Adapter for windshield wiper blade and wiping device

Abstract

Adapter (4) for a wiper blade (3) configured to allow the assembly of a wiper blade (3) to a wiper arm (2), the adapter (4) having an arm housing (16) configured to receive one end of the wiper arm (2) sliding in a longitudinal direction (L) and a locking button (20) configured to prevent the removal of the wiper arm (2) in the longitudinal direction (L), characterized in that the arm housing (16) has at least one first bearing zone (Z1) against which one edge (P) of the arm (2) is configured to bear and two second bearing zones (Z2) against which the opposite edge (A) of the arm (2) is configured to bear, the first and second bearing zones (Z1, Z2) being arranged so as to bear alternately on each edge (A, P) of the arm (2) along the arm (2). Figure 3

Description

Title of the invention: Adapter for windshield wiper blade and wiping device Technical field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a wiper blade adapter configured to be able to assemble a wiper blade to a wiper arm intended to be connected to a motorized wiping mechanism of a vehicle. The invention also relates to a wiping device comprising a wiper arm and a wiper blade connected to said arm by means of said adapter. Technical background

[0002] Motor vehicles are commonly equipped with wiping systems intended to clean their glass surfaces, and in particular their windshield. Such wiping systems comprise a wiper arm and a wiper blade driven by said arm. The wiper arm is connected to an electric motor of the vehicle and the wiper blade comprises at least one wiping blade adapted to come into contact with the glass surface to be wiped. In order to be able to drive the wiper blade, an adapter is arranged between the wiper arm and a connector of the blade.

[0003] There are different kinds of arms, such as hook arms, lateral pivot axis arms, longitudinal clip arms, rod arms etc.

[0004] An adapter is thus specifically configured to cooperate with a rod arm. The rod arms are flat and have the advantage of having a small footprint due to their low thickness.

[0005] The rod arm is slidably inserted into a housing of the adapter. In use, the withdrawal of the arm during longitudinal movement is prevented in a locking zone of the adapter due to the release of a push button engaging in a dedicated lateral cutout of the arm.

[0006] The rod arms have more or less complex shapes at the level of the connection zone to the adapter, in particular due to different existing locking solutions. The section of the rod is generally rectangular with rounded fields but generally has a reduction in section which can reach more than 50% in the locking zone. However, this change in section can make the holding of the arm and its guidance difficult and imprecise over the entire length of the connector. Summary of the invention

[0007] One of the aims of the present invention is to propose an adapter which at least partially resolves a drawback of the prior art.

[0008] To this end, the invention relates to an adapter for a windshield wiper blade configured to be able to assemble a wiper blade to a wiper arm, the adapter comprising: - an arm housing configured to receive one end of the wiper arm slidably in a longitudinal direction, and - a locking button configured to block the retraction of the wiper arm in the longitudinal direction, characterized in that the arm housing comprises at least a first support zone on which one edge of the arm is configured to bear and two second support zones on which the opposite edge of the arm is configured to bear, the first and second support zones being arranged so as to bear alternately on each edge of the arm along the arm.

[0009] The alternation of the support zones on each edge of the arm along the arm allows the sliding of the arm to be well guided in the arm housing. Thus, although the section of the end of the arm rod does not completely fill the sections of the inlet cage and the end gutter due to a smaller section at the end, the arm can be well held and well guided, even at its end. This maintains good guiding precision while maintaining isostatism. In addition, the adapter is simple to produce, lightweight and easily removable.

[0010] The adapter may further comprise one or more of the features described below, taken alone or in combination.

[0011] The arm housing may comprise a single first support zone on one edge of the arm and two second support zones on the opposite edge.

[0012] The second support zones may have a respective rounded “U” shape complementary to the rounded edge of the arm rod.

[0013] The second support zones may respectively be formed in internal flanks of an inlet cage and an end gutter of the arm housing, aligned in the longitudinal direction of the arm.

[0014] The second support zones may have at least two internal longitudinal ribs.

[0015] The at least one first support zone may have a flat shape complementary to the flat edge of the arm rod.

[0016] The at least one first support zone can be produced in a protrusion of the adapter projecting into a locking volume of the adapter.

[0017] The at least one first support zone can be provided in a corner of the protrusion of the adapter.

[0018] The corner may be formed on the one hand by the first support zone and on the other hand by a longitudinal stop of the adapter configured to cooperate with a complementary surface formed in the edge of the wiper arm to block the insertion longitudinal of the wiper arm in the arm housing.

[0019] The invention also relates to a wiping device comprising a windscreen wiper arm, in particular a rod arm, and a windscreen wiper blade characterized in that it comprises an adapter as described above, for connecting the windscreen wiper blade to the end of the windscreen wiper arm. Brief description of the figures

[0020] Other advantages and characteristics will appear on reading the following description of a particular embodiment of the invention, but in no way limiting, as well as the appended drawings in which:

[0021] [Fig-1] [Fig. 1] is a perspective view of a first exemplary embodiment of a wiping device.

[0022] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] is a perspective view of an adapter connected to a rod of the arm wiper of the wiping device of [Fig.l].

[0023] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] shows a bottom view of the adapter connected to the arm rod wiper blade of [Fig.2].

[0024] [Fig.4] [Fig.4] shows another view of the adapter connected to the arm rod wiper blade of [Fig.3].

[0025] [Fig.5] [Fig.5] shows a perspective view of the wiper arm rod of [Fig.3].

[0026] [Fig.6] [Fig.6] is a perspective view of a second exemplary embodiment of a wiping device.

[0027] [Fig.7] [Fig.7] is a perspective view of an adapter connected to a rod of the arm wiper of the wiping device of [Fig.6].

[0028] [Fig.8] [Fig.8] shows a bottom view of the adapter connected to the wiper arm rod of [Fig.7].

[0029] [Fig.9] [Fig.9] shows another view of the adapter connected to the arm rod wiper blade of [Fig.8].

[0030] [Fig. 10] [Fig. 10] is an enlarged view of a detail of the adapter of [Fig.9].

[0031] [Fig. 11] [Fig. 11] shows an enlarged view of the end of the arm rod wiper blade of [Fig.9].

[0032] In these figures, identical elements have the same reference numbers. Detailed description

[0033] The following embodiments are examples. Although the description refers to one or more embodiments, this does not necessarily mean that each reference relates to the same embodiment, or that the features apply only to a single embodiment. Single features of different embodiments may also be combined or interchanged. to provide further achievements.

[0034] In the remainder of the description, the longitudinal, vertical and transverse directions indicated in particular in [Fig. 1] by the trihedron (L, T, V) fixed relative to the adapter will be adopted without limitation. The longitudinal direction L corresponds to the main direction of the adapter. The vertical V and transverse T directions are perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L and perpendicular to each other.

[0035] [Fig.l] shows a first example of a wiping device 1.

[0036] The wiping device 1 comprises a windscreen wiper arm 2 intended to be connected to a motorized wiping mechanism of a vehicle and the end of which is connected to a windscreen wiper blade 3 by means of an adapter 4, to ensure the cleaning of a glazed surface of the vehicle, for example a windscreen.

[0037] The arm 2 is of the arm-rod type, it comprises a rod 5 connected to a base of the arm 2, itself intended to be connected to the motorized mechanism. The rod 5 extends between an end connected to the base and an end cooperating with the adapter 4 for connection to the wiper 3. The term “rod” is understood to mean a solid element whose end extends in the longitudinal direction L. As best seen in [Fig. 5], the rod 5 is “flat”, that is to say that it comprises two flat and parallel faces and connected to each other in the longitudinal direction by two opposite edges A, P. The section of the rod 5 is rectangular with edges A, P rounded outside a locking zone and the rod 5 has a reduced section in the locking zone with the adapter 4, only one edge A being rounded.

[0038] As more particularly visible in Figures 2 and 3, the adapter 4 extends mainly along the longitudinal direction L. It comprises an upper wall 11 having for example a smooth and curved profile, this wall being the one visible when the wiping device 1 is mounted on a vehicle.

[0039] On the back of this upper wall 11, and as visible in [Fig. 3], the adapter 4 comprises elements allowing on the one hand, to lock the arm 2 to the adapter 4 and on the other hand, to assemble the wiper blade 3 to the wiper arm 2 in an articulated manner.

[0040] To connect the adapter 4 to the blade 3, the adapter 4 comprises rotation members complementary to a connector 8 of the wiper blade 3 such as two cylindrical studs 13 configured to cooperate with two complementary holes of the connector 8. The connector 8 is an element of the blade 3 surmounting a wiping blade 10 of the blade 3 in its middle ([Fig.l]).

[0041] The rotation between the adapter 4 and the connector 8 is carried out around an axis of rotation parallel to the transverse direction T.

[0042] To receive the end of the arm 2 connecting the arm 2 to the adapter 4, the adapter 4 comprises an arm housing 16 located on the back of the upper wall 11.

[0043] The housing of the arm 16 is transverse in the longitudinal direction L and is configured to receive one end of the wiper arm 2 sliding in a longitudinal direction L, in particular the rod 5.

[0044] In this first embodiment, the housing of the arm 16 allows, for example, the rod 5 to be held in a horizontal position, the parallel faces of the rod 5 being parallel to the plane (L, T) of the adapter 4.

[0045] According to an exemplary embodiment, the housing of the arm 16 comprises an inlet cage 17 and an end gutter 18 aligned in the longitudinal direction L of the arm 2. The inlet cage 17 and the end gutter 18 are arranged at a distance from each other so that the rod 5 of the arm 2 can be received in the inlet cage 17 and the end gutter 18 by passing through a blocking volume 19 interposed between the two. The rotation members of the adapter 4, here the two cylindrical studs 13, are for example arranged on the end gutter 18 ([Fig.4]).

[0046] More precisely, the inlet cage 17 and the end gutter 18 are through-shaped. The inlet cage 17 is for example longer in the longitudinal direction than the end gutter 18 which receives the end of the arm 2. The cross sections (V, T) of the inlet cage 17 and the end gutter 18 are the same. During assembly, the arm 2 slides first in the inlet cage 17, then in the end gutter 18.

[0047] The adapter 4 also comprises a locking button 20 pivotally mounted relative to the upper wall 11 between a rest position in which it blocks the withdrawal of the arm 2 in the longitudinal direction L and an unlocking position in which it unlocks the longitudinal movement of the arm 2 ([Fig.2]).

[0048] The locking button 20 has for this purpose an activation pad 21 on the side of the upper wall 11, on which a user can press to pivot the locking button 20 into the unlocking position in order to be able to remove the arm 2. The locking button 20 also has a blocking member 22 secured to the activation pad 21 and located on the back of the latter ([Fig.3]).

[0049] According to a first exemplary embodiment, the activation pad 21 is connected to the upper wall 11 for example by a flexible tab 9 in an opening of the upper wall, the flexible tab 9 being integral with the upper wall 11 to allow the locking button 20 to pivot around a vertical pivot axis V. The top of the activation pad 21 may protrude from the profile of the upper wall 11.

[0050] In the rest position, the locking member 22 is configured to block the longitudinal withdrawal of the arm 2 received in the housing of the arm 16. The locking member 22 is for example located at the end of the activation pad 21 and extends into the locking volume 19 while being received in a notch 24 of the arm 2 in the rest position.

[0051] More precisely, the locking member 22 is configured to engage in a notch 24 of the arm 2 in the locking volume 19 while pressing against a transverse surface 25 of the notch 24, on the side of the end of the arm 2 of the notch 24, so as to prevent the withdrawal of the arm 2 in the longitudinal direction L. The notch 24 of the arm 2 has for example a parallelepiped shape forming a lateral recess in an edge of the arm 2 ([Fig.5]).

[0052] When the user presses the activation pad 21, the pivoting of the activation pad 21 moves the locking member 22 away from the transverse surface 25 of the notch 24, which frees up the possibility of withdrawing the arm 2 in the longitudinal direction.

[0053] The housing of the arm 16 further comprises at least one first support zone Z1 on which an edge P of the arm 2 is configured to bear ([Fig. 3]) and two second support zones Z2 on which the opposite edge A of the arm 2 is configured to bear, the first and second support zones Z1, Z2 being arranged so as to bear alternately on each edge P, A of the arm 2 along the arm 2 ([Fig. 4]).

[0054] The second support zones Z2 have, for example, a respective rounded “U” shape complementary to the rounded edge A of the rod 5 of the arm 2.

[0055] These second support zones Z1, Z2, having for example a respective “U” shape, can be respectively formed in internal flanks of the inlet cage 17 and of the end gutter 18 of the arm housing 16.

[0056] The housing of the arm 16 comprises, for example, a single first support zone Z1 on an edge P of the arm 2 and two second support zones Z2 on the opposite edge A. Alternatively, the housing of the arm 16 may comprise several first and second support zones Z1, Z2 arranged in a staggered pattern on the opposite edges A, P.

[0057] The first support zone Zl of the adapter 4 has, for example, a plane shape complementary to the plane edge P of the rod 5 of the arm 2 ([Fig.3]).

[0058] The first support zone Zl is for example produced in a protrusion 28 of the adapter 4 projecting into the locking volume 19 of the adapter 4. The protrusion 28 carrying the first support zone Zl is for example produced in a border of the opening in which the locking button 20 extends ([Fig.3]).

[0059] The alternation of the support zones Z1, Z2 on each edge A, P of the arm 2 along the arm 2 makes it possible to properly guide the sliding of the arm 2 in the housing of the arm 16. Thus, although the section of the end of the rod 5 of the arm 2 does not completely fill the sections of the inlet cage 17 and the end gutter 18 due to a smaller section at the end, the arm 2 can be well held and well guided, even at its end. This maintains good guiding precision while maintaining isostatism. In addition, the adapter 4 is simple to produce, light and easily demolded.

[0060] Figures 6 to 11 show a second example of wiping device 1.

[0061] This example differs from the previous one in particular by another example of connection of the adapter 4 to the wiper blade 3. In this example, the adapter 4 comprises a connector housing 12 configured to cooperate with the connector 8 of the windshield wiper blade 3.

[0062] According to an exemplary embodiment of the complementary rotation members, the adapter 4 comprises on the one hand a cylindrical stud configured to cooperate with a circular orifice of the connector 8, and on the other hand a circular hole 14 intended to cooperate with a cylindrical stud of the connector 8, the cylindrical stud 13 and the circular hole 14 being formed in parallel and opposite walls of the connector housing 12 ([Fig. 8]). The cylindrical stud may be formed in an elastically deformable tab 15 provided in a wall of the connector housing 12, to allow the adapter 4 to be mounted on the connector 8.

[0063] This example also differs from the previous one by another example of embodiment of the locking button 20 ([Fig.7]).

[0064] In this example, the activation pad 21 is connected to the upper wall 11, for example, by a hinge 23 formed on one of the sides of the activation pad 21 to allow the locking button 20 to pivot around a longitudinal axis L. The hinge 23 has, for example, a “U”-shaped cross-section extending under the upper wall 11 ([Fig.8]).

[0065] The locking member 22 extends beyond the activation pad 21 in the housing of the arm 16, opposite the hinge 23 of the activation pad 21, in the locking volume 19 located between the inlet cage 17 and the end gutter 18. The locking member 22 has for example an “L” shape, one branch of which is integral with the activation pad 21 and the other branch carries a projecting finger. The projecting finger is received in a notch 24 of the arm 2 in the rest position.

[0066] Furthermore, in this example, the housing of the arm 16 allows the rod 5 to be held in an inclined position relative to the vertical direction V, the parallel faces of the rod 5 being inclined at an angle for example between 40° and 60°, such as 45° with the vertical plane (L, V) of the adapter 4 ([Fig.8]).

[0067] In this example, as in the previous example, the housing of the arm 16 comprises at least a first support zone Z1 on which an edge P of the arm 2 is configured to be supported (figures 10 and 11) and two second support zones Z2 on which the opposite edge A of the arm 2 is configured to be supported, the first and second support zones Z1, Z2 being arranged so as to come to bear alternately on each edge P, A along the arm 2 ([Fig.9]).

[0068] The arm housing 16 comprises, for example, a single first support zone Z1 and two second support zones Z2.

[0069] The second support zones Z2 have, for example, a respective rounded “U” shape here too ([Fig.9]). Furthermore, in this example, the second support zones Z2 have internal longitudinal ribs 29a, 29b. There are, for example, four internal longitudinal ribs 29a, 29b in each second “U”-shaped support zone Z2, two internal longitudinal ribs 29a having a narrower section in the rounded part of the “U” and two internal longitudinal ribs 29b having a wider section on the opposite walls of the inlet cage 17 and the end gutter 18 adjacent to the rounded part.

[0070] The first support zone ZI has, for example, a flat shape complementary to the flat edge of the rod 5 of the arm 2 (figures 10 and 11).

[0071] The first support zone ZI is for example produced in a protrusion 28 projecting into the blocking volume 19 ([Fig. 10]).

[0072] The protuberance 28 is for example arranged on the back of a wall of the connector housing 12 configured to connect the adapter 4 to the wiper 3. This may be the wall of the connector housing 12 in which the tab 15 carrying the cylindrical stud 13 is arranged. The protuberance 28 is located for example next to the finger of the locking member 22 in the longitudinal direction, in the rest position.

[0073] This first support zone ZI can be arranged in a corner, for example an obtuse or acute or right angle, of the protuberance 28 of the adapter 4.

[0074] According to an exemplary embodiment, the corner is formed on the one hand by the first support zone ZI and on the other hand by a longitudinal stop 26 of the adapter 4.

[0075] The support zone ZI can be inclined so as to come to bear on the edge P of the rod 5 inclined in particular with respect to the vertical plane (V, L).

[0076] The longitudinal stop 26 is arranged projecting into the housing of the arm 16 and is configured to cooperate with a complementary surface 27 formed in the edge P of the wiper arm 2 to block the longitudinal insertion of the wiper arm 2 into the housing of the arm 16 ([Fig.11]).

[0077] The complementary surface 27 of the arm 2 is formed in the edge P of the rod 5, for example between the end of the arm 2 and the surface of the edge P bearing on the first bearing zone ZI. This surface is itself formed between the complementary surface 27 of the edge P and the transverse surface 25 of the notch 24 cooperating with the finger of the locking member 22.

[0078] The longitudinal stop 26 of the adapter 4 creates a limit for the translation of the rod 5 of the wiper arm 2 via a support during the insertion of the arm 2 into the adapter 4 in order to guarantee the integrity of the adapter 4. Once the insertion of the arm 2 into the adapter 4 is wedged by the cooperation of the longitudinal stop 26 of the adapter 4 with the complementary surface 27 of the arm 2, the user can lock the blocking of the arm 2 without risk of damage due to the blocking member 22. The adapter 4 thus provides effective and reliable locking of the arm 2 by a relatively simple means.

[0079] The other elements of the wiping device 1 of this second exemplary embodiment are the same as for the first exemplary embodiment.

Claims

Claims

1. Adapter (4) for a wiper blade (3) configured to be able to assemble a wiper blade (3) to a wiper arm (2), the adapter (4) comprising an arm housing (16) configured to receive one end of the wiper arm (2) sliding in a longitudinal direction (L) and a locking button (20) configured to block the retraction of the wiper arm (2) in the longitudinal direction (L) characterized in that the arm housing (16) comprises at least one first bearing zone (Zl) on which one edge (P) of the arm (2) is configured to bear and two second bearing zones (Z2) on which the opposite edge (A) of the arm (2) is configured to bear, the first and second bearing zones (Zl, Z2) being arranged so as to bear alternately on each edge (A, P) of the arm (2) along the arm (2), and the second support zones (Zl,Z2) are respectively formed in internal flanks of an inlet cage (17) and an end gutter (18) of the arm housing (16), aligned in the longitudinal direction (L) of the arm (2); or the second support zones (Z2) have at least two internal longitudinal ribs (29a, 29b); or the at least one first support zone (Zl) is produced in a protrusion (28) of the adapter (4) projecting into a blocking volume (19) of the adapter (4).,

2. Adapter (4) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the housing of the arm (16) comprises a single first support zone (Zl) on one edge (P) of the arm (2) and two second support zones (Z2) on the opposite edge (A).

3. Adapter (4) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the second support zones (Z2) have a respective rounded “U” shape complementary to the rounded edge (A) of the rod (5) of the arm (2).

4. Adapter (4) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one first support zone (Zl) has a flat shape complementary to the flat edge (P) of the rod (5) of the arm (2).

5. Adapter (4) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one first support zone (Zl) is provided in a corner of the protuberance (28) of the adapter (4).

6. Adapter (4) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the corner is formed on the one hand by the first support zone (Zl) and on the other hand by a longitudinal stop (26) of the adapter (4) configured to cooperate with a complementary surface (27) formed in the edge (P) of the wiper arm (2) to block the longitudinal insertion of the wiper arm (2) in the arm housing (16).

7. Wiping device (1) comprising a wiper arm (2), in particular a rod arm, and a wiper blade (3) characterized in that it comprises an adapter (4) according to one of the preceding claims for connecting the wiper blade (3) to the end of the wiper arm (2).

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