WO2014002863A1

WO2014002863A1 - Wiper blade

Info

Publication number: WO2014002863A1
Application number: PCT/JP2013/066931
Authority: WO
Inventors: 祐平吉川; 美音也福士
Original assignee: 株式会社ミツバ
Priority date: 2012-06-28
Filing date: 2013-06-20
Publication date: 2014-01-03
Also published as: RU2015102626A; RU2604916C2; JP2015163485A

Abstract

This wiper blade has: blade rubber (19); a rubber holder (20) for holding the blade rubber (19); and covers that are provided on either side of the rubber holder (20). The blade holder (20) has: a first wall section (29); a second wall section (31); a first slope section (30); a fin (32); and a housing section (33) that is surrounded by the first wall section (29), second wall section (31), and first slope section (30). The blade rubber (19) is housed inside the housing section (33). Each cover has a connection leg section (43) to be connected to the rubber holder (20). The connection leg section (43) is provided between the blade rubber (19) and the first slope section (30) inside the housing section (33). In a cross-section in the width direction of the blade rubber (19), the central line (Y) of the connection section (43) is positioned between the central line (X) of the blade rubber (19) and the first wall section (29). Therefore, a decrease in the force for pressing the blade rubber against the windshield can be minimized.

Description

Wiper blade

This invention relates to the wiper blade which hold | maintained the blade rubber which contacts a wiping target object with the rubber holder.

Conventionally, a wiper device for wiping a windshield (wiping object) is provided in a vehicle. The wiper device is configured to operate a wiper blade by an electric motor. An example of such a wiper blade is described in Patent Document 1. The wiper blade described in Patent Document 1 includes a blade rubber that contacts the windshield, a rubber holder that is connected to the wiper arm and holds the central portion of the blade rubber, and is disposed on both sides in the longitudinal direction of the rubber holder. And two covers covering both ends of the rubber. The rubber holder has a first wall portion and a second wall portion, and an inclined portion connecting the upper end of the first wall portion and the upper end of the second wall portion. In addition, fins are formed at the connection portion between the first wall portion and the second wall portion. The blade rubber is formed with a storage chamber surrounded by the first wall portion, the second wall portion, and the inclined portion.

The central portion of the blade rubber in the longitudinal direction is disposed in the storage chamber and supported by a rubber holder. The cover has a connecting leg portion that extends in the longitudinal direction of the blade rubber. The width of the connecting leg is the same as the width of the blade rubber. The connecting leg portion is provided with a locking hole, and the connecting leg portion is inserted into the accommodating portion of the rubber holder. At this time, the connecting leg portion is positioned above the blade rubber in the accommodating portion. On the other hand, the rubber holder is provided with a locking claw, and the cover is fixed to the rubber holder by locking the locking claw in the locking hole in a state where the connecting leg portion is inserted into the accommodating portion. .

When the wiper blade moves in the width direction, when the wiper blade moves in the direction in which the first wall portion is located behind the second wall portion, the air flows along the inclined surface and contacts the fin, and the blade rubber is windshielded. Force to press against. Further, even when the vehicle travels while the wiper blade is stopped, a force for pressing the blade rubber against the windshield is generated according to the same principle as described above.

JP 2008-230340 A

By the way, in the wiper blade described in Patent Document 1, the shape of the rubber holder of the portion where the connecting leg portion is connected in the cross section in the width direction is substantially rectangular as a whole. This is because the connecting leg portion is disposed above the blade rubber, and the second wall portion is substantially perpendicular to the wiping surface. For this reason, the pressure of the air which flows along an inclined surface and reaches a fin falls, and the force which presses a blade rubber against a wiping target object may fall.

An object of the present invention is to provide a wiper blade that can suppress a reduction in the force of pressing the blade rubber against the object to be wiped by utilizing the pressure of air.

The wiper blade of the present invention includes a long blade rubber that contacts an object to be wiped, a rubber holder that holds a central portion in the longitudinal direction of the blade rubber, and is connected to the tip of the wiper arm, and the blade rubber. A wiper blade that is disposed at a position different from the rubber holder in the longitudinal direction and has a cover that is connected to the rubber holder and covers an end portion in the longitudinal direction of the blade rubber, wherein the rubber holder is A fin that generates a force to press the blade rubber against the object to be wiped by receiving an air flow, a front wall provided in front of the fin in the air flow direction, and the front wall and the fin are connected to each other. An inclined wall and a rear wall continuous below the fin in the air flow direction, and the rubber holder includes the front wall and the inclined wall. A housing portion surrounded by the rear wall; a longitudinal central portion of the blade rubber is housed in the housing portion and held by the rubber holder; and the cover is disposed within the housing portion. A connecting portion disposed between the blade rubber and the inclined wall and connected to the rubber holder; and in the width direction of the blade rubber, the center of the connecting portion is the center of the blade rubber and the It is located between the rear wall.

The wiper blade of the present invention is characterized in that the outer surface of the front wall is curved in a direction approaching the inclined portion as the height increases.

The wiper blade of the present invention includes an outer surface of the rubber holder in a cross-section in the width direction of the rubber holder between a connection portion between the wiper arm and the rubber holder and a connection portion between the connection portion and the rubber holder. And the shape of the outer surface of the rubber holder in the cross section in the width direction of the rubber holder at the connecting portion between the connecting portion and the rubber holder.

In the wiper blade of the present invention, the connecting portion is configured to be substantially rectangular in the cross section in the width direction of the blade rubber, and the long side of the connecting portion is disposed along the width direction of the blade rubber. It is characterized by.

In the wiper blade of the present invention, the rubber holder has a rib that is positioned in the housing portion and reinforces the rubber holder, and the connection portion is disposed within a cross section in the width direction of the blade rubber. The position and the arrangement position of the rib overlap each other.

According to the present invention (Claim 1), the front wall can be inclined toward the fin, air can easily flow along the front wall to the fin, and the force for pressing the blade rubber against the object to be wiped is reduced. Can be suppressed.

According to the present invention (Claim 2), in addition to the effects of the present invention described above, air can be easily guided along the outer surface of the front wall, and the force for pressing the blade rubber against the object to be wiped can be increased. .

According to the present invention (Claim 3), in addition to the effects of the present invention described above, the shape of the outer surface of the rubber holder can be suppressed from changing in the longitudinal direction of the rubber holder.

According to the present invention (Claim 4), since the long side of the connecting portion is disposed along the width direction of the blade rubber, in addition to the effect of the present invention described above, the rubber holder in the operation direction of the blade rubber is provided. Strength can be secured.

According to the present invention (Claim 5), the arrangement position of the connecting portion and the arrangement position of the rib partially overlap each other in the cross section in the width direction of the rubber holder. Therefore, in addition to the effects of the present invention described above, there is no need to change the shape of the outer surface of the rubber holder in the longitudinal direction of the rubber holder.

It is the schematic which shows the example which applied the wiper blade of this invention to the wiper apparatus of the vehicle. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the wiper blade shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional view of the wiper blade taken along line AA in FIG. 2, and FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view of the wiper blade taken along line BB in FIG. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the wiper blade taken along line CC in FIG. 2. FIG. 3 is an exploded view showing the wiper blade shown in FIG. 2. (A) is a top sectional view showing a state before the wiper blade shown in FIG. 2 is assembled, and (B) is a plan sectional view showing a state after the wiper blade shown in FIG. 2 is assembled. (A) is a side sectional view showing a state before the wiper blade shown in FIG. 2 is assembled, and (B) is a side sectional view showing a state after the wiper blade shown in FIG. 2 is assembled. (A), (B) is a partial top view of the wiper blade shown in FIG.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The vehicle 10 shown in FIG. 1 has a windshield 11. The vehicle 10 also has a wiper device 12 that wipes the windshield 11. The wiper device 12 is provided to improve visibility by wiping off deposits such as rainwater, snow, dust, and bird droppings attached to the windshield 11. The wiper device 12 includes a wiper arm 14 that swings about a pivot shaft 13 and a wiper arm 14 that swings about a pivot shaft 15. A wiper blade 16 is attached to the tip of the wiper arm 14. That is, the wiper device 12 has two wiper arms 14. In addition, the wiper device 12 has an electric motor 17 as a single power source for driving the two wiper arms 14. The power of the electric motor 17 is configured to be individually transmitted to the two wiper arms 14 via a power transmission mechanism 18 configured by levers, links, and the like. When the wiper arm 14 swings within a predetermined angle range about the pivot axis, the windshield 11 is wiped by the wiper blade 16. The wiping range by the wiper blade 16 is formed in a fan shape as indicated by a two-dot chain line between the upper limit position URP closest to the front pillar 10a and the lower limit position LRP close to the front end 11a of the windshield 11. The operation direction of the wiper blade 16 is the width direction of the wiper blade 16, that is, the left-right direction in FIGS.

The wiper blade 16 has the configuration shown in FIGS. The wiper blade 16 includes a blade rubber 19 that directly contacts the windshield 11 and a rubber holder 20 that holds the blade rubber 19. Examples of the rubber material used for the blade rubber 19 include rubber materials such as natural rubber, isoprene rubber, butadiene rubber, chloroprene rubber, and butyl rubber, which are used singly or in combination. The blade rubber 19 is manufactured by vulcanizing those rubber materials blended with additives such as a vulcanizing agent, a softening agent, a filler, and carbon black.

The wiper blade 16 has a long shape, and the blade rubber 19 is disposed along the longitudinal direction of the wiper blade 16. That is, the blade rubber 19 has a long shape. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the blade rubber 19 has a main body 21. The main body 21 is provided along the longitudinal direction of the blade rubber 19. Mounting grooves 22 are formed on both sides of the main body 21 in the width direction of the blade rubber 19. Further, the blade rubber 19 is pressed downward in the vertical direction of FIGS. 3 and 4 to come into contact with the windshield 11. The mounting groove 22 is provided over the entire area of the blade rubber 19 in the longitudinal direction. A vertical bra 23 is attached to each of the two attachment grooves 22. The vertebra 23 is a leaf spring formed by punching a plate material such as a steel plate. In addition, the vertebra 23 is curved while being attached to the attachment groove 22. In addition, as long as the vertebra 23 is a material which can generate | occur | produce the force which presses the blade rubber 19 against the windshield 11, it can replace with a steel plate and can also use hard resin.

In FIG. 3, a body 24 is continuously formed at the lower end of the main body 21. The width of the trunk portion 24 is narrower than the width of the main body portion 21. Further, two flange portions 25 are formed at the lower end of the body portion 24. The two flange portions 25 are respectively extended from the lower end of the body portion 24 toward both sides in the width direction. The width connecting the tips of the two flange portions 25 is shorter than the width of the main body portion 21. A holding groove 26 is formed between the two flange portions 25 and the main body portion 21. That is, the holding grooves 26 are provided on both sides of the body portion 24 in the width direction of the blade rubber 19. Further, a lip portion 28 is formed at the lower end of the body portion 24 between the two flange portions 25 via a neck portion 27. The cross-sectional shape of the lip portion 28 in the width direction of the blade rubber 19 is a wedge shape. The tip of the lip portion 28 is pressed against the windshield 11.

In the blade rubber 19 configured as described above, the center of the main body 21, the center of the trunk portion 24, the center of the neck portion 27, and the center of the lip portion 28 are all centered in the cross section in the width direction of the blade rubber 19. Located on line X. The center line X is a line segment along the height direction of the blade rubber 19, and the center line X passes through the center of the blade rubber 19 in the width direction.

The rubber holder 20 is an element that holds a predetermined length of the central portion in the longitudinal direction of the blade rubber 19, and the rubber holder 20 is made of a material such as hard resin. The rubber holder 20 includes a first wall portion 29 that extends in the vertical direction, a first inclined portion 30 that is continuous with the upper end of the first wall portion 29, and a first wall portion 29 in the first inclined portion 30. A second wall portion 31 is provided at the end opposite to the connection portion. One end of the first inclined portion 30 is connected to the upper end of the first wall portion 29. Further, a fin 32 protruding in the height direction is provided at a connection portion between the first wall portion 29 and the first inclined portion 30. The fin 32 is an element that generates a component force in a direction in which the blade rubber 19 is pressed against the windshield 11 by air pressure.

The first inclined portion 30 is inclined so as to descend as it approaches the second wall portion 31 from the upper end of the first wall portion 29. Further, in the cross section in the width direction of the wiper blade 16, the outer surface 30 a of the first inclined portion 30 has a shape that is inclined with respect to the wiping surface of the windshield 11. Specifically, as the height of the outer surface 30a is increased, the outer surface 30a is curved and inclined toward the fin 32. Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the outer surface 31a is curved. Specifically, it projects away from the windshield 11. Further, the outer surface 30 a is smoothly connected to the outer surface 31 a of the second wall portion 31 and the outer surface 32 a of the fin 32. Furthermore, the outer surface 30a is also curved in a direction that gently swells, and the outer surface 32a is curved in a direction that is recessed toward the first wall portion 29 side.

The first wall portion 29, the second wall portion 31, the first inclined portion 30, and the fin 32 described above are formed over the entire area of the rubber holder 20 in the longitudinal direction. An accommodation portion 33 surrounded by the first wall portion 29, the second wall portion 31, and the first inclined portion 30 is formed. The accommodating portion 33 is a groove opened to the windshield 11 side in the rubber holder 20, and a part of the blade rubber 19 in the longitudinal direction is disposed in the accommodating portion 33. Specifically, the main body portion 21 and the body portion 24 are disposed in the housing portion 33, and the collar portion 25, the neck portion 27, and the lip portion 28 are disposed outside the housing portion 33. Furthermore, a rib 20 a that reinforces the rubber holder 20 is provided on the inner surface of the rubber holder 20. The rib 20 a is an element that connects the inner surface of the first wall portion 29 and the inner surface of the first inclined portion 30. The ribs 20 a are formed in a zigzag shape along the longitudinal direction of the rubber holder 20. The rib 20 a is formed integrally with the rubber holder 20, and is provided above the main body 21 in the housing portion 33. And although not shown in figure, in the cross section in the width direction of the blade rubber 19, the arrangement position of the connection leg part 43 and the arrangement position of the rib 20a have overlapped in part.

Also, the rubber holder 20 is provided with holding claws 34 as shown in FIGS. 3, 6, 7, and 8A. Specifically, two sets of holding claws 34 are provided with two holding claws 34 as one set. One set of holding claws 34 is arranged at one end in the longitudinal direction of the rubber holder 20, and one set of holding claws 34 is arranged at the other end. Of the two holding claws 34 constituting one set, one holding claw 34 is formed continuously with the lower end of the first wall portion 29, and the other holding claw 34 is continuous with the lower end of the second wall portion 31. Is formed. The two holding claws 34 constituting one set are both protruded in the width direction of the blade rubber 19. Specifically, the two holding claws 34 protrude toward the housing portion 33. In the width direction of the blade rubber 19, the distance between the tips of the two holding claws 34 is wider than the width of the body portion 24 and narrower than the width of the main body portion 21. The tips of the two holding claws 34 are inserted into the two holding grooves 26 separately.

For this reason, in the cross section in the width direction of the blade rubber 19, even if a force occurs in a direction in which the blade rubber 19 comes out of the accommodating portion 33, two sets of two holding claws 34 come into contact with the main body portion 21. Thus, it is possible to prevent the blade rubber 19 from coming out of the accommodating portion 33. Note that a connecting portion 35 to which the tip of the wiper arm 14 is connected is provided at a central portion in the longitudinal direction of the rubber holder 20. The connecting portion 35 is provided across the first inclined portion 30 and the second wall portion 31. The connecting portion 35 can attach and detach the tip of the wiper arm 14. In a state where the wiper arm 14 is connected to the connecting portion 35, the wiper arm 14 supports the blade rubber 19 via the rubber holder 20.

When the wiper blade 16 configured as described above operates from the upper limit position URP to the lower limit position LRP in FIG. 1, it operates toward the left side in FIG. As described above, when the wiper blade 16 moves toward the left side in FIG. 3, the first inclined portion 30 is located behind the second wall portion 31 in the front-rear direction of the operation direction of the wiper blade 16, and the first inclination The first wall portion 29 is located behind the portion 30. Further, when the wiper blade 16 is stopped near the lower limit position LRP, the first inclined portion 30 is located behind the second wall portion 31 in the front-rear direction of the vehicle 10, and the first inclined portion 30 is located behind the first inclined portion 30. One wall portion 29 is located.

Further, the wiper blade 16 has two covers 36 disposed on both sides of the rubber holder 20 in the longitudinal direction of the blade rubber 19. The two covers 36 are elements that cover portions that are not held by the rubber holder 20 in the longitudinal direction of the blade rubber 19. Since the two covers 36 have a bilaterally symmetric shape, for the sake of convenience, the configuration of the cover 36 located on the left side in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the cover 36 is integrally formed of a material such as a hard resin, and the cover 36 is continuous with the third wall portion 37 extending in the vertical direction and the upper end of the third wall portion 37. The second inclined portion 38 and a fourth wall portion 39 that is continuous with the end portion of the second inclined portion 38 opposite to the connection portion with the third wall portion 37 are provided. One end of the second inclined portion 38 is connected to the upper end of the third wall portion 37. A fin 40 protruding in the height direction is provided at a connection portion between the third wall portion 37 and the second inclined portion 38. The fin 40 is an element that generates a component force in a direction in which the blade rubber 19 is pressed against the windshield 11 by air pressure.

The second inclined portion 38 is inclined so as to descend as it approaches the fourth wall portion 39 from the upper end of the third wall portion 37. Further, the outer surface 38 a of the second inclined portion 38 is gently curved in the cross section in the width direction of the wiper blade 16, and the outer surface 38 a of the second inclined portion 38 is the outer surface 39 a of the fourth wall portion 39. And it is smoothly connected to the outer surface 40a of the fin 40. The outer surface 39a is inclined so as to approach the third wall portion 37 as the height increases, and is gently curved. Furthermore, the outer surface 40 a is curved so as to be recessed toward the third wall portion 37.

The third wall portion 37, the fourth wall portion 39, the second inclined portion 38, and the fin 40 described above are formed over the entire area of the cover 36 in the longitudinal direction. An accommodating portion 41 surrounded by the third wall portion 37, the fourth wall portion 39, and the second inclined portion 38 is formed. The accommodating portion 41 is a recess opened on the windshield 11 side in the cover 36, and the end portion in the longitudinal direction of the blade rubber 19 is disposed in the accommodating portion 41. Specifically, the main body portion 21 is disposed in the housing portion 41, and the body portion 24 is disposed over the inside and outside of the housing portion 41. Furthermore, the collar portion 25, the neck portion 27, and the lip portion 28 are disposed outside the accommodating portion 41.

Further, as shown in FIG. 8B, two holding claws 42 are provided at predetermined positions in the longitudinal direction of the cover 36. Of the two holding claws 42, one holding claw 42 is formed continuously with the lower end of the third wall portion 37, and the other holding claw 42 is formed continuously with the lower end of the fourth wall portion 39. Yes. Both of the two holding claws 42 protrude in the width direction of the cover 36. Specifically, the two holding claws 42 are protruded toward the accommodating portion 41. In the width direction of the cover 36, the distance between the tips of the two holding claws 42 is wider than the width of the body portion 24 and narrower than the width of the main body portion 21. The tips of the two holding claws 42 are inserted separately into the two holding grooves 26. For this reason, even if a force occurs in the direction in which the blade rubber 19 comes out of the housing portion 41 in the cross section of the cover 36 in the width direction, the two holding claws 42 come into contact with the main body portion 21 so that the blade rubber 19 It is possible to prevent the container 41 from slipping out.

Thus, the cross-sectional shape of the cover 36 in the width direction of the wiper blade 16 is the same as or close to the cross-sectional shape of the rubber holder 20 in the width direction of the wiper blade 16. That is, when the cover 36 operates from the upper limit position URP to the lower limit position LRP in FIG. 1, the wiper blade 16 operates toward the left side in FIG. When the wiper blade 16 operates toward the left side in FIG. 4, the second inclined portion 38 is located behind the fourth wall portion 39 in the front-rear direction of the operation direction of the wiper blade 16. The third wall portion 37 is located behind. Further, when the wiper blade 16 is stopped near the lower limit position LRP, the second inclined portion 38 is located behind the fourth wall portion 39 in the front-rear direction of the vehicle 10, and the second inclined portion 38 is located behind the second inclined portion 38. Three wall portions 37 are located.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a connecting leg 43 is provided at the end of the cover 36 in the longitudinal direction, specifically, at the end of the cover 36 closer to the rubber holder 20. The connecting leg 43 is formed continuously with the second inclined portion 38 of the cover 36, and projects from the second inclined portion 38 along the longitudinal direction of the cover 36. Then, in a state where the longitudinal end portion of the blade rubber 19 is disposed in the accommodating portion 41, the connecting leg portion 43 is disposed in the accommodating portion 33 of the rubber holder 20. In addition, the rib 20a is not formed in the area | region where the connection leg part 43 is inserted in the longitudinal direction of the rubber holder 20. FIG. The connecting leg 43 is formed of the same hard resin material as the cover 36.

In the connecting leg portion 43, a locking claw 44 is provided at a location facing the inner surface of the first inclined portion 30 in a state of being arranged in the accommodating portion 33. The locking claw 44 protrudes upward in the height direction of the cover 36. The height direction of the cover 36 is the vertical direction in FIG. Further, locking grooves 45 are provided on both sides of the connecting leg 43 in the width direction of the cover 36. The locking groove 45 has a depth in the width direction of the cover 36. On the other hand, a locking projection 30 b is provided on the inner surface of the first inclined portion 30 of the rubber holder 20. The locking protrusion 30 b protrudes downward in the height direction of the rubber holder 20. Further, as shown in FIG. 3A, locking protrusions 29 a are provided on the inner surface of the first wall portion 29 and the inner surface of the first inclined portion 30. The locking protrusion 29 a is disposed at the same height as the connecting leg 43 when the connecting leg 43 is inserted into the housing part 33.

Further, the connecting leg 43 is disposed above the blade rubber 19 in the direction in which the wiper blade 16 is pressed against the windshield 11, that is, in the vertical direction in FIG. More specifically, the connecting leg portion 43 is provided above the main body portion 21 disposed in the housing portion 33. The direction in which the wiper blade 16 is pressed against the windshield 11 is the vertical direction in FIGS. 3 and 4. In this embodiment, the direction in which the wiper blade 16 is pressed against the windshield 11 has the same meaning as the height direction of the wiper blade 16, the height direction of the cover 36, the height direction of the rubber holder 20, and the height direction of the blade rubber 19. Used in. The “height direction” here does not necessarily mean the vertical direction. Further, a plate 46 is inserted into the connecting leg 43. As the plate 46, a metal material such as stainless steel (SUS) can be used. The plate 46 is a reinforcing member for improving the bending rigidity of the connecting leg 43 in the height direction and the width direction of the cover 36.

As shown in FIG. 7B, the cover 36 and the rubber holder 20 are arranged at the same height, and the locking claw 44 and the locking projection 30b engage with each other, as shown in FIG. 6B. The locking projection 29 a is immersed in the locking groove 45. For this reason, the rubber holder 20 and the cover 36 are positioned and fixed in the longitudinal direction of the rubber holder 20 by the engaging force between the locking claw 44 and the locking projection 30 b and the engaging force between the locking projection 29 a and the connecting leg 43. Has been.

Further, the engagement between the locking claw 44 and the locking projection 30b strengthens the engagement in the direction in which the cover 36 is held with respect to the direction in which the cover 36 is removed from the rubber holder 20. Further, the engagement between the locking projection 29a and the connecting leg 43 keeps the engagement between the rubber holder 20 and the cover 36 and allows the rubber holder 20 and the cover 36 to rotate with each other. By allowing the rubber holder 20 and the cover 36 to rotate relative to each other, the followability of the wiper blade 16 to the windshield 11 is improved.

Incidentally, as shown in FIG. 3A, the connecting leg portion 43 has a substantially rectangular (substantially rectangular) cross-sectional shape in the width direction of the wiper blade 16, and the long side of the connecting leg portion 43 extends in the width direction of the wiper blade 16. The short side of the connecting leg 43 is disposed along the height direction of the wiper blade 16. That is, the center line Z parallel to the long side of the connecting leg 43 is disposed along the width direction of the wiper blade 16. Further, in the width direction of the wiper blade 16, the cross-sectional shape of the plate 46 that reinforces the connecting leg 43 is also substantially rectangular, and its long axis (not shown) is arranged along the width direction of the wiper blade 16. ing. This is a reaction force when the windshield 11 is wiped by the wiper blade 16, and the bending of the connecting leg 43 in the width direction of the wiper blade 16 against the bending load acting on the connecting portion between the rubber holder 20 and the cover 36. This is to increase the bending strength as much as possible. For this reason, in the width direction of the wiper blade 16, the width of the connecting leg portion 43 tends to be long, and the width of the connecting leg portion 43 may affect the shape of the outer peripheral surface of the rubber holder 20.

Therefore, the wiper blade 16 of the present embodiment suppresses the shape change of the outer peripheral surface of the rubber holder 20 with the following configuration. First, in the state where the blade rubber 19 is accommodated across the accommodating portion 33 of the rubber holder 20 and the accommodating portion 41 of the cover 36, a center line passing through the center in the width direction of the connecting leg portion 43 as shown in FIG. Y is offset (displaced) with respect to the center line X of the blade rubber 19. The center line Y is along the height direction of the wiper blade 16, and the center line X and the center line Y are parallel to each other. That is, the offset direction of the center line Y with respect to the center line X coincides with the width direction of the wiper blade 16.

Thus, in the width direction of the wiper blade 16, the arrangement region of the entire connecting leg portion 43 is present at a position closer to the first wall portion 29 than to the second wall portion 31. More specifically, of the end portions in the width direction of the connecting leg portion 43, the end portion closer to the first inclined portion 30 is at a position close to the center line X in the width direction of the wiper blade 16. On the other hand, of the end portions in the width direction of the connecting leg portion 43, the end portion closer to the first wall portion 29 is at a position close to the end portion of the main body portion 21 in the width direction of the wiper blade 16. That is, the connecting leg 43 is located in a position where the arrangement range (arrangement region) of the connecting leg 43 is deviated with respect to the center line X in the width direction of the wiper blade 16.

For this reason, as shown in FIG. 3A, on the line segment (not shown) connecting the lower left end of the second wall 31 and the top of the fin 32, the main body in the width direction of the blade rubber 19 The structure which positions the end of 21 and the end of the width direction of the connection leg part 43 is employable. 3A and 3B, the shape of the continuously formed

outer surfaces

30a and 31a is the intersection of the center line X and the lower end surface of the rubber holder 20 (not shown). ) Around the arc surface of curvature. Therefore, it is not necessary to change the shape of the outer surface of the rubber holder 20 in the section taken along the line AA in FIG. 2 from the shape of the outer surface of the rubber holder 20 in the section taken along the line BB in FIG.

In the present embodiment, since the position of the connecting leg 43 in the width direction of the wiper blade 16 is configured as described above, the rubber holder along the line AA in FIG. The shape of the outer surface 20 can be the same as or approximate to the shape of the outer surface of the rubber holder 20 along the line BB in FIG. The outer surface shape of the rubber holder 20 along the line AA in FIG. 2 is indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view of the wiper blade 16 shown in FIG. 2 cut along the line BB between the connecting portion 35 and the connecting leg portion 43.

Therefore, the cross-sectional shape of the outer surface 30a of the first inclined portion 30 along the line AA in FIG. 2 can be made substantially coincident with the cross-sectional shape of the outer surface 30a of the first inclined portion 30 along the line BB. The shape of the outer surface shown in FIG. 3A is shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 2 along the width direction of a portion where the connecting leg 43 is disposed in the longitudinal direction of the wiper blade 16. Thus, it is not necessary to change the shape of the outer surface over the 1st wall part 29 of the rubber holder 20, the 2nd wall part 31, and the fin 32 in the longitudinal direction of the rubber holder 20, and it is in design nature. It will be excellent. That is, in the longitudinal direction of the rubber holder 20 shown in FIG. 2, it can be avoided that the shape of the outer surface of the rubber holder 20 suddenly changes between the AA line and the BB line to form a step. The deterioration of the appearance of the wiper blade 16 can be suppressed.

On the other hand, when the wiper blade 16 operates to wipe the windshield 11, specifically, when the wiper blade 16 operates from the upper limit position URP to the lower limit position LRP, the vehicle 10 is stopped or travels. Regardless of whether or not the air flows, an air flow is generated in the right direction in FIGS. Further, when the vehicle 10 travels when the wiper blade 16 is stopped near the lower limit position LRP, an air flow is generated in the right direction in FIGS. 3 and 4. Then, in FIG. 3, when the air collides with the outer surface 31 a of the second wall portion 31, the air flows toward the outer surface 30 a side of the first inclined portion 30 along the inclined and curved shape of the outer surface 31 a, The wiper blade 16 comes out of contact with the outer surface 32 a of the fin 32. When an air flow comes into contact with the outer surface 32a of the fin 32, a force in a direction in which the blade rubber 19 is pressed against the windshield 11 is generated by a component of the air pressure.

In FIG. 4, when air collides with the outer surface 39a of the fourth wall 39, the air flows toward the outer surface 38a of the second inclined portion 38 along the inclined and curved shape of the outer surface 39a. It comes into contact with the outer surface 40 a of the fin 40 and comes out above the wiper blade 16. When an air flow comes into contact with the outer surface 40 a of the fin 40, a force in a direction in which the blade rubber 19 is pressed against the windshield 11 is generated by a component force of the air pressure. By such an action, the blade rubber 19 is pressed against and closely contacts the windshield 11, so that the blade rubber 19 can be separated from the windshield 11, that is, can be prevented from being lifted.

Therefore, if the wiper blade 16 operates, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the operation speed. That is, the high speed of the wiper blade 16 can be ensured. Furthermore, since the outer surface 31 a of the second wall portion 31 is gently curved, it becomes easy to guide the air flow toward the outer surface 32 a of the fin 32. Further, since the outer surface 39a of the fourth wall 39 is gently curved, it becomes easy to guide the air flow toward the outer surface 40a of the fin 40. Therefore, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the force pressing the blade rubber 19 against the windshield 11. Furthermore, in order to ensure the pressing force, the cross-sectional shape of the outer surface of the

fins

32 and 40 is not easily restricted, and the degree of freedom in designing the shape of the outer surface of the

fins

32 and 40 is increased.

Here, the correspondence between the configuration described in the present embodiment and the configuration of the present invention will be described. The windshield 11 corresponds to the wiping object of the present invention, and the center line Y is the center of the connecting portion of the present invention. The center line X corresponds to the center of the blade rubber of the present invention. Further, the second wall portion 31 corresponds to the front wall of the present invention, the first inclined portion 30 corresponds to the inclined wall of the present invention, the first wall portion 29 corresponds to the rear wall of the present invention, The connecting leg portion 43 corresponds to the connecting portion of the present invention. Furthermore, when the matters described in the present embodiment are described comprehensively, the vertical direction in FIGS. 3, 4, and 7 is the same as the direction in which the wiper blade 16 is pressed against the windshield 11. Further, the width direction of elements such as the wiper blade 16, the rubber holder 20, the blade rubber 19, and the cover 36 is the same as the operation direction of the wiper blade 16.

It goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, in the above embodiment, the center in the present invention is represented by a center line, but the center can also be represented by a point. In the above embodiment, the two covers 36 have a symmetrical shape. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the shape of the outer surface of the cover 36 is changed. You can also The wiping object of the present invention includes a windshield and a rear glass that are windshields provided in a vehicle. That is, the wiper blade may wipe either the windshield or the rear glass.

The present invention is used for a wiper blade in which a blade rubber that is in contact with a windshield, a rear glass or the like as a wiping object provided in a vehicle is held by a rubber holder.

Claims

A long blade rubber that contacts the object to be wiped, a rubber holder that holds the central portion in the longitudinal direction of the blade rubber and that is connected to the tip of the wiper arm, and the rubber holder in the longitudinal direction of the blade rubber A wiper blade that is disposed at a different position and has a cover that is connected to the rubber holder and covers a longitudinal end of the blade rubber,
The rubber holder includes a fin that receives a flow of air and generates a force that presses the blade rubber against the object to be wiped, a front wall provided in front of the fin in the air flow direction, and the front wall; An inclined wall connecting the fins, and a rear wall continuous below the fins in the air flow direction;
The rubber holder has a housing portion surrounded by the front wall, the inclined wall, and the rear wall;
The central portion of the blade rubber in the longitudinal direction is housed in the housing portion and held by the rubber holder,
The cover is disposed between the blade rubber and the inclined wall in the accommodating portion, and has a connecting portion connected to the rubber holder,
The wiper blade according to claim 1, wherein a center of the connecting portion is located between the center of the blade rubber and the rear wall in the width direction of the blade rubber.
The wiper blade according to claim 1,
The wiper blade according to claim 1, wherein the outer surface of the front wall is curved in a direction approaching the inclined wall as the height increases.
The wiper blade according to claim 2,
The connecting portion between the wiper arm and the rubber holder, and the shape of the outer surface of the rubber holder in the cross-section in the width direction of the rubber holder between the connecting portion and the connecting portion between the rubber holder,
The wiper blade characterized in that the shape of the outer surface of the rubber holder in the cross section in the width direction of the rubber holder at the connecting portion between the connecting portion and the rubber holder is the same.
2. The wiper blade according to claim 1, wherein the connecting portion is formed in a substantially rectangular shape in a cross section in the width direction of the blade rubber, and a long side of the connecting portion is disposed along the width direction of the blade rubber. A wiper blade characterized by
2. The wiper blade according to claim 1, wherein the rubber holder has a rib that is positioned in the housing portion and reinforces the rubber holder, and the connection is made within a cross section in the width direction of the blade rubber. A wiper blade characterized in that an arrangement position of the portion and an arrangement position of the rib overlap.