Wiper arm with integral alignment key

A wiper assembly comprising:

• a wiper arm for supporting a wiper blade for a windshield of an automotive vehicle, said wiper arm comprising a wiper arm head which includes a recessed splined cup portion having a plurality of first teeth which are disposed angularly adjacent to each other about an inner circumference of said cup portion, said cup portion further including an elongated axial first slot formed therein between an angularly spaced pair of said first teeth, wherein said first slot is vertically open;
• a drive shaft head rotatable by a drive shaft and mountable on said wiper arm head, said drive shaft head having a plurality of second teeth, which are disposed angularly adjacent to each other about an outer periphery of said drive shaft head, said drive shaft head also including an elongated axial second slot corresponding to said first slot in said wiper arm head, said second slot being formed between an angularly spaced pair of said second teeth, wherein said second slot is vertically open and is aligned with said first slot when said drive shaft head is mounted on said wiper arm head;
• and
• an alignment key adapted to be received in said first and second slots when axially aligned between said wiper arm head and said drive shaft head to define an orientation of said wiper arm relative to said drive shaft head, said first slot being open on said bottom end thereof and said second slot being open on said top end thereof for receiving said key in said first and second slots, said bottom end of said second slot including a bottom radial lip which engages said key to prevent said key from falling out of said first and second slots.