EP2988977A1

EP2988977A1 - Connector between a wiper blade and a drive arm

Info

Publication number: EP2988977A1
Application number: EP14718103.6A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Eric Poton
Original assignee: Valeo Systemes dEssuyage SAS
Current assignee: Valeo Systemes dEssuyage SAS
Priority date: 2013-04-24
Filing date: 2014-04-16
Publication date: 2016-03-02
Also published as: FR3005017A1; FR3005017B1; CN105209305A; US20160059829A1; WO2014173784A1; US9744947B2; CN105209305B

Abstract

The invention relates to a connector (1) for a windscreen-wiper blade (2), said connector (1) being configured such as to engage with an adapter (3) for enabling a connection between said blade (2) and a drive arm, said connector (1) including a body (10) and a cover (30) which is movable on said body (10) along a hinge axis (X), said cover (30) including at least one means (31) for hinging on said body (10) and at least one first slot (32), said one or more first slots (32) being located on one or more side portions (33) of said cover (30) such as to form flexible areas (42), said one or more flexible areas (42) including the one or more hinging means (31). The invention also relates to an attachment device including an adapter (3) and a connector (1) such as previously described. The invention further relates to a windscreen-wiper blade (2) including such an attachment device. The invention finally relates to a wiping system including such a windscreen-wiper blade.

Description

Connector between a wiper blade and a drive arm

The present invention relates to a connector for a wiper blade, and a device for fixing between a wiper blade and a drive arm, a wiper blade and a wiper system. wiping comprising such a connector.

Automobiles are commonly equipped with wiper systems to wash the windshield and to prevent the driver's vision from being disturbed. These wipers are conventionally driven by arms or brush holder making an angular reciprocating movement and comprise elongate brushes, themselves carrying scraper blades made of an elastic material. These blades rub against the windshield and evacuate the water by bringing it out of the driver's field of vision. The brushes are made in the form, or, in a conventional version, articulated hoists that hold the scraper blade in several discrete places, or, in a newer version called "flat blade" (for "flat blade"), a semi-rigid assembly that keeps the scraper blade all along its length.

In particular, hook-type arms are known, the front longitudinal end of which is curved in the shape of a U so as to engage between two flanks of the connector, around a central core of complementary shape. In this regard, it is known to use a fixing device comprising a connector intended to be fixed on the structure of the brush, and an adapter capable of being coupled on the one hand to the connector by mobile connection and to on the other hand the arm in a direction substantially parallel to the body of the broom.

In order to guarantee the locking in position of the arm, particularly its end, on the adapter, and thus a perfect coupling between the arm and the blade, locking means are usually provided. These generally consist of one or more elastically deformable locking elements which exert their action directly on the end of the arm.

In use, however, it appears important to avoid any risk of disengagement during operation of the blade relative to the arm. Therefore, the locking means further comprises a holding member which is either movably mounted or removably mounted, and which once in place is able to prevent any undesirable movement. This organ is traditionally in the form of a flap, a hood or tongue hinged to the connector. There is, however, a need to improve and / or supplement already known solutions.

The invention aims, for this purpose, a connector for a wiper blade, said connector being configured to cooperate, in particular in pivoting, with at least one adapter intended to allow a connection between said blade and an arm of drive, said connector comprising at least one body and at least one cover movable on said body along an axis of articulation, said cover comprising at least one articulation means on said body and at least a first slot, said first slot or slots being located on one or more lateral parts of said cover so as to form at least one flexible zone, the flexible zone or zones comprising the articulation means or means.

Thus, the location of said first slots allows a flexibility of at least one area of the or the lateral parts of the body where are located the means or joints. The presence of these first slots facilitates in particular the assembly and / or disassembly of the cover and therefore reduces the risk of breakage of the cover and / or the body of the connector.

According to various embodiments of the invention, which may be taken together or separately:

said cover is configured to conceal at least part of a housing defined by said connector to receive said adapter and / or to lock said arm in a nominal operating position,

the said first slot or slots extend transversely to the hinge axis, the said first slot or slots following an upper face of the said cowl,

said upper face comprises at least a second slot perpendicular to said hinge axis and configured for the passage of a deflector of the windscreen wiper blade,

said second slot is flared at its base,

said second slot is centered on said upper face with respect to the hinge axis,

the one or more articulation means comprise at least one peg adapted to be housed inside holes made in the body of said connector,

the one or more pins are configured to allow said hood to rotate relative to said body along said hinge axis,

the one or more pins are situated at the level of the flexible zone or zones,

said cover comprises at least one means for locking said cover on said body, the one or more locking means comprise at least one flexible tongue comprising a hook capable of holding said cover in the locked position on said body,

said hook comes from said hood,

the one or more lateral portions comprise a third slot separating at least one or more flexible zones and at least one or more flexible tongues,

the at least one lateral portion comprises a portion defining at least one hinge for bending the at least one flexible zone between at least one end of said first slot and at least one end of said third slot,

said cover is capable of being abutted on one or more ribs located on at least one lateral flank of said connector,

the one or more hooks of the locking means are configured to bear on the one or more ribs,

the one or more ribs are perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the connector,

said connector body comprises a pivot axis configured to allow pivoting of said adapter relative to said connector,

the axis of articulation of said cover with respect to said body is substantially parallel to said axis of pivoting of said adapter relative to said connector,

- The axis of articulation of said cover relative to said body is transverse to the longitudinal axis of the connector.

The invention also relates to a fixing device comprising an adapter and a connector as described above.

The invention also relates to a wiper blade comprising such a fixing device.

The invention finally relates to a wiper system comprising such a wiper blade. The invention will be better understood, and other objects, details, features and advantages thereof will become more clearly apparent in the following detailed explanatory description of at least one embodiment of the invention given to As a purely illustrative and non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings.

On these drawings:

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a wiper comprising a connector according to the invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a connector for a wiper blade according to the invention,

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the body of the connector visible in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the hood visible in FIG. 2,

FIG. 5 is a side view of the hood visible in FIG. 2.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the invention relates to a connector 1 for a wiper blade 2 configured to cooperate, in particular in pivoting, with an adapter 3 intended to allow a link between said brush 2 and a non-drive arm -illustrated.

Said broom 2 is here a flat broom. It comprises, for example, a wiper blade 20 and at least one bending vertebra 21 for applying the blade against the windshield of the equipped vehicle. It further comprises, here, a support frame 22 carrying said blade 20 and said vertebra 21. Said blade 2 may further comprise a deflector 4, for example carried by the frame 22. Said deflector 4 serves to press the broom against the windshield under the effect of the airflow caused by the movement of the equipped vehicle. Said blade 2 also comprises, here, end tips 23 immobilizing longitudinally said blade 20, said vertebra 21 and / or said baffle 4. Said connector 1 is fixed, in particular crimped, on said blade 2, in particular at the level of said frame 22.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, said connector 1 comprises a body 10 and a cover 30. The cover 30 is movable on said body 10 along an axis of articulation. Said hinge axis is represented by the axis X in FIGS. 2 to 4. The cover 30 comprises at least one hinge means 31 on said body 10. The hinge means 31 enable the cover 30 to be fixed on the body 10 of the connector 1 while allowing the cover 30 to be movable on said body 10.

According to the invention, the cover 30 also comprises at least a first slot 32. The said first slot or slots 32 are located on one or more lateral portions 33 of said cover 30 so as to form at least one flexible zone 42, said zone or zones. flexible tubes 42 comprising the articulation means 31. The transverse flexion obtained by clamping the lateral portions 33 thus allows an assembly and / or disassembly of said cap 30 on said body 10. The connector 1 described in FIG. 1 comprises a body 10 which has two lateral flanks 11 which support a transverse pivot axis 12 intended to allow the sweeper 2 to pivot on the arm. The body 10 thus has an H-shape in line with the axis 12 of pivoting, on which the adapter 3 is able to fit in a mobile manner. The body 10 of the connector is also provided with a front opening 13 allowing for example the engagement and disengagement of a drive arm, such as a hook-shaped arm. The lateral flanks 1 1 are intended to hide the adapter 3 and / or a portion of the drive arm.

Said cover 30 conceals at least part of a housing defined by said connector 1 for the engagement and / or disengagement of the arm at said front opening 13 and / or for locking said arm in a nominal operating position. In other words, the cover 30 advantageously ensures the locking position of the arm, particularly its end, on the adapter 3, and thus a perfect coupling between the arm and the brush 2. This avoids any risk of disengagement during operation of the blade 2 relative to the arm.

The hood 30 as described in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4 comprises, in addition to the two lateral portions 33, an upper face 34 which follows the curvature of the body 10 of the connector 1. The upper face 34 comprises a gripping zone 35 situated at the a region of a distal end with reference to the axis of articulation X. This zone 35 opens and closes the cover 30, and preferably to allow the engagement or disengagement of the drive arm, or the implementation Arm lock position in nominal operating position.

Each lateral portion 33 comprises a said first slot 32 which extends transversely to the hinge axis X of the connector. In this embodiment, the two slots 32 follow the curvature of the upper face 34.

The cover 30 also comprises a second slot 36 perpendicular to the hinge axis X of the cover 30 and located at a proximal end of the upper face 34 with reference to said hinge axis X. The slot 36 is configured to the passage of the deflector 4 of the brush 2. In this embodiment, the slot 36 is flared at the base and is centered on the upper face 34 relative to the axis of articulation X. It thus makes it easier to introduce the baffle 4 which is here centered type. More specifically, it allows to fully open the cover 30 to allow the engagement and disengagement of a drive arm despite the presence of the deflector 4. Compared to models adapted to a non-centered type deflector whose second slot 36 would be non-centered, and one of the side portions 33 becomes more flexible, while the other loses flexibility, assembly and / or disassembly of the cover 30 on the body 10 of the connector is then more difficult. Therefore, in this model example adapted to a baffle 4 centered type, it is even more advantageous to add the first slots 32 to allow better bending of the side portions 33 of the cover 30 and facilitate its assembly and / or disassembly on the body 10 of the connector 1.

According to the illustrated embodiment, the articulation means of the cover 30 are pins 31 able to be housed inside holes 14 made in the body 10 of the connector 1. The pins 31 are configured to allow rotation of the cover 30 with respect to said body 10 along the hinge axis X and move from an open position to a closed position, said cap locking 30. In this embodiment, the pins 31 are of cylindrical shape. It is of course possible to have any other form of the moment that it is adapted to the shape of the orifices 14 of the body 10 of the connector, they can be housed inside thereof and allow the rotation of the hood 30.

To be able to block the cover 30 in the locked position and thus avoid any risk of disengagement of the drive arm, the cover 30 comprises, here, locking means 37. The locking means 37 are located on the side portions 33 of the hood 30, and in particular on lateral lugs 38. They are represented here by flexible tongues 39 respectively comprising a hook 40 coming from the hood 30. The hook 40 is able to hold the hood 30 in the locked position on the body 10 of the connector 1. Indeed, the hooks 40 will bear on ribs 15 located on the inside of the lateral flanks January 1 of the body 10 of the connector 1 and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis Y of said connector 1. The hooks 40 are then blocked and prevent the cover 30 to return to the open position without the action of a user. The ribs 15 also serve as a stop for the cover 30 when it is in the locking position.

To facilitate the locking and unlocking of the cover 30 on the body 10, each lateral portion 33 of the cover 30 comprises a third slot 41 which separates the flexible tongues 39 and the flexible zones 42 carrying the pins 31. The hook 40 is thus more flexible to be able to engage in the locking position on the body 10 of the connector or to disengage and thus allow the hood 30 to open.

The end of the third slot 41 also defines with the end of the first slot 32 a hinge for the flexion of the flexible zone 42 carrying the cylindrical pins 31. Thus, the system of three slots 32, 36 and 41 allows assembly and / or disassembly of the cover 30 on the body 10, reducing the difficulties and the risks of breakage. It should be noted that alternative embodiments are of course possible and that the present invention is not limited to a connector intended for a flat broom and a centered type baffle configured to be mounted on a drive arm having an end of hook type. In particular, it is possible to extend the present invention to other types of connectors for different brushes, baffles and / or drive arms.

Claims

claims

1. Connector (1) for a wiper blade (2), said connector (1) being configured to cooperate with at least one adapter (3) for allowing a connection between said blade (2) and a drive arm , said connector (1) comprising at least one body

(10) and at least one cover (30) movable on said body (10) according to at least one articulation axis (X), said cover (30) comprising at least one articulation means (31) on said body ( 10) and at least a first slot (32), the at least one slot (32) being located on one or more side portions (33) of said cover (30) so as to form at least one flexible area (42), the or the flexible zones (42) comprising the articulation means (31).

2. Connector (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein said one or more slots (32) extend transversely to the hinge axis (X).

3. Connector (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one upper face (34) of said cover (30) comprises at least one second slot (36) perpendicular to said hinge axis (X) and configured for the passage of a deflector (4) of the wiper blade (2).

4. Connector (1) according to the preceding claim wherein said second slot (36) is flared at its base.

5. Connector (1) according to any one of claims 3 and 4, wherein said second slot (36) is centered on said upper face (34) relative to the axis of articulation (X).

6. Connector (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the one or more hinge means comprise at least one pin (31) located at the or the flexible zones (42), or the pins ( 31) being respectively adapted to be housed inside orifices (14) made in the body (10) of said connector (1), or the pins (31) being configured to allow rotation of said cover (30). with respect to said body (10) along said hinge axis (X).

7. Connector (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said cover (30) comprises at least one locking means (37) of said cover (30) on said body (10).

8. Connector (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein said locking means (37) comprises at least one flexible tongue (39) comprising a hook (40) adapted to hold said cover (30) in the locking position on said body (10).

9. Connector (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein at least one side portion (33) comprises a third slot (41) separating at least one flexible zone (42) and at least one flexible tongue (39).

10. Connector (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein at least one side portion (33) comprises a portion defining a hinge for bending said flexible zone (42) between at least one end of said first slot (32) and at least one end of said third slot (41).

1 1. Connector (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, configured so that said cover (30) is capable of being abutted on one or ribs (15) located on at least one lateral flank (1 1) of said connector ( 1).

12. Connector (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein at least one rib (15) is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (Y) of the connector (1).

13. Fastening device comprising an adapter (3) and a connector (1) as defined in any one of the preceding claims.

14. Wiper blade comprising a fixing device as defined in the preceding claim.

15. A wiper system comprising a wiper blade as defined in the preceding claim.