FR3063949A1 - END CAP FOR A WIPER BLADE AND ITS MOUNTING METHOD - Google Patents

Abstract

An end cap (22 ') for a wiper blade (10), comprising a lower base (60), an upper baffle (62), and an inner housing (64) formed in said base and said baffle and intended to receive an end portion of elements of said wiper blade, said tip comprising an axis A substantially parallel to a direction (F) for mounting the tip on said end portion, said tip comprising in addition to an axial end at least one peripheral edge (66) defining an opening (68) of said housing, a plane noted P1 passing through an uppermost end (E1) of said edge, at said deflector, and at one end most lower (E2) of said edge, at the base, characterized in that said plane P1 is inclined relative to a plane P2 perpendicular to the axis A and passing through said lower end (E2), said end most superior (E1) being forward by r supply to the plane P2 with respect to said mounting direction, and in that said plane P1 is not crossed by said edge (66).

Description

TECHNICAL AREA

The present invention relates to the field of wiping or cleaning a vehicle windshield, in particular an automobile. It relates in particular to a tip for the end of a wiper blade, as well as to a method for mounting this tip.

STATE OF THE ART

Typically, a wiper blade of a window such as the windshield of a motor vehicle comprises a wiper blade, generally made of rubber, intended to rub against the window of the vehicle to evacuate water in l leading outside the driver's field of vision. The blade further comprises at least one longitudinal vertebra which stiffens the wiper blade, so as to promote the application of this blade on the windshield, as well as a support frame for the vertebra and the blade. The blade also includes a longitudinal cover member comprising an upper aerodynamic deflector intended to improve the plating of the brush on the windshield and therefore the aerodynamic performance of the system.

The blade is attached to a rotating arm of the wiper by an assembly consisting of a mechanical connector and an adapter. The connector is a part which is fixed directly to the structure of the blade, the adapter being an intermediate part which allows the connector to be fixed on the arm of the wiper. These two parts are connected to each other by a transverse axis which allows their relative rotation.

The stiffening vertebra, the wiping blade and the mop support mount are components of the mop that have a main longitudinal orientation. The vertebra and the blade are introduced in longitudinal sliding in longitudinal housings complementary to the frame.

The longitudinal locking of the cover member, as well as the vertebra and the blade in the mount housings, is achieved by end caps mounted on each end of the brush.

Each end piece is generally made so as to be locked on the associated end of the vertebra and so as to form a longitudinal stop of the associated ends of the covering member, the frame and the blade.

Typically, an end cap includes a lower base, an upper deflector, and an interior housing formed in the base and the deflector. The part of the housing located in the base of the end piece is intended to receive an end part of the vertebra, the blade and the covering member, and the part of the housing located in the deflector of the end piece is intended to receive an end part of the aerodynamic deflector of the covering member.

The tip has an axis corresponding to a direction of mounting of the tip on the aforementioned end portion. The end piece further comprises at an axial end a peripheral edge defining an opening of the housing through which this end portion is engaged in the housing.

In the current technique, the peripheral edge of the opening generally extends in a plane perpendicular to the aforementioned axis of the nozzle.

When inserting the aforementioned end part into the housing of the end piece, it is noted that there is a risk of damaging the end of the aerodynamic deflector of the cover member because this end can abut against the flat edge of the end piece, and in particular the portion of the flat edge located at the deflector of the end piece.

It has already been proposed to modify the shape of an end piece and in particular of its axial end defining the abovementioned opening. This is particularly the case for documents US2015 / 0151716, W02008 / 019903, US2012 / 0124767 and EP2127969. However, the tips described in these documents do not allow a satisfactory answer to the aforementioned technical problem.

The present invention aims to remedy this problem.

STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION

The invention thus relates to an end piece for a wiper blade, comprising a lower base, an upper deflector, and an interior housing formed in said base and said deflector and intended to receive an end portion. elements of said wiper blade, said tip having an axis A substantially parallel to a direction of mounting of the tip on said end portion, said tip further comprising at an axial end at least one peripheral edge defining an opening of said housing, a plane denoted P1 passing through a most upper end of said edge, at the level of said deflector, and through a most lower end of said edge, at the level of the base, the plane P1 being substantially tangent to said edge at level of said ends, said plane P1 is inclined with respect to a plane P2 perpendicular to the axis A and passing through said lower end, said ex the most upper end being in front of the plane P2 with respect to said mounting direction, and in that said plane P1 is not crossed by said edge.

The end caps described in the following documents do not meet this definition US2015 / 0151716, W02008 / 019903, US2012 / 0124767 and EP2127969. In fact, in these documents, when the planes P1 and P2 are drawn, it can be seen that the peripheral edges which define the openings of these end pieces all have parts which cross the plane P1. The plane P1 is inclined relative to the plane P2, forwardly with respect to the aforementioned mounting direction.

This definition of the tip makes it possible to respond to the aforementioned technical problem. Indeed, when mounting the end piece according to the invention on an end portion of elements of a wiper blade, it is the most upper end of the peripheral edge of the end piece which comes first to cooperate with this end part, that is to say with the end part of the aerodynamic deflector of the brush cover member. The peripheral edge of the end piece is shaped so that this cooperation is progressive so as to limit or even prevent the risk of damage to the aerodynamic deflector. It is the lower end of the peripheral edge of the end piece which comes to cooperate last with the aforementioned end part, during the mounting of the end piece.

In the present application, the term "most upper end" means at least one point located at the most upper end. In the case of an upper deflector nozzle, this point is located at the upper end of the deflector, that is to say at its highest point (opposite the base of the nozzle). "Lowest end" means at least one point at the lowest end. In the case of a nozzle with a lower base, this point is located at the lower end of the base, that is to say at its lowest point (opposite the deflector of the nozzle).

"Front" and "rear" refer to the direction in which the tip is mounted on the rest of the broom. What is in “front” will thus cooperate first with the rest of the broom, and what is in “back” will cooperate last with the rest of the broom.

The tip may include one or more of the following characteristics, taken in isolation from each other, or in combination with each other:

- said edge has a lateral profile, seen in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis A, which is curved,

- said lateral profile of the edge has a concavity oriented substantially towards the front,

said lateral profile of the edge is mostly behind said plane P1,

- said lateral profile has any shape and in particular not straight,

- the end piece comprises at least one notch formed at least in said base and interrupting said edge,

- said notch partly extends in said deflector,

The present invention also relates to a wiper blade, characterized in that it comprises at least one end tip as described above. The brush may include at least one longitudinal stiffening vertebra.

The present invention also relates to a method of mounting an end piece on an end portion of elements of a wiper blade, these elements comprising at least one longitudinal stiffening vertebra and a longitudinal member of cover, the end piece comprising a lower base, an upper deflector, and an interior housing formed in said base and said deflector and intended to receive said end portion, said end piece comprising an axis A substantially parallel to a mounting direction of the tip on said end portion, said tip further comprising at an axial end at least one peripheral edge defining an opening of said housing, the method comprising a step of axially aligning said tip with said end portion, the method comprises a step in which said tip and said end portion are moved axially towards each other so that a most upper end of said edge, at said deflector, is mounted first on said end portion, and that a lower end of said edge, at level of the base, or mounted last on said end portion.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The invention will be better understood and other details, characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the following description given by way of non-limiting example and with reference to the appended drawings in which:

- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a wiper blade connected to a wiper arm,

- Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of a wiper blade,

- Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of another wiper blade,

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an end piece of a wiper blade, according to the prior art,

FIG. 5 is a very schematic side view of an end piece of a wiper blade, according to the prior art,

FIG. 6 is a very schematic side view of an end piece of a wiper blade, according to the invention,

FIG. 7 is a very schematic side view of an end piece and of a cover member of a wiper blade, according to the invention,

FIGS. 8 and 9 are partial schematic perspective views of an embodiment of an end piece according to the invention,

FIGS. 10 and 11 are partial schematic perspective views of an alternative embodiment of an end piece according to the invention, and

- Figures 12 to 14 are partial schematic perspective views of the end fitting of Figures 8 and 9 and of an end portion of elements of a wiper blade, and illustrate steps mounting this tip.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, the longitudinal or lateral names refer to the orientation of the wiper blade according to the invention. The longitudinal direction corresponds to the main axis of the brush in which it extends, while the lateral orientations correspond to concurrent lines, that is to say which intersect the longitudinal direction, in particular perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the broom in its rotation plane. For the longitudinal directions, the exterior or interior designations are assessed in relation to the point of attachment of the brush on a brush-holder arm, the interior designation corresponding to the part where the arm and a half-brush extend. Finally, the directions referenced as upper or lower correspond to orientations perpendicular to the plane of rotation of the wiper blade, the lower designation containing the plane of the windshield.

With reference to FIGS. 1 to 14, identical or functionally equivalent elements are identified by identical reference numbers.

There is illustrated in FIG. 1 a wiper, in particular of a motor vehicle windshield, this wiper comprising a longitudinal wiper blade 10 and a wiper arm 12 which is partially shown and intended for be driven by a motor to follow an angular back-and-forth movement allowing the evacuation of water and possibly other undesirable elements covering the windshield.

The brush 10 here comprises a longitudinal covering member 14, a longitudinal scraper blade 16, generally made of rubber, and at least one longitudinal vertebra 18 which gives stiffening to the blade 16 so as to favor the application of this blade 16 on the windscreen.

The cover member 14 of the blade 10 includes an upper aerodynamic deflector 20 intended to improve the operation of the wiper, the purpose of this deflector 20 being to improve the plating of the blade 10 on the windshield and therefore the aerodynamic performance of the system.

The brush 10 further comprises end caps 22 of the blade 16 and the vertebra 18 on the cover member 14, these tips 22 being located at each of the longitudinal ends of the cover member 14.

The cover member 14 of the brush is here produced in two independent parts which are arranged substantially end to end and separated from one another by an intermediate connector 24. This connector 24 is therefore interposed between the two parts of the cover member 14 and may comprise means for fluid connection of means for supplying washer fluid from the connector 24 to the pipes of the member 14.

To ensure its mounting on the arm 12, the brush 10 comprises an adapter 26 mounted on the connector 24 and allowing an articulation of the brush 10 relative to the arm 12. The articulation of the brush 10 relative to the arm 12 is an articulation according to a rotational movement about an axis of rotation Y perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the brush 10. The brush 10 must in fact have at least one degree of freedom in rotation relative to the arm 12, and more specifically relative to a part end 28 of arm 12, to allow the brush 10 to follow the curvature of the windshield.

The brush 10 of Figure 1 is described in the foregoing by way of a specific example and therefore not limiting. This is also the case with the descriptions in FIGS. 2 and 3 which follow, which essentially have the aim of demonstrating that the invention applies to any type of brush, for example to one or two stiffening vertebrae.

FIG. 2 represents an exemplary embodiment of a wiper blade 10 with a single stiffening vertebra 18. This blade 10 comprises, in addition to the characteristics described above with reference to FIG. 1, a longitudinal mounting 30a for support blade 16 and vertebra 18.

The support mount 30a comprises two lateral longitudinal ribs 46, for example in the form of two blades. These ribs 46 are substantially coplanar, each rib 46 extending laterally on the side opposite to the other rib. The rib 46 located at the front of the broom 10 ′ thus extends forwards and the rib 46 situated at the rear of the broom extends backwards.

The cover member 14 may comprise at least one longitudinal channel 45 for the passage of windshield washer fluid, connected to appropriate distribution means, for example at the connector 24 level. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the member cover 14 may include two channels 45a, 45b of circular section placed on each side of the cover member 14, a channel 45a defining a low liquid distribution ramp and the other channel 45b defining a high liquid distribution ramp .

The cover member 14 of the brush further comprises, at its lower end, means for hooking onto the support frame 30a. In the example shown, the cover member 14 comprises two lateral longitudinal hooks 50 which are intended to cooperate with the ribs 46 of the support frame 30a.

The hooks 50 are substantially coplanar and each define a slot in which the support mount 30a can slide and is mounted. The hook 50 located at the front of the broom thus extends towards the rear and the hook 50 situated at the front of the broom extends towards the front.

The support mount 30a of the brush 10 also comprises a first housing or lower housing 32 for receiving a longitudinal heel 34 of the blade 16. The blade 16 is for example of the fir type, well known to those skilled in the art. Its upper end is connected by a hinge 36 and a damping member 38 to the heel 34. In known manner, in operation, the blade 16 can come into abutment on the member 38 which dampens its overturning towards the front or towards the 'back.

The housing 32 is configured to receive by longitudinal sliding the heel 34 of the blade 16. This housing 32 is delimited by a longitudinal bottom wall 39 and by two side walls 40. The upper ends of the side walls 40 are connected to the wall of bottom 39 and their lower ends are each connected to a longitudinal edge 41. These edges 41 are substantially coplanar and extend towards one another. They delimit between them a slot in which can slide and is mounted a thinned lower part of the heel 34, which has a substantially T-shaped section.

The support mount 30a comprises a second housing or upper housing 42 for receiving the vertebra 18, which thus extends above the heel 34 of the blade 16.

The housing 42 is configured to receive the longitudinal vertebra 18 by longitudinal sliding. This housing 42 is delimited by the aforementioned bottom wall 39, by two side walls 43, and by an upper wall 44. The lower ends of the side walls 43 are connected to the bottom wall 39 and their upper ends are each connected to the upper wall 44.

The vertebra 18 has a curved shape at rest and includes a convex curved upper face and a concave curved lower face.

A heating element 49 such as a heating film made of resistive material can be fixed on the upper face of the vertebra 18.

FIG. 3 represents another exemplary embodiment of a wiper blade 10 with two stiffening vertebrae 18. The elements identical to those of FIG. 2 have the same references. Each vertebra 18 is inserted longitudinally in a hook 50 and in the heel 34. The vertebrae 18 are coplanar.

The invention relates to an end piece for a brush 10 such as those shown in Figures 1 to 3.

Conventionally, an end piece 22, such as that best visible in FIG. 4, comprises a lower base 60, an upper deflector 62, and an interior housing 64 formed in the base and the deflector and intended to receive a portion of end of elements of the wiper blade 10. In the case of the blade 10 of FIG. 2, these elements can be the blade 16, or at least its heel 34, the support mount 30a, the vertebra 18, and the covering member 14. In the case of the brush 10 of FIG. 3, these elements can be the blade 16, or at least its heel 34, the vertebrae 18, and the covering member 14.

As seen in Figure 4, the tip 22 may include in the housing 64 special arrangements. This is particularly the case of the recesses for receiving the aforementioned elements, as well as closure plugs 22a, here two in number, which extend longitudinally and which are intended to close the longitudinal ends of the channels 45a, 45b.

The end piece 22 has an axis A substantially parallel to a direction F for mounting the end piece on the aforementioned end portion. The end piece further comprises at an axial end at least one peripheral edge 66 defining an opening 68 for access to the housing 64. We denote P1, a plane passing through the most upper end E1 of the edge 66, at the level of the deflector 62, and by the lower end E2 of this edge 66, at the level of the base 60 (FIG. 5). The plane P1 is here perpendicular to the axis A. The plane P1 is substantially tangent to the edge 66 at the ends E1, E2. We also note P2, another plane passing through the end E1 and perpendicular to the axis A.

It can be seen in FIG. 5, which very schematically shows the lateral profile of the edge 66, seen in a direction perpendicular to the axis A, that the planes P1 and P2 are combined. In other words, the edge 66 is planar and extends entirely in a plane transverse to the end piece. This type of endpiece has drawbacks when it is mounted on an end part of elements of a wiper blade, as mentioned in the foregoing.

The end piece 22 'according to the invention, a very schematic representation of which is visible in FIG. 6, makes it possible to remedy this problem thanks to the fact that the plane P1 is inclined relative to the plane P2, the end E1 being in front relative to the plane P2 relative to the mounting direction F, and to the fact that the plane P1 is not crossed by the edge. Indeed, the edge 66 is at best located in the plane P1 and preferably set back relative to this plane. The edge is here behind the plane P1. The plane P1 is substantially tangent to the edge 66 at the ends E1, E2.

Figure 7 shows, also very schematically, the mounting of the nozzle 22 'of Figure 6 on an end portion of elements of a brush, such as its cover member 14 for example. One of the advantages of the invention is that the end E1 is the first to cooperate with the member 14 and in particular its aerodynamic deflector 20. Due to the particular shape of the edge 66, which is here inclined upwards in the aforementioned direction F, at least in its upper part corresponding to the deflector 62, the cooperation of the end piece with the end part, namely the mounting of one on the other, takes place gradually, without risk of a clear stop and therefore without risk of damaging the parts.

Figures 8 and 9 illustrate a first more concrete embodiment of an end piece 22 'according to the invention. FIG. 8 shows the lateral profile of the edge 66, which is here curved. The concavity is oriented substantially forward and downward. The lateral profile is mostly behind the plane P1.

Figures 10 and 11 illustrate a second embodiment of an end piece 22 'according to the invention, which includes the characteristics of the end piece of Figures 8 and 9 and further comprises a notch 70 formed at least in the base 60 so as to interrupt the edge 66. The notch 70 extends here partly in the deflector 62. The notch 70 has a general shape in U or V.

Figures 8 to 11 show that the upper end E1 is formed by an upper point of the deflector 62 of the nozzle while the lower end E2 is formed by two points of the base 60. This is due to the fact that the edge 66 does not extend continuously around the axis A but is interrupted by a longitudinal slot 80 passing through the base 60, which generally receives part of the blade or its heel, or even its support frame.

The invention also relates to a method of mounting an end piece on an end portion of elements of a wiper blade, as mentioned in the above and shown in Figures 12 to 14.

The method comprises a step consisting in axially aligning the end piece with the end portion (FIG. 12), a step in which the end piece 22 'and the end portion are moved axially towards one another so that the end E1 is mounted first on the end portion (Figure 13), and finally a step during which the end E2 is last mounted on this end portion (Figure 14).

Claims (9)

1. End cap (22 ') for a wiper blade (10), comprising a lower base (60), an upper deflector (62), and an interior housing (64) formed in said base and said deflector and intended to receive an end portion of elements of said wiper blade, said end piece comprising an axis A substantially parallel to a direction (F) for mounting the end piece on said end portion, said end piece comprising in addition to an axial end at least one peripheral edge (66) defining an opening (68) of said housing, a plane denoted P1 passing through a most upper end (E1) of said edge, at said deflector, and through a most lower (E2) of said edge, at the base, the plane P1 being substantially tangent to said edge at the level of said ends (E1, E2), characterized in that said plane P1 is inclined relative to a plane P2 perpendicular to the axis A and passing pa r said lower end (E2), said upper end (E1) being in front of the plane P2 with respect to said mounting direction, and in that said plane P1 is not crossed by said edge ( 66). 2. End piece (22 ’) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said edge (66) has a lateral profile, seen in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis A, which is curved. 3. End piece (22 ’) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said lateral profile of the edge (66) has a concavity oriented substantially forward. 4. End piece (22 ’) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said lateral profile of the edge (66) is mainly behind said plane P1. 5. End piece (22 ’) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least one notch (70) formed at least in said base (60) and interrupting said edge (66). 6. End piece (22 ’) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said notch (70) extends partly in said deflector (62). 7. Wiper blade (10), characterized in that it comprises at least one end piece (22 ’) according to one of the preceding claims. 8. Broom according to the preceding claim, comprising at least one longitudinal vertebra (18) of stiffening. 9. A method of mounting an end piece (22 ') on an end portion of elements of a wiper blade (10), these elements comprising at least one longitudinal vertebra (18) of stiffening and a longitudinal cover member (14), the end piece comprising a lower base (60), an upper deflector (62), and an internal housing (64) formed in said base and said deflector and intended to receive said portion d end, said tip having an axis A substantially parallel to a direction (F) for mounting the tip on said end portion, said tip further comprising at an axial end at least one peripheral edge (66) defining an opening (68) of said housing, the method comprising a step of axially aligning said tip with said end portion, characterized in that it comprises a step in which said tip and said end portion are moved axially towards each other so that a most upper end (E1) of said edge, at said deflector, is mounted first on said end portion, and that a most lower (E2) of said edge, at the base, is mounted last on said end portion. ³ 94g ^Fi 9.1 2/5 45b 45a 45b