Adapter for windscreen wiper blade, windscreen wiper and vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to an adapter (16) for a windscreen wiper blade, which is configured to assemble a windscreen wiper blade on a windscreen wiper arm, the adapter extending in a longitudinal direction (26) between a first longitudinal end (161) and a second longitudinal end (162), the first longitudinal end (161) being configured to receive the arm, the adapter further comprising an air flow attack surface (28) which extends from the first longitudinal end (161) to the second longitudinal end (162) in a divergent manner. The invention also relates to a windscreen wiper having the adapter as well as to a vehicle having the windscreen wiper. The invention makes it possible to improve the wiping quality. Figure for the abstract: Figure 3

Description

Wiper blade adapter, windshield wiper and vehicle Field of invention

[0001] The invention relates to a wiper blade adapter, a windshield wiper with the adapter and a vehicle with the windshield wiper. State of the art

[0002] The aerodynamic performance of the connections between the wiper arm and the wiper blade does not allow sufficient application of the blade against the window to be wiped. As a result, the quality of the window wiping is not sufficient.

[0003] There is therefore a need for a connection between the wiper arm and the wiper blade which allows the quality of wiping to be increased.

[0004] The aim of the invention is to provide a connection between the wiper arm and the wiper blade which makes it possible to increase the quality of wiping.

[0005] For this purpose, the invention proposes a wiper blade adapter, configured to assemble a wiper blade to a wiper arm, the adapter extending in a longitudinal direction between a first longitudinal end and a second longitudinal end, the first longitudinal end being configured to receive the arm, the adapter further comprising an air flow attack surface which extends from the first longitudinal end to the second longitudinal end in a divergent manner.

[0006] According to one variant, the airflow attack surface diverges by an angle greater than 0° and less than or equal to 35° relative to the longitudinal direction.

[0007] According to one variant, the adapter further comprises an airflow leakage surface which extends from the first longitudinal end to the second longitudinal end of the adapter, parallel to the longitudinal direction.

[0008] According to a variant, the adapter further comprises an upper wall delimited transversely to the longitudinal direction by the air flow attack surface and by the air flow leakage surface, a side wall connected to the upper wall by the air flow leakage surface, the upper wall and the side wall delimiting an internal volume in which is arranged an arm receiving housing accessible by the first longitudinal end.

[0009] According to one variant, the internal volume further comprises a cavity for fixing a brush connector.

[0010] According to one variant, the upper wall comprises a flat section connected to the airflow attack surface and to the airflow leakage surface by curved sections.

[0011] According to one embodiment, the second longitudinal end flares from the airflow attack surface toward the airflow leakage surface, such that the airflow attack surface is shorter longitudinally than the airflow leakage surface toward the second end.

[0012] In one embodiment, the first longitudinal end flares from the airflow attack surface toward the airflow leakage surface, such that the airflow attack surface is shorter longitudinally than the airflow leakage surface toward the first end.

[0013] The invention also relates to a windshield wiper comprising a wiper arm, a wiper blade and the adapter as described above, the adapter connecting one end of the wiper arm to the wiper blade.

[0014] The invention also relates to a vehicle comprising the windshield wiper as described above, in which the airflow attack surface of the adapter faces the front of the vehicle, in the rest position of the windshield wiper.

[0015] All of the preferred embodiments and all of the advantages of the adapter according to the invention are transposed mutatis mutandis to the present windshield wiper and vehicle, and vice versa. The different embodiments can be taken in combination or considered in isolation. Brief description of the figures

[0016] Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will appear on reading the detailed description which follows, for the understanding of which reference will be made to the appended figures which show:

[0017] , this is a view of a windshield wiper;

[0018] , this is a front view of a vehicle;

[0019] , is a top view of the wiper adapter according to the ;

[0020] , this is a side view of the wiper adapter according to the.

[0021] The drawings of the figures are not to scale. Like elements are generally denoted by like references in the figures. For the purposes of this document, identical or similar elements may bear the same references. Furthermore, the presence of reference numbers or letters in the drawings cannot be considered as limiting, including when these numbers or letters are indicated in the claims.

[0022] Detailed description of embodiments of the invention

[0023] The invention provides a wiper blade adapter, configured to assemble a wiper blade to a wiper arm. The adapter extends in a longitudinal direction between a first longitudinal end and a second longitudinal end, the first longitudinal end being configured to receive the arm. The adapter further comprises an airflow attack surface which extends from the first longitudinal end to the second longitudinal end in a divergent manner. Such a shape of the airflow attack surface makes it possible to use the airflow generated by a moving vehicle to apply pressure to the adapter and thus to the wiper blade. The connection between the wiper arm and the wiper blade makes it possible to better apply the blade to the window to be wiped and thus to increase the quality of the wiping.

[0024] is a view of a windshield wiper 10. The windshield wiper 10 comprises a wiper blade 12 and a wiper arm 14. The windshield wiper 10 further comprises an adapter 16 for assembling or connecting the blade 12 to the arm 14.

[0025] The wiper blade 12 may have an elongated shape. The wiper blade 12 may have a longitudinal shape. In other words, the wiper blade 12 may extend in a longitudinal direction. The wiper blade 12 may comprise one or more vertebrae not visible in the figures and a blade capable of resting against the window of a vehicle, the windshield for example, and of ensuring wiping thereof by back-and-forth movements of the wiper blade 10. The wiper blade 12 is capable of exerting pressure according to a defined pattern on the window to be wiped in the longitudinal direction. The pressure on the window is variable, along the longitudinal shape of the wiper blade 12, the pressure being greater in the center of the wiper blade – at the adapter –, to compensate for the aerodynamic lifting of the adapter.

[0026] The arm 14 is driven in movement at one of its ends by drive means and drives the brush 12 in movement at its other end 141. The arm 14 is connected to the brush 12 via a connection comprising the adapter 16. The adapter 16 can be fixed to the end 141 of the arm 14 by inserting the end 141 into a receiving housing of the arm within the adapter 16.

[0027] This is a front view of a vehicle 18. The vehicle 18 comprises a front hood 20 and a roof 22, as well as a windshield 24 between the hood 20 and the roof 22. The windshield wiper 10 is shown with two pairs of blades 12 and arms 14 as an example. Only one pair of blades 12 and arms 14 is possible. The windshield wiper 10 performs reciprocating movements so that the blades 12 wipe the windshield. The windshield wiper 10 is movable between a rest position in which the blades 12 and arms 14 are at the foot of the windshield, substantially along an upper edge of the hood 20 (and transversely to the direction of travel of the vehicle 18) and an extreme position in which the blades 12 and arms 14 are straightened (and are substantially in the direction of travel of the vehicle). The position of the is an intermediate position, approaching the extreme position.The windshield wiper 10 is shown in a position allowing the portion of the window located in front of the driver to be wiped.

[0028] This is a top view of the adapter 16 of the windshield wiper of the. The adapter 16 allows the assembly of the wiper blade 12 to the wiper arm 14. The assembly of the blade 12, arm 14 and adapter 16 are shown in a vertical position corresponding substantially to the position of the windshield wiper 10 of the. The adapter 16 extends in a longitudinal direction 26. The blade 12 also extends, substantially, in the longitudinal direction 26. The adapter 16 comprises a first longitudinal end 161 and a second longitudinal end 162. The adapter 16 thus extends in the longitudinal direction 26 between the first longitudinal end 161 and the second longitudinal end 162. The first end 161 is configured to receive the arm 14. In other words, the arm 14 is connected to the adapter 16 via the first end 161. The second end 162 is opposite the first end 161, and therefore opposite the arm 14.Thus, in the position of the wiper 1a, the first end 161 is lower than the second end 162. During the movement of the wiper, the adapter 16 performs a rotational movement (which can also be combined with a translational movement) around an axis corresponding to the axis of rotation of the arm 14 – which is located lower than 1a. An arrow 27 shows the movement of the blade 12, the arm 14 and the adapter 16 – although the movement can be combined with a translational movement and the wiper on 1a is substantially at the end of its travel to the right, close to the extreme position of the wiper 10.

[0029] The adapter further comprises an airflow attack surface 28. The airflow attack surface 28 corresponds to the face or area of ​​the adapter 16 through which the airflow reaches the adapter 16. More specifically, the airflow attack surface 28 corresponds to the face of the adapter 16 that faces the front of the vehicle, in the rest position of the windshield wiper 10. The airflow attack surface 28 corresponds to the face of the adapter 16 through which the airflow generated by the speed of the vehicle reaches the adapter 16 – in particular in the rest position of the windshield wiper 10. In the rest position of the windshield wiper 10, the airflow generated by the moving vehicle reaches the adapter substantially in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction 26 – substantially perpendicular to the adapter 16 through the attack surface 28.During the movement of the windscreen wiper 10, towards its extreme position, the blade 12 straightens on the window in such a way that the longitudinal direction 26 of the adapter 16 approaches the flow axis of the air flow generated by the vehicle on the windscreen. As such, the air flow generated by the vehicle reaches the adapter via the first end 161 of the adapter 16.

[0030] In order to better take advantage of the pressure of the air flow generated by the vehicle on the adapter 16 during the movement of the windshield wiper 10 – and therefore on the blade 12 – the air flow attack surface 28 extends from the first longitudinal end 161 to the second longitudinal end 162 in a divergent manner. The attack surface 28 extends from the first longitudinal end 161 to the second longitudinal end 162 in a divergent manner relative to the longitudinal direction 26 of the adapter 16. In other words, the attack surface 28 flares between the first end 161 and the second end 162. The attack surface 28 extends along a line 30 which deviates from the longitudinal direction 26, from the first end 161 towards the second end 162 of the adapter 16. The attack surface 28 forms a non-zero angle 32 between its extension line 30 and the longitudinal direction 26.The attack surface 28 is not parallel to the longitudinal direction 26 between the first end 161 and the second end 162. In the extreme position of the windshield wiper 10, the attack surface 28 flares out towards the roof 22 of the vehicle. Such a conformation of the adapter 16 makes it possible to take advantage of the pressure that the air flow generated by the vehicle can exert on the adapter 16 even though the windshield wiper is no longer in a position transverse to the air flow generated by the vehicle. Even though the adapter 16 is less and less across the air flow generated by the vehicle as the windshield wiper 10 moves towards its extreme position, the divergence of the attack surface 28 from the first end 161 towards the second end 162 makes it possible to recover the pressure of the air flow on the adapter.The integration of an angle between the attack surface 28 and the longitudinal direction 26 makes it possible to recover pressure on the adapter 16 when the air flow is no longer perpendicular to the wiper 12. This makes it possible to continue to apply pressure to the adapter 16 and therefore to the wiper 12, which improves the wiping of the window when the wiper 10 moves away from its rest position. The integration of an angle between the attack surface 28 and the longitudinal direction 26 makes it possible to increase the aerodynamic performance of the connection between the arm 14 and the wiper 12. The attack surface 28 is thus optimized and better oriented, which improves the pressure of the wiper on the window.

[0031] For example, the airflow attack surface 28 diverges by an angle 32 greater than 0° and less than or equal to 35° relative to the longitudinal direction 26 (in the counterclockwise direction from the longitudinal direction 26). Such an angle 32 is a balance between maintaining pressure during movement of the wiper 10 and the size of the adapter 16 (and therefore the bulk of the adapter 16).

[0032] The adapter 16 further comprises an airflow leakage surface 34 which extends from the first longitudinal end 161 to the second longitudinal end 162 of the adapter 16, parallel to the longitudinal direction 26. According to the, the leakage surface 34 extends along a line 36 parallel to the longitudinal direction 26. The leakage surface 34 corresponds to the face or zone of the adapter 16 through which the airflow leaves the adapter 16. More precisely, the airflow leakage surface 34 corresponds to the face of the adapter 16 which faces away from the front of the vehicle (or which faces the rear of the vehicle), in the rest position of the windshield wiper 10. The airflow leakage surface 34 corresponds to the face of the adapter 16 through which the airflow generated by the speed of the vehicle leaves the adapter 16 – in particular in the rest position of the windshield wiper 10.In the rest position of the wiper 10, the air flow generated by the moving vehicle leaves the adapter substantially in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction 26 – substantially perpendicular to the adapter 16 via the trailing surface 34. During the movement of the wiper 10, towards its extreme position, the blade 12 straightens on the window in such a way that the longitudinal direction 26 of the adapter 16 approaches the flow axis of the air flow generated by the vehicle on the windshield. In this respect, since the trailing surface 34 is parallel to the longitudinal direction 26, the air flow generated by the vehicle is not disturbed when it flows along the trailing surface 34. This makes it possible to give an aerodynamic shape to the adapter and to avoid turbulence at the rear of the adapter 16.

[0033] In the, the angle 32 is indicated between the lines 30 and 36 to indicate that the leading surface 28 is divergent, not parallel, with respect to the trailing surface 34. The angle values ​​32 indicated are between the leading surface 28 which extends along the line 30 and the longitudinal direction 26 or the trailing surface 34 which extends along the line 36 parallel to the longitudinal direction 26.

[0034] This is a side view of the adapter 16 of the wiper according to the. This is a view of the end 161 according to the direction 26. The adapter 16 is connected to a connector 38 of the blade 12. The link between the arm 14 and the blade 12 is made by the connection comprising the adapter 16 and the connector 38 fixed to each other. The end 161 of the adapter 16 is configured to receive the arm 14, by its end 141. The air flow attack surface 28 is divergent with respect to the longitudinal direction 26. The leakage surface 34 is parallel to the longitudinal direction 26. The adapter 16 comprises an upper wall 40 delimited transversely to the longitudinal direction 26 by the air flow attack surface 28 and by the air flow leakage surface 34. The adapter 16 also includes a side wall 42 connected to the top wall 40 by the airflow leakage surface 34.The upper wall 40 and the side wall 42 delimit a volume internal to the adapter 16 in which is arranged an arm receiving housing 14 accessible by the first longitudinal end 161. The side wall 42 and the upper wall 40 each extend in separate planes. The arm receiving housing 14 comprises members for fixing the end 141 of the arm 14 to the adapter 16. In addition, the internal volume comprises a cavity for fixing the connector 38 of the wiping system. The connector 38 is fixed to the adapter 16 – possibly by a joint – within the internal volume of the adapter 16. The divergence of the leading edge 28 also makes it possible to have more space in the internal volume for fixing the arm 14 to the adapter 16 and for fixing the connector 38 to the adapter 16.

[0035] As can be seen in the, the upper wall 40 comprises a flat section 44 connected to the airflow attack surface 28 and to the airflow leakage surface 34 respectively by curved sections 46 and 48. This gives an aerodynamic profile to the adapter 16 such that the airflow generated by the vehicle and which reaches the adapter 16 – in particular in the rest position of the windscreen wiper 10 – from the left of the, flows without turbulence along the upper surface 40 in the direction of the right of the. The flow of the airflow applies pressure to the profile of the adapter 16, which is transmitted to the connector 38 and to the wiper 12.The air flow reaches the adapter 16 substantially perpendicularly when the wiper leaves its rest position; as the wiper moves towards its extreme position, the air flow reaches the adapter more and more in the longitudinal direction 26, but the divergence of the attack surface 28 makes it possible to continue to benefit from the pressure of the air flow on the adapter 16.

[0036] As can be seen in the, the second longitudinal end 162 may flare out from the airflow attack surface 28 towards the airflow leakage surface 34, so that the airflow attack surface 28 is shorter longitudinally than the airflow leakage surface 34 towards the second end 162. The second end 162 is not perpendicular to the longitudinal direction 26. This improves the aerodynamics of the wiper on the blade 12. This allows the airflow to flow without turbulence around the second end 162 of the adapter 16 – during the movement of the wiper. Also, the first longitudinal end 161 may flare from the airflow leading surface 28 toward the airflow trailing surface 34, such that the airflow leading surface 28 is shorter longitudinally than the airflow trailing surface 34 toward the first end 161.The first end 161 is not perpendicular to the longitudinal direction 26. This also improves the aerodynamics of the wiper on the blade 12. In other words, the leading surface 28 may be shorter than the airflow trailing surface 34 along the longitudinal direction 26, towards the second end 162 and towards the first end 161. The first and second ends 161, 162 are convergent towards the airflow leading surface 28 (or divergent towards the airflow trailing surface 34). In a top view, the adapter 16 has a shape that can be compared to a trapezoid, but with the small base (the leading surface 28) being inclined relative to the large base (the trailing surface 34).

[0037] The invention also relates to the windshield wiper 10 comprising the wiper arm 14 and the wiper blade 12. The windshield wiper 10 also comprises the adapter 16 connecting the end 141 of the arm 14 to the blade 12. The invention also relates to the vehicle 18 comprising the windshield wiper 10. The airflow attack surface 28 of the adapter 16 faces the front of the vehicle, in the wiper's rest position. The airflow leakage surface 34 of the adapter 16 faces the rear of the vehicle, in the wiper's rest position. The windshield wiper is movable between several positions as previously described. The windshield wiper is movable between the rest position and an extreme position. In the extreme position, the attack surface 28 diverges in a direction away from the arm 14; the attack surface 28 diverges towards the roof of the vehicle 18.During movement, the divergence of the airflow attack surface 28 allows for pressure exerted by the airflow on the adapter to improve the pressure of the wiper against the vehicle window. This improves the wiping of the window.

[0038] The present invention has been described in relation to specific embodiments, which are of purely illustrative value and should not be considered as limiting. In general, it will be obvious to a person skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to the examples illustrated and / or described above.

Claims

Adapter (16) for a wiper blade, configured to assemble a wiper blade to a wiper arm, the adapter extending in a longitudinal direction (26) between a first longitudinal end (161) and a second longitudinal end (162), the first longitudinal end (161) being configured to receive the arm, the adapter further comprising an air flow attack surface (28) which extends from the first longitudinal end (161) to the second longitudinal end (162) in a divergent manner. The adapter (16) according to the preceding claim, wherein the airflow attack surface (28) diverges by an angle greater than 0° and less than or equal to 35° relative to the longitudinal direction (26). The adapter (16) according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising an airflow leakage surface (34) which extends from the first longitudinal end (161) to the second longitudinal end (162) of the adapter, parallel to the longitudinal direction (26). The adapter (16) according to the preceding claim, further comprising an upper wall (40) delimited transversely to the longitudinal direction (26) by the air flow attack surface (28) and by the air flow leakage surface (34), a side wall (42) connected to the upper wall (40) by the air flow leakage surface (34), the upper wall (40) and the side wall (42) delimiting an internal volume in which is arranged an arm receiving housing accessible by the first longitudinal end (161). The adapter (16) according to the preceding claim, wherein the internal volume further comprises a cavity for fixing a brush connector (38). The adapter (16) according to one of the two preceding claims, wherein the upper wall (40) comprises a planar section connected to the airflow attack surface (28) and to the airflow leakage surface (34) by curved sections (46, 48). The adapter (16) according to one of claims 3 to 6, wherein the second longitudinal end (162) flares from the airflow attack surface (28) towards the airflow leakage surface (34), such that the airflow attack surface (28) is shorter longitudinally than the airflow leakage surface (34) towards the second end (162). The adapter (16) according to one of claims 3 to 7, wherein the first longitudinal end (161) flares from the airflow leading surface (28) towards the airflow trailing surface (34), such that the airflow leading surface (28) is shorter longitudinally than the airflow trailing surface (34) towards the first end (161). A windshield wiper (10) comprising a wiper arm (14), a wiper blade (12) and the adapter (16) according to one of the preceding claims, the adapter (16) connecting one end (141) of the wiper arm (14) to the wiper blade (12). A vehicle (18) comprising the windshield wiper (10) according to the preceding claim, wherein the airflow attack surface (28) of the adapter (16) faces the front of the vehicle, in the rest position of the windshield wiper.

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