Adapter for side hook arm

An adapter for a windshield wiper assembly includes a hooking portion adapted to receive a hook of a wiper aim, an attaching portion adapted to be connected to a wiper, and a connection portion attached to the hooking portion and the attaching portion at opposite ends. The hooking portion and the attaching portion are positioned in a side-by-side configuration and are parallel to each other.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

Embodiments of the invention are directed generally to adapters for a windshield wiper arm. More particularly, the embodiments of the invention are directed to adapters configured to cooperate with one or more windshield wiper aim having a side hook design.

2. Discussion of the Related Art

Various types of windshield wiper arms are available which utilize respective adapters for connection of windshield wiper assemblies to the windshield wiper arms, respectively. Thus, a particular adapter may be usable with a particular type of windshield wiper arm.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide adapters usable with different windshield wiper arms of windshield wiper assemblies.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, an adapter for a windshield wiper assembly includes a hooking portion adapted to receive a hook of a wiper arm, an attaching portion adapted to be connected to a wiper, and a connection portion attached to the hooking portion and the attaching portion at opposite ends. The hooking portion and the attaching portion are positioned in a side-by-side configuration and are parallel to each other.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, example embodiments of this invention will be described in detail with reference toFIGS. 1-6. Like reference numerals designate like elements throughout the specification. The drawings show several views of an adapter, and also show several views of the adapter and a windshield wiper aim in an attached configuration. The adapter has a first portion that receives or cooperates with a windshield wiper arm and a second portion that extend from the first portion. The first portion has one or more locks that are arranged, and/or has one or more lock releases that are also arranged. The windshield wiper arm may be a side hook design, and may be a 9×3 hook or a 9×4 hook. The adapter is usable with either a right or left hand drive seat automobile.

FIG. 1shows a perspective view of the adapter.FIG. 2shows another perspective view of the adapter from a different angle, and shows locks and/or lock releases.FIG. 3shows a perspective view from a bottom angle.FIG. 4shows a perspective view of the adapter cooperating with a 9×4 hook.FIG. 5shows a perspective view of the adapter cooperating with a 9×3 hook. FIG.6shows a perspective view of the adapter cooperating with a hook of a windshield wiper arm, and having the locks and/or lock releases.

InFIG. 1, shown is an adapter according to an embodiment of the invention. InFIG. 1, the adapter100includes a hooking portion200, an attaching portion300, and a connecting portion400. The attaching portion300is connected to the hooking portion200via the connecting portion400, and is a portion that is configured to be attached to a bracket of a windshield wiper blade. The attaching portion300and the hooking portion200are separated by a gap402. The attaching portion300includes a main body310formed of a pair of main walls311, a pair of lateral walls312, a top surface313, and corners314. The main walls311are formed perpendicular to the top surface313, and in turn, the side walls312are formed perpendicular to both the main walls311and the top surface313. Accordingly, the main walls311, the side walls312and the top surface313form a shell.

In the embodiments of the invention, the corners314are shown as being rounded, but in other embodiments of the invention, the corners314may be sharp or with edges. The main body also includes a pair of recess flanges320that define a recess321having a receiving slot322. The receiving slot322may be rounded, and the recess321may have a flared opening. Disposed between the respective recess flanges320and the main wall311are slits323that allow for the recess flanges320to bend outward. The recess flanges320, the recess321, and the slits323extend perpendicularly from the top surface313. Accordingly, the recess flanges320, the recess321, and the slits323are generally parallel. The main body310is generally symmetrical about a middle portion of the main body310where the recess321is located.

FIG. 2shows another perspective view of the adapter according to an embodiment of the invention from a different angle. The hooking portion200includes a body210formed of side plates211, and a connector220formed in between the side plates211and connecting the side plates211. The hooking portion200further includes lower locks230and upper locks260. The body210has a first portion212and a second portion213that are generally symmetrical about a middle portion of the body210where the lower locks230and the upper locks260are located. The pair of side plates211extend parallel to each other.

The connector220has rounded portions221, a surface222, and apertures223. The apertures223are disposed between the rounded portions221and the surface222.

The connecting portion400is attached to one of the plates211of the hooking portion200and to one of the main walls311of the attaching portion310. A surface401of the connecting portion400extends between the one of the plates211and the one of the main walls311.

In embodiments of the invention, the hooking portion200and the attaching portion300are positioned in a side-by-side configuration and are parallel to each other.

FIG. 3shows a perspective view from a bottom angle of the adapter according to an embodiment of the invention. As shown inFIG. 3, the hooking portion200includes lower locks230extending through holes in one of the plates211. The lower locks230are connected to pedals232through arms231. The pedals232are attached to wings236. The pedals232include first stoppers235. In turn, the wings236are also attached to vanes233that are attached to the plates211, whereby slits234separate the vanes233from the pedals232.

The arms231are parallel to each other, and are also parallel to the wings236. The pedals232are parallel to each other, and are also parallel to the vanes233and the slits234. Accordingly, the aims231are perpendicular to the pedals232, the vanes233, and the slits234. The first stoppers235have ramp shapes, and have bases that are attached to the pedals232. The first stoppers235have inclined surfaces that extend away from the surfaces of the pedals232. As shown inFIG. 3, the lower locks230are disposed below the connector220. Support bars240are formed on one of the side plates211.

In embodiments of the invention, the upper locks260are connected to surfaces (or wings)226in a similar manner as the connection between the lower locks230to the wings236.

As also shown inFIG. 3, the attaching portion300includes outer walls315and inner walls316. InFIG. 3, alignment of the recess flanges320are shown. For example, the recess flanges are parallel to each other, and a pair of recess flanges320that are aligned from one later side to an opposite later side of the attaching portion300are parallel to the inner walls316. In view ofFIG. 1, the outer walls315include the main walls311and the side walls312. Accordingly, the inner walls are disposed between the recess flanges320and the side walls312.

Also, as shown inFIG. 3, the hooking portion200and the attaching portion300are parallel to each other. Moreover, the hooking portion200and the attaching portion300are together symmetrical about an axis that extends from the lower locks to the recess321.

FIG. 4shows a perspective view of the adapter according to an embodiment of the invention cooperating with a 9×4 hook. First,FIG. 4shows the hooking portion200with various hole and recess configurations in one of the side plates211. The side plate211includes a first hole250, a second hole251, a third hole252, and a fourth hole253. Also, the side plate211has a first recess255, a second recess256, a first extension255and a second extension257. As shown inFIG. 4, each of the first, second, third and fourth holes250,251,252and253, each of the first and second recesses255,256, and each of the first and second extensions255,257have a symmetrical counterpart about a beam258.

As shown inFIG. 4, a hook600may be engaged to the hooking portion200, so that the hook600grabs the connector220. Also, the attaching portion300may be engaged to a bracket500of a windshield wiper blade. Accordingly, the hook600is attached to the bracket500through the adapter100. InFIG. 4, shown is a 9×4 hook.

On the other hand, as shown inFIG. 5, a hook700may be engaged to the hooking portion200, so that the hook700grabs the connector220. Also, the attaching portion300may be engaged to a bracket500of a windshield wiper blade. Accordingly, the hook700is attached to the bracket500through the adapter100. InFIG. 5, shown is a 9×3 hook.

FIG. 6shows a view of the adapter according to an embodiment of the invention cooperating with a hook of a windshield wiper arm. In particular,FIG. 6shows a cross sectional view of the hooking portion200and the hook600. The cross sectional view of the hooking portion200reveals inner details of the connector220. For example, the connector220includes lower surfaces (or wings)226and second stoppers225. The second stoppers225have ramp shapes, and have bases that are attached to the lower surfaces226. The second stoppers225have inclined surfaces that extend away from the lower surfaces226.

When the hooking portion200and the hook600are engaged, an end601of the hook600becomes wedged between two first stoppers235, and at least one of the first stoppers235rests within an aperture602of the hook600. To release the end601of the hook600from the two first stoppers235, the lower locks230may be urged upward so that the first stoppers235will move out of the way of the end601of the hook600.

Alternatively, when the hooking portion200and the hook700are engaged, an end of the hook700may become wedged between the two second stoppers225. To release the end of the hook700from the two second stoppers255, the upper locks260may be urged upward so that the second stoppers235will move out of the way of the end of the hook700.

The invention thus being described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. For example, an upper surface of each side wall of the bracket may have a notch formed therein if necessary to accommodate various adapters. 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 within the scope of the following claims.