GB2034175A

GB2034175A - Windscreen wiper connecting member

Info

Publication number: GB2034175A
Application number: GB7937035A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: SWF Spezialfabrik fuer Autozubehoer Gustav Rau GmbH
Current assignee: SWF Auto Electric GmbH
Priority date: 1978-11-09
Filing date: 1979-10-25
Publication date: 1980-06-04
Also published as: DE2848553C2; FR2440849A1; GB2034175B; IT7927118A0; DE2848553A1; IT1124932B; FR2440849B3

Abstract

A connecting member (10) for articulating a windscreen wiper arm (20) to a pivot pin of a wiper blade comprises two portions (11, 12) which can be joined differently so that different designs and sizes of wiper arms of pivot pins can be accommodated. Each portion, such as (11), comprises a web (15) and two sets of flanges (16, 17) defining U- shaped channels (19, 18) on opposite sides of the web (15). The width (b1) between one set of flanges (17) is greater than the width (b2) between the other set of flanges (16). Each web (5) has a resilient finger (21) divided therefrom which is provided with a detent (22) engageable in a recess (23) of the wiper arm (20). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Windscreen wiper connecting member This invention relates to motor vehicle windscreen wiper installations and in particular to a connecting member for use in articulating a wiper arm to a pivot pin on a wiper blade.

In wiper installations of modern motor vehicles wiper arms may have a hook-shaped end, a straight end or a recess for a pivot pin laterally projecting from the wiper blade. The width or the thickness of these wiper arms may be different.

Because particular wiper blades can be used for various vehicle models, it has already been demanded for a long time to design the connecting members in a manner that they can be articulated to different wiper arms without supplying several so-called adapters together with a wiper blade.

According to the present invention there is provided a connecting member for articulating a motor vehicle windscreen wiper arm to a pivot pin on a wiper blade, the connecting member having aperture means for the pivot pin, locking means for the wiper arm and being comprised by two portions which can be joined differently such that different aperture and/or locking means can be presented to accommodate pivot pins and/or wiper arms of different designs.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a section through a connecting member, Fig. 2 is a front view of the connecting member of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a top view on a connecting member, before mounting, seen in the direction of arrow A.

of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a top view seen in the direction of arrow B. of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a front view similar to Fig.2.

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section through a further embodiment and Fig. 7 is a front view of the embodiment of Fig.

6.

A connecting member 10 (Fig. 3) consists of two portions 11 and 12 which are connected via two small strips 13 and 14 forming a kind of film hinge. Each portion 1 1 and 12 has a connecting web 15 with two lateral shanks 16 and 17 in such a way that two U-shaped channels 18 and 19 are formed. The two channels serve to guide a wiper arm end which is indicated at 20 in Fig. 1. The lateral shanks prevent metallic contact between the wiper arm and a supporting yoke of a wiper blade (not shown).

From Fig. 2 can clearly be seen that the inside width b1 of the channel 18 is bigger than the inside width b2 of the channel 1 9. For instance in the channel 18 a wiper arm of 9 mm width can be suitably guided, whereas in channel 19 a wiper arm of 7 mm width can be guided. Thus the channel width is adapted to the width of different wiper arms.

From the connecting web 1 5 of each portion 1 1 and 12 resilient locking lugs 21 with detents 22 are divided. The detent 22 can engage into a corresponding recess 23 in the wiper arm end 20.

In the lateral shanks 16 and 17 recesses 24 with open rim are located coaxially opposite to each other in use, which recesses 24 are semicircular in the embodiment shown, and form an aperture for a pivot pin of a wiper blade. The height H of the recesses approximately corresponds to half of the diameter of the pivot pin and the recesses 24 extend to the connecting web 15, so that the pivot pin is not only supported on the lateral shanks, but nearly over its entire length on the connecting web 15, too.

In the assembly of the two portions 1 1 and 12 shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the front edges of the lateral shanks 16 which form the smaller channel 1 9 are adjacent to each other. The channels 1 8 with the larger internal width form a recess for a wider wiper arm with a hook-shaped bent end.

In Fig. 5 the two portions 11 and 12 are superposed in such a way that a recess for a smaller width hook wiper arm is created.

The small strips 13 and 14 enable a reciprocal swivelling of the two portions in different directions. Thereby it is essential that the inside width between the two strips 13 and 14 is at least as big as the larger width of the wiper arms to be articulated on-the connecting member, so that the wider wiper arm can be inserted into the two receiving channels without hindrance.

In this connection it is pointed out that the channels of different width of the embodiment shown are created by the thickness of the lateral shanks being varied. The outer width of the two portions is constant, so that a proper guidance between the side walls of a wiper blade supporting yoke is ensured.

Figs. 3 and 4 show a plastics connecting member in a straight configuration on the one hand from the top, in direction of arrow A, and respectively in direction of arrow B, from the bottom. The connecting member is injectionmoulded in this straight configuration.

In the embodiment according to Fig. 6 and 7 locking means are indicated at 30 which lock the two portions together in the mounted condition.

Thereby the locking means are preferably developed in a way that a proper mounting is ensured. Thus it shall not be possible that the front edge of a thicker lateral shank is lockable with the front edge of a thinner lateral shank.

In the drawings embodiments are shown in which the connecting member is designed for articulating different wiper arms to a bolt with a particular diameter. But it is imaginable as well to vary the size of the recesses 24 in a way that recesses for different pivot pins can be formed.

The basic idea of the invention can of course be applied as well to connecting members with a straight wiper arm end. It is thereby also imaginable that by another mode of combining the two portions - indeed the film hinge is not absolutely necessary - further possibilities for receiving other wiper arms and/or pivot pins are possible.

Claims

1. A connecting member for articulating a motor vehicle windscreen wiper arm to a pivot pin on a wiper blade, the connecting member having aperture means for the pivot pin, locking means for the wiper arm and being comprised by two portions which can be joined differently such that different aperture and/or locking means can be presented to accommodate pivot pins and/or wiper arms of different designs.

2. A connecting member as claimed in claim 1, wherein each portion includes a connecting web on opposite sides of which are defined two channels with a U-shaped cross-section for guiding a wiper arm end, and wherein the internal width between and shape of the lateral shanks of the two channels is different whereby to accommodate different widths of various types of wiper arms.

3. A connecting member as claimed in claim 2, wherein the locking means comprises a resilient lug with a detent divided from the connecting web.

4. A connecting member as claimed in claim 3, wherein in use the detent of one of the two portions projects into the channel with the larger internal width and the detent of the other portion projects into the channel with the smaller inside width.

5. A connecting member as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein each portion is provided on two opposite in use lateral shanks with coaxially arranged recesses, preferably semicircular recesses with an open rim, which define a receiving aperture for the pivot pin.

6. A connecting member as claimed in claim 5, wherein the height of the lateral shanks approximately corresponds to half of the diameter of the pivot pin and the recesses extend to the connecting web.

7. A connecting member as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein the two portions are interconnected by a film hinge and both portions can be folded on each other in different directions, whereby the front edges of the lateral shanks of channels of the same type are neighbouring each other at a spacing.

8. A connecting member as claimed in claim 7, wherein the film hinge is made by two small strips which are formed on the lateral shanks at the level of the connecting web, and wherein the minimum width between the strips corresponds to the larger internal width of the two U-shaped channels.

9. A connecting member as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 8, wherein the width of both portions is the same and matched to the spacing of the side walls of a wiper blade supporting yoke and wherein the different internal widths of the Ushaped channels are realised by different thicknesses of the lateral shanks.

10. A connecting member as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the two portions are lockable with each other in at least one position.

1 A connecting member as claimed in claim 2, wherein the two portions are made of plastic materials integrally with the connecting web.

12. A connecting member for articulating a motor vehicle windscreen wiper arm to a pivot pin on a wiper blade substantially as herein described with reference to Figs. 1 to 5 or Figs. 6 and 7 of the accompanying drawings.

13. A wiper blade in combination with a connecting member as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.

14, A motor vehicle windscreen wiper installation including a connecting member as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 12.