EP2585345A1

EP2585345A1 - A windscreen wiper

Info

Publication number: EP2585345A1
Application number: EP11748992.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Banu Bicici; Murat Bozkurtlu; Bekir Salih Sonmez
Original assignee: TEKLAS KAUCUK SANAYI VE TICARET AS
Current assignee: TEKLAS KAUCUK SANAYI VE TICARET AS
Priority date: 2010-06-22
Filing date: 2011-06-21
Publication date: 2013-05-01
Also published as: RU2012137775A; RU2554731C2; WO2011161619A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a single-piece rigid connector element used for connecting the wiper blade to the hook-shaped end wiper arm in windscreen wiper systems comprising a resilient metal carrier frame bent like a bow and a elastic wiper profile.

Description

A WINDSCREEN WIPER

Related Technical Field

The present invention relates to a bracket developed to mount a wiper blade known as 'flat blade' having a longitudinal, flat resilient metal carrier frame, an elastic wiper profile having an end portion for wiping the glass surface and mounted onto the frame and an integrated connector element used for the connection of the wiper arm to a hook-shaped end wiper arm.

Prior Art

The wiper systems called 'flat-blade' wherein a preferably rubber wiper profile which wipes the surface of the windscreen is supported by a flat, long, resilient metal carrier frame, also known as vertebra, bent like a bow and wherein the system is connected to the wiper arm from a point preferably at the longitudinal center have been known for a long time. In the said wiper systems, end caps providing the unity of the system by being mounted generally on the free longitudinal ends of the wiper blade and a spoiler provided on the upper portion of the vertebra with respect to the windscreen are provided. However, in all these embodiments a connector element mounted almost on the longitudinal center of the wiper blade and also known as 'bracket' is to be used. The bracket, on one hand, provides the unity of the system by holding the vertebra and the wiper profile together, and on the other hand forms a structure that enables the free end of the wiper arm to be pivotably connected to the blade directly or by means of an intermediate element also known as adapter. However, brackets currently used in flat blade wiper systems can be only used with specific adapter and arm end configurations developed to be suitable to said bracket design, and are not compatible with conventional hook-shaped end wiper arms widely used in numerous vehicles. In order to eliminate this disadvantage, various brackets are provided in the state of the art, which can be used in flat-type wiper blades and to which conventional hook-shaped wiper arms can be mounted.
The common feature of these brackets is that they have, on one hand, a leg configuration providing the securing thereof onto the 'flat-type' blade and providing the unity of the system by clamping the vertebra and the wiper profile, and a body configured such that an adapter used with hook-shaped end arms can be mounted thereon.
Adapters used with hook-shaped end arms have been known for a long time in the technique. The common feature of these adapters, a typical example of which is shown in the European Patent Application No. EP0158991, is that they have a pin housing formed to be inserted over a pin on the wiper blade and various locking mechanisms that secure the hook-shaped end wiper arm mounted thereon. In order that these adapters can operate effectively, they require to be supported from their two lateral surfaces where they are mounted onto the blade and to have an operating space on the top and the bottom area so as to rotate easily around the pin. For this reason, the region on the said brackets where these adapters are mounted is generally composed of a pin between two parallel walls.
The legs used in order to provide the unity of the blade are mostly open towards each other with C-shaped cross-section, and holds the vertebra together by surrounding it at both sides, from above and partially from below. The legs can be in a continuous form which extends along the bracket or can be formed of two or more extensions disposed at intervals.
A bracket which surrounds the vertebra tightly is required, on one hand, to be mounted easily on the system and on the other hand, not to become loose and open and move in the assembly position during usage. Since the leg structure described above tightly surrounds the vertebra from below, above and sides, the bracket is fixed on the vertebra in the transverse and vertical directions. However, there is no fixing mechanism that prevents the bracket from moving longitudinally and the bracket tends to slide in this direction due to the effect of the force applied by the arm during the wiping process. This kind of movement considerably weakens the wiping performance as it changes the point on the blade where the force is applied.
A state of the art method used in order to prevent the bracket from sliding longitudinally over the vertebra consists of joining the bracket and the vertebra by means of welding or adhesion in an inseparable manner. This method, the examples of which are described in European Patents No EP1745997 and EP0914269 or German Patent Application No DE10033779, makes the assembly process complex and expensive, and causes quality risks since the adhesive spreads on the visible parts of the element or it is not easy to distinguish whether or not the welding quality is at the desired level.
Another method, as described in German Patent No DE19641042, is to bend the legs of the bracket over the vertebra during the assembly; however, this requires a process with quality risks due to the possibility of the vertebra form being damaged during the process.
A more common method is to provide a mechanical locking by providing projections on the interior surface of the bracket legs and corresponding recesses on the outer sides of the vertebra; however, this technique makes it impossible to mount the one-piece bracket on the vertebra and slide it thereover. For this reason, the bracket is produced in two pieces and joined on the vertebra. This method, examples of which are described in publications No US6279191 or WO2006117308, requires a complicated assembly process in order that two halves of the bracket do not break apart during wiping.
It is the most advantageous option in terms of product cost and strength to produce a bracket, that enables a flat-type wiper blade to be mounted to a hook-shaped end arm, from a rigid material and in one piece. However, the state of the art methods for securing such a bracket onto the blade make the assembly process difficult and costly, and cause quality risks.
In the present invention, a windscreen wiper having a bracket of this type is described. The bracket that can be produced from a rigid material in one piece and that can be brought to assembly position by being inserted through a longitudinal free end of the vertebra and being slid, has passages disposed on the lateral walls thereof. A bracket that can be secured to the vertebra by a very simple assembly operation is obtained by means of the studs that can be placed and inseparably fixed in these passages, being seated at the same time in the apertures disposed on the vertebra.
D escription of the drawings
The present invention is described in detail by referring to the attached drawings in which :
Figure 1 is the isometric views of the windscreen wiper of the present invention.
Figure 2 is top, front and side views of the preferred first embodiment of the bracket used in the windscreen wiper of the present invention.
Figure 3 is the isometric and cross-sectional views showing the assembly of the studs onto the bracket used in the windscreen wiper of the present invention.
Figure 4 is exemplary cross-sectional views showing the preferred embodiment of the invention for fixing of the studs to the bracket .
Figure 5 is the exemplary cross-sectional view showing a second embodiment of the invention for securing the studs onto the bracket.
Figure 6 is exemplary cross-sectional views showing a third embodiment of the invention for securing the studs onto the bracket.
Figure 7 is the isometric and cross-sectional views of the second embodiment of the bracket used in the windscreen wiper of the present invention.
Figure 8 is the isometric view related to a third embodiment of the bracket on the wiper of the present invention.
The reference numbers of the parts as shown in the drawings are :

Bracket	1
Lateral wall	10
Pin	11
Passage	100
Body	101
Leg	102
Interior surface	1010
Exterior surface	1011
Top surface	1013
Recess	1015
Passage mouth	1016
Groove	1017
Shoulder	1018
Vertebra channel top wall	1020
Vertebra channel	1021
Vertebra channel bottom wall	1022
Vertebra channel side wall	1023
Channel	1025
Protrusion	1026
Passage lateral wall	1029
Vertebra	2
Aperture	25
Wiper profile	3
Adapter	4
Stud	5
Stud lower end	51
Stud upper end	52
Stud protrusion	56
Lug	57
Shoulder	58
Stud lateral surface	59
Hook-shaped end wiper arm	800
Flat blade wiper blade	900
Passage width	w
Minimum passage width	w'
Stud width	s
Stud maximum width	s'
Taper	β

Detailed Description of the Invention
As shown in Figure 1, the bracket (1) on the windscreen wiper of the present invention is used in a flat-type wiper blade (900) comprising a resilient metal carrier frame (2), also known as vertebra, and an elastic wiper profile (3). Although not shown in figures, said blade (900) generally comprises end caps providing the unity of the system at both ends and a spoiler provided on the upper portion of the vertebra (2) with respect to the windscreen. The bracket (1) of the present invention enables a hook-shaped end wiper arm (800) to be joined with the said blade (900) in an articulated manner by means of an adapter (4) mounted on it, as described in the prior art.
The bracket (1) shown in detail in Figure 2 is a single-piece element composed of a body (101) providing it to be connected to the adapter (4) and/or to the hook-shaped end wiper arm (800) and legs (102) providing it to be secured on the vertebra (2).
The body (101) is composed of two parallel walls (10) with a certain distance therebetween and a transverse pin (11) joining these walls (10). Clamp-shaped legs (102) that form a channel (1021) into which the vertebra (2) is seated are formed at the lower part thereof near the windscreen as the continuation of the walls (10).
The pin (11) joining the two lateral walls (10) of the bracket (1) extends in the transverse axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the windscreen wiper, preferably has circular cross-section and has dimensions suitable for a pin housing on the adapter (4) described in the prior art. Thus, the pin (11), on one hand, joins the two walls (10) of the bracket (1), and, on the other hand, forms a structure that enables an adapter (4) suitable for the hook-shaped end wiper arm (800) to be pivotally fastened to the bracket (1). Interior surfaces (1010) of both walls (10) support said adapter (4) from both sides. Thus, force transmitted from the arm (800) to the adapter (4) is transmitted to the bracket (1), then from there to the vertebra (2) without deforming the adapter (4). The bracket construction is highly safe and durable with its one-piece structure.
The legs (102) are formed as the continuation of the lateral walls (10) at the lower portion of the bracket (1) near the windscreen and composed of an upper (1020), and a lower wall (1022) and a side wall (1023) joining the two so as to form a rectangular vertebra channel (1021).
As in the preferred first embodiment of the bracket (1) shown in Figures 1 to 6, the legs (102) can be disposed so as to protrude with respect to the body (101). In this embodiment, the upper wall (1020), the side wall (1023) and the lower wall (1022) forming the vertebra channel (1021) are formed by bending the lateral wall (10) of the bracket (1) outwards, downwards and then inwards again, respectively. However, as in the alternative embodiments of the bracket (1) shown in Figure 7 and 8, the legs (102) can be shaped at the same vertical level with the lateral walls (10) of the bracket (1). In this case, the vertebra channel top wall (1020) continues as a natural extension of the lateral wall (10) of the bracket (1).
In all embodiments of the present invention, at least one passage (100) is disposed on at least one of the lateral walls (10). This passage (100) forms a through opening starting from the bracket top surface (1013) , passing through the lateral wall (10) and the following vertebra channel top wall (1020) and opening to the vertebra channel (1021). The passage (100) can be a through enclosed channel (Figure 7) or a recess (Figure 8), or it can be formed as a recess in one area and an enclosed channel in another area (Figures 1-6).
The passage (100) used in the preferred embodiment of the bracket (1) shown in Figures 1 to 6 is composed of a recess (1015) on the outer surface (1011) of the lateral wall (10) of the bracket (1) and a following channel (1025) piercing through the top wall (1020) of the vertebra channel (1021).
One or more passages (100) having a circular, rectangular or any other cross section can be arranged at one or both sides of the bracket (1). The maximum dimension of the passage (100) in the longitudinal axis of the windscreen wiper is called the passage width (w). In the preferred arrangement, one passage (100), having a rectangular cross section, is arranged at each side of the bracket (1) in such a way that its long side is in parallel with the longitudinal axis of the windscreen wiper and the short side extends in the transverse axis perpendicular thereto. In this arrangement, the passage width (w) corresponds to the long side of the rectangle as shown in Figure 2-c.
Furthermore, apertures (25) matching with the passage(s) (100) of the bracket (1) in shape, quantity and position, are provided on the vertebra (2) at the location where the bracket (1) is going to be secured. These apertures (25) shown in Figure 1-(b) can be arranged in alternative configurations in terms of number, position and geometry provided that they are vertically aligned with the passage (100) after the assembly, and they can be provided in form of a hole formed on the vertebra (2) or in the form of a notch on the inner or outer sides of the vertebra (2). However, in the preferred arrangement of the present invention, these apertures (25) have a rectangular cross-section so as to be a vertical projection of the passage (100) on the bracket (1) and are provided in the form of notches on the outer sides of the vertebra (2), and have substantially the same width (w) with the passage.
In the windscreen wiper of the present invention, the bracket (1) is brought to its working position in the longitudinal center region by being inserted onto the vertebra (2) from one free end (200) and slid longitudinally. In this position, the vertebra (2) lies in the vertebra channel (1021) of the bracket (1) and the apertures (25) on the vertebra (2) are aligned under the passages (100) of the bracket (1). The bracket (1) is downwardly/upwardly and transversely secured on the vertebra (2) by means of the top, bottom and side walls (1020, 1022, 1023) of the vertebra channel (1021); however, it can longitudinally move back and forth. In order to prevent this movement and secure the bracket (1) on the vertebra (2) in this position longitudinally, studs (5) which can be mounted on and inseparably fixed to the bracket (1) are used.
An isometric (3-a) and a cross-sectional (3-b) view are present in Figure 3, showing two states of the studs (5) at the same time, one during assembly onto the bracket (1) and the other as the assembly is completed. In these views, the assembly of the stud (5) on the right side of the bracket (1) is completed, and the stud (5) on the left side is depicted in the middle of the process.
During assembly, the stud (5) is inserted into the passage (100) such that one end there (51) enters through the passage mouth (1016) and pushed downwards (60) in the vertical axis. The assembly is completed as the stud lower end (51) is seated onto the vertebra channel bottom wall (1022) by passing through the aperture (25) on the vertebra (2).
The stud (5) has a rectangular cross-section so that it is borne in the passage and the aperture (100, 25). For this, the stud width (s) can be equivalent to or slightly lower than the passage width (w) in order to allow it to be inserted into these structures (100, 25).
The stud length (l) is configured such that the upper end thereof (52) is flush with the top surface (1013) of the bracket (1) when the assembly is completed, that is when the stud lower end (51) is seated onto the vertebra channel bottom wall (1022). Thus, when the assembly is completed and the stud (5) exactly fills the inner volume of the aperture (25) on the vertebra (2), a visual integrity is obtained by the stud upper end (52) aligning with the top surface (1013) of the bracket (1 ). Thus, in case the stud upper end (52) stays out, it will be possible to understand visually that the assembly is not completed properly due to some reason.
Either one or both of the bracket and the stud (1, 5) can be produced from metal or plastic. The stud (5) can be inseparably secured to the bracket (1) by means of plastic deformation, welding, adhesion or press-fitting.
In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the bracket (1) and the stud (5) are produced from metals having different levels of hardness, and securing the stud (5) on the bracket (1) is realized by a protrusion (1026, 56) provided either on the passage (100) of the bracket (1) or on the stud (5), being swaged by the counterpart (1, 5).
In the first embodiment as shown in Figure 4, said protrusion (1026) is provided on the bracket (1). In this embodiment thereof, the bracket (1 ) is preferably manufactured of a softer metal, for example aluminum, and the stud (5) is manufactured of harder metal, for example steel.
As shown in Figure 4-a and in Figure 4-b in detail, said protrusion (1026) is provided on the lateral wall (1029) of the passage (100) in the form of a projection that decreases the passage width (w) in at least one region to a minimum width (w') which is tangibly smaller than the width (s) of stud (5). The protrusion (1026) can be provided on one or both of the lateral walls (1029) of the passage, either facing each other or in a shifted position. In the preferred embodiment, two protrusions (1026) are oppositely formed near the region where the passage (100) opens to the vertebra channel (1021), each on one of the two lateral walls thereof (1029 ). As seen in the embodiment shown in Figure 4-(c), the protrusions (1026) can also be formed by means of a taper (β) given to at least one, preferably both of the passage lateral walls (1029) oppositely at the region where the passage (100) opens to the vertebra channel (1021).
The width (s) of the stud (5) is equivalent to or slightly smaller than the width (w) of the passage so that it can be easily inserted into the passage (100) in the vertical axis, but greater than the minimum channel width (w') such that the stud (5) cannot pass through the passage (100) at the region where said protrusion (1026) is disposed. Thus, as the stud (5) is being mounted into the passage (100) during assembly, thanks to the vertical force applied from above, it swages said protrusion (1026) of the soft metal bracket (1) and spreads onto the passage wall (1029). By means of the tight fitting obtained at this region, the stud (5) is fixed in this position and is prevented from slipping upwards after the assembly.
In the second arrangement thereof shown in Figure 5, said protrusion (56) is provided on the stud (5). In order to facilitate the assembly, the stud (5) is preferably produced from a softer metal than that of the bracket (1) in this arrangement.
The protrusion (56) can be provided on one or both lateral walls (59) of the stud so as to make the stud width (s) wider (s') than the passage width (w) in a limited region. Providing this protrusion (56) near the upper end (52) that lastly entering to the passage (100) is preferred since it facilitates the assembly process. In this alternative embodiment too, the stud (5) is easily inserted downwardly in the passage (100) of constant width (w) until the last part where said protrusion (56) is provided reaches, and at this point, thanks to the vertical force applied to the stud (5) on top, protrusions (56) are swaged by the lateral walls (1029) of the passage of the harder metal bracket (1) and the stud (5) is got stuck in situ.
One or both of the bracket and the stud (1, 5) can also be produced from plastic. In such an arrangement shown in Figure 6, two opposite shoulders (1018, 58) that can engage with each other are provided on both the stud (5) and the bracket (1) in order to lock the stud (5) onto the bracket (1). Assembly of the stud (5) onto the bracket (1) is realized by at least one of these shoulders (1018, 58) being in a elastic configuration and engaging with the opposite shoulder (1018, 58) by flexing while the stud (5) is being mounted onto the bracket (1) and returning back to its initial status when the assembly is completed. In the exemplary embodiment shown in Figure 6, the shoulder (58) on the stud (5) is formed by an elastic lug (57). The corresponding shoulder (1018) on the bracket (1) is formed by the side of a groove (1017) on the passage lateral wall (1029).
In the alternative embodiment of the present invention shown in Figure 7, the passage (100) is in the form of an enclosed channel that starts from the top surface (1013) of the bracket (1) and opens to the vertebra channel (1021) by penetrating the lateral wall (10) and then the vertebra channel top wall (1020) lengthwise. The stud (5) can be secured on the bracket (1) by means of any one of the alternative embodiment described above and shown in Figure 4, 5 and 6. The exemplary drawing shown in Figure 7 is the equivalent of Figure 4-c.
In the alternative embodiment of the present invention shown in Figure 8, the passage (100) is in form of a recess on the interior surface (1010) of the lateral wall (10), that opens to the vertebra channel (1021) by passing through the lateral wall (10) and then the vertebra channel top wall (1020) lengthwise, starting from the top surface (1013) of the bracket (1). The stud (5) can be secured on the bracket (1) by any one of the alternative embodiment described above and shown in Figure 4, 5 and 6. The exemplary drawing shown in Figure 8 is the equivalent of Figure 4-c.

Claims

A windscreen wiper having a resilient metal vertebra (2) bent like a bow, an elastic wiper profile (3) and a single-piece rigid bracket (1) that is used for connecting the blade to a hook-shaped end wiper arm (800 ) by being secured onto said vertebra (2) and that can be brought to assembly position by being inserted through a longitudinal free end of the vertebra (2) and being slid, such that the bracket (1) has at least two parallel lateral walls (10) joined by a transverse pin (11) and a vertebra channel (1021) into which the vertebra (2) is placed and that is formed at the lower portion of each wall (10) by a top (1020), side (1023) and bottom wall (1022); characterized in that the bracket (1) has at least one passage (100)

- provided on at least one, preferably both of the lateral walls (10) thereof,

- forming a through opening that starts from the top surface (1013) of the bracket (1) and opens to the vertebra channel (1021) by passing through said lateral wall (10) and the vertebra channel top wall (1020) lengthwise, and

- aligning with an aperture (25) on the vertebra (2) in the assembly position,

and is longitudinally secured on the vertebra (2) by means of a stud (5) engaging with the said aperture (25) by passing through this passage (100).
A windscreen wiper as in Claim 1, wherein the said stud (5) is inseparably secured to the bracket (1) inside the passage (100) by means of swaging, welding, adhesion or press-fitting.
A windscreen wiper as in Claim 2, wherein said stud (5) is mounted by being inserted through the bracket (1) such that one end thereof (51) enters through the passage mouth (1016), and by being pushed downwards (60) in the vertical axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the windscreen wiper until this end (51) passes through the aperture (25) and is seated onto the vertebra channel bottom wall (1022).
A windscreen wiper as in Claim 3, wherein the said stud (5) and the bracket (1) are manufactured of materials with different hardness and the stud (5) is secured on the bracket (1) by means of cold deformation.
A windscreen wiper as in Claim 4, wherein at least one protrusion (1026) that makes the passage width (w) narrower (w') than the stud width (s) at a certain region is provided on said passage (100).
A windscreen wiper as in Claim 5, wherein said stud (5) is produced from a harder metal than that of the bracket (1) and is secured on the bracket (1) by swaging and deforming said protrusion (1026) while being inserted into the passage (100) and being stuck in this position.
A windscreen wiper as in Claim 6, wherein said protrusion (1026) is provided on one or both of the passage lateral walls (1029).
A windscreen wiper as in Claim 7, wherein the said protrusion (1026) is provided by means of a taper (β)given to at least one, preferably the opposite two of the passage lateral walls (1029) at the region where the passage(100)opens to the vertebra channel (1021).
A windscreen wiper as in Claim 4, wherein at least one protrusion (56) that makes the stud width (s) wider (s') than the passage width (w) at a limited region is provided on the said stud (5).
A windscreen wiper as in Claim 9, wherein said stud (5) is produced from a softer metal than that of the bracket (1) and is secured on the bracket (1) by the passage lateral walls (1029) swaging and deforming said protrusion (56) on the stud (5) as it is being inserted into the passage (100) and causing it (5) to be stuck in that region.
A windscreen wiper as in Claim 10, wherein the said protrusion (56) is provided at the upper end (52) of the stud (5) entering the passage (100) the latest.
A windscreen wiper as in Claim 3, wherein one or both of the said stud (5) and the bracket (1) is/are manufactured of plastic and the stud (5) is secured on the bracket (1) by a shoulder (58) provided on the stud (5) engaging with a corresponding shoulder (1018) provided on the passage (100).
A windscreen wiper as in Claim 12, wherein at least one of the said shoulders (58, 1018) is formed so as to flex during the assembly of the stud (5) to the bracket (1).
A windscreen wiper as in Claims 1 - 13, wherein the said passage (100) is composed of a recess (1015) on the exterior surface (1011) of the lateral wall (10) of the bracket (1) and following this, a channel (1025) piercing through the vertebra channel top wall (1020).
A windscreen wiper as in Claims 1 to 13, wherein the said passage (100) is in the form of a channel piercing through the bracket lateral wall (10) and the following vertebra channel top wall (1020) or in the form of a through recess.
A windscreen wiper as in Claims 1 to 16, wherein said passage (100), aperture (25) and the stud (5) have rectangular cross-sections.