NL2035831B1

NL2035831B1 - A windscreen wiper device of the flat blade type

Info

Publication number: NL2035831B1
Application number: NL2035831A
Authority: NL
Inventors: Friscioni Thomas
Original assignee: Trico Belgium S A
Priority date: 2023-09-19
Filing date: 2023-09-19
Publication date: 2025-03-26

Abstract

A windscreen wiper device of the flat blade type comprising an elastic, elongated carrier element, as well as an elongated wiper blade of a flexible material, which can be placed in abutment with a windscreen to be wiped, which wiper blade includes at least one longitudinal groove, in which 5 windscreen to be wiped, which wiper blade includes at least one longitudinal groove, in which groove at least one longitudinal strip of the carrier element is disposed, which windscreen wiper device comprises a connecting device for an oscillating arm, wherein said oscillating arm can be pivotally connected to said connecting device about a pivot axis near a free end thereof, with the interposition of a joint part, wherein said windscreen wiper device comprises a slider engaging around said oscillating arm near said free end thereof, said slider being slidable along the oscillating arm between an operating position, wherein said joint part is secured to said oscillating arm, and an assembly position, wherein said joint part can be released from said oscillating arm, with the special feature that said slider, at the location of its connection to said oscillating arm, has a U-shaped cross-section with a base and two opposite legs each cooperating with a corresponding tion 15 protrusion on the joint part, and wherein any longitudinal movement of said slider in a direction towards said free end of said oscillating arm during use is blocked by said protrusions.

Description

A WINDSCREEN WIPER DEVICE OF THE FLAT BLADE TYPE

The present invention relates to a windscreen wiper device of the flat blade type comprising an elastic, elongated carrier element, as well as an elongated wiper blade of a flexible material, which can be placed in abutment with a windscreen to be wiped, which wiper blade includes at least one longitudinal groove, in which groove at least one longitudinal strip of the carrier element is disposed, which windscreen wiper device comprises a connecting device for an oscillating arm, wherein said oscillating arm can be pivotally connected to said connecting device about a pivot axis near a free end thereof, with the interposition of a joint part, wherein said windscreen wiper device comprises a slider engaging around said oscillating arm near said free end thereof, said slider being slidable along the oscillating arm between an operating position, wherein said joint part is secured to said oscillating arm, and an assembly position, wherein said joint part can be released from said oscillating arm. Said longitudinal strip is also called a “flexor”, while said connecting device is also indicated as a “connector”. The groove may be open or closed.

Preferably, said joint part is also detachably connected to said connecting device.

Preferably, said wiper blade comprises a spoiler at a side thereof facing away from the windscreen to be wiped. The spoiler is also called an "air deflector” and is preferably made in one piece with said wiper blade through extrusion. Said longitudinal groove is preferably a central longitudinal groove accommodating said longitudinal strip. Said connecting device is preferably fixedly connected to the longitudinal strip(s) particularly through a welding, brazing (“soldering”), gluing or clamping operation or with the help of a pin inserted through said connecting device and said longitudinal strip(s). In the alternative or in addition thereto, said connecting device is clamped onto the flexible material of the wiper blade, particularly in case the latter is equipped with a central longitudinal groove for the carrier element. In the alternative or in addition thereto, said connecting device comprises a slit for accommodating said wiper blade and/or said longitudinal strip(s), wherein said slit comprises retention means for retaining said connecting device in place.

In use, said oscillating arm is connected to a mounting head mounted on a drive shaft, wherein said oscillating arm at one end thereof is pivotally connected to the mounting head by means of a pivot pin and at another end thereof is connected to said wiper blade placed in abutment with said windscreen to be wiped. In use, the shaft rotates alternately in a clockwise and in a counter- clockwise sense carrying the mounting head into rotation also, which in turn draws the oscillating arm into rotation and by means of said connecting device moves the wiper blade. Said oscillating arm can thus oscillate to-and-from between first and second reversal positions.

It is noted that the present invention is not restricted to automobiles, but also refers to rail coaches and other (fast) vehicles.

A windscreen wiper device is generally known. This prior art windscreen wiper device is designed as a so-called "flat blade" or "vokeless blade", wherein no use is made of several vokes pivotally connected to each other, but wherein the wiper blade is biased by the carrier element, as a result of which it exhibits a specific curvature. A disadvantage of the known windscreen wiper device is that the interconnection between the slider and the joint part needs to be improved and that mutually different joint parts are needed for left hand drive (LHD) cars versus right hand drive (RHD) cars.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved windscreen wiper device, wherein these disadvantages are obviated. in the sense that at minimum costs - without using complex machinery and additional tools — an aerodynamic, but reliable and controllable interconnection between the slider and the joint part is realized. More in particular, an object of the present invention is to propose an improved windscreen wiper device, wherein a single type joint part can be used for

LHD and RHD cars, without negatively affecting the aerodynamic performances of the arm.

In order to accomplish that objective, a windscreen wiper device of the type referred to in the introduction is characterized according to the invention in that said slider. at the location of its connection to said oscillating arm, has a U-shaped cross-section with a base and two opposite legs each cooperating with a corresponding protrusion on the joint part, and wherein any longitudinal movement of said slider in a direction towards said free end of said oscillating arm during use is blocked by said protrusions. In the operating position, i.e. during use, said protrusions abut said legs. Said joint part is symmetrical along a middle vertical centre plane.

In a preferred embodiment of a windscreen wiper device in accordance with the invention said protrusions are each provided on a resilient tongue of said joint part to allow said protrusions to snap behind said legs of said U-shaped cross-section of said slider, said resilient tongues extending in longitudinal direction away from said free end of said oscillating arm. Hence, said protrusions hook behind said legs of said U-shaped cross-section of said slider. Preferably, said protrusions extend in upward direction from said resilient tongues.

In another preferred embodiment of a windscreen wiper device according to the invention said legs of said U-shaped cross-section of said slider are resilient to allow said protrusions to snap behind said legs of said U-shaped cross-section of said slider.

In another preferred embodiment of a windscreen wiper device in accordance with the invention cach leg of said U-shaped cross-section of said slider comprises an L-shaped arm hooking behind a corresponding wall of said oscillating arm.

In another preferred embodiment of a windscreen wiper device according to the invention said oscillating arm, at the location of its connection to said joint part, has a U-shaped cross-section with a base and two opposite legs, and wherein each leg comprises a recess having an open circumference cooperating with a cam extending laterally outwardly from a corresponding side wall of said joint part. Particularly, said oscillating arm and said joint part are interconnected by moving said cams of said joint part inside said recesses of said legs of said U-shaped cross-section of said oscillating arm in order to block any longitudinal movement of said joint part relative to said oscillating arm towards and away from said free end of said oscillating arm.

In another preferred embodiment of a windscreen wiper device in accordance with the invention said joint part comprises an upwardly extending protrusion engaging into a corresponding shaped hole inside said base of said U-shaped cross-section of said oscillating arm, and wherein said slider comprises a correspondingly shaped recess with an open circumference abutting said upwardly extending protrusion in an operating position of said slider in order to block any longitudinal movement of said joint part relative to said oscillating arm towards and away from said free end of said oscillating arm. Particularly, said joint part and said oscillating arm are interconnected by obliquely introducing said joint part inside said U-shaped cross-section of said oscillating arm, by subsequently pivoting said joint part inside said U-shaped cross-section of said oscillating arm until said upwardly extending protrusion rests inside said hole inside said base of said U-shaped cross-section of said oscillating arm and until said cams of said joint part rest in said recesses in said legs of said U-shaped cross-section of the oscillating arm, and by finally sliding said slider from the assembly position in the operating position.

In another preferred embodiment of a windscreen wiper device according to the invention said joint part comprises laterally inwardly extending protuberances engaging into correspondingly shaped holes of said connecting device along said pivot axis.

The present invention also relates to an oscillating arm arranged to be pivotally connected to a windscreen wiper device of the flat blade type, said oscillating arm comprising a slider engaging around said oscillating arm near a free end thereof, said slider being slidable along the oscillating arm between an operating position, wherein a joint part of said windscreen wiper device is secured to said oscillating arm by protrusions on said joint part cooperating with legs of a U-shaped cross- section of said slider , and an assembly position, wherein said joint part can be released from said oscillating arm.

The present invention also refers to a joint part arranged for pivotally interconnecting a windscreen wiper device of the flat blade type and an oscillating arm about a pivot axis near a free end thereof, using a connecting device and a joint part, wherein said joint part comprises protrusions in the operating position of said slider snapping behind legs of a U-shaped cross-section of said slider.

The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to figures illustrated in a drawing, wherein: - figure 1 is a schematical perspective view of a connecting device for an oscillating arm without a joint part (figure 1a) and with a joint part (figure 1b); - figure 2 is a schematical perspective view of said joint part; - figure 3 is a schematical perspective view of said oscillating arm without a slider (figure 3a), with a slider slidable along the oscillating arm between an operating position (figure 3b) and an assembly position (figure 3c); - figure 4 shows in steps how the joint part of figure 2 is mounted onto the oscillating arm of figure 3 equipped with the slider of figure 3, seen in a schematical side view; - figure 5 corresponds to figure 4, but now shows the joint part connected to the connecting device of figure 1: - figure 6 is a schematical perspective view of the oscillating arm, the joint part and the slider in the operating position (figure 6a), while figure 6b shows a detail thereof, and - figure 7 corresponds to figure 6 with the difference that the slider is in the assembly position; and - figure 8 corresponds to figure Sc, on the understanding that the slider is slid in the operating position.

Figures 1 through 7 refer to a windscreen wiper device of the flat blade type in accordance with the invention, built up of a wiper blade of an elastomer material. in the longitudinal sides of which opposing longitudinal grooves are formed, and of longitudinal strips (“flexors”) made of spring band steel, which are fitted in said longitudinal grooves. Said strips form a flexible carrier element for the wiper blade, as it were, which is thus biased in a curved position (the curvature in operative position being that of a windscreen to be wiped). As shown, the windscreen wiper device is furthermore built up of a elongate connecting device lof plastic material for a windscreen wiper arm 2. Said connecting device cooperates with a joint part 3 being a single constructional element,

wherein said windscreen wiper arm 2 can be pivotally connected to said connecting device 1 about a pivot axis, with the interposition of said joint part 3. With reference to figure 2, said joint part 3 comprises two resilient tongues 4,5 in use extending in longitudinal direction away from a free end of said windscreen wiper arm 2, wherein said resilient tongues 4.5 are each provided with an 5 upwardly extending protrusion 6,7. The function of these protrusions 6,7 will be explained hereunder with the help of figures 4 and 5. Further, said joint part 3 comprises a hook-shaped protrusion 8 extending upwardly from an upper wall 9 thereof, as well as two pairs of cams 10 extending laterally outwardly from opposite side walls 11,12 thereof. The function of these protrusion 8 and cams 10 will be explained hereunder with the help of figures 4 and 5. Referring to figure 3, the windscreen wiper arm 2 comprises a slider 13 engaging around said windscreen wiper arm 2 near a free end thereof. The cap-like slider 13 can be slid along the windscreen wiper arm 2 between an operating position, wherein said joint part 3 is maintained onto said windscreen wiper arm 2 (figure 3b), and an assembly position, wherein said joint part 3 can be released from said windscreen wiper arm 2 (figure 3¢). In the assembly position, the cap-like slider 13 is slid towards the free end of the windscreen wiper anm 2, whereas in the operating position the cap-like slider 13 is slid away from the free end of the windscreen wiper arm 2 (in use towards a mounting head).

The windscreen wiper arm 2, at the location of its connection to said joint part 3, has a U-shaped cross-section with a base 14 and two opposite legs 15,16, wherein each leg 15,16 comprises a pair of recesses 17 having an open circumference cooperating with said cams 10 extending laterally outwardly from said side walls 11,12 of said joint part 3. Further, said windscreen wiper arm 2 comprises a hole 18 in said base 14 cooperating with said protrusion 8 extending upwardly from said upper surface 9 of said joint part 3. This will all be explained further with the help of figures 4 and 5.

With reference to figures 4 and 3, said joint part 3 and said windscreen wiper arm 2 are interconnected with the slider 13 in the assembly position - by obliquely introducing said joint part 3 inside said U-shaped cross-section of said windscreen wiper arm 2 (figures 4a and Sa), - by subsequently pivoting said joint part 3 inside said U-shaped cross-section of said windscreen wiper arm 2 until said upwardly extending protrusion 8 rests inside said hole 18 inside said base 14 of said U-shaped cross-section of said windscreen wiper arm 2 and until said cams 10 of said joint part 3 rest in said recesses 17 in said legs 15,16 of said U- shaped cross-section of the windscreen wiper arm 2 (figures 4b and 5b), and - by sliding said slider 13 from the position shown in figures 4b and 5b in the operating position (figure 8).

Said slider 13 comprises a recess 19 with an open circumference abutting said upwardly extending protrusion § in an operating position of said slider 13 (figures 3b and 8) in order to block any longitudinal movement of said joint part 3 relative to said windscreen wiper arm 2 towards and away from said free end of said windscreen wiper arm. Disassembly is carried out in the opposite order of steps.

As shown in figures 6 and 7, the slider 13 has a U-shaped cross-section with a base 20 and two legs 21,22, at the location of its connection to the windscreen wiper arm 2. Each leg 21.22 of said U- shaped cross-section of said slider 13 comprises an L-shaped arm 23 hooking behind a corresponding leg 15,16 of the U-shaped cross-section of said windscreen wiper arm 2. Upon assembly, when sliding the slider 13 from the assembly position into the operating position, said protrusions 6,7 on the resilient tongues 4.5 of said joint part 3 are to allowed to snap behind said L- shaped arms 23 of said slider 13. The joint part 3 is then secured to the windscreen wiper arm 2, wherein reference is made to figure 6. Figure 7 depicts the situation, wherein the joint part 3 can be released by sliding the slider 13 in the direction of the free end of the windscreen wiper arm 2 by hand with sufficient force.

Figure 8 corresponds to figure 5c, but the slider 13 now being in the operating position. The slider 13 comprises two pairs of wings 24, each pair extending laterally inwardly from legs 21, 22 of the

U-shaped cross-section of the slider 13, as shown in figures 6a and 7a. In the operating position the wings 24 close off the recesses 17, so that the cams 10 are blocked against any movement.

The present invention is not restricted to the embodiment shown, but also extends to other preferred embodiments falling under the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

CONCLUSIONS

1. A windscreen wiper of the “flat blade” type comprising an elastic, elongated support element and an elongated wiper blade of a flexible material, which can be placed in contact with a window to be wiped, which wiper blade comprises at least one elongated groove, in which groove at least one longitudinal strip of the support element is arranged, which windscreen wiper comprises a connecting device (1) for an oscillating arm (2), the oscillating arm (2) being pivotably connectable to the connecting device (1) about a pivot axis near a free end thereof, with a coupling member (3) interposed therebetween, the windscreen wiper comprising a sliding device (13) which can be slid along the oscillating arm (2) between an operating position, in which the coupling member (3) is attached to the oscillating arm (2), and a mounting position, in which the coupling member (3) can be released from the oscillating arm (2), characterised in that the sliding device (13), at the location of its connection to the oscillating arm (2), having a U-shaped cross-section with a base (20) and two opposite legs (21,22) each cooperating with a corresponding projection (6,7) on the coupling part (3), and any longitudinal movement of the sliding device (13) in a direction towards the free end of the oscillating arm (2) during use being blocked by the projections (6,7)

2. A windscreen wiper according to claim 1, wherein the projections (6,7) are each provided on a flexible tongue (4,5) of the coupling member (3) so as to allow the projections (6,7) to snap behind the legs (21,22) of the U-shaped cross-section of the slider (13), the flexible tongues (4,5) extending longitudinally away from the free end of the oscillating arm (2).

3. A windscreen wiper as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the legs (21,22) of the U-shaped cross-section of the slider (13) are flexible to allow the projections (6,7) to snap behind the legs (21,22) of the U-shaped cross-section of the slider (13).

4. A windscreen wiper according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein each leg (21, 22) of the U-shaped cross-section of the slide device (13) comprises an L-shaped arm (23) which hooks behind a corresponding wall (15, 16) of the oscillating arm (2),

5. A windscreen wiper according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the oscillating arm (2), at the location of its connection to the coupling member (3), has a U-shaped cross-section with a base (14) and two opposed legs (15,16), and wherein each leg (15,16) is provided with a recess (17) with an open periphery which cooperates with a cam (10) extending laterally and outwardly from a corresponding side wall (11,12) of the coupling member (3).

6. A windscreen wiper according to claim 5, wherein the oscillating arm (2) and the coupling member (3) are interconnected by moving said cams (10) of the coupling member (3) in the recesses (17) of the legs (15,16) of the U-shaped cross-section of the oscillating arm (2) so as to block any longitudinal movement of the coupling member (3) relative to the oscillating arm (2) towards and away from the free end of the oscillating arm (2).

7. A windscreen wiper according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the slide device (13) includes at least one wing (24) extending laterally inwardly from a leg (21,22) of the U-shaped cross-section of the slide device (13) and closing one of the recesses (17) in order to block any movement of one of the cams (10) in said recess (17).

8. A windscreen wiper according to claim 5, 6 or 7, wherein the coupling member (3) includes an upwardly extending projection (8) which engages a corresponding hole (18) in the base (14) of the U-shaped cross-section of the oscillating arm (2), and wherein the slider (13) includes a correspondingly shaped recess (19) with an open periphery which abuts the upwardly extending projection (8) in the operating position of the slider (13) so as to block any longitudinal movement of the coupling member (3) relative to the oscillating arm (2) towards and away from the free end of the oscillating arm (2).

9. A windshield wiper device according to claim 8, wherein the coupling member (3) and the oscillating arm (2) are interconnected by arranging the coupling member (3) obliquely in the U-shaped cross-section of the oscillating arm (2), by subsequently pivoting the coupling member (3) in the U-shaped cross-section of the oscillating arm (2) until the upwardly extending uvit projection (8) rests in the hole (18) in the base (14) of the U-shaped cross-section of the oscillating arm (2) and until the cams (10) of the coupling member (3) rest in the recesses (17) in the legs (15,16) of the U-shaped cross-section of the oscillating arm (2), and finally by sliding the sliding device from the mounting position to the working position.

10. A windscreen wiper according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the coupling member (3) is provided with laterally inwardly extending projections which engage in correspondingly shaped holes of the connecting device (1) along the pivot axis.

11. An oscillating arm (2) adapted to be pivotally connected to a flat blade type windshield wiper, the oscillating arm (2) including a slider (13) engaging around the oscillating arm (2) near a free end thereof, the slider (13) being slidable along the oscillating arm (2) between an operating position in which a coupling member (3) of the windshield wiper is secured to the oscillating arm (2) by projections of the coupling member (3) cooperating with legs (21,22) of a U-shaped cross-section of the slider (13), and a mounting position in which the coupling member (3) is detachable from the oscillating arm (2).

12. A coupling member {13) adapted to be hingedly connected to a “flat blade” type windscreen wiper and an oscillating arm (2) near a free end thereof, using a connecting device (1) and a coupling member (3), the coupling member (3) comprising projections (6,7) which, in the working position of the sliding device (13), hook behind legs of a U-shaped cross-section of the sliding device (13).