Windshield wiper arm adapter, coupler and assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11529931-B2
Application number	US-201916625630-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 19, 2019
Priority date	Feb 19, 2018
Publication date	Dec 20, 2022
Grant date	Dec 20, 2022

Abstract

An adapter that connects with a coupler for a wiper element is configured to connect with a plurality of different wiper arms each having a different wiper arm style. The adapter can be a one-piece body or a multi-piece body having a cavity and openings for receiving distal ends or distal end features of each of the plurality of different wiper arms. The adapter can also include different tabs for engaging with openings, notches or other components on distal ends of each of the plurality of different wiper arms.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An adapter for connecting with a coupler that is connected with a wiper element, the adapter comprising a body having:
means for receiving each of a plurality of wiper arms each having a different wiper arm style; and
means for receiving distal end features of each of the plurality of different wiper arms;
wherein:
the body comprises an upper portion and a lower portion that cooperate to define the receiving means, and an inner body positioned between, and joined to, the upper portion and the lower portion;
the inner body includes an inner tongue with an inner body interior surface and an inner body exterior surface that are opposite one another, an outer tongue with an outer tongue interior surface that faces toward the inner tongue and an outer tongue exterior surface that faces away from the inner tongue, and a cross member that connects the inner tongue and the outer tongue together, the inner tongue and the outer tongue extending from the cross member toward the proximal end; and
a first inner protuberance inwardly extends from the interior surface of the inner tongue and a second inner protuberance inwardly extends from the interior surface of the outer tongue toward the first inner protuberance.

2. An adapter having a body that comprises:
a single cavity that extends from a proximal end of the adapter toward a distal end of the adapter, the cavity being configured to receive each of a plurality of wiper arms through the proximal end of the adapter, wherein each of the plurality of wiper arms has a different wiper arm style; and
a plurality of tabs configured to cooperate with one or more features of each of the plurality of wiper arms so as to selectively connect each one of the plurality of wiper arms to the adapter;
wherein:
the body comprises an upper portion and a lower portion that cooperate to define the cavity, and an inner body positioned between, and joined to, the upper portion and the lower portion;
the inner body includes an inner tongue with an inner body interior surface and an inner body exterior surface that are opposite one another, an outer tongue with an outer tongue interior surface that faces toward the inner tongue and an outer tongue exterior surface that faces away from the inner tongue, and a cross member that connects the inner tongue and the outer tongue together, the inner tongue and the outer tongue extending from the cross member toward the proximal end; and
a first inner protuberance inwardly extends from the interior surface of the inner tongue and a second inner protuberance inwardly extends from the interior surface of the outer tongue toward the first inner protuberance.

3. The adapter of claim 2 , wherein the cavity is configured to selectively receive a standard hook wiper arm and a large hook wiper arm through the proximal end of the adapter, wherein the plurality of tabs comprise a first lower tab that is proximate to the proximal end of the adapter and a second lower tab that is between the first lower tab and the distal end of the adapter, wherein a first barb extends upwardly from the first lower tab and is configured to engage in an opening provided in the large hook wiper arm, and wherein a second barb extends upwardly from the second lower tab and is configured to engage in an opening provided in the standard hook wiper arm.

4. The adapter of claim 2 , wherein the first inner protuberance and the second inner protuberance are configured to engage with a standard hook wiper arm and a large hook wiper arm that are selectively received in the cavity through the proximal end of the adapter.

5. The adapter of claim 2 , wherein the upper portion includes an inner side wall section, an outer side wall section, and a top wall section bridging between the inner side wall section and the outer side wall section so as to define a general upside down U-shaped configuration, wherein the top wall section defines a cutout and the inner side wall section and the outer side wall section cooperate to define a pair of aligned upper transverse openings, and wherein the cutout and the pair of aligned upper transverse openings are configured to cooperate with a side pin wiper arm and a side pin offset wiper arm for selectively connecting the side pin wiper arm and the side pin offset wiper arm to the adapter.

6. The adapter of claim 5 , wherein the inner tongue of the inner body defines an inner tongue proximal opening and the outer tongue of the inner body defines an outer tongue proximal opening, wherein the outer side wall section defines a proximal transverse opening that is in registry with the inner tongue proximal opening and the outer tongue proximal opening to receive a side lock 250 wiper arm.

7. The adapter of claim 6 , wherein the adapter defines a lateral axis that extends between the inner tongue proximal opening and the outer tongue proximal opening, wherein the top wall section includes a transverse tab that is disposed along the lateral axis, and wherein the transverse tab is configured to engage the side lock 250 wiper arm to connect the side lock 250 wiper arm to the adapter.

8. The adapter of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of tabs include an upper proximal tab and the upper body includes an inner side wall section, an outer side wall section, and a top wall section bridging between the inner side wall section and the outer side wall section so as to define a general upside down U-shaped configuration, wherein the top wall section defines a first proximal end slot and a second proximal end slot that each extend from the proximal end longitudinally toward the distal end to define the upper proximal tab, wherein a proximal barb extends downwardly from the upper proximal tab toward the lower portion to engage a push button 19 mm wiper arm, a push button 22 mm arm, a push button 22 mm short wiper arm, and an fz wiper arm to selectively connect the push button 19 mm wiper arm, the push button 22 mm arm, the push button 22 mm short wiper arm, and the fz wiper arm to the adapter.

9. The adapter of claim 8 further comprising a wedge elastically attached to the inner body, the wedge being laterally disposed between the inner body and the push button 22 mm arm and the push button 22 mm short wiper arm.

10. The adapter of claim 9 , the wedge extending from the exterior surface of the inner tongue of the inner body from the proximal end of the adapter toward the distal end of the adapter so as to exert a lateral biasing force on the push button 22 mm arm and the push button 22 mm short wiper arm toward the inner side wall section of the upper body.

11. The adapter of claim 8 further comprising a wedge elastically attached to the inner body, the wedge being laterally disposed between the inner side wall of the upper body and the push button 19 mm wiper arm and the fz wiper arm.

12. The adapter of claim 11 , the wedge extending from the exterior surface of the inner tongue of the inner body from the proximal end of the adapter toward the distal end of the adapter so as to exert a lateral biasing force on the push button 19 mm wiper arm and the fz wiper arm toward the exterior surface of the inner tongue of the inner body.

13. The adapter of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of tabs include an upper distal tab and the upper body includes an inner side wall section, an outer side wall section, and a top wall section bridging between the inner side wall section and the outer side wall section so as to define a general upside down U-shaped configuration, wherein the top wall section defines a first distal slot and a second proximal slot that each extend from the distal end longitudinally toward

Assignees

• Trico Products Corp

Inventors

• Tufts Jr Lindsey
• Boll David
• Stanca Nicholas E
• Soreo Robert
• Thorstenson Iv R Kenneth
• Croston James
• Ehde Dan

Classifications

• B60S1/3858

  with protrusions cooperating with holes · CPC title

• B60S1/40 Primary

  Connections between blades and arms · CPC title

• B60S2001/4032

  the element being able to receive arms with hooks of different radiuses · CPC title

• B60S1/3863

  Connectors having a spoiler · CPC title

• B60S1/407

  with means provided on the arm for locking the side pin · CPC title