Windshield wiper blade connector
AssigneeCooper Automotive Products, Inc.
InventorsJames Patrick Witek, Richard Allen Herring, Alan Jeffrey Stahlhut, William Arthur Powell
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A windshield wiper blade connector may be used in connecting a windshield wiper blade to pin-type and hookslot wiper arms. The connector includes a side wall that defines a hole sized to receive a pin of a pin-type wiper arm. A movable beam is positioned relative to the hole in the side wall so that the beam engages the pin of the pin-type wiper arm when the pin is received in the hole to secure the connector to the pin-type wiper arm. A tab extends from the movable beam and is positioned so that the tab engages a slot of a hookslot wiper arm when the hookslot wiper arm is attached to the connector to secure the connector to the hookslot wiper arm.
Claims28
A windshield wiper blade connector for use in connecting a windshield wiper blade to pin-type and hookslot wiper arms, the connector comprising:
- structure for use in attaching the connector to a windshield wiper blade;
- a side wall defining a hole sized to receive a pin of a pin-type wiper arm;
- a movable beam positioned relative to the hole in the side wall so that the beam engages the pin of the pin-type wiper arm when the pin is received in the hole to secure the connector to the pin-type wiper arm;
- a tab extending from the movable beam and positioned so that the tab engages a slot of a hookslot wiper arm when the hookslot wiper arm is attached to the connector to secure the connector to the hookslot wiper arm;
- wherein the tab is located on a first side of the movable beam and the movable beam is positioned so that a second side of the movable beam engages the pin of the pin-type wiper arm when the connector is attached to the pin-type wiper arm and the structure for use in attaching the connector to a windshield wiper blade assembly includes a snap-fit latch.
A multi-purpose windshield wiper blade connector for use in connecting a windshield wiper blade to pin-type and hookslot wiper arms, the connector comprising:
- structure for use in attaching the connector to a windshield wiper blade;
- a pair of side walls, each side wall defining a hole sized to receive a pin of a pin-type wiper arm;
- an upper wall positioned between the two side walls;
- a cantilevered beam positioned relative to the holes in the side walls so that the beam engages the pin of the pin-type wiper arm when the pin is received in the holes to secure the connector to the pin-type wiper arm;
- and
- a tab extending from the cantilevered beam and positioned so that the tab engages a slot of a hookslot wiper arm when the hookslot wiper arm is attached to the connector to secure the connector to the hookslot wiper arm;
- wherein
- the side walls extend above the upper wall to define a channel along the top of the connector, the channel securing a portion of a hookslot wiper arm when the connector is attached to the hookslot wiper arm,
- the tab is located on a first side of the cantilevered beam and the cantilevered beam is positioned so that a second side of the cantilevered beam engages the pin of the pin-type wiper arm when the connector is attached to the pin-type wiper arms, and
- the structure for use in attaching the connector to a windshield wiper blade comprises a snap-fit latch for use in attaching the connector to a windshield wiper blade.
A windshield wiper blade connector comprising:
- a pin support having a support axis and a mechanism to secure the connector to a pin of a pin-type wiper arm with a longitudinal axis of the pin in line with the support axis and the pin restrained against axial motion,
- structure for use in attaching the connector to a windshield wiper blade, and
- a hook support having a mechanism to secure a hook of a hookslot wiper arm against longitudinal motion with the pin support axis being perpendicular to the length of the hookslot wiper arm and in a space defined within the hooks,
- wherein the structure for use in attaching the connector to a windshield wiper blade comprises a snap-fit latch for use in attaching the connector to a windshield wiper blade.
A windshield wiper blade connector comprising:
- a mechanism configured to secure the connector to a either a pin-type wiper arm or a hookslot wiper arm,
- a tab that is movable between one position in which the connector may be mounted on a pin-type wiper arm and a second position in which the connector may be mounted on a hookslot wiper arm, and
- a snap-fit latch for use in attaching the connector to a windshield wiper blade.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.