Patent Application
20130185891
The field refers to a disposition introduced in windshield wiper blade of automotive vehicles, allowing for the accommodation of the blade with uniform boundary and without deformations.
It is known in the art that there are several constructive dispositions introduced in windshield wiper blades.
One of the key features for inspection of the blades refers to the curvature of the blade in contact with the windshield, as well as its accommodation during the movement.
Several dispositions have been developed to adapt the rubber blade to curvature of the windshield. Typically the body of the blade, which holds the rubber blade is composed of at least two distinct components, connected together by various means, resulting in sets having an excessive number of parts and locking means between them. In addition, various metal components are employed. Moreover, the control of the curvature necessary for the blade for high performance becomes very difficult to achieve on the blades that use several components bound together, which harms the uniform distribution of the rubber blade load on the windshield.
In order to solve the drawbacks of the current technology, the applicant has developed a blade body of straw, claimed in the Brazilian request MU8402004-0, where the body of the blade was made in one piece, by the process of co-extrusion of two different shaped material, resulting in a single body with a curved shape throughout its length, allowing for a more uniform load distribution and optimized by the wiper arm.
German patent publication DE10036115 discloses a blade for windshield wiper which has an elongated support rail of resilient material which together with the head part of an adjacent wiper blade fits into a shaped strip that opens on the side of the wiper flap. The shaped strip, the support rail and head part are fitted together by a support block. To be fixed to the shaped strip and the support rail in a predetermined position in relation to one another, there is a locking element, such as a recess, for engagement with a projection formed on the support block.
However, there remains a need for improved windshield wiper blades.
In one example, a disposition introduced in a windshield wiper blade and respective assembly system, includes a blade body, being formed in a single piece. The profile of the body includes a top support having flexible material, and a bottom support having rigid material; wherein the union of both the top and bottom supports provide support for other components of said system, said system comprising a vertebra having a vertebra central cutout portions and a blade; the bottom support being a single piece, from one end to another end of the blade. The top support incorporates internal projections and the top support is substantially parallel and symmetrically opposed to the bottom support.
The bottom support includes an assembly channel where the assembly channel passes longitudinally throughout the length of the blade body.
The top support includes internal projections incorporated in its walls and the top support is substantially parallel and symmetrically opposed to the bottom support.
The blade is inserted into an interior formed by the assembly channel. The blade has a top portion having longitudinal grooves conforming with the internal projections of said top support.
The blade body includes a central cutout portion having a substantially rectangular profile for accommodating a central support portion of a wiper and having tip portions. The central support is bipartite and having symmetrically in each part recesses on a top central support portion, and protuberances, and the ends of the blade body are provided with blade body longitudinal cut portions in the top support, and the longitudinal cut portions are positioned on the tip portions.
The tip portions includes a through hole and the tip portions having tip projections being formed in teeth, and the ends of the blade body includes a rectangular cut at the end of the top support.
In another example, a disposition is provided with a blade body endowed with the reduced section with better functional performance, composed of a single piece, by the process of co-extrusion of two different shaped material, resulting into a single body, with a rectilinear shape, acquiring a curved shape in its entirety with the inclusion of a metallic vertebra inside, provided with three different types of cuts, and two cuts on the ends of the body to accommodate the tips and a cut in the central region, to accommodate the central support.
Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent when the following detailed description is read in view of the drawing figures, in which:
The examples and drawings provided in the detailed description are merely examples, which should not be used to limit the scope of the claims in any claim construction or interpretation.
The term “substantially” as used in the specification takes into account minor experimental deviations as understood by a person of ordinary skill. For example, this term can be used with respect to an angular measurement or particular shape, for example. For example, a substantially rectangular can mean an overall rectangular shape, with minor variations that deviate from a rectangular shape.
In the known art,
To solve the drawbacks of the current art, an exemplary constructive disposition, includes a blade body endowed with the reduced section with better functional performance, and is composed of a single piece, with a rectilinear shape, and said blade body acquires a curved shape in its entirety by including a vertebra inside, the vertebra provided with three different types of cuts, two cuts on the ends of the body to accommodate the tips and a cut in the central region, to accommodate the central support In one example, a process of co-extrusion of two differently shaped materials is used to form a single piece body. Other processes known to persons of ordinary skill may also be used.
First Embodiment of a Disposition Introduced in a Windshield Wiper Blade of Respective Assembly System
In one example of the claimed invention, a blade body 1 is formed, in a single piece, by the process of co-extrusion of two different shaped materials. The profile of the blade body 1 comprises a top support 2, made of flexible material, and a bottom support 3, consisting of rigid material. Such materials known to a person of ordinary skill may be used for making the top and bottom supports. The union of the two top 2 and bottom 3 supports ensures that the single piece forms the support for the other components of the blade system, including the vertebra 4 and blade 5, shown in
This same junction forms an inner chamber 6 also in profile and preferably rectangular and flat shape, whose function is to secure and maintain the blade 5 in uniform contact with the windshield.
The bottom support 3 is made in a single piece from end to end of the blade. The bottom support 3 has an assembly channel 6, passing longitudinally throughout the length of the blade body 1, preferably of rectangular form, as shown in
As shown in
In addition to the preferred embodiment, two constructive variations of the blade body 1, whose assembly of its components will be detailed based on
As shown in
As shown in
In one example, the blade is made from the assembly of components in the following sequence: first, according to
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
Thus, the windshield wiper blade that has a curved shape which has a profile composed of a single co-extruded body, which accommodates the vertebra 4 and guides the blade 5, ensuring total uniformity in its entire length, following in all points with accuracy the curvature established by the vertebra 4.
In the case of symmetrical vertebrae, the initial side of the fitting of the body 1 does not matter, whereas in the case of asymmetric vertebrae, a person of ordinary skill must observe the correct side for starting the assembly, since the cutout 9 in which the central support 10 will be fitted must accompany their center in one example.
As shown in
Alternatively, as shown in
Second Embodiment of a Disposition Introduced in a Windshield Wiper Blade of Respective Assembly System
A second constructive alternative for the profile of the blade body 1 is shown in
As can be seen in
As shown in
Third Embodiment of a Disposition Introduced in a Windshield Wiper Blade of Respective Assembly System
The following paragraphs describe specific examples of embodiments that are covered by the scope of the claims.
In a first embodiment, a disposition comprises a blade body 1 formed, in a single piece, by the process of co-extrusion of two different shaped materials; the profile of said blade body 1 is comprised of a top support 2, made of flexible material, and a bottom support 3, consisting of a rigid material. The union of both the top 2 and bottom 3 supports, provides support for other components in the blade system, including the metallic vertebra 4 equipped with central cutouts 4′; and the rubber blade 5.
The bottom support 3 is composed in a single piece, from one end to another of the blade; in the top support 2 are incorporated the internal projections 2′ and parallel to the bottom support 3 and symmetrically opposed to each other, the said bottom support 3 has an assembly channel 6 of profile and format preferably rectangular and flat, passing longitudinally throughout the length of the blade body 1, preferably of rectangular shape, in the walls of the top support 2 are incorporated into the internal projections 2′ and parallel to the bottom support 3 and symmetrically opposed to each other, in the interior formed by the channel 6 is inserted into the rubber blade 5, whose top 5a is molded with longitudinal grooves 5b in configuration according to the internal projections 6a of the channel 6. The top support 2 of the blade 1 has in its upper portion a symmetrical deflector 7, formed by concave blades 8 and; the blade body 1 has in the top support 2 a central cutout 9, of rectangular profile, which accommodates the central support 10 of the wiper, which is bipartite and has symmetrically in its parts the recesses (a) on each top and the trapezoidal protuberances (b).
The ends 11 of the body 1 are provided with longitudinal cuts 12 in the top support 2, which are positioned on the tips 13 of the blade, which have a through hole in rectangular format 13″ and projections in the form of teeth 13′, reentrant; the ends 11 of the body 1 have a rectangular cut at the end of the top support 2.
The exemplary process of making a disposition may occur in the following way. In one exemplary process, the disposition is characterized by, in the first step that one of the tips 13 is fit and housing the end of the metallic vertebra 4, receiving it in a rectangular chamber 19, and the mentioned vertebra 4 may be symmetric or asymmetric. The blade body 1 is placed on the metallic vertebra 4 inside the top support 2 and runs along its longitudinal extension, on the end opposite to the end where the first tip 13 is positioned, until touching it. In the second step, the bottom support 3; 3a and 3b of blade body 1, 1a, 1b of the assembly system is fit into the metallic vertebra 4 through its interior and runs along its longitudinal extension, on the end opposite to the end where the first tip 13; 13a; 13b is positioned, until touching it. In the third step, the central support 10 fits into the central cutout 9 of the central cutouts 4′, overlapping with the metallic vertebra 4 already inserted in the body. In the fourth step of assembly, the blade 5 is inserted into the lower channel 6 of the bottom support 3 passing longitudinally throughout the length of the blade body 1. In the fifth and final step of assembly of the blade body 1, the last tip 13 is inserted into the free end 11 of the vertebra 4, until settling in longitudinal cuts 12 of the top support 2, finishing the set assembly, forming the “x” area.
In a second embodiment further limiting the foregoing dispositions previously described in the previous paragraphs, the disposition includes in the profile of the blade body 1 that the top support 2 of the blade body 1 has in its upper portion an asymmetrical deflector 14, being formed by a concave curve blade 15 and a vertical wall 16 joined by an substantially elongated upper vertex 17. The deflector 14 also has two assembly channels, passing longitudinally throughout the length of the blade body 1, of substantially rectangular shape, within which the metallic vertebrae 4 are introduced, also in preferably rectangular and flat profile and shape; and the mentioned asymmetrical deflector 14 also incorporates internal projections 2′ and parallel to the bottom support 3 and symmetrically opposed to each other.
In a third embodiment further limiting the foregoing first embodiment and the exemplary process, the disposition, includes in the profile of the blade body 1, that the top support 2 of the blade body 1 does not have a deflector, and the metallic vertebra 4 is inserted into one of the tips 13b in the first step of assembly, and the remaining stages of the assembly system also proceeds according to the preferred variation described in the foregoing exemplary process.
The claimed invention also offers variations as to the various types of applications offered on the market, by simply replacing central supports, couplings or adapters, which makes it a versatile and functional invention.
One advantage among many, in one example, the central region of the single body eliminates the possible misalignment as presented in many prior art structures, and the said single body accommodates the metallic vertebra and rubber blade along the entire length, ensuring aerodynamic effect throughout its profile or its variants, resulting in a conception that results in a smaller area of friction with the air flow, allowing the cleaning quality to be maintained with the vehicle at high speed and avoiding turbulence against the wiper blade, an effect known as “wind lift”.
Moreover, the components of an exemplary disposition presents specific embodiments responsible for providing a perfect fit between the parts, facilitating the assembly of the final product. The central support, a key component of the blade, is developed in bipartite body, which allows various systems of lateral connection (slide lock) and for connecting on the upper face (Top Lock), whether they are pivotable or not.
One advantage of the disposition, among many, is that the central region of the single body eliminates the possible misalignment of the current art, and the single body accommodates the vertebra and blade along the entire length, ensuring aerodynamic effect throughout its profile or its variants, resulting in an embodiment that results in a smaller area of friction with the air flow, allowing the cleaning quality to be maintained with the vehicle at high speed and avoiding turbulence against the wiper blade, an effect known as “wind lift”.
Moreover, the exemplary embodiments provide a perfect fit between the parts, facilitating the assembly of the final product. In one example, the central support, a key component of the blade, is developed in bipartite body, which allows various systems of lateral connection (slide lock) and for connecting on the upper face (top Lock), whether they are pivotable or not.
It is one object, among many, to provide a secure mounting system that overrides the standard means of connection between the components, due to the central support having in its incorporation bulges and recesses of additional security in the assembly.
In function of the new connection systems, this product can be used in the most varied applications disposed in catalogs to the conventional system currently used in large scale and also in windshield wiper blades, both front and rear, in setup
The following is a list of reference numerals and associated parts as used in this specification and drawings:
While the principles of the invention have been described herein, it is to be understood by those skilled in the art that this description is made only by way of example and not as a limitation as to the scope of the invention. Other embodiments are contemplated within the scope of the present invention in addition to the exemplary embodiments shown and described herein. Modifications and substitutions by one of ordinary skill in the art are considered to be within the scope of the present invention, which is not to be limited except by the following claims.
