Windshield Wiper Connector

Abstract

A windshield wiper connector having a peripheral wall having at least two opposing peripheral side walls, a top surface extending from one of the two opposing peripheral side walls to the other; and a channel formed in the top surface, and extending longitudinally along the top of the connector. The connector including a groove near to the proximal end of the connector and sized to be capable of engaging a trapezoidal roller of a wiper arm. The opposing peripheral side walls having a retaining pin aperture aligned with one another and sized to be capable of accepting a retaining pin of at least one pin-type windshield wiper arm. The channel on the top of the connector sized to be capable of accepting a bayonet style wiper arm. A wiper blade assembly having a wiper strip, a force distribution structure, and a connector as described above.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A windshield wiper connector for connecting a plurality of types of wiper arms with a windshield wiper, the connector having a proximal end and a distal end longitudinally opposed to the proximal end, the connector comprising:
 a peripheral wall having two opposing peripheral side walls, and the opposing peripheral side walls each having a retaining pin aperture aligned with one another;   a top surface extending from one of the two opposing peripheral side walls to the other;   a channel formed in the top surface between the two opposing peripheral side walls, and extending longitudinally along the connector,   wherein the retaining pin apertures are sized to receive a retaining pin of a first type of wiper arm of the plurality of types of wiper arms, and   wherein the channel is sized to receive a portion of a second type of wiper arm of a plurality of types of wiper arms.   
     
     
         2 . The connector of  claim 1  further comprising a pillar extending upwards from the channel proximate the distal end,
 wherein the pillar is sized to be inserted into a notch of the second type of wiper arm. 
 
     
     
         3 . The connector of  claim 1  further comprising a groove proximate the proximal end of the connector, the groove defining a break in the channel,
 wherein the groove is sized to receive a trapezoidal roller of a third type of wiper arm of the plurality of types of wiper arms. 
 
     
     
         4 . The connector of  claim 3  further comprising a groove cover insertable within the groove a top surface of the groove cover defining a groove cover channel which is aligned with the channel when the groove cover is inserted within the groove. 
     
     
         5 . The connector of  claim 4  wherein the groove cover includes a plurality of groove cover notches and each peripheral side wall includes a retaining flange position projecting into the groove, and each groove cover notch is engageable with a retaining flange thereby securing the groove cover with the groove when inserted. 
     
     
         6 . The connector of  claim 1  wherein the top surface of the connector further comprises a proximal shelf with an opening underneath the proximal shelf that is sized to be capable of receiving an end of the second type of wiper arm such that a bottom side of the second type of wiper arm rests against the top surface. 
     
     
         7 . The connector of  claim 1  wherein the first type of wiper arm is a pin type and the second type of wiper arm is a bayonet style. 
     
     
         8 . The connector of  claim 1  wherein the channel comprises opposing side channel walls, and each side channel wall comprises one or more retaining appendages extending a distance towards opposing side channel walls. 
     
     
         9 . The connector of  claim 8  wherein the retaining appendages are capable of holding the second type of wiper arm against the top surface. 
     
     
         10 . The connector of  claim 8  wherein the retaining appendages are sized such that they are capable of snapping the second style of wiper arm into place as the second style of wiper arm is pressed towards the top surface. 
     
     
         11 . The connector of  claim 1  further comprising at least one rivet passage and arcuate rivet clip in each of the opposing peripheral side walls that are capable of accepting and securing a rivet of the wiper blade, thereby securing the connector to the wiper blade. 
     
     
         12 . The connector of  claim 1  further comprising at least one internal longitudinal support wall extending downwards from the top surface and extending substantially along the longitudinal direction of the connector. 
     
     
         13 . The connector of  claim 1  comprising at least one internal perpendicular support wall extending downwards from the top surface and extending substantially from the one side wall of the connector to the next side wall. 
     
     
         14 . The connector of  claim 1  further comprising a groove cover sized to be capable of covering the groove, wherein the groove cover is shaped to complement the shape of the channel. 
     
     
         15 . A wiper blade assembly connectable with a plurality of types of wiper arms, the wiper blade assembly comprising:
 a wiper blade including a wiper strip, a force distribution structure, and a connection device; and   a connector having a proximal end and a distal end longitudinally opposed to the proximal end, the connector comprising:   a peripheral wall having two opposing peripheral side walls, and the opposing peripheral side walls each having a retaining pin aperture aligned with one another;   a top surface extending from one of the two opposing peripheral side walls to the other; and   a channel formed in the top surface between the two opposing peripheral side walls, and extending longitudinally along the connector,   
       wherein the retaining pin apertures are sized to receive a retaining pin of a first type of wiper arm of the plurality of types of wiper arms, and 
       wherein the channel is sized to receive a portion of a second type of wiper arm of a plurality of types of wiper arms. 
     
     
         16 . The wiper blade assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the connector further comprises a pillar extending upwards from the channel proximate the distal end,
 wherein the pillar is sized to be inserted into a notch of the second type of wiper arm.   
     
     
         17 . The wiper blade assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the connector further comprises a groove proximate the proximal end of the connector, the groove defining a break in the channel,
 wherein the groove is sized to receive a trapezoidal roller of a third type of wiper arm of the plurality of types of wiper arms.   
     
     
         18 . The wiper blade assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the connector further comprises a groove cover insertable within the groove a top surface of the groove cover defining a groove cover channel which is aligned with the channel when the groove cover is inserted within the groove. 
     
     
         19 . The wiper blade assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the groove cover includes a plurality of groove cover notches and each peripheral side wall includes a retaining flange position projecting into the groove, and each groove cover notch is engageable with a retaining flange thereby securing the groove cover with the groove when inserted. 
     
     
         20 . The wiper blade assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the first type of wiper arm is a pin type and the second type of wiper arm is a bayonet style.