Wiper arm component and wiping mechanism

Abstract

A wiper arm element (301) located at the end of a wiper arm (300), characterized in that said wiper arm element (301) has a frame-shaped cross-section formed by an upper wall, two flanks (4) extending from parallel edges of the upper wall, and a transverse stiffening wall (6) connecting the flanks (4) to each other. Figure 2

Description

Title of the invention: Wiper arm element and wiping device. Technical field of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to a wiper arm element. The invention also relates to a device for wiping a glazed surface of a motor vehicle comprising such a wiper arm element and a wiper blade configured to be assembled to said wiper arm by translation of an adapter in a bracket of the wiper arm. Technical background

[0002] Motor vehicles are commonly equipped with wiping systems designed to clean 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 of the vehicle, and the wiper blade includes at least one wiping blade adapted to make contact with the glass surface to be wiped.

[0003] Certain parts of the wiping device arranged under the incident airflow and likely to impact aerodynamic performance, have shapes configured so that the relative wind produced by the movement of the vehicle produces a force tending to press the wiper blade against the glass panel.

[0004] However, due to manufacturing constraints, some of these parts may be relatively heavy and not very optimized.

[0005] A recent development made possible by additive manufacturing allows for improved aerodynamic performance by reducing drag and downforce on the housing. However, the 3D-printed bracket is very flexible at the point of connection with the wiper blade due to its U-shape, which can cause mechanical strength problems. Summary of the invention

[0006] The present invention aims to provide a windshield wiper blade that at least partially resolves the aforementioned drawbacks.

[0007] To this end, the present invention relates to a wiper arm element located at the end of a wiper arm, characterized in that said wiper arm element has a cross-section in the shape of a frame formed by an upper wall, two flanks extending from parallel edges of the upper wall and a transverse stiffening wall connecting the flanks together.

[0008] The transverse stiffening wall makes it possible to improve the mechanical robustness of said wiper arm element by locally stiffening the "U" shape of the wiper arm element by preventing the separation of the sides of the "U", which was not feasible with prior art manufacturing processes, in particular manufacturing processes for wiper arm elements made of stamped sheet metal.

[0009] The wiper arm element may include one or more of the features described below, taken alone or in combination.

[0010] Said wiper arm element can be produced by additive manufacturing.

[0011] Said wiper arm element may be a bracket of a housing of an arm wiper blade configured to assemble to the wiper blade by translation of an adapter mounted hinged on a wiper blade connector between the sides of the clevis.

[0012] The transverse stiffening wall can be located at the rear of the clevis so as to be arranged at the rear of the wiper blade connector once the wiper blade has been assembled to the clevis.

[0013] The screed can be configured to assemble in a removable manner to a hydraulic fitting inserted between the sides of the screed at the level of the transverse stiffening wall, the transverse stiffening wall forming a protective cover for the hydraulic fitting.

[0014] Said wiper arm element may be a bracket configured to be mounted in a bracket of a wiper arm housing and to be removably assembled to a hydraulic fitting inserted between the sides of the bracket at the level of the transverse stiffening wall, the transverse stiffening wall forming a protective cover for the hydraulic fitting.

[0015] According to one embodiment, the transverse stiffening wall extends beyond the stirrup by means of retaining elements cooperating with sides of the slab to prevent the sides from separating.

[0016] The hydraulic fitting can be configured to connect a line from the wiper arm intended to be supplied with cleaning fluid to a nozzle or at least one array of projection orifices of the wiper blade.

[0017] The invention also relates to a wiper arm, characterized in that it comprises a wiper arm element as described above and a hydraulic fitting received at least partially in a housing of the wiper arm element formed at the level of the transverse stiffening wall, the transverse stiffening wall forming a protective cover for the hydraulic fitting.

[0018] The invention also relates to a device for wiping a glazed surface of a motor vehicle, characterized in that it comprises a wiper arm having a wiper arm element as described above and a wiper blade configured to assemble to said wiper arm by translation of an adapter into a clevis of the wiper arm. Brief description of the figures

[0019] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, given by way of example, without limitation, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0020] In these figures, identical elements bear the same reference numbers.

[0021] [Fig-1] The [Fig.1] shows a diagram of elements of a wiping device.

[0022] [Fig.2] Fig.2 shows a bottom view of one end of a wiper arm glass of the wiping device assembled to an adapter.

[0023] [Fig.3] The [Fig.3] shows a view of the end of the wiper arm of the [Fig.2] assembled to the windshield wiper blade.

[0024] [Fig.4] [Fig.4] shows a side view of the elements of [Fig.2] with the end of the wiper arm shown in transparency.

[0025] [Fig. 5] [Fig. 5] shows a cross-sectional view along a transverse plane of the end of the wiper arm of [Fig.2].

[0026] [Fig. 6a] [Fig. 6a] shows a view of the wiping device of [Fig. 2] during of a first step of dismantling the windshield wiper blade.

[0027] [Fig. 6b] Figure 6b shows a view of the wiping device during a step of dismantling of the wiper blade successive to that of [Fig.6a].

[0028] [Fig. 6c] Fig. 6c shows a view of the wiping device during a step of dismantling of the wiper blade successive to that of [Fig.6b].

[0029] [Fig.7] Fig.7 shows a view similar to Fig.5 for a second example of manufacturing of the wiper arm.

[0030] [Fig.8] [Fig.8] shows a view similar to [Fig.7] for a third example of manufacturing of the wiper arm.

[0031] [Fig.9] Fig.9 shows a cross-sectional view of a wiper arm for a fourth example of implementation.

[0032] [Fig. 10a] [Fig. 10a] shows a view of the wiping device of [Fig. 9] during of a first step of dismantling the windshield wiper blade.

[0033] [Fig. 10b] [Fig. 10b] shows a view of the wiping device during a step of dismantling the wiper blade successive to that of [Fig. 10a].

[0034] [Fig. 10c] [Fig. 10c] shows a view of the wiping device during a step of dismantling the wiper blade successive to that of [Fig. 10b].

[0035] [Fig.10d] The [Fig.10d] shows a view of the wiping device during a wiper blade dismantling step successive to that of the [Fig. 10c].

[0036] In these figures, identical elements bear the same reference numbers. Detailed description

[0037] 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. Simple features of different embodiments can also be combined or interchanged to provide other embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.

[0038] In the description, the longitudinal direction L corresponds to the direction of translation of the adapter in the wiper arm bracket. The transverse (or lateral) direction T intersects the longitudinal direction L perpendicularly.

[0039] The "front" of the wiper arm refers to the side where the head is intended to be located of an adapter and the back, the opposite side.

[0040] Fig. 1 represents a wiping device 100 for a glazed surface of a motor vehicle, such as the windshield or the rear window.

[0041] The wiping device 100 includes a wiper arm 300 and a wiper blade 200 configured to assemble to the arm 300 by translation of an adapter 400 mounted articulated on a connector 201 of the wiper blade 200, in a bracket 301 of the wiper arm 300 located at one end of a housing 302 of the arm 300.

[0042] The wiper blade 200 is here of the flat blade type and comprises a longitudinal body, a wiping blade 202, generally made of rubber or elastomeric material, and at least one vertebra (not shown) which stiffens the wiping blade 202 and promotes its support against a vehicle glass surface.

[0043] The connector 201, visible in [Fig.3], is an element of the brush 200 surmounting the wiping blade 202 of the brush 200 in its middle.

[0044] The body of the adapter 400 extends at its front longitudinal end with a head 402 forming a stop for mounting the adapter 400 by translation within the bracket 301 (Figures 2 to 4). The body of the adapter 400 also has rotating elements, here cylindrical holes 403, which complement the rotating elements of the connector 301 of the wiper arm 200, here cylindrical studs. The axis of rotation extends in a transverse direction and allows the wiper arm 200 to rotate relative to the arm 300 so that the wiper blade 200 can follow the curvature of the glass surface.

[0045] The adapter 400 also includes a flexible leg carrying a locking button 401 at its end, the locking button 401 disengaging from a obviously 2 made on an upper wall 3 of the screed 301 by deformation of the flexible leg ([Fig.4]).

[0046] As can be seen more clearly in Figures 2 and 3, the screed 301 has a U-shaped cross-section, with the opening of the U facing the glazed surface. The U-shaped screed 301 has an upper wall 3, in particular with a flat internal shape, and two lateral walls or sides 4 extending from parallel edges of the upper wall 3.

[0047] The "U" shape of the yoke 301 is configured to allow the assembly of the wiper arm 300 to the wiper blade 200 by translation of the adapter 400 between the sides 4, in said "U" shape of the yoke 301 (figures 6a, 6b, 6c).

[0048] In figures 2 and 3, it can be seen that the lower end of each side 4 of the screed 301 can have an edge folded 5 at 90° towards the inner volume of the screed 301, which has in particular the function of longitudinally guiding the insertion of the adapter 400.

[0049] Different phases of the assembly and disassembly of the brush 200 on the arm 300 are shown in figures 6a, 6b, 6c.

[0050] When mounting the wiper blade 200 onto the wiper arm 300, the user slides the adapter 400 into the bracket 301 (Figures 6c, 6b) until the bracket 301 abuts against the head 402 of the adapter 400. The locking button 401 of the adapter 400 engages by elastic click into the corresponding recess 2 in the bracket 301, locking the adapter 400 ([Fig. 6a]). The user then pivots the arm 300, assembled with the adapter 400, into the operating position.

[0051] The wiper blade 200 can be detached from the wiper arm 300 to be changed by pressing the locking button 401 which can be operated from the upper wall 3, disengaging the adapter 400 from the bracket 301.

[0052] In the first embodiment illustrated in figures 1 to 6c, a wiper arm element located at the end of the arm 300 is formed by the yoke 301 of the housing 302 of the wiper arm 300.

[0053] The screed 301 has a frame-shaped cross-section formed by the upper wall 3, the two sides 4 extending from parallel edges of the upper wall 3, and a transverse stiffening wall 6 connecting the sides 4 together. The transverse stiffening wall 6 connects the ends of the sides 4 of the "U" together, in other words, locally closes the opening of the "U".

[0054] The transverse stiffening wall 6 can be flat and in particular parallel or substantially parallel to the flat internal shape of the upper wall 3 and perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the sides 4 ([Fig.5]).

[0055] A housing 7 delimited by the internal walls of the upper wall 3, the sides 4 and the transverse stiffening wall 6 in the form of a frame is thus defined in the screed 301.

[0056] The wiper arm element, here the bracket 301, can be produced by additive manufacturing (or 3D printing). Thus the bracket 301 is a single piece.

[0057] It is also possible by additive manufacturing to create aerodynamic shapes along the casing 302 (figures 6a, 6b, 6c).

[0058] In particular, the transverse stiffening wall 6 is provided to be located at the rear of the bracket 301 so as to be positioned at the rear of the connector 201 of the wiper blade 200 once the wiper blade 200 is assembled to the bracket 301 ([Fig. 3]). Thus, the stiffening wall 6 does not interfere with the insertion of the adapter 400 into the bracket 301 from the front.

[0059] The transverse stiffening wall 6 makes it possible to improve the mechanical robustness of said wiper arm element, here the bracket 301, by locally stiffening the "U" shape of the bracket 301 by preventing the separation of the sides 4 of the "U", which was not feasible with prior art manufacturing processes, in particular manufacturing processes for wiper arm elements made of stamped sheet metal.

[0060] According to one embodiment, the wiping device 100 is configured to allow the distribution of a cleaning fluid such as windshield washer fluid or water, onto the glass surface.

[0061] For this purpose, the wiper arm 300 includes a hydraulic fitting 303 configured to connect a line 304 of the wiper arm 300 intended to be supplied with cleaning fluid, to a nozzle or to at least one ramp of projection orifices of the wiper blade 200 for example provided in a deflector of the blade 200.

[0062] The hydraulic fitting 303 includes at least one channel here made in the form of an angled tube whose ends have cannulas to fluidly connect the line 304 carried by the wiper arm 300 to a ramp of the wiper blade 200 (figures 2 and 4).

[0063] The hydraulic fitting 303 is assembled in a removable manner, for example by elastic fitting (or clipping) between the sides 9 of the "U" shape of a bracket 305 of the wiper arm 300, the bracket 305 itself being mounted in the clevis 301, between the sides 4 of the "U" shape of the clevis 301, at the rear of the adapter 400 (figures 4 and 5).

[0064] The bracket 305 retains the hydraulic fitting 303 including when the wiper blade 200 is removed.

[0065] As can be seen in [Fig. 5], the bracket 305 has a U-shaped cross-section, with the opening of the U facing the glazed surface when the bracket 305 is mounted in the clevis 301. The U-shaped bracket 305 has an upper wall 8 and two lateral walls or flanks 9 extending from parallel edges of the upper wall 8.

[0066] Once assembled in the screed 301, the external faces of the stirrup 305 are assembled against the corresponding internal walls of the screed 301.

[0067] Additional clipping elements 306 may be provided on the one hand on the hydraulic fitting 303 and on the other hand on the internal walls of the sides 9 of the stirrup 305 for the assembly by elastic interlocking of the hydraulic fitting 303 between the sides 9 of the stirrup 305.

[0068] A clearance 12 can be provided in the center of the transverse stiffening wall 6 to free up space for the cannula and the conduit 304 when the fitting 303 is locked in the bracket 305.

[0069] The hydraulic fitting 303 is thus located in the middle of the wiper blade 200, under the end of the arm 300 at the point of its connection with the wiper blade 200.

[0070] The hydraulic fitting 303 is further received at least partially in the housing 7 of the clevis 301 formed at the level of the transverse stiffening wall 6. The transverse stiffening wall 6 then forms a protective cover for the hydraulic fitting 303 (figures 2 to 4).

[0071] In addition to stiffening the clevis 301, the transverse stiffening wall 6 protects the hydraulic fitting 303 from being unintentionally unclipped by the user during a wiper blade change, by encapsulating / protecting the connection area between the hydraulic fitting 303 and the bracket 305. This prevents the user from pressing on the hydraulic fitting 303 during the wiper blade change operation and detaching it from the bracket 305. Removing the wiper blade 200 to be replaced and fitting the new blade can thus be facilitated.

[0072] Fig. 7 shows another example of implementation.

[0073] In this example, the wiper arm element located at the end of the wiper arm 300 is the bracket 305 configured to be mounted in the clevis 301 and to be removably assembled to the hydraulic fitting 303 inserted between the sides 9 of the bracket 305.

[0074] The screed 301 may have a cross-section in the shape of a “U” without a transverse stiffening wall 6.

[0075] The stirrup 305 has a cross-section in the shape of a frame formed by the upper wall 8, the two sides 9 extending from parallel edges of the upper wall 8 and a transverse stiffening wall 10 connecting the sides 9 together.

[0076] The transverse stiffening wall 10 connects the ends of the sides 9 of the "U" together.

[0077] The transverse stiffening wall 10 can be flat and in particular parallel or substantially parallel to the flat internal shape of the upper wall 8 and perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the sides 9.

[0078] A housing 11 delimited by the internal walls of the upper wall 8, the sides 9 and the transverse stiffening wall 10 in the shape of a frame is thus defined in the stirrup 305.

[0079] The hydraulic fitting 303 is for example mounted from the front of the caliper 305 and then clipped vertically into position in the complementary clipping elements 306.

[0080] The wiper arm element, here the bracket 305, is preferably produced by additive manufacturing (or 3D printing). Thus the bracket 305 is a single piece.

[0081] The hydraulic fitting 303 is inserted between the sides 9 of the stirrup 305 at the level of the transverse stiffening wall 10, the hydraulic fitting 303 being received at least partially in the housing 11 of the stirrup 305 formed at the level of the transverse stiffening wall 10. The transverse stiffening wall 10 then forms a protective cover for the hydraulic fitting 303.

[0082] The wiper arm element, here the bracket 305, can be produced by additive manufacturing. Thus the bracket 305 is a single piece.

[0083] The transverse stiffening wall 10 improves the mechanical robustness of said wiper arm element, here the bracket 305, by locally stiffening the "U" shape because it prevents the sides 9 of the "U" from spreading apart.

[0084] In addition to stiffening the bracket 305, the transverse stiffening wall 10 protects the hydraulic fitting 303 from being unintentionally unclipped by the user during a wiper blade change. This prevents the user from pressing on the hydraulic fitting 303 during the wiper blade change and detaching it from the bracket 305. Removing the wiper blade 200 to be replaced and installing the new one can thus be made easier.

[0085] The other features of this embodiment are similar to the embodiment described above.

[0086] Fig. 8 shows an alternative embodiment.

[0087] In this variant, the transverse stiffening wall 10 extends beyond the stirrup 305, on either side of the stirrup 305, by means of retaining elements 13 cooperating with the sides 4 of the slab 301 to prevent the separation of the sides 4 or in other words, to prevent the opening of the "U" shape of the slab 301.

[0088] The retaining elements 13 of the transverse stiffening wall 10 are for example made by lateral ribs whose internal walls are in contact with external end walls of the flanks 4 so as to prevent the flanks 4 from separating.

[0089] The other features of this embodiment are similar to the embodiment described above.

[0090] Figures 9, 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d show another example of an embodiment.

[0091] In this embodiment, the wiper arm 300 does not have a bracket 305 for holding the hydraulic fitting 303.

[0092] The wiper arm element located at the end of the arm is the clevis 310 of the housing 302 of the wiper arm 300 and the clevis 310 is configured to assemble removably, for example by elastic snap-fit, to the hydraulic fitting 303 inserted between the sides 4 of the clevis 310 at the level of the transverse stiffening wall 6. The transverse stiffening wall 6 forms a protective cover for the hydraulic fitting 303 ([Fig.9]).

[0093] Additional clipping elements 306 are provided, for example, on the hydraulic fitting 303 and on the inner walls of the sides 4 of the clevis 310 for the elastic interlocking assembly of the hydraulic fitting 303 between the sides of the clevis 310. The clipping elements 306 are located, in particular, outside the interface areas of the hydraulic fitting 303 with the pipe 304. The hydraulic fitting 303 is, for example, mounted from the front of the clevis 310 and then clipped vertically into position in the additional clipping elements 306.

[0094] In addition to stiffening the wiper arm element, the transverse stiffening wall 6 also protects the hydraulic fitting 303 from being unintentionally unclipped by the user during a wiper blade change, by encapsulating / protecting the connection area between the hydraulic fitting 303 and the bracket 310. This prevents the user from pressing on the hydraulic fitting 303 during the wiper blade change and detaching it from the bracket 310. Removing the wiper blade 200 to be replaced and fitting the new blade can thus be made easier.

[0095] The other features of this example embodiment are similar to the first example embodiment.

[0096] Different phases of the assembly and disassembly of the brush 200 on the arm 300 are shown in figures 10a to 10d.

[0097] When mounting the wiper blade 200 onto the wiper arm 300, the user slides the adapter 400 into the bracket 310 (Figures 10d, 10c, 10b) until the bracket 310 abuts against the head 402 of the adapter 400. The locking button 401 of the adapter 400 engages by elastic click into the corresponding recess 2 in the bracket 310, locking the adapter 400 ([Fig. 10b]). The user then pivots the arm 300 assembled with the adapter 400 into the operating position ([Fig. 10a]).

[0098] The wiper blade 200 can be detached from the wiper arm 300 to be changed by pressing the locking button 401 which can be operated from the upper wall 3, disengaging the adapter 400 from the bracket 301.

Claims

Demands

1. Wiper arm element (301; 305; 310) located at the end of a wiper arm (300), characterized in that said wiper arm element (301; 305; 310) has a frame-shaped cross-section formed by an upper wall (3; 8), two flanks (4; 9) extending from parallel edges of the upper wall (3; 8) and a transverse stiffening wall (6; 10) connecting the flanks (4; 9) to each other.

2. Wiper arm element (301; 305; 310) according to claim 1, characterized in that said wiper arm element (301; 305; 310) is produced by additive manufacturing.

3. Wiper arm element (301) according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that said wiper arm element is a bracket (301; 310) of a housing (302) of a wiper arm (300) configured to assemble to the wiper blade (200) by translation of an adapter (400) mounted hinged on a connector (201) of wiper blade (200) between flanks (4) of the bracket (301; 310).

4. Wiper arm element (301) according to claim 3, characterized in that the transverse stiffening wall (6) is located at the rear of the bracket (301; 310) so as to be arranged at the rear of the connector (201) of the wiper blade (200) once the wiper blade (200) has been assembled to the bracket (301; 310).

5. Wiper arm element (310) according to any one of claims 3 or 4, characterized in that the clevis (310) is configured to removably assemble to a hydraulic fitting (303) inserted between the sides (4) of the clevis (310) at the level of the transverse stiffening wall (6), the transverse stiffening wall (6) forming a protective cover for the hydraulic fitting (303).

6. Wiper arm element (305) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said wiper arm element (305) is a bracket (305) configured to be mounted in a yoke (301) of a housing (302) of a wiper arm (300) and to be removably assembled to a hydraulic fitting (303) inserted between the sides (9) of the bracket (305) at the transverse wall of stiffening (10), the transverse stiffening wall (10) forming a protective cover for the hydraulic fitting (303).

7. Wiper arm element (305) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the transverse stiffening wall (10) extends beyond the bracket (305) by means of retaining elements (13) cooperating with flanks (4) of the yoke (301) to prevent the flanks (4) from separating.

8. Wiper arm (300), characterized in that it comprises a wiper arm element (301; 305; 310) according to any one of the preceding claims and a hydraulic fitting (303) received at least partially in a housing (7; 11) of the wiper arm element (301; 305; 310) formed at the level of the transverse stiffening wall (6; 10), the transverse stiffening wall (6; 10) forming a protective cover for the hydraulic fitting (303).

9. Wiping device (100) for a glazed surface of a motor vehicle, characterized in that it comprises a wiper arm (300) having a wiper arm element (301; 305; 310) according to any one of claims 1 to 7 and a wiper blade (200) configured to assemble to said wiper arm (300) by translation of an adapter (400) in a bracket (301; 310) of the wiper arm (300).

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