Abstract:
A windshield wiper frame connector assembly for a windshield wiper assembly for motor vehicles which accommodates different size wiper arms, wherein the assembly accommodates connectors adapted to receive regular and large hook type wiper arms, pin type wiper arms, reverse hook arms, or straight and two-hole bayonet type wiper arms. The wiper blade frame is designed to accommodate a majority of commercial vehicle wiper arms.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates generally to the construction of a windshield wiper frame and connector and more particularly, to an improved wiper arm and blade unit connector assembly for windshield wipers, whereby the wiper frame accommodates a versatile connector in a manner that permits easy assembly and replacement of the wiper arm.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Prior Art  
         [0004]     Various types of windshield wiper arm and blade unit connectors for a windshield wiper assembly are well known. Such windshield wiper frame connectors include a pair of apertured ears pivotally connected to a pin of the pin type wiper arm. However, such prior art wiper frame connectors are costly to manufacture and difficult to assemble with the wiper arm and the blade unit due to their complicated structure. Furthermore, such prior art connectors are incapable of receiving the widely used hook type arm of the windshield wiper assembly that restricts their use in many applicable circumstances.  
         [0005]     Conventionally, the windshield wiper frame connector  1  as shown in  FIG. 1  is equipped with first, second, and third slots  2 ,  3 , and  4  and an L-shaped recess  5  for receiving both the hook type arm and the 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 of a rolled bushing of the pin type arm causes instability when the pin type arm is connected to the wiper frame connector  1 . Moreover, receiving the hook type arm lacks any locking members that would securely lock the hook type arm to the wiper frame connector. The body  6  of such a wiper frame connector  1  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.  
         [0006]     The windshield wiper frame connector shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3  accommodates different size wiper arms. The wiper assembly of this patent suffers from serious drawbacks inherent in the wiper frame structure that prevent proper assembly and disassembly of hook-type wiper arms from the wiper frame and the adaptor.  
         [0007]     Other adaptor and wiper frame connector assemblies that accommodate certain bayonet and hook style wipe arms; however, these assemblies cannot accommodate all the necessary connector types required for modern vehicles.  
         [0008]     The need therefore exists for an improved versatile windshield wiper frame and adaptor assembly that is easy to assemble and disassemble, particularly for unique hook-type wiper arms.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009]     The present invention provides an improved windshield wiper bridge and connector assembly for use in a windshield wiper assembly for motor vehicles, that improves the assembly process when compared to the prior art designs. The adaptor is capable of connection to male pin and female wiper arms, straight and two-hole bayonet arms, regular and large hook arms, as well as reverse hook arms. A guide bar provides a stable connection for both large hook-type and reverse hook-type connector arms.  
         [0010]     The present invention further provides a windshield wiper bridge design wherein a cutout portion is provided in the lower edge of each bridge member in order to facilitate removal of the hook-type wiper arm when it is affixed to the wiper adaptor.  
         [0011]     Other objects and 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  
       [0012]     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:  
         [0013]      FIG. 1  shows the conventional wiper frame connector;  
         [0014]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a prior art windshield wiper frame connector for a hook type wiper arm;  
         [0015]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a prior art windshield wiper frame connector for a pin type wiper arm;  
         [0016]      FIG. 4  is a top elevational view of the wiper adaptor according to a preferred embodiment of this invention;  
         [0017]      FIG. 5  is a side view of the wiper adaptor of  FIG. 4 ;  
         [0018]      FIG. 6  is a bottom view of the wiper adaptor of  FIG. 4  and partial view of the wiper frame;  
         [0019]      FIG. 7  is a back view of the adaptor of  FIG. 4 ;  
         [0020]      FIG. 8  is an enlarged view of the wiper adaptor of  FIGS. 4-7  with hidden lines showing additional features;  
         [0021]      FIG. 9  is an enlarged partial bottom view of the rear portion of the adaptor of  FIG. 4  showing the cantilevered release tab and guide bar;  
         [0022]      FIG. 10  is an enlarged partial bottom view of the front portion of the wiper adaptor of  FIG. 4  showing the retention tabs;  
         [0023]      FIG. 11  is a cross sectional view taken along line XI-XI of  FIG. 4 .  
         [0024]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the hook-type wiper arm being engaged/disengaged from the wiper blade assembly and adaptor.  
         [0025]      FIG. 13  is a side view showing the main bridge curve or cutout in the middle portion of the wiper frame and the adaptor as disposed during the assembly/disassembly stage.  
         [0026]      FIG. 14  is the adaptor having the retention tabs disposed on the wing portion of the sidewalls being spread apart as during the assembly/disassembly stage.  
         [0027]      FIG. 15  is a perspective view of the adaptor with an adaptor pin mounted therein.  
         [0028]      FIG. 16  shows the adaptor used in conjunction with a regular hook type arm.  
         [0029]      FIG. 17  shows the adaptor used in conjunction with a large hook type arm.  
         [0030]      FIG. 18  shows the adaptor from a bottom perspective.  
         [0031]      FIG. 19  shows the adaptor used in conjunction with a reverse hook type arm.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0032]     Referring now to the drawings illustrating preferred embodiments of the present invention, the windshield wiper frame adaptor  10  is designed to be connected to any one of a hook type wiper arm  100  ( FIG. 2 ), a pin type wiper arm  200  ( FIG. 3 ), or a bayonet type wiper arm (not shown). With reference to  FIGS. 4 and 6 , the adaptor  10  snugly fits between the sidewalls  12   c  of the wiper frame  12 , and it snaps in connecting relation onto the transverse pin  12   b . In this manner, the suitable blade unit  12  may be installed as a windshield wiper assembly for a variety of motor vehicles as exemplified by  FIGS. 2 and 3 .  
         [0033]     As shown in  FIGS. 4-11 , the connector or adaptor  10  comprises a main body member  10   a , a pair of sidewalls  1 , and a first slot  13  and a second slot  15  disposed in the lower portion of the main body member  10   a.    
         [0034]     A channel  3  is formed and defined between the sidewalls  1  to accommodate a hook type wiper arm  100 . Hook arms  100  of different width may be accommodated within or on top of the channel  3 .  
         [0035]     The sidewalls  1  each have a wing portion  4  extending forwardly. Two pairs of retention tabs  5   a ,  5   b ,  5   c ,  5   d  are formed on the inner surface of each of the wing portions  4 . Retention tabs  5   a ,  5   b  associated with one of sidewalls each extend more inwardly than a corresponding opposite retention tab  5   c ,  5   d . Such an arrangement has been shown to provide a dramatic improvement in the ease of installation and removal of hook type wiper arms.  
         [0036]     A transverse notch  6  (See  FIG. 5 ) is formed in each of the sidewalls  1  to promote flexure of the wiper adaptor. In the preferred embodiment, the transverse notch  6  extends downward from a top portion of each sidewall. Such an arrangement particularly provides proper flexure when the wiper adaptor is attached to a pin type wiper arm.  
         [0037]     Each of the sidewalls  1  has an external surface with raised bearing surfaces  7  (See  FIGS. 5 and 14 ) which bearing directly against the inner surface of the sidewalls  12   c  of the wiper frame  12  (See  FIG. 6 ). Such raised bearing surfaces  7  are preferably arranged to define recessed radial channels  8 . The recessed radial channels  8  provide space for foreign material such as grease and dirt thereby promoting free rotation of the wiper adaptor when pressed between the sidewalls  12   c  and onto the transverse portion or pin  12   b  of the main bridge of the wiper blade.  
         [0038]     The wiper blade has a bayonet retention bore  9   a  passing through a top wall  9  to receive an extended portion of the bayonet type wiper arm.  FIGS. 5, 6 ,  7 ,  9  and  14  show a cantilevered release tab  11  extending from the rear portion of the main body portion  10   a . Referring to  FIG. 14 , a channel  12  is defined between the cantilevered release tab  111  and the bayonet retention top wall  9  to retain the bayonet type wiper arm. The release tab  11  extends substantially more rearwardly than the bayonet retention top wall  9  to facilitate easy removal of the bayonet arm. The release tab  11  is simply depressed at the groove terminal end of the tab  11  such that the release tab deflects downwardly sufficient to allow the extended portion of the bayonet arm to be removed from the bore  9 . Such an arrangement has been shown to ease installation and removal of the bayonet arm.  
         [0039]     A first slot  13 , preferably a keyhole slot, is provided in a lower portion of the wiper adaptor for rotatably receiving and retaining the transverse pin  12   b  formed on the wiper blade unit. A second slot  15  is also provided in the lower portion of the wiper adaptor adjacent the first slot  13 . The second slot  15  is adapted to receive and retain a pin of the pin type wiper arm. (See  FIG. 15 ). A raised arc surface is also provided. In the preferred embodiment, the second slot  15  and the raised arc surface have dimensions to enable respective retention of ¼ inch and 3/16 inch diameter pin arms.  
         [0040]     As seen in  FIGS. 12 and 13 , in order to remove the hook type wiper arm from the wiper frame, the wiper frame must be rotated to an angle of about 45 to 90 degrees from the hook type wiper arm. The wing portions  4  sidewalls  1  are then spread apart and the hook type wiper arm is released from the retention tabs  5   a ,  5   c .  FIG. 10  shows the direction of spread (direction A) for the wing portions  4 . To facilitate removal of the hook type wiper arm from the wiper frame, the main bridge of the wiper frame is provided with a cutout or curve  12   a  as shown in  FIGS. 12 and 13 . With the cutout or curve  12   a , the sidewalls  1  may be easily spread apart without interference or hindrance from the side frame members of the wiper frame  12 ; thereby permitting the hook-type wiper arm to be released from the retention tabs  5   a ,  5   b ,  5   c ,  5   d . The exterior surfaces of the sidewalls  1  of the adaptor  10  maintain a snug-fit relation with the inner surface of the wiper frame sidewalls  12   c  (See  FIG. 6 ). Therefore, without the cutout or main bride curve  12   a , the sidewalls  1  are maintained in an evenly spaced relation and, as a result, the hook type wiper arm cannot effectively be removed from the wiper frame, i.e. they are effectively blocked by the retention tabs.  
         [0041]     As a result of the cutout portion  12   a , the wing portions  4  and associated retention tabs  5   a ,  5   b ,  5   c ,  5   d  are permitted to spread to the disengaged state while the adaptor  10  is still affixed to the transverse pin  12   b  of the wiper frame  12 . This improvement is accomplished by the structural and spatial interrelation of the adaptor  10  and the cutout portion  12   a  formed in the wiper frame  12  (See  FIGS. 12 and 13 ). The prior art designs did not permit efficient and effective removal of the hook-type wiper arm, and as a result, the defective prior art design caused adaptor breakage and wiper failure.  
         [0042]     It is noted that the cutout portion  12   a  is slightly offset from the longitudinal mid-point of the wiper frame in order to align the cutout portion  12   a  with the wing portions  4  when the adaptor  10  is rotated to approximately 45-90 degrees with respect to the wiper frame (See  FIG. 13 ).  
         [0043]      FIG. 16  shows the adaptor  10  used in conjunction with a regular hook type arm  100 ′ whereby the regular hook type arm  100 ′ abuts one angled surface of the retaining ridges or tabs  5   a ,  5   c  at the apex of the curved portion of the hook arm  100 ′.  
         [0044]      FIG. 17  shows the adaptor  10  used in conjunction with a large hook type arm  100 ″ whereby the large hook type arm  100 ″ abuts the peak of the retaining ridges or tabs  5   a ,  5   c . For the sake of stability, the apex of the curved portion of the hook arm  100 ″ abuts the surface of the wedged shaped surface  5   a ′ and the end of the large hook arm  100 ″ rests against the guide bar  16 . (see  FIGS. 6, 9 ,  11  and  17 ). The wedge-shaped surface  5   a ′ is a sloped surface that defines a raised ridge as shown in the partial view shown in  FIG. 18 , and the guide bar  16  is a transverse bridge that stabilizes the large hook arm  100 ″.  
         [0045]      FIG. 19  shows the adaptor  10  used in conjunction with a reverse hook type arm  100 ′″ whereby the reverse hook type arm  100 ′″ abuts the peak of the retaining ridges or tabs  5   a ,  5   c . Like the large hook arm  100 ″, the apex of the curved portion of the reverse hook arm  100 ′″ abuts the surface of the wedged shaped surface  5   a ′ and the straight section of the hook arm  100 ′″ rests against the guide bar  16 . (see  FIG. 19 ).  
         [0046]     Accordingly, the wiper frame connector  10  of the present invention can be easily used as an adaptor for the blade unit  12  to connect to the regular and large hook type wiper arm  11 , conventional pin type wiper arms, conventional bayonet type wiper arms or the reverse hook type wiper arm  100 ′″ shown in  FIG. 19 . Furthermore, the wiper arms are tightly and securely connected to the blade unit  12  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 a well as its operational lifetime.  
         [0047]     From the invention described above, 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 in the scope of the following claims.