Wiper adapter and wiper assembly incorporating the same

1. An adapter for use in releasably attaching a wiper assembly to a wiper arm having an attachment member including a track defined by a base and walls depending therefrom, a bent tab extending outwardly from the base, and fins that extend from the walls, said adapter comprising:

a body having a first end and a second end;

a pair of opposing sidewalls extending longitudinally between said first end and said second end, each of said sidewalls having an inside surface and an outside surface;

a nose connecting said sidewalls at said first end for receiving the bent tab of the attachment member of the wiper arm;

a strap connecting said sidewalls for engaging the base of the attachment member of the wiper arm;

a pair of rails inwardly spaced from said inside surfaces of said sidewalls and extending longitudinally under said strap for a predetermined longitudinal extent of said body; and

a pair of locking tabs disposed adjacent to said second end, each of said locking tabs having a shoulder extending from said inside surface of one of said sidewalls for engaging one of the fins of the attachment member of the wiper arm, a distal end spaced from said shoulder, and a tapered wall extending between said shoulder and said distal end, wherein said distal ends of said locking tabs merge each of said outside surfaces of said sidewalls with each of said tapered walls.

2. The adapter as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said locking tabs are integrated with said sidewalls such that said sidewalls are at least partially resilient along said second end of said body.

3. The adapter as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said adapter further includes a pair of resilient links with each of said links extending between one of said locking tabs and one of said rails.

4. The adapter as set forth in claim 3 , wherein said links each have a first leg extending from said distal end of one of said locking tabs, a second leg extending from one of said rails, and an apex connecting said first leg to said second leg.

5. The adapter as set forth in claim 4 , wherein said first leg, said second leg, and said apex of each respective link cooperate to define a respective retention pocket for accommodating one of the fins of the attachment member of the wiper arm in the event that said shoulders of said locking tabs disengage from the same.

6. The adapter as set forth in claim 5 , wherein said retention pockets of said links each have a substantially triangular profile.

7. The adapter as set forth in claim 5 , wherein said locking tabs have a first position wherein said locking tabs are substantially parallel with respect to each other, and a second position wherein said locking tabs define a transverse angle therebetween, said locking tabs being movable from said first position to said second position in response to disengagement from the fins of the attachment member of the wiper arm.

8. The adapter as set forth in claim 7 , wherein said retention pockets of said links capture the fins of the attachment member of the wiper arm when said locking tabs move from said first position to said second position.

9. The adapter as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said strap is spaced longitudinally between said nose and said locking tabs.

10. The adapter as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said strap has a middle section and a pair of supports depending therefrom, said supports merging with said outside surfaces of said sidewalls.

11. The adapter as set forth in claim 10 , wherein said middle section of said strap is spaced vertically above said nose.

12. The adapter as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said adapter further includes a pair of shelves connecting said inside surfaces of said sidewalls to said rails and extending longitudinally for a predetermined longitudinal extent of said body, said shelves spaced vertically below said strap so as to receive the track of the attachment member of the wiper arm.

13. The adapter as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said nose includes an upper surface extending between and merging with said sidewalls and having a notch disposed therein, said notch adapted to receive at least a portion of the bent tab of the attachment member of the wiper arm when the attachment member is attached to said adapter.

14. The adapter as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said inside surfaces of said sidewalls and said rails define a pair of channels for receiving the walls of the attachment member of the wiper arm.

15. The adapter as set forth in claim 14 , wherein said locking tabs each extend from said inside surface of one of said sidewalls at least partially into one of said channels.

16. The adapter as set forth in claim 15 , wherein said adapter further includes an alignment guide extending from said rails and having an upwardly opening U-shaped profile for cooperating with the bent tab of the attachment member of the wiper arm and for aligning the walls of the attachment member of the wiper arm with said channels of said adapter during attachment to the wiper arm.

17. A wiper assembly comprising:

a wiping element adapted to contact the surface to be wiped;

at least one elongated spline acting to support said wiping element;

a coupler operatively attached to said spline; and

an adapter pivotally attached to said coupler for use in releasably attaching to a wiper arm having an attachment member including a track defined by a base and walls depending therefrom, a bent tab extending outwardly from the base, and fins that extend from the walls, said adapter including:

a body having a first end and a second end,

a pair of opposing sidewalls extending longitudinally between said first end and said second end, each of said sidewalls having an inside surface and an outside surface,

a nose connecting said sidewalls at said first end for receiving the bent tab of the attachment member of the wiper arm,

a strap connecting said sidewalls for engaging the base of the attachment member of the wiper arm,

at least one resilient locking tab disposed adjacent to said second end and extending from at least one of said inside surfaces of said sidewalls for engaging at least one of the fins of the attachment member of the wiper arm,

a pair of rails inwardly spaced from said inside surfaces of said sidewalls and extending longitudinally under said strap for a predetermined longitudinal extent of said body, said rails and said inside surfaces of said sidewalls defining a pair of channels for receiving the walls of the attachment member of the wiper arm with said at least one locking tab extending from said inside surface of one of said sidewalls at least partially into one of said channels, and

an alignment guide extending from said rails and having an upwardly opening U-shaped profile for cooperating with the bent tab of the attachment member of the wiper arm and for aligning the walls of the attachment member of the wiper arm with said channels of said adapter during attachment to the wiper arm.

18. The wiper assembly as set forth in claim 17 , wherein said adapter includes a pair of locking tabs, with each of said locking tabs disposed adjacent to said second end and extending from said inside surfaces of said sidewalls.

19. The wiper assembly as set forth in claim 18 , wherein said locking tabs are integrated with said sidewalls such that said sidewalls are at least partially resilient along said second end of said body.

20. The wiper assembly as set forth in claim 18 , wherein said locking tabs each have a shoulder for engaging one of the fins of the attachment member of the wiper arm, a distal end spaced from said shoulder, and a tapered wall extending between said shoulder and said distal end.

21. The wiper assembly as set forth in claim 20 , wherein said shoulders of said locking tabs each extend from said inside surface of one of said sidewalls, and said distal ends of said locking tabs merge each of said outside surfaces of said sidewalls with each of said tapered walls of said locking tabs.

22. The wiper assembly as set forth in claim 20 , wherein said adapter further includes a pair of resilient links with each of said links extending between one of said locking tabs and one of said rails.

23. The wiper assembly as set forth in claim 22 , wherein said links each have a first leg extending from said distal end of one of said locking tabs, a second leg extending from one of said rails, and an apex connecting said first leg to said second leg.

24. The wiper assembly as set forth in claim 23 , wherein said first leg, said second leg, and said apex of each respective link cooperate to define a respective retention pocket for accommodating one of the fins of the attachment member of the wiper arm in the event that said shoulders of said locking tabs disengage from the same.

25. The wiper assembly as set forth in claim 24 , wherein said retention pockets of said links each have a substantially triangular profile.

26. The wiper assembly as set forth in claim 24 , wherein said locking tabs have a first position wherein said locking tabs are substantially parallel with respect to each other, and a second position wherein said locking tabs define a transverse angle therebetween, said locking tabs being movable from said first position to said second position in response to disengagement from the fins of the attachment member of the wiper arm.

27. The wiper assembly as set forth in claim 26 , wherein said retention pockets of said links capture the fins of the attachment member of the wiper arm when said locking tabs move from said first position to said second position.

28. The wiper assembly as set forth in claim 17 , wherein said strap is spaced longitudinally between said nose and said at least one locking tab.

29. The wiper assembly as set forth in claim 17 , wherein said strap has a middle section and a pair of supports depending therefrom, said supports merging with said outside surfaces of said sidewalls.

30. The wiper assembly as set forth in claim 29 , wherein said middle section of said strap is spaced vertically above said nose.

31. The wiper assembly as set forth in claim 17 , wherein said adapter further includes a pair of shelves connecting said inside surfaces of said sidewalls to said rails and extending longitudinally for a predetermined longitudinal extent of said body, said shelves spaced vertically below said strap so as to receive the track of the attachment member of the wiper arm.

32. The wiper assembly as set forth in claim 17 , wherein said nose includes an upper surface extending between and merging with said sidewalls and having a notch disposed therein, said notch adapted to receive at least a portion of the bent tab of the attachment member of the wiper arm when the attachment member is attached to said adapter.