JPH11321572A - Wiper blade element and holding clip - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a clip capable of fitting a wiper blade element to a harness by thrusting the wiper blade element through a pawl until it is completely coupled with the pawl of the harness. SOLUTION: A clip 5 for holding a wiper blade element 1 in the harness of a wiper blade assembly is provided with a main body portion 10 and a leg 11 with a hook portion 12 at a free end. When the clip 5 is used, the hook portion 12 and the main body portion 10 are arranged on the opposite sides across the pawl 6 of the harness, and the wiper blade element 1 is held in the pawl 6. Only one clip 5 is required for one wiper blade element 1. The clip 5 is arranged at the prescribed position of an assembly of a wiping component 2 and reinforcing strips 3, 3', and the wiper blade element 1 can be formed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a wiper blade assembly used for a windshield wiper for an automobile.

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Many modern automotive windshield wiper blade assemblies have multiple yoke harnesses,
In this yoke harness, replaceable wiper blade elements (wiper blade elements are often referred to as “replacement parts (refi
ll) "). Harnesses are usually
A central portion has a main yoke attached to the wiper arm, and the main yoke includes a pair of auxiliary yokes whose central region is pivotally attached to opposite ends of the main yoke. These auxiliary yokes can support one or more additional yokes. This configuration of the yoke usually means that when the main yoke is pressed in the direction of the windshield by the force applied to its central part, a flexible wiper blade element, which is fixed to the end of a certain yoke, Are pressed against the windshield with substantially equal force. The wiper blade element is a virtual wiping component (wiping com) which generally consists of an elongated rubber mounting.
ponent).

[0003] In particular, in a simple and general arrangement, the end of the yoke to which the wiper blade assembly is fixed is provided with a pawl which can be engaged in a longitudinal slot of the wiper blade element. The wiper blade element itself has an elongated wiping component and at least one (usually two) reinforcing strips (also known as "rails") each of which is received in a longitudinal slot of the wiping component. doing. The pawl partially surrounds the head of the wiping component with the reinforcing strip receiving slot and has three functions. The first function is that the pawls hold the wiping components in the correct orientation for wiping against the windshield. A second function is to allow the wiper blade element to slide longitudinally relative to the harness so that the wiper blade element can follow the curvature of the windshield as it moves over the windshield. A third function is that the pawls hold the reinforcing strips in respective slots along the length of the wiping component.

This arrangement is popular, at least in part, because of the simplicity of manufacture and the particular simplicity of the reinforcing strip, in that the wiping part is a fixed-section mounting or extruded part.

Of course, this arrangement requires that the wiper blade element not be disengaged from the engagement with the pawl and that the wiping component and the reinforcing strip do not move longitudinally with respect to each other. Many configurations have been devised for these purposes.

For example, a PCT application (PCT / DE93) by Bollen et al.
/ 00088) discloses a clip for use at one end of a wiper blade element of the type described above. The clip has a body portion, the body portion cooperating with a corresponding recess in the reinforcement strip to prevent movement of the reinforcement strip within the body portion, and a wiping component within the body portion. Additional internal projections and end walls for restraining longitudinal movement and parallel legs extending from the body portion. In use, the clip is positioned at one end of the wiper blade element (and thus outside the pawl), and the legs extend along the sides of the pawl and the ends of the legs are latched together inside the pawl to provide a wiper. Hold the blade element in the harness.

[0007] The wiper blade element requires only one such clip, but this arrangement requires attention to the latching of the legs during installation, and if this care is neglected or incomplete, the wiper blade is not required. The blade element is no longer retained in the harness. This clip is not suitable for manufacturing in metal due to the need for a latching mechanism on the legs and requires the formation of a recess in the reinforcing strip.

[0008] Burton and Volkoff Australian Patent Application No. 74325/94 discloses a clip for use at both ends of a wiper blade element of the type described above. The clip has a body portion with an internal protrusion received in a corresponding recess of the reinforcing strip and the end wall of the two clips at both ends of the wiper blade element cooperate to longitudinally move the wiping part relative to the reinforcing strip. And an end wall configured to prevent the The two clips engage the two outermost pawls of the harness, thereby retaining the wiper blade element in the harness. The disadvantage of this arrangement is that it requires two clips in addition to the need for a reinforcing strip with a recess.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention makes it possible to mount a wiper blade element in a harness by pushing the wiper blade element through the pawl until the wiper blade element is fully engaged in the pawl of the harness. Only one clip is required for the wiper blade element.

The present invention is suitable for a wiper blade element having a constant cross section wiping component and a constant or substantially constant cross section reinforcing strip.

The clips encompassed by the present invention are suitable for being made of either plastic or metal, and when made of metal, the clips can be assembled to the wiping parts and reinforcing strip during molding. .

[0012] As well as application to new wipers, the present invention will also be useful to suppliers of spare parts for wipers. It is convenient to stock a wiper blade element (replacement part) consisting of an assembly of a wiping part and a reinforcing strip, each assembly having a clip according to the invention pre-assembled. Such a part can be cut to the desired length by cutting it at the end opposite to the clip before attaching it to the harness.

[0013]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is a clip for use with an elongated wiper blade element for retaining the wiper blade element within a wiper blade assembly, the wiper blade assembly having a harness. A clip having a configuration in which the harness includes at least one claw for connecting the harness to the wiper blade element, wherein the body portion is fixed to a wiping component of the wiper blade element, and is connected to the body portion. At least one leg, the free end of which is provided with a hook portion, wherein the body portion is disposed longitudinally outwardly of the pawl during use, each leg extending over the pawl; The part is located longitudinally inward from the pawl, which holds the wiping part in the pawl and wiper blade air in the harness. Providing a clip, characterized in that to limit the longitudinal movement of the instrument.

[0014] Preferably, the clip has two said legs, the two legs being located adjacent to both sides of the harness member to which the pawl is attached when the clip is used.

[0015] Preferably, each leg is arranged on the same side as the harness with respect to the wiper blade element.

Preferably, each leg is resilient so that when the clip is secured to the wiping component and the wiper blade element is pushed through the pawl, each leg flexes and each hook portion Allows the pawl to ride over and subsequently spring back, thereby retaining the pawl between the body portion and each of the hook portions.

In a particularly preferred form, the clip is used for a wiper blade element having a wiping component and at least one reinforcing strip received in a first longitudinal groove on a side of the wiping component, wherein the body portion of the clip is provided. Has retaining means for preventing longitudinal movement of the wiping component relative to the body portion and means for preventing longitudinal movement of each of the reinforcing strips relative to the body portion.

Preferably, the body portion has a channel-like cross section with a base and two side walls, each side wall having a free edge, which extends along the inside of the channel and is wiped. One of the other two longitudinal grooves of the part
One is provided with a protruding portion.

[0019] The holding means may comprise a barb provided on the base or at least one of the protrusions for gripping the wiping component.

Preferably, the reinforcing strip is moved longitudinally with respect to the body part in at least a first direction by abutment means arranged on the body part to abut an end region of the reinforcement strip. Is prevented.

[0021] The abutment means may include a wall extending inwardly of the body portion from at least one of the base, side walls or protrusions of the body portion.

In another aspect, the present invention comprises a wiper having an elongated wiper blade element with a wiping component and a harness, wherein the harness includes at least one pawl for connecting the wiper blade element to the wiper blade element. A wiper blade assembly, wherein the wiper blade element has at least one clip of any of the above forms for retaining the wiper blade element in a harness.

In yet another aspect, the invention includes an elongated wiping component, at least one reinforcing strip received in a first longitudinal groove on a side of the wiping component, and a clip of any of the above forms. A wiper blade element for use in a wiper blade assembly is provided.

In a preferred embodiment of the wiper blade element, the reinforcing strip is bent upwards or downwards in the end area to engage with the end area of the wiping component, and the reinforcing strip is moved relative to the body in the first direction. In the longitudinal direction in the opposite direction.

In yet another aspect, the present invention provides a method for assembling a wiping component and at least one reinforcing strip together, and supplying one or more pressing means with a metal material to be handled by the pressing means to form a clip. And a step of forming a clip at a predetermined position of the wiping component from the metal material by a press means, thereby providing a wiper blade element manufacturing method according to the above claims.

In this method, the metal material is separated from a continuous metal strip.

The clip is preferably formed from a plastic material or a pre-painted metal material.

[0028]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail.

Referring first to FIG. 1, there is shown a wiper blade element 1 of an automotive windshield wiper.
Has an elongated wiping part 2 made of rubber or the like and two reinforcing strips 3, 3 'received in longitudinal grooves 4, 4' of the wiping part 2. The wiping part 2 and the reinforcing strips 3, 3 'are connected to the wiper blade element 1
And is held in the clip 5. The wiper blade element 1 is held in a claw 6 formed at one end of a harness member 7. The harness member 7 is
One of several such harness members,
Each harness member has a pair of spaced pawls similar to pawls 6 provided on a pressure distribution harness (not shown) of wiper blade element 1 as is well known in the automotive art. ing. The nail 6 is attached to the head 8 of the wiping component 2.
To allow the wiping component 2 to move with respect to the harness member 7 in the longitudinal direction (that is, the direction of the arrow 9). Such free movement is necessary for all but one of the claws of the harness so that the wiper blade element 1 can follow the contour of the windshield.

The clip 5 limits the longitudinal movement of the wiper blade element 1 with respect to the harness member 7 to prevent the separation of the wiper blade element 1 from the harness, and the length of the reinforcing strips 3, 3 'with respect to the wiping component 2. The purpose is to both prevent directional separation movement. For this purpose, the clip 5 is
It has two legs 11, 11 'extending from zero.
The legs 11, 11 'pass over the claws 6 on both sides of the harness member 7 and have hook portions 12, 12'. Nail 6
Is constrained between the body portion 10 of the clip 5 and the hook portions 12, 12 'of the legs 11, 11', thereby limiting the longitudinal movement of the wiper blade element 1 with respect to the harness member 7 (FIG. In 1, clip 5
Obviously, the claw 6 can be limitedly moved with respect to the above, but if necessary, the length of the legs 11, 11 'can be shortened so as to substantially prevent such relative movement. it can).

The legs 11, 11 'are substantially rigid, but deflect so that the hook portions 12, 12' pass over the pawl 6 when the wiper blade element 1 is fed through the pawl 6. And then hook portions 12, 1
2 'can occupy a position where a load due to elasticity is applied to the claw 6. This is, as another configuration, legs 11, 1
It can also be achieved with substantially rigid legs 11, 11 ', which themselves have little or no flexibility. In such a configuration, the hook portions 12, 12 'can sufficiently pass over the claws 6 due to the flexibility of the wiping component 2 made of rubber or elastomer. Although somewhat less favorable, in a further alternative, the legs 11, 11 'are bent upwards so that the hook part (s) can pass through the pawl 6 when the wiper blade element 1 is inserted. The hook portion can be plastically deformed downward behind the claw 6 by the user after passing through the hook portion. As described above, the legs 11, 11 'and the hook portions 12, 12'
Is preferably returned to a predetermined position by spring elasticity after passing through the claw 6. By passing the legs 11, 11 ′ over the pawl 6, rather than over the pawl 6 and between the pawl 6 and the top surface of the head 8 of the wiper blade element 1, the clip 5 Note that it has been found that the design applied to this harness can be facilitated and therefore fit into the spare parts market. For example, leg 1
In order for 1,11 'to pass between the pawl 6 and the top of the wiper blade element 1, a sufficient clearance must be provided, but such a problem does not occur with the clip 5 of the present invention.

The clip 5 includes reinforcing strips 3,
3 'and the wiping part 2 are both retained in the body part 10, so that the strip 3,
The longitudinal movement of 3 'and wiping part 2 and the relative longitudinal movement of strips 3, 3' and wiping part 2 are prevented, and the corresponding clipping on the other end of wiper blade element 1 is not required. . The claws 6 (as well as the other claws of the harness)
Along the length of 3 ', reinforcing strips 3, 3' are grooved 4,
4 'to increase the rigidity of the wiper blade element 1.

The main body 10 of the clip 5 includes a base 13
And two side walls 14, 14 'and have a channel-like cross-sectional shape as a whole. Protrusions 15, 15 'are provided along the free edges of the side walls 14, 14'. As shown in FIG. 6, the main body part 10 having a channel-like cross section is provided with a gap 16 between the two projections 15, 15 '.
(The web 17 of the wiping part 2 passes through the gap 16)
Except for the head 8 of the wiping component 2. In order to prevent the wiping component 2 from moving in any of the longitudinal directions with respect to the clip 5, a locking portion 21 formed along the protrusions 15 and 15 'grips the web 17. Instead of the locking part 21, a tab facing inward from the base 13 and frictionally engaging in the top surface of the wiping component 2 may be formed. Tabs 18, 18 'protrude from the extensions 22, 22' of the side walls 14, 14 '.
8 'collides well with both the part of the end face of the wiping part 2 and the end areas of the reinforcing strips 3, 3'. To ensure that the reinforcing strips 3, 3 'do not move longitudinally with respect to the wiping component 2, the ends of the strips 3, 3' have uprights which engage a part of the end face of the wiping component 2. The protruding portions 19, 19 'are bent. Thus, as shown in FIG. 7, the strip 3 is
Is prevented from moving rightward, and the protrusion 1
Movement to the left is prevented by the engagement of the wiping component 9 with the wiping component 2. If desired, the projections 19, 19 'formed at the ends of the strips 3, 3' can be, for example, these projections 1
By bending 9, 19 'in a direction opposite to the direction shown in FIG. In this embodiment, the strips 3, 3 'are fixed to the clip 5.

In the embodiment described above, the rubber of the wiping component 2 is fixed to the clip 5 by the locking portion 21 (or an equivalent thereof) engaging with the wiping component 2.
The clip 5 is held against the harness by its hook portions 12, 12 ', and the body portion 10 is located on either side of the pawl 6. The reinforcing strips 3, 3 'are provided with tabs 18, 1 which abut one end of the reinforcing strips 3, 3'.
8 'and the projections 19, 19' acting as abutment against the end area of the wiping part 2, or by tabs 18, 1
By being held between 8 ′ and the end face 20 of the clip 5, it is held against the wiping component 2. In a particularly advantageous embodiment, where the clip 5 is made from a molded plastics material, the side walls 14, 14 'are provided with internal projections which can be engaged in recesses formed in the edges of the strips 3, 3'. be able to.

The clip 5 is also suitably formed from a single piece of sheet metal (preferably pre-painted) by conventional pressing operations such as shearing and bending.
FIG. 8 shows a material 23 suitable for forming the clip 5, where the fold lines 24, 25, 26, 27, 2
8 is indicated by a broken line.

Although the clip 5 can be formed from individual blanks of the type shown in FIG. 8, in commercial production, processing is performed as shown in FIG. 9 and described below in connection with FIG. In this form of processing, a pre-painted metal strip 29 provided with alignment holes 30 is supplied to a multi-die press. As shown, the strip is advanced in the direction of arrow A by one step for each press stroke. Each press stroke performs a series of separate shearing or bending operations to form a clip member (indicated by reference numeral 31) secured to the strip 29 via only small strands 34 of material. Step 3
From 1 to step 32, the side walls 14, 14 'are expanded so that one end of the wiping component 2 with two reinforcing strips 3, 3' inserted in the groove can be easily inserted. In a final step 33, the side walls 14, 14 ′ are pressed inward to engage the catch 21 in the wiping component 2 and the clip member is cut from the strip 29 at the point indicated by reference numeral 35. In this way, a final wiper blade element is formed. The wiping part 2 and the reinforcing strips 3, 3 'can also be inserted manually in steps 31 to 32 or automatically processed by a robot or some other feeding machine.

Many other changes may be made in the above components and methods without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view showing a wiper blade element having a clip according to the present invention and attached to a wiper harness member.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the clip shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the clip shown in FIG. 1 as viewed from the direction of arrow C in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the clip shown in FIG. 1 as viewed from below.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the clip shown in FIG. 1 as viewed from above.

FIG. 6 shows a wiper blade element shown in FIG.
It is sectional drawing cut | disconnected along the AA line of FIG.

FIG. 7 shows the wiper blade element shown in FIG.
FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing one surface of a sheet metal material suitable for forming the clip shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a plan view of a strip of sheet material showing the continuous process of forming the clip shown in FIG. 1 being attached to the end of a wiper blade element.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Wiper blade element 2 Wiping part 3, 3 'Reinforcement strip 4, 4' Longitudinal groove of a wiping part 5 Clip 6 Claw 7 Harness member 10 Main part of clip 11, 11 'Leg 12, 12' Hook part

Claims (17)

[Claims] A clip for use with an elongated wiper blade element for retaining the wiper blade element within a wiper blade assembly, the wiper blade assembly having a harness, wherein the harness includes A clip having at least one claw for connecting to a wiper blade element, comprising: a body portion fixed to a wiping part of the wiper blade element; and at least one leg connected to the body portion. A hook portion is provided at a free end of the leg, the main body portion is disposed longitudinally outward from the claw in use, and each leg extends on the claw, and the hook portion is provided on the free end of the claw. It is arranged longitudinally inward, thereby holding the wiping part in the nail and of the wiper blade element in the harness Clip and limits the hand movement. 2. The device according to claim 1, comprising two of said legs, said two legs being disposed adjacent to both sides of a harness member to which said claw is attached when a clip is used. The described clip. 3. The clip according to claim 1, wherein each leg is arranged on the same side as the harness with respect to the wiper blade element. 4. Each leg is resilient so that when the clip is secured to the wiping component and the wiper blade element is pushed through the pawl, each leg flexes and the respective hook portion is 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the pawl is able to be moved over and subsequently spring-backed, whereby the pawl is retained between the body part and each of the hook parts. clip. 5. A wiper blade element having a wiping component and at least one reinforcing strip received in a first longitudinal groove on a side of the wiping component, wherein a body portion of the clip is attached to the body portion relative to the body portion. 5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: holding means for preventing longitudinal movement of the wiping component; and means for preventing longitudinal movement of each of the reinforcing strips with respect to the main body. The described clip. 6. The body portion has a channel-like cross-section with a base and two side walls, each side wall having a free edge extending along the interior of the channel and wiping. 6. The clip according to claim 5, comprising a protrusion received in one of the other two longitudinal grooves of the part. 7. The device according to claim 6, wherein the holding means has a locking portion provided on the base or at least one of the protrusions, and the locking portion can grip the wiping component. clip. 8. The reinforcing strip may be moved longitudinally relative to the body portion in at least a first direction by abutment means disposed on the body portion to abut an end region of the reinforcement strip. The clip according to claim 5, wherein the clip is prevented. 9. The body of claim 1, wherein the abutment means has a wall extending inwardly of the body portion from at least one of a base, a side wall, or a protrusion of the body portion. 8. The clip according to 8. 10. A wiper blade assembly having an elongated wiper blade element with a wiping component and a harness, wherein the harness includes at least one pawl for connecting the wiper blade element to the wiper blade element. Wiper blade assembly, characterized in that the element has at least one clip according to any of the preceding claims for retaining it in a harness. 11. A wiping component comprising: an elongate wiping component; at least one reinforcing strip received in a first longitudinal groove on a side of the wiping component; and a clip according to any one of claims 5 to 9. A wiper blade element for use in a wiper blade assembly. 12. The reinforcing strip is bent upward or downward at the end region to engage the end region of the wiping component, the reinforcing strip being in a direction opposite to the first direction relative to the body portion. 12. The wiper blade element according to claim 11, wherein the wiper blade element is prevented from moving longitudinally. 13. The method of assembling the wiping component and at least one reinforcing strip together, supplying metal material to be handled by the pressing means to form a clip to one or more pressing means, Forming a clip at a predetermined position of the wiping component by a pressing means.
3. The method for producing a wiper blade element according to item 2. 14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the metal material is separated from a continuous metal strip. 15. The clip according to claim 1, wherein the clip is formed of a plastic material.
Clip described in section. 16. The clip according to claim 1, wherein the clip is formed from a pre-painted metal material. 17. A clip substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.