Abstract: A pivot joint (1) is provided for pivoting together a first member (2) and a second member (3), at least the first member (2) being of channel section at the joint (1) and the second member (3) being adapted to seat within the first member (2). The pivot joint (1) comprises a joint body (4) of generally channel section adapted to fit within the first member (2) and to receive the second member (3) therewithin, the joint body (4) having first engagement means (19, 20) located on its exterior for engagement with the first member (2) so as to secure it thereto and second engagement means (33, 34) movable between a first position in which it is adapted to cooperate with means (35, 36) on the second member (3) and a second position in which it is free of the second member (3), and a plug member (5) insertable into the channel (7) of the joint body (4 ) and acting on the second engagement means (35, 36) to force the second engagement means (35, 36) into its first position in which it engages the second member (3).

Abstract: A windshield wiper blade superstructure is provided with one or more fin like depending projections. Slots are provided in the backing strip positioned to receive a corresponding depending projection to limit longitudinal displacement of the refill unit relative to the backing strip. The depending projections may be inclined on an edge to readily receive the refill unit.

Abstract: A molded plastic slidable latch member for retaining a side mounted wiper blade on a wiper arm having a laterally extending connecting pin is retained within a plastic insert. The rectangular plastic insert is retained between the flanges within a rectangular aperture in the web of a channel shaped metal yoke. Aligned cylindrical projections on each side wall of the insert lie within aligned openings in the flanges of the yoke. Aligned holes extending through the side walls of the insert and the projections serve to journal the laterally extending pin on the arm. Contact at the junction between the metal components of the arm and the metal yoke is precluded. A cover plate on the latch is externally accessible to permit manual actuation of the latch from a latched position engaging the pin to an unlatched position.

Abstract: The need for separately manufactured left-hand and right-hand wiper arms, when a bend is provided along the length of the wiper arms, is avoided by enabling an inner end of a bar portion to be removed from a retainer portion, rotated through a half turn about the longitudinal center line of the inner end, and detachably reassembled with the retainer portion, and by enabling an arm termination to be removed from an outer end of the bar portion, rotated through a half turn about the longitudinal center line of the outer end, and detachably reassembled with the bar portion.

Abstract: A monolithic body is provided with contours on its side surfaces which are configured, sized and positioned to fit securely between and to seat depending ears of a slotted saddle type wiper arm for adapting the wiper arm to accept a side mounted wiper blade having a transverse pin receiving opening. A detent coacting with the arm retains the body in position; a cantilever pin projecting from the side surface of the body is adapted to be received and detachably retained within the wiper blade receptor formed by the pin receiving opening.

Abstract: The anchoring strip of an elastomeric squeegee element is retained within the body portion of a plastic supporting strip; the supporting strip includes laterally open channels which slidably engage opposed sets of claws of a superstructure; a plurality of pairs of spaced apart openings extend through the web of one channel in alignment with corresponding pairs of openings in the web of the other channel and corresponding notches in the anchoring strip. The pairs of openings and notches are spaced apart from like parts along the length of the refill unit so that at least one pair of opposed claws of diverse types of superstructures will fall between pairs of openings when the superstructure is substantially centered upon the refill unit. A U-shaped clip embraces a claw and its legs pass through the pairs of corresponding openings and notches and are detachably retained. Indicia is provided to guide in centering the superstructure on the backing strip.

Abstract: A socket of yieldable semi-rigid plastic material is formed with an external circumferential groove for receiving the periphery of an opening in a linkage member. The periphery of the opening is deformed out of the plane of the surface of the linkage to produce an effective thickness approximately the thickness of the groove, providing a method to assure a secure fit in cases where the thickness of the linkage material is either greater than or less than the width of the groove.

Abstract: A connector assembly, for use in connecting a wiper arm and a wiper blade for pivotal movement of the blade in relation to the arm about a common axis which in use is substantially perpendicular to the surface to be wiped, comprises two basic parts, namely a first part (11) for attachment to the wiper arm and a second part (12) for attachment directly or indirectly to the wiper blade, the parts being pivotally connected together for relative angular movement about the common axis (13). The assembly includes a discrete element (33) arranged for rotation about the common axis in relation to one of the parts (11) and there are two first abutment faces (31, 32) on that part (11), and two second abutment faces (36, 37) on the discrete element, the second faces being arranged to co-operate with the respective first faces to limit the range of relative angular movement of the two parts (11, 12) about the common axis.

Abstract: A windshield wiper refill wiping unit includes a squeegee element supported by a sinuous backing strip in which the central portion is convex in the direction facing the squeegee element and the end portions are concave on the side facing the squeegee element. The unit may be supported in an articulated superstructure having outboard claws which are disposed adjacent the end of the backing strip or in a superstructure having outboard claws which are spaced a substantial distance from the ends of the backing strip; it will produce improved pressure distribution in either type of superstructure.

Abstract: There is described the combination of a connector, which is an elongate element having parallel side faces and penetrated by a bore perpendicular to the side faces, and a pivot pin which is, in use, received in the bore and protrudes from both ends thereof, the pivot pin being retained in the bore by means of a resiliently supported projection extending either radially into the bore or radially outwardly from the pin, the resilient projection engaging the side walls of either a groove formed in the pin, or of a recess formed in the connector and communicating with the bore. The connector is situated, in use, in an elongate opening in a wiper blade harness, parallel side walls of the opening being formed with holes into which the ends of the pin project to mount the connector pivotally to the wiper blade harness, and the connector is adapted to engage and retain an end of a windscreen wiper arm to effect a pivotal connection between the arm and the blade harness.

Abstract: A windshield wiper arm includes a free end which is U-shaped in cross section to form depending ears. The ears include slots open at the free end and detents adjacent the rear edges. The depending ears are received in an opening of the web of the central portion of a channel shaped blade and straddle a flat leaf spring. The open ended slots engage a cross pin extending through the webs of the blade and the detents engage the underside of the flat leaf spring to limit angular displacement of the blade relative to the arm. A pair of shoulders formed on the inner surfaces of the side walls of the blades engage the rear edge of the depending ears to restrict longitudinal movement of the arm relative to the blade.

Abstract: A windscreen wiper blade harness comprising a plurality of metal yokes of channel cross section having at least one secondary yoke nested within and pivotally secured to primary yoke adjacent its end includes a plastic spacer of channel cross section disposed between the primary and secondary yokes for preventing metal to metal contact and providing the pivotal connection, the spacer being formed with a pair of internally extending aligned trunnions, one on each cheek which pivotally engage corresponding holes in the flanges of the secondary yoke, externally extending projections aligned with the internal trunnions which engage in corresponding holes in the flanges of the primary yoke and a radially extending flange which abuts the end of the primary yoke.

Abstract: A wiper blade refill assembly for replacement in a wiper blade pressure distributing superstructure includes a combination of an elastomeric wiping element supported by an elongate backing element and a set of adapter clips having depending pairs of opposed adapter claws spaced apart a distance sufficient to slidably accommodate the backing element of the replacement refill unit. The adapter clips include a pair of spaced apart resilient arms having notches at their side edges in which the claws of the superstructure are seated and retained. The backing element is notched on a side edge to resiliently engage and retain an adapter claw.

Abstract: A ball socket member open at one end is formed of yieldable semi-rigid plastic material, with external ears and internal axially extending lubrication distribution and relief slots positioned in alignment with the ears. The slots terminate at the open edge, the lubricant being retained by a closed cell seal of cellular material. An external circumferential groove receives the periphery of an opening in a linkage member, the external ears being received in key slots in the opening. The periphery of the opening is deformed out of the plane of the surface of the linkage to produce an effective thickness approximately the thickness of the groove, providing a method and construction to assure a secure fit in cases where the thickness of the linkage material is either greater than or less than the width of the groove.

Abstract: A fuel control system for a diesel engine comprises a fuel pump with a fuel control member and an excess fuel member. A reversible electric motor drives a rotary member which cooperates with these two members. The driver can control a switch to "stop" and "run". A heat-sensitive switch on the engine responds to "cold" or "hot". An electric circuit causes the engine when cold to start with automatic transient actuation of the excess fuel member.

Abstract: An articulated windshield wiper blade superstructure for distributing applied pressure proportionately along the length of a wiper blade which includes a central primary lever and a pair of secondary end levers arranged end to end. The end levers are pivotally connected to the central levers. A single flat spring extends from end to end through the central lever. At each end it engages a projection on the end levers which extends inwardly of the pivotal connection. The spring functions to distribute the arm pressure to the end levers and also functions as a latch to retain the blade on the arm.

Abstract: A brush support combination is provided for dynamo-electric machines in which brushes are continuously urged against a commutator or slip ring. Each brush is carried by a brush arm which is in turn supported on a lead terminal of the machine. The lead terminals may be supported on an open ended motor housing or on an end cap which closes the open ended housing. The brush arm is formed of electrically conductive, flat resilient stock which supports a brush at one end. The other end is formed into a bight, the free end of which projects outwardly. The bight extends through an opening in the lead terminal, entry to which may be achieved through a throat communicating with the opening. In use the bight resiliently engages the edges defining the opening to retain the brush arm and to provide electrical contact with the terminal.

Abstract: A pair of molded plastic components are juxtaposed face to face to form a body, U-shaped in longitudinal cross section on a plane perpendicular to the juxtaposed faces and include flanges on the sides thereof. The external shape of the assembled body fits into a U-shaped space defined by the end of a wiper arm of the "shepherd's crook kind". The juxtaposed faces each have formed therein a transverse semi-cylindrical recess. When the sections are arranged face to face the recesses form a transverse bore to contain a grooved pin extending transversely from the side of a wiper blade harness. An internal circumferential projection in the recesses engages the groove in the pin; the flanges engage the side edges of the arm. A pair of resilient detents projecting outwardly from the web portion of the U-shaped body engage the web of the shepherd's crook arm.

Abstract: An articulated windshield wiper blade superstructure for distributing applied pressure proportionately along the length of a wiper blade which includes a central primary lever and a pair of secondary end levers arranged end to end. The end levers are pivotally connected to the central levers. A single flat spring extends from end to end through the central lever. At each end it engages a projection on the end levers which extends inwardly of the pivotal connection. The spring functions to distribute the arm pressure to the end levers and also functions as a latch to retain the blade on the arm.