Abstract:
A windshield wiper frame connector for connecting a wiper blade unit to a wiper arm incluces an elongated body member defining a longitudinal axis therealong. The body member has a pair of opposing sidewalls defining opposing inner surfaces. A connecting slot is disposed in a lower portion of the body member for rotatably receiving a transverse pin of a wiper blade unit. A hole is formed in each of the pair of opposing side walls for rotatably receiving a pin of a pin type wiper arm. An upper jam portion is disposed on a top portion of the body member for tightly and smoothly receiving a hook type wiper member. At least one space is disposed in the body member for tightly receiving outer surfaces of a first hook type wiper arm. Furthermore, a pivotable lever is provided for removably engaging the pin of the pin type wiper arm.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to a windshield wiper frame connector, which accommodates different size wiper arms. In particular, the present invention is directed to a windshield wiper frame connector which can accommodate at least three different size wiper arms 
   2. Description of Related Art 
   Various types of windshield wiper arm and blade unit connectors for a windshield wiper assembly are known. Such windshield wiper frame connectors include a pair of apertured ears pivotally connected to a pin of a pin type arm as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,425,089 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,780,395 to Quinlan et al. However, such conventional art wiper frame connectors are costly to manufacture and are difficult to assemble with the wiper arm and the blade unit due to their complicated structure. Furthermore, such connectors are incapable of receiving the widely used hook type arm of the windshield wiper assembly, which restricts their use in many applicable circumstances. 
   Conventionally, the windshield wiper frame connector  1  as shown in  FIG. 19  is equipped with first, second, and third slots  2 ,  3 , and  4  and an L-shaped recess  5  for receiving both a hook type arm and a pin type arm. However, the windshield wiper frame connector  1  suffers from a number of problems. For example, the difference in depth between the first slot  2  of a pin of the blade unit and the second slot  3  of a roller bushing of the pin type arm causes instability when the pin type arm is connected to the wiper frame connector  1 . Moreover, when the connector receives a hook type wiper arm, the connector  1  lacks any locking members that would securely lock the hook type arm to the wiper frame connector  1 . The body  6  of the wiper frame connector  1  also uses much material and is heavy in weight. These characteristics and above stated problems are disadvantages in achieving an efficient and economical windshield wiper assembly. 
   In order to avoid such problems, U.S. Pat. No. 5,289,608, discloses a windshield wiper frame connector for use in a windshield wiper assembly for motor vehicles which includes a pair of slots, two pair of raised portions, and a pair of stoppers on a pair of sidewalls for forming two pairs of spaces, upper and lower elongated seats, and an angled slot and a hole, whereby a hook type wiper arm, or a pin type wiper arm, or a bayonet type wiper arm can be easily connected to a blade. 
   In addition, U.S. Pat. No. 5,611,103 discloses a windshield wiper frame connector for use in a windshield wiper assembly for motor vehicles, which accommodates different size wiper arms. In particular, the windshield wiper frame connector is capable of connecting a hook type wiper arm, a pin type wiper arm, or a bayonet type wiper to a blade unit. 
   In the above patent; however, a pivotable clip is required to hold the wiper arm in place. In addition, it is difficult to remove the wiper arm from the connector, since the clip may interfere with the blade unit when the clip is opened. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved windshield wiper frame connector for use in a windshield wiper assembly for motor vehicles, which eliminates the above problems encountered with conventional windshield wiper frame connectors. 
   It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved windshield wiper frame connector which is capable of receiving two different size hook type wiper arms and a pin type wiper arm in a secure manner. 
   It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an improved windshield wiper frame connector, which includes a pivotable lever for removably mounting a hook type wiper arm and a pin type wiper arm. 
   It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved windshield wiper frame connector, which includes two pivotable levers. A first pivotable lever is provided for removably mounting a first hook type wiper arm and a pin type wiper arm. A second pivotable lever is provided for removably mounting a second hook type wiper arm. 
   It is an additional object of the present invention to provide an improved windshield wiper frame connector having a pivotable lever having at least one vertical portion extending to an upper portion of the windshield wiper frame assembly to allow for manipulation of the lever from an upper surface of the windshield wiper frame connector. 
   The above objects are accomplished by a windshield wiper frame connector for connecting a wiper blade unit to a wiper arm, comprising: 
   an elongated body member defining a longitudinal axis therealong, said body member having a pair of opposing sidewalls, defining opposing inner surfaces; 
   a connecting slot disposed in a lower portion of said body member for rotatably receiving a transverse pin of a wiper blade unit; 
   a hole formed in each of said pair of opposing side walls for rotatably receiving a pin of a pin type wiper arm; 
   an upper jam portion disposed on a top portion of said body member for tightly and smoothly receiving a hook type wiper member; 
   at least one space disposed in said body member, said at least one space for tightly receiving outer surfaces of a first hook type wiper arm; and 
   a pivotable lever for removably engaging the pin of the pin type wiper arm. 
   Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. It should be understood, however, that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus, are not limitative of the present invention, and wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a windshield wiper frame connector according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a right side view of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a left side view of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a bottom view of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a top view of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view along the line  6 — 6  of  FIG. 5 ; 
       FIG. 7  is an exploded, perspective view of the windshield wiper frame connector of the present invention in combination with a blade unit having two pairs of different size apertures and a pin type wiper arm; 
       FIG. 8  is an explanatory view of the windshield wiper frame connector of the present invention with a first size hook type wiper arm; 
       FIG. 9  is an explanatory view of the windshield wiper frame connector of the present invention with a second size hook type wiper arm; 
       FIG. 10  is an explanatory view of the windshield wiper frame connector of the present invention with a pin type wiper arm; 
       FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a windshield wiper frame connector according to a second embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 12  is a left side view of  FIG. 11 ; 
       FIG. 13  is a right side view of  FIG. 11 ; 
       FIG. 14  is a top view of  FIG. 11 ; 
       FIG. 15  is a bottom view of  FIG. 11 ; 
       FIG. 16  is a cross-sectional view along the line  12 — 12  of  FIG. 14 ; 
       FIG. 17  is an explanatory view of the windshield wiper frame connector of the present invention with a hook type wiper arm; 
       FIG. 18  is an explanatory view of the windshield wiper frame connector of the present invention with a bayonet type wiper arm; and 
       FIG. 19  is a perspective view of a windshield wiper frame connector according to the conventional art. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Referring now in detail to the accompanying drawings, the preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described. The windshield wiper frame connector  10  according to a first embodiment of the present invention is designed to be connected to hook type wiper arms  21  and  22  or a pin type wiper arm  40 , and a blade unit  30  for use in a windshield wiper assembly of an automobile as shown in  FIGS. 7–10 . The windshield wiper frame connector  10  comprises a body member  12 , a pair of sidewalls  14  each having a front wing portion  13 . A blade unit connecting slot  15  is disposed in the lower portion of the body member  12  in order to receive a transverse pin  36  of the blade unit  30  (see  FIG. 7 ). 
   An upper jam portion  17  is disposed on the top of the body member  12 . A lower space  19  and an upper space  18  are disposed in the body member  12  for receiving a first hook type wiper arm  21  and a second hook type wiper arm  22 , respectively. The first hook type wiper arm  21  can be, for example, a wiper arm for use in European automobiles and trucks. A wiper arm for a European automobile or truck typically has a 9 mm width, 11 mm diameter and 4 mm thickness (see  FIG. 8 ). The second hook type wiper arm  22  can be, for example, a wiper arm for use in other automobiles, which has a 9 mm width, 8.4 mm diameter and 3 mm thickness (see  FIG. 9 ). However, it should be understood to one having ordinary skill in the art that the windshield wiper frame connector  10  of the present invention is not limited to such wiper arms. All that is necessary is for the windshield wiper frame connector  10  to be dimensioned such that two different size hook type wiper arms can be received and held within the upper and lower spaces  18  and  19 . 
   The lower space  19  and the upper space  18  are separated from each other by a horizontal dividing wall  16 . A first lever  23  is pivotally mounted to the horizontal dividing wall  16 . The first lever  23  includes a detent  24 , which is engageable with an aperture  25  of the first hook type wiper arm  21  (see  FIG. 8 ). In addition, a horizontal wall  26  forms an upper ceiling of the upper space  18 . A second lever  27  is pivotally mounted to the horizontal wall  26  and includes a detent  28 , which is engageable with an aperture  29  of the second hook type wiper arm  22  (see  FIG. 9 ). 
   As shown in  FIG. 8 , an upper arm of the first hook type wiper arm  21  engages with the upper jam portion  17  and a lower arm of the first hook type wiper arm  21  inserts into the lower space  19  (see the arrow in  FIG. 8 ). The detent  24  is receivable within the aperture  25  in order to secure the first hook type wiper arm  21  to the windshield wiper frame connector  10  in a secure manner. In order to release the first hook type wiper arm  21  from engagement with the windshield wiper frame connector  10 , it is merely necessary to pivot the first lever  23  upwardly to disengage the detent  24  from the aperture  25 . The first hook type wiper arm  21  can then be slid in a direction opposite to the direction of the arrow in  FIG. 8 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 9 , the upper arm of the second hook type wiper arm  22  engages with the upper jam portion  17  and the lower arm of the second hook type wiper arm  22  inserts into the upper space  18  (see the arrow in  FIG. 9 ). The detent  28  is receivable with the aperture  29  in order to secure the second hook type wiper arm  22  to the windshield wiper frame connector  10  in a secure manner. In order to release the second hook type wiper arm  22  from engagement with the windshield wiper frame connector  10 , it is merely necessary to pivot the second lever  27  upwardly to disengage the detent  28  from the aperture  29 . The second hook type wiper arm  22  can then be slid in a direction opposite to the direction of the arrow in  FIG. 9 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  8  and  9 , a horizontal slot  20  is formed in each of the side walls  14  at a location above the first lever  23  and the horizontal dividing wall  16 . Referring to  FIG. 1 , the horizontal slot  20  forms a separated portion  14   a  in each of the of the side walls  14 . The horizontal slot  20  provides flexibility to the separated portion  14   a  in order to aid in the insertion of the lower arm of the first and second hook type wiper arms  21  and  22 . Specifically, referring to  FIG. 8 , the horizontal slot  20  allows the separated portion  14   a  of the side wall  14  to flex to close the horizontal slot  20  slightly. This flexing raises the horizontal dividing wall  16  and therefore the first lever  23  in order to increase the size of the space  19 . This enables the first hook type wiper arm  21  to be easily inserted into the lower space  19 . Furthermore, referring to  FIG. 9 , the horizontal slot  20  also allows the separated portion  14   a  of the wall  14  to flex to open the horizontal slot  20  slightly. In this case, the flexing lowers the horizontal dividing wall  16  and therefore the first lever  23  in order to increase the size of the opening of the upper space  18  to enable easy insertion of the second hook type wiper arm  22 . 
   The provision of the horizontal slot  14  increases the number of applications that a particular windshield wiper frame connector  10  can be used for. Specifically, the horizontal slot  14  makes up for manufacturing tolerances of the hook type wiper arms  21 ,  22 . During manufacture of the hook type wiper arms  21 ,  22 , the inside diameter d (see  FIGS. 7 and 8 ) of the hook type wiper arms  21 ,  22  can vary greatly. For example, a hook type wiper arm, which is intended to have an inside diameter d=10 mm may be actually manufactured to, for example, d=9.5 mm. In the connectors according to the background art, if a hook type wiper arm of d=9.5 mm was used with a connector made for a d=10 mm connector, the connector would not work. However, in the present invention, the horizontal slot  20  allows the space  19  be increased in size in order to accommodate a hook type wiper arm  21 ,  22  having a inside diameter d=9.5 mm. 
   As shown in  FIG. 7 , the wiper blade unit  30  includes a bridge member  31 , a pair of primary yokes  32  connected to the bridge member  31  and a pair of secondary yokes  33  each pivotally connected to one end of the respective primary yoke  32 . Ends of the pair of secondary yokes  33  and the other end of the pair of primary yokes  31  are provided with a claw  34 . The bridge member  31  includes the opening  35 , a transverse pin  36 , and a pair of first pin apertures  37  and a pair of second pin apertures  38 . The first and second pin apertures  37 ,  38  typically have a diameter of approximately 4.8 mm and 6.4 mm, respectively, for slidably receiving 3/16 inch and ¼ inch diameter pin type arms  40 . 
   Also, referring in detail to  FIG. 7 , there is illustrated the windshield wiper frame connector  10  of the present invention and the pin type wiper arm  40 . The pin type wiper arm  40  includes a pin holder  39  with an arm body  41 , pin  42  having a pair of rolled bushings  43  and a reduced portion  44  for rotatably contacting a pair of arc-shaped raised surfaces  45  formed on an upper surface of the second lever  27  of the wiper frame connector  10  (see  FIG. 10 ). The pin  42  is received through a pair of holes  46  formed in the side walls  14 . At this time, the reduced portion  44  of the pin  42  of the pin type wiper arm  40  can be tightly locked with the arc-shaped raised surfaces  45 . In order to detach the pin type wiper arm  40  from the windshield wiper frame connector  10 , it is merely necessary to pivot the second lever  27  downwardly to disengage the arc shaped raised surfaces  45  from the reduced portion  44  and pull the pin  42  out of the holes  46 . 
   Also, the pair of rolled bushings  43  is rotatably inserted into the pair of first pin apertures  37  or second pin apertures  38 , depending on the size of the pin  42 . Specifically, if the pin  42  is a 3/16 inch pin, a windshield wiper frame connector  10  having a 3/16 inch hole  46  is used and the hole  37  in the blade unit  30  is used to receive the pin  42 . However, if the pin  42  is a ¼ inch pin, a windshield wiper frame connector  10  having a ¼ inch hole  46  is used and the hole  38  in the blade unit  30  is used to receive the pin  42 . It should also be noted that the pair of rolled bushings  43  are also supported by the holes  46  formed in the windshield wiper frame connector  10 , which are located immediately inside of the holes  37 ,  38  when the windshield wiper frame connector  10  is mounted to the blade unit  30 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 7 and 10 , the windshield wiper frame connector  10  also includes a stopper  49  located on each of the side walls  14 . The stoppers  49  are located such that a bottom horizontal surface of the stoppers  49  are located in engagement and parallel to an uppermost surface of the claw  34  of the blade unit  30  when the windshield wiper frame connector  10  is attached to the blade unit  30 . When the stoppers  49  are in this position, the pin apertures  37 ,  38  of the blade unit  30  and the holes  46  in the side walls  14  are in alignment. Accordingly, the pin  42  of the pin type wiper arm  40  can be easily inserted into the pin apertures  37 ,  38  and the holes  46 . In addition, the stoppers  49  can be pushed downwardly into engagement with the uppermost surface of the claw  34  when the pin  42  of the pin type wiper arm is to be removed in order to ensure that the pin apertures  37 ,  38  and the holes  46  are properly aligned to allow for easy removal of the pin  42  from the apertures  37 ,  38  and the holes  46 . 
   Accordingly, the wiper frame connector  10  of the present invention can be easily used as an adapter for the blade unit  30  to connect to the hook type wiper arm  21 ,  22 , or the pin type wiper arm  40 , if necessary. Furthermore, the wiper arms are tightly and securely connected to the blade unit  30  so that the wiper connector  10  of the present invention achieves an effective connecting operation and improves the wiping performance of the windshield wiper assembly as well as its operational lifetime. Finally, the wiper frame connector  10  of the present invention can be easily detached from the wiper arm by merely pivoting one of the first and second levers  23  and  27 , depending on the type of wiper arm attached thereto. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 11–18 , a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The windshield wiper frame connector  50  according to the second embodiment of the present invention is designed to be connected to a hook type wiper arm  22 , a pin type wiper arm  40  or a bayonet type wiper arm  52 , and a blade unit  30  for use in a windshield wiper assembly of an automobile as shown in  FIGS. 7 ,  10 ,  17  and  18 . The windshield wiper frame connector  50  comprises a body member  54  and a pair of sidewalls  56 . A blade unit connecting slot  59  is disposed in the lower portion of the body member  54  in order to receive a transverse pin  36  of the blade unit  30  (see  FIG. 7 ). 
   An upper jam portion  58  is disposed on the top of the body member  54 . A lower space  60  and an upper space  62  are disposed in the body member  54  for receiving a hook type wiper arm  22  and a bayonet type wiper arm  52 , respectively. The hook type wiper arm  22  can be, for example, a wiper arm for use in European automobiles and trucks or a wiper arm for use in other automobiles. It should be understood to one having ordinary skill in the art that the windshield wiper frame connector  50  of the present invention is not limited to such wiper arms. All that is necessary is for the windshield wiper frame connector  50  to be dimensioned such that a particular hook type wiper arm can be received and held within the lower space  60 . 
   The lower space  60  and the upper space  62  are separated from each other by a horizontal dividing wall  64 . A lever  66  is pivotally mounted to the horizontal dividing wall  64 . The lever  66  includes a detent  68 , which is engageable with an aperture  29  of the hook type wiper arm  22  (see  FIG. 17 ). In addition, a horizontal wall  70  forms an upper ceiling of the upper space  62 , and divides the upper space  62  from the upper jam portion  58 . The horizontal wall  70  includes a pivotable flap  71  with an aperture  72  formed therethrough for receiving a pin  53  of the bayonet type wiper arm as will be explained below. The flap  71  is separated from the side walls  56  by spaces  73  and from a front portion  75  of the horizontal wall  70  by a space  74 . This enables the flap  71  to pivot up and down as illustrated by the arrow in  FIG. 16 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 17 , an upper arm of the hook type wiper arm  22  engages with the upper jam portion  58  and a lower arm of the hook type wiper arm  22  inserts into the lower space  60  (see the arrow in  FIG. 17 ). The detent  68  is receivable within the aperture  29  in order to secure the hook type wiper arm  22  to the windshield wiper frame connector  50  in a secure manner. In order to release the hook type wiper arm  22  from engagement with the windshield wiper frame connector  50 , it is merely necessary to pivot the lever  66  upwardly to disengage the detent  68  from the aperture  29 . The hook type wiper arm  22  can then be slid in a direction opposite to the direction of the arrow in  FIG. 17 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 18 , the bayonet type wiper arm  52  is inserted in the direction of the arrow in  FIG. 18  to be received within the upper space  62 . The bayonet type wiper arm  52  is inserted until the pin  53  engages into the aperture  72 , which is formed in the flap  71  of the horizontal wall  70  in order to secure the bayonet type wiper arm  52  to the windshield wiper frame connector  50  in a secure manner. During the insertion of the bayonet type wiper arm  52 , the flap  71  pivots upwardly to enable the pin  53  to enter the aperture  72  and then pivots downwardly to secure the pin  53  within the upper space  62 . 
   In order to release the bayonet type wiper arm  52  from engagement with the windshield wiper frame connector  50 , it is merely necessary to pivot the flap  71  upwardly to disengage the pin  53  from the aperture  72 . The bayonet type wiper arm  52  can then be slid in a direction opposite to the direction of the arrow in  FIG. 18 . In this case, the flap  71  can be aided to pivot upwardly by inserting a tool into the space  74  between the front portion  75  of the horizontal wall  70  and the flap  71 . Pushing downwardly on the bayonet type wiper arm  52  will also help to remove the bayonet type wiper arm  52 , since this action will flex the horizontal dividing wall  64  downwardly to increase the size of the upper space  62  to allow the pin  53  to disengage the aperture  72 . 
   Referring in detail to  FIG. 16 , the windshield wiper frame connector  50  also includes a hole  76  formed in each of the side walls  56 . In addition, the lever  66  includes an arc shaped raised surface  77  formed on a top thereof and each of the side walls includes a stopper  79  on a top surface thereof. The holes  76 , the arc shaped raised surface  77  and the stoppers  79  function in the same manner described above with regard to the corresponding elements of the first embodiment of the present invention and illustrated in  FIGS. 7 and 10  to receive a pin type wiper arm  40 . In view of this, connection of the windshield wiper frame connector  50 , the blade unit  30  and the pin type wiper arm  40  will not be further described. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 11 and 16 , the lever  66  includes a horizontal portion  65  and two vertical arms  67 . The vertical arms  67  enable the lever  66  to be pivoted from above the windshield wiper frame connector  50 . When the windshield wiper frame connector  50  is secured to the blade unit  30  with the blade unit connecting slot  59 , especially in a winter blade unit, there is a limited amount of space to pivot the windshield wiper frame connector  50  to gain access to the lever  66  to pivot the lever  66  upwardly to remove the hook type wiper arm  22 . In addition, when the windshield wiper frame connector  50  is attached to a pin type wiper arm  40 , the windshield wiper frame connector  50  cannot be pivoted upwardly about the transverse pin  36  of the blade unit  30 . This is due to the fact that the pin  42 , which is secured through the one of the pair of pin apertures  37 ,  38  and the holes  76  prevent rotation of the windshield wiper frame connector  50 . The vertical arms  76  allow the lever  66  to be manipulated from a position above the windshield wiper frame connector  50  when in a non-rotated manner on the blade unit  30 . 
   Referring again to  FIG. 11 , the vertical arms  67  can include pressing members  69  formed at a top thereof in order to help in the manipulation of the lever  66 . It is also possible to include only one vertical arm  67 , as long as it is not located to interfere with the insertion of the bayonet type wiper arm  52 . However, two vertical levers are preferred in order to provide a balanced force to the lever  66 . 
   As will be understood to one having ordinary skill in the art, in the first embodiment of the present invention, the pin type wiper arm  40  also prevents the rotation of the windshield wiper frame connector  10 . However, in the first embodiment, the second lever  27  is located at a higher position when attached to the blade unit  30  than the lever  66  in the windshield wiper frame connector  50  of the second embodiment. In view of this, it is unnecessary to include vertical arms on the second lever  27  of the windshield wiper frame connector  10  of the first embodiment. However, it should be understood that it is possible to include vertical arms on the windshield wiper frame connector  10  if desired or necessary. 
   In view of the above, the wiper frame connector  50  of the present invention can be easily used as an adapter for the blade unit  30  to connect to the hook type wiper arm  22 , the pin type wiper arm  40  or the bayonet type wiper arm  52 . Furthermore, the wiper arms are tightly and securely connected to the blade unit  30  so that the wiper connector  50  of the present invention achieves an effective connecting operation and improves the wiping performance of the windshield wiper assembly as well as its operational lifetime. The wiper frame connector  50  of the present invention can be easily detached from the wiper arm by merely pivoting the lever  66  upwardly in the case of the hook type wiper arm  22  or downwardly in the case of the pin type wiper arm  40 , depending on the type of wiper arm attached to the windshield wiper frame connector  50 . Finally, the windshield wiper frame connector  50  of the present invention can be easily detached from a bayonet type wiper arm  52  by pivoting the flap  71  upwardly to disengage the pin  53  from the aperture  72 . 
   The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. 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.