GB2362812A

GB2362812A - Windsreen wiper harness with water supply passing through central pivot sleeve

Info

Publication number: GB2362812A
Application number: GB0105036A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Dean Cubitt
Original assignee: Trico Products Corp
Current assignee: Trico Products Corp
Priority date: 2000-03-01
Filing date: 2001-03-01
Publication date: 2001-12-05
Anticipated expiration: 2021-03-01
Also published as: GB0004797D0; GB0105036D0; GB2362812B

Abstract

A windscreen wiper harness 1 is mounted on a central pivot sleeve 3 extending between the two side walls of the harness. A water supply passage way extends through the sleeve and is connected via snap fittings to a supply tube 7 at one end and a spray nozzle 4 at the other end. The supply tube may have a ratchet configuration 9 to lock it into place. The spray nozzle 4 may comprise of a hollow dome with several spray outlets and locating tabs 6 to clip over the side of the harness. This arrangement provides efficient washing by supply of washing fluid direct to the windscreen from the wiper assembly, whilst remaining slim-line and non-bulky.

Description

2362812 1 "IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO WINDSCREEN WIPER WASHER SUPPLY" On

most vehicles a spray nozzle for washing water is fitted onto the vehicle itself, separately from the windscreen wiper. However, on some models spray nozzles are mounted on the windscreen wiper assembly and thus move with the windscreen wiper as it traverses across the windscreen. This can lead to greater washing efficiency. However the various parts for the washer assembly can tend to be rather bulky and obstruct other features (such as wind deflectors) which might be carried by the windscreen wiper. Also the provision of bulky extra parts on the wiper assembly can significantly reduce the attractive appearance of the windscreen wiper.

It is an object of this invention to provide a compact and aesthetically pleasing washer assembly mounted onto a windscreen wiper.

According to the present invention there is provided a wiper blade harness mounted centrally on a pivot sleeve extending between the side walls of the harness and to which a wiper arm may be connected, the sleeve having a member defining a flow passageway passing therethrough, between a water supply hose on one side of the harness and a spray nozzle housing on the other side of the harness.

The provision of the spray nozzle housing and the supply hose connection on opposed sides of the harness \\WYNNEJONES01\WORD\Specs\MJ\Trico\B572.doc 2 is leads to a balanced design and reduces the bulk of parts of the washer assembly carried on the outside of the harness. Furthermore the part comprising the spray nozzle housing can be relatively small and thus of minimal obstruction to any other features carried by the harness.

The member defining the flow passageway can be formed at one or both ends as a snap fit to seal with the supply hose and/or the spray nozzle housing. Thus the member could have a resilient barb at one or both ends for providing the snap fit into the supply hose or the spray nozzle housing. Furthermore a double barb could be provided to lock the member respectively between the side walls of the harness and into the supply hose or the spray nozzle housing.

In one arrangement a tube comprising the flow passageway member can lead from the supply hose or from the spray nozzle housing and pass through the pivot sleeve. Alternatively the pivot sleeve itself could form the member defining the flow passageway and would extend beyond the sides of the harness to connect with the supply hose and the spray nozzle housing.

In the preferred arrangement the spray nozzle housing comprises a hollow dome with several spray outlets. The housing will desirably incorporate locating tabs which will lock onto a part of the housing body, so as to resist rotation of the housing once it is locked into place in connection with the flow passageway member.

\\WYNNEJONESOI\WORD\Specs\MJ\Trico\B572.doc 3 The invention may be performed in various ways and preferred embodiments thereof will now be described, by way of example, with reference to drawings, in which:

is the accompanying Figure 1 illustrates one means of providing a washer unit connected through a pivot sleeve on a wiper blade harness; Figure 2 shows the washer assembly of Figure 1 fully assembled with the harness; Figure 3 illustrates an alternative form of assembly where part of the washer unit forms a pivot for a wiper blade harness; and Figure 4 shows the washer assembly of Figure 3 assembled fully onto the harness.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2 the water supply f or a washer attached to windscreen wiper blade harness 1 by passing a supply tube 2 through a rivet sleeve 3 which enables the harness 1 to rotate with respect to a connector (not shown) to a wiper arm. The tube 2 connects into a nozzle housing 4 which can then be quite small so that it has an attractive appearance and leaves room, for example, for an aerofoil to be connected to the harness. The fact that the connecting tube 2 does not project from the outer surface of the nozzle housing 4 means that nozzles 5 can be provided to point in many directions without obstruction. The nozzles can just be in the form of holes which form part of the moulding although brass or \\WYNNEJONES01\WORD\Specs\MJ\Trico\B572.doc 4 stainlesE required. over the prevents place by either at steel nozzle members could be incorporated if Locating tabs 6 on the nozzle housing 4 lock top of a side wall of the harness itself which the moulding 4 from rotating (as it is locked in the connection tube 2. The tabs can locate the top or the bottom of the harness.

A hose connection 7 can either be to a tube 2 passing through a passageway drilled through the rivet 3 or (as shown in Figures 3 and 4) the rivet could be replaced by a supply tube 8 which passes through the harness 1 from the nozzle housing 4. A ratchet configuration 9 at the end of the supply tube 2 or 8 can lock into an entry point into either a location formation 10 of the nozzle housing 4 (Figure 1) or a complementary gripping member 11 at the end of the hose connection 7. There could be a double ratchet on the alternative version of Figures 3 and 4 where the nozzle housing has the supply tube 8 projecting from it. The second ratchet will then lock onto the other side of the harness 1 whilst the first ratchet provides a connection to the gripping member 11.

The provision of the nozzle housing 4 and the supply hose 7 on different sides of the harness leads to a less bulky arrangement and a slimline body for the nozzle housing 4. Indeed the nozzle housings could be interchangeable with others which are variable in shape or numbers of nozzles etc. In this case the ratchet members could be replaced by a friction fit rather than having \\WYNNEJONES01\WORD\Specs\MJ\Trico\B572.doc barbs, or the barbs could be easily releasable by having flexible locating ribs.

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Claims

1 A wiper blade harness mounted centrally on a pivot sleeve extending between the side walls of the harness and to which a wiper arm may be connected, the sleeve having a member defining a flow passageway passing therethrough, between a water supply hose on one side of the harness and a spray nozzle housing on the other side of the harness.

2. A harness according to claim 1, wherein the member defining the flow passageway is formed at one or both ends as a snap f it to seal with the supply hose and/or the spray nozzle housing.

3. A harness according to claim 2, wherein the member has a resilient barb at one or both ends for providing the snap fit into the supply hose or the spray nozzle housing.

4. A harness according to claim 3, wherein a double barb is provided to lock the member respectively between the side walls of the harness and into the supply hose or the spray nozzle housing.

5. A harness according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a tube comprising the flow passageway member leads from the supply hose or from the spray nozzle housing and passes through the pivot sleeve.

6. A harness according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the pivot sleeve itself forms the member defining the flow passageway and extends beyond the sides of the harness to connect with the supply hose and the spray nozzle housing.

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7 7. A harness according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the spray nozzle housing comprises a hollow dome with several spray outlets.

8. A harness according to claim 7, wherein the housing incorporates locating tabs which lock onto a part of the housing body, so as to resist rotation of the housing once it is locked into place in connection with the flow passageway member.

9. A wiper blade harness with an integral water supply system substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 or Figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.

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