Windscreen wiper

Abstract

A connection system that is used for connecting a wiper blade to a wiper arm. The system includes a bracket, an adapter pivotally attached to the bracket and the free end of the wiper arm. The system also includes a first locking part and a second locking part, such that the first locking part fixes the arm on to the bracket and the second locking part fixes the arm on to the adapter.

Claims

1. A connection device for connecting a wiper blade (4) having at least an elastomeric wiper profile (7) with a lip portion for wiping the glass surface, an arc-shaped, resilient carrier element (6) and a bracket (3) fixed to the blade (6) at the longitudinal middle region, to an oscillating wiper arm (1), so as to rotate around a pivot axis (8), the device comprising at least said bracket (3), an adapter (2) pivotally attached to the bracket (3) and a free end (10) of the wiper arm (1), the device comprises a first locking means (34, 111, 34, 111) and a second locking means (13, 24), such that said first locking means (34, 111, 34, 111) fixes the arm on to the bracket (3) and the second locking means (13, 24) fixes the arm on to the adapter (2), wherein the connection device comprises side members (26) arranged on side walls (22) on a body (20) of the adapter (2) so as to bear protrusions (34) of the bracket (3) and defining a semi-circular peripheral line such that said protrusions (34) in the form of crescent shape members partially surround said semi-circular peripheral line and wherein said protrusions (34) are allowed a certain amount of free space in opposite directions along said semi-circular peripheral line in response to rotational movement of said side members (26), wherein the first locking means comprises the protrusions.

2. A connection device as in claim 1, characterized in that said first locking means (34, 111) comprises the protrusions (34) provided on the side walls (31) of the bracket (3) so as to protrude outwards, and a locking member (111) provided on at least one side wall (11) of the free end (10) of the arm (1) so as to protrude inwards and to be engaged with the said protrusion (34).

3. A connection device as in claim 2, characterized in that contact surfaces of said first locking means (34, 111) engaging with each other comprises lower surfaces (340) of said protrusions (34) and the upper surface (112) of said locking member (111).

4. A connection device as in claim 3, characterized in that at least one of said contact surfaces (340, 112) has a curvilinear form so that the free end (10) of the arm (1) can be fixed to the bracket (3) so as to rotate around said pivot axis (8).

5. A connection device as in claim 4, characterized in that the lower surfaces (340) of the protrusions (34) have a curvilinear form and the upper surface (112) of the locking member (111) of the arm (1) is flat.

6. A connection device as in claim 1, characterized in that the said second locking means (13, 24) comprises at least a hole (13) arranged on the free end (10) of the arm (1) and at least a tongue-shaped protrusion (24) provided on the adapter (2) so as to be seated into the said hole (13).

7. A connection device as in claim 1, characterized in that the said adapter (2) comprises a head portion (21) and the body (20) having a U-shaped cross-section comprising the side walls (22) and a top wall (23).

8. A connection device as in claim 7, wherein the head portion (21) has a protruding structure with respect to the body (20) so as to form an abutment surface (210) at the region where it intersects the body (20).

9. A connection device as in claim 1, characterized in that the articulated connection of the said bracket (3) and the adapter (2) is obtained by means of a pin (33) provided on the bracket (3) and a pin housing (25) formed on the adapter (2), wherein the said pin (33) is seated.

10. A connection device as in claim 9, characterized in that the said pin housing (25) is formed by means of two arc-shaped flexible extensions (251) that extend preferably from an inner surface (230) of the top wall (23) of the adapter (2).

11. A connection device as in claim 10, characterized in that the said housing (25) has an open bottom and the said flexible extensions (251) have a structure that stretches outwards to enable them to grip the pin (33) in order to mount the said adapter (2) onto the said bracket (3) in the vertical direction (400).

12. A connection device as in claim 1, characterized in that the free end (10) of the arm (1) is slid over the adapter in a longitudinal direction (500) until its front surface (14) contacts an abutment surface (210) of the adapter (2) so that the said arm (1) can be locked with the said adapter (2) and the bracket (3).

13. A connection device as in claim 1, characterized in that the said side members (26) have circular cross-sections.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

(1) FIG. 1 is the exploded isometric view of the windscreen wiper of the present invention.

(2) FIG. 2, is the isometric view of the blade with the bracket integrated thereon.

(3) FIG. 3 a and b are the isometric and cross-sectional views of the wiper arm.

(4) FIG. 4 a and b are the two different isometric views of the adaptor.

(5) FIG. 5a is the cross-sectional view showing the assembly of the adapter to the bracket.

(6) FIG. 5b is the cross-sectional view showing the adapter mounted on the bracket.

(7) FIG. 5c is the side view showing the adapter mounted on the bracket.

(8) FIG. 6a is the cross-sectional view showing the assembly of the arm to the adapter.

(9) FIG. 6b is the cross-sectional view showing the arm mounted on the adapter.

(10) FIG. 7 is the cross-sectional view of an alternative arrangement of the connection device of the present invention.

(11) The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows: 1 Wiper arm 2 Adapter 3,3 Bracket 4 Wiper blade 5 End caps 6 Vertebra 7 Wiper profile 8 Pivot axis 10,10 Wiper arm free end 11 Side walls of the wiper arm 12 Top wall of the wiper arm 13 Wiper arm hole 14 Front surface of the wiper arm 110 Inner surface of the side wall of the wiper arm free end 111,111 Locking members 112,112 Upper surface of the locking members 20 Adapter body 21 Head portion of the adapter 210 Abutment surface of the adapter 22 Side wall of the adapter body 23 Top wall of the adapter body 230 Inner surface of the top wall of the adapter 24 Tongue 25 Pin housing 251 Flexible extension of the pin housing 26 Side members 30 Bracket body 31 Side walls of the bracket 310 Outer surface of the side walls of the bracket 32 Bracket legs 33 Pin 34,34 Bracket protrusion 340,340 Lower surface of the bracket protrusion 400 Vertical direction 500 Longitudinal direction

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(12) As shown in FIG. 1, the connection is used for connecting a wiper blade (4) having at least one elastomeric wiper profile (7) with a lip portion for wiping the glass surface, an arc-shaped resilient metal vertebra (6) and a bracket (3) fixed to the vertebra (6) at the longitudinal middle region, to a wiper arm (1) one end of which is connected to a motor in the vehicle so as to rotate around a pivot axis (8). The connection according to the present invention comprises said bracket (3), an adapter (2) connected to the bracket (3) so as to rotate around said pivot axis (8) and the free end (10) of the wiper arm (1) which is fastened to these two elements (2, 3).

(13) As shown in FIG. 2, the bracket (3) is fixed to the blade (4), preferably directly to the vertebra (6) by means of its hook-shaped legs (32). The body portion (30) above these legs (32) has preferably two parallel side walls (31). A pin (33) preferably having a circular cross-section extends between said two side walls (31) and joins them. At least one protrusion (34) is provided on the outer surface (310) of at least one, preferably both of the side walls (31). In the preferred arrangement of the present invention, the lower surface (340) of each protrusion (34) has a curvilinear form. However in different embodiments, said surfaces (340) may also have a flat form. Said protrusions (34) are preferably arranged in crescent-shaped with tops open; however, they can have different shapes provided that they do not obstruct the movement of the blade (4) on the windscreen.

(14) As shown in FIG. 3, the free end (10) of the wiper arm (1) is composed of two parallel side walls (11) and a top wall (12) joining these two (11). A hole (13) is arranged on the top wall (12) and is preferably formed as quadrangular. Inner surfaces (110) of at least one, preferably both of said side walls (11) are provided with at least one locking member (111). In the preferred arrangement of the present invention, said locking members (111) are provided so as to have a planar upper surface (112); however, in other embodiments of the invention, the locking members (111) may have circular or elliptical cross-sections.

(15) As shown in FIGS. 4a and 4b, the adapter (2) is composed of a head portion (21) and a body (20) with U-shaped cross-section which comprises two side walls (22) and a top wall (23). The head (21) has a protruding structure with respect to the body (20) so as to form an abutment surface (210) at the region where it intersects the body (20). The top wall (23) of the body (20) has one or more than one tongues (24). The tongue (24) is preferably quadrangular and designed so as to be inserted into the hole (13) on the free end (10) of the arm (1). A pin housing (25) that grips the pin (33) on the bracket (3) in the assembled state is formed on the inner surface (230) of the top wall (20). The pin housing (25) is in the form of an inverted U and is preferably formed by means of two arc-shaped flexible extensions (251) that extend downwards.

(16) Preferably, side members (26) are arranged on both side walls (22) of the body (20) of the adapter (2) in order to bear the protrusions (34) of the bracket (3). Said side members (26) have preferably circular cross-sections and aligned with the pin housing (25).

(17) FIGS. 5 and 6 show the assembly process of the wiper arm (1) and the wiper blade (4).

(18) FIG. 5a shows the connection of the adapter (2) to the bracket (3) that is fixed on the blade (4). In order to mount the adapter (2) onto the bracket (3), the adapter is moved in the vertical direction (400) as shown in the figure. During the assembly, the flexible extensions (251) of the adapter (2) stretch outwards and open, then surround the pin (33) at the center of the bracket (3). Thus, by means of the pin (33) being seated into the pin housing (25) as shown in FIG. 5b, the adapter (2) is connected to the blade (4) in an articulated manner. In the assembled state as shown in FIG. 5c, side walls (22) of the adapter (2) surround the side walls (31) of the bracket (3). Preferably in the assembled stated, the protrusions (34) of the bracket (3) and the side members (26) of the adapter (2) stands on each other.

(19) FIG. 6a shows the assembly of the arm (1) on the blade. As shown, the assembly is realized by sliding the arm (1) over the adapter (2) in the longitudinal direction (500) until its front surface (14) bears against the abutment surface (210) of the adapter. As the arm is slid this way, the locking members (111) on side walls pass underneath the lateral protrusions (34) of the bracket (3). Thus, a first locking is obtained between the free end of the arm and the bracket. Although it is not shown in FIG. 6, during this movement of the arm on the adapter, the tongue (24) engages in the hole (13) of the arm, providing a second locking between the free end of the arm and the adapter.

(20) FIG. 6b shows the inventive connection in the assembled state. As shown, the free end of the arm (10) is fastened to the bracket. As a result, any possibility of detachment of the arm and the blade due to forces in the vertical direction is eliminated. Furthermore, thanks to the planar upper surfaces (112) of the locking members (111) and the curvilinear lower surfaces (340) of the protrusions (34) resting on them (112), the rocking motion between the arm and the bracket is preserved. As a result, the rotational movement between the arm (1) and the blade (4) is not limited.

(21) FIG. 7 shows an alternative embodiment of the wiper connection of the present invention. In this embodiment, the lower surfaces (340) of the protrusions (34) on the bracket (3) are flat. In order to obtain the rocking motion between the free end (10) of the arm (1) and the bracket (3), the surface (112) of the locking members (111) that contacts the lower surfaces (340) has a curvilinear shape. The shapes of the locking members (111, 111) and the protrusions (34, 34) of the bracket (3, 3) are not limited to the shapes in the figures and various designs can be used as long as they do not limit the movement of the wiper.