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) in which a lateral leading face (31) of a locking finger (22), contiguous with the lateral end surface (30) and configured to first make contact with the wiper arm (2) when the wiper arm (2) is inserted into a locking volume (19), has a ramp shape inclined relative to the lateral end surface (30) so as to cause the locking button (20) to pivot when the wiper arm (2) passes through the locking volume (19), freeing the passage for the insertion of the wiper arm (2) into the end channel (18). Figure 5

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 allow the assembly of a wiper blade to a vehicle wiper arm. 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 for cleaning their glass surfaces, particularly their windshields. Such wiping systems include a wiper arm and a wiper blade driven by said arm. The wiper arm is connected to an electric motor in the vehicle, and the wiper blade includes at least one wiping blade adapted to make contact with the glass surface to be wiped. To drive the wiper blade, an adapter is arranged between the wiper arm and a connector on the blade.

[0003] There are different kinds of arms, such as hook arms, arms with lateral pivot axis, arms with longitudinal clipping, 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 thinness.

[0005] During assembly of the wiper arm with the adapter, the arm rod is slid into a slot in the adapter. In use, the arm's longitudinal movement is prevented from retracting in a locking zone of the adapter by releasing a locking button, a locking finger of which engages in a dedicated lateral cutout in the arm.

[0006] In some adapters, the housing into which the arm is inserted has a first and a second groove, aligned and spaced apart from each other.

[0007] One drawback is that after passing through the first gutter channel, the wiper arm may be deflected from its path by the locking finger with which it makes contact from the rear. The wiper arm and the locking finger then repel each other in opposite transverse directions, with the locking finger bearing against the cage of a connector housing in the adapter. The wiper arm is then pushed outward through the second gutter channel, and this misalignment of the arm can cause assembly difficulties, as the arm may come into contact with the second gutter channel. Summary of the invention

[0008] One of the aims of the present invention is to provide an adapter that at least partially resolves a drawback of the prior art.

[0009] To this end, the invention relates to a wiper blade adapter configured to allow the assembly of a wiper blade to a wiper arm, the adapter comprising: - an arm housing comprising an inlet cage and an end gutter aligned and spaced by a blocking volume, the arm housing being configured to receive one end of the wiper arm sliding in a longitudinal direction, and - a pivoting locking button having a locking finger configured to engage in a notch of the wiper arm in the locked position, a longitudinal end of the locking finger bearing against a transverse face of the notch to prevent the wiper arm from being withdrawn in the longitudinal direction and a lateral end surface of the locking finger bearing against an edge of the notch of the wiper arm, characterized in that a lateral leading face of the locking finger, contiguous to the lateral end surface and configured to first come into contact with the wiper arm when the wiper arm is inserted into the locking volume, has a ramp shape, inclined relative to the lateral end surface, so as to cause the locking button to pivot when the wiper arm passes into the locking volume,freeing up space for the wiper arm to be inserted into the end channel.

[0010] When the arm is inserted into the locking chamber interposed between the entry cage and the end groove, the locking finger makes contact with the arm at the lateral leading face. The ramped shape of this lateral leading face creates a progressive and continuous contact with the arm as it passes through, causing the locking finger to lift and pivot. The arm can then continue to advance into the arm housing without obstruction. The locking finger, thus chamfered, allows the arm to be inserted with less effort and resistance, as it does not deflect the arm's trajectory, allowing it to enter the end groove without difficulty.

[0011] Once the arm is inserted to the stop, the locking finger returns to its initial rest position, ensuring the locking of the wiper arm in the adapter and compensating for play due to its elasticity by wedging the arm in the longitudinal and transverse directions.

[0012] The adapter may further include one or more of the following features: described below, taken alone or in combination.

[0013] The slope of the ramp is for example between 5° and 20°.

[0014] The arm housing may include a longitudinal stop arranged projecting in the blocking volume and configured to cooperate with the wiper arm to block the longitudinal insertion of the wiper arm into the arm housing.

[0015] The adapter may include a connector housing configured to cooperate with a wiper blade connector, the locking finger framing two walls perpendicular to each other of the connector housing.

[0016] The internal sides of the inlet cage and the end gutter of the arm housing have, for example, a respective rounded "U" shape complementary to a rounded edge of the wiper arm.

[0017] The arm housing can be configured to hold the wiper arm in an inclined position.

[0018] The invention also relates to a wiping device comprising a wiper arm, in particular a stem arm, and a wiper blade characterized in that it comprises an adapter as described above for connecting the wiper blade to the end of the wiper arm. Brief description of the figures

[0019] Other advantages and features will become apparent from the following description of a particular, but by no means limiting, embodiment of the invention, as well as from the accompanying drawings in which:

[0020] [Fig-1] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an example of an embodiment of wiping device.

[0021] [Fig.2] Fig.2 is a perspective view of an adapter connected to a rod of the arm wiper of the wiper device of the [Fig.l].

[0022] [Fig.3] The [Fig.3] shows a side view of the elements of the [Fig.2].

[0023] [Fig.4] [Fig.4] shows a view of one end of the wiper arm stem of the [Fig.2].

[0024] [Fig.5] The [Fig.5] shows a bottom view of the adapter of the [Fig.2].

[0025] [Fig.6] The [Fig.6] shows another view from below of the adapter of the [Fig.2].

[0026] [Fig.7] Fig.7 shows a perspective view of an intermediate stage inserting the wiper arm stem into the adapter.

[0027] [Fig.8] Fig.8 shows the wiper arm rod in the locked position in the adapter.

[0028] In these figures, identical elements bear the same reference numbers. Detailed description

[0029] The following embodiments are examples. Although the description refers to a or several embodiments; this does not necessarily mean that each reference relates to the same embodiment, or that the features apply only to a single embodiment. Simple features from different embodiments can also be combined or interchanged to provide other embodiments.

[0030] In the remainder of this description, 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 principal direction of the adapter. The vertical direction V and the transverse direction T are perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L and perpendicular to each other.

[0031] Fig. 1 shows an example of a wiping device 1.

[0032] The wiping device 1 includes a wiper arm 2 intended to be connected to a motorized wiping mechanism of a vehicle and one end of which is connected to a wiper blade 3 by means of an adapter 4, to ensure the cleaning of a glazed surface of the vehicle, for example a windshield.

[0033] The arm 2 is of the rod-arm type; it comprises a rod connected to a base of the arm 2, itself intended to be connected to the motorized mechanism. The rod extends from an end connected to the base to an end cooperating with the adapter 4 for connection to the brush 3. The term "rod" is understood to mean a solid element whose end extends in the longitudinal direction L.

[0034] As more clearly seen in [Fig. 4], the arm 2 rod is "flat," that is, it has two flat faces that are parallel to each other. The rod's cross-section is, for example, rectangular with rounded edges outside a locking zone.

[0035] As particularly visible in [Fig.2], the adapter 4 extends mainly along the longitudinal direction L of the end of the arm rod 2. It includes 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.

[0036] On the back of this upper wall 11, and as can be seen in [Fig.5], the adapter 4 has elements which allow, on the one hand, the arm 2 to be locked to the adapter 4 and, on the other hand, the wiper blade 3 to the wiper arm 2 to be assembled in an articulated manner.

[0037] To connect the adapter 4 to the wiper blade 3, the adapter 4 includes complementary rotation elements to a connector 8 of the wiper blade 3. The connector 8 is an element of the wiper blade 3 mounted on top of a wiper blade 10 of the wiper blade 3 at its midpoint ([Fig. 1]). The rotation between the adapter 4 and the connector 8 is carried out around an axis of rotation parallel to the transverse direction T.

[0038] In this example, the adapter 4 has a connector housing 12, featuring for example four walls fitting into a parallelepiped shape, the connector housing 12 being configured to cooperate with the connector 8 of the wiper blade 3.

[0039] According to one embodiment of the rotating members of the adapter 4, the adapter 4 comprises, on the one hand, a cylindrical pin 13 ([Fig. 6]) 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 pin of the connector 8. The cylindrical pin 13 and the circular hole 14 are, for example, formed in parallel and opposite walls of the connector housing 12 (Figures 5 and 6). The cylindrical pin 13 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.

[0040] To receive the end of the arm 2 connecting the arm 2 to the adapter 4, the adapter 4 has a housing for the arm 16, also located on the back of the upper wall IL

[0041] The housing for the arm 16 is through-shaped 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.

[0042] The housing of the arm 16 includes 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 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.

[0043] The inlet cage 17 and the end gutter 18 are through-holes. 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 can be the same. During assembly, the arm 2 slides first in the inlet cage 17, then in the end gutter 18.

[0044] The internal sides of the inlet cage 17 and the end gutter 18 of the arm housing 16 have, for example, a respective rounded "U" shape complementary to a rounded edge of the arm rod 2, allowing the sliding guidance of the arm 2 in the arm housing 16. The internal sides of the inlet cage 17 and the end gutter 18 may also have internal longitudinal ribs 29.

[0045] Furthermore, in this example, the housing of the arm 16 is configured to maintain the wiper arm 2 in an inclined position, in particular with respect to the vertical direction V, the parallel faces of the rod 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.3]).

[0046] The adapter 4 also includes a locking button 20 pivotally mounted relative to the upper wall 11 between a locked position in which the locking button 20 in the rest position blocks the withdrawal of the arm 2 in the longitudinal direction L ([Fig.8]) and an unlocking position in which it unlocks the longitudinal movement of the arm 2.

[0047] The locking button 20 has an activation pad 21 on the upper wall 11, which a user can press to rotate the locking button 20 into the unlocked position so that the arm 2 can be removed ([Fig. 2]). The locking button 20 also has a locking finger 22 attached to the activation pad 21 and located on its back ([Fig. 5]).

[0048] According to one embodiment, the activation pad 21 is connected to the upper wall 11 by a hinge 23 formed on one side of the activation pad 21 and allowing 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.

[0049] The locking finger 22 extends beyond the activation pad 21 into the arm housing 16, for example, parallel and 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 finger 22 has, for example, an "L" shape, one arm of which is fixed to the activation pad 21 and the other arm has a projecting end. According to one embodiment, the locking finger 22 frames two perpendicular walls of the connector housing 12 ([Fig. 6]).

[0050] The locking finger 22 is configured to engage in a notch 24 of the arm 2 ( [Fig.4]) in the locked position of the adapter 4. The notch 24 of the arm 2 has, for example, a parallelepiped shape forming a lateral recess in one edge of the arm 2.

[0051] In the locked position of the adapter 4, the locking finger 22 blocks the longitudinal withdrawal of the arm 2 received in the housing of the arm 16 ([Fig.8]).

[0052] More specifically, in the locked position, a longitudinal end of the locking finger 22 engaged in the notch 24 at the level of the locking volume 19 bears against a transverse face 25 of the notch 24, for example a flat face, located on the end side of the arm 2, to prevent the arm 2 from retracting in the longitudinal direction L ([Fig. 8]). Furthermore, a lateral end surface 30 of the locking finger 22, for example a flat face, bears against an edge of the notch 24 of the wiper arm 2 ([Fig. 5] and 8).

[0053] A lateral leading face 31 of the locking finger 22 contiguous to the lateral end surface 30 and configured to first come into contact with the wiper arm 2 when the wiper arm 2 is inserted into the locking volume 19, has a ramp shape, inclined relative to the shape of the lateral end surface 30, so as to cause the locking button 20 to pivot when the wiper arm 2 passes through the blocking volume 19, freeing the passage for the insertion of the wiper arm 2 into the end gutter 18.

[0054] The slope of the ramp of the lateral leading face 31 is, for example, between 5° and 20° in the (L, T) plane ([Fig. 6]). This slope can be constant or variable. In particular, in the case of a ramp with a variable slope, the slope can decrease in the direction of advance of the arm 2. Furthermore, the lateral leading face 31 and the lateral end surface 30 are preferably joined by a chamfered transverse edge.

[0055] The housing for the arm 16 may further include a longitudinal stop 26 projecting into the locking volume 19 and configured to cooperate with a complementary surface 27 formed in the edge of the wiper arm 2 ([Fig. 4]) to prevent the longitudinal insertion of the wiper arm 2 into the housing for the arm 16 ([Fig. 8]). The complementary surface 27 of the arm 2 is formed in the edge of the stem, for example between the end of the arm 2 and the transverse face 25 of the notch 24 cooperating with the locking finger 22.

[0056] The longitudinal stop 26 can be carried by a protrusion 28 of the adapter 4, for example arranged on the back of a wall of the connector housing 12.

[0057] The longitudinal stop 26 of the adapter 4 creates a limit for the translation of the rod of the arm 2 when the arm 2 is inserted 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 secured by the cooperation of the longitudinal stop 26 of the adapter 4 with the complementary surface 27 of the arm 2, the arm 2 can be locked in position without risk of damage.

[0058] In the locked position, the housing of the arm 16 includes, for example, a first bearing area on an edge of the arm 2, for example made in the protuberance 28 and complementary to a flat edge of the stem of the arm 2 ([Fig.3]), and two second bearing areas on the opposite edge, for example respectively formed in internal sides of the inlet cage 17 and the end gutter 18 of the housing of the arm 16, the first and second bearing areas being arranged so as to bear alternately on each edge along the arm 2.

[0059] The first bearing area can be provided in a corner, for example of obtuse or acute or right angle, of the protuberance 28 of the adapter 4, the corner being formed on the one hand by the first bearing area and on the other hand by the longitudinal stop 26 of the adapter 4.

[0060] When mounting the wiper arm 2 in the adapter 4, the wiper arm 2 is first inserted into the inlet cage 17.

[0061] Then, during the insertion of the arm 2 into the blocking volume 19 interposed between the inlet cage 17 and the end gutter 18, the blocking finger 22 comes into contact with the arm 2 at the level of the lateral leading face 31 ([Fig. 7]). The ramped shape of the lateral leading face 31 generates progressive and continuous contact with the arm 2 as the arm 2 passes through, the arm 2 causing the blocking finger 22 to lift and pivot (arrow Fl in [Fig. 7]).

[0062] The arm 2 can then continue to advance in the arm housing 16 without obstruction (“snowplow effect”) (arrow F2 on the [Fig.7]).

[0063] The locking finger 22 thus "chamfered" allows insertion of the arm 2 with less effort and resistance, the locking finger 22 not deviating the trajectory of the arm 2 which can enter without difficulty of alignment into the end groove 18.

[0064] Once the arm 2 is inserted into the stop, the locking finger 22 returns to its initial rest position, ensuring the locking of the wiper arm 2 in the adapter 4 and the compensation of play due to its elasticity by wedging the arm 2 in the longitudinal L and transverse T directions ([Fig.8]).

[0065] When the user presses the activation pad 21, the pivoting of the activation pad 21 moves the locking finger 22 away from the transverse face 25 of the notch 24, which frees up the possibility of retracting the arm 2 in the longitudinal direction.

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) comprising an inlet cage (17) and an end gutter (18) aligned and spaced apart by a locking volume (19), the arm housing (16) being configured to receive one end of the wiper arm (2) sliding in a longitudinal direction (L), and - a pivoting locking button (20) having a locking finger (22) configured to engage in a notch (24) of the wiper arm (2) in the locked position,a longitudinal end of the locking finger (22) bearing against a transverse face (25) of the notch (24) to prevent the withdrawal of the wiper arm (2) in the longitudinal direction (L) and a lateral end surface (30) of the locking finger (22) bearing against an edge of the notch (24) of the wiper arm (2), characterized in that a lateral attack face (31) of the locking finger (22), contiguous to the lateral end surface (30) and configured to first come into contact with the wiper arm (2) when the wiper arm (2) is inserted into the locking volume (19), has a ramp shape, inclined relative to the lateral end surface (30), so as to cause the locking button (20) to pivot when the wiper arm (2) passes into the locking volume (19), freeing the passage for the insertion of the wiper arm (2) into the end gutter (18).,

2. Adapter (4) according to claim 1, characterized in that the slope of the ramp is between 5° and 20°.

3. Adapter (4) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing of the arm (16) comprises a longitudinal stop (26) arranged projecting into the blocking volume (19) and configured to cooperate with the wiper arm (2) to block the longitudinal insertion of the wiper arm (2) into the housing of the arm (16).

4. Adapter (4) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a connector housing (12) configured to cooperate with a connector (8) of the windscreen wiper blade (3), the locking finger (22) framing two mutually perpendicular walls of the connector housing (12).

5. Adapter (4) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the internal flanks of the inlet cage (17) and of the end gutter (18) of the arm housing (16) have a respective rounded “U” shape complementary to a rounded edge of the wiper arm (2).

6. Adapter (4) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing of the arm (16) is configured to hold the wiper arm (2) in an inclined position.

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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