Abstract:
A windshield wiper decorative device for detachably securing to the wiper arm of a windshield wiper, comprises a planar display element having a central planar surface circumscribed by a lip. A pair of fastening tangs extend from a back of the planar display element, each of the tangs having a respective aperture passing therethrough. A pair of flexible ties extends through the respective aperture for detachably securing the planar display element to a windshield wiper arm. When secured to the windshield wiper arm, the planar display element lies adjacent the windshield wiper arm and the flexible ties extend around the windshield wiper arm and secure the planar display element to the windshield wiper arm.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to movable decorative attachments in general and, more particularly, to a decorative attachment for a windshield wiper assembly of a motor vehicle so that pivotal movement of the windshield wiper assembly produces wavering motion of the decorative attachment. 
       DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
       [0002]    In modern vehicles, larger vehicles such as SUVs, vans and station wagons have a liftgate or rear hatch which closes a rear opening in the vehicle body. The liftgate is pivotally attached, usually by hinges, to the vehicle body structure surrounding the rear opening. The liftgate is releasably lockable to the vehicle body by a latch mechanism so as to be movable between a closed position latched to the vehicle body structure and a pivoted, open position allowing access to the interior of the vehicle through the rear opening. Typically, the liftgate of the motor vehicle is provided with a windshield wiper assembly. 
         [0003]    Currently, decorative attachments exist for a windshield wiper assembly of a motor vehicle. While these decorative attachments may be suitable for the particular purpose, they nevertheless are susceptible to improvements that enhance their ease of use and advance the art. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0004]    Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification when viewed in light of the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0005]      FIG. 1  is a plan view of a decorative attachment according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention in combination with a liftgate of a motor vehicle; 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the liftgate of the motor vehicle with a conventional windshield wiper assembly; 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  is a side view of a conventional wiper blade assembly; 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  is a front view of the decorative attachment according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0009]      FIG. 5  is a rear view of the decorative attachment according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0010]      FIG. 6  is a side view of the decorative attachment according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 7  is a plan view of a decorative attachment according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention in combination with the liftgate of the motor vehicle; 
           [0012]      FIG. 8  is a front view of the decorative attachment according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 9  is a rear view of the decorative attachment according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 10  is a vertical cross-sectional view of the decorative attachment according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention taken along the lines  10 - 10  in  FIG. 9 ; 
           [0015]      FIGS. 11   a - 11   d  illustrate an exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
           [0016]      FIGS. 12   a - 12   d  illustrate a modified version of the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 11   a - 11   d;    
           [0017]      FIGS. 13   a - 13   e  illustrate another exemplary embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0018]    The exemplary embodiments of the present invention will now be described with the reference to accompanying drawings. 
         [0019]      FIG. 1  depicts a decorative attachment (generally denoted by reference numeral  10 ) according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The decorative attachment  10  is mounted to a conventional windshield wiper assembly  12  of a motor vehicle  4  illustrated in  FIG. 2 . The decorative attachment  10  according to the present invention is especially applicable to the windshield wiper assembly  12  of a rear liftgate  6  of the motor vehicle  4 , such as SUV, CUV, station wagon, fastback, and etc., having a vehicle liftgate window  8  carried on the liftgate  6  and the rear mounted wiper assembly  12  mounted on the liftgate  6 , as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
         [0020]    The conventional rear windshield wiper assembly  12  includes a conventional wiper arm  14  and a conventional wiper blade assembly  16  attached to the wiper arm  14 . 
         [0021]    As best shown in  FIG. 3 , the conventional wiper blade assembly  16  comprises a multi-part frame  18  carrying an elongated rubber wiper strip  20 . The frame  18  includes a main bracket (or main yoke)  22  engaging at the opposite ends thereof claw brackets (or secondary yokes)  24  arranged on its ends. The wiper strip  20  is located vertically under the caw brackets  24  and is engaged by claws  26  arranged at the ends of the claw brackets  24 . The claws  26  engage the wiper strip  20  and extend into longitudinal grooves provided opposite to one another in a rear region of the wiper strip  20 . Moreover, the main bracket  22  in a central region thereof is provided with an attachment portion  23  carrying a transverse pivot pin  25  for attaching the wiper blade assembly  16  to the wiper arm  14  for driving the wiper blade assembly  16  across the liftgate window  8 . 
         [0022]    As further illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the wiper blade assembly  16  has a through opening  28  provided between the wiper strip  20  and the main bracket  22 . 
         [0023]    The decorative attachment  10 , according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the best illustrated in  FIGS. 4-6 , includes a flat display element  30  having an outer (visible from the outside) surface  31  and an inner (not visible from the outside) surface  32  opposite to the outer surface  31 , and an attachment element  34  adhesively affixed to the inner surface  32  of the display element  30  as best seen in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . The attachment element  34  is provided to couple the display element  30  of the decorative attachment  10  to the wiper blade assembly  16 . 
         [0024]    The display element  12  according to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention is in a shape of a hand and is formed of sheet rigid plastic material. Alternatively, any other appropriate rigid or semi-rigid light-weight weather resistant material is within the scope of the present invention. Further alternatively, the display element  12  may have any other appropriate decorative shape. Moreover, a viewable indicia or graphics may be provided (such as by printing) on the outer surface  31  of the flat display element  30 . The viewable indicia or graphics may be in the form of words, emblems and logos associated with businesses, college or professional athletic team logos and emblems, schools and the like. 
         [0025]    According to the first exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the attachment element  34  is in the form of a zip-tie, portion of which is adhesively bonded to the inner surface  32  of the display element  30  as best seen in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the display element  30  of the decorative attachment  10  is secured to the wiper blade assembly  16  by passing the zip-tie  34  through the opening  28  between the wiper strip  20  and the main bracket  22  of the wiper blade assembly  16 , thus attaching the decorative attachment  10  to the frame of the wiper blade assembly  16 . It will be appreciated that any other appropriate attachment devices, such mating Velcro straps, spring biased clips, clamps and other releasable attachment devices, are within the scope of the present invention. 
         [0026]      FIG. 7  depicts a decorative attachment (generally denoted by reference numeral  100 ) according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Similarly to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the decorative attachment  100  is mounted to the windshield wiper assembly  12  of the motor vehicle  4 . 
         [0027]    The decorative attachment  100 , according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the best illustrated in  FIGS. 8-10 , includes a flat display element  30  having an outer (visible from the outside) surface  31  and an inner (not visible from the outside) surface  32  opposite to the outer surface  31 , a floating pin member  36  rotatably coupled to the display element  30  and extending therethrough, and an attachment element  34  adhesively affixed to the pin member  36  as best seen in  FIGS. 9 and 10 . The pin member  36  allows the display element  30  to be rotatable relative to the attachment element  34 . Moreover, the pin member  36  is extending through the display element  30  in a position above a center of gravity C G  of the display element  30 . As a result, the display element  30  is always oriented substantially vertically irrespective of the position of the windshield wiper assembly  12  relative to the liftgate window  8  of the liftgate  6  during the pivotal movement of the windshield wiper assembly  12 . The decorative attachment  100 , according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention, further comprises a weight member  38  adhesively bonded to the inner surface  32  of the display element  30  below the pin member  36  and adjacent to a lower edge  30 ′ of the display element  30  so as to shift the center of gravity C G  of the display element  30  further away from the pin member  36 . 
         [0028]    The attachment element  34  is provided to couple the display element  30  of the decorative attachment  10  to the wiper arm  14  or the wiper blade assembly  16  of the windshield wiper assembly  12 . 
         [0029]    Similarly to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the display element  12  is in a shape of a hand and is formed of sheet rigid plastic material. Alternatively, any other appropriate rigid or semi-rigid light-weight weather resistant material is within the scope of the present invention. Further alternatively, the display element  12  may have any other appropriate decorative shape. Moreover, a viewable indicia may be provided (such as by printing) on the outer surface  31  of the flat display element  30 . The viewable indicia may be in the form of words, emblems and logos associated with businesses, college or professional athletic team logos and emblems, schools and the like. 
         [0030]    According to the second exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the attachment element  34  is in the form of a zip-tie, portion of which is adhesively bonded to the inner surface  32  of the display element  30  as best seen in  FIGS. 9 and 10 . As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the display element  30  of the decorative attachment  100  is secured to the wiper blade assembly  16  by passing the zip-tie  34  through the opening  28  between the wiper strip  20  and the main bracket  22  of the wiper blade assembly  16 , thus attaching the decorative attachment  10  to the frame of the wiper blade assembly  16 . It will be appreciated that any other appropriate attachment devices, such mating Velcro straps, spring biased clips, clamps and other releasable attachment devices, are within the scope of the present invention. 
         [0031]      FIG. 11   a  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the invention in the form of round, flat display element  200  having a display surface  202  adapted to receive any viewable indicia or graphics which may be provided (such as by printing) on the surface  202  of the flat display element  200 . The viewable indicia or graphics may be in the form of words, emblems and logos associated with businesses, college or professional athletic team logos and emblems, schools and the like.  FIG. 11   b  illustrates an isometric view of the display element  200  having attachment devices  210 ,  220  in the form of straps or flexible ties which pass through openings  204 ,  206  formed in the display element. The ties  210 ,  220  provide an adjustable mounting system for different sized wiper arms. 
         [0032]      FIG. 12   a  illustrates a modified design of the display element of  FIG. 11   a  whereby tangs  203 ,  205  are formed into the display element  200  to include the tie-receiving opening  204 ,  206 . In the design of  FIGS. 12   a - 12   c,  the tangs  203 ,  205  are formed to create apertures  207 ,  208  in the central planar surface  202  of the display element  200 . The aperture  207 ,  208  improve the aerodynamic properties of the display element  200  when mounted on the wiper arm of a moving vehicle. 
         [0033]    Additionally, the display element is formed with a peripheral lip  201  circumscribing the central planar surface  202  to provide a recessed surface  202  to receive a decal, label or other mountable design element (not shown) which fits into the recess formed by the lip  201 . 
         [0034]      FIG. 13   a  illustrates another modified design of the display element  300  of  FIG. 11   a  with the display element is formed in the shape of a hand. Tangs  303 ,  305  are formed into the display element  300  to include the tie-receiving opening  304 ,  206  (see  FIG. 13   c ). In the design of  FIGS. 13   a - 13   d,  the tangs  303 ,  305  are formed to create apertures  307 ,  308  (see  FIG. 13   b ) in the central planar surface  302  of the display element  300 . The aperture  307 ,  308  improve the aerodynamic properties of the display element  300  when mounted on the wiper arm of a moving vehicle. The tangs  303 ,  305  for fastening the display element  300  to the wiper arm may be rearranged, for example by  90  degrees to be aligned with the length of the hand, to alter the orientation of the display element  300  with respect to the wiper arm. 
         [0035]    Additionally, the display element  300  of  FIGS. 13   a - 13   e  is formed with a peripheral lip  301  circumscribing the central planar surface  302  to provide a recessed surface  202  to receive a decal, label or other mountable design element (not shown) which fits into the recess formed by the lip  301 . 
         [0036]    Therefore, the present invention provides a novel decorative attachment for a windshield wiper assembly of a motor vehicle. 
         [0037]    The foregoing description of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention has been presented for the purpose of illustration in accordance with the provisions of the Patent Statutes. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Obvious modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiments disclosed hereinabove were chosen in order to best illustrate the principles of the present invention and its practical application to thereby enable those of ordinary skill in the art to best utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated, as long as the principles described herein are followed. Thus, changes can be made in the above-described invention without departing from the intent and scope thereof. It is also intended that the scope of the present invention be defined by the claims appended thereto.