Wiper coupler and wiper assembly incorporating same
View Patent ↗The present invention relates to a wiper coupler and wiper assembly that includes a wiping element and a tournament-style superstructure to support the wiping element. The wiper assembly further includes a wiper coupler that releasably attaches the superstructure to a wiper arm attachment member. The wiper coupler includes a pair of sidewalls each having a flange to engage a portion of the guides of the attachment member and further includes an elevated platform and a deck each disposed between the sidewalls. The deck and a portion of the sidewalls define a rest to receive the track of the attachment member. The wiper coupler further includes an aperture between the elevated platform and the deck. The aperture receives a portion of the bent tab of the attachment member to facilitate attachment between the superstructure and the attachment member conventionally employed for use with a beam blade-style wiper assembly.
1. A wiper assembly for use in connection with a wiper arm having an attachment member including a track defined by a base and rails depending therefrom, a bent tab extending outwardly from the base and guides that extend linearly downward from the rails, said wiper assembly comprising:
a wiping element adapted to contact a surface to be wiped;
a tournament-style superstructure adapted to operatively support said wiping element; and
a wiper coupler operatively engaged to said superstructure that is adapted to releasably attach said superstructure to a wiper arm attachment member, said wiper coupler including a pair of sidewalls each having a flange adapted to engage a portion of the guides of a wiper arm attachment member, said wiper coupler further including an elevated platform and a deck each disposed between said sidewalls, said deck cooperating with a portion of said sidewalls to define a rest adapted to operatively receive the track of a wiper arm attachment member,
said wiper coupler further including an aperture disposed between said elevated platform and said deck that is adapted to receive a portion of the bent tab of a wiper arm attachment member, each of said sidewalls further including an opposed surface having a recessed section that cooperates with said deck to define said rest, said recessed section partially defined by a lip disposed on said opposed surfaces, said lips adapted to provide a positive stop relative to the rails of the wiper arm attachment member to facilitate releasable attachment between said tournament-style superstructure and a wiper arm attachment member conventionally employed for use in connection with a beam blade-style wiper assembly.
2. The wiper assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said wiper coupler further includes an engaging member depending from said elevated platform to operatively engage a portion of a bent tab of a wiper arm attachment member, said engaging member having a cantilevered body disposed within said aperture and a bulbous head at the terminal end of said cantilevered body, said bulbous head adapted to actuate movement of said cantilevered body to facilitate releasable attachment between said wiper coupler and the wiper arm attachment member.
3. The wiper assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said bulbous head includes a ridge depending therefrom disposed adjacent to said cantilevered body and that is adapted to operatively engage a portion of a bent tab of a wiper arm attachment member and provide an interference fit between said engaging member and the bent tab.
4. The wiper assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said deck further includes a cantilevered beam having a raised portion adapted to provide an interference fit between said coupler and the track of a wiper arm attachment member.
5. The wiper assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein said deck further includes a bridge disposed between said cantilevered beam and said elevated platform, said bridge adapted to provide a positive stop between a portion the bent tab of a wiper arm attachment member when said coupler is releasably attached to a wiper arm attachment member.
6. The wiper assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said flanges include a terminal edge and a barb disposed adjacent to the terminal edge, said barbs adapted to operatively engage a portion of the guides of a wiper arm attachment member, said barbs adapted to actuate movement of said flanges to facilitate releasable attachment between said wiper coupler and a wiper arm attachment member.
7. The wiper assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said superstructure further includes a primary lever operatively connected to said coupler and at least one secondary lever pivotally attached to said primary lever and at least one tertiary lever pivotally attached to said secondary lever, said tertiary lever adapted to releasably engage said wiping element.
8. The wiper assembly as set forth in claim 7 wherein said primary lever further includes a step-down area adapted to receive said wiper coupler and a low profile section adjacent to said step-down area to reduce the likelihood of interference between said superstructure and a wiper arm during operational movement of said wiping element across a surface to be wiped.
9. The wiper assembly as set forth in claim 7 wherein said primary lever includes a pair of aligned bores and said sidewalls include an inward surface each having a post adapted to releasably engage said aligned bores, said posts adapted to provide a bearing surface about which said primary lever may pivot relative to said coupler.