Patent Publication Number: US-9834178-B2

Title: Windscreen wiper device

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This divisional application claims the benefit of utility application Ser. No. 13/714,987, filed Dec. 14, 2012 and provisional application Ser. No. 61/570,559, filed Dec. 14, 2011, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention is related to windscreen wiper devices, or wiper blades, and more precisely to connector assemblies for attaching aftermarket wiper blade assemblies to different types of wiper arms. 
     2. Related Art 
     Typical aftermarket wiper blades are sold as expendable articles with a connector assembly which can only be attached to a single type of wiper arm. However, when in the store, customers may not always know which type of wiper arms is on their vehicles, and often, they mistakenly purchase the incorrect wiper blade. To make it easier for consumers, some aftermarket wiper blade manufacturers have begun selling wiper blades with connector assemblies which can be re-configured so that a single wiper blade assembly may be attached to virtually any type of wiper arm. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The subject invention is an improved windscreen wiper device, or wiper blade assembly, which may be quickly and easily configured for attachment to different types of wiper arms. The wiper blade assembly includes a longitudinally extending wiper strip and at least one carrier element in engagement with the wiper strip for operatively supporting and biasing the wiper strip into a predetermined configuration. A base is non-removably coupled to the at least one carrier element and has an opening extending therethrough to provide access to the at least one carrier element through the base. A connection device is removably secured directly to the at least one carrier element through the opening of the base for attachment with a wiper arm. The wiper blade assembly includes various types of connector bodies and adapters which are designed for attachment to different types of wiper arms. Therefore, the customer may purchase the wiper blade assembly without knowing which type of wiper arm is on his or her vehicle. When the customer is ready to install the wiper blade assembly, he or she simply attaches the correct connection device to the wiper blade without the need for any special tools or equipment. If the customer mistakenly attaches the incorrect connector body and adapter, he or she can quickly remove these components and attach the correct ones, also without the need for special tools or equipment. 
     According to another aspect of the invention, the connection device includes a connector body with a pair of holding elements which deflect outwardly when a portion of the connector body is pinched together to facilitate the installation and removal to/from the at least one carrier element. The connection device also includes a stopper which locks the holding elements in engagement with the at least one carrier element. Thus, the stopper prevents the connector body from accidental disconnection from the at least one carrier element. If the customer wants to attach a different connection device to the at least one carrier element, he or she may still do so by removing the stopper. 
     According to yet another aspect of the invention, the connector body only engages the carrier elements of the wiper blade assembly rather than the base or any other intermediate structure. Thus, the connection assembly is very low profile when compared to other known connector assemblies. This improves a driver&#39;s ability to view the road ahead of the vehicle. 
     According to still another aspect of the invention, either the connector body or the base presents a tongue and the other presents a slot. One end of the connector body is attached to the connector assembly by sliding the tongue into the slot, and the other end of the connector body is attached directly to the flexors of the wiper blade, i.e. the connector body is secured directly to both the base and the at least one carrier element. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated, as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a wiper blade assembly constructed according to one exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  is a fragmentary and perspective view showing a first connection device secured with a pair of carrier elements; 
         FIG. 3  is a fragmentary and perspective view showing a second connection device secured with the pair of carrier elements; 
         FIG. 4  is a fragmentary and perspective view showing a base coupled to the pair of carrier elements; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective and elevation view of the base; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective and elevation view of a connector body of the first connection device; 
         FIG. 7  is a top elevation view of the exemplary connector body; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective and fragmentary view of exemplary connector body in engagement with the pair of carrier elements; 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective and elevation view of an adapter of the first connection device; 
         FIG. 10  is a fragmentary view of the pair of carrier elements and a connector body of the second connecting piece; 
         FIG. 11  is a fragmentary view of the second connector body of the second connecting piece secured with the pair of carrier elements and with a stopper piece; 
         FIG. 12  is a fragmentary view of the second connector body secured with the pair of carrier elements and with an adapter; 
         FIG. 13  is a perspective view of a carrier element and a connector body of second exemplary embodiment of the wiper blade assembly; and 
         FIG. 14  is a perspective and fragmentary view of a connection device secured to the carrier elements of the second exemplary embodiment of the wiper blade assembly. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE ENABLING EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to the Figures, wherein like numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views, a windscreen wiper device, or a wiper blade assembly  20 , is generally shown in  FIG. 1 . The wiper blade assembly  20  includes a longitudinally extending wiper strip  22  of a flexible material, such as rubber, for sealing against a vehicle&#39;s windshield (not shown) and for driving rain, snow, ice or other elements away therefrom. The exemplary wiper strip  22  includes a pair of oppositely facing grooves that extend the entire length of the wiper strip  22  and laterally beyond opposite ends of the wiper strip  22 . Carrier elements  24  (also known as flexors) are disposed in the grooves and in engagement with the wiper strip  22  to bias the wiper strip  22  into a predetermined configuration. Specifically, the carrier elements  24  are self-biased into a pre-curved shape to bias the wiper strip  22  into a pre-curved configuration which allows the entire length of the wiper strip  22  to be sealed against a curved windshield. A pair of spoiler elements  28  are in engagement with the carrier elements  24  and extend lengthwise to create a down force when the vehicle is travelling at speed to improve the seal between the wiper strip  22  and the windshield. End caps  30  are secured to opposite ends of the carrier elements  24  to interconnect the carrier elements  24 . A base  32  is secured to approximate midpoints of the carrier elements  24  between the spoiler elements  28 , and the base  32  includes an opening which provides access to the carrier elements  24 . 
     The exemplary wiper blade assembly  20  includes two connection devices  34 ,  35  that are configured for attachment with different types or styles of oscillating wiper arms. Specifically, a first connection devices  34  is configured for attachment to hook and pin-style wiper arms (not shown) and a second connection device  35  is configured for attachment to bayonet or top lock-style wiper arms (not shown). The connection devices  34  are also configured to be quickly and easily secured to or removed from the carrier elements  24  with no special tools or expensive equipment. For example,  FIG. 2  shows the first connection device  34  secured to the carrier elements  24 , and  FIG. 3  shows the second connection device  35  secured to the carrier elements  24 . It should be appreciated that the wiper blade assembly  20  could include any desirable number of connection devices  34 ,  35  for mating with any desirably type of wiper arm. A person may quickly secure whichever connection device  34 ,  35  is configured for attachment to his or her vehicle&#39;s oscillating wiper arm onto the carrier elements  24 . If the person has mistakenly secured the incorrect connector device to the carrier elements  24 , then he or she may easily remove it and secure the correct connection device  34  in its place. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , the carrier elements  24  have outwardly facing notches  36 , and the base  32  is positioned on the carrier elements  24  with the notches  36  being visible through the opening, which is generally rectangularly shaped but could have any desirable enclosed or non-enclosed shape. As shown in  FIG. 5 , the base  32  includes four generally L-shaped legs  38  disposed at its four corners for engaging the carrier elements  24 . The base  32  is slid from one end of the carrier elements  24  into the position shown in  FIG. 4 . Once in position, the base  32  is non-removably secured to the carrier elements  24 , for example, through heat staking. However, it should be appreciated that the base  32  could alternately be non-removably secured to the carrier elements  24  through crimping, welding, adhesives, fasteners, etc. The sides of the base  32  present a pair of indentations  39 , and small gaps are present between the carrier elements  24  and the base  32  at the indentations  39 . 
     Referring back to  FIG. 2 , the first exemplary connection device  34  includes a connector body  40  and an adapter  42 . The connector body  40  is generally shown in  FIG. 6  and includes a pair of front side walls  44 , a pair of front holding elements  46 , a pair of back side walls  48  and a pair of back holding elements  50  all integrally connected with one another through a bottom portion. The back side walls  48  are spaced from the front side walls  44  by a slot. This allows the back side walls  48  to be pinched together without influencing the front side walls  44 . Pinching the back side walls  48  together also causes the back holding elements  50  to deflect outwardly. Referring now to  FIG. 7 , a cylindrical portion  54  extends between the front side walls  44 . Referring now to  FIG. 8 , the front holding elements  46  are shaped and sized to be inserted through one of the notches  36  in the carrier elements  24 . 
     The process of attaching the connector body  40  to the carrier elements  24  is very simple and may be undertaken without any special tools or other equipment. First, a person inserts the front holding elements  46  into the notches  36  of the carrier elements  24 . Then, the person slides the connector body  40  in a forward direction until the front holding elements  46  abut the legs  38  of the base  32 , i.e. the base  32  provides a physical indication that the connector body  40  is in the proper position. Next, the person pinches the back side walls  48  together to deflect the back holding elements  50  outwardly and pivots the connector body  40  downwardly until the back holding elements  50  slide through the gap between the indentations  39  of the base  32  and the carrier elements  24 . The person then releases the back side walls  48 , which causes the back holding elements  50  to snap inwardly and directly engage the bottom of the carrier elements  24 , as best shown in  FIG. 8 . Because the connector body  40  is secured directly to the carrier elements  24  it may be formed to have a lower profile than other known removable connector bodies  40 . This reduces the visibility of the connector body  40  from the interior of the vehicle, thereby improving a driver&#39;s visibility of the road. 
     Once the connector body  40  is properly secured to the carrier elements  24 , the user may attach the adapter  42  to the connector body  40 . As shown in  FIG. 9 , the exemplary adapter  42  includes a pair of vertically extending adapter walls  56  and a semi-circular opening  58 . To secure the adapter  42  with the connector body  40 , the user simply snaps semi-circular opening  58  onto the cylindrical portion  54 . This connection allows the adapter  42  to pivot about the cylindrical portion  54  of the connector body  40 , thereby allowing the wiper blade assembly  20  to pivot relative to the hook-style wiper arm. 
     Referring back to  FIG. 2 , the distance between the adapter walls  56  is slightly less than the distance between the interior surfaces of the front and back side walls  44 ,  48  of the connector body  40 , and the adapter  42  extends lengthwise in between the back side walls  48  of the connector body  40  when properly attached to the connector body  40 . As such, when the adapter  42  is installed in the connector body  40 , it functions as a stopper to restrict movement of the back side walls  48  of the connector body  40 , thereby preventing the back holding elements  50  from flexing outwardly. This configuration is a safety feature which prevents accidental removal of the connector body  40  from the carrier elements  24 . 
     To remove the connector body  40  from the carrier elements  24 , the user simply removes the adapter  42  from the connector body  40 , pinches the back side walls  48  together, pivots the connector upwardly until the back holding elements  50  clear the carrier elements  24  and slides the connector body  40  backwardly until the front holding elements  46  disengage from the carrier elements  24  through the notches  36 . Similar to the installation process described above, removal of the connector body  40  from the carrier elements  24  requires no special tools or other equipment. 
     The connector body  41  of the second connection device  35  is shown in  FIG. 10 . Similar to the first exemplary connector body  40  described above, the second exemplary connector body  41  includes front holding elements  47 , back holding elements  51 , front side walls  45  and back side walls  49 . Attachment of the connector body  41  to the notched carrier elements  24  follows the same process as described above in conjunction with the first exemplary connector body  40 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the adapter  43  of the second connection device  35  is disposed outwardly rather than inwardly of the back side walls  49  of the connector body  41 . Accordingly, as shown in  FIG. 12 , the second connection device  35  includes an additional stopper piece  64  to prevent the back holding elements  50  from accidentally disengaging from the carrier elements  24 . The stopper piece  64  includes two cylindrical rods  65  which extend outwardly for snapping into engagement with corresponding grooves in the back side walls  49  of the connector body  41 . If the person wants to remove the connector body  41  from the carrier elements  24 , he or she must first remove the stopper piece  64  from the connector body  41 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 14 , a connection device  134  of a second exemplary embodiment of the wiper blade assembly is generally shown with like numerals offset by a factor of 100 being used to indicate like features with the first exemplary embodiment. The connection device  134  of the second exemplary embodiment is distinguished from the first exemplary embodiment because the connector body  140  is removably secured directly to both the carrier elements  124  and to the base  132 . 
     The base  132  is constructed similarly to the base  32  of the first exemplary embodiment of the wiper blade assembly  20  but also includes a slot  152  shaped to receive a tongue  166  extending from the front of the connector body  140 . The connector body  140  is distinguished from the first exemplary connector body  140  of the first exemplary embodiment by the tongue  166  and also by the lack of front holding elements  146 . 
     The connector body  140  of the connection device  134  of the second embodiment of the wiper blade assembly may also be attached to the carrier elements  124  very quickly and without any tools. First the tongue  166  of the connector body  140  is slid onto the slot  152  of the base  132 . Next, the back side walls  148  of the connector body  140  are pinched together to flex the back holding elements  150  outwardly, and the connector body  140  is pivoted downwardly so that the back holding elements  150  are inserted into the gaps between the indentations  139  of the base  132  and the carrier elements  124 . Then, when the back side walls  148  is released, the back holding elements  150  will snap inwardly and engage the bottom of the carrier elements  124 . 
     To remove the connector body  140  from the carrier elements  124 , the person simply pinches the back side walls  148  of the connector body  140  to deflect the back holding elements  150  outwardly and out of engagement with the carrier elements  124 . Then, the user pivots the connector body  140  upwardly until the back holding elements  150  clear the carrier elements  124 . Finally, the user slides the connector body  140  backwardly to disengage the tongue  166  from the slot  152 . Like the installation process, removal of the connector body  140  from the carrier elements  124  requires no special tools or other equipment. 
     Another aspect of the present invention is related to a method of making a windscreen wiper device. The method includes the step of preparing a wiper strip  22  and at least one carrier element  24  in engagement with the wiper strip  22  to bias the wiper strip  22  into a predetermined configuration. Preferably, two carrier elements  24  are in engagement with the wiper strip  22 . The method continues with engaging a base  32  having an opening with the carrier elements  24 . The method then proceeds with the step of engaging a connection device  34  directly with the carrier elements  24  through the opening in the base  32 . 
     In one exemplary embodiment of the method, the connection device  34  includes a connector body  40  with a pair of front holding elements  46  and a pair of back side walls  48  and the carrier elements  24  each have a notch  36 . In this embodiment, the step of engaging the connection device  34  directly with the carrier elements  24  includes the steps of inserting a pair of front holding elements  46  through the notches  36  of the carrier elements  24  and sliding the connector body  40  in a longitudinal direction to engage the front holding elements  46  with the carrier elements  24 . The engaging step also includes the step of pinching the back side walls  48  inwardly to deflect the back holding elements  50  outwardly, rocking the connector body  40  downwardly and deflecting the back holding elements  50  inwardly to engage around opposite sides of the carrier elements  24 . 
     Another exemplary embodiment of the method further includes the step of engaging the connection device  34  with the base  32 . This could be through, for example, a tongue  66  and slot  52  connection. 
     Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings and may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described while within the scope of the appended claims.