Adapter for a wiper system

Abstract

The present 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) with respect 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 flanks (42, 44) connected to each other by an elbow portion (46).

Description

Adapter for a wiping system

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of wiping systems intended for motor vehicles, and more particularly to adapters forming part of such wiping systems.

[0002] Motor vehicles are commonly equipped with wiping systems intended to clean their glass surfaces, and in particular their windshields. Such wiping systems comprise 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 comprises at least one wiper blade intended to come into contact with the glass surface to be wiped.

[0003] In order to be able to replace the wiper blade, a connection device is arranged between this wiper blade and the drive arm. More particularly, the connection device comprises an adapter arranged between the drive arm and a connector connected to the wiper blade. The adapter is then secured to the drive arm and more particularly to a free end of this drive arm, such cooperation being removable so that it allows the wiper blade to be changed when it is worn.

[0004] Adapters generally have a locking device to lock or unlock them in position relative to the drive arms.

[0005] In the adapters of the prior art, it is known for the locking device to have a flexible longitudinal tongue and a push button arranged at a free end of this tongue, the push button making it possible to block a translation between the adapter and the drive arm. Such an arrangement of the locking device, and in particular of its tongue, however results in a significant bulk. It is indeed necessary to provide sufficient space to receive it, both in a longitudinal direction and in a vertical direction. Such a housing can considerably limit the space available to receive the drive arm.

[0006] The present invention aims to overcome this drawback by proposing an adapter whose tab shape is adapted to the size within the adapter, thus saving space to accommodate the drive arm.

[0007] The main subject of the present invention is thus an adapter for attaching a wiper blade to a drive arm of a wiping system, comprising a locking device configured to lock or unlock the adapter relative to the drive arm and comprising a push button carried by a tab. According to the invention, the tab has in section at least two sides connected to each other by a bent portion.

[0008] The adapter according to the invention makes it possible to make a connection between, on the one hand, the wiper blade intended to come into contact with a glass surface of a motor vehicle, and on the other hand the drive arm which makes it possible to move this wiper blade on this glass surface. The adapter comprises a locking device which allows it to be blocked in translation relative to the drive arm. Such a locking device more precisely comprises a push button as well as a tab, these two elements being here superimposed on each other. It is thus understood that actuation of the push button makes it possible to deform the tab, by opening the flanks around an axis passing through the bent portion. The tab has, when seen in a cross section, that is to say a section in a plane perpendicular to a main direction of elongation of the adapter, at least two flanks which are joined by this bent portion.In other words, the tab is characterized by a sequence of at least a first flank, a bent portion and a second flank. Such a configuration of the flanks and the bent portion allows space to be saved within the adapter, by reducing the bulk compared to the longitudinal tabs of the prior art, while fulfilling the locking or unlocking function.

[0009] According to a characteristic of the invention, the section of the tongue is U-shaped.

[0010] The two sides then form the legs of the U. Alternatively, the section of the tongue can be V-shaped, the sides meeting at the level of the bent portion so as to form a point.

[0011] According to another characteristic of the invention, the adapter extends mainly in a longitudinal direction L, an axis of rotation of the push button being parallel, or substantially parallel, to this longitudinal direction L.

[0012] As mentioned above, the longitudinal direction corresponds to the main direction of elongation of the adapter, i.e. its largest dimension. Pressing the push button causes rotation of the tab to which it is attached. More specifically, such rotation of the tab is carried out along an axis parallel to the longitudinal direction.

[0013] According to one feature, at least the sides of the tab extend predominantly in the longitudinal direction of the adapter. The bent portion may also extend predominantly in the longitudinal direction of the adapter.

[0014] In other words, the largest dimension of the tongue flanks extends along the main direction of elongation of the adapter. This feature saves space within the adapter.

[0015] According to a characteristic of the invention, the sides have a constant section.

[0016] According to one feature, the adapter has a receiving housing configured to receive the drive arm, the push button being eccentric relative to a median longitudinal axis of the receiving housing.

[0017] The drive arm can slide within the adapter and its receiving housing until it assumes a position in which it will be made integral with the adapter. This receiving housing can be virtually separated into two equal parts by means of a central longitudinal axis, which therefore extends parallel to the longitudinal direction. The push button is eccentric with respect to such a central longitudinal axis, that is to say it is arranged on one side thereof. In other words, the push button is offset with respect to the central longitudinal axis.

[0018] The adapter according to the invention may comprise a receiving cavity configured to receive a connector, the receiving housing configured to receive the drive arm being eccentric relative to this receiving cavity. The drive arm is thus laterally offset relative to the connection zone with the connector.

[0019] According to one variant, the tab projects from an edge of an opening present in an upper wall of the adapter and into which the push button extends. The tab acts as a hinge and participates in the rotation of the push button and the locking member that the latter carries.

[0020] According to another characteristic of the invention, the push button is interposed transversely between the bent portion and a locking member constituting the locking device and configured to lock the drive arm relative to the adapter.

[0021] The locking member is a portion of the locking device which is dedicated to holding the drive arm in position, by mechanically interfering with it.

[0022] According to one feature, the adapter comprises a receiving cavity configured to receive a connector, the receiving housing configured to receive the drive arm being eccentric relative to this receiving cavity. This receiving housing is thus transversely opposite the tab relative to the push button.

[0023] The connector provides a connection, for example a pivoting connection, with the wiper blade. This connector is housed, within the adapter, in the receiving cavity. According to one aspect, the receiving cavity is arranged transversely to the center of the adapter. Conversely, the receiving housing of the drive arm is eccentric relative to these two elements, that is to say it is not aligned with them. It is thus understood that the receiving housing is offset transversely within the adapter.

[0024] According to one characteristic, the adapter comprises at least one stiffening element which extends at least between one of the sides and the locking member.

[0025] The stiffening element ensures the mechanical strength of the tongue and improves its resistance to stress. Such a stiffening element is, for example, a rib. The stiffening element extends between one of the flanks on the one hand and the locking member on the other. As a result, the stiffening element extends mainly in the transverse direction.

[0026] According to a characteristic of the invention, the tab has longitudinal dimensions of between 10 and 30 mm and transverse dimensions of between 2 and 5 mm, the adapter comprising longitudinal dimensions of between 70 and 150 mm and transverse dimensions of between 20 and 60 mm.

[0027] "Longitudinal dimensions" means dimensions of the tab and / or adapter measured along the main direction of elongation of the adapter, and "transverse dimensions" means dimensions of this tab and / or adapter measured along the transverse direction.

[0028] According to another characteristic of the invention, the tab, the push button and a main body of the adapter are made of the same material.

[0029] Such a feature provides ease of manufacturing and allows for a reduction in the costs of materials used during this manufacturing.

[0030] The invention further relates to a wiping system comprising a drive arm, a wiper blade, a connector and an adapter as previously discussed.

[0031] As mentioned above, the connector and adapter help to secure the drive arm and the wiper blade within the wiping system. This wiping system is used in a motor vehicle, for example.

[0032] Other characteristics, details and advantages of the invention will emerge more clearly on reading the description which follows on the one hand, and examples of embodiment given for informational and non-limiting purposes with reference to the appended drawings on the other hand, in which:

[0033] illustrates, schematically, a wiping system according to the invention, in a perspective view;

[0034] illustrates, schematically, an adapter of the wiping system according to a perspective view;

[0035] illustrates, schematically, a bottom view of the adapter of the;

[0036] illustrates, schematically, a sectional view of the adapter of the.

[0037] The features, variants and different embodiments of the invention may be combined with each other in various combinations, provided that they are not incompatible or mutually exclusive. In particular, variants of the invention may be conceived comprising only a selection of features described below in isolation from the other features described, if this selection of features is sufficient to confer a technical advantage and / or to differentiate the invention from the prior art.

[0038] In the figures, elements common to several figures retain the same reference.

[0039] In the detailed description which follows, the terms “longitudinal”, “transverse” and “vertical” refer to the orientation of the adapter according to the invention. A longitudinal direction corresponds to a main direction of elongation of the adapter, this longitudinal direction being parallel to a longitudinal axis L of a reference frame L, V, T illustrated in the figures. A vertical direction corresponds to a direction in which the push button and the tab are superimposed, this vertical direction being parallel to a vertical axis V of the reference frame L, V, T and this vertical axis V being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L. Finally, a transverse direction corresponds to a direction parallel to a transverse axis T of the reference frame L, V, T, this transverse axis T being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L and to the vertical axis V.

[0040] This illustrates, schematically, a wiping system 1 according to the invention. This wiping system 1 is intended to ensure the cleaning of a glazed surface of a vehicle, for example a windshield, so as to improve the visibility that a driver has of the road located in front of the vehicle. The wiping system 1 comprises at least one drive arm 2 carrying at one end a wiper blade 4 which extends mainly along the longitudinal direction L.

[0041] Within the wiping system 1, the drive arm 2 and the wiper blade 4 are associated with each other by means of a connection device involving a connector 6 and an adapter 8, this adapter 8 covering the connector 6. More particularly, the connector 6 is made integral with the wiper blade 4 while the adapter 8 is made integral with the drive arm 2, a pivot connection connecting the adapter 8 and the connector 6.

[0042] The adapter 8 will now be described in more detail in relation to Figures 2 to 4. The adapter 8 extends in a main direction of elongation which corresponds to a longitudinal direction L. It comprises a main body 10 which is formed of an upper wall 12 and two side walls 14, 16. The upper wall 12 extends mainly in the longitudinal L and transverse T directions; it is arranged between the two side walls 14, 16 and connects them to each other.

[0043] The upper wall 12 has an upper face 18 and a lower face 20 opposite each other in a vertical direction V. As illustrated in, the upper face 18 is the one which is exposed to the air flow, when the wiping system is installed on a vehicle.

[0044] The lower face 20 is intended to be opposite the connector 6, the wiper blade 4 and the drive arm 2. For this purpose, the upper wall 12 and one of the side walls are arranged so as to delimit between them an internal space 24 of the adapter 8, this internal space 24 being notably visible in figures 3 and 4.

[0045] The internal space 24 has within it several recesses intended to house components of the wiping system 1, which are particularly visible in. As part of these recesses, the internal space 24 notably comprises 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 the lower face 20 and at a distance therefrom. It is in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped and is centered transversely within the internal space 24; it is understood that 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 so that the latter fits within it when it is integrated into the wiping system 1.

[0047] The receiving housing 26 extends along one of the side walls 14, 16 and is partly delimited by it. In other words, the receiving housing 26 extends along a transverse side of the adapter 8. Consequently, the receiving housing 26 is eccentric within the adapter 8, and a median longitudinal axis M of the receiving housing 26 is therefore closer to one of the side walls 14, 16 than to the other. The drive arm 2 can slide within the adapter 8 until it comes into abutment against its receiving housing 26.

[0048] The receiving housing is for example formed of at least two tunnels configured to slidably receive an end portion of the arm.

[0049] The adapter 8 comprises, in order to lock to the drive arm 2, a locking device 30. This locking device 30 has the role of blocking a translation of the drive arm 2 relative to the adapter 8. The locking device 30 comprises several elements for this purpose.

[0050] The locking device 30 comprises in particular a push button 32, particularly visible in figures 2 and 4, as well as a tab 34 illustrated in figures 3 and 4. The push button 32, the tab 34 and the main body 10 of the adapter 8 can, to facilitate its manufacture, be made from the same material.

[0051] The push button 32 projects slightly from the upper wall 12 of the adapter 8. Alternatively, its upper face may extend in the same plane as the upper face 12 of the adapter. The push button is more specifically arranged within an opening 36 formed in this upper wall 12. The push button 32 here has a substantially rectangular shape. It is arranged, on the upper wall 12, substantially equidistant from the two side walls 14, 16. As a result, the push button 12 is transversely offset relative to the median longitudinal axis M of the receiving housing 26 of the drive arm 2, which it helps to lock in position.

[0052] As can be seen in the, the push button 32 is carried by the tab 34. This tab 34, which will be described in more detail later, extends from an edge of the upper wall 12 which borders the opening 36 to the push button 32, the latter carrying a locking member 38 intended to block at least one longitudinal movement of the adapter 8 relative to the drive arm 2. This locking member 38, which is part of the locking device 30, is here a plate whose L shape is complementary to a corner of the receiving cavity 28 of the connector 6, as can be seen in the. The locking member 38 is intended to be inserted into a notch of the drive arm 2, thus blocking any longitudinal movement between the adapter 8 and the arm.

[0053] The push button 32 is configured to be able to be actuated by a person using the wiping system 1. Thus, when pressure is exerted on this push button 32, it can retract at least partially within the internal space 24 of the adapter 8. Such a movement is made possible by the shape of the tab 34, in particular by the presence of the flanks 42, 44 joined to each other by the bent portion 46. By pressing the push button 32, the flanks 42, 44 move away from each other by rotating around an axis of rotation X parallel to the longitudinal direction L and passing through the bent portion 46. The tab 34 acts as a hinge which, when the push button 32 is pressed, allows rotation of the push button 32.Thus and as mentioned previously, pressing the push button 32 causes a reversible deformation of the tongue 34 around the axis of rotation X, the rotation of the tongue 34 allowing a stop against the drive arm 2 of the locking member 38 to retract from the latter, thus releasing a translation between the adapter 8 and the drive arm 2.

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

[0055] The tab 34 will now be described in more detail in relation to Figures 3 and 4. This tab 34 has longitudinal dimensions of between 10 and 30 mm and transverse dimensions of between 2 and 5 mm, while the adapter 8 of which it is part has longitudinal dimensions of between 70 and 150 mm and transverse dimensions of between 20 and 60 mm.

[0056] According to the invention, the tongue 34 has, when seen in section, at least two sides 42, 44 which are connected to each other by a bent portion 46. Such a section, which is carried out along a vertical-transverse plane, corresponds for example to the section view of the.

[0057] It is noted that the thickness of the sides 42, 44 and of the bent portion 46 is between 0.5 and 1.5 mm.

[0058] The tongue 34 is here provided with two flanks 42, 44 including a first flank 42 and a second flank 44, but it would also be possible, without departing from the scope of the invention, to envisage a tongue 34 which would comprise three or four flanks connected two by two by bent portions. The successive arrangement of the first flank 42, the bent portion 46 and the second flank 44 gives the section of the tongue 34 a U shape; however, it would be possible alternatively to design a tongue 34 whose section is V-shaped, the bent portion then corresponding to the tip of such a V.

[0059] The first flank 42 extends here from the edge of the upper wall 12 which borders the opening 36, while the second flank 44 comes from a transverse face of the push button 32. The first flank 42, the second flank 44 and the bent portion 46 all three extend within the internal space 24 of the adapter 8. The flanks 42, 44 of the tongue 34 extend mainly in a vertical and longitudinal plane of the adapter 8. As is notably illustrated in, they extend in planes substantially perpendicular to a plane in which the upper wall 12 extends. The flanks 42, 44 here have a constant section in these planes.

[0060] In order to perfect the mechanical strength of the tongue 34, the adapter 8 comprises at least one stiffening element 48. This stiffening element 48 may, for example, take the form of a rib. As illustrated in, the adapter 8 has five stiffening elements 48 parallel to each other and aligned in the longitudinal direction L. At least three of these stiffening elements 48 extend from the second flank 44 to the locking member 38, coming into contact with an internal face of the push button 32. It is thus understood that the stiffening elements 48 participate in connecting this locking member 38 to the tab 34. The stiffening elements 48 have a parallelepiped shape in a vertical-transverse plane, a vertical dimension of these stiffening elements 48 measured at the junction with the second flank 44 being less than a vertical dimension measured at the junction with the locking member 38.

[0061] The present invention thus provides an adapter for a wiping system, a tab of which, due to its configuration with two sides connected by a bent portion, has a reduced size, while offering the maneuverability and resistance expected for such an adapter.

[0062] The present invention cannot, however, be limited to the means and configurations described and illustrated here and it also extends to any equivalent means and configuration as well as to any technically effective combination of such means.

Claims

Adapter (8) for attaching a wiper blade (4) to a drive arm (2) of a wiping system (1), comprising a locking device (30) configured to lock or unlock the adapter (8) relative to the drive arm (2) and comprising a push button (32) carried by a tab (34), in which the tab (34) has in section at least two flanks (42, 44) connected to each other by a bent portion (46). Adapter (8) according to any one of the preceding claims, the tab has, when seen in a cross section, that is to say a section in a plane perpendicular to a main direction of elongation of the adapter, at least two flanks which are joined by the bent portion. Adapter (8) according to the preceding claim 1 or 2, extending mainly in a longitudinal direction L, an axis of rotation (X) of the push button (32) being parallel to this longitudinal direction L. Adapter (8) according to the preceding claim, in which at least the sides (42, 44) of the tongue (34) extend mainly in the longitudinal direction of the adapter (8). Adapter (8) according to any one of the preceding claims, having a receiving housing (26) configured to receive the drive arm (2), the push button (32) being eccentric relative to a median longitudinal axis (M) of the receiving housing (26). Adapter (8) according to the preceding claim, comprising a receiving cavity (28) configured to receive a connector (6), the receiving housing (26) configured to receive the drive arm (2) being eccentric relative to this receiving cavity (28). An adapter (8) according to any preceding claim, wherein the tab (34) projects from an edge of an opening (36) in an upper wall (12) of the adapter (8) into which the push button (32) extends. Adapter (8) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the push button (32) is interposed transversely between the bent portion (46) and a locking member (38) constituting the locking device (30) and configured to lock the drive arm (2) relative to the adapter (8). Adapter (8) according to the preceding claim, comprising at least one stiffening element (48) which extends at least between one of the flanks (42, 44) and the locking member (38). Adapter (8) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the tab (34) has longitudinal dimensions of between 10 and 30 mm and transverse dimensions of between 2 and 5 mm, the adapter (8) comprising longitudinal dimensions of between 70 and 150 mm and transverse dimensions of between 20 and 60 mm. An adapter (8) according to any preceding claim, wherein the tab (34), the push button (32) and a main body (10) of the adapter (8) are made from the same material. Wiping 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