GB2067068A

GB2067068A - Connection system for the connection of windshield wiper blades to wiper arms

Info

Publication number: GB2067068A
Application number: GB8040775A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: BOSSO FISTER Sas
Current assignee: BOSSO FISTER Sas
Priority date: 1980-01-11
Filing date: 1980-12-19
Publication date: 1981-07-22
Also published as: IT8067033A0; IT1128356B; DE3047953A1; GB2067068B; DE3047953C2

Abstract

A wiper blade-wiper arm connection system is such as to enable there to be connected to the wiper blade either a wiper arm which is adapted to be disposed in an upper region with respect to the wiper blade or a wiper arm which is adapted to be disposed in a lateral region with respect to the wiper blade. In the former case, see Fig. 1, arm 10 is connected to a pin 7 extending between sidewalls 5 of the blade by connector 11. In the latter case, see Fig. 2, arm 17 or 18 provided with grooved pin 33 is connected to the wiper blade by means of a clip 16 <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Connection system for the connection of windshield wiper blades to respective actuating arms The present invention relates to a connection system for connecting windshield wiper blades to the respective actuating arms.

As is known, there are actuating arms which are disposed in an upper region relative to the windshield wiper blade, and actuating arms which are disposed in a lateral region relative to the windshield wiper blade. Each of these two types of actuating arms has been manufactured in such a way as to be able to be connected to a corresponding type of windshield wiper blade.

One object of the present invention is to simplify the production of the windshield wiper blades in such a way as to avoid the necessity of producing different windshield wiper blades for the different types of arms to which the wiper blades have to be connected, and to achieve instead the possibility of producing a single type of wiper blade which will be conveniently connectable to either of the two types of actuating arms.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description; in particular, according to the present invention the connection systems for connecting the windshield wiper blades to actuating arms disposed in a lateral region with respect to the wiper blade result in being relatively simple.

The invention provides a connection system for the connection of windshield wiper blades to the respective actuating arms, characterized in comprising means for allowing to connect the wiper blades both to actuating arms disposed substantially in an upper region in respect of the wiper blade and to actuating arms disposed in a lateral region relative to the wiper blade.

For a better understanding of the present invention an embodimentthereofwill be described hereinafter by way of non-limiting example with reference to the annexed drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 is a partial side elevational view showing a windshield wiper blade according to the invention, connectable to an actuating arm disposed substantially in an upper region with respect to the wiper blade; FIGURE 2 is a partial, partially sectional top view of the wiper blade shown in Fig. 1, with an intermediate element which allows the connection to two differ entarmsofthetypedisposed in a lateral region relative to the wiper blade; FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view of the windshield wiper blade shown in Fig. 2; FIGURE 4 is a section along the line IV-IV of Fig. 3, with a connection member disposed in the direction of connection;; FIGURE 5 is an enlarged sectional view of the central region of the windshield wiper blade shown in Fig. 3, with an intermediate element; and FIGURE 6 is an enlarged perspective view of the intermediate connection element applied to the windshield wiper blade shown in Figures 2 and 3.

Referring now to Fig. 1, the windshield wiper blade according to the present invention is of a substantially known type and comprises a central armature 1, conveniently arcuate in shape, which carries at its ends, with possibility of rotation, two rockers 2 (Fig.

3) which support at their ends, in a known manner, a wiping element 3. In the central region the armature 1 is formed substantially by two parallel sidewalls 5 which define between them a through space 6. Disposed in this space, perpendicularly to the longitudinal plane of symmetry, is a stake 7 whose ends are secured to the two walls 5.

Thus, the windshield wiper blade shown in Fig. 1 is connectable to a conventional actuating arm 10 of the type which is disposed substantially in an upper region with respect to the windshield wiper blade by means of an intermediate connection element 11 of known type, connectable in a known manner to the arm 10, for example by snap coupling means, and provided with a head 12 formed with a cylindrical cavity 13 whose diameter is slightly largerthan the diameter of the stake 7. This cavity 13 has a lower slit 14 which is open towards the outside and whose minimum width is smaller than the diameter of the cavity 13 for the snap coupling on the stake 7.

The described windshield wiper blade shown in Fig. 1, as can be seen from Fig. 2, by means of an intermediate element 16 which will be described more in detail with reference to Figures 5 and 6, may be connected to actuating arms 17 or 18 of the type disposed in a lateral region with respect to the windshield wiper blade.

Referring now to Fig. 6, the said intermediate element 16 has an upper portion 20 whose width is substantially equal to the distance between the outer surfaces of the sidewalls 5, on the upper edge of which it is intended to rest. Therefore, the said portion 20 is substantially plane in shape and is curved downwards in the front region in order to follow the corresponding upper profile of the sidewalls 5 (Fig.

5).

Extending downwards from the lower surface of the portion 20 is a portion 21 whose thickness is substantially equal to the distance between the inner surfaces of the sidewalls 5 between which it is intended to be inserted; this portion 21 has in its central region a cylindrical cavity 22 whose diameter is slightly largerthan the diameter of the stake 7 for the respective coupling in a snapping fashion which is obtainable by means of a slit 23 which forms a lower opening for the cylindrical cavity 22 and whose width decreases towards the said cavity 22, with a minimum width dimension which is smaller than the diameter of said cavity 22. Formed in the portion 21 is a slit 24 which communicates with the upper region of the cylindrical cavity 22.Originating from the lower lateral region of the portion 21 is a projection 25 inclined sideways upwards, which is deformable resiliently because the intermediate The drawing(s) originally filed was/were informal and the print here reproduced is taken from a later filed formal copy.

element 16 is made conveniently of plastics, and has a first section 26 of smaller width and a second section 27 whose width is substantially equal to the inner distance between the sidewalls 5. The upper end of the section 27 comes out upwardly from the space 6 and has a knurled surface 28. In the upper region of the section 26 there is formed a region 31 having a partially curved profile and whose rest position is such that it interferes slightly (Fig. 5) with the projection of the edge of two coaxial holes 32 formed on the two sidewalls 5 of the armature 1.Into the said holes 32 is inserted a connection element 33 in the form of cylindrical stake, which has a diameter slightly smallerthan the diameter of the holes 32 and is provided with an annular cavity 34 which, as will be described later, is intended to engage the rounded region 31 of the intermediate element 16.

The said connection element 33 may be secured in a stationary mannertothe actuating arm 17, from which it protrudes at one of its ends (Fig. 2or it it may be formed by a separate piece, and may be lodged in a cavity 36 formed at the end of the arm 18, and in this case it is provided with a head 37 which constitutes a stop rest on the outer wall of the said arm 18.

Thus, the windshield wiper blade according to the present invention, shown in Fig. 1, may be connected to the actuating arm 10, disposed in an upper region with respect to the wiper blade, by means of the intermediate element 11 which is engaged with the arm 10 in a known manner and engages in a snap fashion the stake 7 which thus results in being lodged in the cylindrical cavity 13.

The same windshield wiper blade shown in Fig. 1 may be attached to the actuating arms 17 or 18 of the type disposed in a lateral region with respect to the windshield wiper blade, by simply inserting the intermediate element 16, which results in being lodged in the space 6, by means of the insertion in a snap fashion of the stake 7 into the cylindrical cavity 22. In consequence of the engagement with the arm 17 the connection element 33 penetrates into the holes 32 and resiliently deforms the extension 25 until the rounded region 31 of the projection 25 is lodged in the annular cavity 34.Moreover, the coupling obtained in this way is stable, since the intermediate element 16 cannot substantially move in the space 6, owing to the coupling of substantially equal dimensions obtained between the parts 21 and 20 of the element 16 with the inner surfaces and with the upper edges of the parallel sidewalls 5, respectively.

Instead, the engagement with the actuating arm 18 takes place by first inserting the connection element 33 into the cavity 36 until the head 37 stops on the outer wall of the arm 18, and then inserting the end of the connection element 33 into the holes 32, lodging the rounded region 31 of the projection 25 of the intermediate element 16 in the annular cavity 34, as described for the arm 17.

The disengagement of the windshield wiper blade from the arms 17 or 18 is carried out simply by a pressure action exerted onto the end surface 28 of the projection 25, so that the coupling of region 31 in the cavity 34 is released and the connection element 33 is disengaged.

With the connection system of the present invention it is thus possible to connect a unique type of windshield wiper blade both to actuating arms disposed in a region above the windshield wiper blade and to actuating armsdisposed in a lateral region of the wiper blade. This connection is carried out by means of intermediate elements manufactured in a convenient manner for the engagement with one or the other type of actuating arms, and in particular in one case itis sufficienttousethe intermediate ele ment 1 f, whilst in the other case it is necessary to use the intermediate element 16 which engages with the connection element 33, rigidly connected to or separable from the arm.

Furthermore, also the same system of connection of windshield wiper blade to an actuating arm disposed in a lateral region with respect to the wiper blade is obtained in a relatively simple and practical way, with the intermediate element 16, and with the connection element 33.

Finally, it is clearthat modifications and variations may be made to the described embodiment of the system and its components according to the present invention, without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, it is possible to provide a single intermediate element adapted to be secured, by suitable portions, both to actuating arms disposed in the upper region of the windshield wiper blade and to actuating arms disposed in the lateral region ofthe windshield wiper blade.

Claims

1. Aconnection system forthe connection of windshield wiper blades to the respective actuating arms, characterized in comprising means for allowing to connect the wiper blades both to actuating arms disposed substantially in an upper region in respect of the wiper blade and to actuating arms disposed in a lateral region relative to the windshield wiper blade.

2. Aconnection system as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the said means comprise an intermediate element connectable to the said windshield wiper blade and with which at least an arm disposed in a lateral region with respectto the wiper blade is engageable by means of a connection element

3. A connection system as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the said intermediate element is connectable to a body secured to the said wiper blade.

4. Aconnection system as claimed in claim 3 characterized in that alternatively connectable to the said body is another intermediate element for the connection to an arm disposed in an upper region with respect to the said windshield wiper blade.

5. A connection system as claimed in claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the said intermediate element is engageable in a snapping fashion with the said body.

6. Aconnection system as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the said body comprises a stake disposed in central region of the windshield wiper blade.

7. Aconnection system as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that the said inter mediate element may be lodged within the said wiper blade for the connection to the said body, with prevention of relative movements with respect to the windshield wiper blade.

8. A connection system as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 7, characterized in that the said connection element belongs to the said actuating arm.

9. A connection system as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 7, characterized in that the said connection element is an element separable from the said actuating arm and is engageable in a cavity provided in the said arm.

10. A connection system as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 9, characterized in that the said connection element is in the form of a stake.

11. Aconnection system as claimed in claim 10, dependent from claim 9, characterized in that the said connection element is provided with a head for resting on an outer wall ofthe said arm.

12. Aconnection system as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 11, characterized in that the said connection element is connected to the said intermediate element by a snap coupling.

13. Aconnection system as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 12, characterized in that the said connection element is connected to the said intermediate element by engagement with a resiliently deformable portion of the said intermediate element.

14. Aconnection system as claimed in claim 13, characterized in that the said resiliently deformable portion is formed by a projection of the said intermediate element, which projection contacts, at least partially, at least a portion of the said connection element.

15. Aconnection system as claimed in claim 13 or 14, characterized in that the said resiliently deformable portion has a portion on which the said intermediate element is disengageable manually from the said connection element.

16. A connection system as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 15, characterized in that the said connection element is provided with a cavity for the engagement with the said intermediate element.

17. Aconnection system as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 16, characterized in that the said engagement between the connection element and the intermediate element takes place in an inner region of the said windshield wiper blade.

18. Aconnection system as claimed in claim 17, characterized in that the said windshield wiper blade isprovided with passage holes for the passage of the said connection element to the said intermediate element.

19. Aconnection system as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 18, characterized in that the said intermediate element is made of plastics.

20. A windshield wiper blade connectable to an actuating arm disposed in a lateral region with respect to the said windshield wiper blade and provided with a cavity for lodging therein a distinct element of connection between the said wiper blade and the said arm, characterized in comprising an intermediate element connectable to the said wiper blade and with which the said connection element is engageable.

21. Awindshield wiper blade as claimed in claim 20, characterized in that the said intermediate element is connectable by snap engagement to a body secured to the said windshield wiper blade.

22. A windshield wiper blade as claimed in claim 21, characterized in that the said body comprises a stake disposed in a central region of the said windshield wiper blade.

23. Awindshield wiper blade as claimed in any one of the claims 21 or 22, characterized in that the said intermediate element is lodgeable within the said wiper blade, for the connection to the said body, with prevention of relative movements with respect to the said windshield wiper blade.

24. Awindshield wiper blade as claimed in any one of claims 20 to 23, characterized in that the said connection element is in the form of a stake.

25. A windshield wiper blade as claimed in claim 24, characterized in that the said connection element is provided with a rest head for resting on an outer wall of the said arm.

26. Awindshield wiper blade as claimed in any one of claims 20 to 25, characterized in that the said connection element is connected to the said intermediate element by means of snap coupling.

27. A windshield wiper blade as claimed in any one of claims 20 to 26, characterized in that the said connection element is connected to the said intermediate element by engagement with a resiliently deformable portion of the said intermediate element.

28. A windshield wiper blade as claimed in claim 27, characterized in that the said resiliently deformable portion is formed by a projection of the said intermediate element, which portion, at least partially, contacts at least a portion of the said connection element.

29. A windshield wiper blade as claimed in claim 27 or 28, characterized in that the said resiliently deformable portion is provided with a portion on which the said intermediate element is disengageable by manual action from the said connection element.

30. Awindshield wiper blade as claimed in any one of claims 20 to 29, characterized in that the said connection element has a cavity for the engagement with the said intermediate element.

31. Awindshield wiper blade as claimed in any one of claims 20 to 30, characterized in that the said engagement between the connection element and the intermediate element takes place in an inner region of the said windshield wiper blade.

32. A windshield wiper blade as claimed in claim 31, characterized in being provided with passage holes for the passage of the said connection element to the said intermediate element.

33. A windshield wiper blade connectable to an actuating arm disposed in a lateral region with respect to the said windshield wiper blade and provided with a projecting element of connection between the said windshield wiper blade and the said arm, characterized in comprising an intermediate element connectable to the said windshield wiper blade and with which the said connection element is engageable.

34. A windshield wiper blade as claimed in claim 33, characterized in that the said intermediate ele ment is connectable, by snap engagement, to a body secured to the said windshield wiper blade.

35. Awindshield wiper blade as claimed in claim 34, characterized in that the said body comprises a stake disposed in a central region of the said wiper blade.

36. A windshield wiper blade as claimed in any one of the claims 34 or 35, characterized in that the said intermediate element is connectable within the said wiper blade, for the connection to the said body, with prevention of relative movements with respect to the said wiper blade.

37. Awindshield wiper blade as claimed in any one of claims 33 to 36, characterized in that the said connection element is connected to the said intermediate element by a snap engagement.

38. Awindshield wiper blade as claimed in any one of claims 33 to 37, characterized in thatthe said connection element is connected to the said intermediate element by engagement with a resiliently deformable portion of the said intermediate element

39. Awindshield wiper blade as claimed in claim 38, characterized in that the said resiliently deformable portion is formed by a projection of the said intermediate element, which projection, at least partially, contacts at least a portion of the said connection element.

40. Awindshield wiper blade as claimed in claims 38 or39, characterized in that the said resiliently deformable portion has a portion on which the said intermediate element is disengageable, by manual action, from the said connection element.

41. A windshield wiper blade as claimed in any one of claims 33 to 40, characterized in thatthe said intermediate element engages in a cavity of the said connection element

42. An intermediate element connectable to windshield wiper blade and engageable with a respective actuating arm by means of a connection element, the said intermediate element and the said connection element being characterized in having the characteristics according to one or more of the preceding claims.

43. A process for the assembly of windshield wiper blade to an actuating arm disposed in a lateral region with respect to the said wiper blade and provided with a cavity for receiving an element of connection between the said wiper blade and the said arm, and comprising an intermediate element con nectableto the said windshield wiper blade and with which the said connection element is engageable, characterized in comprising a first phase of connection of the said intermediate elementtothe said wiper blade, a second phase of accommodating the said connection element in the said cavity of the said arm, and a third phase of coupling the said connection element to the said intermediate element.

44. A process as claimed in claim 43, character ized in that the said intermediate element and/orthe said connection element have the characteristics of one or more of claims 20 to 32.

45. Aconnection system for the connection of windshield wiper blades to respective actuating arms, windshield wiper blades, intermediate elements, connection elements and an assembly process, substantially as described hereinabove with referencetothe annexed drawings.