JP2004161023A - Wiper arm - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a wiper arm at a low cost and in a low arrangement attitude. <P>SOLUTION: This wiper arm has an arm head and an arm portion. The arm portion is turnably connected with the arm head with a turning shaft provided near the top end of the arm head. One end of a tensile coil spring 29 is latched at the arm portion, and one end of a hook 30 crossing over the turning shaft is stopped at the arm head to stop the other end of the tensile coil spring 29 and the other end of the hook 30. The hook 30 is formed by bending a transverse bent portion 30b from a stop portion O with a latching pin 31 and a latching point Q with the tensile coil spring 29 to a body portion 30a toward the body portion 30a in a glass surface direction of a window glass, and bending in a direction roughly parallel to the glass surface direction. The body portion 30a of the hook 30 is displaced at a position drifted in the glass surface direction and a direction roughly parallel to the glass surface direction from a straight line OQ which is a latching shaft of the hook 30. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a wiper arm.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, vehicles designed with a lower bonnet rear end have been increasing in order to secure a wider driving view from the viewpoint of improving safety. In the wiper device, the position of the wiper arm (height dimension) has been reduced. It has been demanded.
[0003]
As shown in FIG. 9, in the normal wiping posture, the wiper arm 1 is urged in the direction of the windshield 3, and the wiper blade 5 attached to the tip of the wiper arm 1 is pressed by the wiper arm 1 to cause the windshield to wind. It is pressed against three surfaces.
[0004]
As shown in FIG. 10, the wiper arm 1 includes an arm head 13 fixed to a pivot shaft 12 and an arm unit 14 having a wiper blade 5 attached to a distal end. The arm unit 14 has a base end. It is pivotally connected to the arm head 13 by being pivotally supported by the rotation shaft 15.
[0005]
A tension coil spring 16 is provided in the arm 14. One end of the extension coil spring 16 is locked near the tip of the arm portion 14, and the extension coil spring 16 is locked with the other end of the hook 18 locked on a locking pin 17 provided on the arm head 13. ing. The arm 14 is urged by the elastic force of the extension coil spring 16 toward the surface of the windshield 3 of the vehicle or in the direction away from the surface of the windshield 3 according to the rotation angle thereof, and is normally In addition to the wiping posture at the time, so-called lockback that causes the arm portion 14 can be performed.
[0006]
More specifically, in the wiping state (normal state), a locking point P between the arm portion 14 and the tension coil spring 16 is a locking pin which is a locking point between the hook 18 connected to the tension coil spring 16 and the arm head 13. 17 is located closer to the window glass 3 than a straight line L connecting the rotation shaft 15 which is the center of rotation of the arm 14. Accordingly, the arm 14 is urged toward the surface of the window glass 3 by the elastic force of the extension coil spring 16, and the wiper blade at the tip of the arm 14 is pressed against the surface of the window glass 3.
[0007]
On the other hand, when the arm portion 14 is caused to move the locking point P to the upper side of the arm head 13 beyond the straight line L, the arm portion 14 is separated from the window glass 3 by the elastic force of the extension coil spring 16. Therefore, the wiper arm 1 can be locked back.
[0008]
Therefore, the hook 18 connecting the extension coil spring 16 and the locking pin 17 is curved so as to prevent the hook 18 from interfering with the rotation shaft 15 when the arm portion 14 is locked back. It is formed in a shape. Thereby, the locking point P can be moved to the upper side of the arm head 13 beyond the straight line L, and the abdomen 18a of the hook 18 is brought into contact with the rotating shaft 15 or the arm portion 14 By bringing the base end edge into contact with the upper surface of the arm head 13, the lockback angle can be regulated and the lockback state can be maintained.
[0009]
However, when the hook 18 is formed in a “C” shape so as not to interfere with the rotating shaft 15, the abdomen 18 a protrudes toward the surface of the window glass 3 in the wiping state (normal time). Therefore, a gap is required between the wiper arm 1 and the window glass 3 such that the hook 18 does not interfere with the surface of the window glass 3, and there is a problem that the arrangement posture of the wiper arm 1 is increased. In particular, when the wiper arm 1 is disposed between the rear end of the hood 19 of the vehicle and the lower end of the window glass 3, the problem of the interference is significant (see FIG. 9).
[0010]
Conventionally, as a solution to the above problem, there is a biasing structure of a wiper arm in which a pressing means using a compression spring is provided in an arm head, and the arm section is biased by the pressing means. With such a configuration, since the above-described hook is not used, the gap between the wiper arm and the body or the like can be reduced, and the arrangement posture of the wiper arm can be reduced (for example, Patent Document 1). ).
[0011]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 6-11257
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the above-mentioned conventional example, assembling work becomes complicated due to the large number of parts constituting the pressing means, and furthermore, it is necessary to perform special processing on the arm head in order to dispose the pressing means. There is a problem that the manufacturing cost is increased.
[0013]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a wiper arm having a low cost and a low arrangement posture.
[0014]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above problem, the invention according to claim 1 is characterized in that an arm head fixed to a pivot shaft of a vehicle, and a wiper blade for wiping a glass surface of a window glass at a tip end are mounted on a rotating shaft. An arm unit rotatably connected to the arm head; and an urging unit that pulls the arm unit and the arm head, wherein the urging unit urges the arm unit in the rotation direction. A wiper arm, wherein the urging means includes an elastic member, and a connecting member that is connected to the elastic member across the rotation axis, wherein the connecting member is connected to the arm head or the arm portion. Having an abdomen arranged at a position offset in a direction substantially parallel to the glass surface direction from the connection axis connecting the first connection point and the second connection point with the elastic member, Required To.
[0015]
The gist of the invention described in claim 2 is that the connection member is rotatably connected around the connection shaft.
Also, in the invention according to claim 3, the connecting member includes a lateral bending portion connecting the first connecting point and the second connecting point to the abdomen, and the lateral bending portion includes the first bending point. The gist is that the connection point and the second connection point are curved toward the abdomen from the connection axis in the glass surface direction and the direction substantially parallel to the glass surface.
[0016]
Further, in the invention according to claim 4, the abdomen abuts on the lower surface of the arm head near the rotation axis when the arm portion is rotated in a direction away from the glass surface, The gist is that a guide portion for guiding the abdomen is formed such that the abdomen approaches a plane orthogonal to the rotation axis including the connection shaft.
[0017]
(Action)
According to the first and third aspects of the present invention, the abdomen is disposed at a position shifted from the connection axis of the connection member in the glass surface direction and a direction substantially parallel to the glass surface, that is, at an offset position. Thereby, the protrusion of the abdomen in the glass surface direction is suppressed. As a result, the space below the wiper arm (the height from the glass surface) can be reduced, and the arrangement posture of the wiper arm decreases. Further, the simple configuration reduces the manufacturing cost of the wiper arm.
[0018]
According to the invention described in claim 2, since the connecting member is rotatable about the connecting shaft, if the length from the first connecting point to the abdomen is a predetermined length, the glass surface direction It is possible to prevent the abdomen from protruding to the side and to secure a required lockback angle at the time of lockback causing the arm.
[0019]
According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, at the time of the lock-back rotation of the arm, the abdomen of the connecting member in contact with the guide is guided by the guide and includes the connection shaft and is substantially orthogonal to the rotation shaft. Close to the plane you want. Accordingly, at this time, the connection member smoothly rotates around the connection shaft toward the plane substantially including the connection shaft and substantially perpendicular to the rotation shaft so that the abdomen is pushed into the guide portion. Therefore, the arm portion rotates smoothly.
[0020]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0021]
As shown in FIG. 1, the wiper arm 20 includes an arm head 23 fixed to a pivot shaft 22 and an arm unit 24. In the present embodiment, the arm portion 24 includes an arm piece 25 to which a wiper blade (not shown) is attached at a distal end, and a retainer 26 connected to the arm head 23. It is fixed to the tip.
[0022]
The retainer 26 is rotatably connected to the arm head 23 by a base end thereof being pivotally supported by a rotation shaft 27 provided near the distal end of the arm head 23. It is rotatable around the rotation shaft 27 in a direction of coming into contact with and separating from the glass surface 28 of the windshield of the vehicle.
[0023]
A tension coil spring 29 as an elastic member is provided in the retainer 26. One end of the extension coil spring 29 is locked by a locking hook 25a at the rear end of the arm piece 25 protruding into the retainer 26, and the other end is locked by one end of a hook 30 as a connecting member. The arm head 23 is provided with a locking pin 31. The locking pin 31 is provided closer to the base end than the rotating shaft 27, and the other end of the hook 30 is locked to the locking pin 31. That is, the extension coil spring 29 is connected to the arm head 23 and the arm section 24 via the hook 30 that straddles the rotation axis 27, and the arm section 24 is rotated by the elastic force of the extension coil spring 29. Is urged toward the glass surface 28 or in a direction away from the glass surface 28. When the wiper arm 20 is at a position facing the body 32 of the vehicle, the above-mentioned “direction of the glass surface 28” naturally includes the direction of the body 32, but hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, simply “the glass surface 28”. Direction ”.
[0024]
As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the hook 30 has a locking point O with the locking pin 31 as a first connection point and a locking point Q with the extension coil spring 29 as a second connection point. And an abdominal portion 30a substantially parallel to a straight line OQ passing through, and a horizontal bent portion 30b from the locking point O and the locking point Q to the abdominal portion 30a.
[0025]
The laterally bent portion 30b is formed so as to be curved toward the abdomen 30a from the locking point O and the locking point Q toward the abdomen 30a (see FIG. 1). It is also curved in a direction substantially parallel to a plane orthogonal to the glass surface 28 (lower side in FIG. 3, left side in FIG. 4). Thus, in the hook 30, the abdomen 30a is arranged at a position displaced from the straight line OQ, which is a locking axis (connection axis), in the glass surface direction and in a direction substantially orthogonal to the glass surface direction. In the present embodiment, the arm head 23 is disposed at a so-called offset position on the left side in the width direction (the lower side in FIG. 3 and the left side in FIG. 4) toward the base end direction.
[0026]
As shown in FIG. 5, the arm portion 24 is caused to lock back the wiper arm 20, that is, the lock back is rotated. Then, with the movement of the locking point P (see FIG. 1) between the locking hook 25a as the third locking point and the extension coil spring 29 (see FIG. 1), the hook 30 moves around the locking point O as the center of the glass surface 28. From the camera (in the upper side in FIG. 1). At this time, the abdomen 30a of the hook 30 approaches the rotation shaft 27 with the rotation of the hook 30. When the abdomen 30a of the hook 30 abuts on the rotation shaft 27, the rotation of the arm 24 is restricted, the lockback angle is restricted, and the lockback state is maintained. In the present embodiment, the abdomen 30a does not directly contact the rotating shaft 27, but is referred to as "contacting the rotating shaft 27" for convenience of explanation.
[0027]
Here, the lockback angle of the wiper arm 20, that is, the angle between the arm head 23 and the retainer 26 in the lockback state, is determined from the locking point O, which is the center of rotation of the hook 30 at the time of lockback rotation, in the lockback state. It depends on the distance to the contact point where the rotation shaft 27 and the hook 30 contact.
[0028]
As shown in FIG. 4, in the present embodiment, the hook 30 has a lockback distance r1 that is a distance from the locking point O to the contact point R in the lockback state of the abdomen 30a, and a conventional lockback distance. It is formed so as to be substantially equal to r0 (see FIG. 10).
[0029]
As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, at the time of the lock-back rotation, the hook 30 moves around the straight line OQ, which is the locking axis (connection axis) of the hook 30, in the direction of the glass surface 28 (the lower part in FIG. 5). 6 (ie, counterclockwise in FIG. 6), that is, the abdomen 30a rotates in a direction approaching a plane including the straight line OQ and substantially perpendicular to the rotation shaft 27. In the lockback state, the abdomen 30a moves from the offset position in the normal state (during the wiping posture) to a plane that includes the straight line OQ and is substantially perpendicular to the rotation shaft 27, so that the lockback distance r1 is reduced. The length is substantially the same as the lockback distance r0 when the conventional hook 18 is used.
[0030]
As shown in FIG. 7, at the time of the lockback rotation, the abdomen 30 a of the hook 30 moves toward the arm head 23 with the rotation of the hook 30 and comes into contact with the arm head 23. In the lower part of the arm head 23 near the rotation shaft 27, a concave portion 35 that is gently curved from the vicinity of both ends in the short direction of the arm head 23 toward the center line orthogonal to the rotation shaft 27 is formed. The surface of the concave portion 35 forms a guide surface 36 as a smooth guide portion. In the present embodiment, the offset amount of the hook 30 (the distance from the plane including the straight line OQ at the offset position and substantially perpendicular to the rotation shaft 27 to the abdomen 30a) is from the center 35a of the recess 35 to the side end 35b. Of the direction parallel to the lower surface of the arm head 23. The abdomen 30a contacts the guide surface 36 near the side end 35b by the rotation of the hook 30.
[0031]
The guide surface 36 rotates the hook 30 about the straight line OQ serving as its locking axis, and guides the abdomen 30a from the offset position to approach a plane that includes the straight line OQ and is substantially orthogonal to the rotating shaft 27. It has a function to do.
[0032]
More specifically, when the arm portion 24 is further locked back and the hook 30 is rotated, as shown in FIG. 8, the abdomen 30a of the hook 30 is guided by the guide surface 36 and the concave portion is formed along the guide surface 36. It moves from the side end 35b of 35 toward the center 35a.
[0033]
Here, during a series of lock-back rotations, the locking points O and Q serving as the locking axes of the hooks 30, that is, the straight lines OQ serving as the locking axes of the hooks 30 are the rotation planes of the arm 24. There is no deviation. Therefore, when the abdomen 30a moves in the recess 35 toward the upper surface of the arm head 23 (upward in the figure), the hook 30 is moved around its locking axis, that is, the straight line OQ as the center of rotation. It is rotated toward the glass surface 28 (counterclockwise in FIG. 6) so as to be pushed into the surface 36. In the lock-back state, the abdomen 30a of the hook 30 is located on a plane including the straight line OQ and substantially perpendicular to the rotation shaft 27 from the offset position in a normal state.
[0034]
That is, the hook 30 moves from the straight line OQ by rotating about the straight line OQ so that the abdomen 30a moves from the offset position to a plane that includes the straight line OQ and is substantially perpendicular to the rotating shaft 27. The distance to the contact point R becomes longer, and as a result, a lockback distance r1 substantially equal to the conventional lockback distance r0 is secured.
[0035]
When the abdomen 30a moves to the center 35a of the recess 35, the rotation of the arm 24 is restricted, the lockback angle is restricted, and the lockback state is maintained.
[0036]
Next, the characteristic effects of the present embodiment will be described below.
(1) The hook 30 is configured such that the laterally bent portion 30b from the locking point with the arm portion 14, that is, the locking point O with the locking pin 31 and the locking point Q with the extension coil spring 29 to the abdomen 30a, , And also curved in a direction substantially parallel to the glass surface 28.
[0037]
With such a configuration, the abdomen 30a is displaced in a direction substantially parallel to the glass surface 28 from a plane that includes the straight line OQ that is the locking axis of the hook 30 and that is substantially perpendicular to the glass surface 28, that is, It is arranged at a so-called offset position. Thereby, the protrusion of the abdomen 30a in the direction of the glass surface 28 (or the body 32) in the wiping posture can be suppressed. As a result, the gap between the wiper arm 20 and the glass surface 28 can be shortened, so that the arrangement posture of the wiper arm 20 in the wiping posture, that is, the height h of the wiper arm 20 in the height direction (see FIG. 1) is kept low. be able to.
[0038]
In addition, since it has a simple configuration using the inexpensive tension coil spring 29, the manufacturing cost can be kept low.
(2) At the time of lock-back rotation, the hook 30 rotates toward the glass surface 28 around a straight line OQ passing through the locking point O and the locking point Q, which are the locking axes of the hook 30, and In the lock-back state, the abdomen 30a moves to a plane that includes the straight line OQ and is substantially perpendicular to the rotation shaft 27.
[0039]
Thus, the distance from the straight line OQ, which is the locking axis of the hook 30 in the lockback state, to the abdomen 30a is longer than the distance from the straight line OQ to the abdomen 30a in the wiping posture in the glass surface 28 direction. Therefore, the required lockback angle can be ensured while suppressing the projection of the abdomen 30a toward the glass surface 28 (or the body 32) in the wiping posture.
[0040]
(3) In the lower part of the arm head 23 in the vicinity of the rotation shaft 27, a concave portion 35 that is gently curved from the vicinity of both side ends of the arm head 23 toward the center portion which is the axis is formed.
[0041]
Thus, at the time of the lockback rotation, the abdomen 30a of the hook 30 abutting on the side end 35b of the recess 35 is guided by the guide surface 36 on the surface of the recess 35 toward the center 35a along the guide surface 36. Move. When the abdomen 30a moves in the recess 35 toward the upper surface of the arm head 23 (upward in the figure), the hook 30 is moved around its locking axis, that is, the straight line OQ as a center of rotation. It is rotated toward the glass surface 28 (counterclockwise in FIG. 6) so as to be pushed into the surface 36. Therefore, the movement of the arm 24 during the lock-back rotation can be made smooth.
[0042]
The above embodiment may be modified as follows.
In the present embodiment, the extension coil spring 29 as the urging means and the hook 30 are formed as separate members, and these are connected to lock the arm head 23 and the arm portion 24. May be used.
[0043]
-In this embodiment, although the arm part 24 was comprised by the arm piece 25 and the retainer 26, the arm piece 25 and the retainer 26 may be integrally formed.
[0044]
In the present embodiment, the offset amount of the hook 30 is substantially the same as the length in the direction parallel to the lower surface of the arm head 23 from the center 35a of the recess 35 to the side end 35b, but the offset amount is larger than this length. More or less.
[0045]
In the present embodiment, the laterally bent portion 30b is formed so as to be curved toward the abdomen 30a in the direction of the glass surface 28 and also in a direction substantially parallel to the glass surface 28. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be formed in another shape, for example, an L-shape when viewed from the axial direction of the straight line OQ which is the locking shaft.
[0046]
In the present embodiment, the abdomen 30a is arranged at a position offset to the left in the width direction h (the lower side in FIG. 3 and the left side in FIG. 4) toward the base end of the arm head 23. It may be arranged at an offset position.
[0047]
In the present embodiment, the tension coil spring 29 is provided in the retainer 26, but may be provided in the arm head 23.
In the present embodiment, the extension coil spring 29 is used, but another elastic member such as a leaf spring may be used.
[0048]
In the present embodiment, the wiper arm 20 has a configuration in which the abdomen 30a of the hook 30 abuts on the lower surface of the arm head 23 during the lockback rotation. However, the wiper arm 20 may have a configuration in which it abuts on the lower surface of the arm portion 24. In such a case, a concave portion 35 may be provided on the lower surface of the arm portion 24.
[0049]
In the present embodiment, the abdomen 30a of the hook 30 abuts on the rotation shaft 27, whereby the rotation of the arm 24 is restricted and the lockback angle is restricted, but the lockback angle is restricted. Is not limited to this. For example, the lockback angle may be limited by a part of the hook 30 contacting the lower surface of the arm head 23 or the rear edge of the arm part 14 contacting the upper surface of the arm head 23. In such a case, the abdomen 30a of the hook 30 is guided to a position halfway to the center 35a of the guide surface 36.
[0050]
Next, technical ideas that can be grasped from the above embodiments and other examples will be additionally described below.
(1) The wiper arm according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the biasing unit is formed by integrally molding the elastic member and the connecting member. Wiper arm.
[0051]
With such a configuration, the number of parts is reduced, and the cost is further reduced.
(2) In the wiper arm according to (1), the urging unit is rotatably connected around a straight line connecting a connection point with the arm unit and the first connection point. Characterized wiper arm.
[0052]
(3) An arm head fixed to the pivot shaft of the vehicle, and a wiper blade for wiping the glass surface of the window glass at the front end are mounted, and the base end is rotatable about the front end of the arm head with the rotation shaft. A wiper arm including a connected arm portion and an elastic member that pulls the arm portion and the arm head, the wiper arm connecting the elastic member and the arm portion or the arm head across the rotation axis. A connecting member, wherein a connecting axis connecting a first connecting point with the elastic member and a second connecting point with the arm head or the arm portion is offset in a glass surface direction and a direction substantially parallel to the glass surface. A connecting member for the wiper arm, comprising a belly portion arranged at a set position.
[0053]
Therefore, the wiper arm of the conventional configuration can be used as it is simply by changing the connecting member, so that the wiper arm can be applied to a wide range of wiper devices at low cost.
[0054]
(4) The connecting member of the wiper arm according to (3), further including a lateral bending portion that connects the first connection point and the second connection point to the abdomen, wherein the horizontal bending portion is configured to be the first bending point. A connection member for a wiper arm, wherein the connection member is curved from the connection axis toward the glass surface and in the direction substantially parallel to the abdomen from the connection point and the second connection point.
[0055]
【The invention's effect】
As described above in detail, according to the first to fourth aspects of the present invention, it is possible to provide a low-cost and low-positioning wiper arm.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a wiper arm.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a hook.
FIG. 3 is a top view of a hook.
FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line AA of the wiper arm.
FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a wiper arm.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing the movement of a hook.
FIG. 7 is an explanatory view showing the movement of the abdomen of the hook in the AA section.
FIG. 8 is an explanatory view showing the movement of the abdomen of the hook in the section AA.
FIG. 9 is a schematic view of the vicinity of a window glass of the vehicle.
FIG. 10 is a schematic view of a general wiper arm.
[Explanation of symbols]
3 ... window glass, 5 ... wiper blade, 20 ... wiper arm, 22 ... pivot shaft, 23 ... arm head, 24 ... arm part, 27 ... rotating shaft, 28 ... glass surface, 29 ... extension coil spring, 30 ... hook, 30a ... abdomen, 30b ... lateral bending part, 35 ... concave part, 35a ... center, 35b ... side end part, 36 ... guide surface, O ... locking point, Q ... locking point, P ... locking point, OQ ... straight line, R: contact point, h: dimension, r1: lockback distance.

Claims (4)

An arm head fixed to a pivot shaft of the vehicle, an arm portion mounted with a wiper blade for wiping a glass surface of a window glass at an end thereof and rotatably connected to the arm head by a rotation shaft; And a biasing means for pulling the arm head, wherein the wiper arm is biased in the rotating direction by the biasing means,
The urging means includes an elastic member and a connecting member connected to the elastic member across the rotation axis,
The connecting member is a glass surface direction and a direction substantially parallel to the glass surface direction from a connection axis connecting a first connection point with the arm head or the arm portion and a second connection point with the elastic member. A wiper arm provided with an abdomen arranged at a position offset from the wiper arm. The wiper arm according to claim 1,
The connection member is rotatably connected about the connection shaft,
A wiper arm characterized by the following. The wiper arm according to claim 1 or claim 2,
The connection member includes a lateral bending portion connecting the first connection point and the second connection point to the abdomen, and the lateral bending portion is connected to the abdomen from the first connection point and the second connection point. The wiper arm is curved from the connection shaft in the glass surface direction and the direction substantially parallel to the connection shaft. The wiper arm according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
In the vicinity of the rotation axis on the lower surface of the arm head, the abdomen abuts when the arm is rotated in a direction away from the glass surface, and the abdomen includes the rotation axis including the connection shaft. A guide portion for guiding the abdomen so as to approach a plane orthogonal to the wiper arm.

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