JP2008213749A - Wiper blade - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a wiper blade having a supporting segment in which a plurality of supporting levers are connected to each other and the number of component parts and the number of manufacturing steps of a lever connecting structure can be reduced. <P>SOLUTION: A plurality of supporting levers constituting a supporting segment 2 in a wiper blade 1 are connected to each other by inserting a protrusion arranged at one supporting lever into a connecting hole arranged in the other supporting lever. For example, protrusions 12 arranged at both side surfaces 11 of an inner connecting part 5A of a secondary lever 5 are inserted into connecting holes 14 arranged at both side surfaces 13 of an outer connecting part 5B of a primary lever 4. Flexing portions 15 are arranged around the connecting holes 14 and resiliently abutted against the side surfaces 11 of the inner connecting part 5A. Resin cap members 16 are applied to cover the protrusions 12 and arranged between the protrusion 12 and the connecting hole 14. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a wiper blade having a support portion configured by combining a plurality of support levers.

  As the wiper blade, there is known a wiper blade that includes a support portion configured by combining a plurality of support levers, and supports the blade rubber by the support portion (a so-called tournament-type wiper blade, see FIG. 1). In such a wiper blade, the support levers are pivotally connected to each other at the connecting portion so that the shape of the entire supporting portion can be changed, and the shape of the surface to be wiped (for example, the glass surface of the vehicle) changes. On the other hand, the blade rubber can follow appropriately.

  FIG. 15 is a sectional view showing a lever connecting structure 100 in such a conventional wiper blade. As shown in the figure, the connecting portion 101 of one lever to be connected and the connecting portion 102 of the other lever both have a U-shaped cross section, and one connecting portion 101 is connected to the other lever. It arrange | positions so that the connection part 102 may be straddled. Rivet holes 101A are formed on the side surfaces on both sides of the connecting portion 101, and rivet holes 102A are formed on the side surfaces on both sides of the connecting portion 102. The rivets 103 passing through these rivet holes 101A, 102B are used to connect the connecting portions 101, 102. Are connected to each other. In this manner, the two support levers are connected to each other at the connecting portions 101 and 102 so as to be rotatable.

  As described above, the conventional lever connecting structure 100 uses the rivets 103 to connect the support levers to each other. Therefore, in the lever connecting operation, the positioning of the rivet holes 101A and 102A, the rivet holes 101A of the rivet 103, A series of operations such as insertion into 102A and caulking of the rivet 103 is required, and it takes time and effort. Further, although not shown in FIG. 15, it is necessary to provide a spacer member in the gap between the connecting portion 101 and the connecting portion 102. Thus, since the lever connection structure 100 requires parts such as the rivet 103 and the spacer member, the manufacturing cost is increased accordingly.

  The present invention has been made paying attention to such problems, and in a wiper blade having a support portion configured by connecting a plurality of support levers to each other, the number of parts and the manufacturing man-hours of the lever connection structure are reduced. It is an object of the present invention to provide a wiper blade that can be used.

  The present invention relates to a wiper blade comprising a support portion comprising a plurality of support levers and a wiper rubber supported by the support portion, wherein each of the plurality of support levers is connected to be connected to another support lever. Of the two support levers connected to each other, the connecting portion of one support lever is provided with a protrusion, the connecting portion of the other support lever is provided with a connection hole, and the protrusion is connected to the connection hole. The two support levers are connected to each other by being inserted inside.

The connecting portion of each support lever may include side surfaces on both sides, and the protruding portion and the connecting hole may be provided on the side surface.
A bending portion that elastically contacts the one support lever may be provided around the coupling hole of the other support lever.

You may provide the cap member which covers the said projection part and is arrange | positioned between the outer periphery of the said projection part, and the inner periphery of the said connection hole.
The cap member may be made of resin.

The outer diameter of the projection and the inner diameter of the connecting hole may be substantially equal.
The protrusion may be formed by burring or pressing.

  According to the present invention, support levers (for example, primary levers 4 and 24, secondary levers 5 and 25, yokes) constituting a support part (for example, support part 2) of a wiper blade (for example, wiper blade 1 and wiper blade 21) are provided. When the levers 6 and 26 are connected to each other, the protrusions (for example, the protrusions 12, 12) provided on the connection part of one support lever (for example, the inner connection part 5 </ b> A of the secondary lever 5 and the outer connection part 25 </ b> A of the secondary lever) are provided. 32) is inserted into the connecting holes (for example, connecting holes 14, 34) provided in the connecting part of the other support lever (for example, the outer connecting part 5B of the primary lever 4 and the inner connecting part 25B of the primary lever 24). Thus, the two support levers are connected to each other. For this reason, parts such as rivets for connection are not necessary, and the number of parts can be reduced. Further, the number of assembling steps can be reduced by not performing work such as assembling rivets. Therefore, the manufacturing cost of the wiper blade can be reduced. Furthermore, since the operation of inserting the protrusion into the connecting hole can be easily performed, the assembly operation of the wiper blade is facilitated.

  Further, if a bent portion (for example, the bent portions 15 and 35) is provided around the connection hole and the bent portion is brought into contact with the support lever of the connection partner, a gap between the connected portions connected to each other is obtained. There is no need to provide a spacer on the surface, and the number of parts and the number of assembly steps can be reduced accordingly.

  Moreover, if a cap member (for example, the cap members 16 and 36) is put on the projecting portion and the cap member is disposed between the outer periphery of the projecting portion and the inner periphery of the connecting hole, the space between the two connecting portions is reduced. Generation of abnormal noise due to rattling or rattling can be prevented. Further, if the cap member is made of resin, both connecting portions can be electrically insulated.

  If the protrusion is formed by burring or pressing, the protrusion can be formed easily and at low cost without increasing the number of parts.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 shows the overall configuration of the wiper blade 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the wiper blade 1 includes a support part 2 and a blade rubber 3 supported by the support part 2. The support unit 2 includes a primary lever 4, two secondary levers 5 that are rotatably supported on both sides of the primary lever 4, and four that are rotatably supported on both sides of each secondary lever 5. The yoke lever 6 is constituted.

  The primary lever 4 can be connected to a wiper arm (not shown) via a connecting clip at an arm connecting portion 4A arranged at a substantially central portion thereof. Each yoke lever 6 includes claw portions 7 at both ends, and the blade rubber 3 is supported by four yoke levers 6 at these claw portions 7. Both end portions of the primary lever 4 are outer connecting portions 4B, and these outer connecting portions 4B are connected to an inner connecting portion 5A at a substantially central portion of each secondary lever 5. Similarly, both end portions of each secondary lever 5 are connecting portions 5B, and these connecting portions 5B are connected to a connecting portion 6A at a substantially central portion of each yoke lever 6.

  FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the connection structure between the outer connecting portion 4B of the primary lever 4 and the inner connecting portion 5A of the secondary lever 5. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the vicinity of the outer connecting portion 4 </ b> B of the primary lever 4 and the vicinity of the inner connecting portion 5 </ b> A of the secondary lever 5. As shown in the drawing, the outer connecting portion 4B and the inner connecting portion 5A are both U-shaped sections, and the outer connecting portion 4B is located outside the inner connecting portion 5A so as to straddle the inner connecting portion 5A. It is arranged in a state of covering.

  Projections 12 projecting outward are formed on both side surfaces 11 of the lower inner connecting portion 5A. These protrusions 12 are formed by burring or pressing the side surface 11. On the other hand, on both side surfaces 13 of the upper outer connecting portion 4B, connecting holes 14 are formed at positions corresponding to the protruding portions 12. The protruding portions 12 on both sides of the inner connecting portion 5A are inserted into the corresponding connecting holes 14, respectively. Thereby, the primary lever 4 and the secondary lever 5 which are connected by the outer connecting portion 4B and the inner connecting portion 5A can rotate around the protrusion portion 12.

  The peripheral part of the connecting hole 14 on both side surfaces 13 is a bent portion 15 that is recessed inward (inner connecting portion 5A side). The flexure 15 is in elastic contact with both side surfaces 11 of the inner connecting portion 5A so that the inner connecting portion 5A is securely held inside the outer connecting portion 4B without using a spacer. It has become.

  4A and 4B show two examples of the shape of the flexure 15. In the example shown in FIG. 4A, the bending portion 15 is formed by punching a gentle arcuate curved surface shape on the side surface 13 of the connecting portion 4B. On the other hand, in the example shown in FIG. 4B, the bending portion 15 is formed by punching a rectangular shape on the side surface 13 of the connecting portion 4B.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a resin cap member 16 is covered on the protrusions 12 on both sides of the inner connecting portion 5 </ b> A. The cap member 16 is disposed between the outer periphery of the protrusion 12 and the inner periphery of the connection hole 14, and fills the gap between the protrusion 12 and the connection hole 14. This effectively prevents rattling and abnormal noise between the inner connecting portion 5A and the outer connecting portion 4B. Moreover, the effect which electrically insulates the primary lever 4 and the secondary lever 5 is also acquired.

  5A and 5B show two examples of the shape of the cap member 16. As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the cap member 16 includes a disk-shaped head portion 16A and a cylindrical portion 16B extending from the head portion 16A. In the example shown in FIG. 5A, a protruding portion 16C extending in the longitudinal direction is provided on the outer periphery of the cylindrical portion 16B. On the other hand, as in the example shown in FIG. 5 (B), the protruding portion may not be particularly provided on the outer periphery of the cylindrical portion 16B.

  The connecting structure between the connecting portion 5B of the secondary lever 5 and the connecting portion 6A of the yoke lever 6 is the same as the connecting portion between the outer connecting portion 4B of the primary lever 4 and the inner connecting portion 5A of the secondary lever 5 shown in FIG. It becomes the composition of. Therefore, the description is omitted.

  As described above, according to the connection structure of the present embodiment, each support lever (primary lever 4, secondary lever 5, yoke lever 6) constituting the support portion 2 is connected to one support lever when connected to each other. The protrusions of the connecting portion provided (the protrusion portion 12 of the outer connecting portion 4B) are connected to each other by being fitted into the connecting hole provided in the other support lever (the connecting hole 14 of the inner connecting portion 5A). Therefore, parts such as rivets for connection are not necessary, and the number of parts can be reduced. Further, since the rivet assembling work is not necessary, the number of assembling steps of the wiper blade 1 can be reduced. Further, the protrusion 12 of the outer connecting portion 4B can be easily formed simply by performing burring or pressing on the side surface 13 of the outer connecting portion 4B. Further, a bent portion 15 is provided in the peripheral portion of the connecting hole 14 of the inner connecting portion 5A, and the bent portion 15 elastically contacts the side surface 13 of the outer connecting portion 4B. There is no need to insert a spacer in the gap between the parts 4B, and accordingly, the number of parts and the number of assembly steps can be reduced. Therefore, the manufacturing cost of the wiper blade 1 can be reduced.

  FIG. 6 shows a wiper blade 21 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the drawing, in the wiper blade of this embodiment, the connecting portion of the lever arranged on the upper side is arranged inside the connecting portion arranged on the lower lever. Specifically, an inner connecting portion 24B is provided on both sides of the primary lever 4, and an outer connecting portion 25A is provided at a substantially central portion of the secondary lever 25, and the inner connecting portion 24B of the primary lever 4 is provided with the secondary lever 25. It arrange | positions inside 25 A of outer side connection parts. In addition, an inner connecting portion 25B is provided on both sides of the secondary lever 25, an outer connecting portion 26A is provided at a substantially central portion of the yoke lever 26, and an inner connecting portion 25B of the secondary lever 25 is an outer connecting portion of the yoke lever 26. It is arranged inside 26A.

  In FIG. 7, the connection structure of the inner side connection part 24B of the primary lever 4 and the outer side connection part 25A of the secondary lever 25 is shown with a cross-sectional view. As shown in the drawing, protrusions 36 are provided on the inner sides of both side surfaces 31 of the outer connecting portion 25A of the secondary lever 25, respectively. On the other hand, connection holes 34 are formed on both side surfaces 33 of the inner connection portion 24B of the primary lever 4, and corresponding protrusions 32 are inserted into the connection holes 34. The protrusion 32 is covered with a cap member 36 and fills the gap between the outer periphery of the protrusion 32 and the inner periphery of the connecting hole 34.

  A peripheral portion of the connecting hole 34 is a bent portion 34 that bulges outward. The bending portion 34 elastically contacts the side surface 11 of the outer connecting portion 25A. As the shape of the bending portion 34, for example, an arcuate curved surface shape as shown in FIG. 8A, a rectangular shape as shown in FIG.

9 to 14 illustrate various embodiments of the present invention.
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 9, protrusions 43 are provided on both side surfaces 42 of the inner connection portion 41, and connection holes 46 and flexure portions 47 are provided on both side surfaces 45 of the outer connection portion 44. In this embodiment, by making the diameter of the protrusion 43 substantially equal to the diameter of the connecting hole 46, rattling does not occur without using a cap member that covers the protrusion 43.

  In the embodiment shown in FIG. 10, the connection holes 53 and the bending portions 54 are provided on both side surfaces 52 of the inner connection portion 51, and the projection portions 57 are provided on both side surfaces 56 of the outer connection portion 55. By making the diameters substantially the same, the cap member that covers the projection 57 is not required.

  In each of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 11 to 14, the outer connecting portion is not a U-shaped structure in cross section, but has a structure consisting only of both side surfaces. Specifically, in the embodiment of FIG. 11, a connection hole 63 and a flexure 64 are provided on each side surface 62 of the outer connection part 61 composed only of both side faces 62, and the protrusion 66 of the inner connection part 65 is placed in the connection hole 63. The cap member 67 is put on the protrusion 66. In the embodiment of FIG. 12, a protrusion 73 is provided on each side surface 72 of the outer connecting portion 71 composed only of both side surfaces 72, and the protrusion 73 is inserted into the connecting hole 76 of the inner connecting portion 74. A cap member 76 is covered.

  Further, in the embodiment of FIG. 13, a connection hole 83 and a bending portion 84 are provided on each side surface 82 of the outer connection portion 82 composed only of both side surfaces 82, and the protrusion 86 of the outer connection portion 85 inserted into the connection hole 83. The outer diameter of the connecting hole 83 is substantially equal to the inner diameter of the connecting hole 83. Further, in the embodiment of FIG. 14, a projection 93 is provided on each side surface 92 of the coupling portion 91 consisting only of both side surfaces 92, and the coupling hole of the inner coupling portion 94 has an inner diameter substantially equal to the outer diameter of these projections 93. A protrusion 93 is inserted into 95.

It is a side view which shows the wiper blade in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. Similarly, it is a cross-sectional view showing a connection structure of a primary lever and a secondary lever. Similarly, it is a disassembled perspective view which shows the connection part vicinity of a primary lever and a secondary lever. Similarly, it is a perspective view which shows the example of a shape of a bending part. Similarly, it is a perspective view showing an example of the shape of a cap member. It is a side view which shows the wiper blade in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. Similarly, it is a cross-sectional view showing a connection structure of a primary lever and a secondary lever. Similarly, it is a perspective view which shows the example of a shape of a bending part. It is a cross-sectional view which shows the lever connection structure in further another embodiment of this invention. It is a cross-sectional view which shows the lever connection structure in further another embodiment of this invention. It is a cross-sectional view which shows the lever connection structure in further another embodiment of this invention. It is a cross-sectional view which shows the lever connection structure in further another embodiment of this invention. It is a cross-sectional view which shows the lever connection structure in further another embodiment of this invention. It is a cross-sectional view which shows the lever connection structure in further another embodiment of this invention. It is a cross-sectional view which shows the lever connection structure in the conventional wiper blade.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Wiper blade 2 Support part 3 Blade rubber 4 Primary lever 4A Arm connection part 4B Outer connection part 5 Secondary lever 5A Inner connection part 5B Outer connection part 6 Yoke lever 6A Inner connection part 11 Side surface 12 Projection part 13 Outer connection part Side surface 14 of connection part 15 Deflection part 16 Cap member 21 Wiper blade 24 Primary lever 24B Inner connection part 25 Secondary lever 25A Outer connection part 25B Inner connection part 26 Yoke lever 26A Outer connection part 31 Side 32 of outer connection part Projection part 33 Side surface 34 of inner connection part Connection hole 35 Deflection part 36 Cap member

Claims (7)

In a wiper blade consisting of a support part composed of a plurality of support levers and a wiper rubber supported by the support part,
Each of the plurality of support levers includes a connecting portion for connecting to another support lever,
Of the two support levers connected to each other, the connection portion of one support lever is provided with a protrusion, and the connection portion of the other support lever is provided with a connection hole,
A wiper blade for connecting the two support levers to each other by inserting the protrusion into the connection hole.   The wiper blade according to claim 1, wherein the connecting portion of each support lever includes side surfaces on both sides, and the protrusion and the connecting hole are provided on the side surface.   The wiper blade according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a bent portion that elastically contacts the one support lever around the connection hole of the other support lever.   The wiper blade according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a cap member that is placed on the protrusion and disposed between an outer periphery of the protrusion and an inner periphery of the connection hole.   The wiper blade according to claim 4, wherein the cap member is made of resin.   The wiper blade according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein an outer diameter of the protrusion and an inner diameter of the connection hole are substantially equal.   The wiper blade according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the protrusion is formed by burring or pressing.

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