WO2025146493A1 - Adapter for mounting a blade on a windscreen wiper arm - Google Patents

Abstract

An adapter (1) for mounting a windscreen wiper blade (300) on a windscreen wiper arm (200), the adapter (1) comprising a flexible tab (15) bearing a locking button (16), the flexible tab (15) extending from a flank (13a) of the body (2) of the adapter (1) into a rear opening (14) provided in the body (2) so as to allow the locking button (16) to be tilted about a pivot axis parallel to a longitudinal direction (Y), a maximum longitudinal clearance (J1) between a transverse wall of the rear opening (14) and a transverse wall of the flexible tab (15) being less than 2 mm in order to limit the deformation of the flexible tab (15) in the longitudinal direction (Y).

Description

Adapter for assembling a blade to a wiper arm Technical field of the invention

The present invention relates to an adapter for assembling a windshield wiper blade to a windshield wiper arm. The invention also relates to a wiping device comprising a windshield wiper arm, a windshield wiper blade and an adapter.

Technical background

Motor vehicles are commonly equipped with wiping systems for cleaning their glass surfaces, including 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, the wiper is assembled to the wiper arm via an adapter.

There are different kinds of arms, such as hook arms, lateral pivot arms, longitudinal clip arms, rod arms, vertical locking arms, etc.

An adapter is thus specifically configured to cooperate with the vertical locking arms.

Such an adapter is known comprising a flexible tab carrying a locking button extending from a side of the adapter body towards the centre of a rear opening provided in the body, so as to allow the locking button to be tilted to the side around a longitudinal axis.

The advantage is that the adapter does not use the front edge of the yoke opening to hook the beak of the locking button. The locking of the button becomes independent of the longitudinal position of the opening in the yoke, which ensures correct locking of the adapter despite dimensional dispersions of the wiper arm yokes.

To disassemble the adapter, pressing the locking button sideways with the user's finger tilts the locking button to the side, around the longitudinal axis in the opening, which disengages the adapter from the yoke.

A disadvantage of this system is that it is less robust against longitudinal force exerted on the locking button, for example when a user pushes or pulls the locking button in the longitudinal direction while it is clipped into the yoke or when washing rollers pass over the windscreen or during the industrialization process, during transport, storage and packaging of the adapter. This force can lead to shearing of the locking tab, which can result in irreversible deformation of the locking tab and, in the worst case, in tearing of the material which can occur during assembly by the user or in operation on the vehicle after assembly.

Increasing the thickness of the locking tab to make it more robust cannot be a solution because this would increase the clipping/unclipping forces of the adapter too much without allowing the locking button to have better traction.

One of the aims of the present invention is to provide a more robust adapter, particularly in terms of shearing.

For this purpose, the invention relates to an adapter for assembling a windscreen wiper blade to a windscreen wiper arm, the adapter comprising a flexible tab carrying a locking button, characterized in that the flexible tab extends from a side of the body of the adapter into a rear opening provided in the body so as to allow the locking button to tilt about a pivot axis parallel to a longitudinal direction, a maximum longitudinal clearance between a transverse wall of the rear opening and a transverse wall of the flexible tab being less than 2 mm, such as less than or equal to 1 mm, such as between 0.3 mm and 1 mm, such as 0.6 mm, to limit the deformation of the flexible tab in the longitudinal direction.

In the event of longitudinal forces exerted on the locking button locked in the yoke, the maximum longitudinal play makes it possible to limit the movement of the flexible tab due to the abutment of the respective transverse walls of the flexible tab and the rear opening. The flexible tab is thus mainly stressed in compression, which reduces the risks of deformation and tearing of the flexible tab. This improves the holding of the locking button without degrading the clipping/unclipping force values.

Controlling the clearances allows for the thicknesses to be dimensioned as precisely as possible, facilitating both the flexibility required to operate the locking button while ensuring mechanical strength during this operation.

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

The cross wall of the rear opening closest to the cross wall of the flexible leg in the longitudinal direction defining the maximum longitudinal clearance may be located on the side of a tail of the adapter.

The cross wall of the rear opening closest to the cross wall of the flexible leg in the longitudinal direction defining the maximum longitudinal clearance may be located on the side of a head of the adapter.

The transverse wall of the rear opening closest to the transverse wall of the flexible leg may be located at the longitudinal end of an extension in the longitudinal direction.

The transverse wall of the rear opening and/or the transverse wall of the flexible leg defining the maximum longitudinal clearance may be located at the longitudinal end of at least one rib projecting longitudinally from the rear opening and/or the flexible leg.

The rear opening and the flexible tab have, for example, at least one rib projecting longitudinally from the body of the adapter, a maximum longitudinal clearance being defined in the longitudinal direction between a longitudinal end of a rib and an opposite transverse wall to limit the deformation of the flexible tab in the longitudinal direction, a maximum transverse clearance being defined between lateral faces of the opposite ribs in the transverse direction to limit the deformation of the flexible tab in the transverse direction.

The at least one rib has, for example, a trapezoidal or parallelepiped shape.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the body of the adapter extends at its front longitudinal end by a head forming a stop for mounting the adapter by translation in the yoke of the windscreen wiper arm in the longitudinal direction.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the body of the adapter also has two wings extending on either side of the head, the wings being configured to cooperate with a respective lateral notch of the yoke in order to clip the adapter to the yoke.

The invention also relates to a wiping device comprising a windshield wiper arm and a windshield wiper blade, characterized in that it comprises an adapter as described previously for connecting the windshield wiper blade to the end of the windshield wiper arm.

Brief description of the figures

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:

There is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a wiping device.

There is an enlarged and partial view of the wiping device of the .

There is a perspective view of a wiper arm of the wiper device of the .

There is a perspective view of an adapter of the wiper device of the .

There is another perspective view of the adapter of the .

There is a top view of the adapter of the .

There is a sectional view along a transverse plane (X, Z) of the adapter assembled to the yoke of the wiper device of the .

There is a view of the adapter similar to the for another example of realization.

There is a view of the adapter similar to the for another example of realization.

There is a view of the adapter similar to the for another example of realization.

There is a view of the adapter similar to the for another example of realization.

There is a view of the adapter similar to the for another example of realization.

There is a view of the adapter similar to the for another example of realization.

There is a view of the adapter similar to the for another example of realization.

There is a perspective view of an adapter according to another exemplary embodiment.

There is a top view of the adapter of the .

In these figures, identical elements have the same reference numbers.

Detailed description

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 without departing from the scope of the invention, as defined by the claims.

In the remainder of the description, the longitudinal Y, vertical Z and transverse X directions indicated in particular on the by the trihedron (X, Y, Z) fixed relative to the adapter 1. The longitudinal direction Y corresponds to the main direction in which the adapter 1 extends. The transverse direction X corresponds to the direction of the axis of rotation between the adapter and the wiper blade connector. The vertical Z and transverse X directions are perpendicular to the longitudinal direction Y and perpendicular to each other.

The "front" of the adapter refers to the side where the adapter head is located and the back refers to the opposite side.

The term "upper" or "top" refers to the side of the adapter located on the side of the yoke and the term "lower" or "bottom" refers to the opposite side.

The term “clip/unclip”, “clip/unclip”, “snap/unsnap” means a removable assembly made by elastic deformation of an element in or on another element.

There shows a first example of a wiping device 100 comprising a windshield wiper arm 200 intended to be connected to a motorized wiping mechanism of a vehicle, to ensure the cleaning of a glass surface of the vehicle, for example a windshield.

The wiping device 100 also comprises a wiper blade 300 connected to a yoke 201 at the end of the wiper arm 200, by means of an adapter 1.

The adapter 1 makes it possible to assemble the arm 200 to a connector 301 of the wiper blade 300 in an articulated manner. The connector 301 is an element of the blade 300 surmounting a wiping blade 302 of the blade 300 in its middle.

Better visible in Figures 2 and 3, the yoke 201 is fixed to the end of a rod 210 of the sweep arm 200. This yoke 201 has a body extending mainly in a longitudinal direction Y and has at its end, a cross section (in the plane (X, Z)) in the shape of a “U”. The U shape of the yoke 201 has a flat upper wall 203 and two side walls extending from parallel edges of the upper wall.

An opening 202 is provided in the upper wall 203. The opening 202 has, for example, a rectangular shape, such as a square, the corners possibly being rounded.

At least one lateral notch 204 is provided in each lateral wall of the U, for example two lateral notches 204 are provided in each wall, for example facing each other ( ). These lateral notches 204 are open on the side of the front end of the yoke 201.

The wiping device 100 is said to be “vertically locked”, because the adapter 1 is inserted by translation in the longitudinal direction Y into the yoke 201 of the arm and is locked in position by a locking button 16 of the adapter 1 actuable from the upper wall 203 of the yoke 201.

Figures 4 to 7 show adapter 1 in more detail.

The adapter 1 is a single-piece assembly. It has a body extending mainly in the longitudinal direction Y.

To connect the adapter 1 to the brush 300, the body 2 of the adapter 1 has a connector housing 3 ( ) allowing it to receive the connector 301 of the windshield wiper blade 300 to which it is retained for example by snap-fastening, in particular by means of the pivot elements of the adapter 1 and the connector 301, or by means of pivot elements of the adapter 1 and the connector 301, such as an axle.

The connector housing 3 of the adapter 1 has a cross-section (in the plane (X, Z)) in the shape of a “U” with external dimensions complementary to those of the internal housing of the yoke 201 and internal dimensions complementary to the top of the connector 301 of the wiper blade 300.

The pivot elements of the adapter 1, for example of the male and female type, are arranged in the connector housing 3 to cooperate with complementary pivot elements of the connector 301 of the wiper blade 300 to form a pivot connection. The rotation between the adapter 1 and the connector 301 is carried out around an axis of rotation parallel to the transverse direction X.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the pivot elements, the adapter 1 comprises on the one hand a cylindrical stud 4 configured to cooperate with a circular orifice of the connector 301, and on the other hand a cavity 5 configured to cooperate with a cylindrical stud of the connector 301, the cylindrical stud 4 and the cavity 5 of the adapter 1 being formed in the parallel and opposite walls of the connector housing 3 (figures 4 and 5).

The body 2 of the adapter 1 extends at its front longitudinal end by a head 6. The head 6 of the adapter 1 has dimensions in the X, Y, Z directions larger than the side and upper walls of the connector housing 3. The head 6 forms a stop for mounting the adapter 1 by translation in the yoke 201 of the wiper arm 200 in the longitudinal direction Y ( ).

The body 2 of the adapter 1 also has two wings 7a, 7b extending on either side of the head 6, at the rear of the head 6 (figures 4 and 5).

Each wing 7a, 7b extends rearwardly in the longitudinal direction Y and may carry a respective elastic finger 8. The wings 7a, 7b are configured to cooperate with a respective lateral notch 204 of the yoke 201 in order to clip the adapter 1 to the yoke 201 of the arm 200 ( ).

The body 2 of the adapter 1 has two flanks 13a, 13b in the extension of the side walls of the connector housing 3, the flanks 13a, 13b joining at the rear of the adapter 1, at the opposite longitudinal end of the head 6, by a tail 9 formed by a crosspiece of the body 2 of the adapter 1 in the transverse direction X. The flanks 13a, 13b, the tail 9 and the connector housing 3 delimit a rear opening 14 ( ).

The adapter 1 also comprises a flexible tab 15 extending into the rear opening 14 thus formed in the body 2 of the adapter 1, at the rear of the connector housing 3. The flexible tab 15 carries a locking button 16 at its end.

The flexible tab 15 extends from a flank 13a of the body 2 of the adapter 1 into the rear opening 14 so as to allow the locking button to tilt to the side, around a pivot axis parallel to a longitudinal direction Y, by deformation of the flexible tab 15 (figures 6 and 7).

The flexible tab 15 extends for example so as to present the locking button 16 above the rear opening 14 and at least partially above an upper wall of the body 2 of the adapter 1 in the rest position.

One end of the locking button 16 is extended laterally by at least one locking beak 17, a retaining edge of which extends in a longitudinal direction Y of the adapter 1 to cooperate with a lateral edge of the opening 202 of the yoke 201 of the wiper arm 200 to lock the assembly of the adapter 1 in the yoke 201.

The retaining edge of the locking beak 17, on the underside, may be flat. It forms a stop for the yoke 201 in the vertical direction Z, which allows the locking button 16 to be clipped to the yoke 201 and thus the assembly of the adapter 1 with the wiper arm 200 to be locked.

A maximum longitudinal clearance J1 between a transverse wall of the rear opening 14 and a transverse wall of the flexible tab 15, in the rest position of the locking button 16, is less than 2 mm, such as less than or equal to 1 mm, such as between 0.3 mm and 1 mm, such as 0.6 mm, to limit the deformation of the flexible tab 15 in the longitudinal direction Y. This clearance J1 is defined by two transverse walls facing each other and flat.

In the first embodiment, the transverse wall of the rear opening 14 closest to a transverse wall of the flexible tab 15 in the longitudinal direction Y defining the maximum longitudinal clearance J1 is located on the side of the tail 9 of the adapter 1 ( ).

This transverse wall can be located at the longitudinal end of at least one rib 18 projecting longitudinally from the rear opening 14, here from the tail 9.

The at least one rib 18 has, for example, a parallelepiped shape. A horizontal section (X, Y) of the at least one rib 18 has a shape which here fits within a rectangle.

When mounting the wiper blade 300 in the yoke 201 of the wiper arm 200, the user approaches the adapter 1 to the yoke 201 by positioning the adapter 1 at an angle so as to be able to insert it into the yoke 201, in particular to insert the wings 7a, 7b of the adapter 1 into the lateral cavities 204 of the yoke 201.

Then, the user raises the rear of the adapter 1 in the yoke 201, which causes the adapter 1 to automatically clip into the yoke 201 due to the progressive pivoting of the locking button 16 around the longitudinal pivot axis by the upper surface of the locking button 16 coming into contact with the yoke 201, allowing it to rise through the opening 202. The wings 7a, 7b are inserted into a respective lateral notch 204 of the yoke 201.

When the yoke 201 abuts against the head 6 of the adapter 1, the wings 7a, 7b are engaged in the lateral notches 204, clipping the adapter 1 to the yoke 201 of the arm 200. The locking button 16 is repositioned by elasticity of the flexible tab 15, engaging the locking button 16 by elastic snap-fastening in the corresponding opening 202 of the yoke 201. The retaining edge of the locking beak 17 of the adapter 1 forms a stop for the yoke 201 in the vertical direction Z, which locks the assembly of the adapter 1 with the yoke 201 of the wiper arm 200.

To disassemble the adapter 1, pressing the locking button 16 laterally with the user's finger causes the locking button 16 to tilt to the side, around the longitudinal pivot axis in the opening 202, which disengages the adapter 1 from the yoke 201 ( ).

In the event of longitudinal forces exerted on the locking button 16 locked in the yoke 201, the maximum longitudinal play J1 makes it possible to limit the movement of the flexible tab 15 due to the abutment of the respective transverse walls of the flexible tab 15 and the longitudinal end of the rib 18. The flexible tab 15 is thus mainly stressed in compression, which reduces the risks of deformation and tearing of the flexible tab 15. This improves the holding of the locking button 16 without degrading the clipping/unclipping force values.

Although Figures 4 and 6 show that the transverse wall of the rear opening 14 is located at the longitudinal end of a single rib 18, it is possible to provide at least two ribs 18 projecting longitudinally from the crosspiece of the tail 9 of the body 2 of the adapter at the location of the maximum longitudinal clearance J1, the ribs 18 being parallel to each other.

Although in Figures 4 and 6, the rib 18 has a parallelepiped shape, other geometries are possible. In particular, the rib 18 may have a trapezoidal shape. The horizontal section of the rib 18, or of the ribs, may have a shape that fits into a trapezium ( ).

Also, although in Figures 4, 6 and 8, the transverse wall of the rear opening 14 closest to the transverse wall of the flexible tab 15 in the longitudinal direction Y defining the maximum longitudinal clearance J1 is located on the side of the tail 9 of the adapter 1, it is possible that it is located on the side of the head 6 of the adapter 1, for example at the longitudinal end of at least one rib 18 projecting longitudinally from the rear opening 14 ( ).

It is also possible to have a maximum longitudinal clearance J1 less than 2 mm, such as less than or equal to 1 mm, such as between 0.3 mm and 1 mm, such as 0.6 mm, between, on the one hand, a transverse wall of the flexible tab 15 and a transverse wall of the rear opening 14 located on the side of the tail 9 of the adapter 1 and, on the other hand, a transverse wall of the flexible tab 15 and a transverse wall of the rear opening 14 located on the side of the head 6 of the adapter 1. These clearances may or may not be the same. An example is shown in FIG. for transverse walls of the body 2 of the adapter 1 located at the longitudinal ends of respective ribs 18 projecting longitudinally from the rear opening 14.

It is also possible to provide that the transverse wall of the flexible leg 15 is located at the longitudinal end of at least one rib 18 projecting longitudinally from the flexible leg 15 ( ).

Furthermore, the maximum longitudinal play J1 can be located between two longitudinal ends of two ribs 18 projecting longitudinally opposite each other, of the flexible tab 15 and of the rear opening 14, on the side of the head 6 ( ) or on the tail side 9.

There illustrates another exemplary embodiment for which the transverse wall of the rear opening 14 closest to the transverse wall of the flexible tab 15 is located at the longitudinal end of a projection 19 in the longitudinal direction Y.

The projection 19 has a flat face in the vertical plane (X,Z) which is larger, such as at least ten times larger, than that of the rib 18.

As for the rib 18, the projection 19 can be located on the side of the tail 9 of the adapter 1 ( ) or on the head side 6 of the adapter 1.

Furthermore, the transverse wall of the rear opening 14 and/or of the flexible tab 15 defining the maximum longitudinal clearance J1, can be located at the longitudinal end of at least one rib 18 projecting from a projection 19 of the rear opening 14 and/or of the flexible tab 15. thus shows an example for which the transverse wall of the rear opening 14 is located at the longitudinal end of at least one rib 18 projecting from a projection 19 of the rear opening 14 on the side of the head 6.

There illustrates another exemplary embodiment for which the transverse wall of the rear opening 14 closest to a transverse wall of the flexible tab 15 is the flat crosspiece of the tail 9 connecting the sides 13a, 13b. A flat crosspiece can also, as an alternative or in addition, be produced on the other side of the locking button 16, on the opposite face of the rear opening 14, on the side of the head 6 of the adapter 1.

Figures 15 and 16 illustrate another example of embodiment.

In this example, the rear opening 14 of the body 2 of the adapter 1 and at least one side of the flexible tab 15 respectively have at least one rib 18 projecting longitudinally from the body 2 of the adapter 1 and from the flexible tab 15.

Here the rear opening 14 has two ribs 18 projecting longitudinally from the body 2 of the adapter 1 on either side of the locking button 16 and the two sides of the flexible tab 15 have a respective rib 18 projecting in the longitudinal direction Y.

A maximum longitudinal clearance J1 is defined in the longitudinal direction Y between a longitudinal end of a rib 18 and an opposite transverse wall to limit the deformation of the flexible tab 15 in the longitudinal direction Y.

In the example, there is a maximum longitudinal clearance J1 between, on the one hand, a transverse wall of the flexible tab 15 and a transverse wall of the rear opening 14 located on the side of the tail 9 of the adapter 1 and, on the other hand, a transverse wall of the flexible tab 15 and a transverse wall of the rear opening 14 located on the side of the head 6 of the adapter 1. The maximum longitudinal clearances J1 separate the longitudinal ends of the ribs 18 of the rear opening 14 and the transverse walls of the flexible tab 15. Alternatively, the maximum longitudinal clearances J1 separate the longitudinal ends of the ribs 18 of the flexible tab 15 and the transverse walls of the rear opening 14.

In addition, a maximum transverse clearance J2 is defined in the transverse direction X between the lateral faces of the ribs 18 facing each other to limit the deformation of the flexible tab 15 in the transverse direction X.

In the example, there is a maximum transverse clearance J2 between the lateral faces of the ribs 18 facing the side of the tail 9 of the adapter 1 and the side of the head 6 of the adapter 1.

This prevents any permanent deformation or breakage of the flexible tab 15 carrying the locking button 16 in the longitudinal Y and transverse X directions.

Claims (10)

Adapter (1) for assembling a windshield wiper blade (300) to a windshield wiper arm (200), the adapter (1) comprising a flexible tab (15) carrying a locking button (16), characterized in that the flexible tab (15) extends from a flank (13a) of the body (2) of the adapter (1) into a rear opening (14) provided in the body (2) so as to allow the locking button (16) to tilt about a pivot axis parallel to a longitudinal direction (Y), a maximum longitudinal clearance (J1) between a transverse wall of the rear opening (14) and a transverse wall of the flexible tab (15) being less than 2mm, such as less than or equal to 1mm, such as between 0.3mm and 1mm, such as 0.6mm, to limit the deformation of the flexible tab (15) in the longitudinal direction (Y). Adapter (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the transverse wall of the rear opening (14) closest to the transverse wall of the flexible tab (15) in the longitudinal direction (Y) defining the maximum longitudinal play (J1) is located on the side of a tail (9) of the adapter (1). Adapter (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the transverse wall of the rear opening (14) closest to the transverse wall of the flexible tab (15) in the longitudinal direction (Y) defining the maximum longitudinal play (J1) is located on the side of a head (6) of the adapter (1). Adapter (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the transverse wall of the rear opening (14) closest to the transverse wall of the flexible tab (15) is located at the longitudinal end of a projection (19) in the longitudinal direction (Y). Adapter (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the transverse wall of the rear opening (14) and/or the transverse wall of the flexible tab (15) defining the maximum longitudinal play (J1) is located at the longitudinal end of at least one rib (18) projecting longitudinally from the rear opening (14) and/or the flexible tab (15). Adapter (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the rear opening (14) and the flexible tab (15) respectively have at least one rib (18) projecting longitudinally from the body (2) of the adapter (1), a maximum longitudinal clearance (J1) being defined in the longitudinal direction (Y) between a longitudinal end of a rib (18) and an opposite transverse wall to limit the deformation of the flexible tab (15) in the longitudinal direction (Y), a maximum transverse clearance (J2) being defined between lateral faces of the ribs (18) opposite in the transverse direction (X) to limit the deformation of the flexible tab (15) in the transverse direction (X). Adapter (1) according to one of claims 5 or 6, characterized in that the at least one rib (18) has a trapezoidal or parallelepiped shape. Adapter (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the body (2) of the adapter (1) extends at its front longitudinal end by a head (6 ) forming a stop for mounting the adapter (1) by translation in the yoke (201) of the wiper arm (200) in the longitudinal direction (Y). Adapter (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the body (2) of the adapter (1) also has two wings (7a, 7b) extending on either side of the head (6), the wings (7a, 7b) being configured to cooperate with a respective lateral notch (204) of the yoke (201) in order to clip the adapter (1) to the yoke (201). Wiping device (100) comprising a wiper arm (200) and a wiper blade (300) characterized in that it comprises an adapter (1) according to one of the preceding claims for connecting the wiper blade (300) to the end of the wiper arm (200).