Adapter for windshield wiper and wiping device

Abstract

An adapter (4) for a windshield wiper (3), configured to be able to assemble a windshield wiper (3) to a wiper arm (2) in which a lateral leading face (31) of a blocking finger (22), contiguous to the lateral end surface (30) and configured to come into contact first with the wiper arm (2) upon insertion of the wiper arm (2) into a blocking volume (19), has a ramp shape, inclined with respect to the lateral end surface (30), such that the locking button (20) is made to pivot as the wiper arm (2) passes into the blocking volume (19), freeing the passage for the insertion of the wiper arm (2) into the end channel (18).

Description

Wiper blade adapter and wiping device Technical field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a wiper blade adapter configured to be able to assemble a wiper blade to a vehicle wiper arm. The invention also relates to a wiping device comprising a wiper arm and a wiper blade connected to said arm by means of said 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, an adapter is arranged between the wiper arm and a connector of the blade.

[0003] There are different types of arms, such as hook arms, lateral pivot arms, longitudinal clip arms, rod arms, etc.

[0004] An adapter is thus specifically configured to cooperate with a rod arm. Rod arms are flat and have the advantage of having a small footprint due to their low thickness.

[0005] During assembly of the wiper arm with the adapter, the rod arm is slidably inserted into a housing of the adapter. In use, the withdrawal of the arm in longitudinal movement is prevented in a locking zone of the adapter due to the release of a locking button whose locking finger engages in a dedicated lateral cutout of the arm.

[0006] In some adapters, the housing into which the arm fits has first and second grooves, aligned and spaced from each other.

[0007] A disadvantage is that it may happen that after passing through the first gutter, the arm is deflected from its path by the locking finger with which it comes into contact from the rear. The wiper arm and the locking finger then repel each other in opposite transverse directions, the locking finger bearing against the cage of a connector housing of the adapter. The wiper arm is then pushed outward from the second gutter and this misalignment of the arm can cause assembly difficulties, the arm coming into abutment against the second gutter.

[0008] One of the aims of the present invention is to propose an adapter which at least partially resolves a drawback of the prior art.

[0009] For this purpose, the invention relates to a wiper blade adapter configured to be able to assemble a wiper blade to a wiper arm, the adapter comprising: - an arm housing comprising an inlet cage and an end gutter aligned and spaced apart by a locking volume, the arm housing being configured to receive one end of the wiper arm sliding in a longitudinal direction, and - a pivoting locking button having a locking finger configured to engage in a notch of the wiper arm in the locked position, a longitudinal end of the locking finger bearing against a transverse face of the notch to prevent withdrawal of the wiper arm in the longitudinal direction and a lateral end surface of the locking finger bearing against an edge of the notch of the wiper arm, characterized in that a lateral leading face of the locking finger,contiguous to the lateral end surface and configured to first come into contact with the wiper arm upon insertion of the wiper arm into the locking volume, has a ramp shape, inclined relative to the lateral end surface, so as to cause the locking button to pivot as the wiper arm passes through the locking volume, freeing the passage for insertion of the wiper arm into the end gutter.,

[0010] It is understood that the arm housing extends in a longitudinal direction.

[0011] For example, the adapter extends in a longitudinal direction.

[0012] When inserting the arm into the blocking volume interposed between the inlet cage and the end gutter, the blocking finger comes into contact with the arm at the lateral attack face and the ramp shape of the lateral attack face generates progressive and continuous contact with the arm as the arm passes, causing the lifting and pivoting of the blocking finger for example around the longitudinal direction. The arm can then continue to advance in the arm housing without obstacle. The blocking finger thus “chamfered” allows insertion of the arm with less effort and resistance, the blocking finger not deviating the trajectory of the arm which can enter without difficulty of alignment in the end gutter.

[0013] Once the arm is inserted as far as it will go, the locking finger returns to its initial rest position, ensuring that the wiper arm is locked in the adapter and that any play is taken up due to its elasticity by wedging the arm in the longitudinal direction, and in a transverse direction, perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. Indeed, in the locked position the locking finger exerts a stress on the arm so as to press it against an external lateral edge of the arm housing, thus allowing play to be taken up.

[0014] The adapter may further include one or more of the features described below, either alone or in combination.

[0015] The slope of the ramp is for example between 5° and 20°.

[0016] The slope can be constant or variable.

[0017] In the case of a variable slope ramp, the slope may decrease in the direction of advance of the arm.

[0018] For example, the side leading face and the side end surface meet with a chamfered transverse edge.

[0019] For example, the lateral attack face is inclined relative to the lateral end surface in a first direction so as not to prevent the arm from advancing into the arm housing. In particular, this allows the arm not to encounter a stop on its passage.

[0020] For example, the lateral leading face is inclined relative to the lateral end surface in a second direction so as to allow the locking finger to pivot about the longitudinal direction, and thus allow the locking finger to be released from the passage of the arm.

[0021] For example, the first and second directions are inclined relative to each other.

[0022] For example, the first and second directions are intersecting.

[0023] For example, a normal to the side leading face and a normal to the side end surface are inclined to each other in all planes.

[0024] For example, the locking finger is configured to pivot about the longitudinal direction.

[0025] For example, the lock knob is configured to pivot around the longitudinal direction.

[0026] The arm housing may include a longitudinal stop arranged protruding into the locking volume and configured to cooperate with the wiper arm to block the longitudinal insertion of the wiper arm into the arm housing.

[0027] The adapter may include a connector housing configured to cooperate with a connector of the wiper blade, the locking finger framing two mutually perpendicular walls of the connector housing.

[0028] The internal sides of the inlet cage and the end gutter of the arm housing have, for example, a respective rounded “U” shape complementary to a rounded edge of the wiper arm.

[0029] The internal sides of the inlet cage and end gutter may also have internal longitudinal ribs.

[0030] The arm housing can be configured to hold the wiper arm in an angled position.

[0031] The invention also relates to a wiping device comprising a windscreen wiper arm, in particular a rod arm, and a windscreen wiper blade characterized in that it comprises an adapter as described previously for connecting the windscreen wiper blade to the end of the windscreen wiper arm. Brief description of the figures

[0032] 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:

[0033] This is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a wiping device.

[0034] This is a perspective view of an adapter connected to a rod of the wiper arm of the wiper device of the.

[0035] Lamontre shows a side view of the elements of the.

[0036] Shows a view of one end of the wiper arm rod.

[0037] Shows a bottom view of the adapter.

[0038] Shows another bottom view of the adapter.

[0039] Shows a perspective view of an intermediate step of inserting the wiper arm rod into the adapter.

[0040] Show the wiper arm rod in the locked position in the adapter.

[0041] In these figures, identical elements have the same reference numbers. Detailed description

[0042] 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.

[0043] In the remainder of the description, the longitudinal, vertical and transverse directions indicated in particular on the trihedron (L, T, V) fixed relative to the adapter will be adopted without limitation. The longitudinal direction L corresponds to the main direction of the adapter. The vertical V and transverse T directions are perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L and perpendicular to each other.

[0044] Lamontre shows an example of a wiping device 1.

[0045] The wiping device 1 comprises a windscreen wiper arm 2 intended to be connected to a motorized wiping mechanism of a vehicle and one end of which is connected to a windscreen wiper blade 3 by means of an adapter 4, to ensure the cleaning of a glazed surface of the vehicle, for example a windscreen.

[0046] The arm 2 is of the rod arm type, it comprises a rod connected to a base of the arm 2, itself intended to be connected to the motorized mechanism. The rod extends from one end connected to the base to one end cooperating with the adapter 4 for connection to the wiper 3. The term “rod” is understood to mean a solid element whose end extends in the longitudinal direction L.

[0047] As best seen in the figure, the rod of arm 2 is "flat", that is to say it has two flat and parallel faces. The section of the rod is for example rectangular with rounded edges outside a locking zone.

[0048] As more particularly visible in the, the adapter 4 extends mainly along the longitudinal direction L of the end of the rod of the arm 2. It comprises an upper wall 11 having for example a smooth and curved profile, this wall being the one visible when the wiping device 1 is mounted on a vehicle.

[0049] On the back of this upper wall 11, and as visible on the, the adapter 4 comprises elements allowing on the one hand, to lock the arm 2 to the adapter 4 and on the other hand, to assemble the wiper blade 3 to the wiper arm 2 in an articulated manner.

[0050] To connect the adapter 4 to the wiper blade 3, the adapter 4 comprises rotation members complementary to a connector 8 of the wiper blade 3. The connector 8 is an element of the blade 3 surmounting a wiping blade 10 of the blade 3 in its middle (). The rotation between the adapter 4 and the connector 8 is carried out around an axis of rotation parallel to the transverse direction T.

[0051] In this example, the adapter 4 comprises a connector housing 12, having for example four walls forming a parallelepiped shape, the connector housing 12 being configured to cooperate with the connector 8 of the windscreen wiper blade 3.

[0052] According to an exemplary embodiment of the rotation members of the adapter 4, the adapter 4 comprises on the one hand a cylindrical stud 13 () configured to cooperate with a circular orifice of the connector 8, and on the other hand a circular hole 14 intended to cooperate with a cylindrical stud of the connector 8. The cylindrical stud 13 and the circular hole 14 are for example formed in parallel and opposite walls of the connector housing 12 (figures 5 and 6). The cylindrical stud 13 can be formed in an elastically deformable tab 15 provided in a wall of the connector housing 12 to allow the adapter 4 to be mounted on the connector 8.

[0053] To receive the end of the arm 2 connecting the arm 2 to the adapter 4, the adapter 4 has an arm housing 16, also located on the back of the upper wall 11.

[0054] The housing of the arm 16 is transverse in the longitudinal direction L and is configured to receive one end of the wiper arm 2 sliding in a longitudinal direction L, in particular the rod.

[0055] The housing of the arm 16 comprises an inlet cage 17 and an end gutter 18 aligned in the longitudinal direction L of the arm 2. The inlet cage 17 and the end gutter 18 are arranged at a distance from each other so that the rod of the arm 2 can be received in the inlet cage 17 and the end gutter 18 by passing through a blocking volume 19 interposed between the two.

[0056] The inlet cage 17 and the end gutter 18 are through-shaped. The inlet cage 17 is for example longer in the longitudinal direction than the end gutter 18 which receives the end of the arm 2. The cross sections (V, T) of the inlet cage 17 and the end gutter 18 may be the same. During assembly, the arm 2 slides first in the inlet cage 17, then in the end gutter 18.

[0057] The internal flanks of the inlet cage 17 and of the end gutter 18 of the arm housing 16 have, for example, a respective rounded “U” shape complementary to a rounded edge of the arm rod 2, allowing the arm 2 to be guided in sliding in the arm housing 16. The internal flanks of the inlet cage 17 and of the end gutter 18 may also have internal longitudinal ribs 29.

[0058] Furthermore, in this example, the housing of the arm 16 is configured to hold the wiper arm 2 in an inclined position, in particular relative to the vertical direction V, the parallel faces of the rod being inclined at an angle, for example, between 40° and 60°, such as 45° with the vertical plane (L, V) of the adapter 4 ().

[0059] The adapter 4 also comprises a locking button 20 pivotally mounted relative to the upper wall 11 between a locked position in which the locking button 20 in the rest position blocks the withdrawal of the arm 2 in the longitudinal direction L () and an unlocking position in which it unlocks the longitudinal movement of the arm 2.

[0060] The locking button 20 has for this purpose an activation pad 21 on the side of the upper wall 11, on which a user can press to pivot the locking button 20 into the unlocking position in order to be able to remove the arm 2 (). The locking button 20 also has a locking finger 22 secured to the activation pad 21 and located on the back of the latter ().

[0061] According to an exemplary embodiment, the activation pad 21 is connected to the upper wall 11 by a hinge 23 formed on one of the sides of the activation pad 21 and allowing the locking button 20 to pivot around a longitudinal axis L. The hinge 23 has, for example, a “U”-shaped cross-section extending under the upper wall 11.

[0062] The locking finger 22 extends beyond the activation pad 21 into the housing of the arm 16, for example parallel to and opposite the hinge 23 of the activation pad 21, in the locking volume 19 located between the input cage 17 and the end gutter 18. The locking finger 22 has, for example, an “L” shape, one branch of which is secured to the activation pad 21 and the other branch has a projecting end. According to an exemplary embodiment, the locking finger 22 frames two mutually perpendicular walls of the connector housing 12 ().

[0063] The locking finger 22 is configured to engage in a notch 24 of the arm 2 () in the locked position of the adapter 4. The notch 24 of the arm 2 has, for example, a parallelepiped shape forming a lateral recess in an edge of the arm 2.

[0064] In the locked position of the adapter 4, the locking finger 22 blocks the longitudinal withdrawal of the arm 2 received in the housing of the arm 16 ().

[0065] More precisely, in the locked position, a longitudinal end of the locking finger 22 engaged in the notch 24 at the level of the locking volume 19 bears against a transverse face 25 of the notch 24, for example flat, located on the side of the end of the arm 2, to prevent the withdrawal of the arm 2 in the longitudinal direction L (). Furthermore, a lateral end surface 30 of the locking finger 22, for example flat, bears against an edge of the notch 24 of the wiper arm 2 (and 8).

[0066] A lateral attack face 31 of the locking finger 22 contiguous to the lateral end surface 30 and configured to first come into contact with the wiper arm 2 when the wiper arm 2 is inserted into the locking volume 19, has a ramp shape, inclined relative to the shape of the lateral end surface 30, so as to cause the locking button 20 to pivot when the wiper arm 2 passes into the locking volume 19, freeing the passage for the insertion of the wiper arm 2 into the end gutter 18.

[0067] The slope of the ramp of the lateral attack face 31 is for example between 5° and 20° in the plane (L, T) (). This slope can be constant or variable. In particular in the case of a ramp with a variable slope, the slope can decrease in the direction of advance of the arm 2. Furthermore, the lateral attack face 31 and the lateral end surface 30 preferably meet by a chamfered transverse edge.

[0068] The housing of the arm 16 may further comprise a longitudinal stop 26 arranged projecting into the blocking volume 19 and configured to cooperate with a complementary surface 27 formed in the edge of the wiper arm 2 () to block the longitudinal insertion of the wiper arm 2 into the housing of the arm 16 (). The complementary surface 27 of the arm 2 is formed in the edge of the rod, for example between the end of the arm 2 and the transverse face 25 of the notch 24 cooperating with the blocking finger 22.

[0069] The longitudinal stop 26 may be carried by a protrusion 28 of the adapter 4, for example arranged on the back of a wall of the connector housing 12.

[0070] The longitudinal stop 26 of the adapter 4 creates a limit for the translation of the rod of the arm 2 during the insertion of the arm 2 into the adapter 4 in order to guarantee the integrity of the adapter 4. Once the insertion of the arm 2 into the adapter 4 is wedged by the cooperation of the longitudinal stop 26 of the adapter 4 with the complementary surface 27 of the arm 2, the arm 2 can be locked in position without risk of damage.

[0071] In the locked position, the housing of the arm 16 comprises for example a first support zone on an edge of the arm 2, for example produced in the protuberance 28 and complementary to a flat edge of the rod of the arm 2 (), and two second support zones on the opposite edge, for example respectively formed in internal flanks of the inlet cage 17 and of the end gutter 18 of the arm housing 16, the first and second support zones being arranged so as to come to bear alternately on each edge along the arm 2.

[0072] The first support zone can be arranged in a corner, for example an obtuse or acute or right angle, of the protuberance 28 of the adapter 4, the corner being formed on the one hand by the first support zone and on the other hand by the longitudinal stop 26 of the adapter 4.

[0073] When installing the wiper arm 2 in the adapter 4, the wiper arm 2 is first inserted into the inlet cage 17.

[0074] Then, when inserting the arm 2 into the blocking volume 19 interposed between the inlet cage 17 and the end gutter 18, the blocking finger 22 comes into contact with the arm 2 at the lateral attack face 31 (). The ramp shape of the lateral attack face 31 generates progressive and continuous contact with the arm 2 as the arm 2 passes, the arm 2 causing the lifting and pivoting of the blocking finger 22 (arrow F1 on the) around the longitudinal direction.

[0075] Arm 2 can then continue to advance in arm housing 16 without obstacle (“snowplow effect”) (arrow F2 on the).

[0076] The locking finger 22 thus “chamfered” allows insertion of the arm 2 with less effort and resistance, the locking finger 22 not deflecting the trajectory of the arm 2 which can enter without difficulty of alignment in the end gutter 18.

[0077] Once the arm 2 is inserted in the stop, the locking finger 22 returns to its initial rest position, ensuring the locking of the wiper arm 2 in the adapter 4 and the compensation of the clearances due to its elasticity by wedging the arm 2 in the longitudinal L and transverse T directions ().

[0078] When the user presses the activation pad 21, the pivoting of the activation pad 21 moves the locking finger 22 away from the transverse face 25 of the notch 24, which frees up the possibility of withdrawing the arm 2 in the longitudinal direction.

Claims

Adapter (4) for a wiper blade (3) configured to be able to assemble a wiper blade (3) to a wiper arm (2), the adapter (4) comprising:- an arm housing (16) comprising an inlet cage (17) and an end gutter (18) aligned and spaced apart by a locking volume (19), the arm housing (16) being configured to receive one end of the wiper arm (2) sliding in a longitudinal direction (L), and- a pivoting locking button (20) having a locking finger (22) configured to engage in a notch (24) of the wiper arm (2) in the locked position, a longitudinal end of the locking finger (22) bearing against a transverse face (25) of the notch (24) to prevent the removal of the wiper arm (2) in the longitudinal direction (L) and a lateral end surface (30) of the locking finger (22) coming to bear against an edge of the notch (24) of the wiper arm (2),characterized in that a lateral attack face (31) of the locking finger (22), contiguous to the lateral end surface (30) and configured to first come into contact with the wiper arm (2) when the wiper arm (2) is inserted into the locking volume (19), has a ramp shape, inclined relative to the lateral end surface (30), so as to cause the locking button (20) to pivot when the wiper arm (2) passes into the locking volume (19), freeing the passage for the insertion of the wiper arm (2) into the end gutter (18)., Adapter (4) according to claim 1, characterized in that the slope of the ramp is between 5° and 20°. Adapter (4) according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the lateral attack face and the lateral end surface meet by a chamfered transverse edge. Adapter (4) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lateral attack face is inclined relative to the lateral end surface in a first direction and in a second direction, the first and second directions being inclined relative to each other. Adapter (4) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the locking finger is configured to pivot about the longitudinal direction. Adapter (4) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing of the arm (16) comprises a longitudinal stop (26) arranged projecting into the blocking volume (19) and configured to cooperate with the wiper arm (2) to block the longitudinal insertion of the wiper arm (2) into the housing of the arm (16). Adapter (4) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a connector housing (12) configured to cooperate with a connector (8) of the windshield wiper blade (3), the locking finger (22) framing two mutually perpendicular walls of the connector housing (12). Adapter (4) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the internal sides of the inlet cage (17) and of the end gutter (18) of the arm housing (16) have a respective rounded “U” shape complementary to a rounded edge of the wiper arm (2). Adapter (4) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the arm housing (16) is configured to hold the wiper arm (2) in an inclined position. Wiper device (1) comprising a wiper arm (2), in particular a rod arm, and a wiper blade (3) characterized in that it comprises an adapter (4) according to one of the preceding claims for connecting the wiper blade (3) to the end of the wiper arm (2).

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