GB2217271A

GB2217271A - Vehicle door for accommodating a side window wiper blade

Info

Publication number: GB2217271A
Application number: GB8829744A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Akira Tanaka; Yoshiki Noro; Masashi Midorikawa; Akio Kagaya; Yoshimasa Kimura; Masayoshi Shirato; Seiichi Ogino
Original assignee: Honda Motor Co Ltd; Mitsuba Electric Manufacturing Co Ltd
Current assignee: Honda Motor Co Ltd; Mitsuba Corp
Priority date: 1987-12-28
Filing date: 1988-12-21
Publication date: 1989-10-25
Anticipated expiration: 2008-12-21
Also published as: DE3843710A1; GB2217271B; GB8829744D0; DE3843710C2

Description

1 2217271 DEVICE FOR ACCOMMODATING WIPER BLADE

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a device for accommodating the blade of a wiper which wipes the windowpane of a door of a passenger's car or the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Today automobiles having sideview mirrors attached to the front doors are mass-produced. During rainfall the windowpanes of the doors are required to be wiped; otherwise the mirrors would not be seen clearly. Wipers that wipe such windowpanes are disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 128,862/1987 and 163,8522/1987. In the wiper disclosed in the former Japanese patent specification, when it is not in use, the blade that wipes a windowpane remains exposed. This is undesirable from an aesthetical point of view. Further, the weatherproofness of the blade presents problems. In the wiper disclosed in the latter Japanese patent specification, when it is not in use, the blade is enclosed in a cover to prevent the blade from being exposed. The cover is driven by a dedicated drive mechanism. This makes the structure of the wiper complex. Additionally, in order to drive the cover at good timing, a dedicated control means is also needed. In this way, this wiper also suffers from disadvantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

1 Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a device which accommodates a wiper blade and is free of the foregoing problems.

The above object is achieved in accordance with the teachings of the invention by a device for accommodating the blade of a wiper having an arm, the blade being mounted at the front end of the arm and reciprocating upon the outer surface of the windowpane of a door to wipe the surface, said device comprising: a chamber which is formed in an upper outer portion of the door and in which the blade is received when the wiper is not in use; a cover disposed in the chamber and always urged to open; and working members which are formed upon the cover and which, when the blade is withdrawn into the chamber, is pushed down and automatically closes the cover against the urging force applied to the cover.

The invention also provides a device for accommodating the blade of a wiper having' an arm, the blade being mounted at the front end of the arm and reciprocating upon the outer surface of the windowpane of a door to wipe the surface, said device comprising: a chamber which is formed in an upper outer portion of the door and in which the blade is received when the wiper is not in use; a cover which opens or closes the chamber; resilient members which are mounted upon the cover and which, when the chamber is being opened or closed, cause the cover to pass pivots and urge the cover to open or close; and working members which are formed upon the cover and 1 _ 7)_ which, when the blade goes into or out of the chamber, bear against the blade and open or close the cover.

In accordance with the invention, the blade which wipes the windowpane needs no dedicated drive mechanism. When the blade is accommodated, the blade is certainly enclosed in the cover and is not exposed.

Other objects and features of the invention will appear in the course of the description thereof which follows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a side wiper and d device for accommodating the blade of the wiper, the device being built in accordance with the invention; Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of main portions of a door in which the device shown in Fig. 1 is mounted; Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the arm of the wiper shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a chamber formed in the device shown in Fig. 1, and in which the chamber is closed; Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the chamber shown in Fig. 4, and in which the chamber is open; Fig. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the chamber shown in Figs. 4 and 5; Fig. 7 is a diagram of a circuit which controls the operation of the wiper and the device shown in Fig. 1; - L - Fig. 8 is an exploded perspective view of another chamber for accommodating a wiper blade; Fig. 9A is a cross-sectional view of the chamber shown in Fig. 8, and in which the chamber is closed; Fig. 9B is a view similar to Fig. 9A, but in which the chamber is open; Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view of another connector; Figs. 11A and 11B are side elevations of main portions of other wipers; and Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional view of a door in which another device accommodating a wiper blade is mounted.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to Figs. 1-6, there are shown a wiper and a device embodying the concept of the invention. The wiper, generally indicated by numeral 1, is mounted in an automotive door 2. The wiper 1 comprises an arc-shaped arm 3 and a blade 5 that is mounted at the front end of the arm 3; via a bracket 4. The blade 5 extends horizontally. An arm guide 6 that guides the arm 3 when it moves up and down is disposed at the side of the outer board 2a of the door 2. The guide 6 has a support portion 6a and a pulley 6b located below the support portion 6a. This support portion 6a acts to hold an endless working wire 7 that is wound on the pulley 6b. The wire 7 is joined to the arm 3 by a connector 8. The door further includes a windowpane 2b, a pane guide 2c serving to guide the front end of the pane 2b, an inner board 2d, a molding 2e mounted at the upper end of the outer board 2a, and a lip member 2f bearing against the surface of the windowpane.

An electric motor 9 which drives the arm 3 is mounted to the inner board 2d. The motor 9 has a shaft (not shown) which protrudes forward to rotate a pulley (not shown) mounted inside a pulley case 10 either forward or rearward. The wire 7 which extends over the front fringe of the windowpane 2b in front of the pane is wound on the pulley. In this way, the portion actuating the arm is mounted in the space between the outer board 2a and the windowpane 2b. The portion driving the arm 3 is mounted in the space between the windowpane 2b and the inner board 2d. That is, these two portions are dispersed. Therefore, the wiper 1 can be -mounted inside the door 2 without the need to increase the thickness of the door.

When a start switch SW, (described later) is closed, the motor 9 is rotated either forwardly or rearwardly to reciprocate the wire 7, thus moving the arm 3 up and down. The blade 5 is moved upward from its rest position and caused to reciprocate between a lower turning point and a higher turning point. Thus, the blade 5 wipes the windowpane.

A casing 11 is fitted in a recess formed in the molding 2e and bolted to a member 2g that reinforces the outer board 2a. The casing 11 forms a chamber accommodating the blade 5. The casing 11 is provided with a hole Ila through which the arm 3 extends.

A cover 12 is mounted to the casing 11 and has legs 12a extending downwardly through holes 11b formed in the casing 11. Support plates 11c protrude downward from the bottom of the casing 11. The cover 12 is pivotally mounted to the support plates 11c via pivots 12b. The cover 12 is able to either open or close the casing 11. When the cover is substantially flush with the molding 2e, it closes the casing 11. Working members 12c protrude from the inner surface of the cover 12. When the blade 5 is withdrawn, the bracket 4 which stops the blade 5 approaches the working members 12c from above and comes into contact with them. Resilient members 13 are wound on the pivots 12b to bias the cover 12 in a direction to open at all times. Therefore, when the blade 5 is outside the casing 11 and is wiping the windowpane, the cover 12 is urged to open by the action of the resilient members 13. When the wiping operation is complete and the blade 5 should be received in the casing 11, the bracket 4 bears against the working members 12c from above and push them downward. This automatically closes the cover 1.). At this time, the blade 5 is contained in the casing 11, and the arm 3 bears on the inner fringe of the hole 11a. Hence, the rubber edge 5a of the blade 5 is apart from the windowpane and in contact with nothing.

A circuit for controlling the operation of the motor 9 is now described by referring to Fig. 7. The circuit includes the 1 aforementioned start switch M of the self-reset type. When the switch SW, is depressed, it is closed. When the switch SW i is released, it opens. A stop switch SW2 consists of a light-emitting diode, a phototransistor, and a hole formed in the arm 3. When the blade 5 is located between the lower turning point and its rest position, the hole permits the phototransistor to conduct. The stop switch SW2 constitutes a first position-detecting means. A reversing switch SW., is comprised of a lightemitting diode, a phototransistor, and a second hole formed in the arm 3. When the blade 5 is placed in the upper turning point, the second hole allows the phototransistor to conduct. The reversing switch SW:, constitutes a second position-detecting means. A pane-detecting switch SW4 is closed when the windowpane is situated below a certain position. When a forward drive circuit DR, is energized by transistors TrI, Tr2, and a relay switch LI, the drive circuit rotates the motor 9 in a forward direction. When a reverse drive circuit DRz is energized by transistors Tr3, Tr4, and a relay switch L2, the circuit rotates the motor in a reverse direction.

resistor R is inserted in a circuit that feeds the motor 9, to 20 detect the load current. A comparator IC, delivers a low signal when the potential at the resistor R is high, i.e., the load current is larger than a predetermined value. A flip-flop circuit FF, maintains its output terminal Q, high until a low signal is appli.ed to its reset terminal R, after a low signal is applied to its set A terminal S,. Flip-flop circuits FF2 and FF3 are similar to the flip-flop circuit FF, except that the flip-flop circuit FF3 has an inverting output terminal Q3.

The operation of the network constructed as described above is now described. When the windowpane is closed and the wiper is not in use, if the start switch SW i is not yet depressed, then the switch SW2 is closed, but the switches SW1, SW3, SW, are open. Since the stop switch SW2 is closed, a transistor Tr5 is conducting, charging a capacitor C,. The flipflop circuits MFF3 are reset. Under this condition, when the start switch SW, is depressed and closed, a low signal is applied to the set terminal S, of the flip-flop circuit FF,, so that it is set. The output terminal Q, of the circuit FF, goes high. The high output from the output terminal Q, is fed to a diode D, via an inverter. This causes the anode of the diode D, to go low. Since a transistor Tr7 is not conducting, the anode of a diode D2 also goes low. Further, the anode of a diode D, goes low. Then, a low signal is applied to the set terminal Sz of the flip-flop circuit FF2 thus setting it. A high signal is delivered from the output terminal Q2 of the circuit FFz.

At this time, the switches SW3 and SW 4 are, of course, open. As a high signal is produced from the flip-flop circuit FF2, the forward drive circuit DR, is set into operation. Then, the motor 9 is rotated forwardly to move the arm up and down.

While the blade 5 is going upward to the lower turning :t z -C- point from its rest position, the stop switch SW is kept closed. The capacitor C, remains charged. When the blade 5 moves past the lower turning point, the stop switch SW2 is opened. This turns off the transistor Tr5. The potential at the terminal of the capacitor C, on the side of the transistor Tr5 increases, and the potential at the positive terminal also increases, discharging the capacitor C,. When the blade 5 moves further upward and reaches the upper turning point, the reversing switch SW3 is closed to thereby turn on a transistor Tr6. Then, a low signal is applied to the reset terminal R2 of the flip-flop circuit FF2 whereby it is' reset. Simultaneously, a low signal is applied to the set terminal S3 of the flip-flop circuit FF3 to set it. This takes the forward drive circuit DR, out of operation and sets the reverse drive circuit DR2 into operation, thus reversing the motor 9. At this time, a high signal is delivered from the output terminal Q3 of the flip-flop circuit FF3. This signal causes the set terminal S2 of the f lipflop circuit FF2 to go high via the diode D3. As a result, the flip-flop circuit FF2 is inhibited from being set.

When the blade 5 begins to descend, the reversing switch 20 SW3 is opened. When the blade moves downward further and arrives at the lower turning point, the stop switch SW is closed. This turns on the transistor Tr5 to lower the potential at the collector of the transistor Tr5 which raised the potential at a resistor rj. Then, the potential at the resistor rl. drops, permitting a low signal to 1 --1 C) - be fed to the reset terminal R3 of the flip-flop circuit FF3. This resets the circuit FF3. In this state, a low signal is delivered from the output terminal Q,. A high signal is produced from the inverting output terminal Z3. The high output signal from the T3 inverting output terminal 3 is supplied to an inverter and inverted. The result is that the reverse drive circuit DR2 is stopped from operating. At the same time, the output from the output terminal Q3 of the flip-flop circuit FF3 which inhibited the flip-flop circuit FF, from being set via the diode D. goes low. Therefore,Ahe flip-flop circuit FF3 is allowed to be set. At this time, the transistor Tr5 is conducting. The potential at the positive terminal of the capacitor C, drops rapidly. The capacitor C 2 slightly delays the instant of time at which the flip-flop circuit FF, is reset. During this time interval, a high signal from the output terminal Q, of the flip-flop circuit FF, causes the anode of the diode Di,D...,D3 to go low. Then, the set terminal Sz of the flipflop circuit FF2 goes low, thus resetting the flip-flop circuit FF2. This again operates the forward drive circuit DR, to rotate the motor 9 forwardly. After the flip-flop circuit FF2 is set, the flip-flop circuit FF, is reset with a slight delay. The motor 9 again rotates forwardly to raise the blade 5. Upon reaching the upper turning point, the blade 5 turns its direction and moves toward the lower turning point.

When the blade 5 again descends (in the illustrated example t r 1 it makes a second downward movement) and reaches the lower turning point, the stop switch SW, is closed, allowing the transistor Tr5 to conduct. Since the flip-flop circuit FF, has been already reset, the OutPut terininal Q 1 has almacv gone low. The pote ntial at the resistor rl that is connected via the inverter increases to prevent the flipflop circuit FF3 from being reset. Thus, it is determined that the pane was wiped a given number of times, twice in the illustrated example. The motor 9 keeps rotating rearwardly if the blade 5 goes past the lower turning point. Further, as the switch SW2 is closed, the transistor Tr5 keeps conducting. Therefore, electric charge in the capacitor C3 is discharged to ground via a resistor r2, a variable resistor r3, a resistor r4, and the transistor Tr5. This discharging capacitor C3 acts like a timer. After a given period of time elapses since the capacitor C.3 is discharged completely, the potential at the positive terminal of the capacitor C3 drops, resetting the flip-flop circuit FF3. The capacitor C3 is allowed to be discharged after the blade passes across the lower turning point. As a result, the reverse drive circuit DR2 is deactivated, so that the motor 9 stops. The blade 5 comes to rest at its rest position.

The time interval between the instant of time at which the blade crosses the lower turning point and the instant of time at which the motor 9 is stopped, i.e., the rest position of the blade 5, can be adjusted by changing the resistance value of the variable resistor r3.

When the windowpane is opened more than a given amount, the panedetecting switch SW, is closed, causing the transistors Tr7 and Tr8 to conduct. A low signal is applied to the reset terminal R, of the flipflop circuit Fi. Under this condition, if the start switch SW, is depressed and closed, the flip-flop circuit FF, is not set. The diode D2 maintains the set terminal S2 of the flip-flop circuit FFz high. Therefore,-the flip-flop circuit FFz is prevented from being set and hence the wiper does not operate. When the blade 5 is -ascending, if the pane is opened more than the given amount, the pane-detecting switch SW., is closed. Then, a low signal is applied to the reset terminal R2 via a diode Ds, so that the flip-flop circuit- FF. is reset. The transistor Tr7 causes the set terminal S, to go high via the diode D2. This inhibits the flipflop circuit FF2 from being set, and the forward drive circuit DR, does not operate. Concurrently, a low signal is fed via the diode Ds to the set terminal S3 of the flip-flop circuit F173. This operates the reverse drive circuit DR2 to rotate the motor 9 rearwardly, for lowering the blade 5. At this time, the flip-flop circuit FF, is also reset, because a low signal is supplied via a diode D6 to the reset terminal R, of the circuit M. The blade 5 moves downward and stops at its rest position as described previously. While the blade 5 is descending, if the pane is opened, the blade no longer moves upward. It moves to its rest position -subsequent to the descent and comes to a halt.

N z When the wiper is activated, if a large load is applied to the blade 5 as encountered when it is frozen, the load current through the motor 9 increases, thus increasing the potential at the resistor R. When the potential at the resister R exceeds a predetermined value, the comparator IC, produces a low signal, causing the transistors Tr7 and Tr8 to conduct. Therefore, the blade 5 moves downward to its rest position and comes to a halt in the same manner as in the case where the pane-detecting switch SW,' is closed.

In the above-described example, the windowpane of the door 2 is wiped by the reciprocating movement of the blade 5 which is driven by the motor 9 rotating either forwardly or rearwardly. Thus, if it is raining, the wiper wipes the pane 2b clear of raindrops. Consequently, the sideview mirror can be seen clearly through the pane 2b.

In this way, the novel wiper can wipe the windowpane when the need arises. When it is not necessary to wipe the pane and the wiper does not operate, the blade 5 is held within the casing 11 while the cover 12 is closed. Specifically, the cover 12 is always biased in a direction to open by the resilient members 13. When the arm 3 is moved upward out of the casing 11 to make a wiping operation, the cover 12 is automatically opened by the action of the resilient members 13. Accordingly, the blade 5 comes out of the casing 11 without being impeded by the cover 12, and then it wipes -1L._ the pane. When the wiping operation is completed and the blade 5 should be withdrawn into the casing 11, the bracket 4 pushes down on the working members 12c. The cover 12 is moved downward against the action of the resilient members 13 and closed. Consequently, the 5 blade 5 is enclosed in the cover 12.

In this manner, when it is not necessary to wipe the windowpane, the blade 5 is received and enclosed in the cover 12. This is desirable from an aesthetical point of view. Further, the weatherproofness is enhanced. The cover 12 is automatically opened when the blade 5 ascends and is automatically closed by retracting the blade 5. These operations need no dedicated drive mechanism, unlike the prior art mechanism. Rather, vertical movement of the arm 3 is effectively utilized. Hence, the device is quite simple in structure, lightweight, and compact.

Further, when the blade 5 is accommodated in the casing, it is separated from the windowpane 2b. Therefore, it is unlikely that the blade 5 is deformed by permanent set and so the durability is improved greatly. Consequently, the wiper can function well over a long period.

It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the above example. For example, the aforementioned resilient members 13 can be replaced by resilient members 14 as shown in Figs. 8 and 9. The resilient members 14 are mounted between shafts 11d protruding from the support plates 11c and the 1 X n -1 C- 1 cover 12 to bias the cover 12 in such a way that while the cover 12 is being opened, the cover 12 is urged to go across the pivots 12b. That is, the resilient members 14 hold the cover 12 either closed or opened. Therefore, when the cover 12 is closed, the arm 3 is not required to exert a force on the cover to retain it closed. For this reason, it is not necessary to place the blade 5 in its rest position with improved accuracy and to maintain the cover 12 closed, or to lock the motor 9, for maintaining the cover closed. This improves the structure further and simplifies it.

As shown in Fig. 10, a clutch 15 can be mounted betWeen the arm 3 of the wire and a connector 8 having a recess 8a. The clutch 15 comprises a resilient member 15a received in the recess 8a and a ball 15b. Normally, the ball 15b is resiliently urged by the resilient member 15a into a hole 15c formed in the arm 3, whereby 15the connector 8 is coupled to the arm 3. In this state, the clutch 15 transmits torque in a normal manner. When a large load is applied to the arm 3, the ball 15b is urged into the recess 8a against the action of the resilient member 15a to let out the clutch 15. Thus, the connector 8 is disconnected from the arm 3. When a 20high load is applied to the arm 3, various portions are prevented from becoming damaged. If the blade 5 stops at an intermediate position because of trouble, the blade can be manually withdrawn.

As shown in Figs. 11A and 11B, an engaging portion 16 is formed at the lower end of the arm 3, and a limiting portion 17 is f --'6- formed at the lower end of the windowpane 2b. The engaging portion 16 bears against the limiting portion 17 to prevent the blade 5 from being detached from the pane when the pane is open. This ensures that the blade 5 moves on the windowpane 21b at al'. times. In this case, it is not necessary to mount the pane-detecting switch SW4 shown in Fig. 7.

As shown i n Fi g. 12, the arm gu i de 6 can be f i xed to the door 2. The outer board 2a of the door 2 has a recess in which a protective molding 19 is mounted via a holder 18. A bolt 20 by which the holder 18 is fixed makes the arm guide 6 stationary. Thus, the structure is rigidly fixed without deteriorating the appearance.

Since the novel device is built as described above, when the blade is not in use, it is enclosed in the cover and is not exposed. This is desirable from an aesthetical point of view. Further, the weatherproofness is excellent. The cover is automatically opened or closed by the movement of the working members of the cover which is made by the blade going into or out of the chamber when the wiping operation is initiated or finished.

This entirely dispenses with a dedicated drive mechanism which has been heretofore required. The movement of the blade which goes into or out of the chamber is effectively utilized and certainly effected. Therefore, the structure is rendered quite simple. Further, it is easy to mount the wiper. Furthermore, the wiper is 1 1 -A 71 lightweight, compact, and inexpensive.

In the structure shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the cover is retained closed by the biasing force of the resilient members when the members have passed the pivots. Therefore, the load that maintains the cover closed is not applied to the wiper. For this reason, it is not necessary take measures to place the blade in position with greater accuracy, for maintaining the cover closed.

Claims

Claims:

A device for accommodating the blade of a wiper having an arm, the blade being mounted at the front end of the arm and reciprocating upon the outer surface of a windowpane of a door to wipe the surface, said device comprising:

a chamber which is formed in an upper outer portion of the door and in which the blade is received when the wiper is not in use; a cover disposed in the chamber and normally biased towards an open position; and means formed upon the cover and which, when the blade is withdrawn into the chamber, operates to cause the cover to close against the urging force applied to the cover.
2. A device for accommodating the blade of a wiper having an arm, the blade being mounted at the front end of the arm and reciprocating upon the outer surface of the windowpane of a door to wipe the surface, said device comprising:

a chamber which is formed in an upper outer portion of the door in which the blade is received when the wiper is not in use; 7 v 1 - 19 a cover which opens or closes the chamber; resilient means mounted upon the cover and which. when the chamber is being opened or closed, cause the cover to pass pivots and urge the cover to open or close; and means formed upon the cover and which, when the blade goes into or out of the chamber, bear against the blade and open or close the cover.
3. A device for accommodating the blade of a wiper substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

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