Abstract: A beam blade windshield wiper assembly having a universal coupler assembly including a carrier, a saddle that is removably received and retained by the carrier, and a coupler that is operatively mounted to the saddle. The carrier, saddle, and coupler cooperate to accommodate various sizes of “pinch-type” attachment members, “push-button-type” attachment members, as well as “side-pin-type” and “pin-and-bent-tab-type” attachment members that are used to connect the wiper arm and the windshield wiper assembly.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a wiper blade system that includes a wiper blade assembly having a wiping element, at least one elongated beam and a carrier that is operatively engaged to the elongated beam. The wiper blade assembly further includes an airfoil and a coupler that is removably engaged to the carrier and adapted to releasably attach the wiper blade assembly to a wiper arm attachment member. The coupler is universal in that it is used for connecting the wiper blade assembly to various styles of wiper arms.

Abstract: A windshield wiper assembly including a wiping element adapted to contact a surface to be wiped. The wiping element includes at least one isolation pad formed thereon and wherein the isolation pad defines a portion of increased lateral width of the wiping element. A coupler assembly includes an adapter with at least one claw that corresponds to the isolation pad. The claw has a downwardly extending leg and an inwardly extending retainer portion that cooperates with the isolation pad to interconnect the adapter to the wiping element. The interaction of the isolation pad and the claw acts to securely mount the adapter to the wiping element in a cost-effective manner while reducing noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) associated with the operation of the wiper system.

Abstract: A collapsible pivot body having a housing that includes a channel defined therein and a mounting bracket that is adapted to attach the pivot body to a portion of a vehicle. The collapsible pivot body further includes a sleeve operatively disposed within the channel. The sleeve includes an internal passage that is adapted to receive a pivot shaft assembly of a wiper system. The collapsible pivot body further includes a plurality of bridges that connect the sleeve to the housing. The bridges are adapted to fail in response to a predetermined load acting on a pivot shaft assembly and cause the sleeve to collapse within the housing, thereby displacing the pivot shaft assembly and a portion of a wiper arm below the impact line of a vehicle.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a wiper assembly that includes a wiping element and a tournament-style superstructure to support the wiping element. The wiper assembly further includes a wiper coupler that releasably attaches the superstructure to a wiper arm attachment member. The wiper coupler includes a pair of sidewalls each having a flange to engage a portion of the guides of the attachment member and further includes an elevated platform and a deck each disposed between the sidewalls. The deck and a portion of the sidewalls define a rest to receive the track of the attachment member. The wiper coupler further includes an aperture between the elevated platform and the deck. The aperture receives a portion of the bent tab of the attachment member to facilitate attachment between the superstructure and the attachment member conventionally employed for use with a beam blade-style wiper assembly.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a wiper coupler that releasably attaches the superstructure to a wiper arm attachment member. The wiper coupler includes a pair of side walls each having a flange to engage a portion of the guides of the attachment member and further includes an elevated platform and a deck each disposed between the sidewalk. The deck and a portion of the sidewalk define a rest to receive the track of the attachment member. The wiper coupler further includes an aperture between the elevated platform and the deck. The aperture receives a portion of the bent tab of the attachment member to facilitate attachment between the superstructure and the attachment member conventionally employed for use with a beam blade-style wiper assembly.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a wiper blade system that includes a wiper blade assembly having a wiping element, at least one elongated beam and a carrier that is operatively engaged to the elongated beam. The wiper blade assembly further includes an airfoil and a coupler that is removably engaged to the carrier and adapted to releasably attach the wiper blade assembly to a wiper arm attachment member. The coupler is universal in that it is used for connecting the wiper blade assembly to various styles of wiper arms.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a wiper coupler and wiper assembly that includes a wiping element and a tournament-style superstructure to support the wiping element. The wiper assembly further includes a wiper coupler that releasably attaches the superstructure to a wiper arm attachment member. The wiper coupler includes a pair of sidewalls each having a flange to engage a portion of the guides of the attachment member and further includes an elevated platform and a deck each disposed between the sidewalls. The deck and a portion of the sidewalls define a rest to receive the track of the attachment member. The wiper coupler further includes an aperture between the elevated platform and the deck. The aperture receives a portion of the bent tab of the attachment member to facilitate attachment between the superstructure and the attachment member conventionally employed for use with a beam blade-style wiper assembly.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a wiper blade system that includes a wiper blade assembly having a wiping element, at least one elongated beam and a carrier that is operatively engaged to the elongated beam. The wiper blade assembly further includes an airfoil and a coupler that is removably engaged to the carrier and adapted to releasably attach the wiper blade assembly to a wiper arm attachment member. The coupler is universal in that it is used for connecting the wiper blade assembly to various styles of wiper arms.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a wiper blade system that includes a wiper blade assembly having a wiping element, at least one elongated beam and a carrier that is operatively engaged to the elongated beam. The wiper blade assembly further includes an airfoil and a coupler that is removably engaged to the carrier and adapted to releasably attach the wiper blade assembly to a wiper arm attachment member. The coupler is universal in that it is used for connecting the wiper blade assembly to various styles of wiper arms.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a wiper blade system that includes a wiper blade assembly having a wiping element, at least one elongated beam and a carrier that is operatively engaged to the elongated beam. The wiper blade assembly further includes an airfoil and a coupler that is removably engaged to the carrier and adapted to releasably attach the wiper blade assembly to a wiper arm attachment member. The coupler is universal in that it is used for connecting the wiper blade assembly to various styles of wiper arms.

Abstract: A wiper assembly having a wiping element for contact with a windshield within a predetermined attack angle range of ±10° perpendicular relative to the surface to be wiped. The wiper assembly further includes two elongated beams that are engaged to the wiping element and apply a downward force thereto. The wiper assembly also includes a connecting member mounted to the elongated beams. The wiper assembly also includes an airfoil that has an attachment portion attached to the elongated beams and an upper portion that is attached to the attachment portion. The upper portion includes a wing having a facing surface and a trailing surface that extend outwardly from the upper portion at converging angles to improve wind lift resistance and reduce drag.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a wiper blade system that includes a wiper blade assembly having a wiping element, at least one elongated beam and a carrier that is operatively engaged to the elongated beam. The wiper blade assembly further includes an airfoil and a coupler assembly having a coupler and an adapter that is removably attached to the coupler. The coupler is removably secured the carrier and includes a corridor having a cross member extending therethrough that operatively receives the adapter. Together, the coupler and adapter facilitate mounting the wiper blade assembly to wiper arms having different wiper arm attachment members.

Abstract: A windshield wiper arm assembly that is adapted to support a wiper blade as it moves across a surface to be wiped. The windshield wiper arm assembly includes a body and a head supported by the body and adapted to be mounted to a pivot shaft that defines a pivot axis P and drives the wiper blade in an oscillating manner across the surface to be wiped. The body also includes an opening providing access to the head mounted to the pivot shaft. A cover is mounted to the body at the opening and is movable about an axis A substantially parallel to the pivot axis P from a first position closing the opening to a second position allowing access to the head.