Windshield Wiper Arm

This invention relates to windshield wiper arms for vehicles such as automobiles and tractors.

As is frequently found on many automobiles, a windshield wiper arm presses a wiper blade against the windshield and the tension is controlled by a simple, non-adjustable retraction spring. Usually, the wiper arm can be positioned away from the windshield (to service the wiper blade) by moving the arm to a position at which the retraction spring is not effective. The arm, however, cannot be said to be securely held away from the windshield at that point. On some vehicles, the arm must be held away from the windshield against the pull of the retraction spring.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved windshield wiper arm.

According to the present invention a windshield wiper arm is rotated in a carrier to move it away from the windshield. Arm tension is controlled by the rotation of a coil spring. The spring's tension is controlled by a bolt which engages one end of this spring. The other end of the spring engages the wiper arm. By rotating the bolt, the tension of the arm is adjusted. The bolt is held in place by a lock nut that is tightened against the carrier. The spring also engages the arm in such a way as to force a detent on the arm against the carrier, and the carrier contains a recess to receive the detent. The location of the recess defines the location in which the arm is held away from the windshield. In this manner, the arm is positively held away from the windshield. The arm may be tubular, allowing it to rotate on itself in the carrier and also carry windshield cleaning fluid.

FIG. 1 is a cut away view of a windshield wiper carrier and arm assembly incorporating the present invention,

FIG. 2 shows an alternative embodiment of a windshield wiper arm that may be used in the assembly shown in FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the spring and tensioning bolt, which comprise a portion of the assembly shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 a cut away view along line 4 in FIG. 1, and shows the wiper arm carrier but excluding the spring and bolt shown in FIG. 3.

Referring to FIG. 1, a typical windshield wiper blade 10 is attached to an arm 12 which consists of a hollow tube providing a passage 14 for windshield cleaning fluid. The tube 12 is roughly angled at point 16.degree. at 90.degree. and the portion of the tube 18 rests in a carrier 20. Being circular, the tube can rotate (on itself) in the carrier. The carrier 20 contains a hole 22 which is intended to receive the splined end of a rotating shaft 24 (shown in FIG. 4) which is part of conventional reciprocating windshield wiper drive (the details are not shown, being that it is widely used).

Contained within the carrier is a coil spring 26, a tensioning bolt 28 and a locking bolt 30. The tube 12 extends through the spring.

The tube 12 contains a detent 32 and the carrier contains a recess 34 (see also FIG. 4) which receives this detent when the arm (tube 12) is rotated.

Referring carefully to FIG. 1, it should be observed that one end of the spring 26 engages the detent 32 and the spring is wound so that the force exerted by it on the detent cause the arm to rotate in direction 36 against the windshield. The other end 38 of the spring (FIG. 3) fits in a slot 40 in the bolt 28. The bolt 28 is threaded into the carrier 20 and carries a locking nut 30. By turning the nut 40, the tension of the spring on the arm can be increased or decreased, and, when the proper tension is achieved, the locked nut 30 is tightened, to hold the bolt 28 in place on the carrier.

From FIG. 4 it can also be seen that there is a small flexible tube 42 which fits over the end of the tube 12, and it is through this tube that the windshield wiper cleaning fluid is injected from a washer pump (not shown) into the passage 14. Although not shown it can be easily understood that a connection is made to the tube 42 through a nipple 44, which is part of the vehicle (i.e. stationary relative to the carrier).

From the foregoing description and explanation of the invention, one skilled in the art will be able to make modifications and variations to the invention in whole or in part without departing from the true scope and spirit of the invention. For instance, as shown in FIG. 2, the arm 12 may be adjustable.