Windshield wiper having a coupler with positive locking features

1. A windshield wiper assembly adapted to be mounted to the attachment portion of a wiper arm that imparts reciprocal motion to the windshield wiper assembly across a surface to be wiped, said windshield wiper assembly comprising:

a wiper blade adapted to contact the surface to be wiped;

a coupler assembly operatively mounted to said wiper blade and serving to interconnect said wiper blade to the wiper arm;

said coupler assembly including a coupler having a body including a pair of sidewalls, a channel defined between said sidewalls and extending substantially parallel thereto so as to define a longitudinal axis of said body, said channel adapted to cooperatively receive the attachment portion of the wiper arm, said channel further including a pair of lugs disposed in spaced relationship with respect to each other and extending upwardly from said channel, said lugs adapted to be received in corresponding holes defined in the attachment portion of the wiper arm so as to prevent the wiper arm from moving longitudinally relative to said body; and

a latching mechanism operatively mounted to said body and moveable between an open position spaced from said channel and a closed position disposed over said channel to secure the attachment portion of the wiper arm between said latching mechanism and said body thereby securing said coupler to the attachment portion of the wiper arm;

said latching mechanism including a locking member, said locking member serving to secure said latching mechanism in said closed position;

said locking member including at least one flexible arm, said body defining a retainer, said at least one flexible arm adapted for releasable engagement with said retainer so that said latching mechanism is snap fit relative to said body when in said closed position;

said latching mechanism defining a top wall and a pair of sidewalls depending therefrom, said at least one flexible arm having a first portion extending cantilevered from said top wall in a first direction, a second portion spaced from said first portion extending in a direction opposite said first portion and terminating in a distal end, a shoulder formed on said second portion spaced from said distal end, a hinge portion interconnecting said first and second portions such that said second portion flexes upon coming into contact with said retainer to move toward said first portion until said shoulder engages said retainer and locks said latching mechanism in said closed position.

2. The windshield wiper assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said retainer includes an opening defined in said body, said opening defining a locking ridge, said shoulder of said second portion adapted to be disposed in abutting engagement with said locking ridge when said latching mechanism is in its closed position.

3. The windshield wiper assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said body of said coupler defines a pair of shoulders extending along the longitudinal length of said sidewalls, said sidewalls of said latching mechanisms juxtaposed in side-by-side relationship with said sidewalls of said body and adjacent said shoulder when said latching mechanism is in said closed position.

4. The windshield wiper assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said coupler assembly includes an adapter operatively mounted to said wiper blade, said body operatively mounted to said adapter.

5. The windshield wiper assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein said adapter includes a base and a pair of upstanding sidewalls disposed in spaced parallel relationship with respect to said base, said base including a plurality of transversely extending tangs that are adapted to operatively engage said wiper blade.

6. A windshield wiper assembly adapted to be mounted to the attachment portion of a wiper arm that imparts reciprocal motion to the windshield wiper assembly across a surface to be wiped, said windshield wiper assembly comprising:

a wiper blade adapted to contact the surface to be wiped;

a coupler assembly including an adapter operatively mounted to said wiper blade and serving to interconnect said wiper blade to the wiper arm;

said coupler assembly including a coupler having a body operatively mounted to said adapter, said body including a pair of sidewalls, a channel defined between said sidewalls and extending substantially parallel thereto, said channel adapted to cooperatively receive the attachment portion of the wiper arm; and

a latching mechanism operatively mounted to said body and moveable between an open position spaced from said channel and a closed position disposed over said channel to secure the attachment portion of the wiper arm between said latching mechanism and said body thereby securing said coupler to the attachment portion of the wiper arm;

said latching mechanism includes a locking member, said locking member includes at least one flexible arm, said body of said coupler defining a retainer, said flexible arm adapted for releasable engagement with said retainer so that said latching mechanism is snap fit relative to said body when in said closed position;

said latching mechanism further defining a top wall and a pair of sidewalls depending therefrom, said flexible arm having a first portion extending cantilevered from said top wall in a first direction, a second portion spaced from said first portion extending in a direction opposite said first portion and terminating in a distal end, a shoulder formed on said second portion spaced from said distal end, a hinge portion interconnecting said first and second portions such that said second portion flexes upon coming into contact with said retainer to move toward said first portion until said shoulder engages said retainer and locks said latching mechanism in said closed position.

7. The windshield wiper assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein said retainer includes an opening defined in said body, said opening defining a locking ridge, said shoulder of said second portion adapted to be disposed in abutting engagement with said locking ridge when said latching member is in its closed position.

8. The windshield wiper assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein said latching mechanism includes a pair of ears extending in cantilevered fashion from said pair of sidewalls and disposed spaced from said locking member, said ears including a pair of inwardly projecting bosses that are axially aligned with respect to one another, said body including a pair of inwardly extending openings, said bosses adapted to be cooperatively received in said inwardly extending openings such that said latching mechanism is pivotally mounted relative to said body about an axis defined by said bosses.

9. The windshield wiper assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein said channel includes a pair of lugs disposed in spaced relationship with respect to each other and extending upwardly from said channel, said lugs adapted to be received in corresponding holes defined in the attachment portion of the wiper arm.

10. The windshield wiper assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein said body of said coupler defines a pair of shoulders extending along the longitudinal length of said sidewalls, said sidewalls of said latching mechanism juxtaposed in side-by-side relationship with said sidewalls of said body and adjacent said shoulder when said latching mechanism is in said closed position.