Wiper arm assembly having a locking tab
View Patent ↗A wiper arm assembly and method of construction thereof includes a mounting head and a wiper arm configured for relative rotation during assembly from a disassembled position to a shipping position, wherein the wiper arm and mounting head are locked against rotation toward the disassembled position once in the shipping position. The mounting head and wiper arm have locking surfaces configured for locked engagement with one another while in the shipping position. The locking surfaces are brought into engagement with one another by a force imparted by a spring while rotating the mounting head relative to the wiper arm from the disassembled position toward the shipping position. When in the shipping position, the locking surfaces confront each other and prevent the mounting head and the wiper arm from rotating back toward the disassembled position from the shipping position.
1. A wiper arm assembly, comprising:
a mounting head having one end configured for attachment to a vehicle and laterally spaced sidewalls extending to another end with an axle extending between said sidewalls, said mounting head further having a locking tab extending substantially from said axle and toward said another end, said locking tab having a locking surface;
a wiper arm having one end configured to support a wiper blade and another end configured with a hub having a pocket for rotation of said axle therein, said pocket extending generally from said another end to a seating surface, said hub further having a recess extending generally from said seating surface toward said one end, said recess having a locking surface;
a spring configured for operable attachment to said mounting head and said wiper arm; and
said locking tab on said mounting head being received in said recess in said hub in a shipping position under a force imparted by said spring upon rotating said mounting head relative to said wiper arm from a disassembled position toward said shipping position, said locking surface on said locking tab confronting said locking surface in said recess while in said shipping position and preventing said mounting head and said wiper arm from rotating back toward said disassembled position from said shipping position.
2. The wiper arm assembly of claim 1 wherein said mounting head has a pair of said locking tabs.
3. The wiper arm assembly of claim 2 wherein each of said locking tabs is attached to a separate one of said sidewalls.
4. The wiper arm assembly of claim 2 wherein said hub has a pair of said recesses, each of said recesses being arranged for receipt of a separate one of said locking tabs.
5. The wiper arm assembly of claim 1 wherein said hub has opposite sidewalls, said recess extending across said sidewalls of said hub.
6. The wiper arm assembly of claim 5 wherein said locking tab is attached to each of said sidewalls of said mounting head.
7. The wiper arm assembly of claim 6 wherein said locking tab extends continuously between said sidewalls of said mounting head.
8. The wiper arm assembly of claim 1 wherein said recess has a surface spaced sufficiently opposite said locking surface of said recess to allow said locking tab to pivot in said recess so that said wiper arm can be rotated beyond said shipping position to move said locking surface in said recess out of engagement with said locking surface on said locking tab.
9. A wiper arm assembly, comprising:
a mounting head having one end configured for attachment to a vehicle and an opposite end, said mounting head further having one of an axle with locking tab extending substantially therefrom or a hub, said locking tab having a locking surface and said hub having a pocket extending from an open end to a seating surface and a recess extending generally from said seating surface away from said open end, said recess having a locking surface;
a wiper arm having the other of said axle and locking tab or hub;
a spring operably attached to said mounting head and said wiper arm; and
said assembly having a shipping position provided by said locking tab being disposed in said recess in said hub with said locking surface of said locking tab engaging said locking surface in said recess under a force imparted by said spring upon said mounting head being rotated relative to said wiper arm from a disassembled position toward said shipping position, said locking surfaces preventing said mounting head and said wiper arm from rotating back toward said disassembled position.
10. The wiper assembly of claim 9 wherein said wiper arm has said hub and said recess extends across said seating surface.
11. The wiper assembly of claim 10 wherein said mounting head has laterally spaced sidewalls with said axle and said locking tab extending continuously between said sidewalls.
12. The wiper assembly of claim 9 wherein said wiper arm has said hub and a pair of said recesses, said recesses being laterally spaced from one another.
13. The wiper assembly of claim 12 wherein said mounting head has a pair of said locking tabs arranged for receipt in said recesses.
14. The wiper assembly of claim 13 wherein said mounting head has laterally spaced sidewalls with said axle extending between said sidewalls and said locking tabs being attached to separate one of said sidewalls.