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
  • B60S1/4003—Multi-purpose connections for two or more kinds of arm ends
• • 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
  • B60S1/38—Wiper blades
  • B60S1/3806—Means, or measures taken, for influencing the aerodynamic quality of the wiper blades
  • B60S1/381—Spoilers mounted on the squeegee or on the vertebra
• • 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
  • B60S1/38—Wiper blades
  • B60S1/3848—Flat-type wiper blade, i.e. without harness
  • B60S1/3849—Connectors therefor; Connection to wiper arm; Attached to blade
  • B60S1/3863—Connectors having a spoiler
• • 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
  • B60S1/38—Wiper blades
  • B60S1/3848—Flat-type wiper blade, i.e. without harness
  • B60S1/3849—Connectors therefor; Connection to wiper arm; Attached to blade
  • B60S1/3865—Connectors having an integral pivot pin for connection with the wiper arm
  • B60S1/3868—Connectors having an integral pivot pin for connection with the wiper arm pin formed on the exterior of side walls
• • 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
  • B60S1/4048—Connections between blades and arms for arms provided with a channel-shaped end comprising a detachable intermediate element mounted on the channel-shaped end the element being provided with retention means co-operating with the channel-shaped end of the arm
• • 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
• • 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
  • B60S1/4048—Connections between blades and arms for arms provided with a channel-shaped end comprising a detachable intermediate element mounted on the channel-shaped end the element being provided with retention means co-operating with the channel-shaped end of the arm
  • B60S2001/4051—Connections between blades and arms for arms provided with a channel-shaped end comprising a detachable intermediate element mounted on the channel-shaped end the element being provided with retention means co-operating with the channel-shaped end of the arm the intermediate element engaging the side walls of the arm
• • 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
  • B60S1/4048—Connections between blades and arms for arms provided with a channel-shaped end comprising a detachable intermediate element mounted on the channel-shaped end the element being provided with retention means co-operating with the channel-shaped end of the arm
  • B60S2001/4054—Connections between blades and arms for arms provided with a channel-shaped end comprising a detachable intermediate element mounted on the channel-shaped end the element being provided with retention means co-operating with the channel-shaped end of the arm the intermediate element engaging the back part of the arm

Definitions

• the present invention is related to windscreen wiper devices, or wiper blade assemblies, and more precisely, to connector assemblies for connecting wiper blade assemblies to different types of wiper arms.
• Passenger vehicles may have any one of a range of different styles of oscillating wiper arms including, for example, various sizes of hook-style wiper arms, pin- style wiper arms, bayonet-style wiper arms and rock lock-style wiper arms.
• wiper blade manufacturers typically manufacture wiper devices with connector assemblies which are either adapted only for attachment to one style of wiper arm or which include many pieces that must be in order to connect with more than one style of wiper arm. For example, some aftermarket wiper blade assemblies are sold as expendable articles with a connector assembly
• One aspect of the present invention provides for a windscreen wiper device.
• the windscreen wiper device includes a longitudinally extending wiper blade of an elastic material for sealing against a windscreen, A carrier element operatively supports and biases the wiper blade into a pre-curved configuration.
• a connecting assembly is further provided and includes a base which is engaged with at least one of the wiper blade and the carrier element.
• the connecting assembly additionally includes and a joint part which is pivota!ly connected with the base and is adapted to directly secure with a range of different styles of oscillating wiper arms.
• the joint part is made as one integral piece and includes a main body portion and a nose portion.
• the main body portion is generally U-shaped in cross-section and extends longitudinally from a front end to a back end and has a top and a pair of sides.
• a resilient tongue is formed into the top and has a button which protrudes upwardly therefrom for engaging within an opening of a bayonet-style wiper arm.
• the nose portion is hingedly connected with the front end of the main body portion at a resilient hinge and includes a pair of locking tangs that are spaced vertically from the resilient hinge for lockingly engaging a front edge of at least one style of a top lock-style wiper arm.
• a pair of locking lugs extend from the back end of to main body portion opposite of the nose portion for receiving legs of the top lock-style wiper arm.
• the sides of the main body portion present a pair of ledges which are spaced vertically from one another to present a groove between said ledges.
• Th® windscreen wiper device is advantageous because the two-piece connecting assembly is able to lockingly and detachingly engage with a wide range of different styles of wiper arms without any interchangeable parts. This leads to cost savings through economies of scale since the same pieces can be employed for use with a more diverse range of wiper arms.
• Figure 1 is an isometric view of an exemplary embodiment of a windscreen wiper device
• Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the windscreen wiper device taken along line 2-2 of Figure ⁇ ;
• Figure 3 is an exploded view of a connecting assembly of the windscreen wiper device of Figure 1;
• Figure 4 is a perspective view of the connecting assembly engaged with a 1 mm bayonet-style wiper arm
• Figure 5 is a perspective view of the connecting assembly of Figure 3 engaged with a 22 mm hayonet-style wiper arm;
• Figure 6 is a perspective view of a side pki-sty!e wiper arm
• Figure 7 is a perspective view of the connecting assembly of Figure 3 engaged with the side pin-style wiper arm of Figure 6;
• Figure 8 is a perspective view of the connecting assembly of Figure 3 engaged with a top lock-style wiper arm
• Figure 9 is a perspective view of the connecting assembly of Figure 3 engaged with a top lock with window-style wiper arm.
• FIG. 1 an exemplary embodiment of an improved windscreen wiper device 20 with a connecting assembly 22 that is configured for attachment to a range of different styles and sizes of oscillating wiper arms is generally shown in Figures 1 and 2.
• the windscreen wiper device 20 includes a longitudinally extending wiper blade 24 which is made of an elastic, flexible material for sealing against a windscreen ⁇ not shown) of a vehicle.
• the wiper blade 24 is operatively supported by a carrier element 26 which biases the wiper blade 24 into the pre ⁇ curved configuration shown in Figure 1 for sealing the length of the wiper blade 24 along a curved windshield
• the wiper blade 24 includes a pair of laterally facing grooves.
• the carrier element 26 includes a pair of flexors 26 which are operably received in the grooves. Neighboring ends of the flexors 26 are interconnected with one another via end caps 28, and a pair of snb-spoilers 3% which are constructed as separate pieces from one another, extend longitudinally from the connecting assembly 22 to the end caps 28,
• the connecting assembly 22 includes a base 32 which is engaged with at least one of the wiper blade 24 and the carrier element 26.
• the base 32 includes a pair of laterally extending projections 34 which are axially aligned with one another.
• Each projection 34 has a circular shape to present an outer bearing surface.
• At least one of the projections 34 also includes a through hole 36 to present an inner bearing surface.
• the base 32 is preferably made as one integral piece of a polymeric material which is shaped through an injection molding process. However, it should be appreciated that the base 32 could be made of any suitable material and through any suitable process,
• the connecting assembly 22 also includes a joint part 38, or an adapter, which is made as one integral piece of material and includes a main body portion 40 and a nose portion 41.
• the main body portion 49 is generally U-shaped in cross-section with a top 42 and a pair of sides 44 and extends longitudinally from a front end 46 to a hack end 48 ⁇
• the sides 44 of the main body portion 40 extend vertically downwardly m spaced and parallel relationship with one another and transversely to the top 42,
• the sides 44 have axially aligned openings which are circular in shape and which receive the circular projections 34 of the base 32 to allow the joint part 38 to freely pivot relative to the base 32 about a pivot axis.
• the opening 50 extends completely through the main body portion 49, whereas the opening on the side 44 shown in Figure 3 does not extend completely through the main body portion 40,
• the nose portion 4 ⁇ of the joint part 38 is integrally connected with the main body portion 40 at a resilient hinge 52.
• the resilient hinge 52 allows the nose portion 41 to be pivoted forward!y away from the main body portion 40.
• the nose portion 41 also includes a pair of upper locking tangs 54 which are spaced vertically from the resilient hinge 52 and are elevated relative to the top 42 of the main body portion 40 and extend rearwardly towards the main body portion 40, The upper locking tangs 54 are spaced laterally from one another on opposite sides of a U-shaped slot 56,
• the top 42 of the main body portion 40 includes a resilient tongue 58 with a button 59 that protrudes upwardly therefrom. Specifically* the button 59 projects upwardly above Hie top 42 of the main body portion 40.
• the resilient tongue 58 is interconnected with the remainder of the top 42 adjacent the back end 4$ and extends longitudinally towards the front end 46 of the main body portion 4 ⁇ ,
• the button 59 on the resilient tongue SS includes a vertical surface 60 which faces longitudinally towards the front end 46 of the main body portion 40 and a ramped surface 62 which faces longitudinally towards the back end 48.
• the combination of the vertical and ramped surfaces 60, 62 provides the button 59 with a shark fin-like shape.
• each side 44 of the joint part 3 ⁇ also includes two vertically spaced and longitudinally extending ledges 64 s 66 and presents a groove 68 between the ledges 64, 66.
• each side 44 includes an upper ledge 64 and a lower ledge 66 s and each of the ledges 64, 6 has an upper surface and a lower surface,
• the joint part 38 further includes a pair of locking lugs 0 » or retention tabs, which extend laterally outwardly.
• the locking lugs 70 are interconnected with the back end 48 of the main body portion 40 via a pair of longitudinally extending legs.
• Each locking log 70 has a forwardly facing surface which slants upwardly and forwardly from a lower-most edge.
• the longitudinally extending legs are generally rigid. i ⁇ 024J
• the single piece joint part 38 is configured for attachment with a range of different styles and sizes of oscillating wiper arms. Referring now to Figure 4, the joint part 38 is shown in locking engagement with a 19 mm sized bayonet-style wiper arm 72.
• the 19 mm bayonet-style wiper ami 74 is engaged with the joint part 38 by aligning a pair of opposing and laterally inwardly extending legs on the wiper arm 72 with the groove 68 (shown in Figure 3) between the ledges 64, 6 of the joint part 38 and sliding the joint part 38 rearwardly,
• the ramped surface 62 (shown in Figure 3) of the button 59 causes the button 59 to automatically pivot downwardly when contacted by a front edge of the wiper arm 72.
• the button 59 then snaps upwardly into a hole on a top wall 74 of the wiper arm 72, to lockingly engage the joint part 3S with the wiper arm 72.
• a top surface of the button 59 is generally flush with the top wall 74 of the wiper arm 72.
• the joint part 38 may be detached from the 1 mm bayonet-style wiper arm 72 by simply pressing the button 59 downwardly through the hole in the top wall 74 of the wiper arm 72 and sliding the joint part 38 forwardly and away from the wiper arm [00251 Referring now to Figure 5 » the joint part 38 is shown in locking engagement with a 22 mm bayonet-style wiper arm 76.
• the 22 mm bayonet-style wiper arm 76 is engaged with the joint part 38 by aligning the inwardly extending legs of the wiper arm 76 with an underside of the lower ledge 66 (shown in Figure 3) such that the legs wrap around and engage with a lower surface of the lower ledge 66 and urging the joint part 38 rearwardly, Similar to the 19 mm sized wiper arm, the ramped surface 62 (shown in Figure 3) of the button 59 automatically pivots downwardly when contacted by a front edge of the wiper arm 76 and then snaps upwardly into a hole in a top wall 78 of the wiper arm 76.
• the button 59 projects above the top wall 78 of the wiper arm 76,
• the joint part 38 may be detached from the 22 mm bayonet-style wiper arm 76 by simply pressing the button 59 downwardly through the hole in the top wall 78 of the wiper arm 76 and sliding the joint part 38 forwardly and away from the wiper arm 76.
• the joint part 38 is also configured for engagement with a side pin-style wiper arm 80
• the side pin-style wiper arm 8 ⁇ is engaged with the joint part 3 ⁇ by inserting a pin 82 on the wiper arm 80 into the through hole 36 (shown in Figure 3) on the projection 34 (also shown in Figure 3) of the base 32 and pivoting the joint part 38 relative to the wiper arm 80 until an extension 84 on the wiper arm 80 contacts the top 42 of the main body portion 40,
• the joint part 38 may be detached from the side pin-style wiper arm 80 by reversing this process.
• the size of the side pin-style wiper arm ⁇ 0 may either be 19 mm or 22 mm,
• the joint part 38 is shown in locking engagement with a top lock-style wiper arm 86.
• locking lugs 70 are received within a pair of legs S8 on the side walls of the wiper arm 86 ? and the joint part 38 is pivoted upwardly relative to the wiper arm 86,
• a tongue (not shown) on a front edge of the wiper arm 86 automatically urges the nose portion 41 of the joint part 38 forwardly to pivot the nose portion 41 about the resilient hinge 52 until the tongue passes through the U-shaped slot S6 S thereby allowing the locking tangs 54 on the nose portion 41 to snappingly lock into engagement with the front edge of the wiper arm 86.
• the attachment process involves receiving the locking lugs 70 within a pair of legs 92 on the side walls of the wiper arm 90 and pivoting the joint part 38 upwardly relative to the wiper arm 90,
• a tongue (not shown) on a front edge of the wiper arm 90 automatically urges the nose portion 41 of the joint part 38 forwardly to pivot the nose portion 41 about the resilient hinge 52 until the tongue passes through the U-shaped slot 56 » thereby allowing the locking tangs 54 to snappingly lock into engagement with the front edge of the wiper arm 90.
• the joint part 38 may be detached from the top lock with window-style wiper arm 90 by urging the nose portion 41 forwardly to disengage the locking tangs 54 from the front edge of the wiper arm 90, pivoting the joint part 38 away from the wiper arm 90 and disengaging the locking lugs 70 of the joint part 38 from the legs 92 of the wiper arm 90.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
• Quality & Reliability (AREA)
• Pivots And Pivotal Connections (AREA)
• Insertion Pins And Rivets (AREA)

Priority Applications (4)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=53267648

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (4)

Families Citing this family (13)

Citations (3)

Family Cites Families (28)

• 2015
  • 2015-05-13 JP JP2016567550A patent/JP6594342B2/ja active Active
  • 2015-05-13 WO PCT/US2015/030482 patent/WO2015175604A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 2015-05-13 KR KR1020167032093A patent/KR20170005815A/ko not_active Withdrawn
  • 2015-05-13 US US14/710,745 patent/US9744946B2/en active Active

Patent Citations (3)

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