging surface to integrate said leading portion with said trailing portion, said trailing portion including a first panel the extends vertically from said merging surface, a second panel that is aligned with respect to said first panel and at least one brace as well as a cross member that extends between said first and second panels, said first and second panels cooperating with said brace to define a corridor; and an adapter that is removably attached to said coupler within said corridor, said adapter includes a pair of sidewalls, each having a nock including an arcuate rest and at least one locking member that releasably engages said cross member, each of said sidewalls further having a notch aligned with respect to each other, said adapter further including a land extending between said sidewalls cooperating to define a channel therebetween, said adapter further including a cantilevered beam extending between said sidewalls in parallel relation to said land and 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 at least one style of a first hook-type wiper arm attachment member, 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 at least one style of a second hook-type wiper arm attachment member, and said 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 notches 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 adapted to operatively receive at least one style bayonet-type wiper arm attachment member.