Low drag front windshield wiper blade

Abstract

Windscreen wiper blade (1) for the front glass surface of a motor vehicle comprising: - a support bracket (2) having an opposing upper surface (2a) and lower surface (2b), - at least one vertebra (3), - a wiper blade (7) mounted on the lower surface (2b) of the support bracket (2) and intended to bear against the glass surface, and - a connector (4) intended to be mechanically connected to a wiper arm for mounting and articulation about a transverse axis (B) of the wiper blade (1) to said wiper arm, the upper surface (2a) of the support bracket (2) having a transverse inclination of between 0 and 5° with respect to the transverse axis (B), the maximum vertical height (H) of the wiper blade (1) being less than 15 mm. Figure 2

Description

Title of the invention: Low drag front windshield wiper blade

[0001] The invention relates to a windshield wiper blade for a motor vehicle. More particularly, the invention relates to a front windshield wiper blade having a low drag coefficient.

[0002] Motor vehicles are commonly equipped with windshield wipers to sweep and wash the windshield and prevent the driver's view of their surroundings from being obstructed. These wipers are typically driven by an arm that moves back and forth at an angle and have elongated blades, which themselves carry scraper blades made of an elastic material. These blades rub against the windshield and evacuate the water, directing it out of the driver's field of vision. The wipers are made either, in a conventional version, as articulated arms that hold the scraper blade at several discreet points, or, in a more recent version such as the wipers called FlatBlade® (for "flat blade"), as a semi-rigid assembly that supports the scraper blade along its entire length.In this second solution, the wiper blade is attached to the rotating wiper arm by a mechanical connector.

[0003] However, for electric vehicles whose range is partly dependent on weight, it has become necessary to reduce the vehicle's weight. Thus, for wiper systems, one solution is to use smaller, and therefore lighter, electric drive motors. This solution is particularly favored for electric vehicles that prioritize lightness over speed. However, such electric drive motors have reduced power, and current brushes are not suitable.

[0004] The present invention aims to remedy at least partially the drawbacks of the prior art and to provide an improved windshield wiper blade that can be used with a lightweight and low-power electric drive motor.

[0005] The present invention therefore relates to a windshield wiper blade for the front glass surface of a motor vehicle comprising: - a support mount comprising an upper surface and an opposing lower surface, - at least one vertebra, - a wiping blade mounted on the lower surface of the support frame and intended to rest against the glass surface, and - a connector intended to be mechanically connected to a wiper arm for mounting and articulation along a transverse axis of the wiper blade to said wiper arm, the upper surface of the support mount having a transverse inclination of between 0 and 5° with respect to the transverse axis, the maximum vertical height of the wiper blade being less than 15mm.

[0006] According to one aspect of the invention, the upper surface is flat.

[0007] According to another aspect of the invention, the upper surface has zero transverse inclination with respect to the transverse axis.

[0008] According to another aspect of the invention, the maximum vertical height of the wiper blade is less than 12mm.

[0009] According to another aspect of the invention, the minimum vertical height of the wiper blade is greater than 7mm.

[0010] According to another aspect of the invention, the wiper blade comprises a single vertebra extending along the longitudinal length of the support mount.

[0011] According to another aspect of the invention, the wiper blade has end caps mounted at the ends of the support mount.

[0012] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, given by way of example and without limitation, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0013] In these figures, identical elements bear the same reference numbers.

[0014] [Fig-1] Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a windshield wiper blade,

[0015] [Fig.2] Fig.2 shows a perspective and cross-sectional view of a wiper blade ice,

[0016] [Fig.3] Fig.3 shows a perspective and cross-sectional view of the windshield wiper blade of the [Fig.2] without connector,

[0017] [Fig.4] Fig.4 shows a perspective and cross-sectional view of the windshield wiper blade of [Fig.2] at the connector level.

[0018] 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 from different embodiments can also be combined and / or interchanged to provide other embodiments.

[0019] In this description, certain elements or parameters can be indexed, such as first element or second element, first parameter and second parameter, first criterion and second criterion, etc. In this case, it is a simple indexing to differentiate and name elements or similar, but not identical, parameters or criteria. This indexing does not imply a priority of one element, parameter, or criterion over another, and such designations can easily be interchanged without departing from the scope of this description. Nor does this indexing imply a chronological order, for example, for evaluating one criterion over another.

[0020] In the remainder of this description, the longitudinal, vertical, and transverse directions indicated in Figures 1 to 4 by the trihedral frame (L, V, T) fixed relative to the wiper blade 1 will be adopted, without limitation. The longitudinal direction L corresponds to the principal direction of the wiper blade. The transverse direction T and the vertical direction V are perpendicular to each other and to the longitudinal direction L.

[0021] Fig. 1 shows a wiper blade 1 for a vehicle's glazed surface, in particular a front windshield, intended to be mounted at the end of a vehicle's wiper arm.

[0022] The wiper blade 1 may in particular be a FlatBlade ® type blade, it has a main longitudinal orientation L. The wiper blade 1 includes a support mount 2 (called "holder" in English), comprising an upper surface 2a and an opposite lower surface 2b, a connector 4 and a wiping blade 7 made of a flexible material and which is suitable for contacting the glass panel to be wiped.

[0023] Connector 4 is intended in particular to be mechanically connected to the wiper arm, for example via an arm adapter, for mounting and articulating the wiper blade 1 to the wiper arm. This articulation is in particular carried out along a transverse axis B perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L.

[0024] As illustrated in more detail in Figures 2 to 4, the wiping blade 7 is mounted here in the support frame 2, more precisely on the lower surface 2b of the support frame 2. The wiping blade 7 has a lip 71 for squeezing a glass surface, and a heel 72 forming an interface between the lip 71 and the support frame 2. By virtue of their respective functions, the lip 71 is particularly hard and wear-resistant, while the heel 72 provides the flexibility necessary for the optimal reversal of the blade 7 during reversals of the sweeping direction, the flexibility resulting in particular from the specific shape of the heel 72. The blade 7 is thus formed of a profile, for example, made of elastomer, which combines a single piece, both the lip 71 and the heel 72.

[0025] In addition to the heel 72 of the wiping blade 7, the lower surface 2b of the support mount 2 may thus include a rail 21 extending along the longitudinal direction L. This rail 21 has a longitudinal opening inside which the wiping blade 7, more particularly its heel 72, can be slid. longitudinally. The wiping blade 7 is thus held vertically by the rail 21.

[0026] At the ends of the support mount 2, the wiper blade 1 may also include tips 11 and 12 allowing the longitudinal retention of the wiper blade 7 within the rail 21.

[0027] The wiper blade 1 has at least one longitudinal vertebra 3 (called "spline" in English) arranged in the support mount 2, which, together with the support mount 2, forms the structure of the wiper blade 1 itself.

[0028] This vertebra 3 can in particular be formed of a single piece body, comprising a flat metal strip which is curved vertically, so that when the wiper blade 1 is in contact with the glass panel, the support forces exerted by the wiper arm are distributed over the entire length of the wiper blade 7.

[0029] At least one vertebra 3 can be introduced into at least one dedicated conduit 22 provided within the support frame 2 and extending longitudinally.

[0030] The tips 11 and 12 can also allow the longitudinal maintenance of at least one vertebra 3 within its dedicated conduit 22.

[0031] Connector 4 is mechanically connected to the arm adapter, for example, by a pivot joint. For this purpose, connector 4 includes, for example, one or two pins or cylindrical cavities with transverse axis B, to pivotally cooperate with the actuating arm or an adapter thereof. Connector 4 thus allows the arm to be mechanically connected to a flat brush 1, the pivot joint enabling rotation of the brush 1 relative to the arm.

[0032] The connector 4 can be fixed by clipping it onto the support mount 2, more particularly onto its upper surface 2a.

[0033] According to the embodiment illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, the wiper blade comprises a single vertebra 3 extending along the longitudinal length of the support frame 2, more particularly along its entire length. This single vertebra 3 thus passes directly above the connector 4. The support frame 2 may therefore have lateral openings 23 so that portions of the edges of this single vertebra 3 are exposed, as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4. The connector 4 can then clip directly onto the vertebra 3 and be held vertically, longitudinally, and transversely, as illustrated in [Fig. 4].

[0034] According to one variant (not shown), the wiper blade may comprise two vertebrae 3 arranged parallel to each other along the transverse axis and extending, for example, both along the entire length of the blade. These two vertebrae 3 may, in particular, be inserted into the same conduit 22 or each into a dedicated longitudinal conduit of the support mount 2. Also according to this variant, the mount The support 2 may also include lateral openings 23 so that portions of the edges of these vertebrae 3 are exposed. The connector 4 can then clip directly onto the vertebra 3 and be held vertically, longitudinally, and transversely.

[0035] According to a second variant not shown, the wiper blade 1 may have two vertebrae 3 arranged aligned on either side of the connector 4. The connector 4 is then directly fixed to the support mount 2.

[0036] As Figures 2 and 3 show in more detail, the upper surface 2a of the support mount 2 has a transverse inclination of between 0 and 5° with respect to the transverse axis B, such that the maximum vertical height H of the wiper blade 1 is less than 15 mm, preferably 12 mm. The height H of the wiper blade 1 refers more specifically to the height of the assembly formed by the wiper blade 7, at least one vertebra 3, and the support mount 2, without taking into account the connector 4.

[0037] The minimum vertical height H of the wiper blade 1 may in particular be greater than 7mm.

[0038] More specifically, the upper surface 2a can be flat. When this upper surface 2a is flat, it can, in particular, have a zero transverse inclination with respect to the transverse axis B.

[0039] This specific transverse inclination, combined with the limited maximum vertical height H, helps to reduce the aerodynamic drag of the wiper blade, particularly for vehicles designed to travel at low speeds, especially at a maximum speed of 90 km / h. Thus, for a front wiper blade, which is subjected to the greatest aerodynamic stresses, even at a maximum speed of 90 km / h, the wiper blade will remain pressed against the vehicle's windshield due to this limited aerodynamic drag. This reduction in aerodynamic drag also allows for lower power consumption of the electric drive motor. It is therefore possible to use smaller, more energy-efficient electric drive motors.

[0040] Furthermore, the absence of a pronounced deflector on the upper face 2a of the support mount 2 helps to reduce the weight of the wiper blade. This allows for the use of smaller, and therefore lighter, electric drive motors, thus reducing the overall weight of the motor vehicle. This, in turn, improves driving range, particularly for an electric vehicle.

Claims

Demands

1. Windscreen wiper blade (1) for the front glass surface of a motor vehicle comprising: - a support frame (2) having an upper surface (2a) and an opposing lower surface (2b), - at least one vertebra (3), - a wiper blade (7) mounted on the lower surface (2b) of the support frame (2) and intended to bear against the glass surface, and - a connector (4) intended to be mechanically connected to a wiper arm for mounting and articulation along a transverse axis (B) of the wiper blade (1) to said wiper arm, characterized in that the upper surface (2a) of the support frame (2) has a transverse inclination of between 0 and 5° with respect to the transverse axis (B), the maximum vertical height (H) of the wiper blade (1) being less than 15mm.

2. Wiper blade (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the upper surface (2a) is flat.

3. Wiper blade (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the upper surface (2a) has zero transverse inclination with respect to the transverse axis (B).

4. Wiper blade (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the maximum vertical height (H) of the wiper blade (1) is less than 12mm.

5. Wiper blade (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the minimum vertical height (H) of the wiper blade (1) is greater than 7mm.

6. Wiper blade (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a single vertebra (3) extending over the longitudinal length of the support mount (2).

7. Wiper blade (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises end caps (11, 12) mounted at the ends of the support mount (2).

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