JP4794519B2 - Wiper arm - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a wiper arm capable of raising a wiper arm body on an arm head (so-called lockback) and including a tension spring between the wiper arm body and the arm head.

  A wiper device generally includes a wiper blade that wipes a surface to be wiped (for example, a glass surface of an automobile), a wiper arm that holds the wiper blade, and a drive unit that is connected to the wiper arm via a link mechanism. . Here, the wiper arm includes an arm head and a wiper arm main body that is rotatably connected to the arm head.

  23 and 24 show a part of such a conventional wiper arm. As shown in the figure, the wiper arm 101 includes an arm head 102 and a wiper arm main body 104 that is rotatably attached to the arm head 102 via a connecting shaft 103. The wiper arm main body 104 includes a retainer 105 and an arm piece 106 held by the retainer 105, and a wiper blade (not shown) is attached to the arm piece 106.

  A tension spring 110 is interposed between the arm head 102 and the wiper arm main body 104 via pins 107 and 108 and a hook member 109. When the wiper arm 101 is used, the tension spring 110 applies a pressing force against the surface to be wiped against the wiper blade held by the wiper arm 101, and the wiper arm 101 is in a so-called lockback state (as shown in FIG. When the wiper arm main body 104 is rotated so as to stand upright with respect to the arm head 102), the lockback state is maintained.

  As described above, the wiper arm 101 is provided with the hook member 109 to which the tension spring 110 is locked. The hook member 109 is adjacent to a connecting portion (hinge portion) between the arm head 102 and the wiper arm main body 104. Therefore, when the wiper arm 101 is in the lockback state, the curved shape (or the bent shape) is set so that the wiper arm 101 is arranged along the bent hinge portion (so that the connecting shaft 103 can be arranged on the inner side). Shape). For this reason, when the wiper arm 101 is in a normal use state (as shown in FIG. 23, the arm head 102 and the wiper arm main body 104 are disposed substantially straight), the curved portion of the hook member 109 It protrudes below the lower end of. As a result, the thickness of the wiper arm 101 is increased at the hinge portion, and there is a problem in that the degree of freedom of arrangement of the wiper arm 101 is reduced.

For example, in Japanese Patent Application No. 58-9982 (Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 59-116253), the wiper arm is connected to the arm head via a universal joint. When in normal use, the hook member is placed sideways so that it does not protrude below the wiper arm, but when the wiper arm is in the lockback state, the hook member can be bent vertically to bend the wiper arm. A configuration designed to be as follows is proposed.
Japanese Utility Model Publication No.59-116253

  However, the wiper arm disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 59-116253 simply controls the attitude of the hook member (horizontal and vertical) because the base end of the hook member is simply connected to the arm head with a universal joint. The hook member is not put into practical use so as to reliably prevent the hook member from protruding from the lower end of the wiper arm in a normal use state.

  For this reason, in the conventional wiper arm, in order to make the hinge part thinner, a structure for forcibly locking back using an additional part such as a stopper (small lockback system) is adopted, or instead of a tension spring. A hook spring was eliminated by using a push spring. However, the small lockback type wiper arm has a problem that additional parts such as a stopper cause an increase in cost and that the additional parts such as the stopper are required to be operated when releasing the lockback, which requires a lot of work. Further, the push spring type wiper arm also has a problem that the arm pressure is likely to vary due to the buckling of the push spring, and a dedicated part such as a guide pin is required, which is costly.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and allows the wiper arm body to stand on the arm head (so-called lockback), and a tension spring between the wiper arm body and the arm head. It is an object of the present invention to provide a wiper arm having a structure in which a hinge portion can be thinned.

  In the present invention, an arm head, a wiper arm body that is rotatably connected to the arm head at a hinge portion and can hold a wiper blade, a hook member that is disposed adjacent to the hinge portion, In a wiper arm comprising a tension spring interposed between the wiper arm main body and the arm head via the hook member, the hook member is disposed vertically with respect to the wiper arm main body and the arm head. In addition, the guide portion for guiding the hook member is provided.

The guide member may include a guide hole through which at least a part of the hook member passes, and the hook member may be guided along the guide hole.
The guide member may be fixed to the wiper arm main body.

The guide member may be fixed to the arm head.
The guide member may be a link member that spans between the wiper arm body or the arm head and the hook member.

One end of the link member may be connected to the wiper arm main body or the arm head via a universal joint.
The wiper arm is rotatable between a normal use state in which the wiper arm main body and the arm head are arranged substantially straight and an upright state in which the wiper arm main body stands up with respect to the arm head, When the wiper arm is in a normal use state, the guide member guides the hook member so as to be disposed laterally with respect to the wiper arm main body and the arm head, and the wiper arm is in an upright state. The hook member may be guided so as to be arranged vertically with respect to the wiper arm main body and the arm head.

The hook member includes a main body portion and an end portion engaged with the engaged portion of the arm head, and the end portion engaged with the engaged portion of the arm head is predetermined with respect to the main body portion. It may be inclined at an inclination angle of.

  The predetermined inclination angle may be 45 degrees.

  According to the present invention, the tension spring (for example, the tension spring 11) is interposed between the arm head (for example, the arm head 2) and the wiper arm main body (for example, the retainer 4 and the arm piece 5) via the hook member (for example, the hook member 12). In the wiper arm (for example, the wiper arm 1), the hook member is disposed adjacent to the hinge portion (for example, the hinge portion 10), the hook member is disposed vertically with respect to the wiper arm main body and the arm head. Since the guide member (for example, guide plates 15 and 21, link members 23 and 25) for guiding the hook member is provided, the hook member can be disposed when the wiper arm is in a normal use state. When the wiper arm is upright (locked back) and the hook member is in the vertical orientation So that it is possible to guide the hook member by the guide member. Therefore, while the wiper arm can be properly raised, the hook member is outside the wiper arm (for example, the space and the arm surrounded by the top surface 4A and the both side surfaces 4B and 4C of the retainer 4) when in the normal use state. The head 2 can be prevented from protruding outside the space surrounded by the top surface 2B and the side surfaces 2C, 2D. Therefore, the hinge part of the wiper arm can be thinned, and the degree of freedom of arrangement of the wiper arm is increased.

  Further, an end portion (for example, the engaging portion 12B) of the hook member that engages with an engaged portion (for example, the locking pin 14) of the arm head is set to a predetermined angle (for example, the main body portion 12C). 45 degrees), the end of the hook member can always be properly engaged with the engaged portion, and the hook member can be placed in a vertical position and a horizontal position. It can be made to rotate without load resistance.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 shows the overall configuration of the wiper arm 1. As illustrated, the wiper arm 1 includes an arm head 2, a retainer 4 coupled to the arm head 2 via a coupling shaft 3, and an arm piece 5 held by the retainer 4.

  The retainer 4 is a U-shaped member having a top surface 4A and both side surfaces 4B and 4C extending downward from the top surface 4A, and an arm piece 5 is fixed to the top surface 4A at a tip portion thereof. ing. The arm piece 5 is connected to a wiper blade (not shown) at the U-shaped hook portion at the tip. The assembly of the retainer 4 and the arm piece 5 corresponds to the wiper arm main body in the claims.

  The arm head 2 is a member composed of a base end portion 2A, a top surface 2B extending from the base end portion 2A, and both side surfaces 2C, 2D. In the base end portion 2A, a drive mechanism (drive motor and link mechanism) (not shown) is used. Connected. On the other hand, the distal end portion of the arm head 2 is disposed such that both side surfaces 2C and 2D sandwich both side surfaces 4B and 4C of the proximal end portion of the retainer 4, and rotates with the proximal end portion of the retainer 4 via the connecting shaft 3. Connected as possible.

  With such a configuration, the wiper blade supported by the wiper arm 1 is moved along the surface to be wiped such as the glass surface of the automobile by the drive mechanism, and wipes the surface to be wiped.

2 to 5 show the hinge portion 10 of the wiper arm 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
A configuration in the vicinity of (a connecting portion between the arm head 2 and the retainer 4) is shown. As illustrated, the hinge portion 10 includes a tension spring 11 and a hook member 12. The front end of the tension spring 11 is locked to a locking pin 13 provided between both side surfaces 4B and 4C of the retainer 4. On the other hand, the rear end of the tension spring 11 is locked to the engaging portion 12 </ b> A at the front end of the hook member 12. The engaging portion 12B at the rear end of the hook member 12 is locked to locking pins 14 provided on both side surfaces 2C and 2D of the arm head 2.

  With such a configuration, the tension spring 11 applies a predetermined spring force between the retainer 4 and the arm head 2 via the hook member 12. More specifically, the wiper arm 1 is in a normal use state (a state in which the arm head 2 and the retainer 4 are arranged substantially straight as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4) or a lockback state (in FIGS. 3 and 5). As shown, the direction of the spring axis 11 </ b> A of the tension spring 11 changes depending on whether the retainer 4 is rotated so as to stand upright with respect to the arm head 2. Thus, the tension spring 11 gives an appropriate pressing force to the wiper blade held by the arm piece 5 when the wiper arm 1 is in a normal use state, while the wiper arm 1 is in a lockback state when the wiper arm 1 is in a lockback state. It acts to maintain the lockback state.

  A plate-shaped guide plate 15 is fixed to the retainer 2 so as to be disposed entirely inside the retainer 4 (inside the space surrounded by the top surface 4A and the side surfaces 4B and 4C). 4 and 5, the guide plate 15 is formed with a long hole 16 that is a guide hole extending in the lateral direction, and the spring guide 12 passes through the long hole 16. Thereby, the hook member 12 is guided along the shape of the long hole 16 according to the change in the bent state of the hinge portion 10.

  As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the hook member 12 includes a main body portion 12 </ b> C between the engaging portions 12 </ b> A and 12 </ b> B at both ends. The main body portion 12 </ b> C has a substantially C-shaped shape so that the main body portion 12 </ b> C can be disposed along the hinge portion 10 that is bent when the wiper arm 1 is locked back.

  With such a configuration, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, when the wiper arm 1 is in a normal use state, the main body portion 12 </ b> C of the hook member 12 disposed in the elongated hole 16 is disposed on one side surface of the retainer 4. It is arranged at a position close to 4B. As a result, the hook member 12 is inclined obliquely with respect to the retainer 4, and as a result, the entire hook member 12 is inside the retainer 4 and the arm head 2 (that is, the top surface 4A and both side surfaces 4B of the retainer 4). 4C, and inside the space surrounded by the top surface 2B and both side surfaces 2C, 2D of the arm head 2).

  On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, when the wiper arm 1 is brought into the lockback state, the main body portion 12 </ b> C of the hook member 12 is moved along the long hole 16 in the direction away from the side surface 4 </ b> B of the retainer 3. 4 and the arm head 2 are arranged vertically. Accordingly, the hook member 12 is disposed along the bent hinge portion 10, and the internal structure (the connecting shaft 3) of the hinge portion 10 is disposed inside the curved portion of the hook member 12. Therefore, the wiper arm 1 can be brought into the lockback state without the hook member 12 interfering with other members.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the engagement portion 12B on the rear end side of the hook member 12 (the engagement portion that engages with the locking portion 14 of the arm head 2) has an angle of about 45 degrees with respect to the main body portion 12C. It is inclined at. Thereby, the hook member 12 can be rotated without load resistance between the horizontal arrangement and the vertical arrangement.

9 and 10 show the engaged state of the hook member 12 and the locking pin 14. In these drawings, the vertical direction means the lower end direction of the wiper arm 1.
As shown in FIG. 9, when the hook member 12 is turned sideways (when the wiper arm 1 is in a normal use state), the main body portion 12 </ b> C of the hook member 12 is arranged substantially in parallel with the locking pin 14. The engaging portion 12B extends obliquely upward (left obliquely upward in the drawing) from the main body portion 12C and engages with the locking pin 14 at an angle of approximately 45 degrees. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 10, when the hook member 12 is in the vertical orientation (when the wiper arm 1 is in the lockback state), the main body portion 12 </ b> C of the hook member 12 is substantially the same as the locking pin 14. The engaging portion 12B is arranged vertically and extends from the main body portion 12C obliquely to the side (upward and obliquely to the right in the drawing) and engages with the locking pin 14 at an angle of approximately 45 degrees. In this way, the engaging portion 12B moves between 45 degrees to the right and left with respect to the locking pin 14, and the appropriate engagement state is always maintained, so that the hook member 12 can rotate without load resistance. It can be moved.

  11 to 14 show a second embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, instead of the guide plate 15 that guides the hook member 12 being fixed to the retainer 4 (wiper arm body) in the first embodiment, the inside of the arm head 2 (the top surface 2B and both sides) A guide plate 21 is fixed inside the space surrounded by the surfaces 2C and 2D. The main body portion 12 </ b> C of the hook member 12 is disposed through a long hole 22 that is a guide hole formed in the guide plate 21, and is guided along the long hole 22. Thus, the guide plate 21 that is a guide member may be provided on the arm head 2 side.

  15 to 18 show a third embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, instead of having the guide plates 15 and 21 having the long holes 16 and 22 in the first and second embodiments, the retainer 4 is used as a guide member for guiding the hook member 12. A link member 23 is provided between the side surface 4B and the main body 12C of the hook member 12.

  More specifically, the link member 23 is a rod-shaped member having a predetermined length, and its base end portion 23A is attached to the side surface 4B of the retainer 4 via the universal joint 24, while its distal end portion 23B is The hook member 12 is attached to the main body 12C. With such a configuration, when the wiper arm 1 is in a normal use state, the main body portion 12C of the hook member 12 is pushed out to the side surface 4C side opposite to the side surface 4B, so that the hook member 12 is disposed in a sideways state, The retainer 4 and the arm head 2 are in a state of being accommodated inside. On the other hand, when the wiper arm 1 is in the lock-back state, the main body portion 12C of the hook member 12 is pulled away from the side surface 4C of the retainer 4, so that the hook member 12 is disposed in the vertical state, The wiper arm 1 can be brought into the lockback state without the member 12 and the connecting shaft 3 interfering with each other. As described above, even when the link member 23 is used as the guide member, the arrangement of the hook member 12 can be controlled so as to be kept in the space inside the retainer 4 and the arm head 2.

  19 to 22 show a fourth embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, instead of using the link member 23 spanned between the side surface 4B of the retainer 4 and the hook member 12 in the third embodiment, the side surface 2C of the arm head 2 and the hook member 12 are used. The link member 25 is provided between the two. The base end portion 25A of the link member 25 is attached to the side surface 2C of the arm head 2 via the universal joint 26, and the distal end portion 25B of the link member 25 is attached to the main body portion 12C of the hook member 12. Even with such a configuration, the posture (horizontal orientation and vertical orientation) of the hook member 12 can be correctly controlled by the link member 25 as in the third embodiment.

In each of the above embodiments, the hook member 12 is connected to the arm head 2 side by engaging the engaging portion 12B with the locking pin 14, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the hook member 12 and the arm head 2 may be connected via a universal joint.

It is a side view which shows the whole structure of a wiper arm. It is a sectional side view which shows the hinge part vicinity of the wiper arm of the normal use state in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a sectional side view which shows the hinge part vicinity of the wiper arm of a lockback state similarly. It is a perspective view which shows the hinge part vicinity of the wiper arm of a normal use state similarly. It is a perspective view which shows the hinge part vicinity of the wiper arm of a lockback state similarly. It is a front view which similarly shows a hook member. It is a top view which similarly shows a hook member. It is a side view which similarly shows a hook member. Similarly, it is a figure which shows a mode that the engaging part of a hook member rear end is engaging with the latching pin of an arm head, and shows a state with a hook member sideways. Similarly, it is a figure which shows a mode that the engaging part of a hook member rear end is engaging with the locking pin of an arm head, and the hook member shows the state of vertical orientation. It is a sectional side view which shows the hinge part vicinity of the wiper arm of the normal use state in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a sectional side view which shows the hinge part vicinity of the wiper arm of a lockback state similarly. It is a perspective view which shows the hinge part vicinity of the wiper arm of a normal use state similarly. It is a perspective view which shows the hinge part vicinity of the wiper arm of a lockback state similarly. It is a sectional side view which shows the hinge part vicinity of the wiper arm of the normal use state in the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a sectional side view which shows the hinge part vicinity of the wiper arm of a lockback state similarly. It is a perspective view which shows the hinge part vicinity of the wiper arm of a normal use state similarly. It is a perspective view which shows the hinge part vicinity of the wiper arm of a lockback state similarly. It is a sectional side view which shows the hinge part vicinity of the wiper arm of the normal use state in the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a sectional side view which shows the hinge part vicinity of the wiper arm of a lockback state similarly. It is a perspective view which shows the hinge part vicinity of the wiper arm of a normal use state similarly. It is a perspective view which shows the hinge part vicinity of the wiper arm of a lockback state similarly. It is a sectional side view which shows the hinge part vicinity of the conventional wiper arm, and shows the wiper arm in a normal use state. It is a sectional side view which shows the hinge part vicinity of the conventional wiper arm, and shows the wiper arm in a lockback state.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Wiper arm 2 Arm head 3 Connecting shaft 4 Retainer 5 Arm piece 10 Hinge part 11 Pulling spring 12 Hook member 13 Locking pin 14 Locking pin 15 Guide plate 16 Long hole 21 Guide plate 22 Long hole 23 Link member 24 Universal joint 25 Link member 26 Universal joint

Claims (6)

An arm head, a wiper arm body that is rotatably connected to the arm head at a hinge portion and can hold a wiper blade, a hook member disposed adjacent to the hinge portion, and the hook member In a wiper arm comprising a tension spring interposed between the wiper arm body and the arm head via
The hook member can be arranged vertically and horizontally with respect to the wiper arm main body and the arm head, and includes a guide member for guiding the hook member,
The guide member includes a guide hole through which at least a part of the hook member passes,
The guide hole is a long hole extending in a lateral direction with respect to the wiper arm main body,
The hook member is a wiper arm guided along the guide hole.   The wiper arm according to claim 1, wherein the guide member is fixed to the wiper arm main body.   The wiper arm according to claim 1, wherein the guide member is fixed to the arm head.   The wiper arm is rotatable between a normal use state in which the wiper arm main body and the arm head are arranged substantially straight and an upright state in which the wiper arm main body stands up with respect to the arm head, When the wiper arm is in a normal use state, the guide member guides the hook member so as to be disposed laterally with respect to the wiper arm main body and the arm head, and the wiper arm is in an upright state. The wiper arm according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the hook member is guided so as to be disposed vertically with respect to the wiper arm main body and the arm head.   The hook member includes a main body portion and an end portion engaged with the engaged portion of the arm head, and the end portion engaged with the engaged portion of the arm head is predetermined with respect to the main body portion. The wiper arm according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the wiper arm is inclined at an inclination angle of.   The wiper arm according to claim 5, wherein the predetermined inclination angle is 45 degrees.

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