Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60S—SERVICING, CLEANING, REPAIRING, SUPPORTING, LIFTING, OR MANOEUVRING OF VEHICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B60S1/00—Cleaning of vehicles
  • B60S1/02—Cleaning windscreens, windows or optical devices
  • B60S1/04—Wipers or the like, e.g. scrapers
  • B60S1/32—Wipers or the like, e.g. scrapers characterised by constructional features of wiper blade arms or blades
  • B60S1/40—Connections between blades and arms
  • B60S1/4067—Connections between blades and arms for arms provided with a side pin
  • B60S1/4077—Connections between blades and arms for arms provided with a side pin characterised by the connecting part of, or an intermediate element mounted on, the wiper blade
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60S—SERVICING, CLEANING, REPAIRING, SUPPORTING, LIFTING, OR MANOEUVRING OF VEHICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B60S1/00—Cleaning of vehicles
  • B60S1/02—Cleaning windscreens, windows or optical devices
  • B60S1/04—Wipers or the like, e.g. scrapers
  • B60S1/32—Wipers or the like, e.g. scrapers characterised by constructional features of wiper blade arms or blades
  • B60S1/40—Connections between blades and arms
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60S—SERVICING, CLEANING, REPAIRING, SUPPORTING, LIFTING, OR MANOEUVRING OF VEHICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B60S1/00—Cleaning of vehicles
  • B60S1/02—Cleaning windscreens, windows or optical devices
  • B60S1/04—Wipers or the like, e.g. scrapers
  • B60S1/32—Wipers or the like, e.g. scrapers characterised by constructional features of wiper blade arms or blades
  • B60S1/40—Connections between blades and arms
  • B60S1/4038—Connections between blades and arms for arms provided with a channel-shaped end
  • B60S1/4045—Connections between blades and arms for arms provided with a channel-shaped end comprising a detachable intermediate element mounted on the channel-shaped end
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60S—SERVICING, CLEANING, REPAIRING, SUPPORTING, LIFTING, OR MANOEUVRING OF VEHICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B60S1/00—Cleaning of vehicles
  • B60S1/02—Cleaning windscreens, windows or optical devices
  • B60S1/04—Wipers or the like, e.g. scrapers
  • B60S1/32—Wipers or the like, e.g. scrapers characterised by constructional features of wiper blade arms or blades
  • B60S1/40—Connections between blades and arms
  • B60S2001/409—Connections between blades and arms characterised by the arm or connecting part mounted on the arm presenting a shaped opening for bearing the pivot axis

Definitions

• This invention relates generally to a wind- shield wiper assembly and, more particularly, to a connecting adaptor for converting a center mounted pin connection between a wiper arm and a blade to a side mounted pin connection.
• a windshield wiper assembly for automobiles, and the like conventionally includes a wiper blade subassembly, a pressure-distributing superstructure subassembly, and a motor-driven wiper arm.
• the wiper blade subassembly generally includes a rubber-like wiping element connected to a backing strip or flexor.
• the pressure-distributing superstructure subassembly which supports the flexor and hence the wiping element against the windshield surface, includes a primary yoke and optionally one or more secondary yokes .
• the wiper arm may be connected to the primary yoke by any one of a number of different methods which permit the wiper blade to be mounted pivotally relative to the wiper arm. The wiping element is thereby maintained in operative contact with the windshield as the wiper arm moves the wiper blade to and fro across the wind ⁇ shield that may have a varied contour.
• connection methods are pertinent to the invention described herein.
• the center mounted pin connection the primary yoke defines a central opening across which a connecting pin or cross rivet extends trans ⁇ versely.
• the wiper arm has a terminal end which is positioned within the central opening and defines a hook-like structure adapted for releasable engagement with the cross rivet to pivotally mount the primary yoke to the wiper arm.
• the side mounted pin connection the primary yoke has a connecting pin extending laterally outward from the yoke and the end of the wiper arm is connected to the extending connecting pin with the primary yoke thereby being mounted generally adjacent to the wiper arm.
• the wiper blade and pressure-distributing superstructure are substantially the same in both of the aforementioned constructions. Nevertheless, be ⁇ cause of the placement of the connecting pins on the respective primary yokes, two different wiper blade assemblies have to be made by the manufacturer and stocked in inventory by the retailer, if original equipment is to be replaced for any reason. The man ⁇ ufacture and inventory of two separate windshield wiper structures is not highly desirable nor highly profitable.
• Adaptors enabling a yoke having a center mounted pin to be mounted on a wiper arm requiring a side mounted pin connection have been developed.
• One such adaptor has a body which has a side mounted pin and is secured in the yoke by locking tabs which en ⁇ gage the side walls. This adaptor has been unsuit- able in some respects, however, since the locking tabs
• ⁇ - are partially exposed beneath the bottom edge of the side walls and, thus, susceptible to accidental un ⁇ locking. Further, the locking tabs are longitudinally oriented and, thus, have proven to make the adaptor more susceptible to both longitudinal shifting and rocking.
• the present invention is directed to over ⁇ coming one or more of the problems as set forth above.
• a connecting pin adaptor for a windshield wiper assembly to convert a center mounted pin connection to a side mounted pin connection.
• the connecting adaptor is in ⁇ serted within the central opening of the yoke over the cross rivet and is maintained in assembled position by deflectable claws which engage the center mounted pin and the shoulders at the ends of the opening in the yoke.
• the connecting adaptor carries a connecting pin which extends laterall • outward beyond the side of the yoke to enable connection of the wiper arm ad ⁇ jacent the side of the yoke.
• the connecting adaptor is configured to fit within the yoke open space and has at each longitudinal end a laterally disposed claw with locking tab which, together with a supporting flange, secures the adaptor to the yoke and prevents rocking motion therebetween. Aligning the locking tabs to engage the shoulders rather than the side walls enables the claws to be located within the yoke so as to be protected against accidental disengagement. Further, because the adaptor abuts all four sides of the open space of the yoke, the adaptor body is prevented from shifting in the yoke.
• the utilization of a connecting adaptor con ⁇ structed in accordance with the invention eliminates the necessity of manufacturing and stocking two differ ⁇ ent types of wiper blade assemblies. Thus, a reduction in cost results without a reduction in the effective- ness of the connection between the wiper arm and the yoke or the function of the windshield wiper assembly as a whole.
• Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a windshield wiper assembly incorporating a connecting pin adaptor constructed in accordance with the present invention
• Fig. 2 is an enlarged, exploded, perspective view of the center portion of the windshield wiper assembly of Fig. 1 showing an embodiment of the con- necting pin adaptor;
• Fig. 3 is an enlarged, perspective view of the center portion of the windshield wiper assembly similar to Fig. 2, but showing the adaptor in assembled position within the windshield wiper yoke;
• Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the adaptor and yoke taken along line 4-4 of Fig. 3; and
• Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the adaptor and yoke taken along line 5-5 of Fig. 4. Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention
• a windshield wiper assembly generally designated 10, to which the present invention generally pertains, is illustrated and is seen to broadly com ⁇ prise a wiper arm 11 and a pressure-distributing super ⁇ structure including a bridge or yoke 13, which carries by conventional means a flexible wiper blade (not shown) .
• the wiper arm 11 and the yoke 13 are inter- connected by means of a connecting pin adaptor, general ⁇ ly designated 14, and described in detail hereinafter.
• the yoke 13 which is made of metal or plastic, or of some similar substantially rigid material, is channel-shaped in cross section so as to resemble an inverted "U" having laterally disposed side walls 16,17 and a base or top wall 19.
• the enlarged midportion of ⁇ the yoke 13 has a vertical open space 20 which is defined by the arcuate upper edges 25,26 of the side walls 16,17 and by the shoulders 22,23 at the edges of the base wall 19. Spaced from the arcuate upper edges 25,26 of the respective side walls 16,17 is a cross rivet 28 extending transversely between the side walls 16,17 within the open space 20.
• the connecting adaptor 14 is utilized to convert the yoke 13 from a center mounted pin connection to a side mounted pin connection.
• the connecting adaptor 14 is preferably form ⁇ ed from molded plastic material having sufficient in ⁇ herent resiliency to allow temporary deflection of portions thereof.
• the connecting adaptor 14 is broad- ly comprised of a body 30, which includes a top portion 31 and a mounting portion 32 depending downwardly from the top portion 31, and a connecting pin 33 extending laterally outward from the top portion 31.
• the mounting portion 32 generally has a trans- -.-•-verse width substantially equal to the transverse width of the open space 20 defined between the inner surfaces of the side walls 16,17.
• the mounting portion 32 in ⁇ cludes a center element 35 with two deflectable rivet claw elements 36.
• the inner surfaces 37 of the rivet claw elements 36 define a transverse bore adapted to receive and grasp the cross rivet 28 when the connect ⁇ ing adaptor 14 is mounted on the yoke 13, the bore being of a size and configuration which corresponds with the circular cross section of the cross rivet 28.
• the bottom surfaces 39 of the rivet claw elements 36 are tapered inwardly to a width less than the diameter of the cross rivet 28 so as to facilitate location of the cross rivet 28 therein.
• claw elements 36 prevents longitudinal movement of the connecting adaptor 14 within the open space 20.
• a pair of longitudinally aligned claw elements 42,43 are disposed at the ends of the mounting portion 32 of the connecting adaptor 14. Both claw elements 42,43 extend transversely virtually the entire width of the opening, each having a longitudinally projecting locking tab 44,45 spaced from its lower edge 46,47, which tabs are adapted to engage the bottom edge 48,49 of the respective shoulders 22,23 when the connecting adaptor 14 is mounted in operative position within the open space 20.
• the locking tabs 44,45 extend out ⁇ wardly from the respective claw elements 42,43 and when the claw elements 42,43 are in an undeflected condition, the locking tabs 44,45 of the pair of longi ⁇ tudinally aligned claw elements 42,43 span a distance greater than the longitudinal length of the open space 20 between edges or shoulders 22,23.
• Inclined cam surfaces 50,51 are defined between the lower edge 46,47 and the horizontal surfaces 70,71 of each of the locking tabs 44,45 so that when the connecting adaptor 14 is inserted downwardly into the open space 20, the shoulders 22,23 engage the cam surfaces 50,51 to deflect the structurally thin claw elements 42,43 in- wardly.
• the connecting adaptor 14 is moved into the open space 20 until the locking tabs 44,45 move past the bottom edges 48,49 of the shoulders 22,23.
• the locking tabs 44,45 are no longer biased or flexed inwardly by contact with the shoulders 22,23, the inherent resiliency of the claw elements 42,43 will effect movement of the locking tabs 44,45 longitudinally outward into position with the horizontal surfaces 70, 71 below and in engagement with the bottom edges 48,49 of the shoulders 22,23. In this position, the locking tabs 44,45 prevent upward movement of the connecting adaptor 14 out of the open space 20.
• the respective outer surfaces 52,53 of the claw elements 42,43 lie flush with the edges or shoulders 22,23 as seen in Fig. 4.
• the adaptor top portion 31 has flanges 54,55 on each end which abut the top surfaces 56,57 of the shoulders 22,23 to limit movement of the connecting adaptor 14 into the open space 20.
• the bottom of the flanges 54,55 and the top of the locking tabs 44,45 are vertically separated by a distance substantially equal to the thickness of the shoulders 22,23.
• the locking tabs 44,45 because of the resiliency of the claw elements 42,43, have moved laterally outward to a position directly below the respective bottom edges 48,49 to effectively lock the connecting adaptor 14 in operative assembled position within the open space 20.
• the locking tabs 44,45 and flanges 54,55 rigidly secure the con- necting adaptor 14 to the yoke 13, preventing relative movement therebetween.
• the connecting adaptor 14 is secured in a position where the claw elements 42, 43 are entirely within the confines of the open space 20 (i.e. do not extend below the side walls 16,17). The claw elements 42,43 are thus protected from being accidentally deflected and unlocked.
• a transverse positioning wall 58,59 Positioned on each side of the center element 35 is a transverse positioning wall 58,59.
• the position ⁇ ing walls 58,59 have a width substantially equal to the transverse width of the open space 20 between the inner surfaces of the side walls 16,17.
• the position ⁇ ing walls 58,59 maintain the connecting adaptor 14 in ' proper lateral position within the open space 20.
• the structurally thick positioning walls 58,59 prevent collapse of the yoke side walls 16,17 and collapse of the connecting adaptor 14 itself.
• Stiff ⁇ ening members 60,61 are secured between the center element 35 and the positioning walls 58,59, giving the connecting adaptor 14 longitudinal stiffness.
• the connecting pin 33 extends from the upper por ⁇ tion of the center element 35.
• the connecting pin 33 may optionally be made of metal and suitably anchored within the adaptor top portion 31.
• the connecting pin 33 passes above the upper edge of the side wall 17.
• the adaptor 14 is symmetrical and can be reversed relative ' 'to ' the yoke 13 so that the pin projects over the edge of side wall 16.
• the connect ⁇ ing pin 33 has a circular cross section and includes a constricted segment 65 flanked on each axial side by an enlarged segment 66,67.
• the wiper arm 11 has a terminal end 68 with a latch adapted to engage the connecting pin 33.
• the enlarged segments 66,67 of the connecting pin 33 prevent axial disengagement of the wiper arm 11 in a manner well known in the art.
• the connecting adaptor provides a convenient means for converting a wiper blade center mounted pin connection to a side mounted pin connection.
• one wiper blade design can be utilized with a
• OMPI wiper arm requiring a center pin connection or with a wiper arm requiring a side pin connection.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Pivots And Pivotal Connections (AREA)
• Snaps, Bayonet Connections, Set Pins, And Snap Rings (AREA)
• Connection Of Plates (AREA)

Priority Applications (7)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=22154346

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (6)

Cited By (13)

Families Citing this family (1)

Citations (5)

Family Cites Families (1)

• 1980
  • 1980-05-13 JP JP81500640A patent/JPS57500872A/ja active Pending
  • 1980-05-13 WO PCT/US1980/000573 patent/WO1981003308A1/en unknown
• 1981
  • 1981-04-13 GB GB8111687A patent/GB2076643B/en not_active Expired
  • 1981-04-30 DE DE19813117233 patent/DE3117233A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 1981-05-05 IT IT48397/81A patent/IT1170946B/it active
  • 1981-05-12 FR FR8109415A patent/FR2484345A1/fr active Granted

Patent Citations (5)

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