FR3150760A1 - Wiping system for a glass wall of a motor vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a wiping system (1) for a glass wall (2) of a motor vehicle, the wiping system (1) comprising a wiper blade (11) fixed to a drive arm (121) via a connector (13), a drive device (12) for rotating the drive arm (121) and the wiper blade (11) on the glass wall (2), and a window-breaking member (14) secured to the drive arm (121) or the wiper blade (11) and located opposite the glass wall (2), the window-breaking member being shaped to have a minimum surface area opposite the glass wall (2) in order to generate a pressure greater than the resistance of the glass wall (2) in the event of an impact against the wiping system (1), said impact driving the wiping system (1) and the glass-breaking member (14) towards the glass wall (2), so that the glass-breaking member (14) acts as a hammer or punch on said glass wall (2). Figure to be published with the abstract: Fig. 1

Description

Wiping system for a glass wall of a motor vehicle

The technical context of the present invention is that of safety systems for motor vehicles, and in particular those making it possible to reduce the damage caused to a pedestrian or cyclist hitting or being hit by a motor vehicle. More particularly, the invention relates to a wiping system for a glass wall of a motor vehicle.

In an accident involving a motor vehicle and an adult pedestrian or cyclist, for example in the event of a head-on collision or a rear-end collision, the collision causes the cyclist's body to move towards the motor vehicle. In particular, the impact of the pedestrian's or cyclist's head against the motor vehicle is particularly traumatic for the pedestrian or cyclist. In fact, during the impact, the head hits areas of the motor vehicle that are particularly rigid, causing significant injuries to the pedestrian or cyclist.

Devices are known which make it possible to reduce the rigidity of the surfaces located opposite when the impact of the head is located on a front hood of the motor vehicle. This known solution thus makes it possible to reduce the accelerations undergone by the head during the impact, and thus to reduce the injuries inflicted.

A known disadvantage of these devices is that they are limited to the front bonnet. Also, these devices are only suitable for small pedestrians or cyclists, such as children. Indeed, for larger adults or cyclists, the impact of the head may be located beyond the bonnet, thus rendering the aforementioned devices inoperative. Furthermore, these known devices are also not installed at the rear of motor vehicles.

The object of the present invention is to propose a new wiping system in order to respond at least in large part to the preceding problems and to further lead to other advantages.

Another aim of the invention is to reduce the risk of injury to a pedestrian or cyclist impacted by a motor vehicle.

Another aim of the invention is to propose a complementary solution to existing devices.

Another object of the invention is to reinforce the safety of rear parts of motor vehicles and parts located behind the front hood.

According to a first aspect of the invention, at least one of the aforementioned objectives is achieved with a wiping system for a glass wall of a motor vehicle, the wiping system comprising:

- a wiper blade configured to be placed against the glass wall, the wiper blade being securely attached to a drive arm of the wiping system;

- a drive device configured to rotate the drive arm and the wiper blade on the glass wall, the drive arm being coupled to the drive device.

According to the invention, the wiping system comprises a window-breaking member located opposite the glass wall.

In the context of the present invention, the glass wall is more particularly a front windshield of a motor vehicle or a rear window of a motor vehicle.

In the context of the present invention, the wiper blade is a mechanical device for wiping liquids or particles present on the surface of the glass wall. The wiper blade comprises a scraping blade resting against the glass wall and coupled to a drive arm via a connector.

In the context of the present invention, the drive device comprises a motor and a transmission member from the motor to the drive arm, so as to generate and control a rotational movement of the scraping blade on the surface of the glass wall, thus making it possible to clean said glass wall.

In the context of the present invention, the window-breaking member is a member for striking the glass wall. The window-breaking member typically takes the form of a hammer or a punch oriented towards the glass wall with which the wiping system according to the first aspect of the invention is intended to be associated. The window-breaking member is located opposite the glass wall, even – and especially – when the wiping system is not in use, that is to say when the wiping system is in a rest configuration. The window-breaking member is integral with the wiping system.

The window-breaking member is configured to generate a localized pressure on said glass wall in the event of an impact on the wiping system, i.e. when, following an impact, a force is applied to the wiping system such that the drive arm is carried towards the glass wall. In other words, in the event of an impact against the wiping system, the window-breaking member is intended to be moved towards the glass wall.

In a normal configuration of use of the wiping system, that is to say when the wiping system is used to wipe the glass wall, the window-breaking member is located at a distance from the glass wall, so that it is not in contact with said glass wall. On the other hand, in the event of an impact on the wiping system, the latter is brought towards the glass wall and the window-breaking member then strikes said glass wall. The concentration of stresses at a localized point on the glass wall generates very high pressure on the glass wall, which yields under the effect of the pressure.

Thus, in a particularly advantageous manner, the wiping system makes it possible to break the glass wall under the effect of the impact, drastically reducing the apparent rigidity perceived by the pedestrian, and more particularly his skull, upon impact against the glass wall. Thus, the wiping system in accordance with the first aspect of the invention makes it possible to reduce the risks of injury for a pedestrian or cyclist impacted by a motor vehicle.

The wiping system according to the first aspect of the invention advantageously comprises at least one of the improvements below, the technical characteristics forming these improvements being able to be taken alone or in combination:

- the window-breaking member has a generally conical shape. More particularly, the window-breaking member comprises a base configured to collaborate with the wiping system and a pointed end forming a distal end, the pointed end being oriented towards the glass wall. In the context of the present invention, the base forms an interface for mounting and fixing the window-breaking member on the wiping system, i.e. on the wiper blade or on the drive arm. The pointed end forms a percussion member against the glass wall located opposite when the wiping system is struck by the head of a pedestrian or a cyclist for example;

- the pointed end has a conical shape. At its free end, the pointed end has a minimum radius of curvature. This advantageous configuration makes it possible to reduce and minimize the contact surface between the pointed end and the glass wall, so as to maximize the pressure and mechanical stresses applied to said glass wall, with a view to making it break more easily;

- the window-breaking member is aligned with the drive arm or with the wiper blade. In other words, the window-breaking member is located in line with the scraper blade of the wiper blade. Alternatively, the window-breaking member is offset relative to the drive arm or the wiper blade. In other words, the window-breaking member is located opposite the scraper blade of the wiper blade, relative to an axis transverse to said scraper blade;

- according to a first embodiment, the window-breaking member is located on the drive arm. More particularly, the window-breaking member is located near the wiper blade. By proximity, it is understood that the window-breaking member is located at a distance from the wiper blade which is less than the distance separating the window-breaking member from an actuating motor of the drive system. By way of non-limiting example, the window-breaking member is located in the third of the proximal drive arm of the wiper blade, for example less than 10 cm from said wiper blade;

- according to a second embodiment, the window-breaking member is located on the wiper blade. More particularly, the window-breaking member is located near the drive arm. By proximity, it is understood that the window-breaking member is located at a distance from the drive arm which is less than the distance separating the window-breaking member from a free end of the wiper blade. By way of non-limiting example, the window-breaking member is located in the third of the wiper blade proximal to the drive arm, for example less than 10 cm from said drive arm;

- according to a first embodiment, the window-breaking member is attached to the wiping system and securely attached to said wiping system by fastening means. More particularly, the window-breaking member is attached to the drive arm or to the wiper blade and securely attached to it by the fastening means;

- according to a first example of the first variant embodiment, the fixing means comprise at least one fixing screw for securing the window-breaking member to the wiping system. More particularly, the at least one fixing screw makes it possible to secure the window-breaking member to the wiper blade or to the drive arm;

- according to a second example of the first embodiment variant, the base of the window-breaking member comprises a thread configured to collaborate with a tapped hole provided on the wiping system. More particularly, the tapped hole is formed on the wiper blade or on the drive arm. In the context of the present invention, the thread and the tapped hole form the means for fixing the window-breaking member to the wiping system;

- according to a third example of the first embodiment variant, the base of the window-breaking member comprises a thread configured to collaborate with a nut crimped onto the wiping system. More particularly, the nut comprises a tap complementary to the thread of the base, the nut being crimped onto the wiper blade or onto the drive arm. In the context of the present invention, the thread and the crimped nut form the means for fixing the window-breaking member onto the wiping system;

- according to a fourth example of the first embodiment variant, the base of the window breaker member is bonded against the wiping system. More particularly, the base is bonded to the wiper blade or to the drive arm. In the context of the present invention, the bonding of the base to the wiper blade or to the drive arm forms the means for fixing the window breaker member to the wiping system;

- according to a fifth example of the first embodiment variant, the base of the breaker member is crimped onto the wiping system. More particularly, the wiper blade or the drive arm comprises an opening through which the base is engaged, the base comprising a retaining member located opposite the pointed end relative to the wiper blade or the drive arm respectively;

- in the fifth embodiment, the retaining member comprises, for example, a collar which extends radially beyond the opening. In the context of the present invention, the base, the retaining member and the opening form the means for fixing the window-breaking member to the wiping system;

- according to a second embodiment, the window-breaking member is made of a material with the wiping system. In the context of the present invention, the term “made of a material” means that the window-breaking member and the wiping system are formed by the same manufacturing method, so as to form a single monolith. Thus, the window-breaking member and the wiping system cannot be separated from each other without one and/or the other being partially or totally damaged;

- according to one or other of the aforementioned embodiment variants, the wiping system comprises a protective skirt for the window-breaking member. The protective skirt thus makes it possible to prevent a user from injuring themselves by touching the window-breaking member when the latter is not in contact with the glass wall;

- the protective skirt extends around the periphery of the pointed end of the window-breaking device;

- the protective skirt is formed of a flexible material, such as for example comprising a plastic and/or a rubber and/or an elastomer. This advantageous configuration allows the protective skirt to retract and/or deform upon impact. In addition, the protective skirt thus allows, despite its presence, possibly between the pointed end of the window-breaking member and the glass wall, not to prevent the impact of the glass wall and the application of pressure such that the glass wall breaks.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a motor vehicle comprising a glass wall and a wiping system in accordance with the first aspect of the invention or according to any of its improvements, the wiping system being associated with the glass wall.

Preferably, the glass wall is a front windshield of the motor vehicle or a rear window of said motor vehicle.

Various embodiments of the invention are provided, incorporating, in all their possible combinations, the various optional features set out herein.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the description which follows on the one hand, and from several examples of embodiment given for information purposes and without limitation with reference to the attached schematic drawings on the other hand, in which:

illustrates an isometric view of an exemplary embodiment of a wiping system according to the first aspect of the invention comprising a window-breaking member;

illustrates a schematic view of a first variant embodiment of the window-breaking member mounted on the wiping system;

illustrates a schematic view of a second variant embodiment of the window-breaking member mounted on the wiping system;

illustrates a schematic view of a third variant embodiment of the window-breaking member mounted on the wiping system;

illustrates a schematic view of a fourth variant embodiment of the window-breaking member mounted on the wiping system.

Of course, the features, variants and different embodiments of the invention may be combined with each other, in various combinations, to the extent that they are not incompatible or mutually exclusive. In particular, variants of the invention may be imagined comprising only a selection of features described below in isolation from the other features described, if this selection of features is sufficient to confer a technical advantage or to differentiate the invention from the prior art.

In particular, all the variants and embodiments described can be combined with each other if there is no technical obstacle to this combination.

In the figures, elements common to several figures retain the same reference.

In reference to the , the invention addresses a wiping system 1 for a glass wall 2 of a motor vehicle, the glass wall 2 here being either a front windshield of a motor vehicle or a rear window of a motor vehicle. according to the invention, the wiping system 1 comprises:

- a wiper blade 11 configured to be placed in abutment against the glass wall 2, the wiper blade 11 being securely attached to a drive arm 121 of the wiping system 1 by means of a connector 13;

- a drive device 12 configured to drive the drive arm 121 and the wiper blade 11 in rotation on the glass wall 2, the drive arm 121 being coupled to the drive device 12;

- a window-breaking device 14 located opposite the glass wall 2. On the , the window-breaking member 14 is shown schematically. In particular, the illustrates two possible integrations of the window-breaking member 14 on the wiping system 1, corresponding to two embodiments of the invention: the window-breaking member 14 can be mounted on the drive arm 121, close to the wiper blade 11, or the window-breaking member 14 can be mounted on the wiper blade, close to the drive arm 121.

The window-breaking member 14 is always located opposite the glass wall 2, in any configuration of the wiping system 1, and in particular when it is in use or when it is not in use.

The window-breaking member 14 is a member for striking the glass wall 2. The window-breaking member 14 typically takes the form of a hammer or a punch oriented towards the glass wall 2 with which the wiping system 1 is associated.

The window-breaking member 14 is configured to generate localized pressure on said glass wall 2 in the event of an impact and when the drive arm 121 of the wiping system 1 is carried towards the glass wall 2.

The window-breaking member 14 is integral with the wiping system 1. More particularly, the window-breaking member 14 is attached to the wiping system 1 and fixed integrally to said wiping system 1 by fixing means 15, either on the drive arm 121 or on the wiper blade 11.

With reference to FIGURES 2 to 5, the window-breaking member 14 has a generally conical conformation. More particularly, the window-breaking member 14 comprises a base 141 configured to collaborate with the wiping system 1 and a pointed end 142 forming a distal end, the pointed end 142 being oriented towards the glass wall 2.

The base 141 makes it possible to securely fasten the window-breaking member 14 to the wiper blade 11 or to the drive arm 121, while the pointed end 142 forms a percussion member against the glass wall 2 located opposite when the wiping system 1 is struck by the head of a pedestrian or a cyclist for example. The base 141 may have variable shapes and dimensions relative to the pointed end 142 of the window-breaking member 14. In particular, the base 141 may have a diameter smaller or larger than that of the pointed end 142.

The pointed end 142 preferably has a conical shape. At its free end, the pointed end 142 has a minimal radius of curvature.

FIGURES 2 to 5 illustrate different variants of mounting the window-breaking member 14 on the wiping system 1, indifferently on the drive arm 121 or on the wiper blade 11. In FIGURES 2 to 5, the window-breaking member is illustrated at a distance from the glass wall 2 located opposite, corresponding to a situation of normal use or non-normal use of the wiping system 1, that is to say outside of any circumstance of impact with a pedestrian or a cyclist.

There illustrates a first mounting variant in which the window-breaking member 14 is screwed directly onto the drive arm 121 or onto the wiper blade 11 of the wiping system 1. In this mounting variant, the base 141 of the window-breaking member 14 comprises a thread 143 configured to collaborate with a tapped hole 112 provided on the wiping system 1, i.e. on the wiper blade 11 or on the drive arm 121. In this mounting variant, the thread 143 and the tapped hole 112 form the fixing means 15 of the window-breaking member 14 on the wiping system 1.

There illustrates a second mounting variant in which the window-breaking member 14 is screwed onto the drive arm 121 or onto the wiper blade 11 of the wiping system 1 by means of a crimped nut 114. In this mounting variant, the base 141 of the window-breaking member 14 comprises a thread 143 configured to collaborate with the nut 114 crimped onto the wiping system 1, i.e. onto the wiper blade 11 or onto the drive arm 121. In this mounting variant, the thread 143 and the crimped nut 114 form the fixing means 15 of the window-breaking member 14 onto the wiping system 1.

There illustrates a third assembly variant in which the window-breaking member 14 is glued to the drive arm 121 or to the wiper blade 11 of the wiping system 1. In this assembly variant, the base 141 of the window-breaking member 14 is connected to the wiping system 1, i.e. to the wiper blade 11 or to the drive arm 121, by means of a bed of glue 145. In this assembly variant, the bed of glue 145 between the base 141 and the wiper blade 11 or the drive arm 121 forms the fixing means 15 of the window-breaking member 14 on the wiping system 1.

There illustrates a fourth mounting variant in which the window-breaking member 14 is crimped onto the drive arm 121 or onto the wiper blade 11 of the wiping system 1. In this mounting variant, the wiper blade 11 or the drive arm 121 comprises an opening 113 through which the base 141 is engaged, the base 141 comprising a retaining member located opposite the pointed end 142 relative to the wiper blade 11 or to the drive arm 121 respectively. The retaining member comprises, for example, a collar 144 which extends radially beyond the opening 113. In this mounting variant, the base 141, the retaining member and the opening 113 form the fixing means 15 of the window-breaking member 14 on the wiping system 1.

As visible in FIGURES 2 to 5, the wiping system 1 also comprises a protective skirt 16 for the window-breaking member 14, the protective skirt 16 totally or partially surrounding the window-breaking member 14, so as to prevent a user from injuring themselves by touching the window-breaking member 14 when the latter is not in contact with the glass wall 2.

The protective skirt 16 extends around the periphery of the pointed end 142 of the window-breaking member 14. The protective skirt 16 is securely attached to the window-breaking member 14 and/or to the wiping system 1 by any means.

The protective skirt 16 is formed from a flexible material, such as for example comprising plastic and/or rubber and/or an elastomer, so as to be able to be retracted or torn or perforated in the event of an impact and contact of the window-breaking member 14 with the glass wall 2.

In summary, the invention relates to a wiping system 1 for a glass wall 2 of a motor vehicle, the wiping system 1 comprising a wiper blade 11 fixed integrally to a drive arm 121 by means of a connector 13, a drive device 12 for rotating the drive arm 121 and the wiper blade 11 on the glass wall 2, and a window-breaking member 14 integral with the drive arm 121 or the wiper blade 11 and located opposite the glass wall 2, the window-breaking member being shaped to have, opposite the glass wall 2, a minimum surface area in order to generate a pressure greater than the resistance of the glass wall 2 in the event of an impact against the wiping system 1, said impact driving the wiping system 1 and the window-breaking member 14 towards the glass wall 2, so that the glass-breaking member 14 acts like a hammer or a punch on said glass wall 2.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the examples that have just been described and many adjustments can be made to these examples without departing from the scope of the invention. In particular, the different characteristics, forms, variants and embodiments of the invention can be associated with each other in various combinations to the extent that they are not incompatible or mutually exclusive. In particular, all the variants and embodiments described above can be combined with each other.

Claims (10)

Wiping system (1) for a glass wall (2) of a motor vehicle, the wiping system (1) comprising:
- a wiper blade (11) configured to be pressed against the glass wall (2), the wiper blade (11) being securely attached to a drive arm (121) of the wiping system (1);
- a drive device (12) configured to drive the drive arm (121) and the wiper blade (11) in rotation on the glass wall (2), the drive arm (121) being coupled to the drive device (12);
characterized in that the wiping system (1) comprises a window-breaking member (14) located opposite the glass wall (2). Wiping system (1) according to the preceding claim, in which the window-breaking member (14) comprises a base (141) configured to collaborate with the wiping system (1) and a pointed end (142) forming a distal end, the pointed end (142) being oriented towards the glass wall (2). Wiper system (1) according to any one of claims 1 or 2, in which the window-breaking member (14) is located on the drive arm (121) or on the wiper blade (11). Wiping system (1) according to any one of claims 1 or 2, in which the window-breaking member (14) is attached to the wiping system (1) and fixed securely by fixing means (15). Wiping system (1) according to claim 4, in which the base (141) of the window-breaking member (14) comprises a thread (143) configured to collaborate with a tapped hole (112) provided on the wiping system (1). Wiping system (1) according to claim 4, in which the base (141) of the window-breaking member (14) comprises a thread (143) configured to collaborate with a nut (114) crimped onto the wiping system (1). Wiping system (1) according to claim 4, in which the base (141) of the breaking member is stuck against the wiping system (1). Wiping system (1) according to claim 4, in which the base (141) of the breaker member is crimped onto the wiping system (1). Wiping system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the wiping system (1) comprises a protective skirt (16) for the window-breaking member (14). Motor vehicle comprising a glass wall (2) and a wiping system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, the wiping system (1) being associated with the glass wall (2).