The purpose of a wiper pivot shaft air inlet grill seal is to prevent debris from entering the plenum and the heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system of the vehicle. The seal also prevents excessive water from falling on the windshield wiper motor, and provides a decorative cosmetic cap for the upper pivot housing. Typically, current vehicles are provided with a cosmetic cap for the pivot housing with no seal engaging the air inlet grill. An attempt is made to prevent infiltration of debris by making the aperture in the air inlet grill as small as tolerances will allow around the wiper pivot housing. Generally the aperture is 10 mm to 20 mm larger than the pivot housing diameter. Alternatively, an attempt is made to prevent infiltration of debris by adding a separate foam seal in addition to the decorative beauty cap placed on the pivot housing.
It would be desirable in the present invention to provide a decorative cap including an integral, one-piece, seal for engagement with the air inlet grill in order to prevent debris and fluid from entering the plenum and HVAC system of the vehicle. It should be desirable in the present invention to provide a snap-fit seal engagable with a windshield wiper pivot shaft and an air inlet grill to prevent excessive fluid from falling on the windshield wiper motor.