Adapter for attaching a wiper blade to a single wiper arm

Abstract

Adapter (1) for mounting a wiper blade (300) to a bracket (201) of a wiper arm (200), the adapter (1) having a flexible tab (15) carrying a locking button (16). The back of the locking button (16) has a screen (20) extending in a direction perpendicular to the pivot axis and in a direction parallel to the pivot axis at least along the width of the locking button (16), so as to close an opening (202) in the bracket (201) to prevent liquid from being sprayed from inside the adapter (1). Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: Adapter for assembling a blade to a windshield wiper arm Technical field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to an adapter for assembling a windshield wiper blade to a windshield wiper arm. The invention also relates to a wiping device comprising a windshield wiper arm, a windshield wiper blade and an adapter. Technical background

[0002] Motor vehicles are commonly equipped with wiping systems intended to clean their glass surfaces, and in particular their windshields. 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, the wiper is assembled to the wiper arm via an adapter.

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

[0004] An adapter is thus specifically configured to cooperate with the vertical locking arms.

[0005] An adapter of this type is known comprising a flexible tab carrying a button for locking the assembly of the blade to a windshield wiper arm, to retain the adapter in the yoke of the arm, in particular when the blade is pulled downwards.

[0006] To disassemble the adapter, the user presses the locking button to tilt it into the yoke, which disengages the adapter.

[0007] However, water from the windscreen, swept by the wiper blade, can be projected onto the windscreen through the yoke, via the functional clearance left between the locking button and the opening of the yoke, this clearance being necessary for the pivoting of the button. This water can then be projected into the driver's full field of vision and impair his visibility. Summary of the invention

[0008] One of the aims of the present invention is to propose an adapter which does not have the drawbacks of those of the technique.

[0009] To this end, the invention relates to an adapter for assembling a windscreen wiper blade to a yoke of a windscreen wiper arm, the adapter comprising a tab flexible tube carrying a locking button, the flexible tab extending from a wall of the adapter body to a rear opening provided in the body so as to allow the locking button to be tilted in the rear opening about a pivot axis parallel to the wall to disengage the locking button from the yoke by deformation of the flexible tab, characterized in that a back of the locking button includes a screen extending in a direction perpendicular to the pivot axis and in a direction parallel to the pivot axis at least along the width of the locking button, so as to close an opening in the yoke to screen liquid from splashing from inside the adapter.

[0010] The screen forms a reflective surface for liquids which, when they strike the underside of the screen, are returned to the inside of the adapter. The screen thus prevents liquids from escaping from the top of the yoke. Thus placed on the back of the locking button, this screen does not interfere with the locking kinematics of the button. In addition, the screen improves the aesthetic appearance of the adapter.

[0011] The adapter may further comprise one or more of the features described below, taken alone or in combination.

[0012] The screen has, for example, a tongue shape, elongated in the direction of the pivot axis.

[0013] The length of the screen in the direction parallel to the pivot axis may correspond to the width of the locking button.

[0014] The screen may be elongated in the direction parallel to the pivot axis by extending beyond the width of the locking button.

[0015] The screen may be configured to cooperate with a rim of the adapter body, forming a stop to limit the pivoting travel of the locking button.

[0016] The wall of the adapter body from which the flexible tab extends may be a flank of the adapter, so as to allow the locking button to tilt about a longitudinal pivot axis.

[0017] The body of the adapter extends for example at its front longitudinal end by a head forming a stop for mounting the adapter by translation in the yoke of the wiper arm in the longitudinal direction.

[0018] The body of the adapter may also have two wings extending on either side of the head, the wings being configured to cooperate with a respective lateral notch of the yoke in order to clip the adapter to the yoke.

[0019] The invention also relates to a wiping device comprising a windscreen wiper 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.l] is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a wiping device.

[0022] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] is an enlarged and partial view of the wiping device of the [Fig.l].

[0023] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] is a perspective view of a wiper arm of the wiping device of [Fig.l].

[0024] [Fig.4] [Fig.4] is a perspective view of an adapter of the wiping device of [Fig.l].

[0025] [Fig.5] [Fig.5] is a perspective view substantially from below of the adapter of [Fig.4].

[0026] [Fig.6] [Fig.6] is a top view of the adapter of [Fig.4].

[0027] [Fig.7] [Fig.7] is a sectional view along a transverse plane (X, Z) of the adapter assembled to the yoke of the wiping device of [Fig.l].

[0028] [Fig.8] [Fig.8] is a perspective view of an adapter according to a second exemplary embodiment.

[0029] In these figures, identical elements have the same reference numbers. Detailed description

[0030] 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 other embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention, as defined by the claims.

[0031] In the remainder of the description, the longitudinal Y, vertical Z and transverse X directions indicated in particular in [Fig. 1] by the trihedron (X, Y, Z) fixed relative to the adapter 1 will be adopted without limitation. The longitudinal Y direction corresponds to the main direction in which the adapter 1 extends. The transverse X direction corresponds to the direction of the axis of rotation between the adapter and the connector of the wiper blade. The vertical Z and transverse X directions are perpendicular to the longitudinal Y direction and perpendicular to each other.

[0032] The "front" of the adapter means the side where the head of the adapter is located and the back, the opposite side where the adapter tail is located.

[0033] The term "upper" or "top" refers to the side of the adapter located on the side of the yoke and the term "lower" or "bottom" refers to the opposite side.

[0034] The terms “clip / unclip”, “clip / unclip”, are understood to mean “snap / unsnap”, a removable assembly made by elastic deformation of one element in or onto another element.

[0035] [Fig.l] shows a first example of a wiping device 100 comprising a windshield wiper arm 200 intended to be connected to a motorized wiping mechanism of a vehicle, to ensure the cleaning of a glazed surface of the vehicle, for example a windshield.

[0036] The wiping device 100 also comprises a wiper blade 300 connected to a yoke 201 at the end of the wiper arm 200, by means of an adapter 1.

[0037] The adapter 1 makes it possible to assemble the arm 200 to a connector 301 of the wiper blade 300 in an articulated manner. The connector 301 is an element of the blade 300 surmounting a wiping blade 302 of the blade 300 in its middle.

[0038] Better visible in Figures 2 and 3, the yoke 201 is fixed to the end of a rod 210 of the sweep arm 200. This yoke 201 has a body extending mainly in a longitudinal direction Y and has at its end, a cross section (in the plane (X, Z)) in the shape of a “U”. The U shape of the yoke 201 has a flat upper wall 203 and two side walls extending from parallel edges of the upper wall.

[0039] An opening 202 is provided in the upper wall 203. The opening 202 has, for example, a rectangular shape, such as a square, the corners possibly being rounded.

[0040] At least one lateral notch 204 is provided in each lateral wall of the U, for example two lateral notches 204 are provided in each wall, for example facing each other ([Fig.3]). These lateral notches 204 are open on the side of the front end of the yoke 201.

[0041] The wiping device 100 is said to be “vertically locked”, because the adapter 1 is inserted by translation in the longitudinal direction Y into the yoke 201 of the arm and is locked in position by a locking button 16 of the adapter 1 which can be actuated from the upper wall 203 of the yoke 201.

[0042] Figures 4 to 7 show the adapter 1 in more detail.

[0043] The adapter 1 is a single-piece. It has a body extending mainly in the longitudinal direction Y.

[0044] To connect the adapter 1 to the wiper blade 300, the body 2 of the adapter 1 comprises a connector housing 3 ([Fig.5]) allowing it to receive the connector 301 of the windscreen wiper blade 300 to which it is retained for example by snap-fastening, in particular by means of the pivot elements of the adapter 1 and the connector 301, or by means pivot elements of the adapter 1 and the connector 301, such as an axle.

[0045] The connector housing 3 of the adapter 1 has a cross-section (in the plane (X, Z)) in the shape of a “U” with external dimensions complementary to those of the internal housing of the yoke 201 and internal dimensions complementary to the top of the connector 301 of the wiper blade 300.

[0046] The pivot elements of the adapter 1, for example of the male and female type, are arranged in the connector housing 3 to cooperate with complementary pivot elements of the connector 301 of the wiper blade 300 to form a pivot connection. The rotation between the adapter 1 and the connector 301 is carried out around an axis of rotation parallel to the transverse direction X.

[0047] According to an exemplary embodiment of the pivot elements, the adapter 1 comprises on the one hand a cylindrical stud 4 configured to cooperate with a circular orifice of the connector 301, and on the other hand a cavity 5 configured to cooperate with a cylindrical stud of the connector 301, the cylindrical stud 4 and the cavity 5 of the adapter 1 being formed in the parallel and opposite walls of the connector housing 3 (figures 4 and 5).

[0048] The body 2 of the adapter 1 extends at its front longitudinal end by a head 6. The head 6 of the adapter 1 has dimensions in the X, Y, Z directions larger than the side and upper walls of the connector housing 3. The head 6 forms a stop for mounting the adapter 1 by translation in the yoke 201 of the wiper arm 200 in the longitudinal direction Y ([Fig.2]).

[0049] The body 2 of the adapter 1 also has two wings 7a, 7b extending on either side of the head 6, at the rear of the head 6 (figures 4 and 5).

[0050] Each wing 7a, 7b extends rearwardly in the longitudinal direction Y and can carry a respective elastic finger 8. The wings 7a, 7b are configured to cooperate with a respective lateral notch 204 of the yoke 201 in order to clip the adapter 1 to the yoke 201 of the arm 200 ([Fig.2]).

[0051] The body 2 of the adapter 1 has two flanks 13a, 13b in the extension of the side walls of the connector housing 3, the flanks 13a, 13b joining at the rear of the adapter 1, at the opposite longitudinal end of the head 6, by a tail 9 formed by a crosspiece of the body 2 of the adapter 1 in the transverse direction X. The flanks 13a, 13b, the tail 9 and the connector housing 3 delimit a rear opening 14 ([Fig.4]).

[0052] The adapter 1 also comprises a flexible tab 15 extending from a wall of the body 2 of the adapter 1 towards the rear opening 14 provided in the body 2 of the adapter 1, at the rear of the connector housing 3. The flexible tab 15 carries a locking button 16 at its end.

[0053] The flexibility of the flexible tab 15 allows the locking button to be tilted. 16 in the rear opening 14 around a pivot axis of the flexible tab 15 parallel to the wall of the body 2 of the adapter 1 from which the flexible tab 15 extends, to disengage the locking button 16 from the yoke 201 by deformation of the flexible tab 15.

[0054] The wall of the body 2 of the adapter 1 from which the flexible tab 15 extends is for example a flank 13a, 13b of the adapter 1, here the flank 13a as best seen in [Fig.7], so as to allow the locking button 16 to tilt to the side, around a longitudinal pivot axis Y.

[0055] The flexible tab 15 extends for example so as to present the locking button 16 above the rear opening 14 and at least partially above an upper wall of the body 2 of the adapter 1 in the rest position ([Fig.7]).

[0056] One end of the locking button 16 is extended by at least one locking beak 17 cooperating with a lateral edge of the opening 202 of the yoke 201 of the wiper arm 200 to lock the assembly of the adapter 1 in the yoke 201. The retaining edge of the at least one locking beak 17 extends here in the longitudinal direction Y of the adapter 1.

[0057] The retaining edge of the locking spout 17, on the lower face, may be flat. It forms a stop for the yoke 201 in the vertical direction Z, which allows the locking button 16 to be clipped to the yoke 201 and therefore the assembly of the adapter 1 with the wiper arm 200 to be locked.

[0058] A back of the locking button 16, opposite the side of the locking button 16 carrying the locking beak 17, comprises a screen 20, flat, extending in a direction perpendicular to the pivot axis, here projecting in the transverse direction X, and extending in a direction parallel to the pivot axis, here the longitudinal direction Y, at least along the width of the locking button 16, so as to close the opening 202 of the yoke 201 to screen liquid splashes from inside the adapter 1.

[0059] As can be seen in particular in [Fig.6], in the illustrative example, the length of the screen 20 corresponds to the width of the locking button 16.

[0060] The screen 20 forms a reflection surface for the liquids which, when they strike the lower face of the screen 20, are returned towards the inside of the adapter 1. The screen 20 thus prevents the liquids from escaping from above the yoke 201. Thus placed on the back of the locking button 16, this screen 20 does not interfere with the locking kinematics of the button 16. In addition, the screen 20 improves the aesthetic appearance of the adapter 1.

[0061] The screen 20 has, for example, a tongue shape elongated in the direction of the pivot axis.

[0062] The screen 20 may further form a stop configured to cooperate with a edge of the body 2 of the adapter 1 to limit the pivoting travel of the locking button 16.

[0063] The pivoting stroke is limited by the cooperation of the screen 20 and the edge of the body 2 of the adapter 1 so as to allow the disengagement of the adapter 1 from the yoke 201 without exceeding the elastic limit of the elastic tab 15.

[0064] The edge of the body 2 of the adapter 1 configured to cooperate with the screen 20 is here the flank 13b, facing the wall of the body 2 of the adapter 1 from which the flexible tab 15 extends (the flank 13a). Furthermore, in this example, the screen 20 is configured to cooperate with an upper surface of an edge of the body 2 of the adapter 1 made in a notch 21 of the body 2 of the adapter 1.

[0065] The screen 20 and the edge of the body 2 of the adapter 1 are for example configured to limit the pivoting of the flexible tab 15 by an angle of between 10° and 50°.

[0066] When mounting the wiper blade 300 in the yoke 201 of the wiper arm 200, the user approaches the adapter 1 to the yoke 201 by positioning the adapter 1 at an angle so as to be able to introduce it into the yoke 201, in particular to introduce the wings 7a, 7b of the adapter 1 into the lateral cavities 204 of the yoke 201.

[0067] Then, the user raises the rear of the adapter 1 in the yoke 201, which causes the adapter 1 to automatically clip into the yoke 201 due to the progressive pivoting of the locking button 16, here around the longitudinal axis, by the upper surface of the locking button 16 coming into contact with the yoke 201, allowing it to rise through the opening 202. The wings 7a, 7b are inserted into a respective lateral notch 204 of the yoke 201.

[0068] When the yoke 201 abuts against the head 6 of the adapter 1, the wings 7a, 7b are engaged in the lateral notches 204, clipping the adapter 1 to the yoke 201 of the arm 200. The locking button 16 is repositioned by elasticity of the flexible tab 15, engaging the locking button 16 by elastic snap-fastening in the corresponding opening 202 of the yoke 201. The retaining edge of the locking beak 17 of the adapter 1 forms a stop for the yoke 201 in the vertical direction Z, which locks the assembly of the adapter 1 with the yoke 201 of the wiper arm 200.

[0069] In this locked rest position, the screen 20 forms a reflection surface for the liquids which, when they strike the lower face of the screen 20, are returned towards the inside of the adapter 1. The screen 20 thus prevents the liquids from escaping from above the yoke 201.

[0070] To disassemble the adapter 1, pressing the locking button 16 with the user's finger causes the locking button 16 to tilt, here to the side around the longitudinal pivot axis, into the opening 202 of the yoke 201, to disengage adapter 1 of the screed 201.

[0071] The deformation of the flexible tab 15 causes the locking button 16 to rotate and therefore the screen 20 to pivot around the pivot axis.

[0072] Thus placed on the back of the locking button 16, this screen 20 does not interfere with the locking kinematics of the button 16.

[0073] Once the maximum permissible pivoting travel has been reached, the screen 20 on the back of the locking button 16 comes to bear on the edge of the body 2. The screen 20 makes it possible to limit the travel of the locking button 16 which nevertheless remains sufficient to allow the disengagement of the adapter 1 from the yoke 201. The adapter 1 can therefore be disengaged before the occurrence of irreversible deformation of the flexible tab 15. This prevents excessive pressure from the user on the locking button 16 from deforming the flexible tab 15 beyond its elastic limit.

[0074] Once the adapter 1 is disengaged from the yoke 201, the locking button 16 returns to its initial position due to the elasticity of the elastic tab 15.

[0075] Although the figures show a flat screen 20, the screen 20 may also comprise one or more reinforcements, on the upper face, connecting the flat surface of the screen 20 to the back of the locking button 16. These reinforcements make it possible to reinforce the holding of the screen 20 when a pivoting force continues to be exerted on the locking button 16 while the screen 20 is resting on the edge of the body 2 of the adapter 1.

[0076] [Fig.8] shows another example of embodiment of the adapter 1.

[0077] In this example, the screen 20 is elongated in the direction parallel to the pivot axis by extending beyond the width of the locking button 16.

[0078] Furthermore, in this example, the edge of the body 2 of the adapter 1 configured to cooperate with the screen 20 is formed by a protrusion 23 of the body 2 of the adapter 1 projecting into the rear opening 14 from the front transverse wall of the rear opening 14. Alternatively or in addition, the edge of the body 2 of the adapter 1 can be formed in the rear transverse wall of the rear opening 14 or, as in the previous examples, in the flank 13b opposite that from which the flexible tab 15 extends.

[0079] Further here, the screen 20 is configured to cooperate with a lower surface of the protrusion 23 of the body 2 of the adapter 1 projecting into the rear opening 14 to limit the pivoting travel of the locking button 16.

[0080] Once the maximum permissible pivoting stroke is reached, the screen 20 on the back of the locking button 16 comes into contact under the protrusion 23 of the edge of the body 2 of the adapter 1.

[0081] The other characteristics of this exemplary embodiment are similar to the examples described previously.

Claims

Claims

1. Adapter (1) for assembling a wiper blade (300) to a yoke (201) of a wiper arm (200), the adapter (1) comprising a flexible tab (15) carrying a locking button (16), the flexible tab (15) extending from a wall of the body (2) of the adapter (1) towards a rear opening (14) provided in the body (2) so as to allow the locking button (16) to be tilted in the rear opening (14) about a pivot axis parallel to the wall to disengage the locking button (16) from the yoke (201) by deformation of the flexible tab (15), characterized in that a back of the locking button (16) comprises a screen (20) extending in a direction perpendicular to the pivot axis and in a direction parallel to the pivot axis at least along the width of the lock button (16),so as to close an opening (202) of the yoke (201) to protect against liquid splashes from inside the adapter (1).,

2. Adapter (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the screen (20) has a tongue shape, elongated in the direction of the pivot axis.

3. Adapter (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the length of the screen (20) in the direction parallel to the pivot axis corresponds to the width of the locking button (16).

4. Adapter (1) according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the screen (20) is elongated in the direction parallel to the pivot axis, extending beyond the width of the locking button (16).

5. Adapter (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the screen (20) is configured to cooperate with an edge of the body (2) of the adapter (1), forming a stop to limit the pivoting travel of the locking button (16).

6. Adapter (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the wall of the body (2) of the adapter (1) from which the flexible tab (15) extends is a flank (13a, 13b) of the adapter (1), so as to allow the locking button (16) to tilt around a longitudinal pivot axis (Y).

7. Adapter (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the body (2) of the adapter (1) extends at its longitudinal end-

8.

9. front tudinal by a head (6) forming a stop for mounting the adapter (1) by translation in the yoke (201) of the wiper arm (200) in the longitudinal direction (Y). Adapter (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the body (2) of the adapter (1) also has two wings (7a, 7b) extending on either side of the head (6), the wings (7a, 7b) being configured to cooperate with a respective lateral notch (204) of the yoke (201) in order to clip the adapter (1) to the yoke (201). Wiping device (100) comprising a wiper arm (200) and a wiper blade (300) characterized in that it comprises an adapter (1) according to one of the preceding claims for connecting the wiper blade (300) to the end of the wiper arm (200).

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