Wiper arm

Abstract

Provided is a wiper arm in which an arm piece is connected to a holder by housing and holding a held portion of the arm piece in a holding portion of the holder, the wiper arm being capable of appropriately connecting the holder and the arm piece even if the radius of curvature of a curved portion of the holding portion of the holder is set to be large. The held portion (22) of the arm (20) is provided with chamfered portions (26, 27) facing the bent portions (16, 17) of the holding portion (12) of the holder (10). The held portion (22) has a flat upper surface (23) between the chamfered portions (26, 27), and the upper surface (23) is held in the receiving portion (18) of the holding portion (12) so as to abut against the lower surface (13A) of the flat top wall (13) of the holding portion (12). The chamfered portions (26, 27) are formed such that the width (W1) of the upper surface (23) is not greater than the width (W2) of the lower surface (13A).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a wiper arm used in a vehicle windshield wiper device. Background Art

[0002] A vehicle wiper device for a car or other vehicle generally comprises a wiper blade for wiping a surface to be wiped, such as a glass surface of the vehicle, a wiper arm for holding the wiper blade, and a drive mechanism (drive motor) for driving the wiper arm. The wiper arm in such a vehicle wiper device comprises an arm head connected to the drive mechanism, a retainer rotatably connected to the arm head, and an arm member held by the retainer (see Figure 1 , Figure 2 The arm is coupled to the wiper blade at a coupling portion at the front end, and is connected to a retaining portion at the front end of the retainer at a retained portion at the base end.

[0003] Figure 4 The connection part between the retainer and the arm member is shown in a cross-sectional view. As shown in the figure, the retaining portion 110 of the retainer has a top wall 111 and side walls 112 and 113 on both sides, and the retained portion 120 of the arm member is stored in a storage portion 114 surrounded by the top wall 111 and the side walls 112 and 113. In this state where the retained portion 120 is stored in the storage portion 114, the retained portion 120 is retained in the storage portion 114 of the retaining portion 110 by performing a winding and crimping process on the retaining portion 110 (side walls 112 and 113), and the retainer is connected to the arm member. In addition, Figure 4 The state before the winding and crimping process of the holding portion 110 is performed is shown.

[0004] Prior art literature

[0005] Patent Literature

[0006] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2020-163956 Summary of the invention

[0007] Problems to be solved by the invention

[0008] In such a wiper arm holder, curved portions 115 and 116 curved at a predetermined curvature are formed between the top wall 111 and the side walls 112 and 113 of the holder 110. However, it is sometimes desirable to change the curvature (curvature) of the curved portions 115 and 116. For example, if it is desired to reduce the protrusion of the curved portions 115 and 116, it is necessary to increase the curvature radius of the curved portions 115 and 116 (reduce the curvature to make the curve gentler).

[0009] However, if Figure 4As shown by the single-dotted line in FIG, if the curvature radius of the curved portions 115 and 116 is increased (to make the curve smoother), since the curved portions 115 and 116 have a plate thickness, the inner side surfaces 115A and 116A of the curved portions 115 and 116 enter the inner side of the storage portion 114 and interfere with the retained portion 120 arranged in the storage portion 114.

[0010] That is, Figure 5 As shown, when the held portion 120 is arranged in the receiving portion 114 of the holding portion 110, the two side portions 122 and 123 of the upper surface 121 of the held portion 120 are in contact with the inner side surfaces 115A and 116A of the curved portions 115 and 116. Therefore, since a gap 130 is generated between the lower surface 111A of the top wall 111 of the holding portion 110 and the upper surface 121 of the held portion 120, the held portion 120 is not correctly arranged in the receiving portion 114 and is tilted to the left and right relative to the holding portion 110 (tilted around the long axis of the held portion 120 of the arm member). In this way, if the crimping process is performed in a state where the posture of the held portion 120 is misaligned, the arm member is connected to the holder in a twisted state, and the holding force of fixing the arm member (held portion 120) to the holder (holding portion 110) is also reduced, resulting in a problem of reduced wiping performance of the wiper device.

[0011] The present invention is completed with focus on such a problem, and its object is to provide a wiper arm which connects the arm member to the retainer by accommodating and retaining the retained portion of the arm member in the retaining portion of the retainer, so that the retainer and the arm member can be properly connected even when the curvature radius of the bent portion of the retaining portion of the retainer is set to be large.

[0012] Technical solutions to solve problems

[0013] The present invention is a wiper arm comprising an arm member and a retainer connected to the arm member, wherein the arm member comprises a retained portion connected to the retainer, the retainer comprises a retaining portion for accommodating and retaining the retained portion of the arm member, the retaining portion of the retainer comprises a bent portion bent at a prescribed curvature, and the retained portion of the arm member comprises a chamfered portion opposite to the bent portion of the retainer when accommodated in the retaining portion.

[0014] The holding portion of the holder may include a top wall and side walls on both sides of the top wall, and the bent portion may be formed between the top wall and the side walls on both sides.

[0015] Alternatively, the top wall of the retaining portion of the retainer may include a flat lower surface disposed opposite to the retained portion, the retained portion of the arm may include a flat upper surface disposed opposite to the top wall, and the lower surface of the top wall of the retaining portion may abut against the upper surface of the retained portion.

[0016] Alternatively, the width of the upper surface of the held portion may be no greater than the width of the lower surface of the top wall of the holding portion.

[0017] Alternatively, the width of the upper surface of the held portion may be equal to the width of the lower surface of the top wall of the holding portion.

[0018] The held portion may be held in the holding portion by crimping the holding portion while the held portion is accommodated in the holding portion.

[0019] Effects of the Invention

[0020] According to the present invention, in a wiper arm (e.g., wiper arm 1) in which a holding portion (e.g., holding portion 12) of a holder (e.g., holder 10) accommodates and holds a held portion (e.g., held portion 22) of an arm member (e.g., arm member 20), since the held portion has a chamfered portion (e.g., chamfered portions 26, 27) opposed to a bent portion (e.g., bent portions 16, 17) of the holding portion, a proper gap (a gap that can avoid contact between the bent portion and both sides (corners) of the upper surface of the held portion) is formed between the bent portion and the chamfered portion, and even if the bend (radius of curvature) of the bent portion is set to be large, interference between the bent portion and the held portion can be suppressed. Therefore, the held portion can be held in a proper posture without tilting in the holding portion, and thus the arm member can be prevented from twisting relative to the holder. Therefore, since the arm member is connected to the holder in a proper posture, the wiper blade connected to the wiper arm is also arranged in a proper posture relative to the wiped surface, thereby ensuring high wiping performance of the wiper blade. In addition, since the chamfered portion can be easily formed by, for example, a surface pressing process (stamping process), even if the existing wiper arm is changed to increase the radius of curvature of the bent portion of the retainer, it can be easily and inexpensively handled by only making minimal changes to the arm member.

[0021] In addition, if the present invention is applied to a wiper arm having a curved portion formed between a top wall (e.g., top wall 13) of a retaining portion of a retainer and side walls on both sides (e.g., side walls 14 and 15), the radius of curvature of the curved portion can be appropriately increased while maintaining high wiping performance, and the curved shape between the top wall and the side walls can be appropriately made smooth.

[0022] In addition, if the flat upper surface of the held portion (e.g., upper surface 23) abuts against the flat lower surface of the top wall of the holding portion (e.g., lower surface 13A), the abutment can appropriately limit the angle of the held portion relative to the holding portion, thereby allowing the held portion to be held in a correct posture without tilting within the holding portion.

[0023] In addition, if the width of the upper surface of the retained portion is not greater than the width of the lower surface of the top wall of the retaining portion, the upper surface of the retained portion can be properly accommodated within the lower surface of the top wall, so that the entire upper surface of the retained portion can be in a state of complete abutment with the lower surface of the top wall, and tilting of the retained portion can be reliably prevented.

[0024] Furthermore, if the width of the upper surface of the held portion is equal to the width of the lower surface of the top wall of the holding portion, the contact area between the upper surface and the lower surface of the top wall can be maximized, thereby improving the stability of the posture of the held portion in the holding portion.

[0025] Furthermore, if the holding portion is rolled and crimped while the held portion is accommodated in the holding portion, and the present invention is applied to a wiper arm in which the held portion is held in the holding portion, the held portion can maintain a correct posture relative to the holding portion without tilting when the holding portion is rolled and crimped. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] Figure 1 It is a perspective view showing a wiper arm in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] Figure 2 2 is a top view showing the same wiper arm.

[0028] Figure 3 yes Figure 2 AA section view of the wiper arm.

[0029] Figure 4 It is a cross-sectional view showing a connection portion between a retainer and an arm member of a conventional wiper arm.

[0030] Figure 5 It is a cross-sectional view showing a connection portion between a retainer and an arm member of a conventional wiper arm, and is a view showing a case where the radius of curvature of a bent portion of a retaining portion of the retainer is increased. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described based on the drawings.

[0032] Figure 1 and Figure 2 The entire structure of the wiper arm 1 in the embodiment of the present invention is shown. As shown in the figure, the wiper arm 1 includes an arm head 2, a retainer 10 rotatably connected to the arm head 2, and an arm member 20 connected to the retainer 10.

[0033] The arm head 2 is a member constituting the base end side of the wiper arm 1, and includes a base portion 3 connected to a driving mechanism (not shown) and an arm portion 4 extending from the base portion 3. The retainer 10 is a long member constituting the central portion of the wiper arm 1, and is formed of, for example, metal, and is rotatably connected to the arm portion 4 of the arm head 2 at a base end portion 11. On the other hand, the front end portion of the retainer 10 serves as a retaining portion 12 connected to a retained portion 22 at the base end of the arm member 20.

[0034] The arm member 20 is a long member constituting the front end side of the wiper arm 1, and is made of metal, for example. The front end of the arm member 20 is a U-hook portion 21 bent into a hook shape, and the U-hook portion 21 is connected to the connecting portion of the wiper blade (not shown), thereby connecting the wiper blade to the wiper arm 1.

[0035] like Figure 3 As shown in the figure, the holding portion 12 of the holder 10 is a portion having a U-shaped cross section, and includes a top wall 13 and side walls 14 and 15 that are bent from the left and right sides of the top wall 13 and extend downward. The top wall 13 is a portion constituting the upper portion of the holding portion 12, has a flat plate shape, and has a lower surface 13A that is a flat surface. In addition, between the top wall 13 and the side walls 14 and 15 on both sides, curved portions 16 and 17 that are curved with a predetermined curvature are formed.

[0036] The space surrounded by the top wall 13 and the side walls 14 and 15 is the receiving portion 18 for receiving the held portion 22 of the arm member 20. When the held portion 22 is received in the receiving portion 18, the holding portion 12 (the side walls 14 and 15 on both sides) of the retainer 10 is subjected to a crimping process (more specifically, the side walls 14 and 15 on both sides of the holding portion 12 of the retainer 10 are crimped in a manner surrounding the held portion 22), thereby being in a state where the held portion 22 is received in the receiving portion 18. Figure 3 The side walls 14 and 15 on both sides of the state shown by the single dotted line are deformed to the state shown by the solid line, and the lower end portions 14A and 15A of the side walls 14 and 15 are wrapped around to the side of the lower surface 24 of the retained portion 22 and become abutted against the lower surface 24, and the retained portion 22 is retained in the retaining portion 12.

[0037] The held portion 22 of the arm 20 has a flat upper surface 23. When the held portion 22 is accommodated in the accommodation portion 18 of the holder 12, the upper surface 23 of the held portion 22 faces the lower surface 13A of the top wall 13 of the holder 12.

[0038] Chamfered portions 26 and 27 are formed on both left and right sides of the upper surface 23 of the held portion 22. When the held portion 22 is accommodated in the accommodation portion 18 of the holding portion 12, the chamfered portions 26 and 27 are arranged to face the inner side surfaces 16A and 17A of the curved portions 16 and 17 of the holding portion 12. With this structure, when the held portion 22 is assembled to the holding portion 12, gaps 31 and 32 are ensured between the chamfered portions 26 and 27 and the inner side surfaces 16A and 17A of the curved portions 16 and 17.

[0039] Therefore, even when the curved portions 16 and 17 are curved shapes with a large radius of curvature, it is possible to avoid the two side portions of the upper surface 23 of the held portion 22 (the two side portions (two corner portions) as the boundary portion between the two side surfaces of the held portion 22 and the upper surface 23) from contacting the inner side surfaces 16A and 17A of the curved portions 16 and 17. Therefore, the upper surface 23 of the held portion 22 is in a state of appropriately contacting the lower surface 13A of the top wall 13 of the holding portion 12, and the held portion 22 is held in a correct posture without being tilted relative to the holding portion 12, so that the arm member 20 is appropriately connected to the holder 10 without being twisted.

[0040] The chamfered portions 26 and 27 are formed as flat inclined surfaces that are inclined downward from the left and right sides (both sides that are perpendicular to the long axis of the held portion 22 and along the direction of the upper surface 23) of the held portion 22. In addition, the shape of the chamfered portions 26 and 27 is not limited to the inclined surface in the present embodiment, and any shape can be adopted as long as the gaps 31 and 32 can be ensured between the chamfered portions 26 and 27 and the inner side surfaces 16A and 17A of the curved portions 16 and 17.

[0041] The chamfered portions 26 and 27 are formed so that the width W1 of the upper surface 23 of the held portion 22 (the width between the chamfered portions 26 and 27) is not greater than the width W2 of the lower surface 13A of the top wall 13 of the holding portion 12 (the width between the curved portions 16 and 17). That is, in the cross-section at each location in the longitudinal direction of the holding portion 12 and the held portion 22, the width W1 of the upper surface 12 is less than the width W2 of the lower surface 13A. Thus, the entire upper surface 23 can be properly accommodated in the lower surface 13A of the top wall 13, and the entire upper surface 23 can completely abut against the lower surface 13A.

[0042] In particular, in the present embodiment, the width W1 of the upper surface 23 of the held portion 22 is set equal to the width W2 of the lower surface 13A of the top wall 13 of the holding portion 12. Thus, the contact area between the upper surface 23 and the lower surface 13A of the top wall 13 can be maximized, thereby improving the stability of the posture of the held portion 22 relative to the holding portion 12.

[0043] The chamfered portions 26 and 27 can be formed, for example, by performing a pressing process on both side portions of the upper surface 23 of the held portion 22. Therefore, when the curvature of the curved portions 16 and 17 is changed, the chamfered portions 26 and 27 having an appropriate shape and size can be easily formed by performing a pressing process only on the held portion of the existing arm member 20.

[0044] The chamfered portions 26 and 27 of the held portion 22 are arranged in the longitudinal direction of the held portion 22 (in Figure 3 However, the present invention is not limited to this method. In the case where the curvature of the curved portions 16 and 17 at various locations in the longitudinal direction of the holding portion 12 changes, the presence or size of the chamfered portions 26 and 27 in the held portion 22 may be determined in accordance with the curvature of the opposing curved portions 16 and 17. For example, in the case where the radius of curvature increases only in a portion of the curved portions 16 and 17 in the longitudinal direction of the holding portion 12, the chamfered portions 26 and 27 may be provided only in the portion of the held portion 22 that is opposite to the portion where the radius of curvature increases.

[0045] As described above, according to the wiper arm 1 of the present embodiment, since the chamfered portions 26, 27 are provided on both sides of the upper surface 23 of the retained portion 22 of the arm member 20, and the chamfered portions 26, 27 are arranged opposite to the inner side surfaces 16A, 17A of the bent portions 16, 17 of the retaining portion 12 of the retainer 10, appropriate gaps 31, 32 are formed between the chamfered portions 26, 27 and the inner side surfaces 16A, 17A of the bent portions 16, 17 to avoid contact between the inner side surfaces 16A, 17A of the bent portions 16, 17 and the two sides of the upper surface 23.

[0046] Therefore, even if the curvature radius (curve) of the curved portions 16 and 17 is set to be large, the retained portion 22 can be prevented from interfering with the inner side surfaces 16A and 17A of the curved portions 16 and 17 of the retaining portion 12, so that the retained portion 22 can be arranged in a correct posture without tilting in the storage portion 18 of the retaining portion 12. That is, when viewed from the longitudinal direction, the retained portion 22 will not tilt so that one of the left and right sides becomes lower. Therefore, the arm member 20 can be appropriately prevented from twisting relative to the retainer 10, so that the wiper blade connected to the arm member 20 of the wiper arm 1 can be arranged at the angle desired by the design, and the high wiping performance of the wiper blade can be ensured.

[0047] Furthermore, since the width W1 of the upper surface 23 of the held portion 22 (i.e., the width between the chamfered portions 26 and 27) is set to be not larger than the width W2 of the lower surface 13A of the top wall 13 of the holding portion 12 (i.e., the width between the bent portions 16 and 17), the upper surface 23 can be configured to be entirely accommodated in the lower surface 13A of the top wall 13, and the entire upper surface 23 of the held portion 22 can be in contact with the lower surface 13A of the top wall 13. Therefore, since the holding portion 12 is crimped in a state where the flat surfaces of the upper surface 23 and the lower surface 13A of the top wall 23 abut against each other, the held portion 22 is assembled in a correct posture without being tilted relative to the holding portion 12.

[0048] In addition, in particular, if the width W1 of the upper surface 23 of the retained portion 22 is equal to the width W2 of the top wall 13 of the retaining portion 12, the contact area between the upper surface 23 and the lower surface 13A of the top wall 13 can be maximized, thereby maximizing the stability of the posture of the retained portion 22 relative to the retaining portion 12.

[0049] Industrial Applicability

[0050] The present invention can be used for a wiper arm of a windshield wiper device for vehicles such as automobiles.

[0051] Description of Reference Numerals

[0052] 1 Wiper arm

[0053] 2-arm head

[0054] 3. Base of the arm head

[0055] 4. Wrist of the Arm Head

[0056] 10 Retainer

[0057] 11 Base end of retainer

[0058] 12 Retaining part of the retainer

[0059] 13 Top wall of holding portion

[0060] 13A Lower surface of top wall

[0061] 14 Side wall of retaining portion

[0062] 14A Lower end of side wall

[0063] 15 Side wall of retaining portion

[0064] 15A Lower end of side wall

[0065] 16 Bend portion of retaining portion

[0066] 17 Bending portion of retaining portion

[0067] 18 Storage section of the holding section

[0068] 20 Arm

[0069] 21 U hook

[0070] 22: Retained portion of arm member

[0071] 23 Upper surface of the held portion

[0072] 24 Lower surface of the held portion

[0073] 26 Chamfer of the held part

[0074] 27 Chamfered portion of the portion to be retained.

Claims

1. A wiper arm comprising an arm member and a retainer connected to the arm member, characterized in that: The arm member includes a held portion connected to the holder, The holder includes a holding portion that accommodates and holds the held portion of the arm member. The holding portion of the holder includes a curved portion curved with a predetermined curvature, The held portion of the arm member includes a chamfered portion that faces the bent portion of the holder when the arm member is accommodated in the holding portion.

2. The wiper arm according to claim 1, characterized in that: The retaining portion of the retainer includes a top wall and side walls on both sides of the top wall. The bent portion is formed between the top wall and the side walls at both sides.

3. The wiper arm according to claim 2, characterized in that: The top wall of the holding portion of the holder has a flat lower surface arranged opposite to the held portion. The held portion of the arm member includes a flat upper surface disposed opposite to the top wall. The lower surface of the top wall of the holding portion abuts against the upper surface of the held portion.

4. The wiper arm according to claim 3, characterized in that: The width of the upper surface of the held portion is not greater than the width of the lower surface of the top wall of the holding portion.

5. The wiper arm according to claim 4, characterized in that: The width of the upper surface of the held portion is equal to the width of the lower surface of the top wall of the holding portion.

6. The wiper arm according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: The held portion is held in the holding portion by crimping the holding portion with the held portion being accommodated in the holding portion.

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