GB1603589A - Device for wiping and washing motor vehicle windscreens - Google Patents

Description

(54) A DEVICE FOR WIPING AND WASHING MOTOR VEHICLE WINDSCREENS (71) We, DUCELLIER & CIE, a French Body Corporate, located at Echat 950, 94024 Creteil Cedex, France, do hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a Patent may be granted to us and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement; The present invention relates to a combined windscreen washing and wiping device for motor vehicles and of the type having a wiper blade assembly pivotally connected to an arm adapted to be oscillated by a drive motor, and a nozzle participating in the oscillating movement and having one or more orifices through which a washing liquid is projected onto a windscreen.

In known devices of this type the nozzle is fixed to the arm, and although this arrangement does not entail any disadvantage in the cleaning of small windscreens it is less satisfactory for windscreens having a large surface area. For large windscreens, several jets of liquid may be required to provide the desired coverage and symmetrical distribution of liquid with respect to the wiper blade assembly during its operation. The use of several jets to achieve symmetry of impact has the disadvantage of requiring the washing liquid to be supplied under a high pressure, since with three jets for example the distance to be covered by the outer jets is greater than that for the central jet.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved washing and wiping device which makes it possible to employ a plurality of jets of liquid, without it being necessary to supply the liquid at high pressure.

According to the invention, a combined washing and wiping device comprises a wiper blade assembly pivotally mounted on a drive arm adapted to be oscillated by a drive motor, a nozzle member supported for movement with the blade and in which one or more orifices are provided for the projection therethrough of a washing liquid onto a windscreen, the nozzle member having an inlet adapted for connection by means of a flexible conduit to a pump, the nozzle member being attached to the side of the wiper blade assembly, at a location approximately equidistant from the ends of the wiper, by means extending co-axially with the pivotal axis of the blade assembly.

The attachment means for the nozzle member may conveniently be a shaft also serving for the pivotal mounting of the blade assembly. The nozzle member may have an extension engaged with the drive arm, in such a manner as to retain the nozzle member in a predetermined and unalterable position with respect to said arm, whatever the position of the wiper blade with respect to said arm.

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing in which the single.

Figure is a perspective view of the combined washing and wiping device of the invention.

Referring to the drawing, the combined washing and wiping device shown therein includes a wiper blade assembly having a wiper blade 1 mounted pivotally on a main arm 4 by means of yokes 3, the ends of which have claws 2 gripping the back of the blade 1. The main arm 4 is articulated at the end 5a of a drive arm 5 oscillated by a drive motor (not shown).

The connection of the wiper blade assembly on the arm 5 is effected by means of a coupling member 6 pivotally mounted on a shaft 7 and introduced into an opening 8 formed in the back of the U-shaped middle portion 4a of the main arm 4, between the lateral sides 9 of the main arm 4.

A nozzle member 10 is arranged to participate in the oscillating movement of the drive arm 5 and is fixed on the outer face of one of the sides 9 of the main arm 4 by means of the shaft 7 on which the coupling member 6 pivots. The shaft 7 is in the form of a rivet of a length such as to be able to clamp both the coupling member 6 and the nozzle member 10 at the same time, whilst permitting them to pivot independently of one another. The nozzle member 10 thus fixed, is disposed equidistantly from the ends of the wiper 1. As shown, the nozzle member 10 has an inlet 11 receiving the end 12a of a flexible conduit 12 for supplying liquid from a depression pump (not shown) to the nozzle member 10. The inlet 11 communicates with three liquid distribution channels 13, 14 and 15, communicating with the exterior of the nozzle member 10 via three jet nozzles 16, 17 and 18, constituted by adjustable balls (not shown), each having an orifice of suitable diameter. Sufficient orientation of these balls will permit, in particular, three points of impact 19, 20, 21 to be obtained, symmetrical with respect to the wiper 1, without the necessity for a high pressure.

The nozzle member 10 is extended parallel to the arm 5 by a lever 22, formed integrally with the body of the nozzle member 10 by moulding from plastics material, and of which the end 22a is in engagement with the arm 5 by means of a generally U-shaped lug 23 integral with the lever and extending in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the lever 22. The branches of the 'U' clamp lightly onto the arm 5 and can be resiliently released therefrom simply by pulling on the lever 22. The connection thus effected between the nozzle member 10 and the arm 5, permits a predetermined and unalterable positioning of the nozzle member 10 with respect to the arm 5, whatever the position of the wiper blade 1 with respect to that arm.

The flexible conduit 12 connecting the nozzle member 10 to the pump is retained beneath and along the arm 5 by means of a channel member 24 in which it is housed, the longitudinal edges 24a of the channel member being bent back so as resiliently to straddle the arm 5.

It is clear that many modifications may be made to this embodiment, without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, in the case of a relatively flat windscreen of small size to be cleaned, the nozzle member may be fixedly mounted on the side 9 of the main arm 4 by means of the shaft 7, which may be a rivet, as shown, and prevented from rotating by lateral abutments bearing on the edges of the side 9.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A combined windscreen washing and wiping device comprising a wiper blade assembly pivotally mounted on a drive arm adapted to be oscillated by a drive motor, a nozzle member supported for movement with the blade and in which one or more orifices are provided for the projection therethrough of a washing liquid onto a windscreen, the nozzle member having an inlet adapted for connection by means of a flexible conduit to a pump, the nozzle member being attached to the side of the wiper blade assembly, at a location approximately equidistant from the ends of the wiper, by means extending co-axially with the pivotal axis of the blade assembly.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein the attachment means for the nozzle member is a shaft also serving for the pivotal mounting of the blade assembly.

3. A device according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the nozzle member is pivotable independently of the blade assembly.

4. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the nozzle member has an extension engaged with the drive arm in such a manner as to retain the nozzle member in a predetermined and unalterable position with respect to said arm, whatever the position of the wiper blade assembly with respect to said arm.

5. A device according to claim 4, wherein the connection between the nozzle member extension and said arm is effected by means of a lug adapted to clamp on to said arm and capable of being resiliently released therefrom by a pull exerted on the extension.

6. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the flexible conduit for connection of the nozzle to the pump is connected to the inlet and held along the arm by means of a channel member in which it is housed, which channel member resiliently straddles the arm.

7. A device according to any one of claims 2 to 6 wherein the wiper blade assembly is mounted on the drive arm by way of a coupling member which is pivotally mounted on said shaft and connected to the drive arm.

8. A combined windscreen washing and wiping device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (8)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. of one of the sides 9 of the main arm 4 by means of the shaft 7 on which the coupling member 6 pivots. The shaft 7 is in the form of a rivet of a length such as to be able to clamp both the coupling member 6 and the nozzle member 10 at the same time, whilst permitting them to pivot independently of one another. The nozzle member 10 thus fixed, is disposed equidistantly from the ends of the wiper 1. As shown, the nozzle member 10 has an inlet 11 receiving the end 12a of a flexible conduit 12 for supplying liquid from a depression pump (not shown) to the nozzle member 10. The inlet 11 communicates with three liquid distribution channels 13, 14 and 15, communicating with the exterior of the nozzle member 10 via three jet nozzles 16, 17 and 18, constituted by adjustable balls (not shown), each having an orifice of suitable diameter. Sufficient orientation of these balls will permit, in particular, three points of impact 19, 20, 21 to be obtained, symmetrical with respect to the wiper 1, without the necessity for a high pressure. The nozzle member 10 is extended parallel to the arm 5 by a lever 22, formed integrally with the body of the nozzle member 10 by moulding from plastics material, and of which the end 22a is in engagement with the arm 5 by means of a generally U-shaped lug 23 integral with the lever and extending in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the lever 22. The branches of the 'U' clamp lightly onto the arm 5 and can be resiliently released therefrom simply by pulling on the lever 22. The connection thus effected between the nozzle member 10 and the arm 5, permits a predetermined and unalterable positioning of the nozzle member 10 with respect to the arm 5, whatever the position of the wiper blade 1 with respect to that arm. The flexible conduit 12 connecting the nozzle member 10 to the pump is retained beneath and along the arm 5 by means of a channel member 24 in which it is housed, the longitudinal edges 24a of the channel member being bent back so as resiliently to straddle the arm 5. It is clear that many modifications may be made to this embodiment, without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, in the case of a relatively flat windscreen of small size to be cleaned, the nozzle member may be fixedly mounted on the side 9 of the main arm 4 by means of the shaft 7, which may be a rivet, as shown, and prevented from rotating by lateral abutments bearing on the edges of the side 9. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A combined windscreen washing and wiping device comprising a wiper blade assembly pivotally mounted on a drive arm adapted to be oscillated by a drive motor, a nozzle member supported for movement with the blade and in which one or more orifices are provided for the projection therethrough of a washing liquid onto a windscreen, the nozzle member having an inlet adapted for connection by means of a flexible conduit to a pump, the nozzle member being attached to the side of the wiper blade assembly, at a location approximately equidistant from the ends of the wiper, by means extending co-axially with the pivotal axis of the blade assembly.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein the attachment means for the nozzle member is a shaft also serving for the pivotal mounting of the blade assembly.

3. A device according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the nozzle member is pivotable independently of the blade assembly.

4. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the nozzle member has an extension engaged with the drive arm in such a manner as to retain the nozzle member in a predetermined and unalterable position with respect to said arm, whatever the position of the wiper blade assembly with respect to said arm.

5. A device according to claim 4, wherein the connection between the nozzle member extension and said arm is effected by means of a lug adapted to clamp on to said arm and capable of being resiliently released therefrom by a pull exerted on the extension.

6. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the flexible conduit for connection of the nozzle to the pump is connected to the inlet and held along the arm by means of a channel member in which it is housed, which channel member resiliently straddles the arm.

7. A device according to any one of claims 2 to 6 wherein the wiper blade assembly is mounted on the drive arm by way of a coupling member which is pivotally mounted on said shaft and connected to the drive arm.

8. A combined windscreen washing and wiping device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.