GB2231780A - Wiper arm and blade assembly - Google Patents

Description

AUTOMOTIVE WINDSHIELD WIPER The present invention relates to an automotive

windshield wiper.

Known automotive windshield wipers comprise an elongated arm; a blade having at least a wiper element and secured to one end of the arm; and a drive element secured to the opposite end of the arm and angularly connectable to a rotary shaft. The arm is usually hinged to the drive element by means of a horizontal rivet enabling the arm to be raised from the operati-ng position, wherein the wiper element contacts the glass, into a position wherein the wiper element is detached from the glass. Between the arm and drive element,, provision is usually made for elastic means designed to exert sufficient pressure for normally maintaining the arm in the operating position, and for maintaining it in the raised position when a given angle is exceeded in relation to the operating position.

A major drawback of known windshield wipers of the type briefly described above is that said elastic means consist of a helical spring compressed between the drive 1 -7 ES 0 q.

element and a shoulder integral with the arm. The fact that the arm, as already stated, is connected by a rivet to the drive element. thus preventing it from being removed, means that the spring cannot be replaced in the event of breakage or for adjusting the load on the same. The aim of the present invention is to provide an automotive windshield wiper designed to overcome the above drawback typically associated with known wipers.

With this aim in view, according to the present invention, there is provided an automotive windshield wiper comprising an elongated arm; a blade having at least a wiper element and secured close to one end of said arm; a drive element angularly connectable to a rotary shaft; and means for. retaining said drive element to the opposite end of said arm; said retaining means comprising a hinge pin enabling said arm to be raised from the operating position, wherein said wiper element cooperates with the glass, into a raised position wherein said wiper element is detached from said glass; and elastic means located- between said drive element and stop means on said arm; said elastic means being designed to exert sufficient pressure on said arm for maintaining it firmly in said operating or said raised position; characterised by the fact that said stop means are disengageable from said arm.

A preferred, non-limiting embodiment of the present invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

1 Fig.1 shows a side view of a windshield wiper in accordance with the teachings of the present invention; Fig.2 shows a larger-scale. partially-sectioned side view of a detail on the Fig.1 wiper; Fig.3 shows a bottom plan view of the Fig.2 detail; Fig.4 shows a section along line W-W in Fig.2.

Number 1 in the accompanying drawings indicates an automotive windshield wiper comprising an elongated, substantially C-section arm 2; a blade 3 hinged close to end 5 of arm 2; and a drive element 6 to which the opposite end portion 7 of arm 2 is secured.

Blade 3 presents a wiper element 8 designed, in use, to slide over a glazed surface of the vehicle. Blade 3 and the means connecting it. to arm 2 may be of any conventional type and, as they do not form part of the present invention, require no detailed description.

Arm 2 is conveniently molded from plastic, and comprises, inside end portion 7. a metal reinforcing channel 9 having a rib 11 and two side walls 12. The height of said end portion 7 and channel section 9 increases gradually towards an end portion of arm 2 wherein drive element 6 is partially housed and secured. Said drive element 6, which is conveniently formed from zamak, presents a substantially rhomboidal side section, and is hinged, by an intermediate portion close to the apex of its obtuse angle, to a pin 10 riveted to side walls 12 of channel section 9.

Element 6 comprises two portions 14 and 15 tapering in -4 opposite directions. Thicker portion 14 is substantially housed inside end portion 7 of arm 2, whereas thinner portion 15 extends outwards of arm 2 in the opposite direction, and presents a rounded. transversely flat appendix 16 in which is formed a through hole 17 mating with a rotary drive shaft (not shown).

In the intermediate portion of element 6, opposite pin 10, there is formed an ample rounded recess 18 in which a projection 19 having two integral side pins 20 extends from portion 15.

Said pins 20 are fitted in articulated manner with a plastic, substantially aesthetic cover 21 for covering the portion of drive element 6 projecting from arm 2.

Said cover 21 is open on the side facing arm 2, and comprises a flat top surface 24 parallel to appendix 16 on element 6; two side walls 25 on either side of portion 15 of element 6 and paiftially overlapping arm 2; and a wall 27 opposite arm 2 and having an inner tooth 28 engaging L corresponding tooth 29 on appendix 16. From the central portion of top wall 24 of cover 21. a curved appendix 29 extends integrally towards arm 2. which appendix 29 adheres to projection 19 and presents two flat sides 39 in which are formed respective holes for pins 20.

By releasing tooth 28, cover 21 can be turned about pins 20 for uncovering element 6 and enabling access to the connection between element 6 and the drive shaft. When cover 21 is so rotated. appendix 29 is received inside -9:

1 recess 18 on element 6.

Portion 14 of element 6 presents a central longitudinal slot 34 (Fig.3) inside which end 36 of a rod 37 is housed and hinged by means of a transverse pin 35.

Close to said end 36, said rod 37 presents a stop 38 for a washer 39. At the opposite end 40, rod 37 is inserted inside a central guide opening 44 (Fig.4) on a stop plate 45 mounted inside arm 2 and described in detail later on. Rod 37 is fitted with a helical spring 46 compressed between washer 39 and plate 45.

According to the present invention, plate 45 is substantially C-shaped, and presents a central wall 47 arranged transversely in relation to arm 2 and with which spring 46 cooperates;. and two side walls 48 bent towards end 5 of arm 2 and arranged contacting the respective side walls of channel section 9. Said side walls cooperate frontally with'respective projections 49 projecting from side walls 12 of channel section 9 and on which the elastic force of spring 46 is released. Projections 49 are elongated transversely in relation to arm 2, and are separated by rib 11. Side walls 48 of plate 45 present respective front projections 50, which fit between projections 49 and rib 11 on channel section 9 for preventing accidental transverse withdrawal of plate 45 from arm 2.

wiper 1 operates in known manner and therefore requires no description. A detailed description should be given, however, of the operation of the assembly consisting of

6-,- drive element 6, rod 37, spring 46 and plate 45.

Assuming drive element 6 is fixed, spring 46 exerts substantially axial pressure on arm 2 and such as to turn arm 2 about pin 10 in one direction or the other depending on the position of said axis in relation to pin 10.

Arm 2 is normally maintained in the operating position (shown by the dotted line in Fig.2) wherein wiper element 8 contacts the surface of the glass. The position shown by the continuous line in the accompanying drawings is that assumed by arm 2 when wiper 1 is removed from the vehicle, and wherein rib 11 of channel section 9 contacts portion 14 of drive element 6.

In relation to the position shown, said operating position is turned slightly anticlockwise, so as to ensure a certain elastic load on arm 2.

When arm 2 is turned about pin 10 (anticlockwise in the drawings) so as to detach it from the glass. the elastic resistance of spring 46 'increases gradually until the axis of spring 46 passes pin 10, and the torque transmitted by spring 46 to arm 2 is inverted so as to swing arm 2 into the raised position shown by the dot-anddash line in Fig.2.

Plate 45 may be removed by pushing it towards drive element 6, against the elastic reaction of spring 46. so as to release teeth 50 from respective projections 49, thus enabling plate 45 to be withdrawn transversely 1 (downwards in Fig.2) from arm 2.

The advantages of wiper 1 according to the present invention will be clear from the foregoing description.

In particular, the possibility of removing plate 45 off arm 2 enables shims, e.g. washers, to be fitted on to rod 37, at one or both ends of spring 46, for adjusting the load of the same. Moreover, spring 46 may be replaced easily, without removing riveted pin 10.

To those skilled in the art it will be clear that changes may be made to wiper 1 as described and illustrated herein without, however. departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims (1)

1) - An automotive windshield wiper comprising an elongated arm; a blade having at least a wiper element and secured close to one end of said arm; a drive element angularly connectable to a rotary shaft; and means for retaining said drive element to the opposite end of said arm; said retaining means comprising a hinge pin enabling said arm to be raised from the operating position, wherein said wiper element cooperates with the glass, into a raised position wherein said wiper element is detached from said glass; and elastic means located between said drive element and stop means on said arm; said elastic means being designed to exert sufficient pressure on said arm for maintaining it firmly in said operating or said raised position; characterised by the fact that said stop means (45) are disengageable from said arm (2).

2) - A wiper as claimed in Claim 1,, characterised by the fact that said arm (2) presents a C-shaped section; said stop means comprising a plate (45) housed inside said arm (2).

3) - A wiper as claimed in Claim 2, characterised by the fact that said arm (2) comprises means (49) for supporting said plate (45).

4) - A wiper as claimed in Claim 2 or 3, characterised by the fact that said elastic means comprise a helical spring (46) one end of which cooperates with said plate i (45).

5) - A wiper as claimed in claim 4, characterised by the fact that said plate (45) is C-shaped. and comprises a central wall (47) arranged transversely in relation to said arm (2) and cooperating with said spring (46); and a pair of side walls (48) contacting respective side walls (12) of said arm (2).

6) - A wiper as claimed in Claim 5, characterised by the fact that said supporting means comprise a pair of projections (49) formed on said side walls (12) of said arm (2); said side walls (48) of said plate (45) cooperating frontally with respective said projections (49).

7) - A wiper as claimed in.Claim 6, characterised by the fact that said side walls (48) of said plate (45) present respective front teeth (50) designed to cooperate transversely with said projections (49) on said arm (2) for preventing accidental transverse withdrawal of said plate (45) from said arm (2).

8) - A wiper as claimed in any one of the foregoing Claims from 5 to 7. characterised by the fact that said spring (46) is mounted on a guide rod (37) hinged at one end (36) to said drive element (6), and the opposite end (40) of which engages in sliding manner a guide opening (44) in said central wall (47) of said plate (45).

9) - A wiper as claimed in Claim 8. characterised by the fact that the end of said spring (46) opposite said end cooperating with said plate (45) cooperates with stop - 10 means (38, 39) integral with said rod (37).

10) - A wiper as claimed in any one of the foregoing Claims, characterised by the fact that said arm (2) comprises a metal reinforcing channel (9) inside said end (7) secured to said drive element (6); said projections (49) for supporting said plate (45) being formed on respective side walls (12) of said channel (9).

11) - A wiper as claimed in claim 10, characterised by the fact that said pin (15) hinging said arm (2) to said drive element (6) is riveted to said side walls (12) of said arm (2).

12) - An automotive windshield wiper, substantially as described and illustrated herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

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Sa:es ErF.nch. S- Man; Gray. Orpington. Kent BR5 3RD- Printed by Multiplex techniques ltd. St Mary Cray. Kent, Con. 1187