CN113508060A

CN113508060A - Adapter for a windscreen wiper blade of a motor vehicle

Info

Publication number: CN113508060A
Application number: CN201980093210.0A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 文森特·伊莎贝尔; 让-米歇尔·贾拉森; 杰拉尔德·卡洛特
Original assignee: Valeo Systemes dEssuyage SAS
Current assignee: Valeo Systemes dEssuyage SAS
Priority date: 2018-12-28
Filing date: 2019-11-26
Publication date: 2021-10-15
Anticipated expiration: 2039-11-26
Also published as: FR3091234B1; FR3091234A1; WO2020135960A1; EP3902721A1; CN113508060B

Abstract

The invention relates to an adapter (300) for attaching a wiper blade (500) to an articulated arm (600) of a wiper system (700), the adapter (300) being pivotably mounted on a connector (200) of the wiper blade (500). The adapter (300) comprises two lateral walls (320, 330) connected together by an upper wall (340) and forming a recess (350) for the connector (200). At one distal end of the lateral wall (320, 330) with respect to the upper wall (340), the connector comprises a lower bearing surface (323, 333) designed to cooperate with a folded edge (655) of the yoke (650). According to the invention, the recess (350) is longitudinally open at both longitudinal ends of the adapter (300). The invention also relates to a wiper blade comprising such an adapter (300) mounted on a structure (400) and to a wiper system (700) comprising such a wiper blade (500). The invention is suitable for motor vehicles.

Description

Adapter for a windscreen wiper blade of a motor vehicle

Technical Field

The present invention relates to the field of windscreen wiper blades for motor vehicle windows, and more particularly to adapters for fixing the windscreen wiper blade to an articulated arm of a wiper system.

Background

In the field of motor vehicles, wiper systems may wipe a glazing panel of a motor vehicle. Typically, such wiper systems include one or more wiper blades that are hinged such that they can move against the glazing panel. Each windshield wiper blade includes a structure supporting a wiper strip intended to be placed in contact with the glazing panel so that it can remove water from the glazing panel. In addition, each windshield wiper blade includes a connector rigidly connected to the structure and an adapter pivotally mounted on the connector to allow the hinged arm of the wiper system to be removably secured to the adapter of the windshield wiper blade.

The adapter of the windscreen wiper blade is engaged in the yoke of the articulated arm by a longitudinal translational movement with respect to the extension direction of the yoke in a known manner. To this end, the yoke comprises two folded edges which, when assembling the adapter, can longitudinally guide the adapter and hold it in its functional configuration with the wiper blade system in the yoke.

There are many types of adapters depending on the different types of windshield wiper blades and the different types of articulated arms. Generally, known adapters comprise: (i) two lateral walls spaced apart from each other and connected to each other by an upper wall, each lateral wall comprising a lower bearing surface allowing the lateral wall to bear against one of the folded edges of the yoke of the articulated arm; and (ii) a coupling member of the adapter and the yoke.

In particular, in DE 102008011449 a1, due to the curved shape of the yoke of the articulated arm, which prevents the insertion of the adapter from one of its longitudinal ends, the adapter is inserted into the yoke, first in a translational movement towards the recess of the yoke, between two spaced-apart sections of each folded edge, perpendicular to the direction of extension of the yoke, into the central region of the yoke.

This type of assembly complicates the geometry of the adapter, wherein each lateral wall of the adapter comprises two end portions longitudinally spaced from each other and separated by a central recess extending from the upper wall. The central recess is located longitudinally on the rotational axis of the adapter. This configuration makes it possible to insert the adapter towards the recess of the yoke by placing one of the two sections of the folded edge of the yoke in the central recess of the adapter. At the end of this translation towards the recess of the yoke, the adapter is then engaged longitudinally in the yoke until it is in its functional configuration with the articulated arm. In this functional configuration, each segment of the folded edge of the yoke engages with each terminal portion located facing a lateral wall of the adapter; the folded edge of the yoke does not engage the adapter in the central notch, which may therefore make the coupling of the adapter in the yoke of the articulated arm unstable and/or incorrect.

In WO 2010/034445 a1, one longitudinal end of the adapter comprises a projection which extends protrudingly with respect to a lateral edge of the adapter. During its assembly, the adapter engages in the yoke of the articulated arm at the front longitudinal end of the yoke until it is in its functional configuration with the articulated arm. Then, in this functional configuration, the projections extend from the longitudinal ends of the yoke; it does not interact with the yoke of the articulated arm, but with the closing cover attached to the yoke of the articulated arm.

In order to fix the adapter in the yoke in the event of failure of the coupling member of the adapter, one of the folded edges of the yoke comprises a lug which interacts with one of the lateral walls of the adapter at a distal end with respect to the upper wall. This configuration makes it possible to retain the adapter when the coupling member of the adapter is pulled out, thus preventing the windshield wiper blade from being ejected from the hinge arm. A disadvantage is the complexity of implementing the lugs on the folded edges of the yoke, resulting in increased manufacturing costs. In addition, this configuration also results in additional surfaces being provided on the adapter to interact with the lugs to retain the adapter.

The object of the present invention is to overcome the above-mentioned problems, at least to a large extent, and to bring about other advantages, by proposing a new type of adapter for fixing a windscreen wiper blade to an articulated arm of a wiper system.

Another object of the invention is to allow easier assembly of such an adapter by the rear longitudinal end of the yoke of the articulated arm.

It is another object of the present invention to secure the adapter in the yoke of the articulated arm in the event of a failure.

Another object of the invention is to simplify the manufacture of such an adapter and to reduce its manufacturing costs.

Disclosure of Invention

According to a first aspect of the invention, at least one of the above objects is achieved by an adapter for fixing a windscreen wiper blade to a yoke of an articulated arm of a wiper system, the adapter being configured to be pivotably mounted on a connector of the windscreen wiper blade about a rotational axis, the adapter comprising: (i) two lateral walls spaced apart from each other and connected to each other by an upper wall, the walls of the adapter defining between them a recess for the connector; and (ii) a coupling member that couples the adapter to the yoke of the articulated arm. According to the invention, the first longitudinal end of the adaptor forms a fixing device configured to retain the adaptor in the yoke of the articulated arm when the coupling member is uncoupled from the yoke, and the recess is open at the first longitudinal end of the walls of the adaptor.

In other words, the means for fixing the adaptor are configured such that they can bear against the longitudinal ends of the yokes of the articulated arm, and preferably against the front longitudinal ends of the yokes, when the coupling member is uncoupled from the yokes. Since the adapter according to the first aspect of the invention is intended in particular to be assembled on an associated wiper blade system by translation from the rear longitudinal face of the articulated arm, the yoke of such articulated arm is advantageously closed at the front, i.e. at the longitudinal end opposite to the end through which the adapter is inserted into the yoke.

For this purpose, at the first and second longitudinal ends of the adapter, the longitudinal ends of the upper wall extend at most longitudinally up to the respective longitudinal ends of the lateral walls. The upper wall of the adapter according to the invention does not comprise a projection extending protrudingly with respect to the lateral wall, and the interaction between the fixing means and the yoke of the articulated arm in the event of failure of the coupling member occurs at the longitudinal ends of the lateral wall of the adapter according to the first aspect of the invention.

The securing device acts upon an untimely disconnection of the adapter from the yoke of the hinge arm due to an accidental disconnection, malfunction or breakage of the coupling member during operation of the wiper blade system. In this way, when the coupling member of the adapter is uncoupled from the yoke of the articulated arm during operation of the wiper system, the fixing means of the adapter are pushed towards the front longitudinal end of the yoke, against the closed front longitudinal face of the yoke, by the centrifugal force associated with the rotary motion of the windscreen wiper blade on the glazing surface; the adapter is thus retained in the yoke and, in the event of a malfunction, the windscreen wiper blade is not disconnected from the hinge arm.

According to a first aspect of the invention, the recess is not longitudinally delimited by the first front longitudinal end of the adapter.

According to a first aspect of the invention, the invention is intended for both the original equipment market and the replacement market for wiper systems and/or windscreen wiper blades and/or adapters for such windscreen wiper blades.

In the context of the present invention, the following adjectives are defined with respect to the adapter according to the first aspect of the invention:

the adjective "longitudinal" refers to the direction of extension of the adapter along its maximum length. The longitudinal direction refers to the axis formed by the strip of wiper blade when the adapter is assembled on a windshield wiper blade. By extension, the longitudinal direction is the direction parallel or substantially parallel to the maximum length of the wiper strip, and the adjectives "front" and "rear" refer to relative positions along the longitudinal axis;

the adjective "transverse" or "lateral" refers to a direction extending perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, more particularly to a direction perpendicular to the two lateral edges of the cover of the adapter;

the adjective "vertical" refers to a direction perpendicular to both the longitudinal and transverse directions. By way of example, the vertical direction particularly refers to the relative position of the wiper strip with respect to the adapter according to the first aspect of the invention. By extension, the adjectives "lower" and "upper" refer to relative positions along a vertical axis.

The adapter according to the first aspect of the invention may advantageously comprise at least one of the following improvements, and the technical features forming these improvements may be considered separately or in combination:

the adapter according to the first aspect of the invention has a U-shaped transverse cross-section. In other words, the upper wall laterally separates the two lateral walls of the adapter. In particular, the lateral walls are laterally spaced from each other, thus defining, with the upper wall, a recess for a connector of a windscreen wiper blade;

in order to facilitate the insertion of the adapter according to the first aspect of the invention into the yoke of the articulated arm with which the adapter is intended to interact, the lateral walls of the adapter are parallel to each other. More specifically, the lateral wall is perpendicular to the upper wall of the adapter according to the first aspect of the invention;

the upper wall and/or the lateral walls of the adapter according to the first aspect of the invention are flat. This advantageous configuration makes it possible to facilitate the insertion of the adapter according to the first aspect of the invention into the yoke of the articulated arm with which the adapter is intended to interact. In particular, the upper face of the upper wall of the adapter is flat to facilitate its interaction with the yoke of the hinge arm and/or the lower face of the upper wall of the adapter is flat to facilitate the insertion of the connector of the windscreen wiper blade into the adapter. Similarly, the outer face of the lateral wall is advantageously flat to facilitate the interaction of the lateral wall with the yoke of the articulated arm and/or the lower face of the lateral wall is advantageously flat to facilitate the insertion of the connector of the windscreen wiper blade into the adapter;

the recess is open at the second longitudinal end of the walls of the adapter. In other words, the recess of the adapter according to the first aspect of the invention is not longitudinally delimited by the second longitudinal end of the adapter. In still other words, the recess of the adapter according to the first aspect of the invention passes longitudinally through the adapter from one side to the other side to facilitate its coupling to the connector of the windscreen wiper blade on which the adapter is intended to be pivotally mounted;

laterally, the recess of the adapter according to the first aspect of the invention is delimited by the inner face of the lateral wall of the adapter;

the inner face of the lateral wall of the adapter is parallel to the outer face of the lateral wall;

the upper wall of the adapter according to the first aspect of the invention comprises a through opening at its first longitudinal end in the direction of the lower bearing surface of the adapter against the folded edge of the yoke of the hinge arm. The through opening thus takes the form of a notch through the upper wall to allow a greater angular deflection of the adapter about its axis of rotation and relative to the connector housed in the recess, thus preventing the connector from colliding with the upper wall of the adapter when the adapter is pivoted about its axis of rotation;

the through opening of the upper wall of the adapter is longitudinally open at a first longitudinal end of the upper wall. In other words, the through opening is delimited by the open contour at the first longitudinal end of the upper wall; the through opening of the upper wall of the adapter is not delimited longitudinally at the first longitudinal end;

the through opening of the upper wall is laterally delimited by the inner face of the lateral wall of the adapter according to the first aspect of the invention;

on the first lateral wall of the adapter, the axis of rotation is formed by a cylindrical recess formed from the inner face of the first lateral wall of the adapter. The axis of rotation is then defined by the central axis of the cylindrical recess. The cylindrical recess extends from an inner face of the first lateral wall of the adapter according to the first aspect of the invention towards an outer face of the first lateral wall. Advantageously, the cylindrical recess emerges onto the outer face of the first cylindrical wall. In other words, the cylindrical recess advantageously passes through the first lateral wall of the adapter. This advantageous configuration makes it possible in particular to reduce the manufacturing costs of the adapter;

the cylindrical recess is located vertically below the upper wall of the adapter according to the first aspect of the invention;

the cylindrical recess is delimited by a peripheral contour. The peripheral profile is advantageously polygonal. In addition, the peripheral profile is advantageously symmetrical about the central axis of the cylindrical recess to facilitate the interaction of the adapter and the connector of the windscreen wiper blade, on which the adapter is intended to be pivotally mounted. As a non-limiting example, the peripheral profile defining the cylindrical recess is preferably square;

on the second lateral wall of the adapter, the axis of rotation is formed by a cylindrical sleeve that extends protrudingly from the inner face of the second lateral wall of the adapter, the cylindrical sleeve being coaxial with the cylindrical recess. Thus, the axis of rotation of the adapter according to the first aspect of the invention is not formed on the adapter in the same shape between the two lateral walls of the adapter; on the second lateral wall, the axis of rotation is not formed by the cylindrical recess of the first lateral wall, but by a cylindrical sleeve. This advantageous configuration allows the formation of a rotational bearing which extends laterally in the recess of the adapter according to the first aspect of the invention and which avoids the use of auxiliary components to achieve the pivotal connection between the adapter and the connector;

the cylindrical sleeve comprises at least two diametrically opposed flat portions;

the cylindrical sleeve comprises a through opening delimited by a circular contour, which is coaxial with the cylindrical sleeve. The through opening passes laterally from one side to the other side of the second lateral wall of the adapter according to the first aspect of the invention, on which second lateral wall a cylindrical sleeve is formed. In addition, the through opening is advantageously longitudinally and/or vertically aligned with a cylindrical recess formed in the first lateral wall of the adapter. In other words, in the lateral plane of the adapter according to the first aspect of the invention, the through opening formed in the second lateral wall is located inside the cylindrical recess formed in the first lateral wall;

the coupling member is located on the upper wall of the adapter according to the first aspect of the invention. By making it possible to couple the adapter to the upper face of the yoke, this advantageous configuration makes it possible to facilitate the interaction of the adapter according to the first aspect of the invention with the yoke of the articulated arm in which the adapter is inserted;

the coupling member includes a button at one end of the support surface. This advantageous configuration makes it possible to selectively activate or deactivate the coupling member in order to couple or decouple the adapter and the yoke, respectively. To this end, the coupling member is advantageously connected to the upper wall of the adapter by a flexible hinge configured to allow the bearing surface of the coupling member to deform elastically with respect to the upper wall of the adapter;

the button of the coupling member extends beyond the longitudinal end of the adapter. In other words, the coupling member, in particular the bearing surface thereof, extends longitudinally beyond the longitudinal ends of the lateral walls of the adapter. This advantageous configuration makes it possible to lengthen the bearing surface of the coupling member and, as a result, to increase the lever arm effect on the push button located at the end of the bearing surface. Alternatively, the button of the coupling member extends along the longitudinal axis of the adapter and from the rear towards the front of the adapter longitudinally between the first and second longitudinal ends of the lateral walls of the adapter;

the adapter according to the first aspect of the invention is made of plastic to reduce manufacturing costs. By way of non-limiting example, the adapter is obtained by moulding.

According to a second aspect of the invention, a motor vehicle windscreen wiper blade is proposed, comprising: a structure supporting a wiper strip; a connector rigidly secured to the structure; and an adapter according to the first aspect of the invention or according to any improvement thereof, the adapter being pivotably mounted on the connector.

In the context of the present invention according to its second aspect and according to the first variant embodiment, the structure supporting the strip of wiper blades is of the type comprising a single reed (spline). This first variant embodiment is called a single reed. In this case, the spring is received in a channel of the plastic support to which the connector is attached, and the channel also comprises a claw for attaching a strip of wiper strip. The connector may also be attached directly to the spring and the strip of wiper strip may be bonded to the face of the single spring.

Alternatively, according to a second variant embodiment, the structure supporting the strip of wiper blade is of the type comprising two tongues laterally distributed on both sides of the back of the strip of wiper blade. This second variant embodiment is called double reed.

The adapter according to the first aspect of the invention is thus coupled by its axis of rotation to the connector of the windscreen wiper blade. In other words, the connector comprises an additional axis of rotation which interacts with the axis of rotation of the adapter according to the first aspect of the invention and as previously described by any modification thereof. As a result, the adapter is rigidly connected to the connector and is free to pivot about its axis of rotation to hold the wiper strip against the glazing surface of the motor vehicle.

According to a third aspect of the invention, a wiper system is proposed, comprising at least one articulated arm detachably fixed to an adapter of a windscreen wiper blade according to the second aspect of the invention, each articulated arm comprising a yoke mechanically coupled to the adapter by an engagement of complementary shapes.

The wiper blade system according to the third aspect of the present invention may advantageously include at least one of the following improvements, and the technical features forming these improvements may be considered individually or in combination:

each of the articulated arms of the wiper blade system according to the third aspect of the present invention is rotated by an electric motor;

the yoke of the articulated arm of the wiper blade system according to the third aspect of the invention comprises two lateral edges, each lateral edge comprising a folded edge extending laterally towards the interior of the yoke, the lower bearing surface of the adapter bearing against the folded edge positioned facing the lower bearing surface. The folded edge of each lateral edge of the yoke is located at the free end of the lateral edge. The two lateral edges of the yoke form between them a concave space into which the adapter can be inserted by translation along the longitudinal extension direction of the yoke. Thus, the folded edge of the yoke against which the adaptor according to the first aspect of the invention bears makes it possible to guide the adaptor during its longitudinal insertion into the yoke of the articulated arm. In addition, when the adapter reaches its functional configuration with the articulated arm, the folded edge of the yoke helps to hold the adapter in place in the yoke of the articulated arm;

the lateral walls of the adapter bear against the lateral edges of the yokes of the articulated arms. In particular, the lateral wall of the adapter according to the first aspect of the invention bears laterally against the lateral edge of the yoke of the articulated arm during insertion of the adapter into the yoke and/or in the functional configuration of the adapter in the yoke;

the yoke of the articulated arm comprises a closing edge which extends laterally between two lateral edges at one longitudinal end of the yoke. In other words, the yoke of the articulated arm of the wiper blade system according to the third aspect of the present invention is, in particular, a yoke of the type which is open at the rear, which allows the adapter to be inserted into the yoke only through its rear longitudinal end. Further, the closed edge of the yoke makes it possible to retain the adapter in combination with the means for fixing the adapter according to the first aspect of the invention when the coupling member of the adapter and the yoke is disengaged from the yoke during operation of the wiper blade system; the fixing device then bears in the longitudinal direction against the closed end of the yoke, thus preventing the windscreen wiper blade from being pushed out of the articulated arm;

the yoke includes an upper edge connecting the two lateral edges, the upper edge including an opening configured to allow engagement of the coupling member when the adapter is coupled to the articulating arm. Preferably, the opening formed in the upper edge of the yoke of the hinged arm is configured to allow the button of the coupling member to be engaged when the adapter is coupled to the hinged arm.

Various embodiments of the present invention are contemplated that incorporate the various optional features set forth herein in all possible combinations.

Drawings

Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and from several exemplary embodiments given as non-limiting examples with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings in which:

fig. 1 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of an adapter according to the first aspect of the present invention. In particular, fig. 1A and 1B show profile views of each lateral face of such an adapter, fig. 1C and 1D show top and bottom views, respectively, of the adapter, fig. 1E shows a front view of the adapter, and fig. 1F shows a perspective view of the adapter;

fig. 2 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a windshield wiper blade according to a second aspect of the invention, incorporating the adapter illustrated in fig. 1A-1F. In particular, fig. 2A illustrates a perspective view and fig. 2B illustrates a cross-sectional view of such a windshield wiper blade;

fig. 3 illustrates two exemplary embodiments of a wiper system according to a third aspect of the present invention, wherein the windshield wiper blade illustrated in fig. 2 is assembled on a hinged arm. In particular, fig. 3A shows a perspective view of a first example of such a wiper system, fig. 3B and 3C show details of an embodiment of the wiper system, and fig. 3D shows a cross section of the view shown in fig. 3A.

Of course, the features, variants and different embodiments of the invention can be associated with each other in various combinations, as long as they are compatible or not mutually exclusive. In particular, it is envisaged that variations of the invention include only the selection of features described below in isolation from other features described, provided that such selection of features is sufficient to provide technical advantages or to distinguish the invention from the prior art.

In particular, all the variants and all the combinations of embodiments described may be combined with each other if there is no technical reason to prevent them from being combined.

In the drawings, elements common to many figures retain the same reference numeral.

Detailed Description

In the following description of the figures, the adjective "longitudinal" refers to the X axis and corresponds to the extension direction of the adapter along its maximum length. Hereinafter, the adjectives "front" and "rear" refer to the left and right sides of the illustrated perspective view, respectively. The adjective "transverse" or "lateral" refers to the Y axis and corresponds to a direction extending perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and the adjective "vertical" refers to the Z axis and corresponds to a direction perpendicular to both the longitudinal direction and the transverse direction. The adjectives "lower" and "upper" refer to the lower edge and upper edge, respectively, of the illustrated figures.

With reference to fig. 1A to 1F, an exemplary embodiment of an adapter 300 according to a first aspect of the present invention is first described.

Such an adapter 300 includes:

two

lateral walls

320, 330 spaced apart from each other and connected to each other by an upper wall 340, so that the adapter 300 has a U-shaped cross section in a transverse plane formed by the transverse axis Y and the vertical axis Z, as can be seen in particular in fig. 1E;

the adapter 300 is coupled with a coupling member 360 of a yoke 650 (not shown in fig. 1) of an articulated arm 600 of the wiper blade system 700.

In the example illustrated in fig. 1, the

lateral walls

320, 330 are parallel to each other and perpendicular to the upper wall 340 of the adapter 300. Alternatively, depending on the shape of the yoke 650 intended to interact with the adapter 300, the

lateral walls

320, 330 may form an angle with the upper wall 340 of more than 90 °.

Each

lateral wall

320, 330 of adapter 300 comprises, at its upper vertical end, a

chamfer

327, 337 in order to facilitate its insertion into the yoke 650 of articulated arm 600, into which adapter 300 is intended to be inserted. In other words, particularly in the transverse plane illustrated in fig. 1E, the upper wall 340 of the adapter 300 includes a

chamfer

327, 337 at each lateral end thereof. The chamfer is advantageously oriented at 45 ° relative to the upper wall 340 of the adapter 300. In addition, the

chamfer

327, 337 of each

lateral wall

320, 330 of the adapter 300 extends longitudinally between the two

longitudinal ends

321, 331, 322, 332 of the lateral wall.

Laterally, the first lateral wall 320 of the adapter 300 is bounded by an outer face 324 and an inner face 325. The inner face 325 of the first lateral wall 320 is positioned to face the second lateral wall 330 of the adapter 300. In the example illustrated in fig. 1A, the inner face 325 and the outer face 324 of the first lateral wall 320 are advantageously flat and parallel to each other.

Longitudinally, the first lateral wall 320 of the adapter 300 is delimited by a first longitudinal end 321 located at the front of the adapter 300 and by a second longitudinal end 322 located at the rear of the adapter 300 with respect to the longitudinal axis X. The first longitudinal end 321 and the second longitudinal end 322 of the first lateral wall 320 are advantageously flat and parallel to each other. The first lateral wall 320 also includes a vertical chamfer defining an outer face 324 of each

longitudinal end

321, 322 of the first lateral wall.

In the vertical direction, the first lateral wall 320 of the adapter 300 is delimited by the upper wall 340 of the adapter 300 and by the flat lower face forming the lower bearing surfaces 323, 333 of the adapter 300 intended to interact with the folding edges 655 of the yokes 650 of the articulated arm 600 with which the adapter 300 is intended to interact.

The first lateral wall 320 of the adapter 300 therefore has a substantially parallelepiped shape extending vertically below the upper wall 340 of the adapter 300 with respect to the vertical axis Z.

As can be seen in particular in fig. 1C, 1D and 1F, the first lateral wall 320 further comprises two

oblong openings

326a, 326b extending longitudinally in the first lateral wall 320. The

oblong openings

326a, 326b of the first lateral wall 320 are through openings along the vertical axis Z; these oblong openings emerge both on the upper wall 340 and on the lower bearing surface 323 of the first lateral wall 320. Laterally, the

oblong openings

326a, 326b are located between the outer face 324 and the inner face 325 of the first lateral wall 320, preferably such that they are centered with respect to the transverse axis Y of the adapter 300.

Similarly, the second lateral wall 330 of the adapter 300 is laterally bounded by an outer face 334 and an inner face 335. The inner face 335 of the second lateral wall 330 is positioned to face the first lateral wall 320 of the adapter 300. In the example illustrated in fig. 1A, the inner face 335 and the outer face 334 of the second lateral wall 330 are advantageously flat and parallel to each other.

Longitudinally, the second lateral wall 330 of the adapter 300 is delimited by a first longitudinal end 331 located at the front of the adapter 300 and a second longitudinal end 332 located at the rear of the adapter 300 with respect to the longitudinal axis X. The first 331 and second 332 longitudinal ends of the second lateral wall 330 are advantageously flat and parallel to each other. The second lateral wall 330 further comprises a vertical chamfer defining an outer face 334 of each

longitudinal end

331, 332 of the second lateral wall.

Advantageously and in particular as can be seen in fig. 1C and 1D, the first 321 and second 322 longitudinal ends of the first lateral wall 320 and the first 331 and second 332 longitudinal ends of the second lateral wall 330 are parallel to each other. More preferably, the first longitudinal end 321 of the first lateral wall 320 and the first longitudinal end 331 of the second lateral wall 330 are coplanar, and the second longitudinal end 322 of the first lateral wall 320 and the second longitudinal end 332 of the second lateral wall 330 are coplanar.

In the vertical direction, the second lateral wall 330 of the adapter 300 is delimited firstly by the upper wall 340 of the adapter 300 and secondly by a flat lower face forming the lower bearing surfaces 323, 333 of the adapter 300 intended to interact with the folding edges 655 of the yokes 650 of the articulated arm 600 with which the adapter 300 is intended to interact. As can be seen in fig. 1E, the flat lower surfaces of each

lateral wall

320, 330 of adapter 300 together form a single flat

lower bearing surface

323, 333. In other words, the flat lower surfaces of each

lateral wall

320, 330 of the adapter 300 are advantageously coplanar.

Thus, the second lateral wall 330 of the adapter 300 has a substantially parallelepiped shape extending vertically below the upper wall 340 of the adapter 300 with respect to the vertical axis Z.

As can be seen in particular in fig. 1C, 1D and 1F, the second lateral wall 330 further comprises two

oblong openings

336a, 336b extending longitudinally in the second lateral wall 330. The

oblong openings

336a, 336b of the second lateral wall 330 are through openings along the vertical axis Z; these oblong openings appear to both the upper wall 340 and the lower bearing surface 333 of the second lateral wall 330. Laterally, the

oblong openings

336a, 336b are located between the outer face 334 and the inner face 335 of the second lateral wall 330, preferably such that they are centered with respect to the transverse axis Y of the adapter 300.

According to a first aspect of the invention and as can be seen in fig. 1D, 1E and 1F, the

lateral walls

320, 330 and the upper wall 340 of the adapter 300 together define a recess 350 allowing insertion of said connector 200 when the adapter 300 is pivotably mounted on the connector 200 of a windscreen wiper blade 500. The recess 350 thus occurs at the first longitudinal ends 321, 331 of the

lateral walls

320, 330 of the adapter 300, preferably at the front of the adapter 300.

In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in fig. 1, the recess 350 of the adapter 300 is also present at the second longitudinal ends 322, 332 of the

lateral walls

320, 330 of the adapter 300, preferably at the rear of the adapter 300. In other words, the recess 350 passes longitudinally along the longitudinal axis X of the adapter 300 from one side of the adapter to the other.

Relative to the lateral axis Y of the adapter 300, the recess 350 is delimited by the inner faces 325, 335 of the

lateral walls

320, 330 of the adapter 300.

With respect to the vertical axis Z of the adapter 300, the recess 350 is delimited on the upper side by the lower face of the upper wall 340 of the adapter 300; in a vertical direction opposite to the upper wall 340, the recess 350 is not delimited, but emerges onto the lower bearing surfaces 323, 333 of the adapter 300.

As a result, as can be seen in particular in fig. 1E, in the transverse plane formed by the transverse axis Y and the vertical axis Z, the recess 350 has a substantially rectangular shape between the

lateral walls

320, 330 and the upper wall 340 of the adapter 300.

As can be seen in fig. 1C, 1D and 1F, the upper wall 340 of the adapter 300 comprises a through opening 370 at the first longitudinal ends 321, 331 of the

lateral walls

320, 330. The through-opening 370 is formed from the upper face of the upper wall 340 of the adapter 300 up to the

lower face

323, 333 of said upper wall 340 towards the adapter 300 bearing against a folded edge 655 of a yoke 650 of the articulated arm 600 with which the adapter 300 is intended to interact. The through opening 370 thus takes the form of a recess through the upper wall 340.

The through opening 370 of the upper wall 340 occurs longitudinally at the first longitudinal ends 321, 331 of the

lateral walls

320, 330 of the adapter 300, with respect to the longitudinal axis X of the adapter 300. In other words, in the longitudinal direction, the through opening 370 is delimited by an open contour 371 at the longitudinal end 341 of the upper wall 340. Thus, in the example illustrated in fig. 1C, 1D and 1F, the first longitudinal end 341 of the upper wall 340 extends longitudinally at most up to the corresponding first longitudinal ends 321, 331 of the

lateral walls

320, 330 at the first longitudinal end of the adapter 300; and the second longitudinal end 342 of the upper wall 340 extends longitudinally at most up to the corresponding second

longitudinal end

322, 332 of the

lateral wall

320, 330 at the second longitudinal end of the adapter 300. As a result, the upper wall 340 of the adapter 300 according to the invention does not comprise a projection extending protrudingly with respect to the

lateral walls

320, 330.

Laterally, the through opening 370 of the upper wall 340 is delimited by the inner faces 325, 335 of the

lateral walls

320, 330 of the adapter 300. The through opening 370 of the upper wall 340 of the adapter 300 thus has a substantially rectangular shape.

In the example illustrated in fig. 1, an adapter 300 according to a first aspect of the invention is configured to be pivotably mounted on a connector 200 of a windscreen wiper blade about a rotation axis 310, on which connector the adapter is intended to be mounted. To this end, the adapter 300 comprises means configured to define a rotation axis 310:

on the first lateral wall 320, the axis of rotation 310 is formed by a cylindrical recess 380 which is formed from the inner face 325 of the first lateral wall 320 and which emerges laterally on the outer face 324 of the first lateral wall 320. More specifically, the rotation axis 310 is located at the center of the cylindrical recess 380, and the rotation axis 310 is coaxial with the cylindrical recess 380;

on the second lateral wall 330, the axis of rotation 310 is formed by a cylindrical sleeve 390 that extends protrudingly from the inner face 335 of the second lateral wall 330. More specifically, the axis of rotation 310 is located at the center of the cylindrical sleeve 390, and the axis of rotation 310 is coaxial with the cylindrical sleeve 390. In addition, cylindrical sleeve 390 includes a through opening 395 defined by a circular profile 396, the through opening 395 being coaxial with cylindrical sleeve 390. The through opening 395 of the cylindrical sleeve 390 passes laterally through from one side of the second lateral wall 330 of the adapter 300 to the other. In addition, cylindrical sleeve 390 is coaxial with cylindrical recess 380.

As can be seen in fig. 1B and 1F, the lower bearing surface 323 of the first lateral wall 320 of the adapter 300 extends at least in alignment with the cylindrical recess 380. In other words, lower bearing surface 323 of first lateral wall 320 extends longitudinally between

longitudinal sides

382a, 382b that longitudinally define cylindrical recess 380. The cylindrical recess 380 is delimited by a peripheral profile 381 comprising two

longitudinal sides

382a, 382 b. The peripheral outline 381 is advantageously polygonal and, in the example illustrated in fig. 1, preferably square.

More generally, the lower bearing surface 323 of the first lateral wall 320 of the adapter 300 is located at least partially between the two

longitudinal sides

382a, 382b of the cylindrical recess 380. As a result, the lower bearing surface 323 of the first lateral wall 320 extends longitudinally beyond the

longitudinal sides

382a, 382b of the cylindrical recess 380 towards the first longitudinal end 321 and/or the second longitudinal end 322 of the first lateral wall 320 of the adapter 300. Preferably, the lower bearing surface 323 of the first lateral wall 320 extends longitudinally symmetrically about the axis of rotation 310. More preferably, and as can be seen in fig. 1, the lower bearing surface 323 of the first lateral wall 320 extends longitudinally along the entire first lateral wall 320, i.e. up to the first longitudinal end 321 and/or the second longitudinal end 322 of the first lateral wall 320.

As can be seen in fig. 1A, 1D and 1E, the lower bearing surface 333 of the second lateral wall 330 of the adapter 300 extends at least in alignment with the cylindrical sleeve 390. In other words, the lower bearing surface 333 of the second lateral wall 330 extends longitudinally between the circular profiles 396 defining the through opening 395. More generally, the lower bearing surface 333 of the second lateral wall 330 of the adapter 300 is at least partially located between the circular profiles 396 defining the through opening 395. Optionally, the lower bearing surface 333 of the second lateral wall 330 of the adapter 300 is at least partially longitudinally located between the sides defining the cylindrical sleeve 390.

As a result, the lower bearing surface 333 of the second lateral wall 330 extends longitudinally beyond the circular profile 396 defining the through opening 395 and/or beyond the side defining the cylindrical sleeve 390 towards the first longitudinal end 331 and/or the second longitudinal end 332 of the second lateral wall 330 of the adapter 300. Preferably, the lower bearing surface 333 of the second lateral wall 330 extends longitudinally symmetrically about the axis of rotation 310. More preferably, and as can be seen in fig. 1, the lower bearing surface 333 of the second lateral wall 330 extends longitudinally along the entire second lateral wall 330, i.e. up to the first longitudinal end 331 and/or the second longitudinal end 332 of the second lateral wall 330.

As described above, and in accordance with the first aspect of the present invention, adapter 300 includes coupling member 360 to allow mechanical coupling of adapter 300 in yoke 650 of articulated arm 600 to longitudinally secure adapter 300 in yoke 650.

In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in fig. 1A and 1F, coupling member 360 is located on upper wall 340 of adapter 300. In particular, the coupling member 360 comprises:

a bearing surface 362 connected to the upper wall 340 of the adapter 300 by a flexible hinge 365 configured to allow the bearing surface 362 to elastically deform relative to the upper wall 340 of the adapter 300;

a button 361 located at a free longitudinal end of the support surface 362.

The bearing surface 362 extends longitudinally from the second longitudinal end 342 of the upper wall 340 of the adapter 300. The support surface 362 has a prismatic shape. In addition, the bearing surface 362 forms a non-zero angle, preferably less than 10 °, with the upper wall 340 of the adapter 300 in its natural configuration (i.e., without any force other than its own weight) such that the free end of the bearing surface 362 is located vertically above the upper surface of the upper wall 340.

The button 361 has a polygonal shape, and is particularly square in the examples illustrated in fig. 1C, 1D, and 1F. In the lateral direction, the push button 361 is wider than the bearing surface 362 with respect to the lateral axis Y. In the vertical direction, the button projects above the bearing surface 362 with respect to the vertical axis Z.

The flexible hinge 365 is formed by two longitudinal notches 366 which laterally delimit the edges of the bearing surface 362 on either side with respect to the transverse axis Y. Since the thickness of the bearing surface 362 relative to the vertical axis Z is relatively small (equal or substantially equal to the thickness of the upper wall 340), a force exerted vertically on the button 361 causes the bearing surface 362 to deform elastically, thereby generating a rotational movement of the coupling member 360 about the second longitudinal end 342 of the upper wall 340 of the adapter 300. As will be described below with reference to fig. 3A-3D, the button 361 is intended to interact with an opening 653 formed in the yoke 650 of the articulated arm 600.

According to a particular feature of the first aspect of the invention, the

lateral walls

320, 330 of the adaptor 300 and the first longitudinal ends 321, 331, 341 of the upper wall 340 together form a fixing device 100 which makes it possible to retain the adaptor 300 in the yoke 650 of the articulated arm 600 with which it is intended to interact when the coupling member 360 is uncoupled from the yoke 650. As will be described below with reference to fig. 3A to 3D, the fixing device 100 formed by the first longitudinal ends 321, 331 of the

lateral walls

320, 330 and by the first longitudinal end 341 of the upper wall 340 together forms a flat surface which contributes to its bearing against the longitudinal ends of the yokes 650. More specifically, the upper wall 340 does not extend longitudinally forward of the

lateral walls

320, 330 of the adapter 300. Instead, the upper wall 340 extends longitudinally to be at most flush with the

lateral walls

320, 330, but not beyond them.

Referring to fig. 2A and 2B, the adapter 300 illustrated in fig. 1 is assembled on a windshield wiper blade 500 comprising:

a structure 400 supporting a wiper strip 430;

a connector 200 rigidly connected to the structure 400;

the adapter 300 according to the first aspect of the invention or any one of its modifications as described above, is pivotably mounted on the connector 200.

Fig. 2B illustrates a cross-sectional view along the lateral plane YZ shown in fig. 2A.

The structure 400 of the windshield wiper blade 500 includes a support member 440, which can be seen in fig. 2B, directly supporting the wiper strip 430. The support 440 is rigidly connected to the structure, in particular by the connector 200 and at least one end piece 420. In the vertical direction, with respect to the vertical axis Z, the top of the wiper strip 430 and the support 440 is the deflector 410.

As an alternative to this structure of the wiper blade, this structure may be formed by two ridges housed in the hooks of the strip of wiper rubber and held by the connector. According to another example, the structure of the wiper blade comprises a single ridge to which the connector is firmly attached and on which the hook of the strip of wiper rubber is attached.

The connector 200 is rigidly connected to the structure 400 of the windscreen wiper blade 500 and serves as a mechanical interface with an adapter 300, which in turn serves as an interface with an articulated arm 600 of the wiper system 700 to which the windscreen wiper blade 500 is intended to be mounted. To this end, the adapter 300 is mechanically coupled to the connector 200. More specifically, the adapter 300 is pivotally mounted on the connector 200.

To this end, the connector 200 comprises a rotation axis 240 intended to interact with a rotation axis 310 of the adapter 300. As can be seen in fig. 2B, the rotational axis 240 of the connector 200 is formed by:

a cylindrical recess 210 which interacts with a cylindrical sleeve 390 of the adapter 300; and

a cylindrical sleeve 220 that interacts with a cylindrical recess 380 of the adapter 300.

When adapter 300 is pivotally mounted on connector 200, cylindrical sleeve 390 of adapter 300 is thus inserted into cylindrical recess 210 of the connector, and cylindrical recess 380 of adapter 300 receives cylindrical sleeve 220 of connector 200. This advantageous configuration may allow the rotational axis 310 of the adapter 300 and the rotational axis 240 of the connector 200 to be coaxial. As a result, adapter 300 is pivotably mounted on connector 200 with respect to adapter axis of rotation 310 and connector axis of rotation 240.

Referring to fig. 3A-3D, two exemplary embodiments of a wiper blade system 700 according to a third aspect of the present invention are shown. In fig. 3B and 3C, the yoke 650 of the articulated arm 600 is shown in cross-section to aid in understanding the invention.

Such a wiper system 700 comprises at least one hinged arm 600 detachably fixed to an adapter 300 of a windscreen wiper blade 500 according to the second aspect of the invention and as described with reference to fig. 2. Each articulated arm 600 includes a yoke 650 within which the adaptor 300 is received and mechanically coupled by engagement of complementary shapes. In addition, each articulated arm 600 is rotated by an electric motor (not shown in fig. 3).

Yoke 650 of articulated arm 600 includes two lateral edges 651 connected to each other by an upper edge 652. As can be seen in fig. 3B, 3C and 3D, the yoke 650 is open at a lower vertical end, i.e. at a distal end of the lateral edge 651 with respect to an upper edge 652 of the yoke 650.

At these distal ends, each lateral edge 651 includes a folded edge 655 that extends laterally toward the interior of the yoke 650. Each folded edge 655 of the yoke 650 thus forms a flange extending laterally relative to the associated lateral edge 651 relative to the transverse axis Y toward the interior of the yoke 650.

When the adapter 300 is mounted in the yoke 650, the lower bearing surfaces 323, 333 of at least one of the

lateral walls

320, 330 of the adapter 300, preferably both

lateral walls

320, 330, bear against a folded edge 655 located facing the lower bearing surface of the yoke.

Thus, the folded edges of the yoke 655 thus bear flush against the rotational axis 310 of the adapter 300 against the lower bearing surfaces 323, 333 of the corresponding

lateral walls

320, 330 of said adapter 300. In other words, in alignment with the rotation axis 310, the adapter 300 bears vertically against the folded edge of the yoke 650 with respect to the vertical axis Z.

In addition, as can be seen in fig. 3D, the outer faces 324, 334 of the

lateral walls

320, 330 of the adapter 300 bear laterally against lateral edges 651 of the yoke 650. Thus, this configuration makes it possible to retain the adapter 300 in the yoke 650 and thus ensure a satisfactory mechanical coupling between the windscreen wiper blade 500 and the hinge arm 600 of the wiper system 700.

In addition, when the adapter 300 is received in the yoke 650 in its functional configuration (i.e., a configuration in which the wiper blade system 700 may be actuated on a glazing panel of an automotive vehicle), the coupling member 360 of the adapter 300 interacts with the opening 653 formed in the yoke 650. This configuration makes it possible to fix the windscreen wiper blade 500 on the hinge arm 600, more specifically to prevent relative longitudinal movements between the adapter 300 and the yoke 650. In the example illustrated in fig. 3A-3C, the opening 653 is located in the upper edge 652 of the yoke 650. In addition, the shape of the opening 653 of the yoke 650 is complementary to the shape of the button 361 of the coupling member 360 of the adapter 300, so as to allow the button 361 to be engaged in the opening 653 when the adapter 300 reaches its functional configuration.

The yoke 650 of the articulated arm 600 is closed at its longitudinal ends by a closing edge 654 extending laterally between two lateral edges 651 of the yoke 650. In the vertical direction, the closed edge 654 opens at the lower vertical end in a manner similar to the lateral edge 651 of the yoke 650. However, the closed edge 654 does not have a folded edge similar to the folded edge of the lateral edge 651.

The closed edge 654 forms a cavity 656 at the first longitudinal ends 321, 331 of the adapter 300 when the adapter 300 is received in the yoke 650 in its functional configuration. In case of a failure of the coupling member 360 of the adapter 300 coupled with the corresponding opening 653 of the yoke 650, the adapter 300 will be pushed towards the closing edge 654 of the yoke 650, and then the fixing device 100 formed by the first longitudinal ends 321, 331 of the

walls

320, 330, 340 of the adapter 300 will abut against the closing edge 654, thus preventing the windscreen wiper blade 500 from being pushed out of the yoke 650. The advantageously flat shape of the first longitudinal ends 321, 331 of the

lateral walls

320, 330 of the adapter 300 makes it possible to house the adapter in a yoke 650 (which is longitudinally closed at the front by its closing edge 654), while allowing the fixing device 100 to bear against the closing edge 654 in the event of a failure.

Fig. 3B and 3C show two variant embodiments of a connector 200 of a windscreen wiper blade 500 according to a second aspect of the invention:

in fig. 3B, yoke 650 of articulated arm 600 further includes a projection 657 extending longitudinally toward connector 200. The protrusion 657 is located distal of the closure edge 654 relative to the upper edge 652 of the yoke 650. In addition, the front face of the connector 200 is formed by two lateral surfaces 230 spaced laterally apart, each extending within a recess 350 of said adapter 300 against one of the

lateral walls

320, 330 of the adapter 300. Lateral surfaces 230 of connector 200 are laterally spaced from one another and define a space 235 that receives a terminal end 658 of projection 657;

in fig. 3C, the front face of the connector 200 is formed by a surface 250 extending laterally between the

lateral walls

320, 330 of the adapter 300 within the recess 350 of said adapter 300. Thus, the surface 250 forms a single flat surface at its longitudinal end facing the cavity 656 formed by the closed edge 654 of the yoke 650 of the articulated arm 600.

In general, the invention relates in particular to an adapter 300 for fixing a windscreen wiper blade 500 to an articulated arm 600 of a wiper system 700, the adapter 300 being pivotably mounted on a connector 200 of the windscreen wiper blade 500. The adapter 300 comprises two

lateral walls

320, 330 connected to each other by an upper wall 340 and forming between them a recess 350 for the connector 200. At the distal ends of the

lateral walls

320, 330 with respect to the upper wall 340, the connector comprises lower bearing surfaces 323, 333 intended to interact with folded edges 655 of the yoke 650. According to the invention, the recess 350 is longitudinally open at both longitudinal ends of the adapter 300.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the examples just described, and many modifications may be made to these examples without departing from the scope of the invention. In particular, the various features, forms, variants and embodiments of the invention may be associated with one another in various combinations, as long as they are compatible or not mutually exclusive. In particular, all the variants and embodiments described above can be combined with one another.

Claims

1. An adapter (300) for fixing a windscreen wiper blade (500) to an articulated arm (600) of a wiper system (700), the adapter (300) being configured to be pivotably mounted on a connector (200) of the windscreen wiper blade (500) about a rotational axis (310), the adapter (300) comprising:

-two lateral walls (320, 330) laterally spaced from each other and connected together by an upper wall (340), the walls (320, 330, 340) of the adapter (300) defining between them a recess (350) for the connector (200);

-a coupling member (360) to which the adapter (300) is coupled with the yoke (650) of the articulated arm (600);

-characterized in that the first longitudinal end (321, 331, 341) of the adapter (300) forms a fixation device (100) configured to retain the adapter (300) in the yoke (650) of the articulated arm (600) when the coupling member (360) is uncoupled from the yoke (650), and in that the recess (350) is open at the first longitudinal end (321, 331, 341) of the walls (320, 330, 340) of the adapter (300).

2. The adapter (300) of claim 1, wherein the recess (350) is open at a second longitudinal end (322, 332, 342) of the walls (320, 330, 340) of the adapter (300).

3. The adapter (300) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the upper wall (340) comprises a through opening (370) at the first longitudinal end (341) in the direction of a folded edge (655) of a yoke (650) of the articulated arm (600) against a lower bearing surface (323, 333) of the adapter (300).

4. The adapter (300) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the through opening (370) of the upper wall (340) is longitudinally open at the first longitudinal end (341) of the upper wall (340).

5. The adapter (300) of any of claims 3 or 4, wherein the through opening (370) of the upper wall (340) is laterally bounded by inner faces (325, 335) of lateral walls (320, 330) of the adapter (300).

6. The adapter (300) of any of the preceding claims, wherein on the first lateral wall (323) of the adapter (300), the axis of rotation (310) is formed by a cylindrical recess (380) formed from an inner face (325) of the first lateral wall (320).

7. The adapter (300) of the preceding claim, wherein the cylindrical recess (380) is delimited by a polygonal peripheral profile (381).

8. The adapter (300) of any of claims 6 or 7, wherein on the second lateral wall (330) of the adapter (300), the axis of rotation (310) is formed by a cylindrical sleeve (390) extending protrudingly from an inner face (335) of the second lateral wall (330), the cylindrical sleeve (390) being coaxial with the cylindrical recess (380).

9. The adapter (300) of the preceding claim, wherein the coupling member (360) is connected to the upper wall (340) of the adapter (300) by a flexible hinge (365) configured to allow the bearing surface (362) of the coupling member (360) to elastically deform relative to the upper wall (340) of the adapter (300).

10. A motor vehicle windshield wiper blade (500) comprising:

-a structure (400) supporting a wiper strip (430);

-a connector (200) rigidly fixed to the structure (400);

-the adapter (300) of any one of the preceding claims, pivotably mounted on the connector (200).

11. A wiper system (700) comprising at least one articulated arm (600) detachably fixed to an adapter (300) of a windscreen wiper blade (500) according to the preceding claim, each articulated arm (600) comprising a yoke (650) mechanically coupled to the adapter (300) by engagement of complementary shapes.

12. The wiper system (700) of the preceding claim, wherein the yoke (650) of the articulating arm (600) comprises two lateral edges (651), each lateral edge (651) comprising a folded edge (655) extending laterally towards the interior of the yoke (650), the lower bearing surfaces (323, 333) of the adapter (300) bearing against the folded edge (655) located facing the lower bearing surfaces.

13. The wiper system (700) of any of claims 11 and 12, wherein the yoke (650) includes an upper edge (652) connecting the two lateral edges (651), the upper edge (652) including an opening (653) configured to allow engagement of the coupling member (360) when the adapter (300) is coupled to the hinged arm (600).