US3874018A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Windshield wiper construction
Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Europe BVBA
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Filing: 1973-06-25
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Granted: 1975-04-01
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Expires: 1993-06-25
Abstract
Abstract A universal connecting element adapted to detachably secure a variety of different types and sizes of windshield wiper blades to associated wiper arms, the connecting element being of a molded, one-piece construction fabricated of a corrosion resistant polymeric material and including an arm end receiving recess and first and second pivotable retaining members for detachably retaining the outer end of a wiper arm within the recess.
Inventors
- 👤 Den Berg Johan H Van
- 👤 Albert J G Hoebrechts
- 👤 Eekelen Alex H A M Van
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 06:52
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60S; B60S1/00; B60S1/02; B60S1/04; B60S1/32; B60S1/40; B60S1/4083; B60S1/38; B60S1/3801; B60S1/4003; B60S1/4038; B60S1/4064; B60S2001/3812; B60S2001/3813
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 40
Claim 1
Independent Claim
183 words
A connecting element adapted to detachably secure a windshield wiper blade assembly on windshield wiper arms of the type having outwardly projecting boss portions and/or inwardly projecting recessed areas, said connecting element comprising means defining an elongated channel adapted to removably receive wiper arm ends therewithin, said channel having a first portion of a first predetermined width into which wiper arm ends of approximately said first predetermined width are insertable, and a second portion of a second predetermined width into which wiper arm ends of approximately said second predetermined width are insertable, at least one boss receiving means associated with each of said portions of said channel cooperable with the bosses of wiper arm ends inserted into said recess portions, and first and second movable retaining fingers formed integrally of said element, one of said fingers adapted for enGagement with said recessed areas of certain types of said wiper arm ends, and the other of said retaining fingers being cooperable with wiper arm ends having boss portions thereon for causing positive engagement of said boss portions with selected of said boss receiving means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
183 words
A connecting element adapted to detachably secure a windshield wiper blade assembly on windshield wiper arms of the type having outwardly projecting boss portions and/or inwardly projecting recessed areas, said connecting element comprising means defining an elongated channel adapted to removably receive wiper arm ends therewithin, said channel having a first portion of a first predetermined width into which wiper arm ends of approximately said first predetermined width are insertable, and a second portion of a second predetermined width into which wiper arm ends of approximately said second predetermined width are insertable, at least one boss receiving means associated with each of said portions of said channel cooperable with the bosses of wiper arm ends inserted into said recess portions, and first and second movable retaining fingers formed integrally of said element, one of said fingers adapted for enGagement with said recessed areas of certain types of said wiper arm ends, and the other of said retaining fingers being cooperable with wiper arm ends having boss portions thereon for causing positive engagement of said boss portions with selected of said boss receiving means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The invention as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first and second retaining fingers are arranged at generally right angles.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
The invention as set forth in claim 1 wherein said boss receiving means comprises at least one aperture formed in said first and second portions of said channel and adapted to receive boss portions of wiper arm ends inserted into said channel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The invention as set forth in claim 1 wherein said connecting element is fabricated of a one-piece polymeric material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The invention as set forth in claim 3 which includes longitudinally extending slots interconnecting certain of said apertures.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
The invention as set forth in claim 1 wherein said second channel portion is of a smaller transverse dimension than said first channel portion, and wherein said first and second channel portions have laterally offset center lines.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
The invention as set forth in claim 6 which includes one aperture formed on said center line of said first channel portion and a plurality of apertures formed on said center line of said second channel portion.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
The invention as set forth in claim 7 which includes at least one longitudinally extending slot lying along the center line of said second channel portion and interconnecting certain of said apertures aligned therewith.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The invention as set forth in claim 8 which includes inwardly projecting shoulder portions formed at the juncture of said slots and said apertures.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The invention as set forth in claim 6 which includes a projection extending into said channel and partially defining said second channel portion.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
The invention as set forth in claim 10 wherein said projection defines a stop shoulder.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
The invention as set forth in claim 10 wherein said second retaining finger is cooperable with said projection in preventing side play of a wiper arm end inserted into said channel.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
The invention as set forth in claim 6 wherein the transverse dimension of said first channel portion is approximately 3/8 inch and the transverse dimension of said second channel portion is approximately 9 millimeters.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
86 words
A connecting element adapted to detachably secure a windshield wiper on one end of an associated wiper arm, said connecting element comprising means defining a recessed area adapted to removably receive said arm end therewithin, and means including first and second pivotable retaining fingers arranged at generally right angles to one another and formed integrally of said element and adapted to cooperate with a wiper arm end disposed within said recessed area in a manner so as to detachably secure said element to said wiper arm.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
86 words
A connecting element adapted to detachably secure a windshield wiper on one end of an associated wiper arm, said connecting element comprising means defining a recessed area adapted to removably receive said arm end therewithin, and means including first and second pivotable retaining fingers arranged at generally right angles to one another and formed integrally of said element and adapted to cooperate with a wiper arm end disposed within said recessed area in a manner so as to detachably secure said element to said wiper arm.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
60 words
The invention as set forth in claim 14 wherein said recessed area comprises an elongated channel having a first portion of a first predetermined width and a second portion of a second predetermined width, and which includes means associated with said first and second portions cooperable with wiper arm ends inserted thereinto for removably retaining the same within said channel.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
43 words
The invention as set forth in claim 14 which includes first and second movable retaining fingers formed integrally of said element and adapted to cooperate with wiper arm ends disposed within an elongated channel in said element for removably securing the same therein.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
44 words
The invention as set forth in claim 14 which includes an elongated wiper arm end receiving channel, and which includes means in the form of at least one aperture for receiving a boss portion formed on a wiper arm end inserted into said channel.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
37 words
The invention as set forth in claim 17 wherein said second channel portion is of a smaller transverse dimension than said first channeL portion, and wherein said first and second channel portions have laterally offset center lines.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
37 words
The invention as set forth in claim 18 which includes one aperture formed on said center line of said first channel portion and a plurality of apertures formed on said center line of said second channel portion.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
34 words
The invention as set forth in claim 19 which includes at least one longitudinally extending slot lying along the center line of said second channel portion and interconnecting certain of said apertures aligned therewith.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
120 words
A connecting element adapted to detachably secure a subassembly consisting of a wiper blade and a blade supporting superstructure to the outer end of a wiper arm having a recessed area formed therein, said connecting element being pivotably connected to the blade superstructure and being of a molded one-piece construction and fabricated of a corrosion resistant polymeric material and comprising an integral retaining finger adapted for engagement with said recessed area of said arm, whereby to detachably secure the same to said element, said finger being located on and extending along one side of said element, with said finger being pivotable about an axis arranged at generally right angles to the pivotal axis between said element and said blade superstructure.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
120 words
A connecting element adapted to detachably secure a subassembly consisting of a wiper blade and a blade supporting superstructure to the outer end of a wiper arm having a recessed area formed therein, said connecting element being pivotably connected to the blade superstructure and being of a molded one-piece construction and fabricated of a corrosion resistant polymeric material and comprising an integral retaining finger adapted for engagement with said recessed area of said arm, whereby to detachably secure the same to said element, said finger being located on and extending along one side of said element, with said finger being pivotable about an axis arranged at generally right angles to the pivotal axis between said element and said blade superstructure.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
21 words
The invention as set forth in claim 21 which includes first and second movement retaining fingers formed integrally of said element.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
62 words
The invention as set forth in claim 22 which includes an elongated channel having a first portion of a first predetermined width and a second portion of a second predetermined width, and means including said first and second retaining fingers associated with said first and second portions cooperable with wiper arm ends inserted thereinto for removably retaining the same within said channel.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
44 words
The invention as set forth in claim 21 which includes an elongated wiper arm end receiving channel, and which includes means in the form of at least one aperture for receiving a boss portion formed on a wiper arm end inserted into said channel.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
37 words
The invention as set forth in claim 21 wherein said second channel portion is of a smaller transverse dimension than said first channel portion, and wherein said first and second channel portions have laterally offset center lines.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
37 words
The invention as set forth in claim 25 which includes one aperture formed on said center line of said first channel portion and a plurality of apertures formed on said center line of said second channel portion.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
34 words
The invention as set forth in claim 26 which includes at least one longitudinally extending slot lying along the center line of said second channel portion and interconnecting certain of said apertures aligned therewith.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
124 words
A connecting element adapted to detachably secure a windshield wiper blade on one end of an associated wiper arm, said connecting element having means defining a recessed area adapted to removably receive a wiper arm end, said recessed area having a first portion of a first predetermined width into which a wiper arm end of approximately said first predetermined width is insertable, and a second portion of a second predetermined width different from said first predetermined width and into which a wiper arm end of approximately said second predetermined width is insertable, and first and second movable retaining fingers formed integrally of said element and cooperable with wiper arm ends inserted into said recessed area for removably retaining the same within said recessed area.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
124 words
A connecting element adapted to detachably secure a windshield wiper blade on one end of an associated wiper arm, said connecting element having means defining a recessed area adapted to removably receive a wiper arm end, said recessed area having a first portion of a first predetermined width into which a wiper arm end of approximately said first predetermined width is insertable, and a second portion of a second predetermined width different from said first predetermined width and into which a wiper arm end of approximately said second predetermined width is insertable, and first and second movable retaining fingers formed integrally of said element and cooperable with wiper arm ends inserted into said recessed area for removably retaining the same within said recessed area.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
43 words
The invention as set forth in claim 28 which includes first and second movable retaining fingers formed integrally of said element and adapted to cooperate with wiper arm ends disposed within an elongated channel in said element for removably securing the same therein.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
44 words
The invention as set forth in claim 29 which includes an elongated wiper arm end receiving channel, and which includes means in the form of at least one aperture for receiving a boss portion formed on a wiper arm end inserted into said channel.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
19 words
The invention as set forth in claim 30 wherein said connecting element is fabricated of a one-piece polymeric material.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
37 words
The invention as set forth in claim 29 wherein said second channel portion is of a smaller transverse dimension than said first channel portion, and wherein said first and second channel portions have laterally offset center lines.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
153 words
A connecting element adapted to detachably secure a windshield wiper blade assembly on windshield wiper arms of the type having outwardly projecting boss portions and/or inwardly projecting recessed areas, said connecting element comprising means defining an elongated channel adapted to removably receive wiper arm ends therewithin, said channel having a first portion of a first predetermined width into which wiper arm ends of approximately said first predetermined width are insertable, and a second portion of a second predetermined width into which wiper arm ends of approximately said second predetermined width are insertable, said second channel portion being of a different transverse dimension than said first channel portion, and said first and second channel portions having laterally offset center lines, and at least one boss receiving aperture formed on said center line of said first channel portion and at least one boss receiving aperture formed on said center line of said second channel portion.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
153 words
A connecting element adapted to detachably secure a windshield wiper blade assembly on windshield wiper arms of the type having outwardly projecting boss portions and/or inwardly projecting recessed areas, said connecting element comprising means defining an elongated channel adapted to removably receive wiper arm ends therewithin, said channel having a first portion of a first predetermined width into which wiper arm ends of approximately said first predetermined width are insertable, and a second portion of a second predetermined width into which wiper arm ends of approximately said second predetermined width are insertable, said second channel portion being of a different transverse dimension than said first channel portion, and said first and second channel portions having laterally offset center lines, and at least one boss receiving aperture formed on said center line of said first channel portion and at least one boss receiving aperture formed on said center line of said second channel portion.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
121 words
A connecting element adapted to detachably secure a windshield wiper blade on one end of an associated wiper arm, said connecting element having means defining a recessed area adapted to removably receive a wiper arm end, said recessed area having a first portion of a first predetermined width into which a wiper arm end of approximately said first predetermined width is insertable, and a second portion of a second predetermined width different from said first predetermined width and into which a wiper arm end of approximately said second predetermined width is insertable, said first and second portions of said recessed area being generally coextensive of one another having the center lines thereof arranged parallel to one another and spaced laterally apart.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
121 words
A connecting element adapted to detachably secure a windshield wiper blade on one end of an associated wiper arm, said connecting element having means defining a recessed area adapted to removably receive a wiper arm end, said recessed area having a first portion of a first predetermined width into which a wiper arm end of approximately said first predetermined width is insertable, and a second portion of a second predetermined width different from said first predetermined width and into which a wiper arm end of approximately said second predetermined width is insertable, said first and second portions of said recessed area being generally coextensive of one another having the center lines thereof arranged parallel to one another and spaced laterally apart.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-03-31 | 1978-09-30 | 1979-04-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-03-31 | 1982-09-30 | 1983-04-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-03-31 | 1986-09-30 | 1987-04-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |