Windshield wiper clip and method for using same

Abstract

A windshield wiper assembly for cleaning a windshield and a method for assembling the windshield wipe assembly is disclosed. The windshield wiper assembly includes at least a plurality of wiper blades, a windshield wiper arm, and a locking clip. The plurality of wiper blades contact the windshield and move reciprocatingly across the windshield. The windshield wiper arm is provided for supporting the plurality of wiper blades. The locking clip is attached at a first clip end to the windshield wiper arm and at a second clip end to one of the plurality of wiper blades for positioning the plurality of wiper blades proximate to each other.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A windshield wiper system comprising: 
 a wiper arm adjacent a windshield for clearing the windshield by moving reciprocatingly across the windshield;    a plurality of wiper blades slidably secured to the wiper arm; and    a locking clip for securing the plurality of wiper blades to the wiper blade arm.    
     
     
         2 . The windshield wiper system of  claim 1  further comprising a wiper blade end bracket for retaining each of the plurality of wiper blades into engagement with the wiper arm.  
     
     
         3 . The windshield wiper system of  claim 1 , wherein the wiper arm further comprises a primary bracket and a plurality of secondary brackets.  
     
     
         4 . The windshield wiper system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of wiper blades include blade ends and are slidably secured to the secondary arms and are positioned to overlap at the blade ends.  
     
     
         5 . The windshield wiper system of  claim 1 , wherein the locking clip has a blade engagement portion for slidably engaging a blade end of each of the plurality of wiper blades.  
     
     
         6 . The windshield wiper system of  claim 1 , wherein the locking clip has an wiper arm engagement portion for attaching the clip to the wiper arm.  
     
     
         7 . The windshield wiper system of  claim 1 , wherein the locking clip further comprises a first clip portion and a second clip portion.  
     
     
         8 . The windshield wiper system of  claim 7 , wherein the first clip portion and the second clip portion are joined by a spring.  
     
     
         9 . The windshield wiper system of  claim 7 , wherein the first clip portion further comprises an aperture for receiving a fastener for securing the first clip portion to the second clip portion.  
     
     
         10 . The windshield wiper system of  claim 7 , wherein the second clip portion further comprises a plurality of apertures for receiving a fastener for securing the second clip portion to the first clip portion, wherein a length of the locking clip may be varied by selecting one of the plurality of apertures and receiving the fastener therein.  
     
     
         11 . A windshield wiper assembly for cleaning a windshield comprising: 
 a plurality of wiper blades for contacting a windshield and moving reciprocatingly back and forth across the windshield;    a windshield wiper arm for supporting the plurality of wiper blades; and    a locking clip attached at a first clip end to the windshield wiper arm and at a second clip end to one of the plurality of wiper blades for positioning the plurality of wiper blades.    
     
     
         12 . The windshield wiper assembly  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of wiper blades each have at least one wiper blade end which overlap with at least one other wiper blade end.  
     
     
         13 . The windshield wiper assembly of  claim 11  further comprising a blade end bracket for retaining the plurality of wiper blades in engagement with the wiper arm.  
     
     
         14 . The windshield wiper assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the wiper arm further comprises a primary bracket and a plurality of secondary brackets.  
     
     
         15 . The windshield wiper assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the first clip end of the locking clip is attached the at least one of the secondary brackets.  
     
     
         16 . A windshield wiper assembly for cleaning a windshield comprising: 
 a plurality of wiper blades for contacting a windshield and moving reciprocatingly back and forth across the windshield;    a windshield wiper arm for supporting the plurality of wiper blades; and    a locking clip having a first clip portion and a second clip portion for adjusting a length of the locking clip, wherein the first clip portion is attached to at least one of the plurality of wiper blades and the second clip portion is attached to at least one other of the plurality of wiper blades.    
     
     
         17 . The windshield wiper assembly  claim 16 , wherein the plurality of wiper blades each have at least one wiper blade end which overlap with at least one other wiper blade end.  
     
     
         18 . The windshield wiper assembly of  claim 16  further comprising a blade end bracket for retaining the plurality of wiper blades in engagement with the wiper arm.  
     
     
         19 . The windshield wiper assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the wiper arm further comprises a primary bracket and a plurality of secondary brackets.  
     
     
         20 . The windshield wiper system of  claim 16 , wherein the first clip portion further comprises an aperture for receiving a fastener for securing the first clip portion to the second clip portion.  
     
     
         21 . The windshield wiper system of  claim 20 , wherein the second clip portion further comprises a plurality of apertures for receiving a fastener for securing the second clip portion to the first clip portion, wherein a length of the locking clip may be varied by selecting one of the plurality of apertures and receiving the fastener therein.  
     
     
         22 . A method for replacing a current windshield wiper blade with a plurality of wiper blades, the method comprising: 
 removing a first wiper blade from a wiper blade assembly;    attaching a locking clip to a wiper arm of the wiper blade assembly;    sliding a second wiper blade onto the wiper arm until an end clip of the first wiper blade engages a prong portion of the locking clip; and    sliding a third wiper blade onto the wiper arm until an end clip of the third wiper blade engages a second prong portion of the locking clip.    
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the wiper arm further comprises a main bracket and a plurality of secondary brackets.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the wiper blades are secured to the secondary arms and overlap at a blade end.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the clip has a blade end for slidably engaging an end of the wiper blade.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the clip has an arm end for capturing the wiper arm.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the clip has a pair of blade arms for slidably gripping an end of the wiper blade.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the clip further comprises a first clip portion and a second clip portion.  
     
     
         29 . The windshield wiper system of  claim 28 , wherein the first clip portion further comprises an aperture for receiving a fastener for securing the first clip portion to the second clip portion.  
     
     
         30 . The windshield wiper system of  claim 22 , wherein the second clip portion further comprises a plurality of apertures for receiving a fastener for securing the second clip portion to the first clip portion, wherein a length of the locking clip may be varied by selecting one of the plurality of apertures and receiving the fastener therein.