GB2161369A

GB2161369A - Wiper connector

Info

Publication number: GB2161369A
Application number: GB08517682A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Edmund Joseph Sumins; Robert Fabian
Original assignee: Trico Ltd
Current assignee: Trico Ltd
Priority date: 1984-07-13
Filing date: 1985-07-12
Publication date: 1986-01-15
Also published as: DE3524762C2; GB8417907D0; JPH0767901B2; GB8517682D0; AU4487885A; GB2161369B; JPS6189151A; DE3524762A1; AU567224B2; BE902883A

Abstract

A hook-ended wiper arm (30) is connected to wiper blade (10) by a connector (50) which permits the blade to be attached to or released from the arm even when the blade is lying parallel thereto. The connector comprises a bearing (54) which fits onto pivot pin (16) of the wiper blade and supports bend (32) of the wiper arm, a projection (56) for engaging an aperture (38) in the hook end of the wiper arm, and a latch (68) for engagement with web (14) of the blade. When assembling, the hook-end of the wiper arm is passed through aperture (66) in the connector. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Windscreen or like surface wiper The present invention relates to a windscreen or like surface wiper comprising an arm releasably connected to a blade by means of a connector. By the term like surface is meant other surfaces which may require to be wiped such as headlamp glasses or rear view mirrors.

The present invention relates more particularly to wipers of the kind described in West German published patent application 21 28 739. In that specification: the blade comprises an elongate yoke of inverted channel cross-section having parallel sides and a connecting web, a pivot pin extending transversely between the sides of the yoke and thereby effecting nominal division of an opening in the web into two longitudinally-extending portions; the arm comprises a hook termination having a hole therethrough and a semi-circular bend merging with parallel main and limb portions of the arm; and the connector comprises a pair of opposite plate-like sides for lying parallel and adjacent to the sides of the yoke at the opening, a hollow bearing at least part-cylindrical internally and externally extending transversely between the connector sides for receiving the pivot pin as well as supporting the inner surface of the bend of the arm, and a projection supported rigidly with respect to the connector sides and extending up between them for engaging in the hole in the hook termination. Wipers including a blade, an arm and a connector with these features will be referred to as being of this kind.

In a known procedure for assembly of wipers of this kind, the connector is first pivotally mounted to the blade about the pivot pin. The blade is inclined steeply to the arm to permit passage of the hook termination of the arm through one of the portions of the opening in the web of the blade.

During this initial angled insertion, the connector is inclined to the blade. After the free end of the limb portion of the arm has passed the bearing of the connector, the blade is manipulated so that the bearing of the connector supports the inner surface of the bend of the arm. The arm and the connector are then moved with respect to one another to bring the projection on the connector into the hole in the hook termination of the arm. The blade is fi nally pivoted with respect to both the arm and the connector until the blade lies generally parallel to the arm. The procedure for disassembly is the reverse of the procedure for assembly.

The above-described procedure for assembly and disassembly of wipers of this kind is in practice suitable only for wiper installations in which the arm is capable of being pulled away from a windscreen or other surface to be wiped into a locked back position. This allows the blade to be inclined steeply at 45 or so to the arm to enable the above-mentioned passage of the arm hook ter mination through one of the blade opening portions. In some wiper installations, however, the end of the arm remote from the blade and a retainer by which the arm is secured to an oscillating wiper shaft are always concealed in a slot in a scuttle of vehicle bodywork.The scuttle prevents the arm from being pulled sufficiently far back from the windscreen or other surface to be wiped, and the blade is prevented from being sufficiently steeply inclined to the arm to be assembled to the arm.

According to the present invention, there is provided a windscreen or like surface wiper comprising an arm releasably connected to a blade by means of a connector, in which the arm has a hook termination including a semi circular bend merging with parallel main and limb portions of the arm, the termination including an aperture for retention means on the connector, in which the blade includes an elongate yoke of substantially inverted "U" shaped cross section with two parallel sides and a connecting web, the yoke having an opening in the web which extends longitudinally thereof and a pivot pin extending transversely between the parallel sides of the yoke and effectively dividing the opening into two portions, and in which the connector comprises two opposite plate like sides adapted to lie parallel to the sides of the yoke at the opening, a hollow bearing to receive the pivot pin interiorly so that the connector is pivotable thereon and to support the bend of the arm exteriorly and a projection forming the retention means located rigidly with respect to the sides of the connector and extending in a direction to engage the aperture in the hook termination, the connector being pivotable about the pivot pin between a first position in which the hook termination can enter one portion of the opening in the yoke and a second position in which the projection on the connector can engage the aperture in the hook termination, wherein the connector is so constructed that the blade lies generally parallel to the arm while, with the connector in said first position, the hook termination enters said one portion of the opening in the yoke.

it will be appreciated that because the blade remains generally parallel to the arm throughout assembly and disassembly the wipers of the present invention are particularly suitable for use in those wiper installations where the arm cannot be pulled very far away from a windscreen or other surface to be wiped.

Preferably, the connector is provided with latching means spaced from the bearing for snap engagement with an edge of the connecting web defining the opening in the blade. The projection on the connector is preferably spaced from the bearing. A transverse member may be provided extending transversely between the connector sides and spaced from the bearing on the side thereof remote from the projection, the hook termi nation of the arm being insertable into an aperture formed between the bearing and the transverse member.

The latching means is preferably spaced from the transverse member on the side thereof remote from the bearing.

The aperture in the hook termination of the arm may extend through the limb portion thereof, in which case the projection on the connector may project from a plate-like element connecting one longitudinal edge of the connector, the projection extending between and being parallel to the connector sides. Alternatively, the aperture in the hook termination of the arm may extend through the main portion thereof, in which case the projection may be mounted by a mounting portion on the bearing of the connector.

Two windscreen or like surface wipers, in accordance with the present invention, will now be described in greater detail, by way of example only, with reference to the drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a fragmentary side view, partly in section, showing an arm and a blade assembled by a connector; Figure 2 shows the wiper components of Figure 1 during the initial stage of assembly procedure; Figures 3 to 5 are, respectively, side, plan and end views of the connector of Figure 1; and Figure 6 is a fragmentary side view, partly in section, similar to Figure 1 but showing a modified set of wiper components.

Before discussing the construction of the connectors, it will be convenient to discuss the wiper blade and the wiper arm.

The blade 10 is of the known type including an elongate yoke of substantially inverted "U" shaped cross-section having parallel sides 12 and a connecting web 14. A pivot pin 16 extends transversely between the sides 12 of the yoke and thereby effects nominal division of an opening in the web 14 into two longitudinally-extending portions 18a, 18b. The opening portion 18a may be shorter than the opening portion 18b. The blade 10 may also include a rubber or rubber-like wiper strip 20 and subsidiary yokes 22 (only one shown) which are pivotally mounted with respect to the elongate yoke carrying the pivot pin 16.

The arm 30 (Figures 1 and 2) and the arm 30a (Figure 6) are of the known types including a hook termination. Each of the hook terminations has a semi-circular bend 32, 32a merging with parallel main 34, 34a and limb 36, 36a portions of the arms 30, 30a respectively. In the arm 30 an aperture 38 extends through the limb portion 36, whereas in the arm 30a an aperture 38a extends through the main portion 34a.

The fundamental advantage of the present invention is that the blade 10 can be released from or assembled with either the arm 30 or the arm 30a by the use of appropriate connectors even whilst the blade 10 is lying generally parallel to the arm 30 or the arm 30a.

The connector 50, shown in Figures 1 to 5, which is suitably formed from plastics material, includes a pair of opposite plate-like sides 52 for lying parallel and adjacent to the sides 12 of the elongate yoke at the opening divided into opening portions 18a, 18b, a hollow bearing 54 at least part-cylindrical internally and externally extending transversely between the connector sides 52 for receiving the pivot pin 16 as well as supporting the inner surface of the bend 32 of the arm 30, and a projection 56 supported rigidly with respect to the connector sides 52 and extending up between them for engaging in the hole 38 extending through the limb portion 36 of the arm 30.

The projection 56 is supported rigidly on a platelike element or base member 58 of the connector 50 extending transversely between and connecting one longitudinal edge 80 of the connector sides 52 on one side of the bearing 54, the projection 56 extending between and being parallel to the connector sides 52. On the other side of the bearing 54, a transverse member 62 extends transversely between the connector sides 52 and is connected rigidly thereto. A plate-like member forming a further base member 60 is rigidly connected to the transverse member 62 and to the sides 52. It carries a second transverse member 64 which is free-standing thereon. Between the bearing 54 and the transverse member 62 there is an aperture 66 through the connector 50 for receiving the hook termination of the arm 30 as will be described hereinafter.The free end of the transverse member 64 carries latching means 68 including a pair of raised portions 70 defining a groove 72 therebetween for receiving an adjacent end edge of the web 14 of the blade 10 as will be described hereinafter. The latching means 68 includes a finger-hold flange 74 forming an extension which lies proud of the web 14 and is readily accessible, although the transverse member 62 could be used as a finger-hold. The plate-like member 60 is aligned with said one longitudinal edge 80 of the connector sides 52, whereas the latching means 68 is located in the region of the plane of the other longitudinal edge 82 of the connector sides 52.

The lower edge as shown in Figure 3, of each of the connector sides 52, is formed with an openended keyhole slot 76, and the lower side of the bearing 54 is formed with a corresponding longitudinal opening 78, allowing the connector 50 to be snap engaged with the pivot pin 16 and take up an initial inclined position with respect to the blade 10, as shown in Figure 2.

Alternatively, the connector sides may each be formed with a hole which forms a continuation of the internal bore of the bearing whereby a permanent connection of the connector and blade is formed.

During assembly procedure, the hook termination of the arm 30 is passed through the aperture 66 of the connector 50 between the bearing 54 and the transverse member 62. It is important to realise that this initial manoeuvre is carried out whilst the blade 10 lies alongside the arm 30 i.e. the blade 10 is generally parallel to the length of the arm 30.

The hook termination is then lowered so that the limb portion 36 and the bend 32 of the arm 30 move into the long opening portion 18b. When the free end of the limb portion 36 has passed the bearing 54 on the pivot pin 16, the blade 10 is moved parallel to itself to bring the inner surface of the bend 32 into engagement with the outer surface of the bearing 54. Finally, the connector 50 is pivoted (clockwise as shown in Figure 2) about the pivot pin 16 until the edge of the web 14 defining the end of the opening 18b snaps into engagement with the groove 72 presented by the latching means 68. Because the transverse member 64 is not secured to the connector sides 52, the transverse member 64 is free to be flexed resiliently towards the transverse member 62 and thereby facilitate said snap engagement.It is here important to realise that this pivoting of the connector 50 also brings the projection 56 into engagement with the aperture 38 extending through the limb portion 36 of the arm 30 thereby securing the connector 50 to the arm 30.

In the preferred application, with wiper installations in which the arm 30 cannot be pulled away from a windscreen or other surface to be wiped into a locked back position, the blade 10 cannot pivot to such an extent that the projection 56 is withdrawn from the hole 38, when the connector 50 is in latching engagement with the blade 10.

Figure 6 shows a modified form of connector 50a for use with the arm 30a described hereinbefore.

The connector 50a is of substantially the same form as the connector 50 but the projection 56 is no longer carried by the base member 58. Instead, a projection 56a is provided as one limb of a generally "L" shaped element, forming retention means located rigidly with respect to the sides 52a of the connector 50a, the other limb 56b of said element being rigidly carried by the bearing 54a and acting as a mounting portion. The arm 30a can be assembled to the blade 10 in a similar way to the arm 30. The difference here is that, on clockwise rotation of the connector 50a into its assembled position, the projection 56a will engage in the aperture 38a so as to provide for retention of the hook termination.

Claims

1. A windscreen or like surface wiper comprising an arm releasably connected to a blade by means of a connector, in which the arm has a hook termination including a semi-circular bend merging with parallel main and limb portions of the arm, the termination including an aperture for retention means on the connector, in which the blade includes an elongate yoke of substantially inverted "U" shaped cross-section with two parallel sides and a connecting web, the yoke having an opening in the web which extends longitudinally thereof and a pivot pin extending transversely between the parallel sides of the yoke and effectively dividing the opening into two portions, and in which the connector comprises two opposite plate-like sides adapted to lie parallel to the sides of the yoke at the opening, a hollow bearing to receive the pivot pin interiorly so that the connector is pivotable thereon and to support the bend of the arm exteriorly and a projection forming the retention means located ridigly with respect to the sides of the connector and extending in a direction to engage the aperture in the hook termination, the connector being pivotable about the pivot pin between a first position in which the hook termination can enter one portion of the opening in the yoke and a second position in which the projection on the connector can engage the aperture in the hook termination, wherein the connector is so constructed that the blade lies generally parallel to the arm while, with the connector in said first position, the hook termination enters said one portion of the opening in the yoke.

2. A wiper as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connector is provided with latching means spaced from the bearing for snap engagement with an edge of the connecting web defining the opening in the blade.

3. A wiper as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the projection on the connector is spaced from the bearing.

4. A wiper as claimed in claim 3, wherein a transverse member is provided extending transversely between the connector sides and spaced from the bearing on the side thereof remote from the projection, the hook termination of the arm being insertable into an aperture formed between the bearing and the transverse member.

5. A wiper as claimed in claim 4, wherein the latching means on the connector is spaced from the transverse member on the side thereof remote from the bearing.

6. A wiper as claimed in claim 5, wherein the latching means on the connector is spaced from the connector sides in the longitudinal direction thereof and is connected thereto by a plate-like member which is also connected to the transverse member.

7. A wiper as claimed in claim 6, wherein the plate-like member is aligned with one longitudinal edge of the connector sides.

8. A wiper as claimed in claim 7, wherein the latching means is located in the region of the plane of the other longitudinal edge of the connector sides.

9. A wiper as claimed in claim 8, wherein the latching means is formed in an element extending substantially parallel to the transverse member.

10. A wiper as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 9, wherein the latching means has an extension which lies proud of the connecting web of the blade to facilitate release of the latching means.

11. A wiper as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the aperture in the hook termination of the arm extends through the limb portion thereof, and the projection on the connector projects from a plate-like element connecting one longitudinal edge of the connector, the projection extending between and being parallel to the connector sides.

12. A wiper as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the aperture in the hook termination of the arm extends through the main portion thereof, and the projection is mounted by a mounting portion on the bearing of the connector.

13. A wiper as claimed in claim 12, wherein the projection is formed as one limb of an "L" shaped element, the other limb of the "L" forming the mounting portion.

14. A wiper as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the bearing has a longitudinal open ing therein, corresponding open-ended keyhole slots being formed in the connector sides whereby the connector can be snap fitted on to the pivot pin in the blade.

15. A wiper as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the pivot pin divides the opening in the yoke into two unequal portions, the larger of the two portions being the one used to receive the hook termination.

16. A windscreen or like surface wiper substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1 to 5, or Figure 6, of the drawings.