Wiper blade connecting device

Abstract

A connection device (8) for connecting a wiper (2) to an arm of a wiper system (1), said connection device extending in a longitudinal direction (L) and comprising a connector (10) configured to support a wiper blade (4) of the wiper (2) and a connection module (12), the invention relates to a connection module mountable on a connector (10) and comprising at least one base (14) pivotably mounted on the connector (10) about a pivot axis (P), the connector (10) comprising at least one section (34) on which a pivot element (36) cooperating with a pivot member (38) of a longitudinal wall (50) of the base is provided, the base (14) comprising a load reaction mechanism (76), the load reaction mechanism is carried by the longitudinal wall (50) and is configured such that the longitudinal wall (50) and the load reaction mechanism (76) are disposed laterally on both sides of the section (34) of the connector (10).

Description

[0001] The field of the invention is that of wiper systems intended for motor vehicles. More particularly, the field of the invention is that of a connection device provided between a wiper arm and a wiper of such a wiper system.

[0002] Motor vehicles are usually equipped with a wiper system intended to clean their glazed surfaces, and in particular their windshields. Such a wiper system comprises at least one wiper arm and a wiper driven by the wiper arm. The wiper arm is connected to the motor of the vehicle, and the wiper comprises at least one wiper blade intended to come into contact with the glazed surface to be wiped.

[0003] In order to be able to drive the wiper, a connection device is arranged between this wiper and the wiper arm. More particularly, the connection device comprises an adapter arranged between the wiper arm and a connector connected to the wiper. The adapter is then fastened to the wiper arm, and more particularly to the free end of the wiper arm, this cooperation being removable so as to allow the wiper to be replaced when it is worn.

[0004] This type of detachable connection is achieved in particular by means of elastically deformable snap-fit ​​mechanisms. Such mechanisms have the flexibility to allow the connector to engage with and release from the adapter. These mechanisms are particularly convenient for the user to allow the wiper to be replaced, but they may be detrimental to the transmission of loads between the wiper arm and the wiper and may generate collisions in the movement of the wiper due to the back and forth movement of the wiper arm supporting the wiper and in particular the change of direction of the arm.

[0005] Furthermore, different types of wiper arms are currently fitted to motor vehicles, forcing automotive equipment manufacturers to design different adapters specific to each type of arm, one adapter specifically connecting one type of wiper arm to one connector. This feature firstly forces automotive equipment manufacturers to develop many different adapters (including at least one adapter for each type of wiper arm on the market), and secondly requires users who need to replace their wipers to adapt and pay extra attention in order to choose the correct adapter according to the type of wiper arm on which the wiper must be mounted.

[0006] Therefore, players in the automotive market wish to install a connection module that can be used as an adapter for different types of wiper arms. The problem of reacting loads and in particular transverse loads between arm and wiper via the connection device is made more serious because the connection module has a standard shape for several types of wiper arms and several parts that can cooperate, for example, with one or another type of wiper arm, respectively.

[0007] The main subject of the present invention is a connecting device for connecting a wiper to an arm of a wiper system, the connecting device extending in a longitudinal direction and comprising a connector configured to support a wiper blade of the wiper and a connecting module that can be mounted on the connector, the connecting module comprising at least one base pivotably mounted on the connector around a pivot axis, the base comprising at least one longitudinal wall supporting a pivot member, the connector comprising at least one section, a pivot element cooperating with the pivot member of the longitudinal wall being arranged on the at least one section, characterised in that the base comprises a load reaction mechanism carried by the longitudinal wall and configured so that the longitudinal wall and the load reaction mechanism are transversely arranged on both sides of the section of the connector.

[0008] The wiper and the wiper arm form part of a vehicle wiper system intended to at least partially clean a glazed surface of said vehicle. The wiper system more particularly comprises a wiper arm, a motor configured to drive the rotation of the arm and allowing the wiper to move back and forth along the glazed surface and clean the glazed surface by means of a blade carried by the wiper when the wiper moves together with the arm via a connection device.

[0009] As mentioned, the connection device comprises a connection module pivotably mounted on a connector fixed to the wiper, the pivot axis allowing, in a known manner, the assembly formed by the connector and the wiper blade to pivot relative to the wiper arm in order to adapt the position of the wiper against the glazing surface to be wiped during its back and forth movement.

[0010] The presence of a load reaction mechanism as described above makes it possible to ensure that lateral loads are transferred from the base to the connector, regardless of the direction of movement of the wiper and therefore the base, because the load reaction mechanism is at least partially laterally offset relative to the longitudinal wall so as to be able to be arranged on both sides of the section of the connector and therefore, depending on the direction of the induced lateral load, either the load reaction mechanism or the longitudinal wall is intended to come into contact with the portion of the connector clamped between the load reaction mechanism and the longitudinal wall.

[0011] The presence of the load reaction mechanism also makes it possible to distribute the transverse loads to the passage between the base and the connector and thus prevent too much load from being supported by the pivoting mechanisms carried by the base and the connector respectively and cooperating to ensure the pivoting of the connection module relative to the connector. In this way, this transverse flanking of the segments optimizes the retention of the connection module on the connector, thereby reducing the risk of degradation of the pivoting mechanism and therefore reducing the risk of the connection module being disengaged when the wiper and the connection device are driven back and forth on the glazing surface.

[0012] According to an optional feature of the invention, the load reaction mechanism comprises at least one portion that is laterally offset relative to the longitudinal wall.It will be appreciated that the laterally offset portion extends primarily in a plane parallel to and spaced apart from the plane in which the longitudinal wall primarily extends.

[0013] According to another optional feature of the present invention, the load reaction mechanism includes a support portion extending mainly in a plane parallel to and separated from the plane in which the longitudinal wall mainly extends, and a connecting portion arranged between the support portion and the longitudinal wall, and a section of the connector is laterally connected between the longitudinal wall and the support wall of the load reaction mechanism.

[0014] According to another optional feature of the invention, the base includes at least one pair of load reaction mechanisms, namely a first load reaction mechanism extending at a first transverse end of the base, and a second load reaction mechanism extending at a second transverse end of the base, the first load reaction mechanism being flanked by a first section of the connector with a first longitudinal wall of the base, and the second load reaction mechanism being flanked by a second section of the connector with a second longitudinal wall of the base. In other words, each section of the connector is flanked by a load reaction mechanism and a longitudinal wall of the base.

[0015] According to another optional feature of the invention, the base includes an additional load reaction mechanism disposed at a longitudinal end of the longitudinal wall opposite to the longitudinal end at which the load reaction mechanism is disposed.

[0016] According to another optional feature of the invention, the additional load reaction mechanism comprises a fin which is transversely offset relative to the longitudinal wall and which extends mainly in substantially the same plane as the plane in which the supporting wall of the load reaction mechanism mainly extends.

[0017] Alternatively, provision can be made for the base to include a load reaction mechanism as described above on one lateral side and an additional load reaction mechanism on the other lateral side, wherein the load reaction mechanism and the additional load reaction mechanism are arranged oppositely, that is, at opposite longitudinal ends and respectively on one of the longitudinal walls.

[0018] According to another optional feature of the invention, the pivoting element is disposed longitudinally between the load reaction mechanism and the additional load reaction mechanism.

[0019] According to another optional feature of the present invention, the connector includes at least one supporting wall having an upper face of a shell that participates in defining a base of the connection module, the connector includes two sections that extend parallel to each other in a vertical direction from the upper face toward the base, the supporting wall of the connector extends vertically through two lateral end walls that are arranged at the lateral ends of the supporting wall and extend in a direction opposite to the section, and the load reaction mechanism is arranged to face the outer face of one of the lateral walls.

[0020] According to another optional feature of the present invention, the base includes at least one pair of additional load reaction mechanisms, namely a first additional load reaction mechanism extending at a first lateral end of the base, and a second additional load reaction mechanism extending at a second lateral end of the base, the first additional load reaction mechanism being capable of extending toward a first lateral wall of the connector, and the second additional load reaction mechanism being capable of extending toward a second lateral wall of the connector.

[0021] According to another optional feature of the invention, the connection module further comprises a rotating platform, which is rotatably mounted on the base around a rotation axis, the pivot axis and the rotation axis extending perpendicularly relative to the longitudinal direction. In other words, the connection module is divided into at least two rotating parts that rotate relative to each other, namely the base that ensures the pivoting function of the connection module relative to the connector (as described above) and the rotating platform that is movably mounted relative to the base.

[0022] According to another optional feature of the invention, the rotation axis is formed at one of the longitudinal ends of the base. More particularly, provision can be made that the pivot axis extends at the center of the base and the rotation axis extends at one of the longitudinal ends of the base.

[0023] The longitudinal offset between the two parts of the connection module makes it possible to produce an angular movement of the platform relative to the base, which angular movement is sufficient so that, in a position in which the platform is released from the base, the platform can cooperate independently of the base with different types of wiper arms, the platform and the base being also configured to lock the position of these different types of wiper arms once the position of the platform is fixed relative to the position of the base. Thus, the connection module according to the invention makes it possible to combine a wiper and a connection device associated with a large number of different types of arms, which arms can be connected to the connection device when the rotating platform is pressed against the base and when the rotating platform is at a certain distance from the base. The presence of load reaction mechanisms and, where appropriate, additional load reaction mechanisms is even more important in an exemplary embodiment of a connection module comprising a rotating platform mounted on a base, since they prevent the transverse loads from increasing at each stage in the stages of forming the connection device.

[0024] According to an optional feature of the invention, the base comprises a frame comprising two longitudinal walls and two transverse walls extending perpendicularly between the two longitudinal walls, a first transverse wall being arranged at a first longitudinal end of the longitudinal walls and a second transverse wall being arranged at a second longitudinal end of the longitudinal walls, at least one of the longitudinal walls supporting an extended lateral surface extending towards the connector in a main extension plane of the longitudinal wall, the extended lateral surface participating in defining a pivot member cooperating with a pivot element of the connector. It will be understood here that the pivot element supported by the segment cooperates with a pivot member itself arranged on the extended lateral surface of the longitudinal wall.

[0025] According to another optional feature of the invention, the pivoting member comprises a tongue delimited longitudinally by at least one vertical groove formed in the extended side surface, the tongue supporting a pin extending transversely towards the exterior of the base.

[0026] According to another optional feature of the invention, the tongue is movable about a bending axis parallel to the longitudinal direction.

[0027] According to another optional feature of the invention, the two sections each comprise a pivot element and the base comprises at least two pivot members intended to cooperate with one or the other of the pivot elements in such a way as to form a pivot arrangement between the connector and the base.

[0028] According to another optional feature of the invention, the pivot element comprises an orifice passing through the segment in the pivoting direction and intended to cooperate with a peg supported by the base and forming the pivoting member.

[0029] According to another optional feature of the invention, the connection device comprises a covering member sized to cover at least the connection module, the load reaction mechanism being configured to present an indentation of a shape complementary to that of a lower edge of the covering member.

[0030] The subject of the invention is also a wiper comprising a wiper blade and a connecting device according to any of the preceding features.

[0031] The invention also relates to a wiper system comprising at least one wiper arm and a wiper according to the preceding feature, the wiper being arranged at one end of the wiper arm, the wiper arm being fixed to the wiper by cooperating with connecting means.

[0032] Further characteristics, details and advantages of the invention will become more apparent by reading the description of several exemplary embodiments given by way of non-limiting indication, with reference to the attached schematic drawings, in which:

[0033] [ Figure 1 ] is a perspective view of a wiper on which a connecting device according to the invention is mounted;

[0034] [ Figure 2 ]yes Figure 1 An exploded view of the wiper and connecting device shown;

[0035] [ Figure 3 ] is formed Figure 1 A perspective view of the connector, the connection module, the cover body and the cover element of the connection device shown;

[0036] [ Figure 4 ] is related to Figure 3 A view similar to that of and in which the covering elements have been removed to make visible the base and the rotating platform forming the connection module;

[0037] [ Figure 5 ]yes Figure 3 A perspective view of the connector shown;

[0038] [ Figure 6 ] is from Figure 4 A perspective view of the base shown from above;

[0039] [ Figure 7 ] is from Figure 4 A perspective view of the base as seen from below;

[0040] [ Figure 8 ]yes Figure 4 Cross-sections in longitudinal and transverse planes of the base and connector are shown.

[0041] The features, variants and different embodiments of the present invention may be combined with each other in various combinations, as long as they are not mutually incompatible or mutually exclusive. In particular, it will be possible to envisage variants of the present invention comprising only a selection of features described below in isolation from other features described, provided that such selection of features is sufficient to provide technical advantages and / or to distinguish the present invention from the prior art.

[0042] In the drawings, elements common to several figures retain the same reference numerals.

[0043] In the following detailed description, the terms "longitudinal", "transverse" and "vertical" refer to the orientation of the wiper system according to the invention. The longitudinal direction corresponds to the main extension direction of the wipers of the wiper system, which is parallel to the longitudinal axis L of the reference system L, V, T represented in the drawings. The vertical direction corresponds to the stacking direction of the connector, the base and the rotating platform of the connecting device of the wiper system, which is parallel to the vertical axis V of the reference system L, V, T and which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L. Finally, the transverse direction corresponds to the direction parallel to the transverse axis T of the reference system L, V, T, which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L and the vertical axis V.

[0044] Figure 1 A wiper system 1 is shown, which is configured for cleaning a glass surface of a vehicle (e.g. a windshield) in order to improve the driver's view of the road ahead of the vehicle. The wiper system 1 comprises at least one wiper arm ( Figure 1 ), which wiper arm supports at one end a wiper 2 extending mainly in a longitudinal direction L.

[0045] The wiper 2 comprises at least one wiper blade 4 intended to come into contact with the glazed surface to be cleaned, and a support 6 for said wiper blade 4 .

[0046] The wiper 2 is also fastened to the wiper arm by means of a connection device 8. The connection device 8 according to the invention comprises a connector 10 fixed to the wiper 2 and a connection module 12 pivotably mounted on the connector 10 and configured to be fixed to the wiper arm of the wiper system 1 .

[0047] The pivotable mounting of the connection module 12 on the connector 10 thus enables the wiper 2 to be pivoted at one of the ends of the wiper arm and thus ensures that the wiper blade 4 is pressed against the glazed surface to be wiped.

[0048] In the examples shown and as in Figures 2 to 4 As can be seen in FIG. 1 , the connection module 12 comprises a base 14 pivotably mounted on the connector 10 about a pivot axis P and a rotating platform 16 rotatably mounted on the base 14 about a rotation axis R. As can be seen in FIG.

[0049] It should be noted that, according to the invention, and as will be described in detail below, the connection device is notable for comprising load reaction mechanisms and, where appropriate, additional load reaction mechanisms, which are supported by the connection module and more particularly by the longitudinal walls of the base of the connection module, and which are arranged to flank the walls of the connector transversely to the longitudinal walls of the base. This configuration can be implemented independently of the presence of a rotating platform pivotably mounted on the base. In the following description, details will be given about the structure of the rotating platform, without this being a limitation of the invention.

[0050] In the example shown, the connection device 8 comprises three components (i.e. a connector 10, a base 14 and a rotating platform 16) which are articulated in pairs so as to allow, on the one hand, the connector 10 and therefore the wiper 2 to pivot relative to the connection module 12 and, on the other hand, to allow different types of wiper arms to be mounted on the connection module 12. Figure 4As can be seen more particularly in , the pivot axis P and the rotation axis R can extend parallel to each other and separately. In the example shown, the pivot axis P is formed substantially at the center of the base 14 relative to the longitudinal dimension of the base, and the rotation axis R is formed at one of the longitudinal ends of the base 14. The longitudinal offset of the rotation axis relative to the pivot axis P and the rotation axis R allows the rotating platform to be tilted to a mounting position inclined relative to the longitudinal and transverse planes of the base, the tilting of the rotating platform allowing a specific type of wiper arm to be mounted on the connecting device 8.

[0051] The pivot axis P and the rotation axis R may be vertically offset relative to each other.

[0052] The connection device 8 may further comprise a cover 18 which is pivotably mounted about a pivot axis A parallel to the pivot axis P and the rotation axis R. The pivot axis A is formed at a longitudinal end of the base 14 which is opposite to the longitudinal end forming the rotation axis R. The cover 18 is configured to be movable between a covering position, in which certain types of wiper arms are fixed to the connection device 8, and a release position, in which certain types of wiper arms are allowed to be mounted on the connection device 8.

[0053] In addition, as in Figure 2 As can be seen in FIG. 1 , the connection device 8 may comprise a removable adapter 20 configured to be fastened to the rotating platform 16 and to enable cooperation between the connection device 8 and certain types of wiper arms that cannot be fastened directly to the rotating platform.

[0054] For example, the adapter comprises a stud projecting in a direction away from the rotating platform and defining at least one channel allowing positioning of a retaining tab of a particular type of wiper arm, and / or the adapter comprises at least one locking tongue against which a wiper arm of another type can abut.

[0055] In this example, as in Figure 2 and Figure 3 As can be seen more particularly in , the connection device 8 may include a covering member 22 that is fixed to the rotating platform 16 and / or the base 14 and at least partially covers the connector 10, the rotating platform 16 and / or the base 14. The covering member 22 permits cooperation between the connection device 8 and a specific type of wiper arm.

[0056] We will now refer specifically to Figure 5 The connector 10 is described in more detail.

[0057] The connector 10 has a support wall 24 extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction L and the transverse direction T, the support wall 24 having an upper face 26 facing the connection module 12 and a lower face facing the wiper 2. More specifically, the lower face of the support wall 24 (at Figure 5 ), which is not visible in the figure, participates in defining the housing of the wiper and in particular the support 6 for the wiper blade 4.

[0058] The connector 10 comprises two lateral walls 30 extending at each of the lateral ends of the support wall 24, each of the lateral walls 30 being inscribed in a plane substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction L and the vertical direction V. The lateral walls 30 each have a gap 32 on their outer face, each gap 32 being formed by removing material from the upper edge of the corresponding lateral wall and extending longitudinally between the two longitudinal ends of the connector 10.

[0059] The connector 10 comprises two sections 34 extending parallel to each other and protruding from the upper face 26 of the upper wall, each section 34 extending the lateral wall 30 of the connector 10. The two sections 34 extending on the side opposite to the lower face of the support wall 24 participate in at least partially delimiting the housing of the base 14. The sections 34 each have a convexly curved free end and are symmetrical to each other relative to a median plane of the connector 10 parallel to the longitudinal direction L and the vertical direction V.

[0060] At least one of the two sections 34 comprises a pivot element 36 capable of cooperating with a pivot member 38 of the base 14 in such a way as to form a pivot arrangement between the connector 10 and the base 14. Preferably, each of the two sections 34 comprises a pivot element 36 cooperating with a corresponding pivot member 38 of the base 14, the orifices of the pivot elements 36 being aligned in the transverse direction T.

[0061] The pivot element 36 in this case takes the form of an aperture formed in the section 34, in this case an aperture passing transversely through the section 34, while the pivot member 38 takes the form of a peg intended to extend at least partially into the aperture. The cooperation between the aperture and the peg thus forms a pivoting device.

[0062] The pivot element 36 is in this case arranged in the center of the segment 34 in the longitudinal direction L, that is to say it is arranged equidistantly from each of the longitudinal ends of the segment 34 in the longitudinal direction L. The central arrangement of the pivot element 36 in particular enables a balanced pivoting of the wiper 2 about its arrangement at the end of the wiper arm.

[0063] We will now refer specifically to Figure 6 and Figure 7 The base 14 of the connection module 12 is described in more detail.

[0064] The base 14 comprises a rotating member 40 and a guide block 42, the rotating member being able to cooperate with the rotating platform 16 so as to allow the platform to rotate relative to the base about the rotation axis R, the guide block being intended to receive the free end of the rotating platform 16. The base 14 extends longitudinally, having a first longitudinal end 46, near which the guide block 42 is arranged, and a second longitudinal end 48, near which the rotating member 40 is arranged. In addition to the free end of the rotating platform 16, the guide block 42 is also intended to receive a wiper arm of a particular type and thus participates in fixing it to the connection module 12. The rotating member 40, for its part, allows the rotating platform 16 to rotate between a first position, in which the free end of the rotating platform 16 is arranged in the guide block 42, and a second position, in which the free end of the rotating platform 16 is arranged at a distance from the guide block 42.

[0065] In other words, the rotating platform 16 can be defined to be movable between a first working position in which the rotating platform 16 is received in the guide block 42 of the base 14 and a second installation position in which the free end of the rotating platform 16 is arranged at a certain distance from the guide block 42 .

[0066] The base 14 comprises a frame comprising at least two longitudinal walls 50 extending parallel to each other between the first longitudinal end 46 and the second longitudinal end 48 along the longitudinal direction L, and two transverse walls 52 extending perpendicularly and between the longitudinal walls 50, the first transverse wall 52 being arranged at the first longitudinal end 46 of the structure and facing the guide block 42, and the second transverse wall 52 being arranged at the second longitudinal end 48 and supporting the rotating member 40. In other words, the transverse walls 52 extend parallel to the transverse direction T in such a way as to form with the longitudinal walls 50 a frame supporting at least the guide block 42 and the rotating member 40.

[0067] At least one of the longitudinal walls 50 has an extended side 51 extending in a plane coinciding with the main extension plane of the longitudinal wall 50 and bearing the above-mentioned pivot member 38 configured to cooperate with the pivot element 36 of the connector 10. It will be understood that the pin of the pivot member 38 extends towards the outside of the longitudinal wall 50 bearing it, i.e. away from the other longitudinal wall, so as to cooperate with the orifice of the pivot element 36 supported by the corresponding section 34 of the connector 10.

[0068] More precisely, the pivoting member 38 comprises a tongue 54, delimited longitudinally by at least one vertical groove formed in the longitudinal wall 50, bearing a pin extending transversely towards the outside of the base 14. The tongue 54 extends mainly in the vertical direction V, so that the bending axis of the tongue 54 extends parallel to the longitudinal direction L. The curvature of the tongue 54 makes it possible to mount the base 14 on the connector 10, the tongue 54 being movable about the bending axis during mounting of the base 14 on the connector 10 so as to return to its initial position once the pin has at least partially extended into the orifice of the section 34.

[0069] The longitudinal walls 50 are spaced apart from one another so that when the base 14 is secured to the connector by a snap fit, the longitudinal walls extend between the sections 34 of the connector 10 and the base 14 extends at least partially into the housing defined by the sections 34 of the connector 10 as stated above.

[0070] As in Figure 6 and Figure 7 As can be seen more particularly in FIG. 1 , the base 14 comprises at least one reinforcing bridge 58 connecting the upper edges of the two longitudinal walls 50 in a transverse direction T parallel to the pivot axis P. The reinforcing bridge 58 makes it possible to strengthen the frame of the base 14, in particular to ensure that the two longitudinal walls are spaced apart from each other and that the pegs forming the pivot member 38 remain engaged in the orifices forming the pivot element 36, even when transverse loads are applied to the connection module 12 by the wiper arm. In addition, the reinforcing bridge 58 has a transverse dimension greater than the transverse dimension between the two longitudinal walls, so that the two transverse ends of the reinforcing bridge extend transversely beyond the longitudinal walls 50.

[0071] The base 14 includes a first reinforcement rod 60 and a second reinforcement rod 62. Figure 7 and extend transversely between the two lower edges of the longitudinal wall 50 on either side of the pivoting member 38. The reinforcing bars 60, 62 have a function similar to that of the reinforcing bridge 58 extending on the upper edge of the longitudinal wall 50, that is, to reinforce the frame of the base 14 so as to limit its deformation when the connecting device 8 is subjected to transverse loads.

[0072] According to the invention, as described above, the base 14 comprises at least a load reaction mechanism 76 configured to allow the transmission of transverse loads, that is to say loads to which the connection device is subjected that are parallel to the pivoting direction of the connection module 12 relative to the connector 10. At least a first load reaction mechanism is supported by one of the longitudinal walls 50.

[0073] More particularly, the load reaction mechanism 76 is characterized in that a portion, more particularly referred to hereinafter as a bearing portion 81, is arranged facing the corresponding longitudinal wall 50 so as to flank the wall of the connector and in particular the section of the connector laterally. The portion of the load reaction mechanism facing the longitudinal wall extends in a plane parallel to the plane in which the longitudinal walls 50 are respectively inscribed, the load reaction mechanism 76 forming a projection from the corresponding longitudinal wall, which extends vertically away from the upper edge of the longitudinal wall. Preferably, the base 14 comprises a pair of load reaction mechanisms 76 extending on both sides of the base 14, each of the load reaction mechanisms 76 comprising a bearing portion 81 extending in a plane parallel to the longitudinal wall 50 and at a distance from the longitudinal wall, thereby delimiting a housing for the section 34 of the connector 10.

[0074] like Figure 3 , Figure 4 and Figure 8 As shown, the base 14 is configured so that the longitudinal walls 50 and the load reaction mechanisms 76 that form protrusions therefrom are disposed transversely on both sides of the segments 34 of the connector 10. In other words, at least one segment 34 (in this case, each of the segments 34) is laterally flanked by one of the longitudinal walls 50 and the load reaction mechanisms 76 of the base 14. By virtue of this flanking, the longitudinal walls 50 or the load reaction mechanisms 76 contact the connector 10 in the direction of a load applied transversely to the connector 10 and thus allow the transverse load to be reacted regardless of the direction of the load.

[0075] More specifically, the load reaction mechanism 76 comprises a support portion 81 which is laterally offset relative to the associated longitudinal wall 50 and extends parallel to a plane mainly inscribed in the longitudinal wall 50, and a connecting portion 83 which is arranged between the support portion 81 and the longitudinal wall 50 and which for this purpose extends substantially perpendicularly to the support portion 81. In this context, the segment 34 of the connector 10 is laterally flanked between the longitudinal wall 50 and the support portion 81 of the load reaction mechanism 76.

[0076] The connecting portion 83 making it possible to fix the support portion 81 to the longitudinal wall 50 may have a chamfer which makes it possible to avoid contact between the connecting portion and a section of the connector and thus makes it possible not to hinder the pivoting of the base on the connector, in particular as in Figure 7 can be seen in.

[0077] The dimension of the support portion 81 which is laterally offset relative to the longitudinal wall is slightly greater than the thickness of the segment 34 (that is, in this case the lateral dimension), and this makes it possible, on the one hand, to ensure that the segment 34 is arranged to face the outer face of the longitudinal wall 50 and the inner face of the support portion 81 of the load reaction mechanism 76, and on the other hand to allow a minimum gap to be formed between the segment and each of these faces facing the segment in order to allow effective load reaction.

[0078] The purpose of flanking the section 34 of the connector 10 by means of the load reaction means 76 and the longitudinal wall 50 is in fact to facilitate the transfer of loads between the wiper arm and the wiper during the back and forth movement of the wiper arm, so as to avoid as much jerkiness in the movement of the wiper as possible. Thus, the transverse loads transmitted to the connection module by the fastening of the rotating platform to the wiper arm via an adapter removably fastened to the rotating platform where appropriate can be effectively transmitted to the connector 10 via the base 14 and the tight fit formed according to the invention between the sections of the connector on the one hand and the load reaction means 76 and the longitudinal wall 50 of the base on the other hand.

[0079] Preferably, the base 14 includes a pair of load reaction mechanisms 76 extending laterally on both sides of the base 14, each of the load reaction mechanisms 76 including a support portion 81 extending parallel to and facing the corresponding longitudinal wall 50 and at a certain distance from the longitudinal wall so as to define a housing for the section 34 of the connector 10 so as to react lateral loads as described above.

[0080] More specifically, the first load reaction mechanism 76 extends at the first transverse end of the base 14, the second load reaction mechanism 76 for its part extends at the second transverse end of the base 14, the first load reaction mechanism 76 is flanked by the first longitudinal wall 50 through the first section 34 of the connector 10, and the second load reaction mechanism 76 is flanked by the second longitudinal wall 50 through the second section 34 of the connector 10. In other words and preferably, each section 34 of the connector 10 is flanked laterally by one of the load reaction mechanisms 76 and one of the longitudinal walls 50. This allows for effective reaction of loads, whether the transverse loads are in one direction or the other.

[0081] In this case, the connection portion 83 of each of the load reaction mechanisms is substantially formed in the transverse continuation of one of the transverse walls, and the support portion 81 extends longitudinally towards the other transverse wall so as to cover the corresponding segment 34 of the connector 10. The arrangement of the connection portion 83 of each of the load reaction mechanisms 76 at the transverse ends of the transverse walls 52 is advantageous because the transverse walls 52 participate in reinforcing the frame of the base 14, so that the load reaction mechanisms 76 have less tendency to deform when in contact with the segments under transverse loads.

[0082] The load reaction mechanism 76 may have indentations 79 whose pattern is complementary to the shape of the lower edge of the cover member 22, so that the load reaction mechanism does not hinder the movement of the cover member 22, and on the contrary, they enable the formation of an aerodynamic assembly in the absence of a cover member (which means the presence of a protruding edge that is not conducive to the circulation of aerodynamic flows). More particularly, this indentation 79 is made in the outer face of the support portion 83, opposite the section 34 of the connector, so that the load reaction mechanism covers this section. It will be understood that when the cover member 22 is in place on the connection module, it has lateral walls that cover the connection module laterally and therefore the base, and this lateral wall extends mainly in a plane that coincides with the planar portion of the load reaction mechanism 76. The creation of the indentations 79 enables the lateral walls to be inscribed within the thickness of the load reaction mechanism and in particular within the support portion of these load reaction mechanisms and therefore not hinder the pivoting of the cover member.

[0083] In addition to what has just been described, the base 14 may include an additional load reaction mechanism 77, which is arranged at the longitudinal end 48 of the longitudinal wall 50 opposite to the longitudinal end 46 at which the load reaction mechanism 76 associated with this longitudinal wall is arranged, the load reaction mechanism 77 comprising at least one fin extending substantially in the same plane as the support portion 83 of the load reaction mechanism 76. According to what has just been described, the additional load reaction mechanism 77 and more particularly the fin then extends in a plane parallel to and separated from the plane in which the longitudinal wall 50 extends, that is to say offset transversely relative to the longitudinal wall 50.

[0084] Advantageously, the base 14 includes a pair of additional load reaction mechanisms 77 that extend laterally on both sides of the base 14, each of the load reaction mechanisms 77 being laterally offset relative to the corresponding longitudinal wall 50 so as to define a housing for the lateral wall 30 or section 34 of the connector 10.

[0085] More particularly, the first additional load reaction mechanism 77 extends at a first transverse end of the base and more particularly in this case at a first transverse end of the transverse wall 52 opposite to the load reaction mechanism 76, and the second additional load reaction mechanism 77, for its part, extends at a second transverse end of this transverse wall 52. The first additional load reaction mechanism 77 is flanked by the first lateral wall 30 or the first section 34 of the connector 10 to the first longitudinal wall 50, and the second additional load reaction mechanism 77 is flanked by the second lateral wall 30 or the second section 34 of the connector 10 to the second longitudinal wall 50. In other words, and preferably, each lateral wall 30 or each section 34 of the connector 10 is flanked by one of the additional load reaction mechanisms 77 and one of the longitudinal walls 50.

[0086] The arrangement of the additional load reaction mechanism 77 at the transverse ends of the transverse wall 52 again makes it possible to improve the resistance of the additional load reaction mechanism 77 to transverse loads.

[0087] As in particular Figure 6 and Figure 7 As can be seen in the figure, for a given longitudinal wall 50, the pivoting member 38 is arranged longitudinally between the load reaction mechanism 76 and the additional load reaction mechanism 77. In this way, when the base 14 is pivoted about the pivot axis P, at least one or the other of the load reaction mechanism 76 or the additional load reaction mechanism 77 faces the segment 34 and / or the lateral wall 30, thus ensuring that a part of the connector is flanked by the load reaction mechanism and / or the additional load reaction mechanism and the associated longitudinal wall 50, thereby ensuring the reaction of the above-mentioned transverse loads regardless of the position occupied by the base 14 relative to the connector 10.

[0088] As can be seen from what has just been described, the present invention achieves the purpose it set itself, namely, it proposes to optimally transfer and distribute transverse loads between wiper arm and wiper via appropriate connecting devices, in particular by at least implementing load reaction mechanisms formed on a connecting module that can be mounted tiltably on the connector, these additional load reaction mechanisms having a laterally offset part so as to enable a section of the connector to be flanked by a longitudinal wall, which laterally offset part protrudes from the longitudinal wall.

[0089] However, the present invention is not limited to the means and configurations described and illustrated herein, but also extends to any equivalent means and configurations, as well as any technically operable combination of such means.

Claims

1. A connection device (8) for connecting a wiper (2) to an arm of a wiper system (1), the connection device (8) extending in a longitudinal direction (L) and comprising a connector (10) and a connection module (12), the connector being configured to support a wiper blade (4) of the wiper (2), the connection module being mountable on the connector (10), the connection module (12) comprising at least one base (14) pivotably mounted on the connector (10) about a pivot axis (P), the base (14) comprising at least one longitudinal wall (50) supporting a pivot member (38), the connector (10) comprising at least one section (34), a pivot element (36) cooperating with the pivot member (38) of the longitudinal wall (50) being arranged on the at least one section, characterized in that The base (14) includes a load reaction mechanism (76) carried by the longitudinal wall (50) and configured such that the longitudinal wall (50) and the load reaction mechanism (76) are disposed transversely on either side of the section (34) of the connector (10).

2. A connecting device (8) according to the preceding claim, wherein: The load reaction mechanism (76) includes a support portion (81) extending in a plane parallel to the plane in which the longitudinal wall (50) extends and a connecting portion (83) arranged between the support portion (81) and the longitudinal wall (50), and the section (34) of the connector (10) is laterally flanked between the longitudinal wall (50) and the support wall (81) of the load reaction mechanism (76).

3. A connecting device (8) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The base (14) includes at least one pair of load reaction mechanisms (76), namely, a first load reaction mechanism (76) extending at a first lateral end of the base (14), and a second load reaction mechanism (76) extending at a second lateral end of the base (14), wherein the first load reaction mechanism (76) is laterally connected to the first longitudinal wall (50) of the base through a first section (34) of the connector (10), and the second load reaction mechanism (76) is laterally connected to the second longitudinal wall (50) of the base through a second section (34) of the connector (10).

4. A connecting device (8) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The base (14) includes an additional load reaction mechanism (77) disposed at a longitudinal end (48) of the longitudinal wall (50) opposite the longitudinal end (46) where the load reaction mechanism (76) is disposed.

5. A connecting device (8) according to the preceding claim, wherein: The additional load reaction mechanism (77) comprises a fin which is laterally offset relative to the longitudinal wall (50) and extends mainly in substantially the same plane as the plane in which the support wall (81) of the load reaction mechanism (76) mainly extends.

6. The connection device (8) according to claim 4 or 5, wherein: The pivoting element (36) is disposed longitudinally between the load reaction mechanism (76) and the additional load reaction mechanism (77).

7. The connecting device (8) according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein: The connector (10) comprises at least one supporting wall (24), the at least one supporting wall having an upper face (26), the upper face participating in defining the housing of the base (14) of the connection module (12), the connector (10) comprising two sections (34), the two sections extending parallel to each other from the upper face (26) in a vertical direction (V) toward the base (14), the supporting wall (24) of the connector (10) extending vertically through two lateral walls (30), the two lateral walls being arranged at the lateral ends of the supporting wall (24) and extending in a direction opposite to the section (34), the additional load reaction mechanism (77) being arranged to face the outer face of one of the lateral walls (30).

8. The connecting device (8) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein: The connection module further comprises a rotating platform (16) which is rotatably mounted on the base (14) about a rotation axis (R), the pivot axis (P) and the rotation axis (R) extending perpendicularly with respect to the longitudinal direction (L).

9. A wiper (2) comprising a wiper blade (4) and a connecting device (8) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.

10. A wiper system (1) comprising at least one arm and a wiper (2) according to the preceding claim, the wiper (2) being arranged at one end of the arm, the arm being fixed to the wiper (2) by cooperating with the connecting means (8).

Images