Wiper blade assembly protector and method of protecting a wiper blade assembly

Abstract

A protector for a windshield wiper assembly includes an elongated body defining a cavity receiving at least the blade of the wiper assembly. The cover is used to protect the assembly from snow, ice, mud, etc. Preferably, the assembly is pivoted away from the windshield before the blade is inserted into the body. Caps with decorative covers are provided at the ends of the body. The body may be made of a translucent material and may be covered with logos, insignia and other advertising materials.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A protector for protecting a windshield wiper assembly having a wiper blade, and an arm turning the wiper blade and the holder, said holder having a blade length, said protector comprising:
 a tubular body having a body length at least equal to said blade length and defining an internal cavity with at least one opening on one end of said tubular body;   a cap covering said opening, said cap having a flexible cutout configured to selectively receive the wiper blade in said cavity to protect the wiper blade.   
     
     
         2 . The protector of  claim 1  wherein said body includes a second cap opposite said first cap. 
     
     
         3 . The protector of  claim 2  further comprising a decorative cover disposed over said first cap. 
     
     
         4 . The protector of  claim 2  wherein said second cap includes a decorative member. 
     
     
         5 . The protector of  claim 1  further comprising a decorative cover disposed over said first cap. 
     
     
         6 . The protector of  claim 5  wherein said decorative cover is removable to provide access to said cutout. 
     
     
         7 . The protector of  claim 1  wherein said body has an outer surface with printed material. 
     
     
         8 . A method of protecting a windshield wiper assembly including a wiper blade, and an arm selectively reciprocating said wiper blade across the windshield of a motor vehicle, comprising the steps of:
 inserting said blade into a protector including a body having a body length at least equal to the length of the wiper blade, said body defining a cavity extending longitudinally through said body and being closed at one end with by a wall with a flexible cut configured, to receive said blade into said cavity; and   removing said protector from said blade to allow said blade to clean the windshield.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising pivoting said windshield wiper assembly from the windshield so that the wiper blade does not touch the windshield prior to the insertion of the blade into said protector. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising pivoting said windshield wiper assembly with said protector back to the windshield after the insertion of the blade into the body.