Adapter for wiper system

Abstract

The invention relates to an adapter (8) for attaching a wiper blade to a drive arm of a wiper system, comprising a locking device (30) configured to lock or unlock the adapter (8) relative to the drive arm, and comprising a push button (32) carried by a tab (34) wherein the tab (34) has, in cross section, at least two sides (42, 44) connected to each other by an elbow (46).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of wiper systems for motor vehicles, and more particularly to an adapter forming part of such a wiper system. Background Art

[0002] Motor vehicles are generally equipped with a wiper system for cleaning their glass surfaces, in particular their windshields. Such a wiper system includes at least one drive arm and a wiper blade driven by the drive arm. The drive arm is connected to an electric motor of the vehicle, and the wiper blade includes at least one wiper rubber intended to come into contact with the glass surface to be wiped.

[0003] In order to be able to replace the wiper blade, a connecting device is arranged between the wiper blade and the drive arm. More specifically, the connecting device includes an adapter arranged between the drive arm and a connector connected to the wiper blade. The adapter is then fixed to the drive arm, more specifically to the free end of the drive arm, and this connection is reversible so that the wiper blade can be replaced once it is worn.

[0004] The adapter generally includes a locking device in order to lock or unlock its position relative to the drive arm.

[0005] In prior art adapters, it is known that the locking device includes a flexible longitudinal tab and a button located at the free end of the tab, and the button makes it possible to prevent translational movement between the adapter and the drive arm. However, arranging the locking device in this way, especially its tab, generates a rather large volume. Specifically, sufficient space must be provided in the longitudinal direction and the vertical direction to accommodate it. Providing such accommodation may greatly limit the space available for accommodating the drive arm. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The present invention aims to overcome this drawback by providing an adapter whose tab shape is customized according to the available space within the adapter, thus leaving space to accommodate the drive arm.

[0007] Accordingly, the subject of the present invention is an adapter for attaching a wiper blade to a drive arm of a wiper system, including a locking device configured to lock or unlock the adapter relative to the drive arm and including a button carried by a tab. According to the invention, the tab has at least two sides interconnected by bending portions in cross-section.

[0008] The adapter according to the present invention makes it possible to establish a connection between, on the one hand, a wiper blade intended to come into contact with the glass surface of a motor vehicle and, on the other hand, a drive arm allowing the wiper blade to move on the glass surface. The adapter includes locking means that allow it to be translationally blocked relative to the drive arm. More precisely, such locking means include a button and a tab, these two elements being superposed here. Thus, it should be understood that the actuation of the button allows the tab to deform by opening the sides around an axis passing through the curved portion. When observed in cross-section, i.e., in a cross-section in a plane perpendicular to the main elongation direction of the adapter, the tab has at least two sides connected by a curved portion. In other words, the tab is characterized by a sequence of at least a first side, a curved portion, and a second side. Compared with the longitudinal tabs of the prior art, this configuration of the sides and the curved portion allows for a reduction in volume, thus freeing up space within the adapter while still allowing the locking or unlocking function to be performed.

[0009] According to a feature of the present invention, the cross-section of the tab is U-shaped.

[0010] The two sides then form the trunk of the U-shape. Alternatively, the cross-section of the tab can be V-shaped, with the sides intersecting at the curved portion to form a vertex.

[0011] According to another feature of the present invention, the adapter extends mainly along a longitudinal direction L, and the axis of rotation of the button is parallel or substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction L.

[0012] As described above, the longitudinal direction corresponds to the main elongation direction of the adapter, i.e., its maximum dimension. Pressing the button causes the tab fixing the button to rotate. More specifically, this rotation of the tab occurs around an axis parallel to the longitudinal direction.

[0013] According to a feature, at least the sides of the tab extend mainly along the longitudinal direction of the adapter. The curved portion can also extend mainly along the longitudinal direction of the adapter.

[0014] In other words, the maximum dimension of the sides of the tab extends along the main elongation direction of the adapter. Such a feature makes it possible to free up space within the adapter.

[0015] According to a feature of the present invention, the sides have a constant cross-section.

[0016] According to a feature, the adapter has a receiving housing configured to receive the drive arm, and the button is eccentric with respect to the intermediate longitudinal axis of the receiving housing.

[0017] The drive arm is able to slide within the adapter and its receiving housing until it reaches the position where it will be fixed to the adapter. The receiving housing can be considered to be divided into two equal parts by an intermediate longitudinal axis, so that this intermediate longitudinal axis extends parallel to the longitudinal direction. The button is eccentric with respect to such an intermediate longitudinal axis, i.e., it is placed on one of its sides. In other words, the button is offset with respect to the intermediate longitudinal axis.

[0018] The adapter according to the invention may include a receiving cavity configured to receive a connector, and a receiving housing configured to receive a drive arm that is eccentric with respect to the receiving cavity. Thus, the drive arm is laterally offset with respect to the area where the connector is connected.

[0019] According to a variant, a tab projects from the edge of an opening present in the top wall of the adapter, and the button extends into this opening. The tab acts as a hinge and participates in the rotation of the button and the blocking member it carries.

[0020] According to another feature of the invention, the button is placed laterally between the curved portion and the blocking member forming part of the locking device, and is configured to block the drive arm with respect to the adapter.

[0021] The blocking member is part of the locking device for fixing the drive arm in place by mechanical interference.

[0022] According to a feature, the adapter includes a receiving cavity configured to receive a connector, and a receiving housing configured to receive a drive arm that is eccentric with respect to the receiving cavity. Thus, the receiving housing is laterally opposite the button with respect to the tab.

[0023] The connector makes it possible to ensure the connection with the wiper blade, for example a pivot connection. This connector is received within the adapter in the receiving cavity. According to one aspect, the receiving cavity is placed transversely with respect to the center of the adapter. In contrast, the housing for receiving the drive arm is eccentric with respect to these two elements, i.e., it is not aligned with them. Thus, it can be understood that the receiving housing is laterally offset within the adapter.

[0024] According to a feature, the adapter includes at least one strengthening element that extends at least between one of its sides and the blocking member.

[0025] The strengthening element makes it possible to ensure the mechanical strength of the tab and improve its stress resistance. Such a strengthening element is, for example, a rib. The strengthening element extends between one of the sides on the one hand and the blocking member on the other hand. As a result, the strengthening element mainly extends in the lateral direction.

[0026] According to a feature of the invention, the longitudinal dimension of the tab is between 10 and 30 mm, the transverse dimension is between 2 and 5 mm, the longitudinal dimension of the adapter is between 70 and 150 mm, and the transverse dimension is between 20 and 60 mm.

[0027] "Longitudinal dimension" refers to the dimension of the tab and / or the adapter measured in the main elongation direction of the adapter, while "lateral dimension" refers to the dimension of the tab and / or the adapter measured in the lateral direction.

[0028] According to another feature of the invention, the tab, the button and the adapter body are integrally made of the same material.

[0029] This feature makes the manufacturing easier and can reduce the cost of the materials used in the manufacturing process.

[0030] The invention also relates to a wiper system comprising a drive arm, a wiper blade, a connector and an adapter as described above.

[0031] As described above, the connector and the adapter are involved in fixing the drive arm and the wiper blade within the wiper system. The wiper system is installed, for example, on a motor vehicle. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] On the one hand, by reading the following description, and on the other hand, by referring to the drawings, reading the embodiments given in an indicative and non - limiting manner, other features, details and advantages of the invention will become clearer, wherein:

[0033] Figure 1 A perspective view of a wiper system according to the invention is schematically shown;

[0034] Figure 2 Schematically shown Figure 1 a perspective view of the adapter of the wiper system of

[0035] Figure 3 Schematically shown Figure 2 a bottom view of the adapter of

[0036] Figure 4 Schematically shown Figure 2 a cross - sectional view of the adapter of DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0037] The features, variants and various embodiments of the invention can be interrelated by various combinations, provided that they are not mutually contradictory or mutually exclusive. In particular, variants of the invention can be envisaged which only include a selection of the following features, separated from the other features described, provided that the selection of these features is sufficient to bring technical advantages and / or to distinguish the invention from the prior art.

[0038] In the drawings, elements common to multiple drawings have the same reference numerals.

[0039] In the following detailed description, the terms "longitudinal", "transverse", and "vertical" refer to the orientation of the wiper system and the adapter according to the present invention. The longitudinal direction corresponds to the main elongation direction of the adapter, which is parallel to the longitudinal axis L of the three-sided body L, V, T shown in the figure. The transverse direction is parallel to the transverse axis T of the coordinate system L, V, T, and the transverse axis T is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L. Finally, the vertical direction corresponds to the direction parallel to the vertical axis V of the coordinate system L, V, T, and the vertical axis V is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L and the transverse axis T.

[0040] Thus, Figure 1 FIG. 1 schematically shows a wiper system 1 according to the present invention. The wiper system 1 is used to clean the glass surface of a vehicle, such as a windshield, to improve the driver's view of the road ahead of the vehicle. The wiper system 1 includes at least one drive arm 2, which supports a wiper blade 4 extending mainly in the longitudinal direction L at one end.

[0041] Within the wiper system 1, the drive arm 2 and the wiper blade 4 are associated with each other by a connecting device, which includes a connector 6 and an adapter 8 that covers the connector 6. More specifically, the connector 6 is fixed to the wiper blade 4, while the adapter 8 is fixed to the drive arm 2, and a pivot link connects the adapter 8 and the connector 6.

[0042] Reference will now be made to Figures 2 to 4 a more detailed description of the adapter 8. The adapter 8 extends in the main elongation direction corresponding to the longitudinal direction L. It includes a body 10 formed by a top wall 12 and two side walls 14, 16. The top wall 12 extends mainly in the longitudinal direction L and the transverse direction T; it is placed between the two side walls 14, 16 and connects them to each other.

[0043] The top wall 12 has a top surface 18 and a bottom surface 20, which are opposite to each other in the vertical direction V. As Figure 2 shown, when the wiper system is installed on a vehicle, the top surface 18 is the surface exposed to the air flow.

[0044] The bottom surface 20 is intended to face the connector 6, the wiper blade 4, and the drive arm 2. For this purpose, the top wall 12 and one of the side walls are arranged to define an internal space 24 of the adapter 8 between them, and the internal space 24 is specifically as Figure 3 and 4 shown.

[0045] The internal space 24 has a plurality of depressions therein for accommodating the components of the wiper system 1, specifically as Figure 3 shown. Through the depressions, the internal space 24 particularly includes a receiving housing 26 configured to receive the drive arm 2 and a receiving cavity 28 configured to receive the connector 6.

[0046] The receiving cavity 28 extends from and away from the bottom surface 20. In shape, it is a cuboid and is laterally centered within the internal space 24; in other words, the receiving cavity 28 is substantially equidistant from each of the side walls 14, 16 of the adapter 8. The receiving cavity 28 receives the connector 6 such that when the connector 6 is integrated into the wiper system 1, the connector 6 is interlocked therein.

[0047] The receiving housing 26 extends along one of the side walls 14, 16 and is partially constrained by the latter. In other words, the receiving housing 26 extends along the lateral side of the adapter 8. Thus, the receiving housing 26 is eccentric within the adapter 8, and the intermediate longitudinal axis M of the receiving housing 26 is thus closer to one of the side walls 14, 16 than the other. The drive arm 2 is able to slide within the adapter 8 until it abuts against its receiving housing 26.

[0048] The receiving housing is constituted, for example, by at least two channels configured to slidably receive the end of the arm.

[0049] To lock onto the drive arm 2, the adapter 8 includes a locking device 30. The function of this locking device 30 is to prevent translational movement of the drive arm 2 relative to the adapter 8. For this purpose, the locking device 30 includes a plurality of elements.

[0050] The locking device 30 particularly includes a button 32, particularly as Figure 2 and 4 shown, and a tab 34 as Figure 3 and 4 shown. For easier manufacturing, the button 32, the tab 34 and the body 10 of the adapter 8 can be integrally made of the same material.

[0051] The button 32 projects slightly from the top wall 12 of the adapter 8. Alternatively, its top surface can be in the same plane as the top surface of the adapter. More specifically, the button is placed within an opening 36 formed in the top wall 12. Here, the button 32 has a generally rectangular shape. It is placed in the top wall 12, substantially equidistant from the two side walls 14, 16. As a result, the button 12 is laterally offset with respect to the intermediate longitudinal axis M of the housing 26 for receiving the drive arm 2, which participates in locking it in place.

[0052] As Figure 4 shown, the button 32 is carried by the tab 34. This tab 34 (to be described in more detail below) extends from the edge of the top wall 12 bordering the opening 36 to the button 32, and the button 32 carries a blocking member 38 which is used to block at least one longitudinal movement of the adapter 8 relative to the drive arm 2. The blocking member 38, which forms part of the locking device 30, is here a plate, the L-shape of which is complementary to the corner of the cavity 28 for receiving the connector 6, as Figure 3As shown. The blocking member 38 is designed to be inserted into the notch of the drive arm 2, thereby blocking any longitudinal movement between the adapter 8 and the arm.

[0053] The button 32 is configured to be actuated by a person using the wiper system 1. Thus, when pressure is applied to the button 32, it can be at least partially retracted into the internal space 24 of the adapter 8. This movement is possible due to the shape of the tab 34, in particular due to the presence of the side surfaces 42, 44 connected to each other by the curved portion 46. When the button 32 is pressed, the side surfaces 42, 44 move away from each other by rotating around the axis of rotation X parallel to the longitudinal direction L and passing through the curved portion 46. The tab 34 acts as a hinge that allows the button 32 to rotate when the button 32 is pressed. Thus, as described above, pressing the button 32 causes the tab 34 to reversibly deform around the axis of rotation X, and the rotation of the tab 34 allows the abutment of the drive arm 2 of the blocking member 38 to retract from the latter, thereby releasing the translational movement between the adapter 8 and the drive arm 2.

[0054] The shape of the tab 34 also allows the blocking member 38 to return to its initial position, in which the blocking member 38 is ready to block at least one translational movement between the adapter 8 and the drive arm 2.

[0055] Reference will now be made to Figure 3 and Figure 4 for a more detailed description of the tab 34. The longitudinal dimension of the tab 34 is between 10 and 30 mm, the transverse dimension is between 2 and 5 mm, while the longitudinal dimension of the adapter 8 formed by it is between 70 and 150 mm, and the transverse dimension is between 20 and 60 mm.

[0056] According to the present invention, when viewed in cross-section, the tab 34 has at least two side surfaces 42, 44 connected to each other by the curved portion 46. This cross-section cut in the vertical-transverse plane corresponds to, for example, Figure 4 the cross-sectional view in

[0057] It should be noted that the thickness of the side surfaces 42, 44 and the curved portion 46 is between 0.5 and 1.5 mm.

[0058] Here, the tab 34 has two side surfaces 42, 44, namely the first side surface 42 and the second side surface 44; however, without departing from the scope of the present invention, a tab 34 including three or four side surfaces connected in pairs by curved portions can also be used. The continuous arrangement of the first side surface 42, the curved portion 46 and the second side surface 44 makes the cross-section of the tab 34 U-shaped; however, alternatively, a tab 34 having a V-shaped cross-section can also be used, and the curved portion corresponds to the vertex of this V-shape.

[0059] The first side 42 here extends from the edge of the top wall 12 that defines the opening 36, while the second side 44 extends from the lateral face of the button 32. The first side 42, the second side 44, and the curved portion 46 are all located within the internal space 24 of the adapter 8. The sides 42, 44 of the tab 34 are mainly located within the vertical and longitudinal planes of the adapter 8. In particular, as Figure 4 shown, they are located within a plane that is substantially perpendicular to the plane in which the top wall 12 lies. Here, the sides 42, 44 have a constant cross-section in these planes.

[0060] To increase the mechanical strength of the tab 34, the adapter 8 includes at least one reinforcing element 48. The reinforcing element 48 can take the form of a rib, for example. As Figure 3 shown, the adapter 8 has five reinforcing elements 48 that extend parallel to each other and are aligned in the longitudinal direction L. At least three of these reinforcing elements 48 extend from the second side 44 to the blocking member 38 and thus come into contact with the inner face of the button 32. Thus, it should be understood that the reinforcing element 48 participates in connecting the blocking member 38 to the tab 34. The reinforcing element 48 has a parallelepiped shape in the vertical-lateral plane, and the vertical dimension of the reinforcing element 48 measured at the junction with the second side 44 is smaller than the vertical dimension measured at the junction with the blocking member 38.

[0061] Therefore, the present invention provides an adapter for a wiper system. Due to its configuration with two sides connected by a curved portion, the tab of this adapter has a smaller volume while ensuring the usability and strength expected of such an adapter.

[0062] However, the present invention is not limited to the devices and configurations described and shown herein, and can also extend to any equivalent devices and configurations and any combination of technical operations of such devices.

Claims

1. An adapter (8) for attaching a wiper blade (4) to a drive arm (2) of a wiper system (1), comprising locking means (30) configured to lock or unlock the adapter (8) relative to the drive arm (2), and comprising a button (32) carried by a tab (34), wherein the tab (34) has at least two sides (42, 44) connected to each other by a bending portion (46) in cross-section.

2. The adapter (8) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein when viewed in cross-section, i.e., a cross-section in a plane perpendicular to the main elongation direction of the adapter, the tab has at least two sides connected by the bending portion.

3. The adapter (8) according to claim 1 or 2 of the preceding claims, mainly extending in the longitudinal direction L, and the rotation axis (X) of the button (32) is parallel to the longitudinal direction L.

4. The adapter (8) according to the previous claim, wherein, At least the sides (42, 44) of the tab (34) mainly extend in the longitudinal direction of the adapter (8).

5. The adapter (8) according to any one of the preceding claims, having a receiving housing (26) configured to receive the drive arm (2), and the button (32) is eccentric with respect to the intermediate longitudinal axis (M) of the receiving housing (26).

6. The adapter (8) according to the previous claim, comprising a receiving cavity (28) configured to receive a connector (6), and the receiving housing (26) is configured to receive the drive arm (2) eccentric with respect to the receiving cavity (28).

7. The adapter (8) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The tab (34) projects from the edge of an opening (36) present in the top wall (12) of the adapter (8), and the button (32) extends into the opening (36).

8. The adapter (8) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The button (32) is laterally interposed between the bending portion (46) and a blocking member (38) constituting the locking means (30), and is configured to block the drive arm (2) relative to the adapter (8).

9. The adapter (8) according to the previous claim, comprising at least one strengthening element (48) extending at least between one of the sides (42, 44) and the blocking member (38).

10. The adapter (8) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The tab (34) has a longitudinal dimension between 10 and 30 mm and a transverse dimension between 2 and 5 mm, and the adapter (8) has a longitudinal dimension between 70 and 150 mm and a transverse dimension between 20 and 60 mm.

11. The adapter (8) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The tab (34), the button (32) and the body (10) of the adapter (8) are integrally made of the same material.

12. A wiper system (1), comprising a drive arm (2), a wiper blade (4), a connector (6) and an adapter (8) according to any one of the preceding claims.

Images