Windshield wiper with an automatic pressure means

• US 5,463,790 A
• Filed: 05/31/1994
• Issued: 11/07/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Chih-Hsien Wong, Xian-Shun Chiou
• Original Assignee: Chih-Hsien Wong, Xian-Shun Chiou
• Inventors: Wong, Chih-Hsien, Chiou, Xian-Shun
• Primary Examiner(s): Graham, Gary K.
• Application Number:
  US08/251,194
• Time in Patent Office: 525 Days
• Field of Search: 15/250.41, 15/250.42, 15/250.20, 15/250.33, 15/250.36, 15/250.40
• US Class Current: 15/250.201
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/3806 Means, or measures taken, for influencing the aerodynamic quality of the wiper blades

Abstract

A windshield wiper includes a master wiper arm, a rubber blade operatively connected to the master wiper arm and a pressure mechanism mounted at a top portion of the master wiper arm for pressing the rubber blade against a windshield. The pressure mechanism includes a wing, a pivot fastened to one side of the wing, and a gear fastened to the pivot. A prestressing mechanism is mounted on the master wiper arm and engaged with the pressure mechanism. This prestressing mechanism includes a gear meshed with the gear of the pressure mechanism, a threaded member fixed to said gear of the prestressing mechanism, an adjusting screw and an elastic element between the threaded member and the adjusting screw. The screw encloses the prestressing mechanism and exerts prestress force to the elastic element, such that the force is transmitted to the gear of the prestressing mechanism via the threaded member. The rubber blade is connected to the master wiper arm by two assemblies, wherein each assembly includes an auxiliary wiper arm which provides three end portions at which the rubber blade is connected to the assembly. Clamps are provided at the ends of the auxiliary wiper arms. These clamps clamp onto a blade holder of the rubber blade. Each clamp includes a clamping body for clamping onto the blade holder, and a cylindrical rib is raised from a top of the clamping body.

Claims

1. A windshield wiper for wiping a windshield, said wiper comprising:

an elongated master wiper arm;

two auxiliary wiper arms fastened to opposite ends of said master wiper arm, such that each auxiliary wiper arm includes a first presser end, a second presser end and a third presser end;

a clamp provided at and coupled to each presser end of each auxiliary wiper arm;

a double-strip rubber blade connected to the clamp at each presser end; and

two pressure mechanisms mounted at a top portion of said master wiper arm to press the rubber blade against the windshield, wherein each of said pressure mechanisms includes a wing having spaced lateral edges, a pivot pivotally connecting said wing along one edge to said master wiper arm, and a pivot gear fastened to said pivot proximate a mid point of said master wiper arm, wherein each of said pressure mechanisms further includes a prestressing mechanism mounted on said master wiper arm and respectively engaged with said pressure mechanisms to rotatably bias a respective wing about said pivot;

each of said prestressing mechanisms including a prestress gear meshed with the pivot gear of an associated pressure mechanism, a threaded member fixed to said prestress gear and threadingly engaged with said master wiper arm, an adjusting screw threadingly engaged with said master wiper arm and an elastic element stopped between said threaded member and the adjusting screw;

said adjusting screw being adjustable for exerting prestress force to the elastic element, such that the force is transmitted to said prestress gear of said prestressing mechanism via said threaded member.

2. A windshield wiper according to claim 1, wherein each of said clamps at said presser ends includes a clamping body for clamping on a blade holder of the rubber blade, and a cylindrical rib transversely raised from a top of the clamping body.

3. A windshield wiper according to claim 2, wherein each of said presser ends of said auxiliary wiper arm includes an arched retainer portion fitted with said cylindrical rib of said clamp, such that said clamp is rotatable within said arched retainer portion of said presser end on said cylindrical rib, and the clamp can be turned within the arched retainer portion about a limited angle.

4. A windshield wiper for wiping a windshield, said wiper comprising:

an elongated master wiper arm;

two auxiliary wiper arms fastened to opposite ends of said master wiper arm, wherein each auxiliary wiper arm provides three end portions, wherein each end portion defines a presser end;

a rubber blade connected to the presser ends;

a pressure mechanism mounted at a top portion of said master wiper arm to press the rubber blade against the windshield, wherein said pressure mechanism includes a wing having spaced lateral edges, a pivot pivotally connecting said wing along one edge to said master wiper arm, and a pivot gear fastened to said pivot, wherein said pressure mechanism further includes a prestressing mechanism mounted on said master wiper arm and engaged with said pressure mechanism to rotatably bias the wing about the pivot;

said prestressing mechanism including a prestress gear meshed with the pivot gear of said pressure mechanism, a threaded member fixed to said prestress gear and threadingly engaged with the master wiper arm, an adjusting screw threadingly engaged with the master wiper arm and an elastic element disposed between the threaded member and the adjusting screw;

said adjusting screw being adjustable for exerting prestress force to the elastic element, such that the force is transmitted to said prestress gear of said prestressing mechanism via said threaded member.

5. A windshield wiper according to claim 4, wherein each of said presser ends includes a clamp attached thereto.

6. A windshield wiper according to claim 5, wherein each said clamp includes a clamping body for clamping on a blade holder of the rubber blade, and a cylindrical rib transversely raised from a top of the clamping body.

7. A windshield wiper according to claim 6, wherein each of said presser ends includes an arched retainer portion fitted with said cylindrical rib of said clamp such that the cylindrical rib of the clamp is rotatable within the arched retainer portion about a fixed angle.

8. A windshield wiper for wiping a windshield, said wiper comprising:

a master wiper arm;

a rubber blade operatively connected to the master wiper arm;

a pressure mechanism mounted at a top portion of said master wiper arm to press the rubber blade against the windshield, wherein said pressure mechanism includes a wing, a pivot pivotally connecting said wing to said master wiper arm, and a pivot gear connected to said pivot; and

a prestressing mechanism mounted on said master wiper arm and engaged with said pressure mechanism to rotatably bias said wing about said pivot;

said prestressing mechanism including a prestress gear meshed with the pivot gear of said pressure mechanism, a threaded member fixed to said prestress gear and threadingly engaged with the master wiper arm, an adjusting screw threadingly engaged with the master wiper arm and an elastic element disposed between said threaded member and the adjusting screw;

said adjusting screw exerting prestress force to the elastic element, such that the force is transmitted to said prestress gear of said prestressing mechanism via said threaded member.

9. A windshield wiper according to claim 8, wherein said rubber blade is connected to said master wiper arm by at least one assembly including an auxiliary wiper arm.

10. A windshield wiper according to claim 9, wherein said auxiliary wiper arm includes three end portions, wherein a clamp is provided at each end portion for clamping onto said rubber blade.

11. A windshield wiper according to claim 10, wherein each of said clamps includes a clamping body for clamping on a blade holder of the rubber blade, and said clamps further including a cylindrical rib raised from a top of the clamping body.

12. A windshield wiper according to claim 11, wherein each of said end portions includes an arched retainer portion fitted with said cylindrical rib of said clamp, such that said cylindrical rib of the clamp rotates within the arched retainer portion about a limited angle.

13. A windshield wiper according to claim 8, wherein said rubber blade is connected to said master wiper arm by two said assemblies, wherein each assembly includes an auxiliary wiper arm.

14. A windshield wiper according to claim 13, wherein each auxiliary wiper arm includes three end portions, wherein a clamp for clamping onto said rubber blade is provided at each end portion.

15. A windshield wiper according to claim 14, wherein each of said clamps includes a clamping body for clamping on a blade holder of the rubber blade, and said clamps further including a cylindrical rib raised from a top of the clamping body.

16. A windshield wiper according to claim 15, wherein each of said end portions includes an arched retainer portion fitted with said cylindrical rib of said clamp, such that said cylindrical rib of said clamp rotates within the arched retainer portion about a limited angle.