Windshield wiper blade with a variable profile having a plurality of vertibules

Abstract

The present invention relates to a windshield wiper blade (10) for a motor vehicle, comprising at least one wiping strip (1) intended to come into contact with a glass surface, and a stiffening member (2) comprising at least two butt straps (3) whose ends are connected to each other by longitudinal ends, each butt strap (3) being attached to a connector (4) firmly connected to the stiffening member (2), and a central mounting part (5) hinge-connected to each of the connectors (4), wherein the windshield wiper blade (10) has a variable profile suitable for evenly distributing the clamping pressure over the entire length of the windshield wiper blade (10).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a windshield wiper for vehicles, particularly for automobiles.

Background Art

[0002] A windshield wiper technology called "flat blade" is particularly well-known. The flat blade generally comprises a blade rubber made of an elastomer and held over its entire length. The flat blade is provided with at least one longitudinal spline that can impart rigidity to the blade rubber, improving the crimping of this blade rubber against the glass surface of the automobile. Further, this longitudinal spline bends, and by this bending, a curved shape is imparted to the blade rubber while the blade rubber is kept pressed against the glass surface. In other words, it is the longitudinal spline that causes the blade rubber to have a curvature, thereby dispersing the pressure exerted by the blade on the windshield.

[0003] A windshield wiper is generally driven by a motor and attached to an arm that makes an angled reciprocating motion. The blade rubber is intended to wipe the vehicle window glass by scraping it during such an angled reciprocating motion. Thereby, moisture can be discharged by removing it from the driver's field of view.

[0004] However, the flat blade has the drawback that it cannot properly wipe the windshield, particularly because the force is not evenly distributed along the windshield wiper.

[0005] This drawback becomes more serious particularly in windshields with a large variation in the radius of curvature, such as those of trucks or complex windshields / panoramic windshields for vehicles provided with a single monoblade (arranged at the Y0 position of the vehicle). Also, this problem becomes prominent in the case of long wipers (>800 mm) provided in, for example, buses.

[0006] Specifically, in these examples, there are limitations to the structure of such windshield wipers where the spline is defined according to the compromise of the entire zone to be wiped. Such a compromise results in a lack of local effectiveness and / or excessive local pressure due to the bulges at the ends.

[0007] Also, when the length of the windshield wiper is considerable, the latter can pose a problem in terms of mechanical strength, particularly the resistance to lateral impacts amplified at the spline / connector connection due to the length of the wiper.

[0008] The present invention aims to overcome these drawbacks, in particular, by providing an automotive windshield wiper with a variable profile. That is, the shape of the windshield wiper has a structural profile that brings a variable pressure profile to the spline. As a result, the contact of the blade rubber with the windshield becomes uniform, and the pressure exerted by the blade rubber on the windshield is evenly distributed when the blade rubber is pressed against the windshield.

Summary of the Invention

[0009] As a result, the subject matter of the present invention is at least one blade rubber intended to contact the glass surface, a stiffening member comprising at least two splines having longitudinal ends arranged opposite to each other, each spline being attached to a connector fixed to the stiffening member, a central mounting part articulated to each of the connectors, in an automotive windshield wiper, wherein the windshield wiper has a variable profile capable of evenly distributing the application pressure (contact pressure, pressing pressure) over the entire length of the windshield wiper. Regarding windshield wipers.

[0010] Such a windshield wiper can better locally cope with variations in the shape of the windshield by transmitting the force exerted by the arm over the entire length of the windshield wiper, and can reduce / avoid insufficient pressure or excessive pressure at the end of the wiper, thus exhibiting better performance and enabling a uniform wiping quality across the entire glass surface regardless of variations in the curvature of the windshield.

[0011] According to various features of the present invention employed alone or in combination, the following can be provided. - The central mounting portion includes a pivotal connection portion intended to be connected to the drive arm, and the pivotal connection portion is disposed on the central mounting portion at a position offset from the center in the longitudinal direction. - At least one connector is disposed on the spline at a position offset from the center. - At least one spline has at least one geometric feature different from other splines. - The geometric feature is selected alone or in combination from the following geometric shapes, lengths, cross-sections, and radii of curvature. - At least one spline is composed of a material different from other splines. - At least one spline is asymmetric, and the curvature at the end of the wiper can be emphasized. - The asymmetric spline · has a geometric shape different from other parts of the spline, and / or · has a cross-section different from other parts of the spline, and / or · has a radius of curvature different from other parts of the spline and has a portion with such characteristics. - The supplementary rigid member is a single-piece body that extends substantially throughout the length of the blade rubber and forms a single-piece body that functions to support the spline. Specifically, the stiffening member longitudinally connects splines aligned on a single longitudinal axis of the windshield wiper. Thus, the stiffening member ensures a mechanically continuous spline, thereby ensuring a continuous curvature of the stiffening member along the windshield wiper, including its central longitudinal zone or between two splines.

[0012] With this configuration, it is possible to ensure a spline that better conforms to the windshield without providing a radius of curvature between these splines, especially for splines having different structures that are asymmetric in the sub-wipers. Also, the stiffening member can integrally hold the splines along their length without the need for a connecting element between the two sub-wipers. - The stiffening member has a groove for slidably mounting the spline. - The stiffening member has a holding element for attaching the blade rubber. - The stiffening member has at least one deflector attached to the upper part of the stiffening member to surround the spline. - The said stiffening member has at least three deflectors surrounding the spline over the entire length of the stiffening member, namely two side deflectors and one intermediate deflector. - The intermediate deflector has a different shape from the side deflectors. - The intermediate deflector interacts with the stiffening member so as to form a connection between the upper blade half and the lower blade half. - The windshield wiper is 〇 A spraying device configured to spray a cleaning fluid onto the glass surface, the spraying device having a spraying orifice, and 〇 A cleaning fluid distribution device for distributing the cleaning fluid to the spraying device. It further includes.

[0013] The present invention will be better understood by reading the following description given purely by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0014]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4A

Figure 4B

Figure 4C

Figure 5

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] First, the drawings show the present invention in detail for implementing the present invention. However, it should be noted that, of course, the drawings can play a role in more clearly defining the present invention as necessary. It should be noted, however, that these drawings only show a part of the variations of the possible embodiments according to the present invention.

[0016] In the following description, the terms "longitudinal (longitudinal direction)" or "lateral (lateral direction)" are based on the windshield wiper. The longitudinal direction corresponds to the main axis along which the windshield wiper extends. Also, the lateral orientation corresponds to a simultaneous straight line, i.e., a straight line intersecting the longitudinal direction, particularly a straight line perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the windshield wiper in the plane in which the windshield wiper rotates. Regarding the longitudinal direction, the terms "outer (outward)" or "inner (inward)" are defined with respect to the attachment point where the windshield wiper is attached to the drive arm. The term "inner (inward)" corresponds to the portion where the arm and the wiper half extend.

[0017] Finally, the directions called "upper (upward)" or "lower (downward)" correspond to an orientation perpendicular to the rotation plane of the windshield wiper. The term "lower (downward)" includes the plane of the windshield. If necessary, the term "inner" or "inward" may refer to the interior of the part opposite the outside of the part, or the inner / inward side of the part. Thereby, for example, the visible features or outer features of the part, or the outer / outward side of the part, can be described.

[0018] FIG. 1 shows a flat-type windshield wiper 10 for an automobile. In this exemplary embodiment, the windshield wiper 10 includes a blade rubber 1 intended to contact the glass surface, and a stiffening member 2 having at least two splines 3 (shown in FIG. 2) with longitudinal ends arranged opposite to each other. The splines (spline, elongated member) 3 are configured to gradually increase the curvature of the blade rubber 1. Each spline 3 is attached to a connector 4 fixed to the stiffening member 2.

[0019] In addition, the windshield wiper 10 includes a central mounting portion 5 that is articulated to each of the connectors 4. Due to the connection by articulation, the central mounting portion 5 can rotate with respect to the connector 4 in a plane perpendicular to the rotation plane of the windshield wiper 10. Since the central mounting portions 5 are articulated to at least two connectors 4 spaced apart from each other, the pressure exerted from the drive arm is dispersed along the blade rubber 1 via the connectors 4 and the auxiliary stiffening members 2 (even when in the center).

[0020] The central mounting portion 5 has a pivot connection portion 8 that is intended to be attached to a drive arm 9 fabricated to perform an angular reciprocating motion by a motor. As a result, the wiper blade 1 is driven by this angular reciprocating motion to wipe the glass surface of the vehicle, particularly by scraping. In this way, moisture is discharged by being removed from the glass surface and thus from the driver's field of vision.

[0021] The auxiliary stiffening member 2 is a component of the windshield wiper, which ensures that the blade rubber 1 follows the curvature of the glass surface such as the windshield of an automobile. By each of the splines 3, the pressure between the blade rubber 1 and the windshield is dispersed in different manners over the length of the blade rubber 1, promoting its application to the entire glass surface.

[0022] According to the present invention, the windshield wiper 10 has a variable, for example, asymmetric profile that can uniformly disperse the application pressure (contact pressure, pressing pressure) over the entire length of the windshield wiper 10. That is, due to its shape, when the blade rubber 1 is pressed against the windshield, the pressure exerted from the blade rubber 1 to the windshield can be uniformly dispersed.

[0023] Various possible alternatives for obtaining such a variable profile will be described below.

[0024] According to the first alternative example (FIG. 4A), the variability of the pressure profile is obtained by arranging the pivot connection portion 8 of the central mounting portion 5 at a position offset from the center. Specifically, while enabling the transmission of the pressure exerted from the arm 9 to the windshield wiper 10, by arranging the pivot connection portion 8 at a position offset from the center, the length C1 between the pivot connection portion 8 and the first end portion of the central mounting portion 5 is different from the length C2 between the pivot connection portion 8 and the second end portion of the central mounting portion 5. In this way, the pressure is unevenly distributed across the wiper. The pressure exerted on the shortest part of the wiper is greater than the pressure exerted on the longest part of the wiper. Finally, the pressure exerted from the wiper on the windshield has a variable profile, for example, an asymmetric profile. According to this option, as shown in FIG. 5, the length D1 between the pivot connection portion 8 and the first end portion of the wiper (the first wiper half) may be different from the length D2 between the pivot connection portion 8 and the second end portion of the wiper (the second wiper half).

[0025] In this way, by changing the lengths of the wiper halves (and thus the position of the pivot connection portion 8), the respective pressures exerted from each of the two wiper halves are changed.

[0026] Arranging the pivot connection portion 8 of the central mounting portion 5 at a position offset from the center is merely an alternative example. Of course, this pivot connection portion 8 may be arranged at the center in the central mounting portion 5. In this case, another alternative example for obtaining a variable profile is implemented.

[0027] According to the second alternative example (FIG. 4B), the variability of the pressure profile is obtained by arranging the connector on the spline at a position offset from the center.

[0028] Each connector 4 is fixed to the stiffening member 2. By having at least two connectors 4, the force F exerted from the drive arm on the central mounting portion 5 can be dispersed. The two connectors 4 each transmit a part of the force F exerted from the drive arm on the blade rubber 1, particularly via the stiffening member 2 and each spline 3. Generally, each connector 4 is arranged centrally, or substantially centrally, in the longitudinal direction of the spline 3 to which it is attached. In this case, half of the force F is transmitted to the longitudinal center of each of the splines 3 of the stiffening member 2. Thus, by dispersing the pressure exerted from the drive arm connected to the central mounting portion 5 across these two connectors 4, this pressure can be uniformly dispersed via the stiffening member 2 along the spline 3 and then along the blade rubber 1. Specifically, due to the curvature of the blade rubber 1 and the fact that the central mounting portion 5 is articulated to at least two connectors 4 spaced apart from each other, the pressure exerted from the drive arm is uniformly dispersed along the blade rubber 1 via the connector 4 and the stiffening member 2.

[0029] However, by arranging the connector 4 on one spline 3 at a position offset from the center, the length L1 (L3 in FIG. 4B) between the connector 4 and the first end of the spline 3 is different from the length L2 (L4 in FIG. 4B) between the connector 4 and the second end of the spline 3. For this reason, the pressure exerted from the shortest part of the spline is greater than the pressure exerted from the longest part of the spline. Ultimately, the pressure exerted from the wiper on the windshield has a variable profile, for example an asymmetric profile.

[0030] According to the third alternative example (FIG. 4C), the variability of the pressure profile can be obtained by using splines having different geometric features or composed of different materials. For example, at least one spline can · have different geometric features and / or · have different lengths (see FIG. 4C, L1 + L2 is different from L3 + L4) and / or · may have different cross-sections and / or · may have different radii of curvature and / or · may be composed of different materials.

[0031] The spline 3 is made of a material that stiffens the blade rubber 1 and transfers the pressure exerted from the arm to the distributed pressure applied from the blade rubber to the windshield glass. This material is, for example, metal. According to an example of a modification of this embodiment, at least one spline is made of a material different from that of the other splines so that the local pressure applied from the blade rubber 1 to the windshield glass is further improved.

[0032] The spline 3 of the stiffening member 2 has a radius of curvature (RC) for providing the blade rubber 1 with a shape adapted to the shape of the windshield glass. According to an example of a modification of this embodiment, at least one spline has a radius of curvature different from that of the other splines so that the local pressure applied from the blade rubber 1 to the windshield glass is further improved.

[0033] According to an example of a modification of this embodiment, at least one spline has a length different from that of the other splines so that the local pressure applied from the blade rubber 1 to the windshield glass is further improved.

[0034] The presence of a plurality of splines 3 having different characteristics such as shape, cross-section, length, radius of curvature, and material enables constraints to be imposed on the shape of the blade rubber 1 over its entire length for the purpose of improving the scraping and wiping of the windshield glass, and a certain force can be applied to the blade rubber 1.

[0035] According to a fourth alternative example (not shown), the variability of the pressure profile is obtained by the presence of at least one spline having an asymmetric profile. In this way, the asymmetric spline exerts pressure on the blade rubber 1 according to the asymmetric profile.

[0036] For example, the radius of curvature of a spline can be different on one side and the other side. A part of the spline, for example, one half-spline has a predetermined radius of curvature, and another part (the other half-spline) has a different radius of curvature. Naturally, the asymmetry of the spline can be obtained from various modifications. For example, at least one spline portion may · have a different geometric shape from another part of the spline, and / or, · have a different cross-section from another part of the spline, and / or, · have a different radius of curvature from another part of the spline.

[0037] It is clear to those skilled in the art that since the four embodiment modifications can be combined with each other, the four alternatives regarding the variability of the above-described pressure profile can be adopted alone or in combination.

[0038] For example, FIG. 5 shows the following windshield wiper. · D1≠D2. Since the pivot connection portion 8 is arranged at a position deviated from the center, the two blade halves have different lengths D1 and D2. · L1≠L2. Since the connector of the first spline is arranged at a position deviated from the center, the two spline halves have different lengths L1 and L2. · RC1≠RC2. The two spline halves of the first spline have different radii of curvature RC1 and RC2. · L3≠L4. Since the connector of the second spline is arranged at a position deviated from the center, the two spline halves have different lengths L3 and L4. · RC3≠RC4. The two spline halves of the second spline have different radii of curvature RC3 and RC4. · L1+L2≠L3+L4. The first spline with length L1+L2 has a different length from the second spline with length L3+L4.

[0039] According to a specific embodiment, as shown in the drawings, the stiffening member 2 is a single-piece body that extends substantially along the entire length of the blade rubber 1 and forms a single-piece body that functions to support the spline 3. With such a stiffening member 2, the pressure applied from the arm to various parts of the wiper 10 can be integrally dispersed according to the curvature of the windshield glass intended to be scraped by the blade rubber 1.

[0040] According to one exemplary embodiment, the single-piece body is composed of plastic, preferably flexible plastic.

[0041] Since the stiffening member 2 can support splines of various lengths, various cross-sections, various shapes, various radii of curvature, and various materials in a single structure, the shape of the single-piece body, and thus the shape of the blade rubber 1, can be optimized.

[0042] The stiffening member 2 has a lower part intended to face the windshield glass and an upper part opposite to the lower part. The lower part of the stiffening member 2 has a holding element for attaching the blade rubber 1. More specifically, the blade rubber 1 is preferably made of an elastomer and is held by the stiffening member 2 over its entire length. As shown in FIG. 3 showing an example of a windshield wiper and three cross-sections, the stiffening member 2 has claws for clamping the blade rubber 1 or channels in which the blade rubber 1 slides.

[0043] The upper part of the stiffening member 2 has a portion intended to receive the spline 3. The stiffening member 2 disperses the contact force exerted from the drive arm along the entire blade rubber 1. As shown in the cross-section of FIG. 3, the upper part of the stiffening member 2 has a groove for slidably mounting the spline 3.

[0044] According to one embodiment, the stiffening member 2 has at least one deflector 6 that surrounds the spline 3 by being attached to the upper part of the stiffening member 2. The deflector 6 can assist in pressing the wiper 10 against the windshield glass using the air flow.

[0045] According to one embodiment variant shown in particular in FIG. 3, the stiffening member 2 has at least three deflectors that surround the spline 3 over the entire length of the stiffening member 2, namely two side deflectors 6a and 6c and one intermediate deflector 6b. With this configuration, the aerodynamic shape of the deflector can be adapted according to the curvature of the spline 3 and the presence of the mounting part 5.

[0046] Thus, according to one example, the intermediate deflector 6b has a different shape from the side deflectors 6a, 6c (FIG. 3).

[0047] According to one embodiment variant, the intermediate deflector 6b interacts with the stiffening member 2 so as to form the connection between the upper blade half and the lower blade half.

[0048] Furthermore, FIG. 1 shows that two caps 7 are arranged on the stiffening member 2 at the longitudinal ends of the windshield wiper 10. These two caps 7 have a shape over their entire length. The shape is substantially the same as that of the side deflectors 6a and 6c, but there is no window on the upper surface. Each cap 7 can integrally cover the longitudinal ends of the windshield wiper 10, more specifically, the longitudinal ends of the stiffening member 2 and the longitudinal ends of the side deflectors 6a and 6c.

[0049] According to one embodiment (not shown), the stiffening member 2 comprises four splines 3 that are paired and aligned on a single longitudinal axis, with the splines 3 arranged in pairs adjacent to each other. In other words, two of the splines 3 have longitudinal ends arranged opposite to each other, and the other two splines are arranged adjacent to each other and parallel. "Adjacent" is understood to mean that the centers of two adjacent splines are aligned on a single transverse axis. In this way, the stiffening member 2 comprises four splines 3, namely splines 3 that are parallel to each other and splines 3 that are aligned on a single longitudinal axis.

[0050] According to one embodiment, the windshield wiper 10 is - a spraying device configured to spray a cleaning fluid onto the glass surface, the spraying device including a spraying orifice, and - a cleaning fluid distribution device for distributing the cleaning fluid to the spraying device. The windshield wiper 10 further includes these components.

[0051] The present invention is not limited to the presented embodiments, and further embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

[0052] 1: Blade rubber 2: Reinforcing member 3: Spline 4: Connector fixed to the reinforcing member 2 5: Central mounting portion that is pivotally joined to each of the connectors 4 6: Deflector of the reinforcing member 2 6a, 6c; Side deflectors 6c: Intermediate deflector 7: Cap of the windshield wiper 10 8: Pivoting connection portion of the central mounting portion 5, which is intended to connect the drive arm 9 and the central mounting portion 5 9: Drive arm for a wiper system having the windshield wiper 10 10: Windshield wiper

Claims

1. At least one blade rubber (1) intended to contact the glass surface, and A stiffening member (2) comprising at least two splines (3) having longitudinal ends arranged opposite to each other, each spline (3) being attached to a connector (4) fixed to the stiffening member (2), the stiffening member (2); A central mounting portion (5) articulated to each of the connectors (4), and In a windshield wiper (10) for an automobile comprising, The windshield wiper (10) has a variable profile capable of uniformly distributing the application pressure over the entire length of the windshield wiper (10). A windshield wiper (10), characterized in that.

2. The central mounting portion (5) comprises a pivotal connection portion (8) intended to be connected to a drive arm (9), and the pivotal connection portion (8) is arranged on the central mounting portion (5) at a position offset from the center in the longitudinal direction. The windshield wiper (10) according to claim 1.

3. At least one connector (4) is arranged on the spline (3) at a position offset from the center. The windshield wiper (10) according to claim 1 or 2.

4. At least one spline (3) has geometric features different from at least one other spline. The windshield wiper (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. The geometric features are selected singly or in combination from among geometric shape, length, cross-section, and radius of curvature. The windshield wiper (10) according to claim 4.

6. At least one spline (3) is composed of a material different from that of the other splines. The windshield wiper (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. At least one spline (3) is asymmetric. The windshield wiper (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. The asymmetric spline (3) is · A geometric shape different from other parts of the spline, and / or · A cross-section different from other parts of the spline, and / or · A radius of curvature different from other parts of the spline, Having a part with The windshield wiper (10) according to claim 7.

9. The supplementary rigid member (2) is a single-piece body that extends substantially throughout the length of the blade rubber (1) and forms a single-piece body that functions to support the spline (3). The windshield wiper (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. The supplementary rigid member (2) has at least three deflectors that surround the spline (3) over the entire length of the supplementary rigid member (2), namely two side deflectors (6a, 6c) and one intermediate deflector (6b). The windshield wiper (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

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