The present invention relates to a windscreen wiper unit, and in particular to a windscreen wiper comprising an articulated cover, in particular a connection arm/wiper unit provided with a cover of this type. It also relates to a windscreen wiper provided with the said unit.
Typically, a windscreen wiper for a window such as the windscreen of a motor vehicle comprises a wiper blade, generally made of rubber, which is designed to rub against the window of the vehicle in order to discharge water by bringing it out of the field of vision of the driver. The wiper additionally comprises a longitudinal vertebra which rigidifies the wiper blade, such as to assist the application of this blade on the windscreen, as well as a support fitting for the vertebra and the blade. The wiper also comprises a longitudinal cover unit comprising an upper aerodynamic deflector, which is designed to improve the placing of the wiper on the windscreen, and thus the aerodynamic performance of the system.
The wiper is attached to an arm by an assembly consisting of a mechanical connector and an adapter. The connector is a part which is secured directly on the structure of the wiper, the adapter being an intermediate part which permits the securing of the connector on the arm of the windscreen wiper. These two parts are connected to one another by a transverse shaft which permits their relative rotation.
When the wiper is designed to be attached to an arm of the hook type, the connector is provided with a hole through which the end of the arm passes. The hole must be long enough to be able to insert into it the adapter, then the arm on which the latter is secured. However, after putting these elements into place, the remaining opening of the hole is found to be detrimental, both for aesthetic reasons and for aerodynamic reasons, with the hollow of the hole being able to create turbulence in the air which circulates on the windscreen. It is thus known to install one or a plurality of closure covers which are articulated with the connector, typically with rotation, and which cover the hole and close the upper face of the connector in order to form a covered connector.
When the cover has an opening which is too large, for example as a result of rapid or sudden opening, the articulation of the cover can be damaged or even broken, which makes the cover unusable.
The objective of the present invention is to eliminate these disadvantages by proposing a windscreen wiper unit comprising an articulated cover wherein the articulation of the cover is made secure.
The invention thus relates to a wiper unit, in particular for a windscreen wiper, comprising a body and an articulated cover, which can be displaced between two extreme positions opposite the body.
The wiper unit according to the invention comprises stop means which define an end of course position of the cover, the said end of course position being intermediate between the two extreme positions.
Thus, advantageously, the stop means make it possible to block the course of the cover, in the direction of the opening of the cover, and in an intermediate position between the two extreme positions, between which the cover would be displaced in the absence of such stop means. This intermediate blocking of the cover makes it possible to limit the course of the cover, and thus prevent damage to the articulation of the cover.
The course of the cover can be blocked by any appropriate stop means, for example by supporting the cover on a stop which is placed on the exterior or in the interior of the body, or on a stop which is arranged on a rotational shaft of the cover.
The body can comprise a hole which is designed to be covered at least partly by the cover, and is extended, for example longitudinally, by a cut-out in which a rotational shaft of the cover is positioned.
According to a first embodiment, the stop means comprise at least one stop projecting on the body.
The said at least one projecting stop can be arranged spaced apart from the cut-out.
The said at least one projecting stop can be arranged on the side opposite the hole.
According to a second embodiment, the stop means comprise en arm of the cover which cooperates with a stop means of the body.
The arm can have a curved end which can be supported against or below the stop means of the body during the opening of the cover.
The said stop means of the body can be arranged inside the hole, on an inner wall of the body.
The cover can be provided with two lateral arms which each cooperate with a stop means of the body.
According to a third embodiment. the stop means comprise stop means of a rotary articulation element of the cover which cooperates with stop means of a rotational shaft of the cover.
The rotational shaft of the cover can comprise a cylindrical portion and projecting stop means on the cylindrical portion.
The rotational shaft of the cover can comprise a cylindrical portion and two stops each arranged at a lateral end of the shaft.
The cover can comprise a rotary articulation element provided with a first cylindrical portion arranged between the two stops of the rotational shaft, and a second cylindrical portion which can abut the two stops of the rotational shaft.
Each stop of the rotational shaft can comprise a first face, which is situated on the cut-out side, and is substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the hole, the said first face being designed to block an end surface of the second cylindrical portion in rotation in the direction of opening of the cover.
Each stop of the rotational shaft can additionally comprise a second face, which is situated on the hole side, and is substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the hole, the said second face being designed to block the other end surface of the second cylindrical portion in rotation in the direction of closure of the cover.
The unit can be a unit for connection of the wiper to a wiper arm. In particular, the unit can be a central fitting of a flat streamlined windscreen wiper. Flat streamlined wiper means a flat wiper equipped with a streamlined portion. A streamlined portion means exterior equipment which in general is profiled.
The invention also relates to a windscreen wiper comprising a unit as described above.
The windscreen wiper can comprise a streamlined portion comprising two end covers and a central fitting which is situated between the two end covers, each end cover being articulated relative to the central fitting.
The invention will be better understood, and other details, characteristics and advantages of it will become apparent from reading the following description, provided by way of non-limiting example, and with reference to the appended drawings in which:
Hereinafter in the description, the terms longitudinal or lateral refer to the orientation of the windscreen wiper according to the invention. The longitudinal direction corresponds to the main axis of the wiper along which it extends, whereas the lateral orientations correspond to intersecting straight lines, i.e. which intersect the longitudinal direction, and in particular are perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the wiper on its rotational plane. For the longitudinal directions, the terms exterior or interior are understood to be relative to the point of securing of the wiper on a wiper arm, with the term interior corresponding to the part where the arm and a half-wiper extend. Finally, the directions with the references upper or lower correspond to orientations perpendicular to the rotational plane of the windscreen wiper, with the lower reference containing the plane of the windscreen.
With reference to
The upper part of the wiper 1 is formed by the streamlined portion comprising an aerodynamic form which deflects upwards the air which reaches the windscreen. The streamlined portion thus forms an aerodynamic deflector. The aforementioned deflexion of the air generates a support force for the wiper 1 on the windscreen, which, in association with a second support force generated by a pressure of the arm, guarantees permanent contact on the windscreen, and therefore reliable wiping.
This streamlined portion has substantially the fowl of a dihedron formed by two longitudinal was which join at the upper part at a top ridge, with the front wall having a hollow aerodynamic form, whereas the rear wall is substantially flat in the example represented. The interior of the dihedron is hollow, such as to leave space to accommodate in it elements which form a wiping unit of a flat wiper, which will be described in detail hereinafter.
The streamlined portion is made in three parts which are articulated with one another. The central part, which is known hereinafter as the central fitting 2, fulfils the functions of a connector for a non-streamlined flat wiper, i.e. it is to this fitting that there are coupled the various elements which extend along the entire length of the wiper 1. With the exception of its centre, which has substantially parallel vertical walls, in order to be able to accommodate an adapter between them, this central fitting 2 has the streamlined aerodynamic deflector form described above. It thus comprises two longitudinal lateral was 2a, 2b (
A first end cover 3 extends towards the interior, whereas the second extends towards the exterior. The connection between the central fitting 2 and each of the end covers 3 is an articulation which pivots around a shaft oriented according to a lateral or transverse direction, such that the two end covers 3 are displaced on a plane perpendicular to the rotational plane of the wiper. The break which is thus created between the central fitting 2 and the end covers 3 prevents the outer and inner ends of the wiper from being applied against the windscreen with a pressure lower than that which is exerted at the central fitting, because of a longer distance of their point of support relative to the point of coupling of the drive arm on the wiper.
The central part of the central fitting 2 has a height which is greater than the rest of the wiper, because of its function as a connector, which makes it possible to accommodate in it means for connection of the wiper to the drive arm, and in particular an adapter.
Below these elements are represented respectively a rigidification vertebra 6, a unit 7 for maintenance or retention, and a wiper blade 8, the assembly of these three elements forming what will be known hereinafter as a wiper unit. The rigidification vertebra 6 serves the purpose of acting as a structure for the wiper, by providing it with a curved form which corresponds to the average shape of the windscreen on which the wiper is displaced. As for a conventional flat wiper, its longitudinal rigidity makes it possible to maintain sufficient pressure at the two ands of the wiper, such that the wiping is carried out regularly on the entire surface to be wiped.
The retention unit 7 constitutes the support element both for the rigidification vertebra 6 and the wiper blade 8.
The wiper blade 8 is a conventional blade made of elastomer material, which is supported by the retention unit 7, and serves the purpose of remaining in permanent contact with the windscreen.
With reference now to
As a result of the relatively long length of the hole 21, the portions of lateral walls 22 which are situated at the hole can have a certain fragility when they are manipulated. It is thus advantageous to add means 26 for connection and rigidification between the inner lateral faces 22 of the hole 21, in this case in the form of cross-members 26, which each have the form of an elongate bar. As represented, these cross members 26 extend parallel to the articulation shaft 25, whilst being positioned substantially at the same height as this shaft, and substantially in the middle of the distance which exists between the shaft 25 and the longitudinal end of the hole 21. These cross-members 26 are formed by bridges of material which connect the two lateral faces 22. In this case they are of the detachable type, i.e. they can be removed. They can be breakable, or can be cut out, or dismantled, and in particular they can be unclipped. In this case they have breakable sections, i.e. an area of fragility or portion of weakness at each of their ends, such that they can be broken at the faces 22, without leaving a protuberance which would interfere with the rotation of the adapter 5. In fact, the presence of two cross-members 26 on a single central fitting 2, which corresponds to a configuration at the output from production, is not suitable for putting a central fitting of this type into service, since one of them would restrict unduly the rotation of the adapter 5. When fitting a windscreen wiper, it is necessary to choose in which direction this fitting will be installed on the wiper arm. Depending on this choice, one of the cross-members 26 is broken, which provides the arm and its adapter 5 with the necessary freedom of rotation in the central fitting. As is seen in
In addition, at each of its longitudinal ends, the hole 21 has a substantially transverse cut-out 21a, which extends the cut-out in the hole 21 longitudinally. In this cut-out 21a there is positioned a transversely oriented shaft 27, which can act as a rotational shaft or support shaft for a closure cover, as will be explained hereinafter with reference to
These covers can be put into place in two different ways. As represented in the figures, the front cover 28a is fitted such as to be mobile in rotation around the shaft 27 of the front cut-out 21a, whereas the rear cover 28b is fitted fixed on the shaft 27 which passes through the rear cut-out 21a.
In addition, the longitudinal end of one of the strengtheners of the cover 28a, opposite the cylinder 283a, forms a means 282a′ for support and retention of the adapter 5 sand/or of the arm 10.
Although the rear cover 28b has been described as being fitted fixed on the shaft 27 which passes through the rear cut-out, it is also possible to envisage using a rear cover 28b which is mobile in rotation, like the front cover 28a.
As illustrated in
According to the invention, the fitting 2 is provided with stop means which define an end of course position of the cover 28a, the said end of course position being intermediate between the closed position P1 and the completely open position P2. The stop means make it possible to block the cover 28a in the direction of opening of the cover 28a, i.e. during its spacing from the hole 21.
As represented in
According to a first embodiment, as illustrated in
Thus, thanks to the stop 30, the end of course position P3 of the cover 28a is intermediate between the position P1 and the position P2 (
According to a variant of this first embodiment, instead of projecting from the fitting 2, the stop 30 can be incorporated in the cover 28a, and in particular in its upper surface 281a.
According to a second embodiment, as illustrated in
Thus, whereas in the first embodiment the stop 30 was situated on the exterior of the fitting 2, the stop 31b in the second embodiment is in this case arranged in the interior of the fitting 2.
According to a third embodiment, as illustrated in
The cylinder 283a is configured to permit both the rotation of the cover 28a, until the latter has reached its end of course position, and blocking of the cover once its end of course position has been reached. For this purpose, the cylinder 283a comprises a first cylindrical portion 283a1 and a second cylindrical portion 283a2. The first cylindrical portion 283a1 has a reduced width, such as to be interposed between the two stops 27b of the rotational shaft 27, which permits rotation of the cylinder 283a around the shaft 27. The second cylindrical portion 283a2 has a width which is greater than that of the first cylindrical portion 283a1, such as to abut against the stops 27b of the rotational shaft 27.
The second cylindrical portion 283a2 advantageously comprises, at the other side of its end face 283a2′, two faces 283a2″ which are each supported against the front face of the stops 27b situated on the hole 21 side, such as to block the cover 28a in its dosed position. By this means, the two support faces of the stops 27b make it possible to ensure blocking of the cover 28a during its opening, in it end of course position P3, then during its closure, in its dosed position P1.
It will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to a unit provided with an articulated cover which is fitted on a streamlined flat wiper, the unit provided with an articulated cover according to the invention being able to be fitted on any other type of wiper, with the articulated cover being designed to cover an opening in the said unit, or adjacent to the said body.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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1558970 | Sep 2015 | FR | national |