Patent Application
20150135466
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to wiper assemblies for vehicles and, more specifically, to a locking coupler for a wiper assembly for a vehicle.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventional wiper assemblies for vehicles known in the related art include some type of wiper assembly mounted to a wiper arm which, in turn, is mounted adjacent a surface to be wiped such as a windshield of the vehicle and pivotally driven to impart reciprocal motion to the wiper assembly across the windshield. The wiper assembly typically includes a rubber wiping element that contacts the windshield across the surface to be wiped. The wiper assembly often incorporates one or more metal strips that act to reinforce the wiping element and facilitate wiping contact by the wiping element across what is typically a curved glass surface. In this context, the wiper arm delivers a downward force to the wiper assembly that is distributed thereacross pressing the wiper assembly into contact with the windshield. The wiper assembly may also include an airfoil and a pair of end caps located at the distal ends of the wiper assembly. The wiper assembly may also include a coupler that connects the wiper assembly to the wiper arm.
Current technology of wiper assemblies utilizes one of three methods for attaching components of a wiper assembly together. These components include a wiper element, support spline, airfoil, and coupler. The first method includes bonding the wiper element to a single support spline and attaching an airfoil. The second method includes sandwiching the wiping element between a set of support splines which are held together by end caps. The third method includes carrying the wiper element by a channel in the airfoil with a support spline that feeds through the airfoil and a channel in the coupler, the system being then held together with end caps to prevent the spline from sliding out of the airfoil.
In the methods above, it is desired to eliminate the need for end caps for distal retention of the wiping element and support spline. The end caps add additional labor and can increase cost associated with adding such parts. Therefore, there is a need in the art for attaching components of a wiper assembly together that eliminates the need for end caps.
The present invention overcomes the disadvantages in the related art in a locking coupler adapted to attach a wiper assembly to a wiper arm. The locking coupler includes a base portion adapted to be disposed over a portion of an airfoil of the wiper assembly and an attachment portion extending outwardly from the base portion and adapted to connect to the wiper arm. The base portion includes at least one elongated claw adapted to be disposed in at least one notch of a wiping element of the wiper assembly to retain the wiping element and at least one locking arm having a tab portion adapted to be disposed in at least one notch of the airfoil and at least one notch of at least one support member of the wiper assembly for attaching the wiping element, the at least one support member, and the airfoil together.
In addition, the present invention is a wiper assembly including a wiping element adapted to contact a surface to be wiped. The wiper assembly also includes at least one elongated support member acting to support the wiping element. The wiper assembly further includes an airfoil operatively mounted to the at least one elongated support member and the wiping element. The wiper assembly still further includes a locking coupler adapted to attach to a wiper arm and for attaching the wiping element, support member, and airfoil together.
In this way, the locking coupler of the present invention attaches components of a wiper assembly together and eliminates the need for end caps. The locking coupler of the present invention prevents accidental disassembly. In addition, the locking coupler of the present invention reduces the manufacturing complexity and number of components, thus reducing overall cost. The locking coupler of the present invention can be used for wiper systems in any type of transportation from automotive vehicles, heavy-duty trucks, trains, air planes, ships, large construction vehicles, or military vehicles or any other type of vehicles that contain surface wiper systems.
Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood after reading the subsequent description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.
Referring now to the figures, where like numerals are used to designate like structure, a portion of a vehicle is schematically illustrated at 10 in
A wiper system is generally indicated at 22 in
In the representative example illustrated herein, each wiper assembly 26 is carried by a corresponding wiper arm 24. The wiper arm 24 includes an attachment member, generally indicated at 28, adapted to operatively engage the wiper assembly 26. The wiper system 22 also includes an electrical motor (not shown, but generally known in the art) to move the wiper assemblies 26 in an oscillating manner across the surface of the windshield 20.
While the wiper assembly 26 illustrated in
Referring to
As illustrated in
The support member 34 may be constructed from a resiliently flexible material, such as spring steel or a polymer, and is adapted to apply force from an intermediate position between its longitudinal ends. More specifically, the support member 34 receives force from the spring-loaded wiper arm 24 at an intermediate position and distributes this force across the span of the support member 34 toward its longitudinal ends. To that end, the support member 34 may be curved longitudinally with a predetermined radius of curvature. This predetermined radius of curvature is sometimes referred to in the related art as a “free form” radius of curvature. Accordingly, the curvature of the support member 34 may be symmetrical or asymmetrical depending on the force requirements and the contour of the windshield 20. The flexible, free form, pre-curved support member 34 straightens out when the wiper arm 24 applies a force thereto to flatten the support member 34 and directs the wiping element 30 to contact the windshield 20. Thus, the elongated support member 34 includes a free-form curvature that ensures force distribution on windshields having various curvatures and that effects proper wrapping about the windshield 20.
As illustrated throughout the figures, the support member 34 has a substantially constant width and may have a constant thickness throughout the length between its longitudinal ends. The constant width and thickness are adapted to provide high lateral and torsional stiffness to avoid lateral and torsional deflection, which causes the wiping element 30 to stick/slip (“chatter”) on the windshield 20 during operation. Thus, the cross-section of the support member 34 has a generally rectangular outer profile that makes the support member 34 easier to manufacture. More specifically, where the support member 34 is constructed from metal, such as spring steel, the tools and machinery used to manufacture the support member 34 are less complicated than that required to manufacture having varying widths and/or thicknesses. Furthermore, where the support member 34 is constructed from a polymer, such as a thermoplastic elastomer, the tools and extrusion process machinery are also less complicated than those employed to manufacture beams having varying widths and/or thicknesses. However, those having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the support member 34 illustrated herein may include a varying thickness and/or width without departing from the scope of the present invention.
Additionally, the support member 34 may include one or more notches 46 extending therein. In the embodiment illustrated, the notches 46 are located near the center of the support member 34. One notch 46 extends into each side of the support member 34 such that the notches 46 oppose each other. The notches 46 are generally rectangular in shape, but may be any suitable shape. The notches 46 cooperate with the locking coupler 32 as will be described in detail below.
As noted above, the wiper assembly 26 also includes a locking coupler, generally indicated at 32. The locking coupler 32 is adapted to connect the wiper assembly 26 to the wiper arm 24 and for attaching components of the wiper assembly 26 together. More specifically, those having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that different OEM' s employ wiper arm assemblies having different attachment members adapted to operatively engage a specific wiper assembly. Accordingly, the locking coupler 32 illustrated herein includes structure that operatively engages at least one or more of these different attachment members. Further by way of example, certain wiper arms employed by OEM' s include “bayonet-style”; “pin-type”; or “hook-type” attachment members of various sizes that operatively engage the wiper assemblies.
As previously noted, the wiper assembly 26 includes the airfoil, generally indicated at 36, to prevent the wiping assembly 26 from lifting from the surface of the windshield 20. The airfoil 36 is operatively mounted to the wiping element 30 and the support member 34. The airfoil 36 extends along the length of the wiping element 30 and the support member 34. The airfoil 36 acts to reduce the likelihood of wind lift by allowing air to flow over the wiper assembly 26. More specifically, and in the embodiment illustrated herein, the airfoil 36 includes a single unitary component that is operatively mounted to the wiping element 30 and the support member 34 with the locking coupler 32 extending therebetween. However, those having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the airfoil 36 may be defined by a pair of airfoil components without departing from the scope of the present invention.
Referring to
Referring to
The attachment portion 70 extends generally perpendicular from the top wall 72. In one embodiment, the attachment portion 70 is generally rectangular in shape with arcuate portions 94 along the top thereof. The attachment portion 70 may include opposed recessed portions 96 extending laterally therein. The attachment portion 70 includes an aperture 98 extending laterally through the recessed portions 96 to receive a pin (not shown) of the attachment member 28. The locking coupler 32 is made of a rigid material such as plastic. The locking coupler 32 is integral, unitary, and one-piece.
In operation, the wiper assembly 26 is assembled by sliding the wiping element 30 into the airfoil 36. The upper portion 38 of the wiping element 30 is slid into the second channel 60 of the airfoil 36. Next, the locking coupler 66 is placed over the notches 62 and 64 in the airfoil 36. The elongated claws 84 are disposed in the second notches 64 and the tab portion 92 of the locking arms 86 is disposed in the first notches 62. After that, the elongated support member 34 is slid into the airfoil 36. The elongated support member 34 is slid into the first channel 56 of the airfoil 36 and the channel 80 of the locking coupler 32 and deflects the tab portion 92 of the locking arms 86 laterally outward. The elongated support member 34 continues to slide in the channel 80 of the locking coupler 32 until the notches 46 in the support member 34 are aligned with the tab portion 92 of the locking arms 86. Once aligned, the locking arms 86 deflect laterally inwardly and the tab portions 92 of the locking arms 86 are disposed in the notches 46 in the support member 34 to lock the locking coupler 32 and elongated support member 34 together. It should be appreciated that the elongated claws 84 in the locking coupler 32 are disposed in the notches 44 in the wiping element 30 and the wiping element 30 is retained by elongated claws 84 in the locking coupler 32.
The present invention has been described in an illustrative manner. It is to be understood that the terminology which has been used is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation. Many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. Therefore, within the scope of the appended claims, the present invention may be practiced other than as specifically described.
