Adapter for a windshield wiper system

Abstract

Adapter (100) for attaching a wiper blade to a wiper arm of a windshield wiper system, the adapter (100) extending along a longitudinal direction (X), the adapter (100) comprising: an elongate base member (105) and a lift-reducing means (110) formed integrally with the elongate base member (105).

Description

Technical area

[0001] The present invention relates to a windshield wiper system. In particular, the present invention relates to an adapter provided for coupling, in particular for releasably coupling, a wiper blade to a wiper arm of the windshield wiper system. State of the art

[0002] Motor vehicles are conventionally equipped with a windshield wiper system to ensure that the windshield is cleaned and the driver's view of their surroundings is not obscured. The windshield wiper system typically consists of a wiper blade unit and a wiper arm coupled to the wiper blade unit. The wiper blade unit comprises at least one wiping element that directly contacts the windshield of a motor vehicle. The wiper blade unit further comprises a support frame, at least one keyway received in the support frame, a spoiler, and an adapter for releasably coupling the wiper blade unit to the wiper arm. Some of the existing adapters comprise a substantially rectangular surface towards the wiping element. However, such existing adapter designs generate significant lift.As a result, such windshield wiper systems have the disadvantage that the wiper arm must always exert a high contact pressure to press the wiper blade against a vehicle windshield in order to ensure sufficient wiping performance. Summary of the invention

[0003] An object of the present invention is to alleviate the above-mentioned problems. More specifically, an object of the present invention is to provide an adapter that helps reduce the contact force required for wiping and improves wiping performance. The contact force can be defined as the force required to press the wiper blade against a vehicle windshield.

[0004] Another object of the present invention is to improve the durability of a wiper blade of a wiper blade unit.

[0005] To achieve these objectives, the present invention provides an adapter for attaching a wiper blade to a wiper arm of a windshield wiper system, the adapter extending along a longitudinal direction, the adapter comprising an elongate base member, the adapter comprising lift-reducing means formed integrally with the elongate base member. Advantageously, the lift-reducing means of the present invention enables smooth, low-friction guidance of airflow to a wiper blade, rather than creating a vortex on a wiper blade-facing surface of the adapter. Therefore, the adapter of the present invention generates minimal lift compared to existing adapters, and thereby the downforce required by the wiper arm can be reduced.Consequently, the wiper system implemented with the adapter of the present invention can operate with minimal peak force compared to the peak force required to achieve the same wiping performance using existing adapters. In other words, at higher vehicle speeds, using the adapter of the present invention would result in a lower peak force required for wiping than using existing adapters.

[0006] According to a feature of the present invention, the buoyancy reducing means is configured to extend in three dimensions from a forward portion of the elongated base member.

[0007] According to one feature of the present invention, the lift-reducing means comprises a first air guide part with a spherical segment profile that extends convexly downward. Advantageously, the spherical segment profile is designed to guide the air flow toward the wiper blade and generate a downward force on the wiper blade. As a result, the interaction with the wiper blade is improved and does not generate a backflow of the air flow. As a result, the air flow guided toward the wiper blade compensates for or reduces the level of the contact force required for the wiping process. Therefore, with the spherical segment profile, the contact force required by the wiper arm is reduced.

[0008] According to a feature of the present invention, the lift-reducing means further comprises second and third air guide parts formed in continuation of the spherical segment profile on their respective sides.

[0009] According to one feature of the present invention, the second and third air guide members are formed as enclosing walls that extend completely around the spherical segment profile. According to one feature of the present invention, the enclosing walls have a concave profile and define cavities designed to slow the airflow from the spherical segment profile. Advantageously, the second and third air guide members contribute to reducing the peak force loss by generating positive pressure above the surface of the adapter. The positive pressure is generated by slowing the airflow through the second and third air guide segments.

[0010] According to a feature of the present invention, the enclosing walls comprise peripheral free edges extending from a nose portion of the lift-reducing means to the respective longitudinal sides of the elongate base member and having a substantially curved profile defining a fourth and fifth air guiding portion of the lift-reducing means, respectively.

[0011] According to a feature of the present invention, at least one of the enclosure walls comprises an outer surface extending along and below a longitudinal side of the elongate base member from the nose portion to an abutment portion projecting from an underside of the elongate base member.

[0012] According to a feature of the present invention, the adapter further comprises at least one receiving housing positioned at a rear end of the adapter and configured to receive the wiper arm of the wiper system.

[0013] According to one feature of the present invention, the at least one receptacle housing is configured to be enclosed by a cover element defining a sixth air guide part. Advantageously, the sixth air guide part also contributes to achieving an undisturbed airflow at an underside of the adapter and to generating downforce in addition to the downforce generated by the lift-reducing means. Furthermore, the cover element ensures that the wiper arm is locked to the adapter. In one example, the cover element and the adapter are different components. In another example, the cover element and the adapter are integrally formed as a single component. Furthermore, a lower portion of the cover element is shaped to allow continuation of the airflow, thereby achieving the smooth airflow at the underside of the adapter.

[0014] According to a feature of the present invention, the elongated base member comprises an upper wall extending laterally with an aerodynamic profile and longitudinally in the opposite direction to the lift-reducing means.

[0015] According to a feature of the present invention, the buoyancy reducing means has a U-shaped front side defined by the peripheral free edges of the enclosing walls.

[0016] According to a feature of the present invention, the present invention also relates to a wiper blade or an arm of a windshield wiper comprising an adapter as just presented.

[0017] Further advantages, features and details of the invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention and from the drawings. Brief description of the invention

[0018] To complete the description and better understand the invention, a set of drawings is provided. These drawings form an integral part of the description and illustrate an embodiment of the invention, which should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention, but merely as an example of how the invention may be carried out. The drawings include the following features: Fig. 1a shows a perspective view of an adapter of a windshield wiper system according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 1b shows a rear perspective view of the Fig. 1a according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 1c and Fig. 1d illustrate side views of the Fig. 1a according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 1e shows a bottom perspective view of the Fig. 1a according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 shows a part of a wiper arm that is connected to the adapter of the Fig. 1a, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Detailed description of the invention

[0019] The following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, is intended to describe various embodiments of the disclosed subject matter and not necessarily the only embodiment(s). In certain cases, the description includes specific details for purposes of understanding the disclosed subject matter. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. In some cases, well-known structures and components may be shown in block diagram form in order not to obscure the concepts of the disclosed subject matter.

[0025] References throughout the specification to "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" mean that a particular feature, structure, characteristic, act, or function described in connection with an embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the disclosed subject matter.Thus, any appearances of the phrase "in one embodiment" in the specification do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, characteristics, operations, or functions may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. Furthermore, it is intended that embodiments of the disclosed subject matter cover and may cover modifications and variations of the described embodiments.

[0020] A windshield wiper system (not shown in the figures) is generally used in motor vehicles to ensure that the windshield is cleaned and the driver's view of their surroundings is not obstructed. The windshield wiper system typically comprises a wiper blade unit and a wiper arm connected to the wiper blade unit. The wiper blade unit comprises at least one wiper element that bears directly against the windshield of the motor vehicle. The wiper blade unit further comprises a support frame, at least one groove within the support frame, a spoiler, and an adapter for releasably connecting the wiper blade unit to the wiper arm.

[0021] Fig. 1a shows a perspective view of an adapter of a windshield wiper system according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 1 b shows a rear perspective view of the Fig. 1a according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 1 c and Fig. 1 d illustrate side views of the Fig. 1a according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 1e shows a bottom perspective view of the Fig. 1a according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] The present invention proposes an adapter as an alternative to existing adapters. In particular, the present invention proposes an adapter that allows the contact pressure required for the wiping operation of the windshield wiper system to be reduced. In other words, with the adapter of the proposed invention, the contact pressure required for the wiping operation at higher vehicle speeds is lower than that required when using the existing adapters.

[0023] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the adapter 100 is in the Fig. 1a to Fig. 1e. Typically, the adapter 100 is arranged between the wiper blade and the wiper arm to pivotally connect the wiper blade to the wiper arm. The adapter 100 comprises an elongated base member 105 extending along the direction of the wiper blade, i.e., the elongated base member 105 extends in a longitudinal direction X between a front portion 105a and a rear portion 105b, with the rear portion 105b being opposite the front portion 105a.

[0024] By convention, in this document the term "longitudinal" refers to the orientation of the wiper blade, and the term "transverse" refers to a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.

[0025] The adapter 100 further comprises a buoyancy-reducing means 110 formed integrally with the elongated base member 105. In particular, the buoyancy-reducing means 110 is formed integrally with the elongated base member 105 at the front part 105a of the elongated base member 105, as shown in the Fig. 1a to Fig. 1e. The elongated base member 105 includes a top wall 105c extending laterally with an aerodynamic profile. For example, the aerodynamic profile comprises an inverted aircraft wing profile.

[0026] In one embodiment, the adapter 100 further comprises a cover member 140 that can be attached to the rear part 105b of the adapter 100. In one example, the cover member 140 is formed integrally with the adapter 100. In another example, the cover member 140 and the adapter 100 can be two different components. The cover member 100 can be attached to an underside of the top wall 105c of the elongated base member 105, so that a receiving housing 145 is formed. In one aspect, the receiving housing 145 can comprise a locking means (not shown in the figures) that forms part of a rod-like extension member 155 (in Fig. 2) of the wiper arm and is configured to engage the wiper arm with the adapter 100. It will be understood by one skilled in the art that the receiving housing 145 may be disposed on other parts of the adapter 100. For example, the receiving housing 145 may be formed on the top wall 105c of the elongated base member 105. For example, and without limitation, the cover member 140 includes two side walls 140a, 140b (shown in the Fig. 1c and Fig. 1d), which are connected to a bottom wall 140c to form the receiving housing 145. In one embodiment, the two side walls 140a, 140b are curved and connected to the bottom wall 140c, as shown in the Fig. 1b. The cover element 140 is connected to the adapter 100 such that the two side walls 140a, 140b of the cover element 140 form a continuous surface with the upper wall 105c of the elongated base element 105.

[0027] In one aspect, the lift-reducing means 110 is configured to reduce the lift that may be generated during operation of the windshield wiper system. As shown in the Fig. 1a to Fig. As can be seen in Figure 1e, the lift-reducing means 110 is configured to extend in three dimensions from the front part 105a of the elongated base member 105. The lift-reducing means 110 comprises a first air guide part 115 having a spherical segment profile 115a that extends convexly downward from the front part 105a of the elongated base member 105. For example, the lift-reducing means 110 forms an air flow concentrator profile. Advantageously, the first air guide part 110 is configured such that the first air guide part 110 directs the air flow to the wiper blade. As a result, the spherical segment profile 115a prevents the formation of a vortex at the front part 105a of the adapter 100.

[0028] The lift-reducing means 110 further comprises second and third air guide parts 120, 125, which are formed on their respective sides in continuation of the spherical segment profile 115a. The second and third air guide parts 120, 125 are formed as enclosing walls that extend completely around the spherical segment profile 115a. For example, the enclosing walls can have a concave profile and define cavities designed to slow the air flow from the spherical segment profile 115a. Advantageously, the second and third air guide parts 115, 120 contribute to reducing the loss of contact force by generating a positive pressure across the surface of the adapter 100. The positive pressure is generated by slowing the air flow through the second and third air guide parts 120, 125.

[0029] Furthermore, as Fig. 1c and Fig. 1d, the enclosing walls comprise peripheral free edges extending from a nose portion 150 of the lift-reducing means 110 to the respective longitudinal sides of the elongate base member 105 and having a substantially curved profile defining the fourth and fifth air guiding portions of the lift-reducing means 110, respectively. As can be seen from Fig. 1c and Fig. As can be seen in Figure 1d, the lift-reducing means 110 has a substantially U-shaped front face defined by the peripheral free edges 120a, 125a of the enclosure walls and the nose portion 150. Advantageously, the fourth and fifth air guide members contribute to further reducing the lift that might arise during operation of the windshield wiper system.

[0030] In one aspect, at least one of the enclosure walls includes an outer surface 160 (in Fig. 1c) extending along and below a longitudinal side of the elongate base member 105 from the nose portion 150 to an abutment portion 165 projecting from an underside of the upper wall 105c of the elongate base member 105.

[0031] The adapter 100 further includes at least one receiving housing 145 positioned on the rear portion 105b of the adapter 100 and configured to receive the wiper arm of the wiper system. In one example, the at least one receiving housing 145 is configured to be enclosed by the cover member 140, which defines a sixth air guide portion. As previously discussed, the cover member 140 includes two side walls 140a, 140b connected by the bottom wall 140c to form at least one receiving housing 145. In one embodiment, the two side walls 140a, 140b are curved and connected to the bottom wall 140c, as shown in FIG. Fig. 1b. The cover element 140 is connected to the adapter 100 such that the two side walls 140a, 140b of the cover element 140 form a continuous surface with the upper wall 105c of the elongated base element 105. The cover element 140 is designed and arranged such that it acts as a sixth air guide section, thereby further improving the aerodynamic performance of the windshield wiper system.

[0032] Fig. 2 shows a part of a wiper arm that is connected to the adapter of the Fig. 1a, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. As can be seen from Fig. 2, the rod-like extension element 155 of the wiper arm is received in the receiving housing 145 and connected to the adapter 100 by the locking means 170 (in Fig. 1e), which may be formed integrally with the cover element 140.

[0033] Advantageously, the lift-reducing means 110 of the present invention enables low-friction guidance of the airflow to a wiper blade, rather than creating a vortex on a surface of the adapter 100 facing the wiper blade. Therefore, the adapter 100 of the present invention generates minimal lift compared to existing adapters, and thereby the contact force required by the wiper arm can be reduced. Consequently, the wiper system implemented with the adapter 100 of the present invention can be operated with minimal contact force compared to the contact force required to achieve the same wiping performance using existing adapters. In other words, when using the adapter 100 of the present invention, the contact force required for the wiping operation would be lower at higher vehicle speeds than when using the existing adapters.Furthermore, the reduction in contact force losses contributes to improving the durability of the wiper and produces less noise compared to the noise when using existing adapters.

[0034] According to a further embodiment, the present invention also relates to a wiper blade or an arm of a windshield wiper, comprising the adapter 100 just presented.

[0035] Those skilled in the art will recognize that the present invention is by no means limited to the preferred embodiments described above. On the contrary, numerous modifications and variations are possible within the scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, those skilled in the art will readily recognize that the various embodiments described herein can be freely combined to obtain new combinations.

[0036] Additionally, variations of the disclosed embodiments may be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimed invention from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. In the claims, the word "comprising" does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article "a" or "an" does not exclude a plurality. The mere fact that specific measures are recited in dependent claims does not mean that a combination of those measures cannot be advantageously utilized.

Claims

[1] Adapter (100) for attaching a wiper blade to a wiper arm of a windshield wiper system, the adapter (100) extending along a longitudinal direction (X), the adapter (100) comprising: an elongate base member (105) and a lift-reducing means (110) formed integrally with the elongate base member (105). [2] The adapter of claim 1, wherein the buoyancy reducing means (110) is configured to extend in three dimensions from a front portion (105a) of the elongated base member (105). [3] Adapter according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the lift-reducing means (110) comprises a first air guide part (115) with a spherical segment profile (115a) extending convexly downwards from the front part (105a) of the elongate base element (105). [4] The adapter according to claim 3, wherein the lift-reducing means (110) further comprises second and third air guide parts (120, 125) formed in continuation of the spherical segment profile (115a) on their respective sides. [5] Adapter according to claim 4, wherein the second and third air guide parts (120, 125) are formed as enclosing walls which extend completely around the spherical segment profile (115a). [6] The adapter of claim 5, wherein the enclosing walls have a concave profile and define cavities designed to slow down the air flow from the spherical segment profile (115a). [7] An adapter according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the enclosing walls comprise peripheral free edges (120a, 125a) extending from a nose portion (150) of the lift-reducing means (110) to the respective longitudinal sides of the elongate base member (105) and having a substantially curved profile defining the fourth and fifth air guiding portions of the lift-reducing means (110), respectively. [8] The adapter of claim 7, wherein at least one of the enclosing walls comprises an outer surface (160) extending along and below a longitudinal side of the elongate base member (105) from the nose portion (150) to an abutment portion (165) projecting from an underside of the elongate base member (105). [9] Adapter according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the adapter (100) further comprises at least one receiving housing (145) positioned on a rear part (105b) of the adapter (100) and configured to receive the wiper arm of the wiper system. [10] The adapter of claim 9, wherein the at least one receiving housing (145) is configured to be enclosed by a cover member (140) defining a sixth air guide portion. [11] An adapter according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the elongate base member (105) comprises a top wall (105c) extending laterally with an aerodynamic profile and longitudinally in the opposite direction to the lift-reducing means (110). [12] An adapter according to any preceding claim, wherein the buoyancy reducing means (110) has a U-shaped front face defined by the peripheral free edges (120a, 125a) of the enclosing walls. [13] A wiper blade or an arm of a windshield wiper comprising an adapter (100) according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 12.

Images