Compliant force distribution arrangement for window wiper

• US 6,301,742 B1
• Filed: 01/08/1999
• Issued: 10/16/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sridhar Kota
• Original Assignee: Sridhar Kota
• Inventors: Kota, Sridhar
• Primary Examiner(s): Graham, Gary K.
• Application Number:
  US09/214,638
• Time in Patent Office: 1,012 Days
• Field of Search: 152/503.61, 152/504.3, 152/504.4, 152/504.51, 152/504.6, 152/503.51, 152/504.52
• US Class Current: 15/250.46
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/32 characterised by constructional features of wiper blade arms or blades
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/3801 characterised by a blade support harness consisting of several articulated elements B60S1/3803, B60S1/3806 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 2001/3812 Means of supporting or holding the squeegee or blade rubber
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 2001/3813 chacterised by a support harness consisting of several articulated elements
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 2001/3815 chacterised by the joint between elements

Abstract

A force distribution arrangement, which is particularly adaptable as a support frame for a windshield wiper support frame (180) for a vehicle, and which can further be provided with an integrally formed windshield wiper blade, is provided with a force input for receiving a directional input force, a force distribution portion resiliently coupled to, and integrally formed with, the force input for transmitting and distributing the directional input force, and a plurality of force output points resiliently coupled to, and integrally formed with, the force distribution portion and the force input. The force output points produce a respective plurality of output forces to the windshield wiper blade, and are translatable with respect to one another along respective paths that are substantially parallel to the direction of the directional input force, and thereby accommodate the curvature of the surface contour of a windshield. A beam member (181) receives at an input thereof at least a portion of the directional input force, and produces at first and second outputs thereof respective ones of first and second output forces. A resilient beam coupling (183,8) portion is integrally formed at the force output point of the beam member. The resilient beam (183,8) coupling portion can be formed substantially as an S-shaped member or a V-shaped member, or the resilient elements can be tiered. Alternatively, the resilient beam coupling portion is formed substantially as a pair of opposingly spaced resilient portions for forming a resilient hinge, the resilient hinge being integrally formed with the beam member.

Claims

1. A windshield wiper arrangement for a windshield of a vehicle, the windshield wiper arrangement being coupled to a windshield wiper arm that is coupled at a first end thereof to the vehicle and at a second end thereof to the windshield wiper arrangement for applying a force thereto with respect to the vehicle in a first direction that urges the windshield wiper arrangement toward the windshield and which moves the windshield wiper arrangement in a second direction across the windshield, the windshield wiper arrangement having a windshield wiper blade coupled thereto for communicating with the windshield of the vehicle, the windshield wiper arrangement further comprising:

a windshield wiper blade support system integrally formed of a resilient material, the windshield wiper blade support system having;

a continuous primary beam that is continuous between first and second end portions arranged axially distal from one another, and further having a central portion therebetween arranged for coupling with the windshield wiper arm;

a strap member that is continuous between first and second end portions thereof, said first and second end portions being coupled to respective ones of the first and second end portions of said continuous primary beam, said strap member being highly compliant in response to the force applied with respect to the vehicle in the first direction, and substantially less compliant in the second direction across the windshield;

a plurality of resilient members, each having first and second ends, the first ends of each of said resilient members being coupled directly to said primary beam at predetermined fixed locations therealong, and the second ends of each of said resilient members being coupled directly to said strap member at predetermined fixed locations therealong, said resilient members being arranged to be compliantly displaceable along a respective substantially linear path of compliance, the substantially linear path of compliance being substantially parallel to the first direction and axially transverse with respect to said primary beam, and substantially less compliant in the second direction across the windshield; and

a plurality of wiper blade coupling arrangements each coupled to said strap member at predetermined fixed locations therealong, for coupling slidingly with the windshield wiper blade.

2. The windshield wiper arrangement of claim 1, wherein said strap member comprises a plurality of resilient interconnection elements integrally formed with said primary beam each for coupling the second ends of sequentially adjacent ones of said plurality of resilient members to one another.

3. The windshield wiper arrangement of claim 2, wherein said strap member comprises a pair of further resilient interconnection elements for coupling respectively associated ones of the second ends of said plurality of resilient members to respective ones of the first and second ends of said primary beam.

4. The windshield wiper arrangement of claim 1, wherein the windshield wiper is of the type having an elongated blade support extending therealong for a length dimension that corresponds to the distance between the first and second ends of said primary beam, and a predetermined width and thickness, and each of said wiper blade coupling arrangements comprises:

an end pad coupled to said strap member in the vicinity of the second end of a respectively associated one of said plurality of resilient members, said end pad having a width that is predetermined in response to the width of the elongated blade support; and

first and second windshield wiper blade engagement members integrally formed with said end pad and extending substantially normal to said end pad for engaging across the width of the elongated blade support.

5. The windshield wiper arrangement of claim 4, wherein said first and second windshield wiper blade engagement members are staggered on said end pad.

6. The windshield wiper arrangement of claim 4, wherein said resilient members each comprise a substantially V-shaped resilient element formed of first and second resilient beams coupled to one another to form a resiliently variable angle therebetween, said substantially V-shaped resilient element having first and second ends, said first and second ends of said V-shaped resilient element being relatively rigid in a direction transverse to the resiliently variable angle.

7. The windshield wiper arrangement of claim 6, wherein there is further provided:

a plurality of first coupling arrangements each for coupling an associated one of the first ends of said substantially V-shaped resilient elements to said primary beam; and

a plurality of second coupling arrangements each for coupling an associated one of the second ends of said to a respectively associated one of said end pads.

8. The windshield wiper arrangement of claim 7, wherein each of said substantially V-shaped resilient elements and associated ones of said first and second coupling arrangements are configured whereby an associated one of said end pads is compliantly displaceable along respective counter-arcuate paths defined by respective ones or the first and second resilient beams, the counter-arcuate paths combining to form the respective substantially linear path of compliance that is substantially parallel to the first direction and axially transverse with respect to said primary beam and defined by the respectively associated points of coupling to said primary beam and said end pads.

9. A windshield wiper arrangement for a windshield of a vehicle, the windshield wiper arrangement being coupled to a windshield wiper arm that is coupled at a first end thereof to the vehicle and at a second end thereof to the windshield wiper arrangement for applying a force thereto with respect to the vehicle in a direction that urges the windshield wiper arrangement toward the windshield and which moves the windshield wiper arrangement across the windshield, the windshield wiper arrangement having a windshield wiper blade coupled thereto for communicating with the windshield of the vehicle, the windshield wiper arrangement further comprising:

a windshield wiper blade support formed of a resilient material, the windshield wiper blade suppose having;

a continuous primary beam arranged to couple with the windshield wiper an said continuous primary beam being substantially coextensive with the windshield wiper blade,

an elongated compliant support element fixedly coupled at its distal ends to respective distal ends of said continuous primary beam,

a first compliant beam having a first end for coupling to said continuous primary beam, a second end, and a resilient portion between said first and second ends for bending resiliently in response to a force applied between said primary beam and said elongated compliant support element;

a first resilient coupling portion for resiliently coupling said first compliant beam to said continuous primary beam; and

a second compliant beam coupled to said first compliant beam, said second compliant beam being arranged intermediate of said first compliant beam and said elongated compliant support element, and being further provided with means for coupling with said elongated compliant support element.

10. The windshield wiper arrangement of claim 9, wherein said first compliant beam has a substantially elongated configuration with an axis therealong, said first compliant beam being arranged with respect to the windshield wiper blade whereby a principal component of the force applied by the windshield wiper blade to said first compliant beam is applied substantially transverse to the axis of said first compliant beam.

11. The windshield wiper arrangement of claim 9, wherein said first compliant beam has a substantially elongated configuration with an axis therealong, said first compliant beam being arranged with respect to said elongated compliant support element whereby a principal component of the force applied by said elongated compliant support element to said first compliant beam is applied substantially axially at said second end of said first compliant beam.

12. The windshield wiper arrangement of claim 9, wherein there is further provided a second resilient coupling portion integrally formed with said first compliant beam for resiliently coupling said second compliant beam with said first compliant beam.

13. The windshield wiper arrangement of claim 12, wherein said elongated compliant support element in the vicinity of the coupling thereto of said first end of said second compliant beam is provided with means for coupling with the windshield wiper blade.