Abstract:
An adaptor assembly kit for connecting a wiper arm to a wiper blade includes a housing that is removably mounted to the wiper blade, and a plurality of uniquely structured adapting members. The adapting members are removably and interchangeably mounted to the housing and engage a wiper arm. Depending on a structure of the wiper arm, an adapting member designed to accommodate the structure of the wiper arm is selected from the plurality of adapting members, is mounted to the housing, and is coupled to the wiper arm.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/498,960, filed on Aug. 4, 2006 and entitled “Windshield Wiper Bridge Base Assembly,” the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Wiper arms for different car models generally have different configurations. The front ends of the wiper arms may include a hook, a pin, a flat plate, or a U-shaped housing, etc. for engaging a wiper blade. The wiper blade may include a connecting device that is adapted for only a specific type of wiper arm. Due to the different configurations of the wiper arms and the connecting devices, it generally requires a huge stock of different connecting devices for the different wiper arms. Moreover, mounting current commercial connecting devices to the wiper blades in the marketplace is time consuming. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    Accordingly, an adaptor assembly kit for connecting a wiper arm to a wiper blade includes a housing that is removably mounted to the wiper blade, and a plurality of uniquely structured adapting members. The adapting members are removably and interchangeably mounted to the housing and engage a wiper arm. Depending on a structure of the wiper arm, an adapting member designed to accommodate the structure of the wiper arm is selected from the plurality of adapting members, is mounted to the housing, and is coupled to the wiper arm. 
         [0004]    In other features, a wiper blade assembly includes a support element, a rubber strip attached to the support element, a bridge base secured to the support element, a housing removably mounted to the bridge base in a snap-on relationship, and a plurality of interchangeable adapting members removably mounted to the housing. Each of the adapting members has a different structure for engaging wiper arms of different configurations. 
         [0005]    Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. It should be understood that the description and specific examples are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. 
     
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
         [0006]    The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way. 
           [0007]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a wiper blade and a bridge base in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure; 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the bridge base of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of an assembled wiper blade and the bridge base; 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a wiper blade assembly in accordance with the first embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  a perspective view of a wiper arm of the wiper blade assembly of the first embodiment; 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of an adaptor assembly of the first embodiment, showing the adaptor assembly in a closed position; 
           [0013]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of an adaptor assembly of the first embodiment, showing the adaptor assembly in an open position; 
           [0014]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of an adaptor assembly of the first embodiment, wherein the cover is removed for clarity; 
           [0015]      FIG. 9  is a top perspective view of an adapting member of an adaptor assembly of the first embodiment; 
           [0016]      FIG. 10  is a bottom perspective view of an adapting member of an adaptor assembly of the first embodiment; 
           [0017]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a lower housing of an adaptor assembly of the first embodiment; 
           [0018]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a cover of an adaptor assembly of the first embodiment; 
           [0019]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view of a wiper arm and an adaptor assembly of the first embodiment, showing the cover in an open position; 
           [0020]      FIG. 14  is a bottom perspective view of a wiper blade assembly in accordance with a first embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0021]      FIG. 15  is an enlarged view of portion A of  FIG. 14 ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 16  is a perspective view of a wiper blade assembly in accordance with a second embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0023]      FIG. 17  is a perspective view of a wiper arm of a wiper blade assembly of the second embodiment; 
           [0024]      FIG. 18  is a perspective view of an adaptor assembly of the second embodiment; 
           [0025]      FIG. 19  is perspective view of an adapting member of an adaptor assembly of the second embodiment; 
           [0026]      FIG. 20  is another perspective view of an adapting member of an adaptor assembly of the second embodiment; 
           [0027]      FIG. 21  is a bottom perspective view of an adapting member of an adaptor assembly of the second embodiment; 
           [0028]      FIG. 22  is an enlarged view of portion B of the adapting member of  FIG. 20 ; 
           [0029]      FIG. 23  is a cut-away view showing the engagement between an adapting member and the wiper arm of the second embodiment; 
           [0030]      FIG. 24  is a view showing the engagement between the wiper arm and the adapting member of the second embodiment; 
           [0031]      FIG. 25  is a perspective view of an adaptor assembly in accordance with a third embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0032]      FIG. 26  is a perspective view of a wiper arm used in the third embodiment; 
           [0033]      FIG. 27  is a top view of an adapting member of the third embodiment; 
           [0034]      FIG. 28  is a cross-sectional view of the adapting member of the third embodiment, taken along line A-A of  FIG. 27 ; 
           [0035]      FIG. 29  is a view illustrating steps of assembling a wiper arm to a wiper blade using an adaptor assembly of the third embodiment; 
           [0036]      FIG. 30  is a top perspective view of a lower housing of the fourth embodiment; 
           [0037]      FIG. 31  is bottom perspective view of a lower housing of the fourth embodiment; 
           [0038]      FIG. 32  is an exploded view of an adaptor assembly in accordance with a fifth embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0039]      FIG. 33  is a perspective view of a lower housing in accordance with a sixth embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0040]      FIG. 34  is a side view of a lower housing of the sixth embodiment; 
           [0041]      FIG. 35  is a front view of a lower housing of the sixth embodiment; 
           [0042]      FIG. 36  is an enlarged view of portion A of  FIG. 35 ; 
           [0043]      FIG. 37  is a view showing steps of mounting an adapting member to a lower housing of the sixth embodiment; 
           [0044]      FIG. 38  is a view showing different shapes of a slot of a lower housing of the sixth embodiment; 
           [0045]      FIG. 39  is a cross-sectional view of an adapting member in accordance with a seventh embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0046]      FIG. 40  is a perspective view of a wiper blade assembly in accordance with an eighth embodiment of the present disclosure; and 
           [0047]      FIG. 41  shows a plurality of adaptors that include a sound-verification feature; 
           [0048]      FIG. 42  shows steps of assembling an adaptor to a wiper blade frame to generate an audible sound; 
           [0049]      FIG. 43  is a perspective view of wiper blade components that incorporate a sound-verification feature; and 
           [0050]      FIG. 44  is a schematic cross-sectional view of an adaptor and a housing. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0051]    The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, application, or uses. It should be understood that throughout the drawings, corresponding reference numerals indicate like or corresponding parts and features. 
         [0052]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 3 , a wiper blade  10  includes an elongated metal support element  12  and a rubber strip  14  attached to the metal support element  12 . The metal support element  12  has a one-piece metal structure and defines a longitudinal slot  16  ( FIG. 3 ). The rubber strip  14  is inserted in the longitudinal slot  16  and is attached to the support element  12 . A bridge base  18  is secured to the wiper blade  10  as a unit. The bridge base  18  includes side rails  11  disposed on longitudinal edges of the support element  12 . The side rails  11  each include a positioning part  15  and a securing part  17 . The positioning parts  15  extend downwardly from the side rails  11  and are inserted into a corresponding one of positioning holes  19  of the support element  12 . The securing parts  17  abut against a bottom surface  13  of the support element  12 . The side rails  11  include side surfaces  26 . Four extension arms  21  extend upwardly from the side rails  11 . The side rails  11  are connected by curved cross members  24 . 
       First Embodiment 
       [0053]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , a wiper blade assembly  30  in accordance with a first embodiment of the present disclosure includes the wiper blade  10 , a wiper arm  32 , and an adaptor assembly  34  that connects the wiper arm  32  to the wiper blade  10 . Only a portion of the wiper arm  32  is shown in the drawings. As shown in  FIG. 5 , the wiper arm  32  includes an elongated arm portion  36  and a front end  37 . A circular pin  39  and an L-shape flat pin  40  extend laterally from the front end  37  of the wiper arm  32 . The L-shape flat pin  40  includes a bent portion  41  at its free end. 
         [0054]    As shown in  FIGS. 6 to 12 , the adaptor assembly  34  includes three components: a lower housing  42 , an adapting member  44  and a cover  46 . The lower housing  42  has a U-shaped base  47  and a flange  52  extending perpendicularly from the U-shaped base  47  ( FIG. 11 ). The U-shaped base  47  includes two side walls  48  and a top wall  50  connecting and disposed between the side walls  48 . The lower housing  42  is mounted on the bridge base  18  in a snap-on relationship. As such, the side walls  48  of the lower housing  42  engage the side surfaces  26  of the bridge base  18 . The bridge base  18  is received in the receiving space  49  of the U-shaped lower housing  42 . The flange  52  includes a pair of extensions  53 . A slot  54  is formed between the extensions  53 . A pair of deflectable arms  55  are provided in the slot  54  to improve engagement between a tubular structure  56  of the adapting member  44  and the flange  52  of the lower housing  42 . 
         [0055]    The adapting member  44  has a substantially planar top surface  63  and a tubular structure  56  extending transversely of the longitudinal direction of the wiper blade  10 . The adapting member  44  is mounted to the lower housing  42  through engagement between the tubular structure  56  and the slot  54 . The tubular structure  56  has a hole  58  for receiving the circular pin  39  of the wiper arm  32 . A pair of pin holes  60  are formed at side surfaces  61  at each longitudinal end of the adapting member  44 . A pair of locking recess  62  are formed on the top surface  63 . 
         [0056]    The cover  46  has a front end  64  and a rear end  66 . The front end  64  has a U-shaped structure defining two side walls  68 . A protrusion  71  is formed at the inner surface of each side wall  68 . The front end  64  of the upper cover  46  is pivotably mounted to the adapting member  44  through engagement between the protrusions  71  of the cover  46  and the locking recesses  62  of the adapting member  44 . 
         [0057]    The rear end  66  also has a U-shaped structure defining two side walls  70 . The rear end  66  is wider than the front end  64 . The rear end  66  includes a protrusion  72  extending downwardly from the top surface for engaging an adjacent one of the locking recess  62  on the top surface  63  of the adapting member  44 . 
         [0058]    When the cover  46  is in the closed position as shown in  FIG. 6 , the flat surface  63  of the adapting member  44  and the cover  46  defines a space therebetween for receiving the L-shaped pin  40  of the wiper arm  32 . When assembled, the wiper arm  32  and the wiper blade  10  are disposed side by side. The wiper arm  32  is disposed adjacent to one of the side surfaces  61  of the adapting member  44  and one of the side walls  48  of the lower housing  42 . The L-shape flat pin  40  and the circular pin  39  extending transversely of the wiper blade  10 . The bent end  41  is disposed adjacent to the other one of the side surfaces  61  of the adapting member  44  and the other one of the side walls  48  of the lower housing  42 . 
         [0059]    Referring to  FIG. 13 , to assemble the wiper arm  32  to the wiper blade  10 , the adaptor assembly  34  is mounted on the bridge base  18  in a snap-on relationship. Next, the cover  46  of the adaptor assembly  34  is pivoted to expose the adapting member  44 . The wiper arm  32  is then assembled to the adaptor assembly  34  by inserting the circular pin  39  of the wiper arm  32  into the hole  58  of the adapting member  44  at an angle relative to the adapting member  44 . 
         [0060]    As shown in  FIGS. 14 and 15 , after the circular pin  39  is inserted, the wiper arm  32  is pivoted so that the L-shaped flat pin  40  contacts the top surface  63  of the adapting member  44  with the bent end  41  of the L-shaped flat pin  40  disposed adjacent to the side surface  61  of the adapting member  44  and the side wall  48  of the lower housing  42  distal of the arm portion  36  of the wiper arm  32 . The bent end  41  is spaced apart from the side surface  61  of the adapting member  44  and the side wall  48  of the lower housing  42  by a gap G. 
         [0061]    After the wiper arm  32  is in place, the cover  46  is pivoted toward the top surface  63  of the adapting member  44  to cover the L-shaped flat pin  40 . The cover  46  is locked on the adapting member  44  through the engagement between the protrusion  72  of the cover  46  and the recess  62  of the adapting member  44 . 
         [0062]    It is understood and appreciated that the cover  46  may be locked on the adapting member  44  by other means. For example, the cover  46  may be locked to the adapting member  44  by friction engagement between the side wall  68  of the cover  46  and the side surface  61  of the adapting member  44 . Alternatively, the protrusion  72  may be formed at the side wall  68  of the cover  46  and the recess  62  may be formed at the side surface  61  of the adapting member  44   
       Second Embodiment 
       [0063]    Referring to  FIG. 16 , a wiper blade assembly  80  in accordance with a second embodiment of the present disclosure includes a wiper blade  10 , a bridge base  18 , a wiper arm  82 , and an adaptor assembly  84  for connecting the wiper arm  82  to the bridge base  18 . Only a portion of the wiper arm  82  is shown in the drawings. As shown in  FIG. 17 , the wiper arm  82  includes a U-shaped housing  85  having a top surface  86 , a pair of side walls  88  and a protrusion  90  at a front edge. 
         [0064]    Referring to  FIGS. 18 through 22 , the adaptor assembly  84  has two components: a lower housing  42  and an adapting member  91  pivotably mounted on the lower housing  42 . The lower housing  42  of the second embodiment is the same as that described in the first embodiment and is mounted on the bridge base  18  in the same manner as described in the first embodiment. The adapting member  91  engages the wiper arm  82  to secure the wiper arm  82  to the wiper blade  10 . 
         [0065]    The adapting member  91  includes a front end  92 , a main body  94  and a rear end  96 . A recess  93  is formed between the front end  92  and the main body  94 . A pin  98  is formed at a bottom side of the main body  94 . The rear end  96  includes two side ear portions  99  each defining a slot  95 . A deflectable finger  97  in the form of a cantilever beam extends from the ear portion  99  and is disposed in the slot  95 . 
         [0066]    Referring to  FIGS. 23 and 24 , to assemble the wiper arm  82  to the wiper blade  10 , the adaptor assembly  84  is mounted to the bridge base  18  in a snap-on relationship. The wiper arm  82  is attached to the adaptor assembly  84  by first inserting the protrusion  90  of the wiper arm  82  into the recess  93  of the adaptor assembly  84  at an angle relative to the adaptor assembly  84 . The wiper arm  82  is then pivoted down around the protrusion  90  so that the side walls  88  of the wiper arm  82  can be received in the slots  95  of the adapting member  91 . As the wiper arm  82  is pivoted down, the side walls  88  of the wiper arm  82  push the deflectable fingers  97  against a rear wall  89  from which the deflectable fingers  97  extend. When the side walls  88  of the wiper arm  82  are completely received in the slots  95 , the biasing force F of the deflectable fingers  97  pushes the side walls  88  of the wiper arm  82  against the front end  92  of the adapting member  91 . As such, the wiper arm  82  is secured and located between the front end  92  and the deflectable fingers  97 . 
       Third Embodiment 
       [0067]    Referring to  FIGS. 25 to 28 , an adaptor assembly  101  in accordance with a third embodiment of the present disclosure includes a lower housing  42  and an adapting member  100  pivotably mounted on the lower housing  42 . The lower housing  42  is the same as those described in the first and the second embodiments and is mounted to a bridge base  18  in the same manner as previously described. As shown in  FIG. 26 , a wiper arm  160  suitable for the adaptor assembly  101  includes a U-shaped housing  162 , a pair of side walls  163 , an opening  165  on a top surface  168 , and a front flat edge  170 . 
         [0068]    The adapting member  100  includes a front end  102  and main body  104 . A shoulder  106  is defined between the front end  102  and the main body  104 . The main body  104  has a substantially U-shaped configuration and includes two side walls  105  and a U-shaped receiving space  112 . A deflectable arm  108  is formed on the top surface of the main body  104 . A protrusion  110  is formed on a free end of the deflectable arm  108 . A pivot pin  114  is formed transversely in the U-shaped receiving space  112  and can be inserted into the slot  54  of the lower housing  42  so that the adapting member  100  is pivotably mounted on the lower housing  42  through the engagement between the pivot pin  114  and the slot  54 . 
         [0069]    Referring to  FIG. 29 , to assemble the wiper arm  160  to the adaptor assembly  101  of the third embodiment, the front edge  170  of the wiper arm  160  engages the shoulder  106  of the adapting member  100 . The main body  104  of the adapting member  100  is received in the hollow space defined by the U-shaped housing  162  of the wiper arm  160 . When the wiper arm  160  is positioned in place, the protrusion  110  on the deflectable arm  108  is inserted into the opening  165  of the wiper arm  160  to secure the wiper arm  160  to the adaptor assembly. 
       Fourth Embodiment 
       [0070]    Referring to  FIGS. 30 and 31 , a modified lower housing  120  of the fourth embodiment includes a U-shaped portion  122  and a flange  124  on the U-shaped portion  122 . The lower housing  120  is similar to the lower housing  42  of the first to third embodiment, differing in the flange  124 . The flange  124  has a tapered structure and includes two thinner portions  126  at longitudinal ends and a thicker portion  128  in the middle portion. A pin-receiving slot  130  is formed in the thicker portion  128 . With this design, the pin-receiving slot  130  is spaced from the top surface  132  of the U-shaped portion  122  by a larger distance. Therefore, the modified lower housing  120  allows the adapting members  91 ,  100  of the second and third embodiments to have a higher degree of pivoting motion. The lower housing  120  of the present embodiment can be used with the adapting member  44  of the first embodiment. 
       Fifth Embodiment 
       [0071]    Referring to  FIG. 32 , an adaptor assembly  151  of the fifth embodiment includes a lower housing  140  and an adapting member  150 . The adaptor assembly  151  of this embodiment is similar to that of the adaptor assembly of the third embodiment, differing in the position of the pin and the slot. In this embodiment, the pin is provided at the lower housing  140  and the slot for receiving the pin is formed at the adapting member  150 . 
         [0072]    More specifically, the lower housing  140  of the present embodiment includes a U-shaped portion  142  and a flange  144 . A pair of pivot pins  146  extend laterally from the flange  144  in opposite directions. The adapting member  150  includes a recess  148  formed on each of the side walls  152  for receiving a pair of pivot pins  146  of the lower housing  140 . 
       Sixth Embodiment 
       [0073]    Referring to  FIGS. 33 to 35 , a lower housing  160  of the sixth embodiment may be used with any of the adapting members  44 ,  91 ,  100  previously described in the first to third embodiments. The lower housing  160  is similar to the lower housing previously described except that the lower housing  160  includes protective covers for spoilers, a sound-verification feature, and a positioning feature. The lower housing  160  includes a U-shaped base  162 , a flange  164  extending upwardly from a top surface  166  of the U-shaped base  162 , and a pair of protective covers  168  provided at longitudinal ends of the U-shaped base  162 . 
         [0074]    The protective covers  168  have a profile conforming to a cross-sectional profile of spoilers (not shown) mounted between longitudinal ends of the support element and the longitudinal ends of the lower housing  160 . The spoilers are generally mounted to the support element for deflecting wind to reduce wind resistance during wiping. The protective covers  168  have a triangle-like shape, each having a first side  171  to be disposed adjacent to a wind deflection surface of the spoilers and a second side  172  opposite to the first side  171 . When the lower housing  160  is mounted on the bridge base, a portion of the spoilers is received in the protective covers  168 . As such, the protective covers  168  prevent dust or foreign substances from entering the gaps that may be formed between an adaptor assembly and the spoilers if the protective covers are not provided. In addition, the protective covers  158  may further secure the spoilers to the support element. 
         [0075]    The flange  164  includes a sound verification feature. The flange  164  has an upper surface  174  and a slot  176  extending from the upper surface  174  to the upper surface  166  of the U-shape base  162 . The upper surface  174  of the flange  164  has a recess  178  at one side of the slot  176 . 
         [0076]    As shown in  FIG. 36 , the slot  176  has a circular surface  180  adjacent to the U-shape base  162  and two chamfered surfaces  182  that connect the circular surface  180  to the upper surface  174  of the flange  164 . The circular surface  180  defines a circular opening  186 . The chamfered surfaces  182  define a widening opening  188  having a trapezoid shape. A narrowed portion  190  is formed at the junction of the chamfered surfaces  182  and the circular surface  180 . The narrowed portion  190  defines a narrowed passage  191  that has a width W 1 . The circular opening  186  is an enlarged opening compared with the narrowed passage  191 . 
         [0077]    As shown in  FIG. 37 , a tubular pin  192  of an adapting member  194  can be easily inserted into the widening opening  188  of the slot  176 . The adapting member  194  is shown for illustrative purposes and may have a structure similar to any of those in the embodiments previously described. 
         [0078]    The tubular pin  192  has a thin wall  196  and a hollow space  198  surrounded by the thin wall  196 . The tubular pin  192  has an outside diameter slightly smaller than the inside diameter of the circular opening  186  and larger than the width W 1  of the narrowed passage  191 . 
         [0079]    As the tubular pin  192  passes through the narrowed passage  191  that is smaller than the outside diameter of the tubular pin  192 , the tubular pin  192  can be compressed and deformed by the narrowed portion  190  due to its thin-walled structure. When the tubular pin  192  is received in the circular opening  184  (i.e., an enlarged opening), the compressed and deformed tubular pin  192  quickly return to its original, non-compressed, non-deformed position due to its own flexibility. The quick expansion of the tubular pin results in the tubular pin clashing against the circular surface  180  to generate an audible sound, for example, a click sound. 
         [0080]    The enlarged opening does not have to be circular or have a shape conforming to the shape of the tubular pin. Any opening that has a portion slightly larger than the tubular pin to allow a quick expansion of the tubular pin is within the meaning of the “enlarged opening.” 
         [0081]    For example, referring to  FIG. 38 , the slot may be shaped differently than that shown in  FIG. 37 . A click sound can be generated if the slot has a narrowed passage  200 ,  202 ,  204 ,  206 ,  208  smaller than the outside diameter of the tubular pin and an enlarged opening  210 ,  212 ,  214 ,  216 ,  218  slightly larger than the outside diameter of the tubular pin. The tubular pin is compressed and deformed as it passes through the narrowed passage  200 ,  202 ,  204 ,  206 ,  208 . The enlarged opening  210 ,  212 ,  214 ,  216 ,  218  allows the tubular pin to quickly return to its originally non-compressed and non-deformed position when the tubular pin is received in the enlarged opening  210 ,  212 ,  214 ,  216 ,  218 . 
         [0082]    Referring back to  FIG. 33  and  FIG. 37 , the lower housing  160  has a positioning feature for positioning the lower housing  160  relative to the adapting member  194 . Due to the provision of the protective covers  168  for spoilers, the lower housing  160  should be oriented to make the first sides  171  of the protective covers  168  facing away the windshield to perform the wind deflection function. The adapting member  194  of  FIG. 37  is shown to have a projection  220  provided at one side of the tubular pin  192 . When the adapting member  194  is mounted to the lower housing  160 , the lower housing  160  must be oriented to have the recess  178  at the same side as the projection  220 . Therefore, the positioning feature that includes the recess  178  and the projection  220  ensures that the lower housing  160  is properly oriented to have the first sides  171  of the protective covers  168  facing the wind flow direction. The proper positioning of the lower housing  160  also ensures proper orientation of the spoilers. 
       Seventh Embodiment 
       [0083]    Referring to  FIG. 39 , an adapting member  230  is shown to have a structure similar to that described in the second embodiment except for a positioning feature. The adapting member  230  includes a tubular pin  232  to be inserted into the slot of the lower housing as shown in  FIG. 33 . A projection  234  is formed at one side of the tubular pin  232 .  FIG. 39  shows that the positioning feature previously described can be implemented in any of the adapting members in the embodiments previously described. 
         [0084]    The different adaptor assemblies for different wiper arms in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure can be mounted to the wiper blade by using a common bridge base and a common lower housing. To mount a specific type of wiper arm, only the adapting member adapted for the specific wiper arm needs to be changed. Therefore, the adaptor assemblies of the present disclosure allow for a quick connection between the wiper arm and the adaptor assemblies while reducing the costs of having to stock many different adaptor assemblies. 
       Eighth Embodiment 
       [0085]    Referring to  FIG. 40 , the sound verification feature described in connection with  FIGS. 36 to 38  can be incorporated in other wiper blade components. For example, the sound verification feature can be incorporated in a wiper blade frame  250  and an adaptor  252 . The wiper blade frame  250  includes a pin member  254 . The adaptor  252  includes a slot portion  256 . The adaptor  252  is mounted to the wiper blade frame  250  by inserting the pin member  254  into the slot portion  256 . The structures of the wiper blade frame  250 , the adaptor  252 , and their engagement is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,332,236, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The detailed description thereof is omitted for clarity. 
         [0086]    Referring to  FIG. 41 , the adaptor for the wiper blade frame  250  may have a variety of forms  253 - 1 ,  253 - 2 ,  253 - 3 ,  253 - 4 ,  253 - 5 ,  253 - 6  depending on the structures of the wiper blade frame  250  and the wiper arms to be mounted to the adaptor. The adaptors  253 - 1 ,  253 - 2 ,  253 - 3 ,  253 - 4 ,  253 - 5 ,  253 - 6  each include a slot portion  256 . The slot portion  256  defines a circular opening  258  and a narrowed passage  260 . The pin member  254  may have a structure similar to that of the tubular pin  192  of  FIG. 37  and may include a thin-wall tubular body having an outside diameter slightly smaller than the inside diameter of a circular opening  258  and larger than the narrowed passage  260 . 
         [0087]    If the pin member  254  is made more flexible than the slot portion  256 , the pin member  254  may be deformed when the pin member  254  is inserted into the slot portion  256 . As the pin member  254  is inserted into the slot portion  254  and passes through the narrowed passage  260 , the thin wall of the pin member  254  is compressed and deformed by the narrowed passage  260 . When the pin member  254  is moved from the narrowed passage  260  to the circular opening  258  (which is an enlarged opening relative to the narrowed passage  260 ), the pin member  254 , which is in a compressed and deformed state, quickly return to its original, non-compressed, non-deformed state due to material flexibility of the pin member  254 . The quick movement of the pin member  254  results in the pin member  254  clashing against the circular surface that defines the circular opening  258  to generate an audible sound, for example, a click sound. 
         [0088]    Alternatively, referring to  FIG. 42 , the pin member  254  may be a solid pin. The slot portion  256  may be made to be more flexible than the pin member  254  by using a more flexible material and by forming a thin-wall structure  262  at one or two sides of the narrowed passage  260 . As the pin member  254  passes through the narrowed passage  260  of the slot portion  256 , the thin-wall structure  262  adjacent to the narrowed passage  260  is deformed and/or moved away from the pin member  254 , as indicated by arrows B. When the pin member  254  is moved from the narrowed passage  260  to the circular opening  258 , the thin-wall structure  262  quickly returns to its original position, resulting in the thin-wall structure  262  clashing against the pin member  254  to generate an audible sound. The thin-wall structure  262  is properly configured and its material is properly selected so that the thin-wall structure  262  can quickly return to its original position to clash against the pin member  254  to generate the audible sound. The audible sound helps verify a complete connection between the adaptor and the wiper blade frame. 
         [0089]    Referring to  FIGS. 43 and 44 , the sound verification feature can be used in connecting the adaptor  272  to an adaptor housing  274 . The adaptor  272  has a structure similar to those shown in  FIGS. 40-42  and is mounted in the adaptor housing  274  by inserting a pin member  276  of the housing  272  into the slot portion  278  of the adaptor  270 . 
         [0090]    It is understood and appreciated that the sound verification feature is not limited to the embodiments described herein and is not limited to a pin-and-slot arrangement. The sound verification feature can be applied to engagement between any two wiper blade components, including but not limited to, an adaptor, a wiper arm, an adaptor housing, a bridge base, a wiper blade support element, a wiper blade frame. Connecting two wiper blade components with the sound verification feature can be achieved by properly selecting the materials of the two components and by properly configuring the engaging members of the two wiper blade components. The engaging member of one of the wiper blade components is deformed or deflected during engaging process and is allowed to “quickly” return to its non-deformed, non-deflected state to clash against the engaging member of the other one of the wiper blade components. The sound verification feature facilitates assembling of the wiper blade components. 
         [0091]    This description is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the disclosure are intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure. Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiments of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of this disclosure.