According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a windscreen wiper assembly which includes a wiper arm; a windscreen wiper having a resiliently flexible elongate beam which is curved in a plane; and a coupler for coupling an end of the wiper arm to the wiper in such a manner that resilient bending movement of the beam in the plane of curvature along its full length is substantially allowed.

The coupler may be mounted to the wiper such that longitudinal movement of the beam relative to a point on the coupler, rotation of the beam about its longitudinal axis and rotation of the longitudinal axis of the beam relative to the longitudinal axis of the arm (known as fish tailing) is substantially inhibited.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a windscreen wiper assembly which includes a wiper arm;

a windscreen wiper having a resiliently flexible elongate beam which is curved in a plane; and a coupler for coupling an end of the wiper arm to the wiper, the coupler comprising a support structure with at least one fulcrum formation being defined by the support structure and a mounting means carried on the support structure for mounting the coupler to the beam at two spaced apart points so that the, or each, fulcrum formation abuts an upper surface of the beam and bending movement of the beam about the, or each, fulcrum formation in the plane of curvature is allowed.

The support structure may have an elongate, substantially planar base, with a pair of spaced apart fulcrum formations being defined on a bottom surface of the base. Each fulcrum formation may be in the form of an elongate protrusion located transversely to the base and in use, transversely to the plane of curvature. Each protrusion may have rounded or sharpened edges to allow movement of the beam about it.

The mounting means may be in the form of two pairs of spaced apart claws which extend from the base of the support structure. Each of the fulcrum formations may be located proximate or be aligned with one of the pairs of claws.

The beam may be provided with a securing formation which is complementary to one of the pairs of claws, for securing the support structure to the beam at that point so that longitudinal movement of the beam relative to the coupler is inhibited at that point. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that relative longitudinal movement will be permitted between the beam and the support structure at the pair of claws spaced from the securing formation.

The spacing between the claws of each pair may be substantially equal to the width of the beam at the position of connection in order to inhibit pivoting or twisting of the beam about its longitudinal axis and to impede relative lateral movement.

The assembly may also include a connecting structure for pivotally connecting the end of the wiper arm to the wiper to allow pivotal movement of the wiper arm relative to the wiper in the plane of curvature. It will be appreciated that the connecting structure may form a part of the coupler or of the arm or a combination of both.

It will be appreciated that the windscreen wiper assembly as described above, significantly reduces the height required between a windscreen and a vehicle bonnet in order to improve wind flow over the vehicle and allow the windscreen wiper assembly and arm to be hidden below the vehicle bonnet.

According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a windscreen wiper assembly which includes a wiper arm; a windscreen wiper having a resiliently flexible elongate beam which is curved in a plane; and a coupler for coupling an end of the wiper arm to the wiper, the coupler comprising a support structure, with at least one spacing formation carried by the support structure, and a mounting means for mounting the coupler to the beam at two spaced apart points, with the, or each spacing formation abutting an upper surface

of the beam so that a bottom surface of the support structure is spaced a predetermined distance from the upper surface of the beam.

The support structure may have an elongate, substantially planar base, with a pair of spaced apart spacing formations in the form of fulcrum formations being defined on a bottom surface of the base.

It will be appreciated that the invention has specific application to a low profile wiper and that the coupler is designed to minimise the distance or space between the bottom surface of the support structure and the upper surface of the beam. It will also be appreciated that the distance or space is dependent on the distance between the points of contact and will accordingly be larger when the points of contact are further apart to allow for bending movement of the wiper between the points of contact. A height dimension from a bottom edge of a rubber which is mounted to the beam of the wiper and the highest protrusion of the coupler may be less than 25 mm and preferably is less than 20 mm.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided a coupler for a windscreen wiper assembly, for coupling an end of a wiper arm to a beam of the wiper, which includes a support structure with at least one fulcrum formation being defined by the support structure; and a mounting means carried on the support structure for mounting the coupler to the beam at two spaced apart points so that the, or each, fulcrum formation abuts an 105 upper surface of the beam and bending movement of the beam about the, or each, fulcrum formation in the plane of curvature is allowed.

The support structure may have an elongate, substantially planar base, with a pair of spaced apart fulcrum formations being defined on a bottom surface of the 110 base. Each fulcrum formation may be in the form of an elongate protrusion located transversely to the base and in use, transversely to the plane of curvature.

The mounting means may be in the form of two pairs of spaced apart claws which extend from the base of the support structure. Each of the fulcrum formations 115 may be aligned with one of the pairs of claws.

The invention is now described, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which; Figure 1 shows a schematic isometric view of a windscreen wiper assembly, in 120 accordance with one aspect of the invention, with the wiper shown in a straightened condition; Figure 2 shows a partially exploded view of the assembly of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows an enlarged view of part of the assembly of Figure 1; Figure 4 shows a sectional end elevation of the assembly of Figure 3 taken along 125 the line IV-IV in Figure 3.

Figure 5 shows a detailed view of part of a windscreen wiper which forms part of the assembly shown in Figure 1; Figure 6 shows a schematic isometric view of a coupler for a windscreen wiper assembly, in accordance with another aspect of the invention;

Figure 7 shows a bottom view of the coupler of Figure 6; Figure 8 shows a sectional side elevation of the coupler of Figure 7 taken along the line VIII-VIII in Figure 7.

In the drawings, a windscreen wiper assembly, in accordance with the invention, is generally designated by the reference numeral 10.

The assembly 10 includes a wiper arm 12, a windscreen wiper 14 and a coupler 16, generally indicated by reference numeral 16, for coupling an end of the wiper arm 12 to the wiper 14. The wiper 14 includes a resiliently flexible elongate beam 18 which is curved in a plane perpendicular to axis Z (as shown in Figure 1).

A rubber wiping strip 20 is mounted to the beam 18.

Referring specifically to Figures 6 to 8, the coupler 16 comprises a support structure 23, having an elongate, substantially rectangular, planar base 22. A height dimension H between a bottom edge 21 of the rubber 20 and highest protrusion of the coupler 16, is preferably less than 25 mm. A mounting means in the form of two pairs of spaced apart claws 24.1 and 24.2 extend from the base 22 of the support structure 23. A pair of fulcrum formations in the form of elongate impressions 26.1 and 26.2 are located transversely to the base 22, each aligned with a corresponding pair of claws 24.1 and 24.2. Each impression 26.1 and 26.2 has a rounded bottom edge 28 as can be seen in Figures 7 and 8. The coupler 16 may be formed of a rigid synthetic plastics material or steel.

A pair of support sides 30 extend substantially transversely to the base 22 of the support structure 23, with a pair of aligned openings 32 defined in the support sides 30.

Referring to Figures 1 to 3, the assembly 10 also includes a connecting structure 34 for pivotally connecting an end 36 of the wiper arm 12 to the wiper 14.

The connecting structure 34 includes a substantially planar upper surface 38, with two substantially parallel sides 40 depending downwardly from the surface 38. The sides 40 are spaced a predetermined distance apart so that they fit snugly between the support sides 30 of the coupler 16, so as to prevent lateral movement and rotation movement about the Y axis between the longitudinal axis of the arm 12 and the beam 18. An aperture 42 is defined in each side 40, the apertures 42 being aligned to the openings 32 for receiving a transverse pivot pin 44 for pivotally connecting the coupler 16 to the wiper arm 12.

The assembly also includes a nose piece 46 which covers part of the coupler 16 and connecting structure 34.

The beam 18 is provided with a pair of indents 48 (Figure 5), which is complementary to one of the pairs of claws, for securing the coupler 16 to the beam 18 at that point so that longitudinal movement of the beam 18 relative to the coupler 16 is inhibited at that point.

In use, the connecting structure 34 is attached to the end 36 of the arm 12.

The connecting structure 34 and the coupler 16 are connected to each other by means of the pivot pin 44. The coupler 16 is positioned on the beam 18 so that one 180 of the pairs of claws 24.1 is aligned with the indents 48 on the beam 18, and distal ends 50 of the claws 24 are folded over the beam 18, so that the rounded ends 28 of the fulcrum formations abut an upper surface 52 of the beam 18 as is shown in Figure 4.

185 The pair of claws 24.1 which is aligned with the indents 48, secures the beam 18 in position at that point so that longitudinal movement of the wiper 14 relative to the coupler 16 is restrained. The other pair of claws 24.2 are folded over edges of the beam 18 but allows longitudinal movement of the wiper 14 relative to the coupler 16 at that point.

190 In use, movement of the wiper assembly 10 relative to a windscreen causes the wiper 14 to move in the plane of curvature as it straightens and bends to accommodate various curvatures of the windscreen. Movement of the beam 14 in the plane of curvature is allowed by the fulcrum formations.

195 The applicant believes that the advantages of the wiper assembly 10 as described with reference to the drawings, are that it allows substantially unrestrained movement of the wiper 14 in its plane of curvature and provides a low profile coupler 16 with its associated advantages. It will be appreciated that unrestrained beam 200 bending movement is conductive to optimal force distribution performance. The wiper assembly also significantly reduces the height required between the windscreen and the vehicle bonnet, thereby improving wind flow over the vehicle and allow the windscreen wiper assembly and arm to be hidden below the vehicle bonnet.