Windshield wiper connector

A connector assembly and wiper blade incorporating same having a base connector, having two longitudinal side walls, a first and second end, and a top surface extending therebetween, wherein the top surface has a pair of cantilevered beams, each provided with a locking tab, extending from a central portion towards each respective end of the base connector. The locking tabs are capable of engaging and securing an aperture in cap or wiper arm. The base connector further has a central recessed portion capable of receiving and securing a top wall of a side adapter. The base connector may further include a base support structure capable of securing the base connector to a wiper blade.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates in general to windshield wipers, and more particularly, to an improved connector for a windshield wiper that allows the windshield wiper to be attached to a top-lock windshield wiper arm. The invention is also directed to windshield wipers incorporating these novel connectors.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

There are a variety of wiper arms on which wiper blades are provided as original equipment. These various wiper arms have hooks, pins, or other configurations which may connect to the wiper blade with or without connectors. These various configurations have created a problem in the replacement market because wiper blade providers are required to have multiple wiper blade configurations to accommodate all of the existing wiper arms. It is therefore advantageous to have attachment structures that can accommodate a host of arms to reduce the complexity and cost associated with this problem.

The need to attach replacement windshield wiper blades to multiple arms has been addressed to some degree. For example, windshield wiper blades have been designed to work with various hook-type wiper arms having different sizes. Connectors may also be configured to receive either a pin-type arm or a hook arm. While these connectors may increase the usefulness of a given windshield wiper such that it can be used with different wiper arm types, the connectors are often expensive and have a complicated structure that is difficult and time-consuming to manufacture

Thus, there is a need for inexpensive connectors that are capable of securing a windshield wiper blade to a variety of arms. It would also be desirable to have a windshield wiper connector that can be fabricated or molded as a single piece at low-cost, and that can accommodate a variety of wiper arms. The disclosed concepts provide a low-cost windshield wiper connector capable of attachment to a variety of windshield wiper arms for the purpose of reducing the amounts of inventory parts required to supply a vehicle market that uses a wide variety of windshield wiper arm types.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

The following presents a simplified summary of the disclosure in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the invention. This summary is not an extensive overview of every embodiment disclosed herein. It is intended to neither identify key or critical elements of the various embodiments nor delineate the scope of the disclosure. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts of the disclosure, in accordance with the various embodiments disclosed herein, in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.

This disclosure is generally directed to novel connectors for windshield wiper blades. In certain embodiments, a connector assembly includes a base connector having two longitudinal side walls, a first and second end, and a top surface extending therebetween, wherein the top surface has a pair of cantilevered beams, each provided with a locking tab, extending from a central portion towards each respective end of the base connector. The locking tabs are capable of engaging and securing an aperture in cap or wiper arm. The base connector further has a central recessed portion capable of receiving and securing a top wall of a side adapter. The base connector may further include a base support structure capable of securing the base connector to a wiper blade. The disclosure is also directed to wiper blades incorporating the connector assemblies described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

The following detailed description and the appended drawings describe and illustrate some embodiments of the disclosure for the purpose of enabling one of ordinary skill in the relevant art to make and use these embodiments. As such, the detailed description and illustration of these embodiments are purely illustrative in nature and are in no way intended to limit the scope of the disclosure in any manner. It should also be understood that the drawings are not necessarily to scale and in certain instances details may have been omitted, which are not necessary for an understanding of the embodiments, such as details of fabrication and assembly. In the accompanying drawings, like numerals represent like components.

In this document, the terms “a” or “an” are used, as is common in patent documents, to include one or more than one. In this document, the term “or” is used to refer to a nonexclusive or, unless otherwise indicated. Furthermore, references to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” are not intended to be interpreted as explicitly excluding the existence of additional embodiments that also incorporate the recited features. Moreover, unless explicitly stated to the contrary, embodiments “comprising,” “including,” or “having” an element or a plurality of elements having a particular property may include additional such elements not having that property.

This disclosure is generally directed to novel connectors for windshield wiper blades. In certain embodiments, a connector assembly may have a base connector, having two longitudinal side walls, a first and second end, and a top surface extending therebetween. The top surface may have a pair of cantilevered beams, each provided with a locking tab, extending from a central portion towards each respective end of the base connector. The locking tabs may be capable of engaging and securing an aperture in cap or wiper arm. The base connector further may have a central recessed portion capable of receiving and securing a top wall of a side adapter. The base connector may further include a base support structure capable of securing the base connector to a wiper blade. The invention is also directed to wiper blades incorporating the connector assemblies described herein.

In certain embodiments, the side walls of the base connector may include rests which are capable of supporting a wiper arm when the connector assembly is secured to a wiper arm. In certain embodiments, the side walls may also have an extended portion such that the base connector has a greater width (i.e. distance between the side walls) at one end than at the other end. In certain embodiments, the base connector may further have wings along side at least one of the cantilevered beams, such that grooves are formed between the wings and the cantilevered beams.

In certain embodiments, the base connector may further have a bottom support structure that comprises internal side walls having arcuate rivet clips that are capable of securing the rivet of a mounting base of a wiper blade. In certain embodiments, the bottom support structure may further have transverse lateral walls which extend between and connect the internal side walls.

In certain embodiments, the base connector may further have a cavity provided with projections that are capable of engaging and securing recesses in flaps of a side adapter. In certain embodiments, the side walls may further have a bottom recesses that are capable of receiving and securing a bottom projection in a side adapter.

In certain embodiments, the connector assembly may further be provided with a side adapter having a top portion and a side wall. In certain embodiments, the top portion may be provided with flaps having recesses which are capable of engaging the projections in the cavity of the base connector. In certain embodiments, the side adapter may further have a side wall with a bottom projection which engages the bottom recess of the base connector. In certain embodiments, the side adapter may further have a rest which abuts the rest of at least one of the side walls of the base connector, and which is capable of supporting a wiper arm when the connector assembly connects to a wiper arm.

In certain embodiments, the connector assembly may also be provided with a cap having an aperture which can engage and secure one of the locking tabs of the base connector. In certain embodiments, the cap may further have channeling ribs which slidably engage the groove between the cantilevered beam and the wings on one of the ends of the base connector. In certain embodiments, the cap may further have claws which engage the bottom of the side walls of the base connector. In certain embodiments, the cap may further have spacers which maintain a gap between the cap and the ends of the wings or top surface of the base connector.

In certain embodiments, the connector may further include a cap having an aperture which can engage and secure at least one of the locking tabs of the base connector. In certain embodiments, the cap may further include channeling ribs which slidably engage the groove between the cantilevered beam and the wings on one of the ends of the base connector. In certain embodiments, the cap may further include claws which engage the bottom of the side walls of the base connector. In certain embodiments, the cap may further include spacers which maintain a gap between the cap and the ends of the wings or top surface of the base connector.

In certain embodiments, a wiper blade assembly may include a wiper strip, a force distribution structure, and a connector assembly. The connector assembly may include a base connector, having two longitudinal side walls, a first and second end, and a top surface extending therebetween. The top surface may include a pair of cantilevered beams, each provided with a locking tab, extending from a central portion of the top surface towards each respective end of the base connector. The locking tabs may be capable of engaging and securing an aperture in cap or wiper arm. A central recessed portion may be capable of receiving and securing a top wall of a side adapter, and a base support structure may be capable of securing the base connector to a wiper blade.

In certain embodiments the connector assembly may further include wings alongside at least one of the cantilevered beams, such that grooves are formed between the wings and the cantilevered beams. In certain embodiments, the base support structure may include internal side walls having arcuate rivet clips that are capable of securing the rivet of a mounting base of a wiper blade, and transverse lateral walls which extend between and connect the internal side walls. Certain embodiments may further include a side adapter having a top portion and a side wall; the top portion comprising flaps having recesses which are capable of engaging projections in a cavity of the base connector. In certain embodiments, the connector assembly may include a cap having an aperture which can engage and secure at least one of the locking tabs of the base connector.

FIG. 1illustrates a top perspective view of an embodiment of a connector assembly1of the disclosure. The connector assembly1may be designed to connect to numerous types of top-lock wiper arms, as shown inFIGS. 15-17. The connector assembly1may have a base connector2, a cap3, and a side adapter4.

FIGS. 2-9illustrate various views of the base connector2of the connector assembly1. The base connector2may have a first end22and a second end23. The base connector may further have a first longitudinal side wall27, and a second longitudinal side wall28. One or both of the longitudinal side walls may have an extended first portion289which extends laterally outward from the respective side wall28. A shelf29facing towards second end23may be provided between the extended first portion289and the side wall28. Shelf29may be shaped to complement the shape of the end of a wiper arm5, and the shape of the side adapter4. The side walls27,28may further be provided with rests26, which receive and support the bottom of a wiper arm5and/or a side adapter4. The side walls28may further be provided with bottom recess280which receives and secures a bottom projection480in the wall48of the side adapter4.

A top surface20may extend between opposing peripheral side walls27,28. The top surface may be provided with a pair of cantilevered beams222,232. The cantilevered beams may extend from the center portion of the base connector2towards respective first and second ends22,23. Each cantilevered beam222,232may further be provided with a locking tab221,231. The locking tabs may engage apertures31, in either the cap3or in a top-lock wiper arm5, to secure the base connector2to same. As shown inFIG. 5, the bottom of the cantilevered beams222,232may further be provided with hollowed recesses223,233underneath the locking tabs221,231. The cantilevered beams222,232may extend between wings24on either ends22,23of the base connector2. The cantilevered beams222,232may be separated from the wings24by grooves. The bottom of the cantilevered beams222,232may further be provided with reinforcing ribs224,234. Top recesses200may be provided in the top surface20of the base connector2. These top recesses200may be sized and shaped to receive a tongue (not shown) extending from a top-lock wiper arm.

The top surface20may further be provided with a central recessed portion21which may be sized and shaped to accommodate side adapter4. The central recessed portion21may further be provided with a cavity211having projections212. The cavity211may receive and secure flaps42by having the projections212engage securing recesses41in the flaps42. The projections212and securing recesses41may have complementary shapes that engage and secure one another. Persons of skill in the art will recognize that the projections and recesses may be swapped such that the projections are on the flaps42of the side adapter4, and the recesses are in the walls of the cavity211. Any other suitable method of securing the top wall40of the side adapter4to the central recessed portion21of the base connector2may also be practiced within the disclosed concepts. The central recess portion21may also be provided with notch210to facilitate the separation of the base connector2from the side adapter4via the use of a tool, or a person's finger nail.

As shown inFIG. 10, the base connector2may be mounted on and secured to the mounting base of a wiper blade6via the rivet clips201,202, or via any other known method of pivotally securing a connector to a wiper blade known in the art. The base connector2can be used to connect a wiper arm alone, or with the cap3, and/or the side adapter4. In certain embodiments, the connector assembly1or base connector2may be connected to the wiper blade6prior to connecting to the wiper arm5. In certain embodiments, the connector assembly1or base connector2may be connected to the wiper arm5prior to being connected to the wiper blade6. In certain embodiments, the connector assembly1may either be first connected to the wiper blade6or to the wiper arm5. The wiper blade6may be a traditional wiper blade having a plurality of tournament-style brackets. Alternatively the wiper blade6may be a beam blade, such that the force from the wiper arm5is distributed along the wiper blade6by one or more spring-elastic beams. Alternatively, the wiper blade6may be a hybrid blade comprising one or more spring elastic beams, and one or more brackets. Persons of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the disclosed concepts may be practiced with any wiper blade known in the art.

FIGS. 11 and 12illustrate a cap3in accordance with the disclosed concepts. The cap3may have a top surface30, a first end32and a second end33, side walls37,38, and a contoured back edge39. The side walls37,38are preferably sized and shaped to receive the first or second ends22,23of the base connector. A connector assembly1may be provided with a cap3for each end. The contoured edge39may be provided with a shape that is complementary to the shelf29of the base connector2, and may be located adjacent to same when the cap3is engaged with and secured to the base connector2.

The cap3may further be provided with an aperture31, spacers,305,35, bottom claws36, and channeling ribs301. The aperture31may receive and secure the locking tabs221,231of the base connector. The claws36may support and secure the bottoms of the longitudinal side walls27,28,289when the cap3is engaged with and secured to the base connector2. The channeling ribs301may be sized to enter and slidably engage the grooves between the cantilevered beams222,232and the wings24. The spacers35,305may be sized to leave a margin between the ends of the wings24and/or the top surface20of the base connector2.

FIGS. 13 and 14illustrate the side adapter4in accordance with the disclosed concepts. The side adapter may have a top wall, a side wall48a rest46and an end wing44. The side wall48may be provided with internal ribs45for structural strength and support, and with an internal projection480which may engage bottom recess280in a side wall28of the base connector2. One or more rests46may be provided on the bottom of side wall48, and these rests may correspond to, and be disposed adjacent to the rests26in the side walls27,28of the base connector2when the side adapter4is connected to the base connector2.

The side adapter has a top wall40having flaps42with securing recesses41. As discussed above, the securing recesses41may be sized and shaped to receive and secure projections212in the cavity211of the base connector2. The projections and securing recesses may be swapped between the cap3and the base connector2, and any other known method for securing the adapter to the base connector known in the art may be used in accordance with the disclosed concepts. The side adapter4may further be provided with a notch400that may align with the notch210in the recessed central portion21of the base connector. The notches may facilitate separation of the side adapter4from the base connector2via the use of a tool, or a person's fingernail.

FIGS. 15-17illustrate different wiper arms connecting to the connector assembly in different configurations. InFIG. 15, the base connector2, cap3, side adapter4are all used to connect to the wiper arm5, such that the wiper arm5is supported by the rests26,46of the base connector2and side adapter4, and the locking tab231of the second end23of the base connector2engages and secures an aperture in the wiper arm.FIG. 16shows a similar, but reversed, arrangement where the wiper arm5engages the locking tab221of the first end22of the base connector2, and the second end23of the base connector and wing44of the side adapter4can be seen. A cap3may be provided that can cover and secure the end of the connector assembly1in this configuration.FIG. 17shows the connector assembly1connecting to a narrower wiper arm5using only the base connector2and the cap3of the disclosed concepts. The side adapter4is removed from the connector assembly in the embodiment depicted inFIG. 17. Similarly,FIGS. 15, 16, and 17illustrate that the rests26,46in the base connector2and/or side adapter4may serve as stops which abut claws on the wiper arm5to properly position the connector assembly relative to the wiper arm5. Persons of skill in the art will recognize that the disclosed concepts can be implemented in a variety of different ways to connect to top-lock wiper arms of different shapes and sizes.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that while the invention will most likely be used in conjunction with automobiles, it is suitable for use with any vehicle. For example, in addition to automobiles, trucks, buses, locomotives, aircrafts, or any other vehicle type that uses a windshield wiper can benefit from the invention.

While specific embodiments have been discussed to illustrate the invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the descriptions herein are intended as illustrative, and not as limiting, and that variations in the embodiments can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

For example, any suitable material can be used to manufacture the connector. The number or position of the locking tabs, guide pins, or other mechanisms can vary so long as they are capable of performing their intended function.

The descriptions set forth above are meant to be illustrative and not limiting. Various modifications of the embodiments, in addition to those described herein, will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing description. Such modifications are also intended to fall within the scope of the concepts described herein. Each patent, patent application and publication cited or described in this document are hereby incorporated herein by reference, in their entireties.

The foregoing description of possible implementations consistent with the present disclosure does not represent a comprehensive list of all such implementations or all variations of the implementations described. The description of some implementation should not be construed as an intent to exclude other implementations. For example, artisans will understand how to implement the embodiments in many other ways, using equivalents and alternatives that do not depart from the scope of the disclosure. Moreover, unless indicated to the contrary in the preceding description, none of the components described in the implementations are essential to the embodiments disclosed. It is thus intended that the embodiments be considered as illustrative, with a true scope and spirit of the disclosure being indicated by the following claims.