Connector linking a wiper arm to a wiper blade

• US 20060048329A1
• Filed: 02/04/2004
• Published: 03/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Valeo Systemes D'Essuyage (Valeo SE)
• Original Assignee: Valeo Systemes D'Essuyage (Valeo SE)
• Inventors: Thienard, Jean-Claude
• Granted Patent: US 7,316,047 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/250.320
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/4003 Multi-purpose connections for two or more kinds of arm ends
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/4006 for arms provided with a hook-shaped end
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/4016 the element being provided with retention means co-operating with the hook-shaped end of the arm
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/4074 with means provided on the blade for locking the side pin
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/4087 the end being provided with protrusions or holes
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 2001/408 the connecting part or the intermediate element being provided with holes for different diameters of pivoting pin
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 2001/409 characterised by the arm or connecting part mounted on the arm presenting a shaped opening for bearing the pivot axis

Abstract

The invention concerns a connector (36) for linking one end of a wiper arm (32a, 32b, 32c) to a first transverse hinge pin (54) belonging to a structural element (38) of a wiper blade (30), the connector (36), comprising: a first housing (70) wherein the first transverse hinge pin (54) can be inserted; a second housing (84) for receiving a second transverse hinge pin (62), belonging to a second category of arm (32b), said second housing (84) being partly delimited by a first elastically deformable lower tab (86) which extends globally longitudinally, whereof one first longitudinal end (86a) is fixed to the connector and is adapted to be retractable to enable the second pin (62) to be inserted, and to transversely lock the second pin (62) in mounted position in the second housing (84).

Claims

1. A connector (36) for connecting one end of a windshield wiper arm (32a, 32b, 32c) to a first transverse hinge pin (54) belonging to a structure element (38) of a wiper blade unit (30), the connector being suitable for being received at least in part against the inside end wall of the end of an arm (32a) that belongs to a first category of arm, which end is in the form of a U-shaped hook, the connector (36) comprising:

a first recess (70) into which the first hinge pin (54) can be inserted;

a second recess (84) designed to receive a second transverse pin (62) which belongs to a second category of arm (32b) that can be of at least a first size, and which extends transversely from a side edge (34a) of the end (34) of the arm (32b), said second recess (84) being defined in part by a bottom first tongue (86) that is elastically deformable and that extends substantially longitudinally, a first longitudinal end (86a) of which tongue is fastened to the connector, the bottom tongue being suitable for retracting so as to enable the second pin (62) to be inserted, and for causing the second pin (62) to be locked transversely in the position in which it is mounted in the second recess (84);

said connector being characterized in that it comprises a top tongue (90) that is suitable for being received at least in part in a peripheral groove (64) in the second pin (62) so as to lock the second pin (62) transversely, in association with the bottom tongue (86).

2. A connector (36) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the connector comprises adapter means (78) so that it is suitable for being received against the inside end walls of ends of arms (32a) of the first category and of various sizes.

3. A connector (36) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the adapter means (78) comprise shapes in relief (78) provided on the facing inside longitudinal faces (66i) of side cheek plates (66) of the connector.

4. A connector (36) according to any preceding claim, characterized in that the top tongue (90) is of transverse width complementary to the width of the annular groove (64) in the second pin (62) so as to be received snugly in the groove (64).

5. A connector (36) according to any preceding claim, characterized in that the top tongue (90) is connected to each of the cheek plates of the connector (36) via films of material (94) whose dimensions are determined so that inserting a second pin (62) of the first size does not cause the films of material (94) to break.

6. A connector (36) according to any preceding claim, characterized in that the body comprises a front segment (74) that defines the first recess (70), the front outside wall (74a) of the front segment being suitable for being received against the inside end wall of the U-shaped hook of the arm (32a), a top rear segment (76) and a bottom rear segment (98).

7. A connector (36) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the front longitudinal end (86a) of the bottom tongue (86) is fastened to the front segment (74).

8. A connector (36) according to any one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that the rear longitudinal end of the top tongue (90) is fastened to the rear top segment (76).

9. A connector (36) according to any preceding claim, characterized in that it is suitable for receiving the end (34) of a third category of arm (32c), which end consists in a shaped-section member segment that extends substantially longitudinally forwards, in a cylindrical third recess (96) that is open in its rear face.

10. A connector (36) according to the preceding claim, in combination with claim 5, characterized in that an arm (32c) of the third category being inserted into the third recess (96) causes the films of material (94) to break.

11. A connector (36) according to claim 9 or claim 10, characterized in that the rear top segment (76) comprises a vertical orifice (100) that is suitable for receiving a lug (65) on the end (34) of an arm (32c) belonging to the third category of arm, which lug projects upwards relative to the top face of the end of the arm, for longitudinally locking the end of the arm in the position in which it is mounted in the third recess (96).

12. A connector (36) according to any preceding claim, characterized in that a portion of the bottom tongue (86) is curved downwards so that, for at least one size of arm (32a) belonging to the first category of arm, the bottom tongue (86) is deformed elastically upwards so as to exert a substantially vertical force downwards on the top face of a horizontal bottom segment (60) of the end of the arm.

13. A connector (36) according to any preceding claim, characterized in that the top tongue (90) comprises two side studs (92) disposed on either side of the front longitudinal end (90a) of the top tongue (90), which studs extend transversely towards the outside of the connector (36) and pass through respective orifices (82) in the associated side cheek plates so that the free end of each stud (92) comes flush with the outside vertical face (66e) of the associated cheek plate.

14. A connector (36) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that, when an arm (32c) belonging to the third category of arm is in the position in which it is mounted in the third recess (96), each of the side studs (92) is in vertical abutment against a top edge (82a) of the orifice (82) of the associated cheek plate (66).

15. A connector (36) according to any preceding claim, characterized in that the side edges of the bottom tongue (86) are extended transversely outwards by projections (102).

16. A connector (36) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the projections (102) of the bottom tongue (86) extend transversely while passing through an orifice (82) in the associated side wall (66) so that the free transverse end of each projection comes flush with the outside vertical face (66e) of the associated cheek plate (66).

17. A connector (36) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that each projection (102) is curved so that the curvature of its top face (102s) is substantially complementary to the outside cylindrical wall of a second pin (62) of the second size.

18. A connector (36) according to any preceding claim, characterized in that the free front end (90a) of the top tongue (90) is curved downwards so that when the end of an arm (32c) belonging to the third category of arm is inserted into the third recess (96), the top tongue (90) is deformed elastically upwards, and the free front end (90a) of the top tongue (90) exerts a return force directed substantially downwards on the top face of the end (34) of the arm (32c).

19. A connector (36) according to any preceding claim, characterized in that the front end segment (66a) of each cheek plate (66), which segment extends cantilevered out forwards from the body (68), is elastically deformable and, on its inside vertical longitudinal face, comprises a ramp-forming abutment (80) so as to retract when the end of an arm (32a) belonging to the first category of arm is inserted, and so as to lock the U-shaped hook in the position in which it is mounted around the body (68) of the connector (36).

20. A connector (36) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the ramp-forming abutment (80) extends over a top portion of the front end segment (66a) of the associated cheek plate (66), and in that a bottom portion of the front end segment (66a) comprises an opening (72) for insertion of the U-shaped hook.

21. A connector (36) according to any preceding claim, in combination with claim 5, characterized in that the shapes in relief (78) comprise a rib (79) provided on the inside vertical longitudinal face (66i) of each cheek plate (66) of the connector (36), which rib extends longitudinally above the top face (76s) of the rear top segment (76) of the body (68) for positioning the end (34) of an arm (32a) belonging to the first category of arm.

22. A connector (36) according to any preceding claim, characterized in that the bottom face (86i) of the bottom tongue (86) comprises ribs (104) for vertically and/or transversely positioning an arm (32a) of the first category and of at least one size.

23. A connector (36) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that each positioning rib (104) extends substantially vertically downwards along a side edge of the bottom face (86i) of the bottom tongue (86).

24. A connector (36) according to any preceding claim, in combination with claim 13, characterized in that each of the side studs (92) comprises a bearing surface (92a) for bearing against the outside cylindrical surface of a second pin (62) of the second size, which bearing surface is complementary to said outside cylindrical wall.

25. A connector (36) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the curvature of a top edge (82s) of the opening (82) in a cheek plate (66) is substantially identical to the curvature of the outside cylindrical wall of a second pin (62) of the second size.

26. A connector (36) according to any preceding claim, characterized in that each cheek plate (66) comprises a notch (106) which extends vertically downwards from its top edge and which is complementary to a manipulator element for manipulating the connector (36).

27. A connector (36) according to any preceding claim, in combination with claim 5, characterized in that the notch (106) substantially forms an upside-down T-shape in which the bottom edge of the horizontal branch extends vertically above the top face (74s) of the front element (74) of the body (68) of the connector (36).

28. A connector (36) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the ribs (79) extend longitudinally forwards so as to extend to the front end of the front segment (74) of the body (68) of the connector (36).

29. A connector (36) according to any preceding claim, characterized in that it comprises a cross-member (108) that interconnects the rear bottom ends of the cheek plates (66).