Front windshield wiper blade adapter and wiping device

Abstract

An adapter (4) for a front windshield wiper blade (3), comprising an arm through housing (16) configured to receive one end of a wiper arm (2) such that the wiper blade (3) can be attached to the wiper arm (2) and the wiper arm can slide in the longitudinal direction (L), and a lock button (20) configured to prevent the wiper arm (2) from retreating in the longitudinal direction (L) in a stationary position, wherein the adapter (4) further comprises at least one longitudinal stopper (26) configured to cooperate with a mating surface (27) formed on a part of the wiper arm (2) to protrude into the arm housing (16) and prevent the wiper arm (2) from being inserted longitudinally into the arm housing (16).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an adapter for a wiper blade configured to be assembled to a wiper arm intended to be connected to an electric wiper mechanism of a vehicle. Another main subject of the present invention is a wiping device comprising a wiper arm and a wiper blade connected to the arm by said adapter.

Background Art

[0002] Automobiles are generally equipped with a wiper system intended to clean the glossy surface of the automobile, in particular the front glass of the automobile. Such a wiper system comprises 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 wiper rubber adapted to come into contact with the glossy surface to be wiped. An adapter is arranged between the wiper arm and the connector of the blade in order to be able to drive the wiper blade.

[0003] There are various types of arms, for example, a hook arm, an arm with a lateral pivot pin, an arm with a longitudinal clip fastener, a rod arm, etc.

[0004] Therefore, the adapter is specially configured to cooperate with the rod arm. The rod arm is flat and has the advantage of being compact as a result of its thin thickness.

[0005] An assembly is known in which the rod arm is slidably inserted into the housing of the adapter. In use, by releasing a push button that engages a dedicated lateral notch of the arm, the withdrawal of the arm by longitudinal movement in the locking area of the adapter is prevented.

[0006] The attachment is performed without the user activating the push button, and the push button retracts while the corresponding interface of the arm passes through. Then, at the lateral notch of the arm, when the locking stud of the push button is released, the push button automatically assumes the locked position. However, this attachment is only possible when the blade structure is pivotally attached to the front abutment under the adapter, that is to say, when there is an opening angle between the rear part of the blade and the arm. Conversely, in the removal step, it is necessary to press the push button to unlock it, and at the same time, slide the adapter along the arm and tilt the blade structure to the same angle in order to freely pull out the blade.

[0007] However, in some devices, the housing of the adapter is perforated and does not have this front stopper. Therefore, there is a risk that the user may push the arm too far into the adapter, and that the lateral notch of the arm may extend beyond the locking area of the adapter. By extending in this way, the arm may not be able to be continuously and correctly locked to the adapter, and may even cause damage to the button or breakage of the button. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] One of the objectives of the present invention is to propose an adapter that at least partially solves the drawbacks of the prior art.

[0009] For this purpose, one main subject of the present invention is an adapter for a wiper blade configured to be able to assemble the wiper blade to a wiper arm, an arm-through housing configured to receive the end of the wiper arm by sliding it longitudinally, a locking button configured to prevent the longitudinal withdrawal of the wiper arm in the stationary position and The adapter also has at least one longitudinal stopper disposed protruding within the housing of the arm and configured to cooperate with a complementary surface formed on the end face of the wiper arm so as to prevent the longitudinal insertion of the wiper arm into the housing of the arm. The adapter is characterized by having at least one longitudinal stopper.

[0010] The longitudinal stopper of the adapter, in order to ensure the integrity of the adapter, brings a restriction to the translational movement of the wiper arm by pressure during the insertion of the arm into the adapter. When the insertion of the arm into the adapter is fixed by the cooperation between the longitudinal stopper of the adapter and the complementary surface of the arm, the user can lock the prevention of the arm without the risk of damage by the blocking member. In this way, the adapter provides an effective and reliable locking of the arm by relatively simple means.

[0011] The adapter can also have one or more of the following features, either alone or in combination.

[0012] The longitudinal stopper is disposed, for example, within the blocking volume of the housing of the arm, sandwiched between the inlet cage and the end groove of the housing of the arm, and the blocking volume receives the blocking member of the lock button in the rest position.

[0013] The longitudinal stopper is formed, for example, on a protrusion of the adapter disposed on the back side of the wall of the connector housing configured to connect the adapter to the connector of the wiper blade.

[0014] According to a first exemplary embodiment, the longitudinal stopper is formed by a laterally flat wall.

[0015] The laterally flat wall can be provided at the right-angled corner of the protrusion of the adapter.

[0016] According to a second exemplary embodiment, the longitudinal stopper is formed by a first plane inclined with respect to the lateral plane.

[0017] The first inclined surface can be provided at the obtuse-angled corner of the protrusion of the housing of the arm.

[0018] The obtuse angle can be between 110° and 160°, such as between 125° and 145°.

[0019] The first inclined surface is provided, for example, at the acute-angled corner of the protrusion of the adapter.

[0020] The acute angle can be between 20° and 70°, such as between 35° and 55°.

[0021] The corner is formed, for example, on one hand by a longitudinal stopper and on the other hand by a second plane inclined with respect to the vertical plane.

[0022] Another subject of the present invention is a wiping device comprising a wiper arm, in particular a rod arm, and a wiper blade, characterized in that the wiping device comprises an adapter as described above for connecting the wiper blade to the end of the wiper arm.

[0023] Other advantages and features will become apparent upon consideration of the following description of specific, but in no way limiting, embodiments of the invention and the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0024]

Figure 1A

Figure 1B

Figure 2

Figure 3A

Figure 3B

Figure 3C

Figure 3D

Figure 3E

Figure 3F

Figure 4A

Figure 4B

Figure 4C

Figure 5A

Figure 5B

Figure 5C

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0025] In these figures, the same elements are given the same reference numerals.

[0026] The following embodiments are examples. The description refers to one or more embodiments, but this does not necessarily mean that each reference relates to the same embodiment or that the features apply only to a single embodiment. Individual features of different embodiments may be combined or exchanged to provide other embodiments.

[0027] In the description hereinafter, the longitudinal direction, the vertical direction, and the lateral direction, which are shown by the three - sided bodies (L, V, T) fixed to the adapter, particularly in FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C, are adopted in a non - limiting manner. The longitudinal direction L corresponds to the main direction of the end of the wiper arm that cooperates with the adapter. The vertical direction and the lateral direction are perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and perpendicular to each other.

[0028] Figures 1A and 1B show a wiping device 1 intended to be connected to an electric wiper mechanism of a vehicle and comprising a wiper arm 2 whose ends are connected to a wiper blade 3 by an adapter 4 in order to clean a glossy surface of the vehicle, such as the front windshield.

[0029] The arm 2 is of the rod - arm type and comprises a rod 5 connected to the base 6 of the arm 2. The arm 2 is itself intended to be connected to an electric mechanism. The rod 5 extends between an end connected to the base 6 and an end cooperating with an adapter 4 for connection to the blade 3. The term "rod" is understood to mean a solid element whose ends extend in the longitudinal direction L (Figs. 3A, 3B, 3C). The rod 5 is "flat", i.e., the rod 5 has two flat and parallel surfaces.

[0030] As can be seen in more detail in Figures 1B and 2, the adapter 4 extends mainly along the longitudinal direction L. The adapter 4 comprises, for example, an upper wall 11 having a smooth and curved profile, and this wall is the wall that is visible when the wiping device 1 is mounted on the vehicle.

[0031] On the back side of this upper wall 11, as can be seen in Figures 3A and 3B, the adapter 4 has elements that on the one hand lock the arm 2 to the adapter 4 and on the other hand enable the wiper blade 3 to be articulated to the wiper arm 2.

[0032] In order to connect the adapter 4 to the blade 3, the adapter 4 has a connector housing 12 configured to cooperate with a connector 8 of the wiper blade 3. The connector 8 is an element of the blade 3 that covers the wiper rubber 10 of the blade 3 at its center (Fig. 1B).

[0033] The rotation between the adapter 4 and the connector 8 is carried out about an axis of rotation parallel to the transverse direction T.

[0034] According to an exemplary embodiment of the complementary rotating member, the adapter 4 includes, on the one hand, a cylindrical stud 13 configured to cooperate with the circular orifice of the connector 8, and on the other hand, a circular hole 14 intended to cooperate with the cylindrical stud of the connector 8. The cylindrical stud 13 and the circular hole 14 are formed in parallel opposing walls of the connector housing 12 (FIG. 3A). The cylindrical stud 13 may be formed on an elastically deformable tongue 15 provided on the wall of the connector housing 12 so that the adapter 4 can be attached to the connector 8.

[0035] To receive the end of the arm 2 that connects the arm 2 to the adapter 4, the adapter 4 has an arm housing 16 located on one side of the adapter 4 on the back side of the upper wall 11 (FIGS. 3B and 3C).

[0036] The arm housing 16 extends longitudinally in the longitudinal direction L and is configured to receive the end of the wiper arm 2 by sliding in the longitudinal direction L. The arm housing 16 has an inlet cage 17 and an end groove 18 that are arranged longitudinally but spaced apart from each other so that the rod 5 of the arm 2 can be received in the inlet cage 17 and the end groove 18, thereby passing through a blocking volume 19 sandwiched therebetween. The inlet cage 17 and the end groove 18 are through-going. The inlet cage 17 is longer longitudinally than the end groove 18 that receives the end of the arm 2. The inlet cage 17 and the end groove 18 enable the rod 5 of the arm 2 to be guided and held within the adapter 4. The arm housing 16 enables, for example, the rod 5 to be held in a position inclined with respect to the vertical direction V, and the parallel plane of the rod 5 is inclined with respect to the vertical plane (L, V) of the adapter 4 by an angle between 40° and 60°, such as 45°.

[0037] The adapter 4 also includes a lock button 20 attached to pivot relative to the upper wall 11 between a stationary position that prevents the arm 2 from being pulled out in the longitudinal direction L and an unlocked position that releases the longitudinal movement of the arm 2 (FIG. 2).

[0038] For this purpose, the lock button 20 has an actuating pad 21 on the upper wall 11 side that can be pivoted by the user pressing it to an unlocked position so that the arm 2 can be pulled out, and a blocking member 22 that is integral with the actuating pad 21 and is located on the back side of the upper wall 11.

[0039] The actuating pad 21 has, for example, a parallelepiped shape. The upper part of the actuating pad 21 may extend beyond the contour of the upper wall 11 (Fig. 3C). The actuating pad 21 is connected to the upper wall 11, for example, by a hinge 23 attached to one of the side surfaces of the actuating pad 21 so that the lock button 20 can pivot. The hinge 23 has, for example, a "U" - shaped cross - section extending under the upper wall 11 (Figs. 3A and 3B).

[0040] In the rest position, the blocking member 22 is configured to prevent the longitudinal withdrawal of the arm 2 received within the housing 16 of the arm. For this purpose, the blocking member 22 extends beyond the actuating pad 21 into the housing 16 of the arm on the side opposite the hinge 23 of the actuating pad 21 and enters a blocking volume 19 located between the inlet cage 17 and the end groove 18. The blocking member 22 has, for example, an "L" - shape, one branch of which is integral with the actuating pad 21 and the other branch supports a protruding finger. This other branch is received in a notch 24 of the arm 2 in the rest position.

[0041] The notch 24 of the arm 2 has, for example, a parallelepiped shape that forms a lateral discontinuity on the end face of the arm 2 (Fig. 3D).

[0042] In the rest position, the finger of the blocking member 22 protrudes towards the end of the arm 2 and contacts the lateral surface 25 of the notch 24 on the end - side of the arm 2 of the notch 24 so as to prevent the longitudinal withdrawal of the arm 2.

[0043] The blocking member 22 is configured to release the lock on the longitudinal movement of the arm 2 when in the unlocking position, i.e., when the user presses the actuating pad 21. By pivoting the actuating pad 21, the blocking member 22 moves away from the lateral surface 25 of the notch 24, thereby enabling the arm 2 to be withdrawn longitudinally.

[0044] The adapter 4 further comprises a reinforcing wall 30 in a vertical plane extending below the upper wall 11 to reinforce the rigidity of the adapter 4.

[0045] The adapter 4 also has at least one longitudinal stopper 26 (Figs. 3E and 3F) which is arranged to project into the housing 16 of the arm and cooperate with a complementary surface 27 formed on the end face of the wiper arm 2 so as to prevent the longitudinal insertion of the wiper arm 2 into the housing 16 of the arm.

[0046] The longitudinal stopper 26 is arranged, for example, within a blocking volume 19 of the housing 16 of the arm which is sandwiched between the inlet cage 17 and the end groove 18, and the blocking volume 19 receives the blocking member 22 in the rest position.

[0047] The longitudinal stopper 26 may be formed on a projection 28 of the adapter 4 which projects into the housing 16 of the arm, in particular within the blocking volume 19.

[0048] The projection 28 is arranged, for example, on the back side of the wall of the connector housing 12 which is configured to connect the adapter 4 to the blade 3. This may be the wall of the connector housing 12 provided with a tongue 15 for supporting the cylindrical stud 13. The projection 28 is located, for example, adjacent to the finger of the blocking member 22 longitudinally in the rest position.

[0049] The complementary surface 27 of the arm 2 is formed, for example, on the end face of the rod 5 between the end of the arm 2 and the lateral surface 25 of the notch 24 which cooperates with the finger of the blocking member 22 (Fig. 3D).

[0050] In the first exemplary embodiment from FIGS. 3A to 3F, the longitudinal stopper 26 is formed by a first plane inclined with respect to the transverse plane (V, T). The first inclined plane is, in other words, a transverse plane pivoted about a vertical rotation angle (FIGS. 3E and 3F). The complementary surface 27 supported by the end face of the rod 5 is also formed by an inclined plane (FIG. 3D).

[0051] Furthermore, in the first exemplary embodiment, the inclined plane is provided at the obtuse-angled corner of the protrusion 28 of the adapter 4.

[0052] According to an exemplary embodiment, the corner is formed on the one hand by the longitudinal stopper 26 and on the other hand by a second plane 29 inclined with respect to the vertical plane (V, L). The second inclined plane 29 is, in other words, a vertical plane pivoted about a longitudinal rotation angle. This second inclined plane 29 makes it possible to guide the rod 5 to an inclined position with respect to the vertical.

[0053] The obtuse angle is between 110° and 160°, for example between 125° and 145°.

[0054] The longitudinal stopper 26 of the adapter 4 provides a limitation to the translational movement of the rod 5 of the wiper arm 2 by pressure during the insertion of the arm 2 into the adapter 4 in order to ensure the integrity of the adapter 4. When the insertion of the arm 2 into the adapter 4 is fixed by the cooperation between the longitudinal stopper 26 of the adapter 4 and the complementary surface 27 of the arm 2, the user can lock the stop of the arm 2 without the risk of damage by the blocking member 22. In this way, the adapter 4 provides an effective and reliable locking of the arm 2 by relatively simple means.

[0055] FIGS. 4A, 4B and 4C show a second exemplary embodiment.

[0056] This example is different from the previous example in that in this example the first inclined plane is provided at the acute-angled corner of the protrusion 28 of the adapter 4.

[0057] The corner can also be formed, on the one hand, by the longitudinal stopper 26 and, on the other hand, by a second plane 29 inclined with respect to the vertical planes (V, L), i.e., a vertical plane pivoted about the longitudinal rotation angle.

[0058] The acute angle is, for example, between 35° and 55°, or between 20° and 70°.

[0059] The other elements of the wiping device of this second exemplary embodiment are the same as in the case of the first exemplary embodiment.

[0060] In the third exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 5A, 5B and 5C, the longitudinal stopper 26 is formed by the lateral flat walls (T, V) (FIGS. 5A and 5C). The complementary surface 27 supported by the end face of the rod 5 is also formed by the lateral flat walls (T, V) (FIG. 5B).

[0061] The lateral flat walls (T, V) can be provided at the right-angled corners of the projections 28 of the adapter 4. The corner can be formed, on the one hand, by the longitudinal stopper 26 and, on the other hand, by a second plane 29 inclined with respect to the vertical planes (V, L).

[0062] The other elements of the wiping device of this second exemplary embodiment are the same as in the case of the above-described exemplary embodiment.

Claims

1. An adapter (4) for a wiper blade (3) configured to be assembled to a wiper arm (2), comprising: an arm through-housing (16) configured to receive an end of the wiper arm (2) by sliding in a longitudinal direction (L); a lock button (20) configured to prevent the wiper arm (2) from being pulled out in the longitudinal direction (L) in a stationary position; and having at least one longitudinal stopper (26) disposed within the housing (16) of the arm and protruding therein, the at least one longitudinal stopper (26) being configured to cooperate with a complementary surface (27) formed on an end face of the wiper arm (2) so as to prevent the longitudinal insertion of the wiper arm (2) into the housing (16) of the arm. The adapter (4) is characterized by having the at least one longitudinal stopper (26).

2. The longitudinal stopper (26) is disposed within a blocking volume (19) of the housing (16) of the arm, sandwiched between an inlet cage (17) and an end groove (18) of the housing (16) of the arm, and the blocking volume (19) is configured to receive a blocking member (22) of the lock button (20) in the stationary position. The adapter (4) according to claim 1 is characterized by this.

3. The longitudinal stopper (26) is formed on a protrusion (28) of the adapter (4), which is disposed on the back side of a wall of a connector housing (12) configured to connect the adapter (14) to a connector (8) of the wiper blade (3). The adapter (4) according to any one of claims 1 or 2 is characterized by this.

4. The longitudinal stopper (26) is formed by a laterally flat wall. The adapter (4) according to any one of claims 1 to 3 is characterized by this.

5. The laterally flat wall is provided at a right-angled corner of a protrusion (28) of the adapter (4). The adapter (4) according to claim 4 is characterized by this.

6. The longitudinal stopper (26) is formed by a first plane inclined with respect to a lateral plane (V, T). The adapter (4) according to any one of claims 1 to 3 is characterized by this.

7. The adapter (4) according to claim 6, characterized in that the first inclined surface is provided at an obtuse corner of a protrusion (28) of the housing (16) of the arm.

8. The adapter (4) according to claim 6, characterized in that the first inclined surface is provided at an acute corner of a protrusion (28) of the adapter (4).

9. The adapter (4) according to any one of claims 5 or 7 to 8, characterized in that the corner is formed on one hand by the longitudinal stopper (26) and on the other hand by a second plane (29) inclined with respect to a vertical plane (V, L).

10. In a wiping device (1) comprising a wiper arm (2), in particular a rod arm, and a wiper blade (3), the wiping device (1) comprises an adapter (4) according to any one of claims 1 to 9 for connecting the wiper blade (3) to the end of the wiper arm (2).

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