JP6550122B2 - Coupling structure of wiper arm and wiper blade - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a combined structure of a wiper arm and a wiper blade in a wiper assembly.

  A wiper assembly used to wipe a glass surface of a vehicle or the like uses a wiper assembly comprising a wiper arm that can be linked to a drive mechanism and a wiper blade coupled to the wiper arm. As a coupling structure of a wiper arm and a wiper blade in such a wiper assembly, as disclosed in, for example, Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent No. 5226301), a blade side coupling portion (for example, coupling) provided on the wiper blade A configuration (slot type or top mount type coupling structure) in which the clip (a) is housed and held inside the arm side coupling portion (for example, the tip of the wiper arm) provided on the wiper arm is there.

Patent No. 5226301

  In such a top-mounted coupling structure, the arm-side joint and the blade-side joint are connected so that the arm-side joint and the blade-side joint are not coupled and the wiper blade does not come off the wiper arm. It is necessary to provide a locking mechanism that locks the parts together. However, in the conventional connection structure, for example, since a locking structure using an elastic piece or the like is used, the configuration of the locking mechanism is complicated, and the manufacturing cost is increased. Also, the presence of the locking mechanism has limited the freedom of the design of other parts of the coupling structure (e.g. the shape of the coupling clip).

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and in the combined structure of the wiper arm and the wiper blade, the structure can be simplified, the cost can be reduced, and the degree of freedom in design of other parts of the coupled structure Aims to provide something that can enhance

In the present invention, in the coupled structure of a wiper arm and a wiper blade, the wiper blade includes a blade side coupling portion, and the wiper arm includes an arm side coupling portion attached to the outside of the blade side coupling portion. The arm-side joint portion is provided with a projection, and the blade-side joint is provided with an engagement recess in which the projection is disposed, and the arm-side is engaged by the engagement of the projection with the edge of the engagement recess. The blade side joint portion is engaged with the joint portion, and the blade side joint portion includes an engagement groove formed in the blade side joint portion, and the projection is introduced into the engagement groove in the engagement groove. And an engagement recess, wherein the introduction portion has a trapezoidal shape extending downward from the opening at the upper end, and the engagement recess extends from the lower end of the introduction portion of the wiper blade. Longitudinal direction And so it extends to a position beyond the inlet portion.

  The engagement of the projection with the edge of the engagement recess may limit longitudinal movement of the wiper blade relative to the wiper arm.

  The blade-side joint has an upper surface and side surfaces on both sides, and the arm-side joint has a ceiling wall disposed along the upper surface of the blade-side joint and side surfaces on both sides of the blade-side joint. The projection may be provided on the inner side surface of the side wall of the arm side coupling portion, and the engagement recess may be provided on the side surface of the blade side coupling portion. .

  A first locking mechanism for locking the blade-side coupling portion to the arm-side coupling portion is provided, and the engagement recess of the protrusion is provided separately from the first locking mechanism. It may be made to function as a locking mechanism of two.

  According to the present invention, in the coupling structure of the wiper arm (for example, wiper arms 1 and 6) and the wiper blade (for example, wiper blades 2 and 7), a protrusion provided on the arm side coupling portion (for example, arm side coupling portions 10 and 30) Since the locking mechanism is constituted by the engagement recesses (for example, the engagement recesses 24C and 45C) provided in the parts (for example, the protrusions 15 and 35) and the blade side coupling part (for example, the blade side coupling parts 20 and 40) The construction of the mechanism is simple and can be manufactured at low cost. In addition, the locking mechanism does not restrict the design freedom of other configurations of the coupling structure.

  Further, if the introduction portion (for example, the introduction portions 24B and 45B) for introducing the projection into the engagement recess is provided, the introduction portion is formed in a shape aligned with the mounting direction of the blade side coupling portion to the arm side coupling portion. Thus, the protrusion can be smoothly introduced into the engagement recess. Therefore, the joining operation can be performed efficiently.

  In addition, when the engagement recess and the introduction portion are configured as a part of the engagement groove (for example, the engagement grooves 24 and 45), the locking mechanism can be easily formed at low cost.

  In addition, if a locking mechanism consisting of a projection and an engagement recess is provided as a second locking mechanism different from the first locking mechanism, for example, the first locking mechanism may be a main locking mechanism. A second locking mechanism for failsafe can be easily added at low cost to the combined structure provided as In addition, the addition of the locking mechanism consisting of the projection and the engagement recess is not limited by the form of the first locking mechanism, and thus can be applied to the coupling structure of various forms.

It is a perspective view which shows the coupling structure of the wiper arm and wiper blade in the reference example of this invention. It is sectional drawing which similarly shows an arm side coupling | bond part. It is a side view which similarly shows the coupling procedure of a wiper arm and a wiper blade, and shows the state before the arm side coupling | bond part is mounted | worn with the blade side coupling | bond part. It is a side view which similarly shows the coupling procedure of a wiper arm and a wiper blade, and shows the state in which the arm side coupling part was mounted | worn with the mounting part of the braid | blade side coupling part. It is a side view which similarly shows the coupling procedure of a wiper arm and a wiper blade, and shows the state which mounting of the front-end part of the braid | blade side coupling part was completed. It is a perspective view which shows the coupling structure of the wiper arm and wiper blade in the reference example of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the combined structure of the wiper arm and wiper blade in embodiment of this invention. It is a side view which similarly shows the coupling procedure of a wiper arm and a wiper blade, and shows the state before the arm side coupling | bond part is mounted | worn with the blade side coupling | bond part. It is a side view which similarly shows the coupling procedure of a wiper arm and a wiper blade, and shows the state which mounting of the braid | blade side coupling part with respect to the arm side coupling part was completed. It is a side view which similarly shows the coupling structure of a wiper arm and a wiper blade, and shows the state by which a drop-off | omission from a wiper arm of a wiper blade is prevented by the 1st latching mechanism.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described based on the attached drawings.
FIG. 1 shows a coupling structure of a wiper arm 1 and a wiper blade 2 in a reference example of the present invention. The wiper arm 1 (only the distal end is shown in FIG. 1) comprises an elongated main body 3 and at the proximal end of the main body 3 is linked to a drive motor (not shown) of the wiper device while the main body The arm-side coupling portion 10 provided on the tip end side of the third portion 3 is coupled to the blade-side coupling portion 20 of the wiper blade 2.

  As also shown in cross section in FIG. 2, the arm side joint portion 10 is a member having a U-shaped cross section which includes the top wall 11 and side walls 12 on both sides extending downward from both sides of the top wall 11. A tip opening 13 and a lower opening 14 are provided on the side and the lower end, respectively.

  At a predetermined position of each side wall 12, a projection 15 projecting toward the inner space of the arm-side joint 10 is formed, for example, by pressing. As will be described later in detail, when the projections 15 engage with the engagement grooves 22C of the blade-side joint 20, the arm-side joint 10 is locked to the blade-side joint 20. It has become. Further, at the tip end of the ceiling wall 11, a tip locking portion 16 which is bent and extends in the tip opening 13 is provided. Further, at the front end of both side walls 12, a fitting piece 17 extending forward is provided.

  The wiper blade 2 includes a blade portion 4 (only a part of which is shown in the figure), which is a long wiping member for wiping a surface to be wiped such as a glass surface of an automobile. The blade side coupling portion 20 is mounted on the upper side of the blade. The blade side coupling portion 20 includes a base 21 fixed to the blade portion 4, a mounting portion 22 integrally provided on the upper side of the base 21, and a distal end cover 23 disposed on the distal end side of the mounting portion 22. Have.

  The mounting portion 22 is a portion to which the arm side coupling portion 10 is mounted, and includes a top surface 22A, side surfaces 22B on both sides, and a front end surface 22C. An engagement groove 24 extending downward from the top surface 22A is formed at a predetermined position of each side surface 22B (a position aligned with the protrusion 15 of the arm side coupling portion 10). The engaging groove 24 is formed in an L-shape as a whole, and is an opening 24A at the upper end, an introducing part 24B extending straight from the opening 24A in the vertical direction, and an engaging recess 24C which is an L-shaped bottom side. Is equipped. The engagement recess 24C includes a lower end portion of the introducing portion 24B and an extension portion 24D which extends rearward from the lower end portion. Further, an insertion groove 25 extending in the front-rear direction (longitudinal direction of the wiper blade 2) rearward from the front end surface 22C is formed at the tip of each side surface 22B.

  The tip cover 23 is slidably coupled to the mounting portion 22 in the longitudinal direction of the wiper blade 2. A notch 23B is formed at the rear end (end on the mounting unit 22 side) of the top surface 23A of the tip cover 23, and the tip engagement portion 16 of the arm side coupling portion 10 is disposed in the notch 23B. It is supposed to be able to Further, at the rear end of both side surfaces 23C of the front end cover 23, a fitting notch portion 23D is provided in which the fitting piece 17 of the arm side coupling portion 10 is fitted. Further, from the position adjacent to the fitting notch portion 23D, an insertion piece 23E fitted in the insertion groove 25 extends toward the mounting portion 22 side.

  FIGS. 3 to 5 show the procedure for connecting the wiper arm 1 and the wiper blade 2. At the time of coupling, as shown in FIG. 3, the arm-side coupling portion 10 of the wiper arm 1 is straightly fitted downward from above onto the mounting portion 22 of the blade-side coupling portion 20 of the wiper blade 2. . As a result, the mounting portion 22 is introduced from the lower opening 14 of the arm-side joint 10 between the side walls 12.

  At this time, the projection 15 provided on the side wall 12 of the arm side joint 10 passes from the opening 24A at the upper end of the engagement groove 24 provided at the attachment 22 through the introduction part 24B to the engagement recess 24C at the lower end. To be introduced. In this case, since the introduction portion 24B extends along the mounting direction (that is, the vertical direction) of the blade side coupling portion 20 to the arm side coupling portion 10, the introduction of the protrusion 15 into the engagement recess 24C is the mounting operation It will be done smoothly at the same time.

  Once the mounting portion 22 of the blade side coupling portion 20 is attached to the arm side coupling portion 10, subsequently, the arm side coupling portion 10 is pulled back to the blade side coupling portion 20 (or blade side coupling) The part 20 is pushed forward with respect to the arm side coupling part 10). Thus, the protrusion 15 is disposed in the extension 24D of the engagement recess 24C. Further, the distal end side locking portion 16 of the arm side coupling portion 10 engages with the front end surface 22C of the mounting portion 22.

  Subsequently, the distal end cover 23 of the blade side coupling portion 20 is slid backward and attached to the mounting portion 22. Thereby, the insertion piece 23E of the front end cover 23 is inserted into the insertion groove 25 of the mounting portion 22, and the fitting piece 17 of the arm side coupling portion 10 is fitted to the fitting notch portion 23D of the front end cover 23 . Further, the distal end side locking portion 23 of the arm side coupling portion 10 is disposed in the cutout portion 23A of the distal end cover 23.

As described above, according to the coupling structure of the present embodiment , the projection 15 formed on the inward surface of the projection 15 is an engagement recess formed on the side surface 22B of the blade-side coupling portion 20 (mounting portion 22). Since it is arranged at 24 C, the longitudinal locking (restriction of movement) of the wiper arm 1 (arm side joint portion 10) to the wiper blade 2 (blade side joint portion 20) is the projection 15. And the edge of the engagement recess 24C. That is, the rearward movement of the wiper blade 2 in the longitudinal direction with respect to the wiper arm 1 is limited by the abutment of the projection 15 with the front end edge of the engagement recess 24C. Further, the forward longitudinal movement of the wiper blade 2 with respect to the wiper arm 1 is limited by the abutment of the projection 15 with the rear end edge of the engagement recess 24C (the extension 24D).

In the present embodiment , when the arm side coupling portion 10 and the blade side coupling portion 20 are in the coupled state, the projection 15 is disposed within the extension 24C of the engagement recess 24C, so the projection 15 and the extension The engagement of the upper and lower edges of the portion 24C also allows the wiper arm 1 to be locked in the vertical direction (direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction) of the wiper blade 2.

Further, in the present embodiment , since the distal end side locking portion 16 of the arm side coupling portion 10 is engaged with the front end surface 22C of the mounting portion 22, the longitudinal backward direction of the wiper blade 2 with respect to the wiper arm 1 Movement is also limited by the distal locking portion 16.

Figure 6 shows the coupling structure of the wiper arm and the wiper blade in the reference example of the present invention. The present embodiment is different from the first embodiment only in that the mounting groove 22 of the blade side coupling part 20 is provided with the engagement groove 26 instead of the engagement groove 24 of the first embodiment. It is a thing. Therefore, the configuration other than the engagement groove 26 is denoted by the same reference numeral as that of the first embodiment, and the description is omitted.

Unlike the engaging groove 24 of the first embodiment, the engaging groove 26 of this example is I-shaped as a whole, and has a configuration corresponding to the extension 24C of the first embodiment. Absent. That is, the portion from the opening 26A at the upper end to the lower end of the engagement groove 26 is the introduction portion 26B, and the lower end of the engagement groove 26 is the engagement recess 26C. Therefore, in the present embodiment, only the locking (restriction) of the longitudinal movement of the wiper blade 2 with respect to the wiper arm 1 is performed by the engagement of the protrusion 15 and the engagement groove 26.

7 to 10 show the coupling structure of the wiper arm and the wiper blade in the embodiment of the present invention. As described later in detail, in the present embodiment, the coupling structure includes a first (main) locking mechanism and a second (secondary) locking mechanism, and the second locking mechanism The locking structure (protrusion and engagement groove) of the present invention is used.

  As illustrated, the arm side coupling portion 30 of the wiper arm 6 (only the tip end side is shown) is the lower side from the top wall 31 and both sides of the top wall 31 as in the first and second embodiments. The member has a U-shaped cross section including side walls 32 extending on both sides, and is provided with an opening on the tip end side and the lower end side.

  In the vicinity of the center of the top wall 31, a fitting hole 33 which constitutes a part of the first locking mechanism is formed penetrating the top wall 31 up and down. Further, at the lower ends of the side walls 32 on both sides of the arm side coupling portion 30, claw portions 34 which constitute a part of the first locking mechanism are provided. The claw portion 34 is disposed in the vicinity of the rear end of the arm side coupling portion 30.

  Furthermore, on the side walls 32 on both sides of the arm side coupling portion 30, protrusions 35 are provided which project toward the inner space of the arm side coupling portion 30. In the present embodiment, the protrusion 35 is disposed in the vicinity of the tip of the arm side coupling portion 30. The protrusion 35 constitutes a part of the second locking mechanism.

  The wiper blade 7, of which only a part is shown, is provided with a base 41 attached to the blade portion 8 and a mounting portion 42 integrally provided on the upper side of the base 41. The base 41 extends from the lower side to the distal end side of the mounting portion 42, and includes a distal end portion 41A disposed in front of the mounting portion 42. The mounting portion 42 is a portion to which the arm side coupling portion 30 is mounted, and includes a top surface 42A and side surfaces 42B on both sides.

  A push button type fitting portion 43 is provided on the top surface 42 </ b> A of the blade side coupling portion 40. The fitting portion 43 locks the arm side coupling portion 30 to the blade side coupling portion 40 by being fitted into the fitting hole 33. The fitting between the fitting portion 43 and the fitting hole 33 can be released by the user pushing the fitting portion 43 downward.

  Horizontal grooves 44 extending in the longitudinal direction of the wiper blade 7 are formed on the side surfaces 42B on both sides of the blade side coupling portion 40 along the lower end edge. The claw portion 34 of the arm side coupling portion 30 is introduced into and engaged with the horizontal groove 44.

  With such a configuration, in the coupling structure of the present embodiment, the fitting hole 33, the fitting portion 43, the claw portion 34, and the horizontal groove 44 constitute a first locking mechanism, and are fitted to the fitting hole 33. The engagement of the portion 43 locks the wiper blade 7 to the wiper arm 6 in the longitudinal direction, and the engagement of the claws 34 and the horizontal groove 44 causes the wiper blade 7 to move vertically relative to the wiper arm 6 (vertically in the longitudinal direction). Direction) is made.

  An engagement groove 45 is formed on the side surface 42 B on both sides of the blade side coupling portion 40. The engagement groove 45 constitutes a second locking mechanism together with the projection 35 of the arm-side joint 30, and has an opening 45A at the upper end, and a substantially trapezoidal lead-in portion 45B connected from the opening 45A. And an engaging recess 45C formed below the introducing portion 45B. The engagement recess 45C extends in the longitudinal direction of the wiper blade 1 to a position beyond the introduction portion 45B on the tip end side of the mounting portion 42.

  When the wiper blade 7 is coupled to the wiper arm 6, as shown in FIG. 8, the arm side coupling portion 30 is attached obliquely to the blade side coupling portion 40 from the diagonally upper side. As a result, the projection 35 of the arm side coupling portion 30 is introduced obliquely to the engagement groove 45 of the blade side coupling portion 40 (along the oblique side of the trapezoid in the introduction portion 45B).

  When the projection 35 is introduced to the engagement recess 45 C and the claw 34 is introduced into the horizontal groove 44, the arm side coupling portion 30 is further slid forward with respect to the blade side coupling portion 40, As shown in FIG. 10, the arm side coupling portion 30 is pushed to the point where it abuts on the tip end portion 41A of the blade side coupling portion 40. As a result, the fitting portion 43 is fitted in the fitting hole 33 and locked, and the coupling operation is completed.

  Thus, according to the coupling structure of the present embodiment, in addition to the first locking mechanism (main locking mechanism), a second using the projection 35 and the engagement groove 45 (engagement recess 45C) A locking mechanism (locking mechanism for failsafe) is provided. Therefore, even if the lock by the first lock mechanism is released (for example, when the first lock mechanism is broken, etc.), the lock by the second lock mechanism continues to function, which is more reliable. In addition, the blade side coupling portion 40 can be locked (prevented from falling off) with respect to the arm side coupling portion 30. In FIG. 10, when the locking by the first locking mechanism is released, the projection 35 abuts on the rear end edge of the engagement recess 45C, thereby causing the wiper arm 1 of the wiper blade 2 to move. Indicates that the dropout is prevented.

  Such a second locking mechanism is composed of the projection 35 and the engagement groove 45 and has a simple structure that can be easily processed. Therefore, in contrast to the coupling structure having only the first locking mechanism, It can be easily added at low cost.

As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, embodiment of this invention is not limited to the said form. For example, impact raised portion and the engagement recess may be multiply provided.

Further, in the above you facilities embodiment has used the projections 35 and the engaging groove 45 of the present invention as the second (auxiliary) locking mechanism, the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment A locking mechanism consisting of a projection and an engagement groove may be used as a main locking mechanism in combination with other auxiliary locking mechanisms. That is, the locking mechanism (protrusion and engagement recess) of the present invention can be used in combination with any other locking mechanism.

Reference Signs List 1 wiper arm 2 wiper blade 3 main body of wiper arm 4 wiper blade blade portion 6 wiper arm 7 wiper blade 8 wiper blade blade portion 10 arm side joint portion 11 top wall 12 side wall 13 tip opening 14 lower opening 15 Protrusion 16 Tip locking portion 17 Insertion piece 20 Blade side coupling portion 21 Base 22 Mounting portion 23 Tip cover 23B Notched portion 23D Fitting notched portion 24 Engaging groove 24A Opening 24B Leading portion 24C Engaging recessed portion 24D Extension Part 25 fitting groove 26 insertion groove 30 arm side joint part 31 top wall 32 side wall 33 fitting hole 34 claw part 35 projection 40 blade side joint part 41 base 42 mounting part 43 fitting part 44 horizontal groove 45 engagement groove 45A Opening 45B Introduction 45C Engaging recess

Claims (4)

In the coupled structure of the wiper arm and the wiper blade,
The wiper blade comprises a blade-side joint,
The wiper arm includes an arm side coupling portion attached to the outside of the blade side coupling portion,
Providing a projection on the arm-side joint;
The blade side coupling portion is provided with an engagement recess in which the projection is disposed
The blade side coupling portion is locked to the arm side coupling portion by the engagement of the protrusion with the edge of the engagement recess .
An engagement groove is formed in the blade-side coupling portion, and the engagement groove includes an introduction portion for introducing the projection into the engagement recess, and the engagement recess.
The introduction portion has a trapezoidal shape expanding downward from the opening at the upper end, and the engagement recess extends from the lower end of the introduction portion to a position beyond the introduction portion in the longitudinal direction of the wiper blade coupling structure of the wiper arm and the wiper blade are.   2. The wiper arm and wiper blade coupling structure according to claim 1, wherein the longitudinal movement of the wiper blade with respect to the wiper arm is limited by the engagement of the protrusion with the edge of the engagement recess. The blade-side joint has an upper surface and side surfaces on both sides,
The arm-side joint includes a ceiling wall disposed along an upper surface of the blade-side joint, and side walls disposed along side surfaces of both sides of the blade-side joint.
The protrusion is provided on an inner side surface of a side wall of the arm side coupling portion,
The coupling structure of a wiper arm and a wiper blade according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the engagement recess is provided on a side surface of the blade-side coupling portion. A first locking mechanism for locking the blade-side coupling portion to the arm-side coupling portion is provided, and the engagement recess of the protrusion is provided separately from the first locking mechanism. The combined structure of the wiper arm and the wiper blade according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , which functions as a locking mechanism of (2).

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