US4418441A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Spacer for rotatably connecting wiper blade parts
Assignee: Trico Belgium SA
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Filing: 1981-10-14
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Granted: 1983-12-06
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Expires: 2001-10-14
Abstract
Abstract In a wiper blade assembly, a spacer is provided for rotatably connecting two yokes of a wiper blade. The spacer has substantially the form of an inverted U provided with first members securing the spacer rigidly to a first yoke and provided with second members rotatably securing the spacer to a second yoke. The first members are rigidly secured to the web of the inverted U with the second members rigidly secured to the two flanges of said inverted U.
Inventors
- 👤 Johan H. VAN DEN Berg
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 17:23
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60S; B60S1/00; B60S1/02; B60S1/04; B60S1/32; B60S1/38; B60S1/3801; B60S2001/3812; B60S2001/3813; B60S2001/3815
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
244 words
A spacer (3) for rotatably connecting a first yoke (1) to a second yoke (2) of a wiper blade assembly, the first yoke (1) having at the outer end portion substantially the form of an inverted U with the flanges (4, 5) joined by a web (13), said spacer (3) having substantially the form of an inverted U with a pair of flanges (8, 9) joined by a web (15), the spacer (3) being provided with first means (16a, 14, 21a) for securing the spacer (3) to the first yoke (1) and provided with second means (11, 12, 23, 24, 31, 32) for rotatably securing the spacer to the second yoke (2), characterized in that said first means (16a, 14, 21a) are integrally formed on the web (15) of said inverted U of the spacer and project in a direction opposite to the direction of the flanges (8, 9) of the spacer, said first means are secured to the web (13) of the first yoke (1), said second means (11, 12, 23, 24, 31, 32) are integrally formed on the two flanges (8, 9) of the inverted U of the spacer and project toward each other, said second means are pivotally secured to said second yoke (2), the flanges (4, 5) of the first yoke surround the flanges (8, 9) of the spacer for holding the second means (11, 12, 23, 24, 31, 32) of the spacer (3) assembled with the second yoke (2).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
244 words
A spacer (3) for rotatably connecting a first yoke (1) to a second yoke (2) of a wiper blade assembly, the first yoke (1) having at the outer end portion substantially the form of an inverted U with the flanges (4, 5) joined by a web (13), said spacer (3) having substantially the form of an inverted U with a pair of flanges (8, 9) joined by a web (15), the spacer (3) being provided with first means (16a, 14, 21a) for securing the spacer (3) to the first yoke (1) and provided with second means (11, 12, 23, 24, 31, 32) for rotatably securing the spacer to the second yoke (2), characterized in that said first means (16a, 14, 21a) are integrally formed on the web (15) of said inverted U of the spacer and project in a direction opposite to the direction of the flanges (8, 9) of the spacer, said first means are secured to the web (13) of the first yoke (1), said second means (11, 12, 23, 24, 31, 32) are integrally formed on the two flanges (8, 9) of the inverted U of the spacer and project toward each other, said second means are pivotally secured to said second yoke (2), the flanges (4, 5) of the first yoke surround the flanges (8, 9) of the spacer for holding the second means (11, 12, 23, 24, 31, 32) of the spacer (3) assembled with the second yoke (2).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
A spacer (3) according to claim 1 characterized in that said first means comprise a rivet (16a), of circular or of any other cross-section, passing through a corresponding opening (16) provided in the web (13) of said first yoke (1).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
A spacer (3) according to claim 1 characterized in that said first means comprise a snap-on device (21a) capable of snapping into a corresponding opening (21) provided in the web (13) of said first yoke (1).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
A spacer (3) according to claim 3, characterized in that the snap-on device (21a), of circular or of any other cross-section, comprises several resilient hooks (22) resting on the external surface of the web (13) of said first yoke (1).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
A spacer (3) according to claim 1, characterized in that said second means comprise two cylindrical (11, 12) or semi-cylindrical (23, 24) pivots.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
A spacer (3) according to claim 5, characterized in that said two pivots (11, 12, 23, 24) cooperate with two corresponding recesses provided in the two flanges (6, 7) said second yoke.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
67 words
A spacer (3) according to claim 5 wherein the second yoke (2) has substantially the form of an inverted U, characterized in that said two pivots (11, 12, 23, 24) cooperate with two corresponding openings (11a, 12, 27) provided in the two flanges (6, 7) of said second yoke (2) and said second yoke (2) is situated between the two flanges (8, 9) of the spacer (3).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
89 words
A spacer (3) according to one of the claims 2 through 7, characterized in that the two flanges (4, 5) of the first yoke (1) are both provided with a lug (4a, 5a) which projects into a corresponding recess (29, 30) provided in the external surfaces of the two flanges (8, 9) of the spacer (3) in front of said cylindrical (11, 12) or semi-cylindrical (23, 24) pivots, the engagement between the lug (40, 50) and recess (29, 30) reinforcing the connection between the yoke (1) and spacer (3).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
A spacer (3) according to claims 1 characterized in that said second means comprise two cylindrical openings (31, 32).
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
A spacer (3) according to claim 9, characterized in that said two cylindrical openings (31, 32) cooperate with two corresponding pivots provided on the two flanges of said second yoke.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
54 words
A spacer (3) according to claim 9 wherein the cross-section of the second yoke has substantially the form of an inverted U, characterized in that said two cylindrical openings (31, 32) cooperate with two corresponding lugs (33, 34) stamped out of the material of the two flanges (6, 7) of said second yoke (2).
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
A spacer (3) according to one of the claims 1 through 7, 10 and 11, characterized in that the spacer is made in one piece, for example, out of an appropriate plastic material.
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) | 1986-12-05 | 1987-06-06 | 1987-12-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-12-05 | 1991-06-06 | 1991-12-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-12-05 | 1995-06-06 | 1995-12-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |