Adapter for windscreen wiper, wiper device and method for assembling windscreen wiper
By designing an adapter with a retaining clip and a yoke shape, the problem of difficulty in adapting to two types of wiper arms in the prior art is solved, and flexible connection and management of the two types of arms is realized, and the adapter is improved Integration and flexibility in use.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202380048023.7
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2022-06-20
- Filing Date
- 2023-06-19
- Publication Date
- 2025-02-07
AI Technical Summary
The prior art is difficult to design an adapter that can cooperate with two types of wiper arms with lateral pivot shafts simultaneously, especially in the case where the arms have elongated bridges, the adapter is difficult to integrate and needs to be used for each. Types of arms provide a type of adapter that is difficult to manage.
Design an adapter for a windshield wiper, which is snap-fitted by retaining clips on the shaft end of the wiper arm, engages under the bridge of the arm with the yoke legs, and is designed to offset the wedge area. The width of the bridge is different, enabling connection to the two types of wiper arms.
A single adapter is implemented to cooperate with two types of wiper arms with lateral pivot shafts, simplifying management and improving adapter integration and flexibility.
Smart Images
Figure CN119403708A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The invention relates to an adapter for a windscreen wiper, the adapter being designed to connect the windscreen wiper to two types of wiper arms having a lateral pivot axis. The invention also relates to a wiper device and a method for connecting a windscreen wiper to a first or second wiper arm. Background Art
[0002] The windshield wiper comprises connecting parts, and these connecting parts make the windshield wiper be able to be connected to the actuating arm of any suitable shape.In this respect, it should be appreciated that there are various arms, such as hook-shaped arms, arms with lateral pivot axes, arms with longitudinal snap-fit, etc.
[0003] It is worth noting that two types of wiper arms with a lateral pivot axis are known. Each of these two types of wiper arms has an axis and a bridge intended to cooperate with a wiper or with an adapter for a wiper.
[0004] The pivot axis is identical for both types of wiper arms. On the other hand, the bridge is different, in particular the bridge of one type of wiper arm extends further laterally than the bridge of the other type of wiper arm.
[0005] For each of these two types of arms, there are specific adapters known as side locks that enable the arm to be locked sideways to the windscreen wiper. In the case of flat windshield wipers, these adapters wrap around the connector of the wiper to which they are fastened.
[0006] However, in the case of arms with elongated bridges, the adapter may be difficult to integrate. Furthermore, one type of adapter must be provided for each type of arm, which is difficult to manage. Summary of the invention
[0007] One of the objects of the present invention is to propose a single adapter capable of cooperating with two types of wiper arms with lateral pivoting axes.
[0008] To this end, the invention relates to an adapter for a windscreen wiper, the adapter being designed to connect the windscreen wiper to a first or second wiper arm having a lateral pivot axis, the wiper arms each having a shaft and a bridge, the bridge of the first wiper arm being narrower than the bridge of the second wiper arm, the adapter having a retaining clip extending at one end from a yoke having a first and a second leg, the retaining clip being designed to snap fit onto the end of the shaft of the first or second wiper arm in order to prevent axial movement of the windscreen wiper on the shaft and so that,
[0009] in a position in which the windscreen wiper is attached to the first wiper arm, the first leg of the yoke engages beneath the bridge of the first wiper arm, the end wall of the bridge of the first wiper arm being inserted between the legs of the yoke, and
[0010] In the position in which the windscreen wiper is connected to the second wiper arm, the two legs of the yoke engage under the bridge of the second wiper arm.
[0011] The adapter snap-fits onto the shaft of the wiper arm by means of a retaining clip at the end of the shaft, wedging the lateral movement of the wiper along the shaft like a simple pin. The yoke shape of the adapter and the separate wedging areas enable it to compensate for the width differences of the bridges of the arms, thereby enabling the adapter to be easily attached to both types of wiper arms.
[0012] The adapter may also have one or more of the features described below, either alone or in combination.
[0013] The first and second legs extend, for example, in respective directions parallel to each other.
[0014] In the position in which the windscreen wiper is connected to the first wiper arm, the adapter has, for example, a wedging region which is wedged into the windscreen wiper on the one hand and into the inner surface of the end wall of the bridge of the first wiper arm on the other hand.
[0015] The wedging area into which the first wiper arm is wedged may be formed by an inner face of the first leg in a slot in the yoke.
[0016] The first leg of the yoke has, for example, a transverse dimension which corresponds to the distance between the two wedging regions of the adapter.
[0017] The outer face of the first leg may be extended by an additional wedging surface, for example in the form of a circular segment.
[0018] In the position in which the windscreen wiper is connected to the second wiper arm, the adapter can have a wedging region which is wedged into the windscreen wiper on the one hand and a wedging region which is wedged into the inner surface of the end wall of the bridge of the second wiper arm on the other hand.
[0019] The wedging region which is wedged into the second wiper arm can be formed by an outer surface of the second leg.
[0020] At least the first leg of the yoke may have a tapered end, the upper face of the first leg being inclined.
[0021] The retaining clip is extended, for example, at the end opposite the yoke, by a flexible stabilizing tongue designed to bear on the windshield wiper. The tongue holds the adapter stable during use and prevents the adapter from tipping downwards. The tongue also enables the adapter to be oriented relative to the wiper so that the wedging area of the adapter is correctly oriented to contact the wiper and the arm.
[0022] The invention also relates to a wiper device, characterized in that the wiper device comprises a windscreen wiper and an adapter as described above.
[0023] The windscreen wipers are, for example, flat windscreen wipers or bar windscreen wipers.
[0024] The invention also relates to a method for connecting a windscreen wiper to a first or second wiper arm, wherein:
[0025] mounting the windscreen wiper on the shaft of the first or second wiper arm,
[0026] • An adapter as described above is then snap-fitted onto the end of the shaft to prevent axial movement of the windscreen wiper. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0027] Other advantages and features will become clear from the following description of specific embodiments of the invention (which are in no way limiting) and from the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0028] [ Figure 1 ][ Figure 1 ] is a stereoscopic view of an example of a windshield wiper (partial view), an adapter, and first and second wiper arms in a disassembled state.
[0029] [ Figure 2A ][ Figure 2A ]yes[ Figure 1 ] is a stereoscopic image of the adapter in FIG.
[0030] [ Figure 2B ][ Figure 2B ] is similar to [ Figure 2A ], which provides another perspective of the adapter.
[0031] [ Figure 2C ][ Figure 2C ] is similar to [ Figure 2A ], which provides another perspective of the adapter.
[0032] [ Figure 3 ][ Figure 3 ]yes[ Figure 1 ] during assembly of the adapter with the first wiper arm.
[0033] [ Figure 4 ][ Figure 4 ] is in [ Figure 3 ]A view of the windshield wiper afterwards with it connected to the first wiper arm.
[0034] [ Figure 5 ][ Figure 5 ]yes[ Figure 4 ] is an enlarged view of the components of the wiper device in.
[0035] [ Figure 6 ][ Figure 6 ] shows [ Figure 5 ]Another view of the wiper mechanism in FIG.
[0036] [ Figure 7 ][ Figure 7 ]yes[ Figure 1 ] during assembly of the adapter with the windshield wiper and the second wiper arm.
[0037] [ Figure 8 ][ Figure 8 ] is in [ Figure 7 ]A view of the windshield wiper afterwards with it connected to the second wiper arm.
[0038] [ Fig. 9 ][ Fig. 9 ]yes[ Figure 8 ] is an enlarged view of the components of the wiper device in.
[0039] [ Fig.10 ][ Fig.10 ] shows [ Fig. 9 ]Another view of the wiper mechanism in FIG.
[0040] In these drawings, the same reference numerals are used to indicate the same elements. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0041] The same reference numbers are used to identify the same or similar elements.
[0042] The following embodiments are examples. Although the description relates to one or more embodiments, this does not necessarily mean that each reference numeral relates to the same embodiment, or that these features apply only to a single embodiment. Individual features of different embodiments may also be combined or interchanged to provide other embodiments.
[0043] In the remainder of this specification, [ Figure 1 ] are longitudinal, vertical and transverse directions indicated by a coordinate system (L, V, T) which is static with respect to the windscreen wipers. The longitudinal direction L is the main direction of the windscreen wipers.
[0044] [ Figure 1 ] shows a wiper device for a glass-mounted surface of a vehicle, in particular a windshield, the wiper device comprising a windshield wiper 2 and an adapter 3, which is designed to connect the windshield wiper 2 in an articulated manner to a first or second wiper arm 4, 5 having a lateral pivot axis, the windshield wiper arms 4, 5 being intended to be connected to a motorized wiper mechanism of the vehicle.
[0045] The first and second windscreen wiper arms 4 , 5 with lateral pivot axes have a shaft 6 and a bridge 7 , 8 respectively.
[0046] The axis 6 is offset to the side of the wiper arm 4, 5. For both types of wiper arms 4, 5, the axis is identical.
[0047] The bridge of the first and second wiper arms 4, 5 is respectively formed by an upper wall which is extended by an end wall bent through 90°, thereby forming an L-shaped bridge. If the front is considered to be oriented towards the end of the arm 4, 5 and the top is considered to be above the wiper 2, the upper wall extends laterally with respect to the longitudinal direction of the respective arm 4, 5, in the same direction as the axis 6, behind and above said axis.
[0048] The bridges 7 , 8 of the two wiper arms 4 , 5 are different, specifically, the bridge 7 of the first wiper arm 4 is narrower than the bridge 8 of the second wiper arm 5 , i.e., the upper wall of the bridge 8 of the second wiper arm 5 extends laterally further than the upper wall of the bridge 7 of the first wiper arm 4 .
[0049] In the example shown in the figure, the windscreen wiper 2 is referred to as The invention relates to a flat windscreen wiper. It comprises a deflector 9 (or spoiler), a wiper rubber 10 and at least one reinforcing spline 11. The deflector 9 and the wiper rubber 10 are made of a flexible material. The reinforcing spline 11 is formed, for example, as a one-piece part, for example comprising a flat metal strip with a significant vertical bend, so that when the windscreen wiper 2 is bearing on the embedded glass panel of the vehicle, the bearing force applied by the drive arm is distributed over the entire length of the wiper rubber 10.
[0050] The windscreen wiper 2 further comprises a connector 12 arranged on top of and in the middle of the wiper rubber 10. The connector 12 comprises in particular a through hole 13 designed to receive the shaft 6 of the first or second wiper arm 4, 5 in order to connect the wiper 2 to the arm 4, 5 by a pivot connection.
[0051] As in Figure 2A , Figure 2B and Figure 2CAs can be better seen in FIG. 3 , the adapter 3 comprises a retaining clip 14 in the form of an open cylinder with a longitudinal C-shaped cross section, which can be snap-fitted (or snappable) onto the shaft 6 , ie fastened to the shaft 6 by elastic deformation.
[0052] One end of the retaining clip 14 is extended by a yoke 15 having first and second legs 16, 17. The first and second legs 16, 17 extend, for example, in respective directions parallel to each other, such as in a position where the windscreen wiper 2 is attached to the first or second wiper arm 4, 5 ( Figure 4 and Figure 8 ) extends parallel to the longitudinal direction L of the windscreen wiper 2.
[0053] The retaining clip 14 is designed to snap-fit onto the end of the shaft 6 of the first or second wiper arm 4 , 5 in order to lock the windscreen wiper 2 axially, ie in the transverse direction, on the shaft 6 on the wiper arm 4 , 5 .
[0054] In the position where the windscreen wiper 2 is connected to the first wiper arm 4, as shown Figures 4 to 6 It is shown that the first leg 16 of the yoke 15 engages below the bridge 7 of the first wiper arm 4 , the end wall 18 of the bridge 7 of the first wiper arm 4 being inserted between the legs 16 , 17 of the yoke 15 .
[0055] The adapter 3 has on the one hand a wedging region which is wedged into the wiper 2 , in this case at the connector 12 , and on the other hand a wedging region which is wedged into the bridge 7 of the first wiper arm 4 at the inner surface of the end wall 18 of the bridge 7 .
[0056] These wedging areas are lateral contact surfaces whose functional dimensions are produced with close manufacturing tolerances.
[0057] On the adapter 3 , the wedging region for the wiper 2 is formed, for example, by the outer face of the adapter 3 , and the wedging region for the first wiper arm 4 is formed by the inner face of the first leg 16 in a slot in the yoke 15 .
[0058] The outer face of the adapter 3 is a plane which comprises, for example, the outer face of the first leg 16 and the outer face of the retaining clip 14 , the wedging area being in this case in contact with the rib 12 a of the connector 12 .
[0059] The first leg 16 of the yoke 15 has, for example, a transverse dimension (or width) which corresponds to the distance between the two wedging regions of the adapter 3 .
[0060] The wedging area of the adapter 3 into the windshield wiper 2 can be increased by extending the outer surface at the first leg 16 in the vertical plane (V, L) by an additional wedging surface 19 which in this case has the shape of a circular segment ([ Figure 2C ]).
[0061] At least the first leg 16 of the yoke 15 has, for example, a tapered end ([ Figure 2B ]). More precisely, in the position in which the windscreen wiper 2 is connected to the first or second wiper arm 4, 5 ( Figure 4 and Figure 8 ), the upper side of the first leg 16 is, for example, inclined towards the windscreen wiper 2 relative to the longitudinal direction L of the windscreen wiper. This ensures that the first leg 16 of the adapter 3 does not contact the upper wall of the bridge 7 of the first wiper arm 4 in the assembled position, thereby allowing the arm 4 to pivot freely ([ Figure 6 ]).
[0062] When the windscreen wiper 2 is connected to the first wiper arm 4, the wiper 2 is mounted on the shaft 6 of the arm 4 ([ Figure 3 ]), the adapter 3 is then snap-fitted onto the end of the shaft 6 to prevent axial movement of the windscreen wiper 2, the first leg 16 of the yoke 15 engages under the bridge 7 of the arm 4, the end wall 18 of the bridge 7 of the first wiper arm 4 is inserted between the legs 16, 17 of the yoke 15 ([ Figure 4 ]).
[0063] In the position where the windscreen wiper 2 is connected to the second wiper arm 5, as shown Figures 8 to 10 In the illustration, the two legs 16 , 17 of the yoke 15 engage below the bridge 8 of the second wiper arm 5 .
[0064] The adapter 3 has on the one hand a wedging region which is wedged into the wiper 2 , in this case at the connector 12 , and on the other hand a wedging region which is wedged into the bridge 8 of the second wiper arm 5 at the inner surface of the end wall 18 of the bridge 8 .
[0065] On the adapter 3 , the wedging region for wedging into the wiper 2 is again formed by the outer face of the adapter 3 , and the wedging region for wedging into the second wiper arm 5 is formed by the outer face of the second leg 17 .
[0066] The second leg 17 of the yoke 15 has, for example, a transverse dimension (or width) corresponding to the distance between the wedging area of the adapter 3 into the end wall 18 and the inner face of the slot in the yoke 15 .
[0067] When the windscreen wiper 2 is connected to the second wiper arm 5, the wiper 2 is mounted on the shaft 6 of the arm 5 ([ Figure 7 ]), the adapter 3 is then snap-fitted onto the end of the shaft 6 to prevent axial movement of the windscreen wiper 2, the two legs 16, 17 of the yoke 15 engaging under the bridge 8 of the arm 5 ([ Figure 8 ]).
[0068] According to an exemplary embodiment, the retaining clip 14 is extended at the end opposite the yoke 15 by a flexible stabilizing tongue 20 which is designed to bear against the windscreen wiper 2. More precisely, for example in the case of a flat windscreen wiper, the edge of the tongue 20 bears against the connector 12. The tongue 20 is, for example, narrower than the width of the retaining clip 14 and extends longitudinally from one side of the retaining clip 14, in particular the side closest to the wiper 2 in the assembled state ([ Figure 2B ]). The tongue 20 holds the adapter 3 steady during use and prevents the adapter from tipping downward. The tongue 20 also enables the adapter 3 to be oriented relative to the wiper 2 so that the wedging area of the adapter 3 is correctly oriented to contact the wiper 2 and the arms 4, 5.
[0069] According to another exemplary embodiment, the adapter 3 has no tongue and the stability of the adapter 3 on the shaft 6 is ensured by a retaining clip designed to snap-fit onto the shaft 6 more loosely than in the previous embodiment.
[0070] The adapter 3 , ie the retaining clip 14 , the yoke 15 and, where applicable, the tongue 20 and the additional wedging surface 19 , are advantageously produced in one piece.
[0071] The adapter 3 snap-fits onto the shaft 6 of the wiper arm 4, 5 at the end of the shaft 16 by means of a retaining clip 14, wedging the lateral movement of the wiper 2 along the shaft 6 like a simple pin. The yoke shape 15 of the adapter 3 and these separate wedging areas, the inner face of the first leg 16 for the first wiper arm 4 and the outer face of the second leg 17 for the second wiper arm 4, enable the adapter to compensate for the difference in width of the bridge of the arms 4, 5, thereby enabling the adapter 3 to be easily attached to both types of wiper arms 4, 5.
[0072] Although the attachment of the wiper 2 to the wiper arms 4 , 5 has been described for a flat windscreen wiper 2 , the adapter 3 is suitable for any type of windscreen wiper, such as for example a crossbar windscreen wiper.
Claims
1. An adapter (3) for a windscreen wiper (2), the adapter being designed to connect the windscreen wiper (2) to a first or second wiper arm (4, 5) having a lateral pivot axis, the wiper arms (4, 5) each having a shaft (6) and a bridge (7, 8), the bridge (7) of the first wiper arm (4) being narrower than the bridge (8) of the second wiper arm (5), the adapter (3) having a retaining clip (14) extending at one end by a yoke (15) having first and second legs (16, 17), the retaining clip (14) being designed to snap fit onto the end of the shaft (6) of the first or second wiper arm (4, 5) so as to prevent axial movement of the windscreen wiper (2) on the shaft (6), and such that, In the position in which the windscreen wiper (2) is connected to the first wiper arm (4), the first leg (16) of the yoke (15) engages below the bridge (7) of the first wiper arm (4), the end wall (18) of the bridge (7) of the first wiper arm (4) is inserted between the legs (16, 17) of the yoke (15), and In the position in which the windscreen wiper (2) is attached to the second wiper arm (5), the two legs (16, 17) of the yoke (15) engage under the bridge (8) of the second wiper arm (5).
2. The adapter (3) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that In the position in which the windscreen wiper (2) is connected to the first wiper arm (4), the adapter (3) has, on the one hand, a wedging area which is wedged into the windscreen wiper (2) and, on the other hand, a wedging area which is wedged into the inner surface of the end wall (18) of the bridge (7) of the first wiper arm (4).
3. The adapter (3) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that The wedging area for wedging the first wiper arm (4) is formed by the inner face of the first leg (16) in a slot in the yoke (15).
4. The adapter (3) according to any one of claims 2 and 3, characterized in that The first leg (16) of the yoke (15) has a transverse dimension corresponding to the distance between the two wedging areas of the adapter (3).
5. The adapter (3) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The outer face of the first leg (16) is extended by an additional wedging surface (19).
6. Adapter (3) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that The additional wedging surface (19) has a circular segment shape.
7. The adapter (3) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that In the position in which the windscreen wiper (2) is connected to the second wiper arm (5), the adapter (3) has, on the one hand, a wedging area which is wedged into the windscreen wiper (2) and, on the other hand, a wedging area which is wedged into the inner surface of the end wall (18) of the bridge (8) of the second wiper arm (5).
8. Adapter (3) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that The wedging area which is wedged into the second wiper arm (4) is formed by the outer surface of the second leg (16).
9. A windshield wiper device (1), characterized in that: The wiper device comprises a windscreen wiper (2) and an adapter (3) as claimed in one of the preceding claims.
10. A method for attaching a windscreen wiper (2) to a first or second wiper arm (4, 5), wherein: The windscreen wiper (2) is mounted on the shaft (6) of the first or second wiper arm (4, 5), An adapter (3) as claimed in one of claims 1 to 8 is then snap-fitted onto the end of the shaft (6) to prevent axial movement of the windscreen wiper (2).