JP2011201445A - Wiper blade - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a holder member for holding a blade rubber with reduced manufacturing steps and a smaller number of part items.SOLUTION: A wiper blade 1 includes the blade rubber 10 for wiping a glass surface; a vertebra 30 formed into an elongated shape and attached to the blade rubber 10; and the holder member 20 for holding the vertebra 30. The holder member 20 includes a holder base 21 which holds the vertebra 30 and is molded from a resin material into the elongated shape; and a fin section 22 integrally molded onto the holder base 21.

Description

  The present invention relates to a wiper blade for wiping a glass surface of a vehicle.

  Generally, a wiper blade that wipes the glass surface of a vehicle is pressed toward the glass surface by a wiper arm that is integrally connected to a wiper motor that drives a wiper device via a link mechanism. The wiper blade is provided at a middle portion between the blade rubber for wiping on the glass surface, a vertebra attached to both side surfaces of the blade rubber, a holder member for integrally holding the blade rubber and the vertebra, and a holder member. And an arm attachment portion to which the wiper arm is detachably attached. And if a wiper arm performs rocking | fluctuation movement by the drive of a wiper motor, a wiper blade wipes on the glass surface and can wipe away dirt, such as rain water and muddy water adhering on the glass surface. In the wiper blade as described above, as a holder member for holding the blade rubber, a wiper blade has been proposed in which a plurality of joining blocks are arranged in the longitudinal direction and the blade rubber is held by these joining blocks (Patent Document 1). .

JP 2009-184397 A

  However, in the above-described prior art, after arranging a plurality of joining blocks in the longitudinal direction, a flexible bending plate is inserted into the plurality of joining blocks, and each joining block is formed by the flexible bending plate. And the flexible curved plates are secured together. A separate cover molded from rubber or the like is separately attached to the joining block so as to cover each joining block. FIG. 1 in this prior art (Patent Document 1) shows a step of assembling a flexible curved plate to seven joining blocks arranged at approximately equal intervals, and a step of attaching a covering cover thereafter. . For this reason, it is naturally conceivable that in addition to the above-described steps, a step of molding individual joining blocks is required. Therefore, in order to shorten the manufacturing time of the wiper blade, etc., it is required to reduce these processes such as a process of attaching a covering cover separately.

  Further, in the prior art, a plurality of joining blocks, a flexible curved plate, and parts such as a covering cover are required separately. For this reason, the number of parts of the wiper blade is increased, and a reduction in the number of parts such as integration of a plurality of parts is required.

  In addition, joint parts (joint parts) for joining the joining block and the flexible curved plate and joining materials for the joining block and the covering cover are required separately, and these joining elements increase the weight of the blade rubber. To do. Therefore, it is also necessary to reduce the weight by reducing the joining elements.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and provides a holder member with a small number of manufacturing steps and a small number of parts as a holder member for holding a blade rubber.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a blade rubber that is formed in a long shape and wipes on the glass surface, an elastic member that is formed in a long shape and is attached to the blade rubber, and a holder member that holds the elastic member The holder member is formed of a resin material and has a holder base portion that holds the elastic member and a fin portion that is integrally formed with the holder base portion. To do.

  With this configuration, since the holder member that holds the blade rubber is integrally formed, the number of parts of the wiper blade can be reduced.

  Further, the fin portion is formed of a material lower than the hardness of the holder base portion.

  With this configuration, it is possible to reduce the weight of the wiper blade and to make it easier for the fin portion to follow the holder base.

  The holder base includes a long rail portion disposed on the side of the blade rubber, a holding portion having a holding claw that is integrally formed with the rail portion at a predetermined interval and holds an elastic member, and a rail. And a rail connecting portion formed integrally with the portion at a predetermined interval and formed in a direction away from the blade rubber.

  With such a configuration, not only can the holder base be reduced in weight, but also the holder base can be easily followed (curved) with respect to changes in the curvature of the glass surface.

  In addition, a hollow portion surrounded by the upper surface of the blade rubber and the inner surface of the holder member is formed in the longitudinal direction.

  With this configuration, not only the holder member is integrally formed, but also the weight of the wiper blade can be reduced.

  Furthermore, the hollow portion is provided with a housing portion that houses a pressing member that presses the upper surface of the blade rubber.

  With this configuration, it is possible to reduce the weight of the wiper blade and improve the wipeability of the wiper blade.

  According to the present invention, not only the number of parts of the holder member can be reduced, but also the weight of the wiper blade can be reduced.

1 is an overall view in an embodiment of the present invention. It is AA sectional drawing of FIG. 1 in 1st embodiment of this invention. (A) It is a perspective view of the holder base in 1st embodiment of this invention, (b) It is a perspective view of the holder member in 1st embodiment of this invention. It is the perspective view which removed the holder member from the wiper blade in 1st embodiment of this invention. It is the perspective view which attached the holder member to the blade rubber in 1st embodiment of this invention. 1 is an overall perspective view of a wiper blade in a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a partially cut perspective view of a wiper blade in a second embodiment of the present invention. (A) It is AA sectional drawing of FIG. 7 in 2nd embodiment of this invention, (b) It is BB sectional drawing of FIG. 7 in 2nd embodiment of this invention.

  Next, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the wiper blade 1 is pressed toward the glass surface by a wiper arm 2 integrally connected to a wiper motor that drives a wiper device (not shown). The wiper arm 2 reciprocally swings on the glass surface by driving the wiper motor, and the wiper blade 1 attached to the tip of the wiper arm 2 wipes dirt such as raindrops and muddy water adhering to the glass surface.

  The wiper blade 1 includes a blade rubber 10 and a holder member 20 that holds the blade rubber 10.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the blade rubber 10 is formed in a long shape by a rubber member in which an additive such as carbon is blended with a rubber material such as natural rubber. The blade rubber 10 is connected between a rubber base portion 11 formed in a rectangular shape, a glass wiping portion 12 for wiping the glass surface, and the rubber base portion 11 and the glass wiping portion 12, and swings on the glass surface. Is made up of a neck portion 13 for tilting the glass wiping portion 12 by a predetermined angle with respect to the rubber base 11, and is integrally formed by molding or the like.

  The rubber base 11 is formed in a rectangular shape, and a concave groove 11a is formed on the side surface in the wiping direction along the longitudinal direction.

  The glass wiping unit 12 includes a lip portion 12a that comes into contact with the glass surface, and a pair of shoulder portions 12b that are formed integrally with the lip portion 12a and increase in thickness in the wiping direction as the distance from the glass surface increases. . The glass wiping portion 12 has a substantially inverted triangular cross section cut perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the blade rubber. When the glass wiping portion 12 is tilted by the swinging movement of the wiper arm 2, the rubber base 11 and the shoulder portion on the opposite side to the wiping direction are in contact with each other, while maintaining the state where the glass wiping portion 12 is tilted, Wiping on the glass surface.

  The neck portion 13 of the blade rubber 10 is integrally connected between the rubber base portion 11 and the glass wiping portion 12, and the thickness of the neck portion 13 in the wiping direction is the thickness of each of the rubber base portion 11 and the glass wiping portion 12. It is thinner than. Thereby, the followability of the glass wiping part 12 can be improved because the neck part 13 tilts by the rocking | fluctuation motion of the wiper arm 2. FIG.

  The vertebra 30 is made of an elastic material such as metal. The vertebra 30 has substantially the same length as the blade rubber 10 and is attached to the concave grooves 11 a formed on both side surfaces of the blade rubber 10. Each vertebra 30 is attached to the blade rubber 10 and protrudes in the width direction (wiping direction) from the blade rubber side surface. Further, the vertebra 30 can follow the curvature of the glass surface, and is bent with a curvature smaller than the curvature of the glass surface so that the pressing force from the wiper arm 2 is uniform in the longitudinal direction. The vertebra 30 is formed wider than the depth of the concave groove 11 a so as to protrude from the side surface of the blade rubber 10. The holder member 20 that holds the protruding portion 31 is inserted from the end portion of the blade rubber (vertebra 30) into the protruding portions 31 of the vertebra 30 that protrude from the side surfaces of the blade rubber 10, respectively.

As shown in FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B, the holder member 20 includes a holder base portion 21 and a fin portion 22 that covers the holder base portion 21. The holder base portion 21 is formed of a pair of elongated rail portions 23, 23 and a plurality of holders that are integrally formed between the rail portions 23, 23 and the blade rubber and hold the protruding portion 31 of the vertebra 30. It comprises a member 24 and a rail connecting portion 25 arranged with a pair of rail portions 23, 23 kept at a predetermined interval.

  The pair of rail portions 23, 23 are formed in a long shape with a material such as a thermoplastic resin, and are disposed on the side of the blade rubber 10. A pair of rail parts 23 and 23 are formed so that elastic deformation is possible so that the change of the curvature of a glass surface can be tracked. A plurality of holding members 24, 24... For holding the protruding portion 31 of the vertebra 30 protruding from the side surface of the blade rubber 10 are integrally formed on the pair of rail portions 23, 23. The plurality of holding members 24, 24... Are arranged at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction of the pair of rail portions 23, 23. The holding claws 24a, 24a,... Formed in a U shape so that the holding members 24, 24... Formed on the rail portions 23, 23 can be assembled to the vertebra 30 so as to be movable in the longitudinal direction. The holding claws 24 a, 24 a... Are opposed to each other so as to support both surfaces (upper and lower surfaces) of the vertebra 30.

  Further, a plurality of rail connecting portions 25, 25... Are integrally formed on the pair of rail portions 23, 23 with a predetermined interval in the longitudinal direction. The rail connecting members 25, 25... Are formed on the opposite side (the side away from the glass surface) with respect to the position where the blade rubber 10 is disposed so that the width of the pair of rail portions 23, 23 does not change. A pair of rail portions 23 and 23 are connected to each other. The cross section including the rail connecting portion 25 cut perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the pair of rail portions 23, 23 has a constant cross section of an inverted V shape that branches in two directions from the top portion 25a of the rail connecting portion 25. The ends of the inverted V-shaped opening side are formed integrally with the pair of rail portions 23, 23.

  The fin portion 22 is molded in-mold (two-color molding) with a material such as an elastomer so as to cover the pair of integrated rail portions 23, 23 and the plurality of rail connecting portions 25, 25. The fin portion 22 includes a wind receiving surface 22a that receives wind. When the wind receiving surface 22a receives wind, the fin portion 22 not only generates a pressing force on the glass surface but also lifts the wiper blade 1. Can be prevented. Furthermore, by providing the fin part 22, the wiper blade 1 as a whole can have a sense of unity, so that the design can be improved. In addition, since the fin part 22 is formed with the material whose hardness is lower than a pair of rail parts 23 and 23 and the some rail connection part 25, 25 ..., a pair of rail part by the change of the curvature of a glass surface 23 and 23 can be elastically deformed (curved).

  The holder base portion 21 of the holder member 20 according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes a pair of rail portions 23, 23, a plurality of holding members 24, 24 ..., and a plurality of rail connecting portions 25, 25 ... Are integrally formed of a thermoplastic resin. The material of the holder base 21 has strength and elasticity that can follow the swinging motion of the wiper arm 2 and can follow the curvature of the glass surface. The fin portion 22 is integrated by in-mold molding so as to cover the outer surface of the holder base portion 21 with a material such as an elastomer. The fin portion 22 is formed of a material having a hardness lower than that of the holder base portion 21, and can easily follow the curvature change of the holder base portion 21. The in-mold molding material according to the first embodiment of the present invention uses a thermoplastic resin for the holder base 21 and a thermoplastic elastomer for the fin portion 22, but changes according to the characteristics of the wiper blade 1. You can do it. For example, the holder base 21 may be changed as appropriate, for example, a material considering the followability to the curvature of the glass surface, and the fin 22 using a material considering the bondability (adhesiveness) to the holder base 21. .

Next, assembly of the wiper blade 1 in the embodiment of the present invention will be described.
First, as shown in FIG. 3 (a), a holder base comprising a pair of rail portions 23, 23, a plurality of holding members 24, 24 ... and a plurality of rail connecting portions 25, 25 ... The holder base 21 is molded by molding 21 using a thermoplastic resin material. Next, as shown in FIG. 3B, the thermoplastic elastomer is applied so as to cover the surfaces of the pair of rail portions 23, 23 and the plurality of rail connecting portions 25, 25. The fin part 22 is shape | molded by using and shape | molding. The holder member 20 has a constant cross-section of an inverted V shape in which a cross section cut perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction branches in two directions from the top portion 22b of the fin portion 22, and is substantially half of the blade rubber 1. It is formed in length. Although the length of the holder base 21 in the first embodiment of the present invention is substantially half the length of the wiper blade 1, a holder molded in accordance with the substantially entire length of the wiper blade 1 may be used. The holder base 21 may be cut as necessary after molding longer than the blade 1.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 4, vertebras 30, 30 bent to a predetermined curvature are attached to the concave grooves 11 a, 11 a respectively formed on both side surfaces of the blade rubber 1. Thereafter, the arm connecting portion 26 is attached to the middle portion of the blade rubber 1 in the longitudinal direction. The arm connecting portion 26 is inserted into the protruding portion 31 of the vertebra 30 protruding from the side surface of the blade rubber 1 from the longitudinal end portion of the vertebra 30 to the intermediate portion in the longitudinal direction of the vertebra 30 and fixed to the vertebra 30. Is done.

  In the first embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 5, the holder member 20 is formed to be approximately half the length of the blade rubber 1. A first holder member 20a and a second holder member 20b are arranged. Each holding member 24 of each holder member 20a, 20b holds the protruding portion 31 of the vertebra 30 protruding from the side surface of the blade rubber 1 from the end in the longitudinal direction of the protruding portion 31 to the end of the arm connecting portion 26. By attaching each holder member 20a, 20b to the part, it is attached to the vertebra 30. In the first embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 2, the blade rubber 1 is surrounded by the upper surface of the blade rubber 1 and the inner surface of the first holder member 20a (the upper surface of the rubber base 11 and the inner surface of the fin portion 22). A hollow portion 27 is formed in the longitudinal direction. Similarly, a hollow hollow portion 27 surrounded by the upper surface of the blade rubber 1 and the inner surface of the second holder member 20b (the upper surface of the rubber base portion 11 and the inner surface of the fin portion 22) is formed in the longitudinal direction.

  Finally, as shown in FIG. 6, the arm cover 28 is attached so as to cover both ends of the arm connecting portion 26 fixed to the intermediate portion of the blade rubber 10 and the mating surfaces of the holder members 20a and 20b. It is done. The arm cover 28 can prevent the end portions of the first holder member 20 a and the second holder member 20 b from opening in the width direction of the blade rubber 10 due to elastic deformation and coming off from the vertebra 30.

  According to the first embodiment described above, the holder member 20 includes the holder base portion 21 and the fin portion 22, and after forming the holder base portion 21, each component is formed by two-color molding of the fin portion 22. Since they can be integrated, the number of parts can be reduced. Further, the holder member 20 has an inverted V-shaped cross section cut perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction and branches in two directions from the top portion 22b of the fin portion 22, and the blade rubber excluding the arm connecting portion 26. Since the hollow part 27 is formed in the part surrounded by the upper surface of 1 and the inner surface of the holder member 20, the weight of the wiper blade 1 can be reduced. Furthermore, since the holding member 24 and the rail connecting portion 25 are formed at a predetermined interval in the longitudinal direction with respect to the rail member 23, the holding member 24 and the rail connecting portion 25 are not only easy to follow (curve) the curvature of the glass surface but also lighter. Can be achieved.

  Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

As shown in the partially cutaway view of FIG. 7, the second embodiment is formed between the blade rubber 1 and the holder base 21 in contrast to the first embodiment of the present invention. The hollow member 27 is provided with a pressing member 32 that contacts the upper surface of the blade rubber 1 and presses the blade rubber 1.

  As described in the first embodiment, the holder member 20 has an inverted V shape in which a cross section cut perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction branches in two directions from the top portion 22b of the fin portion 22. After the blade rubber 10 is assembled, a hollow portion 27 surrounded by the upper surface of the blade rubber 10 and the inner surface of the holder member 20 is formed.

  In the second embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 7, 8 (a) and 8 (b), the pressing member 32 different from the vertebra 30 is provided in the hollow portion 27, and the wiper blade 1. The pressing force can be made uniform to improve wiping performance.

  The pressing member 32 is formed of an elastic member such as a metal and is integrally attached to the end of the arm connecting portion 26. In the second embodiment, the pressing member 32 is formed to be approximately half the length of the vertebra 30. As shown in FIG. 8B, a rubber contact portion 32 a that contacts the upper surface of the blade rubber 10 and transmits the pressing force from the wiper arm 2 is provided at the end of the pressing member 32. . As a result, in addition to the pressing force applied to the blade rubber 10 by the vertebra 30, the pressing force applied to the blade rubber 10 by each pressing member 32 is added, whereby the pressing force of the wiper blade 1 transmitted from the wiper arm 2 is longitudinally increased. Can be made uniform in the direction.

  The position at which the pressing member 32 presses the upper surface of the blade rubber 10 varies depending on the length of the wiper blade 1, the pressing force of the wiper arm 2, the elastic force of the vertebra 30, and the like. For this reason, the length and elastic force of the pressing member 32 can be changed according to the specifications of the wiper blade 1.

  As described above, in the first embodiment and the second embodiment of the present invention, the holder base 20 and the fin portion 22 of the holder member 20 are integrally molded by two-color molding, so that the holder member 20 Not only can the number of components be reduced, but the weight of the wiper blade 1 can be reduced.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and includes various modifications made to the above-described embodiment without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Wiper blade 2 Wiper arm 10 Blade rubber 11 Rubber base part 11a Concave groove 12 Glass wiping part 12a Lip part 12b A pair of shoulder parts 13 Neck part 20 Holder member 20a First holder member 20b Second holder member 21 Holder base 22 Fin Part 22a Wind receiving surface 22b Top part 23 Rail part 24 Holding part 24a Holding claw 25 Rail connecting part 25a Top part of rail connecting part 26 Arm connecting part 27 Hollow part 28 Arm cover 30 Vertebra (elastic member)
31 Projection part 32 of vertebra (elastic member) Pressing member 32a Rubber contact part

Claims (5)

A blade rubber that is formed in a long shape and wipes on the glass surface;
An elastic member formed in a long shape and attached to the blade rubber;
A wiper blade comprising a holder member for holding the elastic member,
The wiper blade is characterized in that the holder member includes a holder base portion that is formed in a long shape by a resin material and holds the elastic member, and a fin portion that is integrally formed with the holder base portion. The wiper blade according to claim 1,
The wiper blade according to claim 1, wherein the fin portion is formed of a material having a hardness lower than that of the holder base. In the wiper blade according to claim 1 or 2,
The holder base is formed of two long rail portions disposed on both sides of the blade rubber, and a holding portion having a holding claw that is integrally formed with the rail portion at a predetermined interval and holds the elastic member. And a rail connecting portion that is formed integrally with the rail portion at a predetermined interval, is bent toward a direction away from the upper surface of the blade rubber, and connects the two rail portions. And wiper blade. The wiper blade according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein
The fin part provided in the holder part covers the holder base part from the outside of the rail connecting part formed in the holder base part,
A wiper blade characterized in that a hollow portion surrounded by an upper surface of the blade rubber and an inner surface of the holder member is formed in a longitudinal direction. The wiper blade according to claim 4,
The wiper blade according to claim 1, wherein the hollow portion is provided with a housing portion that houses a pressing member that presses the upper surface of the blade rubber.

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