JP7131257B2 - Wiper lever assembly and wiper blade - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to wiper lever assemblies and wiper blades.

Patent Literature 1 listed below describes a flat type wiper blade that does not use a wiper lever assembly having a tournament structure in which a plurality of levers are connected in a tournament shape. In this wiper blade, a leaf-spring-like support element (backing) imparts stiffness and elasticity to the wiper strip (blade rubber). The wiper blade also has a wind deflector strip secured to the support element via first and second claws. A fin surface is formed on the upper surface of the wind deflector strip for converting running wind into a pressing force toward the wiping surface.

Patent Literature 2 listed below describes a wiper blade that includes a lever member (wiper lever assembly) having a tournament structure, a blade rubber, and two movable covers. The lever member includes a main lever detachably connected to the wiper arm at its central portion in the longitudinal direction, and two yoke levers rotatably connected to both ends in the longitudinal direction of the main lever. A movable cover is rotatably connected to each of these yoke levers, and the blade rubber is gripped by each yoke lever and each movable cover. Further, fin surfaces are formed on the upper surfaces of the main lever and each movable cover for converting running wind into a pressing force toward the wiping surface.

Japanese Patent Publication No. 2006-513928 WO2010/035794

In recent years, as the wiping environment of wipers has changed, such as the application of a water-repellent coating agent to the wiping surface, there has been a demand for higher performance wiper blades. In this regard, since the wiper blade described in Patent Document 1 is of the flat type, the height of protrusion from the wiping surface can be kept low, and the aerodynamic characteristics are improved. However, compared with the structure using the wiper lever assembly of the tournament structure, the wiping performance is inferior because the distribution pressure on the wiping surface is difficult to be uniform. On the other hand, in the wiper blade described in Patent Document 2, good wiping performance can be obtained by the wiper lever assembly of the tournament structure. (Airflow) is prone to turbulence. Therefore, there is room for improvement in terms of improving the aerodynamic characteristics.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a wiper lever assembly and a wiper blade including the wiper lever assembly that can improve aerodynamic characteristics while ensuring good wiping performance.

In a wiper lever assembly according to a first aspect of the present invention, a wiper arm has a front end connected to a central portion in the longitudinal direction, and main storage chambers having first openings opening downward are formed on both sides in the longitudinal direction. a main lever, and gripping portions that are continuously arranged on both sides in the longitudinal direction of the main lever and grip the blade rubber on the side opposite to the main lever, and have a second opening that opens downward. A pair of movable covers in which movable housing chambers are formed, and a movable cover that is housed in each of the main housing chambers and each of the movable housing chambers and rotates around an axis extending in the width direction with respect to the main lever and each of the movable covers. a pair of yoke levers which are movably connected and provided with gripping portions for gripping the blade rubber at both ends in the longitudinal direction, wherein the pair of yoke levers are formed in a plate shape having a plate thickness direction extending in the vertical direction. and the plate-like portion closes the first opening and the second opening.

In addition, even if the "obstruction" described in claim 1 does not completely block the first openings and the second openings, the first openings of the main storage chamber and the second openings of the movable storage chamber are closed. Any configuration may be employed as long as the plate-like portion of the yoke lever is present in the opening and blocks it, thereby actively suppressing the inflow of the airflow into each of the storage chambers.

In the wiper lever assembly of the first aspect, a pair of movable covers are continuously arranged on both sides in the longitudinal direction of the main lever to which the tip of the wiper arm is connected to the central portion in the longitudinal direction. On both sides in the longitudinal direction of the main lever, main storage chambers having first openings that open downward (wiping surface side) are formed, respectively, and each movable cover opens downward (wiping surface side). A movable receiving chamber having a second opening is formed. A pair of yoke levers housed in each main housing chamber and each movable housing chamber is rotatably connected to the main lever and each movable cover about an axis extending in the width direction. Blade rubbers are gripped by gripping portions provided on the side opposite to the main lever in each movable cover and gripping portions provided on both ends in the longitudinal direction of each yoke lever. As a result, the pressing force applied from the wiper arm to the main lever is distributed in the longitudinal direction of the blade rubber via each yoke lever, so that the pressing force acts on the end of the wiper blade, improving wiping performance. .

Moreover, in this wiper lever assembly, the first opening of each main storage chamber and the second opening of each movable storage chamber are closed (blocked) by the plate-shaped portion of each yoke lever. As a result, it is possible to actively suppress the flow of the airflow that has interfered with the wiper lever assembly into the main accommodation chamber and the movable accommodation chamber. As a result, it is possible to prevent or suppress the occurrence of turbulence in the airflow due to the inflow into the internal space of the wiper lever assembly, thereby improving the aerodynamic characteristics.

In the wiper lever assembly according to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, first fin surfaces sloping downward toward one side in the width direction are formed on upper surfaces on both sides in the longitudinal direction of the main lever. A second fin surface is formed on the upper surface of each movable cover and slopes downward toward one side in the width direction, and each yoke lever protrudes upward from the other end side in the width direction of the plate-like portion. It has an upright wall portion.

In the wiper lever assembly of the second aspect, the upper surfaces on both sides in the longitudinal direction of the main lever and the upper surface of each movable cover are formed with the first fin surface and the second fin surface that slope downward toward one side in the width direction. be done. For this reason, it is necessary to make the height dimension of each main storage chamber and each movable storage chamber formed in both longitudinal direction sides of the main lever and each movable cover lower on one side in the width direction than on the other side in the width direction.

Here, in this wiper lever assembly, each yoke lever housed in each of the main housing chambers and each of the movable housing chambers has a plate-like plate portion whose plate thickness direction is the vertical direction, and a width direction of the plate-like portion. and an upright wall projecting upward from the other end. In each yoke lever configured in this way, the height dimension on one side in the width direction is lower than on the other side in the width direction. The strength of each yoke lever can be ensured by the portion. Moreover, the main lever and each movable cover, on which the first fin surface and the second fin surface sloping downward toward one side in the width direction as described above, are formed on the upper surface, and the movable cover and the movable cover are arranged on the other side in the width direction rather than on the one side in the width direction. Since the height dimension is large, even if each main storage chamber and each movable storage chamber are formed as described above, an increase in the height dimension can be suppressed. As a result, in the present wiper lever assembly, the height of the protrusion from the wiping surface can be kept low, so that the aerodynamic characteristics can be further improved.

A wiper lever assembly according to a third aspect of the present invention is the first or second aspect, wherein the main lever includes a pair of central wipers which cut off each of the main storage chambers in the longitudinal direction at the longitudinal central side of the main lever. It has side blocking walls.

In the wiper lever assembly of the third aspect, the pair of central blocking walls can prevent or suppress the airflow from flowing from the longitudinal central side of the main lever to the inside of each main housing chamber. As a result, for example, it is possible to prevent or suppress raindrops or the like from flowing into each storage chamber together with the airflow, remaining there, and being spouted out all at once.

In a wiper lever assembly according to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in any one aspect of the first to third aspects, each of the movable covers extends each of the movable storage chambers in the longitudinal direction on the side opposite to the main lever. It has an outer blocking wall that blocks the

In the wiper lever assembly of the fourth aspect, the outer blocking wall can prevent or suppress air currents that tend to flow from the movable housing chamber of each movable cover toward the longitudinal end side. As a result, for example, by suppressing the flow of airflow toward the longitudinal ends in the internal space of the wiper lever assembly, it is possible to promote the flow of airflow that passes through the wiper lever assembly from the front side in the width direction to the rear side. can.

A wiper lever assembly according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is a wiper lever assembly according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein each of the movable covers is located on the opposite side of the main lever via the movable housing chamber. is open downward and has one or a plurality of partition walls partitioning the portion in the longitudinal direction of the movable cover.

In the wiper lever assembly of the fifth aspect, the one or more partition walls can prevent or suppress air currents from flowing from the movable housing side of each movable cover to the side opposite to the main lever. As a result, for example, it is possible to further prevent or suppress the flow of airflow toward the longitudinal ends in the internal space of the wiper lever assembly.

A wiper blade according to a sixth aspect of the present invention includes a blade rubber for wiping a wiped surface of a vehicle, and the blade rubber is gripped by the grip portions provided on the pair of movable covers and the pair of yoke levers. and a wiper lever assembly according to any one of the first to fifth aspects.

In the wiper blade of the sixth aspect, the blade rubber for wiping the wiped surface of the vehicle is gripped by the gripping portions provided on the pair of movable covers and the pair of yoke levers included in the wiper lever assembly. Since the wiper lever assembly described above is of any one of the first to fifth aspects, the above-described effects can be obtained.

1 is a perspective view of a wiper blade according to an embodiment of the invention; FIG. It is a top view of the same wiper blade. It is a front view of the same wiper blade. It is a side view of the same wiper blade. It is an exploded perspective view of the same wiper blade. It is an exploded perspective view of the same wiper blade. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a part of the same wiper blade, and is a diagram showing a cut surface along line F7-F7 in FIG. 3; FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a part of the same wiper blade, and is a view showing a cut surface along line F8-F8 in FIG. 3; FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a part of the same wiper blade, and is a view showing a cut surface along line F9-F9 of FIG. 3; FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a part of the same wiper blade, and is a view showing a cut surface along line F10-F10 in FIG. 3; FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a part of the same wiper blade, and is a diagram showing a cut surface along line F11-F11 in FIG. 3; FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the cut surface shown in FIG. 7 viewed from the longitudinal direction of the wiper blade; FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the cut surface shown in FIG. 8 viewed from the longitudinal direction of the wiper blade; FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the cut surface shown in FIG. 9 viewed from the longitudinal direction of the wiper blade; 11 is a cross-sectional view of the cut surface shown in FIG. 10 viewed from the longitudinal direction of the wiper blade; FIG. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the tip side portion of the wiper lever assembly according to the embodiment of the present invention as viewed from below; It is a perspective view which shows the state which looked at the base end side part of the same wiper lever assembly from the lower side. It is an exploded perspective view showing a part of the same wiper lever assembly. It is a perspective view which shows the main lever of the same wiper lever assembly. It is a perspective view which shows the main lever of the same wiper lever assembly. FIG. 21 is a perspective view showing an enlarged part of FIG. 20; It is a perspective view which shows the movable cover of the same wiper lever assembly. It is a perspective view which shows the yoke lever of the same wiper lever assembly. It is a perspective view which shows the yoke lever of the same wiper lever assembly. It is a perspective view of the metal part which the same yoke lever has. It is a perspective view of the same metal part. It is a perspective view of the same metal part. FIG. 4 is an aerodynamic analysis diagram of the wiper blade according to the embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 5 is an aerodynamic analysis diagram of a wiper blade according to a first comparative example; FIG. 11 is an aerodynamic analysis diagram of a wiper blade according to a second comparative example; FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 12 showing a modification of the wiper blade according to the embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 14 showing a modification of the wiper blade according to the embodiment of the present invention;

A wiper blade 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 27. FIG. It should be noted that, in each drawing, some reference numerals may be omitted for the purpose of making the drawings easier to see. Also, in each drawing, the scale of the drawing is appropriately changed for convenience of explanation.

The wiper blade 10 shown in FIGS. 1 to 15 wipes off raindrops and the like adhering to the wiping surface WS, which is the outer surface of the windshield glass G (not shown except in FIGS. 12 to 15) of a vehicle (automobile). It is a wiper blade with a so-called tournament structure. The wiper blade 10 is connected to the tip of a wiper arm 12 (not shown except in FIG. 1), and receives a pressing force from the wiper arm 12 toward the wiping surface WS. The wiper arm 12 and the wiper blade 10 constitute a vehicle wiper. The base end of the wiper arm 12 is fixed to a pivot shaft (not shown) that is reciprocally rotated within a predetermined angular range by the driving force of a wiper motor (not shown), and the wiper arm 12 is reciprocated by the reciprocating rotation of the pivot shaft. be shaken. As a result, the wiper blade 10 connected to the tip of the wiper arm 12 is set at the lower reversal position set at the lower end of the windshield glass G and at the upper end side of the windshield glass G from the lower reversal position. It is configured to reciprocate between the upper reversing position and the upper reversing position.

The wiper blade 10 includes a blade rubber 14 for wiping the wiping surface WS and a wiper lever assembly 20 for gripping the blade rubber 14 . As shown in FIGS. 1 to 18, the wiper lever assembly 20 includes a main lever 22 to which the tip of the wiper arm 12 is connected to the central portion in the longitudinal direction, and a pair of movable levers provided on both sides of the main lever 22 in the longitudinal direction. A pair of yokes rotatably connected to the cover 60 and the main lever 22 and the pair of movable covers 60 (in other words, the movable cover 60 is rotatably connected to the pair of yoke levers 96). and a lever 96 . This wiper lever assembly 20 is configured to grip the blade rubber 14 with a pair of movable covers 60 and a pair of yoke levers 96 .

Each component of the wiper blade 10 will be described in detail below. In the following description, the arrows UP and FR appropriately shown in each drawing are the upper side and the front side of the wiper blade 10, respectively, and the side facing the arrow BE is the base end side (swing center side) of the wiper blade 10. do. The up-down direction of the wiper blade 10 is a direction orthogonal to the wiping surface WS, and the front-rear direction of the wiper blade 10 is the width direction of the wiper blade 10 and substantially coincides with the wiping direction. In the following description, the directions relative to the wiper blade 10 will be indicated simply using the front, rear, up, and down directions.

(About blade rubber)
The blade rubber 14 is made of rubber, for example, and is elongated. The blade rubber 14 includes an upper portion 14A gripped by the wiper lever assembly 20, and a wiping portion 14B extending downward (toward the wiping surface WS) from the upper portion 14A and having a lower end pressed against the wiping surface WS. have. A pair of backing grooves 16 that are open on both sides in the front-rear direction (width direction) are formed in the upper portion 14A of the blade rubber 14 along the longitudinal direction of the blade rubber 14 . A backing (not shown) made of a metal plate spring material is fitted in each of these backing grooves 16 . These backings disperse the pressing force applied to the wiping surface WS from the wiper arm 12 in the longitudinal direction of the blade rubber 14 . In the upper portion 14A of the blade rubber 14, a pair of gripping grooves 18 opened on both sides in the front-rear direction (width direction) are formed along the longitudinal direction of the blade rubber 14 below the pair of backing grooves 16. formed. The vertical positions of these gripping grooves 18 correspond to gripping portions 80 and 110 of the wiper lever assembly 20, which will be described later.

(Regarding the wiper lever assembly)
The wiper lever assembly 20 is composed of the main lever 22, the pair of movable covers 60, and the pair of yoke levers 96 as described above. In this wiper lever assembly 20, the portion on the tip side (the side opposite to the center of oscillation of the wiper blade 10) and the portion on the side of the base end (the side of the center of oscillation of the wiper blade 10) are symmetrical or substantially symmetrical. is formed in the shape of

(About the main lever)
The main lever 22 is made of, for example, a resin material and has an elongated shape. The main lever 22 constitutes a longitudinal intermediate portion of the wiper lever assembly 20 . The main lever 22 has a connecting portion 22A at the central portion in the longitudinal direction, and a pair of arm portions 22B on both sides in the longitudinal direction of the connecting portion 22A.

As shown in FIGS. 19 and 20, the connecting portion 22A is formed in a rectangular frame shape whose longitudinal direction is the longitudinal direction of the main lever 22 when viewed in the vertical direction. The connecting portion 22A is formed with an opening 24 penetrating through the connecting portion 22A in the vertical direction. The opening 24 is formed in an elongated shape whose longitudinal direction is the longitudinal direction of the main lever 22 . A metallic connecting shaft 26 connecting the front and rear wall portions of the connecting portion 22A is integrally formed in the central portion of the opening 24 in the longitudinal direction. A front end portion of the wiper arm 12 is connected to the connecting shaft 26 via a connecting clip 28 .

The pair of arm portions 22B extends integrally from the connecting portion 22A to both sides in the longitudinal direction of the wiper blade 10 . As shown in FIGS. 7, 8, 12, and 13, these arm portions 22B have an open cross-sectional shape that opens downward (toward the wiping surface WS) when viewed in the longitudinal direction of the main lever 22. . As shown in FIGS. 12, 13, and 19-21, each arm 22B includes a top wall 30, a front wall 32 extending downward from the front end of the top wall 30, and a The rear wall 40 extends downward from the rear end portion, and from the slightly rearward side of the central portion in the front-rear direction of the upper wall 30, in other words, downward between the front inner wall 36 and the rear wall 40, which will be described later. It has an extended rear inner wall 42 and a plurality of reinforcing ribs 44 (see FIG. 21) bridging between the front surface of the rear inner wall 42 and the lower surface of the upper wall 30 . A plurality of reinforcing ribs 44 are arranged side by side in the longitudinal direction of the main lever 22 and integrally connected to the upper wall 30 and the rear inner wall 42 .

The front wall 32 has a front outer wall 34 and a front inner wall 36 facing each other in the front-rear direction, and a plurality of reinforcing ribs 38 connecting the front outer wall 34 and the front inner wall 36 in the front-rear direction. The front outer wall 34 extends forward and downward from the front end of the upper wall 30 , and the front inner wall 36 extends downward from the front end of the upper wall 30 slightly rearward of the front outer wall 34 . ing. The front inner wall 36 is set smaller than the front outer wall 34 in the longitudinal direction of the main lever 22, and the front inner wall 36 is not provided on the connecting portion 22A side of each arm portion 22B. A plurality of reinforcing ribs 38 are arranged side by side in the longitudinal direction of the main lever 22 and integrally connected to the upper wall 30 , the front outer wall 34 and the front inner wall 36 .

As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 , the lower end of the front outer wall 34 is positioned slightly below the lower end of the front inner wall 36 . The lower end portion of the front inner wall 36 and the lower end portion of the rear wall 40 are arranged at substantially the same position (height) in the vertical direction. The lower end of the rear inner wall 42 is located above the lower ends of the front inner wall 36 and the rear wall 40 . Further, the rear wall 40 is formed such that the dimension (thickness) in the front-rear direction increases from the upper end side connected to the upper wall 30 toward the lower end side.

The upper surface of each arm portion 22B (that is, both sides of the main lever 22 in the longitudinal direction) configured as described above is formed by the upper surfaces of the upper wall 30 and the front outer wall 34 . A fin surface (first fin surface) 46 having a downward slope toward the front side of the vehicle (that is, the front side in the width direction) is formed on the upper surface of each arm portion 22B. Each fin surface 46 is formed on the upper surface of each upper wall 30 on the front side of the vehicle and extends in the longitudinal direction of the main lever 22 . These fin surfaces 46 extend slightly rearward from the central portion in the front-rear direction (width direction) of each arm portion 22B, and are curved so that the gradient increases toward the rear side. When these fin surfaces 46 receive running wind during vehicle running, a pressing force acts on the blade rubber 14 toward the wiping surface WS side. Each arm portion 22B on which each fin surface 46 is formed has a height dimension (vertical dimension) that is larger on the rear side than on the front side in the front-rear direction (width direction).

12, 13, and 18 to 21, each arm portion 22B (that is, both sides in the longitudinal direction of the main lever 22) has a main housing chamber for housing a portion of the yoke lever 96. 48 are formed. The main storage chamber 48 is formed between the front wall 32 and the rear wall 40 on the lower side of the upper wall 30 , and opens to the lower side (wiping surface WS side) and the longitudinal direction outer side of the main lever 22 . . An opening 48A (see FIGS. 13, 16 to 18, 20 and 21; reference numerals are omitted in FIG. 12) of the main storage chamber 48 corresponds to the "first opening" of the present invention. Hereinafter, this opening 48A will be referred to as "first opening 48A". Further, the main storage chamber 48 has a larger height dimension (vertical dimension) on the rear side than on the front side in the width direction. The rear inner wall 42 described above is provided near the central portion of the main storage chamber 48 in the front-rear direction, and the upper portion of the main storage chamber 48 is partitioned in the front-rear direction by the rear inner wall 42 . A central blocking wall 50 (see FIGS. 20 and 21) is provided between the main housing chamber 48 and the connecting portion 22A. The inside of the part 22A is partitioned off. The center blocking wall 50 has a function of blocking a main housing chamber 48 (to be described later) on the longitudinal center side of the main lever 22 in the longitudinal direction and a function of reinforcing the main lever 22 .

Further, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 16 to 21, at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the main lever 22, convex portions (shaft portions) 52 and 54 are formed on both front and rear surfaces of each main housing chamber 48 in the width direction. is formed. Specifically, a protrusion 52 projecting rearward is formed at the lower end of the front inner wall 36 forming the front surface of the main storage chamber 48 , and the lower end of the rear wall 40 forming the rear surface of the main storage chamber 48 . A convex portion 54 projecting forward is formed on the side. These protrusions 52 and 54 are arranged opposite to each other (coaxially) in the front-rear direction of the main lever 22 and protrude toward each other. Each of the protrusions 52 and 54 has a substantially semicircular shape when viewed in the front-rear direction, and is arranged in a posture in which the arc-shaped curved surface protrudes upward. Further, the facing surfaces of the projections 52 and 54 (surfaces facing the front-rear center of the main housing chamber 48) are inclined or curved outward in the front-rear direction toward the lower side.

18 and 21, the front inner wall 36 is formed with a pair of vertically extending slits 56 on both longitudinal sides of the main lever 22 with respect to the protrusion 52. As shown in FIGS. The front inner wall 36 has a flexible portion 36A at a portion between the pair of slits 56 (that is, the portion where the convex portion 52 is formed). The parts located on both sides are respectively made into the reinforcement part 36B. The flexible portion 36A is not reinforced by the reinforcing ribs 38 described above, and the reinforcing portion 36B is reinforced by the reinforcing ribs 38 described above. Therefore, the flexible portion 36A is more easily bent in the width direction than the reinforcing portion 36B.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 20 and 21, a notch portion 58 is formed at the lower end portion of the rear inner wall 42 by cutting it from below. The notch 58 is formed near the protrusions 52 and 54 described above.

(About movable cover)
The pair of movable covers 60 is formed in an elongated shape, for example, from a resin material. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, 5 and 6, the movable covers 60 are arranged on both sides of the main lever 22 in the longitudinal direction thereof. As shown in FIGS. 9 to 11, 14 to 18, and 22, each movable cover 60 has an open cross-sectional shape that opens downward (toward the wiping surface WS) when viewed in the longitudinal direction of each movable cover 60. is making Each movable cover 60 includes a top wall 62, a front wall 64 extending downward from the front end of the top wall 62, a rear wall 72 extending downward from the rear end of the top wall 62, A rear inner wall 74 extending slightly from the rear side to the lower side of the central portion of the upper wall 62 in the front-rear direction, and a front wall 64 and a rear inner wall 74 slightly closer to the main lever 22 than the central portion of each movable cover in the longitudinal direction. An outer blocking wall 75 connecting the rear wall 72 in the longitudinal direction, and a plurality of connecting the front wall 64, the rear inner wall 74, and the rear wall 72 in the longitudinal direction on the side opposite to the main lever 22 via the outer blocking wall 75. (here, two) partition walls 76 . The outer blocking wall 75 and the plurality of partition walls 76 are arranged in the longitudinally intermediate portion of each movable cover 60 and are aligned in the longitudinal direction of each movable cover 60 . The outer blocking wall 75 and the plurality of partition walls 76 are integrally connected to the top wall 62 , the front wall 64 , the rear wall 72 and the rear inner wall 74 . The outer blocking wall 75 has a function of blocking a movable housing chamber 86 (to be described later) in the longitudinal direction on the side opposite to the main lever 22 and a function of reinforcing the movable cover 60 . In addition, the plurality of partition walls 76 divide the portion of the movable cover 60 opposite to the main lever 22 via the outer blocking wall 75 , in other words, the inner space on the end side of the movable housing chamber 86 , which is the longitudinal direction of the movable cover 60 . It has both the function of partitioning in the direction and the function of reinforcing the above-mentioned parts. Note that the movable cover 60 may be configured to have only one partition wall 76 .

Further, each movable cover 60 has a plurality of reinforcing ribs 78 (see FIG. 22) bridging between the front surface of the rear inner wall 74 and the lower surface of the upper wall 62 on the main lever 22 side of the outer blocking wall 75 . I have. These reinforcing ribs 78 are arranged side by side in the longitudinal direction of each movable cover 60 and integrally connected to the upper wall 62 and the rear inner wall 74 .

As shown in FIG. 22, the front wall 64 includes a front outer wall 66 and a front inner wall 68 facing each other in the front-rear direction, and a front outer wall 66 and a front inner wall 68 facing each other in the main lever 22 side of the outer blocking wall 75 . It is composed of a plurality of reinforcing ribs 70 connecting the inner wall 68 in the front-rear direction. The front outer wall 66 extends forward and downward from the front end of the upper wall 62 , and the front inner wall 68 extends downward from the front end of the upper wall 62 slightly rearward of the front outer wall 66 . ing. The front inner wall 68 is smaller than the front outer wall 66 in the longitudinal direction of the movable cover 60, and the front inner wall 68 is not provided on the plurality of reinforcing walls 76 side. A plurality of reinforcing ribs 70 are arranged side by side in the longitudinal direction of the movable cover 60 and integrally connected to the upper wall 62 , the front outer wall 66 and the front inner wall 68 .

As shown in FIGS. 14 and 15 , the lower end of the front outer wall 66 is positioned below the lower end of the front inner wall 68 . The lower end portion of the front inner wall 68 and the lower end portion of the rear wall 72 are arranged at substantially the same position (height) in the vertical direction. Further, the vertical dimension of the rear inner wall 74 is reduced on the main lever 22 side of the outer blocking wall 75 , and the lower end of the rear inner wall 74 is positioned above the lower ends of the front inner wall 68 and the rear wall 72 . are placed. Further, the rear wall 72 is formed such that the dimension (thickness) in the front-rear direction increases from the upper end side connected to the upper wall 62 toward the lower end side.

A gripping portion 80 for gripping the longitudinal end of the blade rubber 14 is formed at one longitudinal end of each movable cover 60 (the end opposite to the main lever 22 ). The gripping portion 80 has a pair of front and rear gripping pieces 82 extending downward from the front wall 64 and the rear wall 72 . The front and rear ends (lower ends) of the gripping pieces 82 in the width direction are bent toward the sides approaching each other, and are fitted into the pair of gripping grooves 18 described above. Thereby, the longitudinal ends of the blade rubber 14 are gripped by the gripping portion 80 .

The upper surface of each movable cover 60 configured as described above is composed of the upper surface of the upper wall 62 and the upper surface of the front outer wall 66 . The upper surface of each movable cover 60 is formed with a fin surface (second fin surface) 84 having a downward slope toward the front side of the vehicle (that is, the front side in the width direction). Each fin surface 84 is formed on the upper surface of each upper wall 62 on the front side of the vehicle and extends in the longitudinal direction of the movable cover 60 . These fin surfaces 84 extend slightly rearward from the central portion in the front-rear direction (width direction) of each movable cover 60, and are curved so that the gradient increases toward the rear side. When these fin surfaces 84 receive running wind during running of the vehicle, a pressing force toward the wiping surface WS is applied to the blade rubber 14 . Each movable cover 60 on which each fin surface 84 is formed has a height dimension (vertical dimension) that is larger on the rear side than on the front side in the front-rear direction (width direction).

In each movable cover 60, a movable housing chamber 86 for housing a part of the yoke lever 96 is formed on the main lever 22 side of the plurality of reinforcing walls 76 described above. As shown in FIGS. 14, 15, 18 and 22, the movable chamber 86 is formed below the top wall 62 between the front wall 64 and the rear wall 72. WS side) and the main lever 22 side. An opening 86A (see FIGS. 15, 16 to 18, and 22; reference numerals are omitted in FIG. 14) to the lower side of the movable storage chamber 86 corresponds to the "second opening" in the present invention. Hereinafter, this opening 86A will be referred to as "second opening 86A". In addition, the height dimension (vertical dimension) of the movable storage chamber 86 is larger on the rear side than on the front side in the front-rear direction (width direction). The rear inner wall 74 described above is provided in the vicinity of the central portion in the front-rear direction of the movable storage chamber 86 , and the upper portion of the movable storage chamber 86 is partitioned in the front-rear direction by the rear inner wall 74 .

Further, as shown in FIGS. 14, 16 to 18, and 22, at the other longitudinal end of the movable cover 60 (the end on the main lever 22 side), the front and rear sides of each movable housing chamber 86 in the width direction are provided. Protrusions 88 and 90 are formed on both sides, respectively. Specifically, a protrusion 88 projecting rearward is formed at the lower end of the front inner wall 68 forming the front surface of the movable storage chamber 86 , and the lower end of the rear wall 72 forming the rear surface of the movable storage chamber 86 . A convex portion 90 projecting forward is formed on the front side. These protrusions 88 and 90 are arranged opposite to each other in the front-rear direction of the movable cover 60 and protrude in directions toward each other. Each of the protrusions 88 and 90 has a substantially semicircular shape when viewed in the front-rear direction, and is arranged in a posture in which the arc-shaped curved surface protrudes upward. In addition, the facing surfaces of the projections 88 and 90 (surfaces facing the front-rear direction central side of the movable storage chamber 86) are inclined or curved toward the front-rear direction outer side toward the lower side.

18 and 22, the front inner wall 68 is formed with a pair of vertically extending slits 92 on both longitudinal sides of the movable cover 60 with respect to the convex portion 88. As shown in FIGS. A portion of the front inner wall 68 between the pair of slits 92, that is, a portion where the convex portion 88 is formed is a flexible portion 68A. , respectively, are reinforced portions 68B. The flexible portion 68A is not reinforced by the reinforcing ribs 70 described above, and the reinforcing portion 68B is reinforced by the reinforcing ribs 70 described above. Therefore, the flexible portion 68A is more easily bent in the width direction than the reinforcing portion 68B.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 18 and 22, a notch portion 94 is formed in the lower end portion of the rear inner wall 74 in the movable housing chamber 86 by cutting it from below. The notch 94 is formed near the protrusions 88 and 90 described above.

(About the yoke lever)
As shown in FIGS. 5, 6, 16 to 18, and 23 to 24, the pair of yoke levers 96 are elongated in the longitudinal direction of the main lever 22 and each movable cover 60. It is Each yoke lever 96 is composed of a metal portion 98 (see FIGS. 25 to 27) made of metal and a yoke lever body portion 108 as a resin portion provided outside the metal portion 98 and made of resin. The metal portion 98 is embedded in the yoke lever body portion 108 by insert molding, for example. It should be noted that not only the configuration in which the metal portion 98 is embedded in the yoke lever body portion 108 as a resin portion, but also a part of the metal portion (for example, the grip portion 110 and the peripheral portions of the recesses 114, 116, 118, and 120, which will be described later). A configuration in which a resin portion is attached by outsert molding or the like may be employed. Each yoke lever 96 is not limited to being composed of the metal portion 98 and the yoke lever body portion 108 (resin portion), and each yoke lever 96 may be composed of only one of the metal portion and the resin portion.

The metal portion 98 is manufactured by press-molding a metal plate made of stainless steel, for example, and has an elongated shape whose longitudinal direction is the longitudinal direction of the yoke lever 96 . The metal portion 98 includes a plate-like portion 98A whose plate thickness direction is the vertical direction, and a reinforcing flange portion 98B extending upward from the widthwise rear end portion of the plate-like portion 98A. The cross section seen from the side is L-shaped.

A pair of through-holes 100 and 102 are formed side by side in the longitudinal direction of the metal portion 98 in the middle portion in the longitudinal direction of the metal portion 98 . These through holes 100 and 102 are formed in a bent portion between the plate-like portion 98A and the reinforcement flange portion 98B. A pair of projecting portions 104 and 106 projecting upward are formed along the longitudinal direction of the metal portion 98 at the upper end portion of the reinforcing flange portion 98B. These protruding portions 104 and 106 are arranged above the pair of through holes 100 and 102, and are formed in a substantially semicircular shape that protrudes upward when viewed in the front-rear direction.

The yoke lever body portion 108 in which the metal portion 98 is embedded is formed in the same shape as the metal portion 98, and has an L-shaped cross section when viewed in the longitudinal direction. Specifically, the yoke lever main body 108 is composed of a plate-like portion 108A whose plate thickness direction is the vertical direction, and an upright wall portion 108B extending upward from the rear end portion in the width direction of the plate-like portion 108A. and has an L-shaped cross section when viewed in the longitudinal direction.

A plate-like portion 98A of the metal portion 98 is embedded in the plate-like portion 108A, and a reinforcing flange portion 98B of the metal portion 98 is embedded in the standing wall portion 108B. The plate-like portion 108A forming the lower portion of the yoke lever body portion 108 is set to have a smaller width dimension than the vertical wall portion 108B forming the upper portion of the yoke lever body portion 108 . Further, the yoke lever main body 108 (yoke lever 96) provided with the standing wall portion 108B has a height dimension (vertical dimension) that is increased stepwise from the front side in the width direction to the rear side. and has an L-shaped cross section when viewed in the longitudinal direction.

Gripping portions 110 for gripping an intermediate portion in the longitudinal direction of the blade rubber 14 are formed at both longitudinal ends of the plate-like portion 108A. Each gripping portion 110 has a pair of front and rear gripping pieces 112 extending downward from the front and rear ends of the plate-like portion 108A. The distal ends (lower ends) of the front and rear gripping pieces 112 are bent toward each other, and are fitted in the pair of gripping grooves 18 described above. As a result, the blade rubber 14 is gripped by each gripping portion 110 at its longitudinal intermediate portion. The front gripping piece 112 protrudes forward from the plate-like portion 108A and then extends downward, and is arranged on the front side of the plate-like portion. In other words, the plate-like portion 108A is cut rearward between the front gripping pieces 112 provided at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the plate-like portion 108A.

A pair of recesses 114 and 116 aligned in the longitudinal direction of the yoke lever main body 108 is formed on the front surface of the plate-like portion 108A longitudinally intermediate portion, and the rear surface of the longitudinally intermediate portion of the plate-like portion , a pair of recesses 118 and 120 aligned in the longitudinal direction of the yoke lever main body 108 are formed. The pair of recesses 114, 116 and the pair of recesses 118, 120 are aligned in the longitudinal direction and the vertical direction of the yoke lever main body 108 and face each other in the front-rear direction (width direction). In addition, the concave portions 114, 116, 118, and 120 are open on the outer and lower sides in the front-rear direction (the width direction) (open to the outer and lower sides in the front-rear direction), and have a substantially semicircular shape when viewed in the front-rear direction. is making These concave portions 114 , 116 , 118 , 120 are arranged in such a manner that the arc-shaped curved surface protrudes upward. Further, concave portions 118 and 120 formed on the rear surface of the plate-like portion 108A are formed at positions corresponding to the pair of through holes 100 and 102 described above. As a result, the thickness of the yoke lever main body 108 is secured around the recesses 118 and 120, and the front-rear and vertical dimensions of the yoke lever main body 108 are reduced. The yoke lever main body 108 has a front protrusion (reference numerals omitted) in which peripheral portions of the recesses 114 and 116 protrude forward, and a rear protrusion in which peripheral portions of the recesses 118 and 120 protrude rearward. part (code omitted).

In addition, a plurality of front projections 122 protruding forward are formed along the longitudinal direction of the yoke lever main body 108 on the widthwise front surface of the plate-like portion 108A in the longitudinal direction intermediate portion. A plurality of rear protrusions 124 protruding rearward are provided on the rear surface of the longitudinally intermediate portion of the standing wall portion 108B in the width direction (the rear surface of the longitudinally intermediate portion of the yoke lever body portion 108 in the width direction). are formed side by side in the longitudinal direction. The front protrusion 122 is set to have a larger amount of protrusion from the front surface of the plate-like portion 108A than the front protrusion (periphery of the recesses 114 and 116). The amount of protrusion from the rear surface of the yoke lever body portion 108 is set larger than the peripheral portions of the recesses 118 and 120). The vertical dimension of the front projection 122 is set equal to the vertical dimension of the plate-like portion 108A, and the vertical dimension of the rear projection 124 is set equal to the vertical dimension of the yoke lever body portion 108. there is

A plurality of inner protrusions 126 protruding forward are formed along the longitudinal direction of the yoke lever body 108 on the front surface in the width direction of the longitudinal intermediate portion of the standing wall portion 108B. The vertical dimension of these inner protrusions 126 is set to be equal to the vertical dimension of the standing wall portion 108B. Furthermore, a pair of engaging protrusions 128 and 130 protruding forward are formed side by side in the longitudinal direction of the yoke lever main body 108 on the widthwise front surface of the longitudinally intermediate portion of the standing wall portion 108B. The pair of engaging protrusions 128 and 130 protrude forward from the standing wall portion 108B more than the plurality of inner protrusions 126, and are also integrally connected to the upper surface of the plate-like portion 108A. In other words, the pair of engaging projections 128 and 130 are provided at the boundary between the vertical wall portion 108B and the plate-like portion 108A so as to straddle both of them. In addition, the pair of engaging protrusions 128 and 130 are set smaller in vertical dimension than the plurality of inner protrusions 126 . The pair of engaging protrusions 128 and 130 are formed near the pair of recesses 114 and 116 and the pair of recesses 118 and 120 described above.

A pair of upwardly protruding rear-side pressurizing portions 132 and 134 are formed side by side in the longitudinal direction of the yoke lever body portion 108 on the upper surface of the longitudinally intermediate portion of the standing wall portion 108B. These rear pressurizing portions 132 and 134 are arranged above the pair of concave portions 118 and 120 described above, and have a substantially semicircular shape that protrudes upward when viewed in the front-rear direction. The pair of projecting portions 104 and 106 described above are embedded inside the rear pressure portions 132 and 134 . Furthermore, a pair of contact portions 136 and 138 protruding upward are formed on the upper surfaces of both ends in the longitudinal direction of the standing wall portion 108B.

The yoke lever 96 configured as described above is accommodated in the longitudinal direction in the main accommodation chamber 48 of the main lever 22 and in the movable accommodation chamber 86 of the movable cover 60 , and has a width relative to the main lever 22 and the movable cover 60 . It is connected so as to be rotatable around an axis extending in the direction (front-rear direction). Specifically, the main lever 22 and the yoke lever 96 are rotatable by fitting the protrusions 52 and 54 coaxially arranged on the main lever 22 with the recesses 114 and 118 of the yoke lever 96. The movable cover 60 and the yoke lever 96 are rotatable by fitting the convex portions 88 and 90 coaxially arranged on the movable cover 60 into the concave portions 116 and 120 of the yoke lever 96. Concatenated. That is, the yoke lever 96 is rotatably connected to the main lever 22 and the movable cover 60 at the lower plate-like portion 108A wider in the front-rear direction than the upper standing wall portion 108B.

As shown in FIGS. 12 to 15, a plate-shaped yoke lever 96 is provided between the front inner wall 36 and the rear wall 40 of the main lever 22 and between the front inner wall 68 and the rear wall 72 of the movable cover 60. A portion 108A is accommodated. A standing wall portion 108B of the yoke lever 96 is accommodated between the rear inner wall 42 and the rear wall 40 of the main lever 22 and between the rear inner wall 74 and the rear wall 72 of the movable cover 60 . That is, the main lever 22 and the movable cover 60 have a pair of opposed walls (the rear wall 40 and the rear inner wall 42, and the rear wall 72 and the rear inner wall 74) facing each other across the standing wall portion 108B.

Of the gripping portions 110 provided at both ends of the yoke lever 96 in the longitudinal direction, the gripping portion 110 on the main lever 22 side is located between the front inner wall 36 of the main lever 22 and the reinforcing wall 50 (see FIGS. 20 and 21). is accommodated in the main accommodation chamber 48 so as to be able to appear and disappear. A grip portion 110 on the side opposite to the main lever 22 is retractably housed in the movable housing chamber 86 between the front inner wall 68 of the movable cover 60 and the reinforcing wall 76 .

Of the rear pressure sections 132 and 134 and the contact sections 136 and 138 that protrude from the upper surface of the standing wall section 108B provided at the rear portion of the yoke lever 96, the rear pressure section 132 and the contact section 136 are located in the main housing chamber 48. (the lower surface of the upper wall 30), and the rear pressurizing portion 134 and the contact portion 138 are in contact with the upper surface of the movable storage chamber 86 (the lower surface of the upper wall 62). The rear pressure portions 132 and 134 (upright wall portion 108B) are arranged rearward of the fin surfaces 46 and 84 and above and behind the blade rubber 14 .

A plurality of front projections 122 formed on the yoke lever 96 protrude toward the reinforcing portion 36B provided on the front wall 32 of the main lever 22 and the reinforcing portion 68B provided on the front wall 64 of the movable cover 60. and are in contact or closely opposed to the reinforcements 36B, 68B. A plurality of inner protrusions 126 formed on the yoke lever 96 protrude toward the rear inner wall 42 side of the main lever 22 and the rear inner wall 74 side of the movable cover 60, and come into contact with the rear inner walls 42, 74. Or they are closely facing each other. A plurality of rear protrusions 124 formed on the yoke lever 96 protrude toward the rear wall 40 side of the main lever 22 and toward the rear wall 72 side of the movable cover 60 , and are arranged to extend toward the rear walls 40 and 72 . in contact or in close proximity. In the present embodiment, the plurality of rear projections 124 are in contact with or closely face the rear walls 40 and 72 from the top to the bottom. Anything that contacts or closely opposes at least the upper side may be used.

Of the pair of engaging protrusions 128 and 130 formed on the yoke lever 96, the engaging protrusion 128 is arranged in the notch 58 (see FIG. 21) formed in the rear inner wall 42 of the main lever 22. 22) formed in the rear inner wall 74 of the movable cover 60. As shown in FIG. These engaging projections 128, 130 and cutouts 58, 94 constitute a load transmitting portion (not shown). This load transmission portion transfers the load acting along the longitudinal direction between the main lever 22 and the movable cover 60 and the yoke lever 96 to the engagement between the engagement convex portion 128 and the end portion of the notch portion 58 . , and the engagement of the engaging projection 130 and the end of the notch 94. As shown in FIG.

Further, in this embodiment, the first opening 48A of each main storage chamber 48 and the second opening 86A of each movable storage chamber 86 are closed by the plate-like portion 108A of each yoke lever 96. As shown in FIG. Each main housing chamber 48 is longitudinally blocked off from the main lever 22 by each central blocking wall 50 , and each movable housing chamber 86 is separated from the main lever 22 by each outer blocking wall 75 . is longitudinally blocked on the opposite side.

However, smooth rotation of each yoke lever 96 with respect to the main lever 22 and each movable lever 60 is allowed between each edge of each first opening 48A and each second opening 86A and each yoke lever 96. A narrow gap is formed for Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, between the front inner walls 36, 68 forming the front edges of the first openings 48A and the second openings 86A and the yoke levers 96. Narrow gaps 150 and 152 having the same front-to-rear dimensions as the plurality of front projections 122 are formed in locations where the plurality of front projections 122 do not exist. Further, between the rear walls 40, 72 forming the rear edges of the first openings 48A and the second openings 86A and the yoke levers 96, the locations where the plurality of rear projections 124 do not exist are: Narrow gaps 154 and 156 having the same front-rear dimension as the rear protrusion 124 are formed. Narrow gaps 158 and 160 are also formed between each yoke lever 96 and each central blocking wall 50 and between each yoke lever 96 and each outer blocking wall 75 . Narrow gaps 162 , 164 , 166 , 168 are also formed between each grip portion 110 of each yoke lever 96 and the front walls 32 , 64 and rear walls 40 , 72 . The yoke levers 96 block the portions of the first openings 48A and the second openings 86A other than the gaps.

Further, in the present embodiment, each movable cover 60 is located on the side opposite to the main lever 22 with respect to each movable housing chamber 86 (more specifically, on the side opposite to the main lever 22 via each outer blocking wall 75). ) opens downward, and has a plurality of partition walls 76 that partition the corresponding portion (the portion closer to the end in the longitudinal direction than the movable housing chamber 86 ) in the longitudinal direction of each movable cover 60 .

(Action and effect)
Next, the operation and effects of this embodiment will be described.

In the wiper blade 10 configured as described above, the blade rubber 14 is gripped by the wiper lever assembly 20 having a tournament structure. In this wiper lever assembly 20, a pair of movable covers 60 are continuously arranged on both sides in the longitudinal direction of a main lever 22 to which the tip of the wiper arm 12 is connected to the central portion in the longitudinal direction. On both sides in the longitudinal direction of the main lever 22, there are formed main storage chambers 48 each having a first opening 48A that opens toward the wiping surface WS side (lower side). A movable storage chamber 86 having a second opening 86A that opens downward is formed.

A pair of yoke levers 96 housed in each main housing chamber 48 and each movable housing chamber 86 is rotatable about an axis extending in the width direction with respect to the main lever 22 and each movable cover 60. connected to The blade rubber 14 is gripped by gripping portions 80 provided on the side opposite to the main lever 22 in each movable cover 60 and gripping portions 110 provided on both ends in the longitudinal direction of each yoke lever 96. . As a result, the pressing force applied from the wiper arm 12 to the main lever 22 is distributed and dispersed in the longitudinal direction of the blade rubber 14 via the backing composed of each yoke lever 96 and a metal plate spring material, thereby wiping. The distribution pressure on the surface WS becomes uniform, and the wiping performance is improved.

Moreover, in this wiper blade 10 (wiper lever assembly 20), the first opening 48A of each main storage chamber 48 and the second opening 86A of each movable storage chamber 86 are formed by the plate-shaped portion 108A of each yoke lever 96. It is blocked (blocked). As a result, it is possible to actively suppress the flow of the airflow that has interfered with the wiper blade 10 into the main accommodation chamber 48 and the movable accommodation chamber 86 . As a result, it is possible to prevent or suppress the occurrence of turbulence in the airflow due to the inflow into the internal space of the wiper lever assembly, thereby improving the aerodynamic characteristics.

In addition, since the plate-like portion 108A of each yoke lever 96 is formed in a plate-like shape with the plate thickness direction extending in the vertical direction, the first openings 48A and the second openings 86A that open downward are formed. It can be effectively occluded.

Further, in this embodiment, fin surfaces 46 and 84 that slope downward toward the front side (one side in the width direction) are formed on the upper surfaces on both sides in the longitudinal direction of the main lever 22 and on the upper surface of each movable cover 60, respectively. there is For this reason, the main housing chambers 48 and the movable housing chambers 86 formed on both sides in the longitudinal direction of the main lever 22 and in the movable covers 60 are arranged on the front side (one side in the width direction) and on the rear side (the other side in the width direction). height dimension is smaller than

In this regard, in the present embodiment, each yoke lever 96 accommodated in each main accommodation chamber 48 and each movable accommodation chamber 86 includes plate-shaped plate portions 98A and 108A whose plate thickness direction extends in the vertical direction, It has standing wall portions 98B and 108B projecting upward from the other widthwise end sides of the plate-like portions 98A and 108A. In each yoke lever 96 configured in this manner, the front side (one side in the width direction) is lower in height than the rear side (the other side in the width direction). While the yoke lever 96 is compactly accommodated in the accommodation chamber 86, the strength of each yoke lever can be ensured by the vertical wall portions 98B and 108B. Moreover, the main lever 22 and the movable cover 60, on which the fin surfaces 46, 84 are formed on the upper surfaces thereof, are inclined downward toward one side in the width direction (front side in the width direction), and the front side in the width direction Since the height dimension is larger on the rear side, even if the main storage chamber 48 and the movable storage chamber 86 are formed with the height dimension enlarged on the rear side rather than on the front side in the width direction as described above. , an increase in height dimension can be suppressed. As a result, in the wiper blade 10 (wiper lever assembly 20), the protrusion height from the wiping surface WS can be kept low, so the aerodynamic characteristics can be improved.

In addition, when the fin surface 84 of the movable cover 60 receives the running wind, a pressing force is generated in the movable cover 60 itself, and the blade rubber 14, particularly the tip portion of the blade rubber 14 held by the grip portion 80 of the movable cover 60, is pressed. Since the pressure is applied, the protrusion height from the wiping surface WS is kept low, and the tip portion for wiping the large curvature portion of the wiping surface WS can be energized as a pressing force during high-speed running.

A supplementary explanation of the above aerodynamic characteristics will be given. In order to improve the aerodynamic characteristics of the wiper blade 10 (wiper lever assembly 20), the height dimensions of the main lever 22 and the movable cover 60 are set small, and the fin surfaces 46 of the main lever 22 and the movable cover 60 are reduced. , 84 are preferably gently inclined or curved from upwind to downwind of the running wind. For this purpose, the height dimension (vertical dimension) of each arm portion 22B of the main lever 22 and the movable cover 60 must be decreased toward the front side in the width direction. In this regard, in the present embodiment, the yoke lever 96 has a larger height dimension at the rear side than at the front side in the width direction, and has a lower height dimension at the front side in the width direction. The degree of freedom in setting the shape of each arm portion 22B and the movable cover 60 is increased, and the fin surfaces 46, 84 can be easily set in a preferable shape. As a result, it is possible to dramatically improve aerodynamic characteristics (especially reduction in lift).

In addition, in the present embodiment, the main lever 22 has a pair of central blocking walls 50 that block the main housing chambers 48 in the longitudinal direction of the main lever 22 at the center in the longitudinal direction. The pair of central blocking walls 50 can prevent or suppress air currents from flowing from the central side in the longitudinal direction to the inside of each main storage chamber 48 . As a result, it is possible to prevent or suppress raindrops and the like from flowing into the main storage chamber 48 and, in some cases, even into the movable storage chamber 86, staying there with the air flow, and being spouted out all at once.

In addition, in this embodiment, each movable cover 60 has an outer blocking wall 75 that cuts off each movable housing chamber 86 in the longitudinal direction on the side opposite to the main lever 22 . The outer blocking wall 75 can prevent or suppress air currents that tend to flow toward the ends in the longitudinal direction. As a result, by suppressing the flow of the airflow toward the longitudinal ends in the internal space of the wiper lever assembly, it is possible to promote the flow of the airflow that passes through the wiper lever assembly from the front side in the width direction to the rear side.

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, each movable cover 60 has a portion opposite to the main lever 22 via each movable housing chamber 86 and is open downward, and this portion extends in the longitudinal direction of the movable cover 60. It has a plurality of partition walls 76 for partitioning. As a result, the plurality of partition walls 76 can prevent or suppress an air current from flowing from the movable housing chamber 86 side of each movable cover 60 to the side opposite to the main lever 22 . As a result, it is possible to further prevent or suppress the flow of the airflow in the inner space of the wiper lever assembly, particularly in the interior of the movable cover 60, toward the ends in the longitudinal direction.

In addition, the yoke lever 96 is formed in an L shape when viewed in the longitudinal direction, and the height dimension is enlarged in a stepped manner on the rear side rather than on the front side. For this reason, the yoke lever 96 can be compactly accommodated in the main accommodation chamber 48 and the movable accommodation chamber 86 while ensuring the strength of the yoke lever 96 efficiently. It is possible to further improve the aerodynamic characteristics by suppressing the protrusion height from the

Moreover, in the yoke lever 96 described above, the metal portion 98 made of metal is embedded in the yoke lever body portion 108 made of resin. It becomes easy to achieve both securing of the strength of the lever and miniaturization. In addition, since the exposure of the metal portion 98 is reduced, anti-corrosion and anti-glare coating (generally black coating) is not required, which contributes to a reduction in manufacturing costs.

In this embodiment, the projections 52 , 54 , 88 , and 90 formed on both front and rear sides in the width direction of the main housing chamber 48 and the movable housing chamber 86 are formed on both front and rear sides in the width direction of the yoke lever 96 . The yoke lever 96 is rotatably connected to the main lever 22 and the movable cover 60 by fitting into the four recesses 114 , 118 , 116 and 120 . As a result, compared to the case where the main lever 22, the movable cover 60, and the yoke lever 96 are rotatably connected using a shaft member, for example, each rotation of the main lever 22, the movable cover 60, and the yoke lever 96 can be performed. The structure and assembly of the connecting portion are simplified.

Moreover, in this embodiment, the four concave portions 114, 116, 118, and 120 formed on both front and rear sides in the width direction of the yoke lever 96 are open on the outer and lower sides in the front-rear direction, and are substantially semicircular when viewed in the front-rear direction. formed into a shape. As a result, the height dimension of the yoke lever 96 can be set smaller than when the concave portions 114, 116, 118 and 120 are formed circularly when viewed in the front-rear direction. As a result, the wiper lever assembly 20 can further reduce the height of the protrusion from the wiping surface WS.

Further, in this embodiment, the yoke lever 96 is rotatably connected to the main lever 22 and the movable cover 60 at the lower plate-like portion 108A wider in the front-rear direction than the upper standing wall portion 108B. As a result, the axial length of each pivotal connection between the main lever 22 and the movable cover 60 and the yoke lever 96 can be set long in the width direction. It is possible to suppress the change in the attitude seen from the direction, that is, the tilting attitude).

Further, in this embodiment, a standing wall portion 108B projecting upward is formed on the rear side of the yoke lever 96, and the main lever 22 and the movable cover 60 are arranged in a pair facing each other with the standing wall portion 108B interposed therebetween. It has opposing walls (back wall 40 and back inner wall 42 and back wall 72 and back inner wall 74). As a result, the yoke lever 96 can be prevented from rattling with respect to the main lever 22 and the movable cover 60 due to the engagement between the pair of opposing walls and the standing wall portion 108B.

In the present embodiment, the upper surface of the standing wall portion 108B provided on the rear side of the yoke lever 96 is provided with a pair of rear side walls in contact with the upper surface of the rear side of the main housing chamber 48 and the upper surface of the rear side of the movable housing chamber 86. Pressure units 132 and 134 are provided. As a result, the pressing force from the wiper arm 12 and the reaction force from the wiping surface WS are transmitted between the yoke lever 96, the main lever 22 and the movable cover 60 via the pair of rear pressure portions 132 and 134. Therefore, it is possible to prevent or suppress the application of the above-described force to each pivotal connection portion between the yoke lever 96 and the main lever 22 . As a result, it is possible to design the connection strength of each of the rotary connection portions to be low (for example, the concave portions 114 and 118 of the yoke lever 96 can be formed in a semicircular or substantially semicircular shape when viewed in the front-rear direction). The size can be reduced in the height direction, and the protrusion height of the wiper lever assembly 20 (wiper blade 10) from the wiping surface WS can be further reduced. Moreover, since the rear pressure portions 132 and 134 (upright wall portion 108B) are arranged on the rear side of the fin surfaces 46 and 84, the rear pressure portions 132 and 134 are positioned above the fin surfaces 46 and 84. Limitation on the shape can be prevented or suppressed, and the degree of freedom in setting the shape of the fin surfaces 46 and 84 is improved.

In addition, in this embodiment, the main lever 22 and the movable cover 60 have front walls 32, 64 that form the front surfaces of the main storage chamber 48 and the movable storage chamber 86, respectively. It has flexible portions 36A and 68A on which convex portions 52 and 88 are formed, and reinforcing portions 36B and 68B that are more reinforced than the flexible portions 36A and 68A. Therefore, the protrusions 52 , 54 , 88 , 90 formed on both front and rear surfaces of the main housing chamber 48 and the movable housing chamber 86 in the width direction are replaced by the recesses 114 , 118 formed on both front and rear surfaces of the yoke lever 96 in the width direction. , 116 and 120, the flexible portions 36A and 68A are flexed so that the projections 52 and 88 formed on these flexible portions 36A and 68A are fitted into the recesses of the yoke lever 96. 114, 116 can be easily fitted.

Moreover, when a load in the width direction front-rear direction (wiping direction) acts between the yoke lever 96 and the main lever 22 and the movable cover 60, the yoke lever 96 can contact the reinforcing portions 36B and 68B correspondingly. A plurality of front projections 122 protruding outward abut on reinforcing portions 36B and 68B provided on the front walls 32 and 64 of the main lever 22 and the movable cover 60, respectively. As a result, it is possible to prevent or suppress the application of the above load to the flexible portions 36A, 68A. can be prevented from coming off.

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the main lever 22 and the movable cover 60 are configured such that the rear walls 40 and 72 forming the rear surfaces of the main housing chamber 48 and the movable housing chamber 86 are arranged downward from the rear end portion. Each rear wall 40, 72 has a projection 54, 90 formed at its lower end. Therefore, the protrusions 52 , 54 , 88 , 90 formed on both front and rear surfaces of the main housing chamber 48 and the movable housing chamber 86 in the width direction are replaced by the four recesses 114 formed on both front and rear surfaces of the yoke lever 96 in the width direction. , 118, 116, and 120, the rear walls 40 and 72 are flexed so that the projections 54 and 90 formed on the lower ends of the rear walls 40 and 72 are pushed into the yoke levers. It can be easily fitted into the recesses 114, 116 of 96.

Moreover, when a load in the width direction front-rear direction (wiping direction) acts between the yoke lever 96 and the main lever 22 and the movable cover 60, the plurality of rear projections 124 protruding from the yoke lever 96 will move to the rear wall. By abutting on the upper side of the rear walls 40, 72 (that is, a portion that is less likely to bend back and forth than the lower side of the rear walls 40, 72), the distance from the bending fulcrum is shortened, and the bending of the rear walls 40, 72 can be suppressed. can. As a result, it is possible to prevent the protrusions 54 and 90 formed on the rear walls 40 and 72 from accidentally coming off the recesses 114 and 116 of the yoke lever 96 .

In addition, in this embodiment, the plurality of front projections 122, the rear projections 124, and the inner projections 126 projecting from the yoke lever 96 are formed on the main lever 22 and the front inner walls 36, 68 and the rear walls of the movable cover 60. 40, 72 and rear inner walls 42, 74, respectively. For this reason, compared with the configuration in which the yoke lever 96 is in planar contact with the walls over a wide area, it is easier to manage the dimensions.

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the cutouts 58 and 94 formed in the rear inner walls 42 and 74 of the main lever 22 and the movable cover 60 and the engaging protrusions 128 and 130 provided in the yoke lever 96 are configured. It has a load transmission part. In this load transmission portion, the load acting along the longitudinal direction between the main lever 22 and the movable cover 60 and the yoke lever 96 is transferred to the end portions of the cutout portions 58 and 94 and the engaging convex portion 128, It is received in engagement with 130 . As a result, it is possible to prevent or suppress the above-described load from acting on the pivotal connection portions of the yoke lever 96 , the main lever 22 and the movable cover 60 .

Next, the aerodynamic characteristics of the wiper blade 10 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 28 to 30. FIG. FIG. 28 is an aerodynamic analysis diagram of the wiper blade 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 29 is an aerodynamic analysis diagram of the wiper blade 200 according to the first comparative example, and FIG. 30 is the second comparative example. 3 is an aerodynamic analysis diagram of the wiper blade 300. FIG. The wiper blades 200, 300 are conventional tournament wiper blades. The yoke levers (reference numerals omitted) provided on these wiper blades 200 and 300 are larger in height than the yoke lever 96 provided on the wiper blade 10 . In this aerodynamic analysis, the height dimension of the wiper blade 10<the height dimension of the wiper blade 200<the height dimension of the wiper blade 300 is set.

For each of the wiper blades 10, 200, and 300, lift force and drag force acting on each wiper blade were analyzed when the vehicle traveling speed was set to 200 km/h. As a result, wiper blade 10 < wiper blade 200 < wiper blade 300 for both lift and drag. This aerodynamic analysis confirmed that the aerodynamic characteristics of the wiper blade 10 according to the present embodiment are dramatically improved.

In the above-described embodiment, a pair of rear support members contacting the upper surface of the rear portion of the yoke lever 96 (the upper surface of the vertical wall portion 108B), the upper surface of the rear portion of the main accommodation chamber 48 and the upper surface of the rear portion of the movable accommodation chamber 86 are provided. Although the pressure portions 132 and 134 are provided, the present invention is not limited to this. 31 and 32, the upper surface of the front portion of the yoke lever 96 (the upper surface of the plate-like portion 108A), the upper surface of the front portion of the main housing chamber 48 and the movable housing chamber 86 are mounted on the upper surface of the front portion of the yoke lever 96. A pair of front pressure members 140 and 142 may be provided in contact with the upper surface of the front side of the .

In this modification, the pressing force from the wiper arm 12 and the reaction force from the wiping surface WS are applied between the yoke lever 96, the main lever 22 and the movable cover 60 via the pair of front pressure members 140 and 142. Since the force is transmitted, it is possible to prevent or suppress the above force from being applied to each of the rotationally connecting portions of the yoke lever 96, the main lever 22, and the movable cover 60. As a result, each of the rotary connecting portions can be miniaturized in the height direction of the yoke lever 96 . As a result, the height of the wiper lever assembly 20 (wiper blade 10) protruding from the wiping surface WS can be further reduced as in the above embodiment. Moreover, since the front pressure portions 140 and 142 are arranged above the blade rubber 14, the pressing force from the wiper arm 12 can be applied to the blade rubber 14 from above (without being offset in the front-rear direction). can be done.

In addition, the present invention can be implemented with various modifications without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, it goes without saying that the scope of rights of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments.

10... wiper blade, 12... wiper arm, 14... blade rubber, 20... wiper lever assembly, 22... main lever, 46... fin surface (first fin surface), 48. Main storage chamber 48A First opening 50 Center blocking wall 60 Movable cover 75 Outer blocking wall 76 Partition wall 80 Grasping portion 84 Fin surface (second fin surface) 86 Movable housing chamber 86A Second opening 96 Yoke lever 98 Metal portion 98A Plate-shaped portion 98B Standing wall portion 108 Yoke lever body portion (resin portion) 108A Plate-shaped portion 108B 110 Grip portion

Claims (5)

a main lever having a front end portion of the wiper arm connected to the longitudinal central portion thereof, and having main storage chambers having first openings opening downward, formed on both sides in the longitudinal direction;
A movable storage chamber having a second opening that opens downward is formed with gripping portions that are continuously arranged on both sides in the longitudinal direction of the main lever and grip the blade rubber on the side opposite to the main lever. a pair of movable covers;
It is housed in each of the main housing chambers and each of the movable housing chambers, and is connected to the main lever and each of the movable covers so as to be rotatable about an axis extending in the width direction. a pair of yoke levers provided with gripping portions for gripping the rubber;
with
The pair of yoke levers has a plate-like portion formed in a plate-like shape with a plate thickness direction extending in the vertical direction, and the plate-like portion closes the first opening and the second opening. cage,
A first fin surface sloping downward toward one side in the width direction is formed on upper surfaces on both sides in the longitudinal direction of the main lever,
A second fin surface sloping downward toward one side in the width direction is formed on the upper surface of each of the movable covers,
A wiper lever assembly in which each of the yoke levers has an upright wall projecting upward from the other widthwise end of the plate-like portion . 2. The wiper lever assembly according to claim 1, wherein said main lever has a pair of central blocking walls that longitudinally block each of said main storage chambers at a longitudinal center side of said main lever . 3. The wiper lever assembly according to claim 1 , wherein each movable cover has an outer blocking wall that longitudinally blocks each movable storage chamber on a side opposite to the main lever . Each of the movable covers has a portion opposite to the main lever through the movable housing chamber and is open downward, and has one or a plurality of partition walls partitioning the portion in the longitudinal direction of the movable cover. The wiper lever assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 3. A blade rubber for wiping the wiping surface of the vehicle,
The wiper lever assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the blade rubber is gripped by the gripping portions provided on the pair of movable covers and the pair of yoke levers;
a wiper blade having a

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