Wiper blade

• US 6,367,117 B1
• Filed: 12/08/1998
• Issued: 04/09/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ASMO Company Limited (DENSO Corporation)
• Original Assignee: ASMO Company Limited (DENSO Corporation)
• Inventors: Ishihara, Hidenori, Sahara, Hideshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Graham, Gary K.
• Application Number:
  US09/207,364
• Time in Patent Office: 1,218 Days
• Field of Search: 152/504.4, 152/502.01, 152/504.6, 152/504.51, 152/503.61, 152/504.3, 152/504.8, 152/504.52, 152/504.53, 152/504.54
• US Class Current: 15/250.201
• 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 1/3806 Means, or measures taken, for influencing the aerodynamic quality of the wiper blades

Abstract

A wiper blade of a wiper device for wiping a windshield of a vehicle includes a primary lever to be connected to a wiper arm, a pair of secondary levers connected to the primary lever, a pair of yoke levers connected to the pair of secondary lever, and a rubber blade supported by the pair of yoke levers. The first lever has a holder member disposed above the central portion of the rubber blade and a first spoiler extending in longitudinally opposite directions from the holder member along a side of the rubber blade. Each of the secondary lever is disposed above the rubber blade and is connected to one of outer end of the first spoiler, and has a second spoiler extending in a longitudinal direction from the outer edge of the first spoiler on the same side of the rubber blade as the first spoiler. Each of the yoke lever is connected to the outer end of one of the second spoilers.

Claims

1. A wiper blade connectable with a wiper arm of a wiper device for wiping a windshield of a vehicle, said wiper blade including a first lever, a pair of second levers, a pair of third levers, and a rubber blade supported by said pair of third levers so that said rubber blade can move in a bending direction vertical to said windshield, wherein

said first lever has a holder member disposed above a central portion of said rubber blade in said bending direction, and a first spoiler extending in longitudinally opposite directions from said holder member along a side of said rubber blade,

said first spoiler has a pair of first connection portions disposed at opposite outer ends thereof,

each of said second levers has a longitudinal lever member disposed above said rubber blade in said bending direction and a bridge member, and a second spoiler extending in longitudinal direction from a portion adjacent to said outer end of said first spoiler along the same side of said rubber blade as said first spoiler,

said longitudinal lever member has a second connection portion disposed side by side with one of said pair of first connection portions connected to move in said bending direction and in parallel to said first spoiler, said first connection portions connected to said second connection portions only on one side of said rubber blade,

each of said second spoiler has a third connecting portion,

each of said third lever is disposed above said wiper blade in said bending direction and has a fourth connection portion disposed side by side with said third connection portion and rotatably connected to the same to move in said bending direction and in parallel to said second spoiler, and

said bridge member crosses said side of said rubber blade for supporting said second spoiler to extend along said same side of said rubber blade as said first spoiler.

2. The wiper blade as claimed in claim 1, wherein

each of said second levers has a grip for supporting said rubber blade at the inner end thereof.

3. The wiper blade as claimed in claim 1, wherein

said first, second and third levers are made of resinous material.

4. The wiper blade as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first and second connection portions comprise sealed connection portions, and said third and fourth connection portions comprise sealed connecting portions.

5. The wiper blade as claimed in claim 4, wherein

each of said sealed connecting portions comprises:

a pin held in holes disposed in said two of first spoiler, second lever, second spoiler and third lever to be connected.

6. The wiper blade as claimed in claim 5, wherein each of said connecting portions further comprises an elastic sealing member for sealing said connecting portion from outside.

7. A wiper blade connectable with a wiper arm of a wiper device for wiping a windshield of a vehicle, said wiper blade including a first lever connectable with said wiper arm, a pair of second levers connected to said first lever, a pair of third levers connected to said pair of second lever, a rubber blade supported by said pair of third levers and a plurality of sealed connecting portions disposed between said first lever and each of said pair of second levers and between each of said pair of second levers and one of said third levers so that said rubber blade can move in a bending direction vertical to said windshield, wherein

said first lever has a first air dam extending in longitudinally opposite directions along a side of said rubber blade, said first air dam having a pair of first connection portions disposed at opposite outer ends thereof;

each of said second lever has a longitudinal lever member disposed above said rubber blade in said bending direction that is rotatably connected to said first air dam to move in said bending direction and in parallel to said first air dam and has a pair of second air dams extending in longitudinally opposite directions along the same side of said rubber blade as said first air dam;

said longitudinal lever member has a second connection portion disposed side by side with one of said pair of first connection portions connected to move in said bending direction and in parallel to said first air dam, said first connection portions connected to said second connection portions only on one side of said rubber blade; and

each of said third lever is disposed above said rubber blade in said bending direction and rotatably connected to an outer end of said second air dams to move in said bending direction and in parallel to said second air dam.

8. The wiper blade as claimed in claim 7, wherein

each of said sealed connecting portions comprises:

a pin inserted in holes disposed in two of said first air dam, second lever, second air dam and third lever to be connected.

9. The wiper blade as claimed in claim 8, wherein each of said connecting portions further comprises a elastic sealing member for sealing said connecting portion from outside.

10. The wiper blade as claimed in claim 9, wherein said elastic sealing member is an O-ring.

11. The wiper blade as claimed in claim 7, wherein

each of said second levers has a grip for supporting said rubber blade at the inner end thereof.

12. The wiper blade as claimed in claim 7, wherein

said first and second air dams form a unitary spoiler.

13. The wiper blade as claimed in claim 7, wherein

each of said second lever has a bridge member extending across said rubber blade for supporting said second side member.

14. The wiper blade as claimed in claim 7, wherein

each of said second lever has a bridge member for supporting said second air dam to extend along the same side of said rubber blade as said first air dam, so that said first and second air dam form a unitary air dam.

15. A wiper blade connectable with a wiper arm of a wiper device for wiping a windshield of a vehicle, said wiper blade comprising:

a rubber blade;

a first lever connectable with said wiper arm, said first lever having a holder member disposed above a central axis of said rubber blade to support the same in a bending direction vertical to said windshield and a first spoiler extending in a longitudinal direction from said holder member along a side of said rubber blade;

said first spoiler has a pair of first connection portions disposed at opposite outer ends thereof;

a second lever disposed above said rubber blade and rotatably connected to an end of said first spoiler so as to move in said bending direction and in parallel to said first spoiler, said second lever having a grip portion and a second spoiler extending in a longitudinal direction from said outer end of said first spoiler on the same side of said rubber blade as said first spoiler, said second lever having a longitudinal lever member disposed above said rubber blade in said bending direction;

said longitudinal lever member has a second connection portion disposed side by side with one of said pair of first connection portions connected to move in said bending direction and in parallel to said first spoiler, said first connection portions connected to said second connection portions only on one side of said rubber blade; and

a third lever disposed above said rubber blade and rotatably supported by said second spoiler so as to move in said bending direction and in parallel to said second spoiler and having a grip portion, wherein

said rubber blade is supported by said grip portions of said second and third levers.

16. The wiper blade as claimed in claim 15, further comprising pin-and-hole connections disposed between said second lever and said first spoiler and between said third lever and second spoiler.

17. The wiper blade as claimed in claim 15, wherein each of said second lever has a bridge member for support said second spoiler to extend along the said same side of said rubber blade as said first spoiler, so that said first and second air spoilers form a unitary spoiler.

18. A wiper blade connectable with a wiper arm of a wiper device for wiping a windshield of a vehicle, said wiper blade comprising:

a rubber blade having a longitudinal side surface;

a first lever connectable with said wiper arm, said first lever having a holder member disposed above a central axis of said rubber blade to support the same in a bending direction vertical to said windshield and a first spoiler extending in a longitudinal direction from said holder member along said side surface of said rubber blade;

said first spoiler has a pair of first connection portions disposed at opposite outer ends thereof;

a second lever disposed above said rubber blade, said second lever having a connecting portion that is rotatably connected to an end of said first spoiler so as to move in said bending direction and in parallel to said first spoiler, a bridge member and a second spoiler extending in a longitudinal direction from a portion adjacent to said outer end of said first spoiler along said side surface of said rubber blade, said second lever having a longitudinal lever member disposed above said rubber blade in said bending direction; and

said longitudinal lever member has a second connection portion disposed side by side with one of said pair of first connection portions connected to move in said bending direction and in parallel to said first spoiler, said first connection portions connected to said second connection portions only on one side of said rubber blade;

a third lever disposed above said rubber blade, said third lever having a connecting portion that is rotatably supported by said second spoiler so as to move in said bending direction and in parallel to said second spoiler and having a grip portion, wherein

said bridge member crosses said side surface of said rubber blade for supporting said second spoiler to extend along said side surface of said rubber blade, and

said rubber blade is supported by said grip portion of said third lever.

19. The wiper blade as claimed in claim 18, wherein said second lever has a grip portion supporting said rubber blade together with said grip portion of said third lever.

20. The wiper blade as claimed in claim 18 wherein said first lever, second lever and third lever are made of resinous material.

21. The wiper blade as claimed in claim 18, wherein said connection portions of said second lever and said third lever have hermetic seal structures.

22. A wiper blade connectable with a wiper arm of a wiper device for wiping a windshield of a vehicle, said wiper blade comprising:

a rubber blade bendable in a vertical direction to said windshield;

a first lever having a holder member disposed above said rubber blade to hold the same in said vertical direction and a first side member extending from said holder member along said wiper blade;

said first side member has a pair of first connection portions disposed at opposite outer ends thereof;

a pair of second levers, each having a longitudinal member disposed above said rubber blade in said vertical direction and a second side member extending from said longitudinal member along said rubber blade to align said first side;

a pair of third levers disposed above said rubber blade in said vertical direction for supporting said rubber blade;

wherein

said longitudinal member has a second connection portion disposed side by side with one of said pair of first connection portions connected to move in said vertical direction in parallel to said first side member, said first connection portions connected to said second connection portions only on one side of said rubber blade;

each of said third levers and said second side member are disposed side by side to each other so that said third lever can move in said vertical direction in parallel to said second side member.

23. The wiper blade as claimed in claim 22, wherein each of said pair of second lever member has a bridge member between said longitudinal member and said second side member for supporting said second side member to extend along said rubber blade with said first side member.

24. A wiper blade connectable with a wiper arm of a wiper device for wiping a windshield of a vehicle, said wiper blade including a first lever connectable with said wiper arm, a pair of second levers connected to said first lever, a pair of third levers connected to said pair of second lever, a rubber blade supported by said pair of third levers and a plurality of sealed connecting portions disposed between said first lever and each of said pair of second levers and between each of said pair of second levers and one of said third levers so that said rubber blade can move in a bending direction vertical to said windshield, wherein

said first lever has a first side member made of resinous material extending in longitudinally opposite directions along a side of said rubber blade;

said first side member has a pair of first connection portions disposed at opposite outer ends thereof;

each of said second lever has a longitudinal lever member made of resinous material disposed above said rubber blade in said bending direction that is rotatably connected to said first side member to move in said bending direction and in parallel to said first side member and has a pair of second side member made of resinous material extending in longitudinally opposite directions along the same side of said rubber blade as said first side member;

said longitudinal lever member has a second connection portion disposed side by side with one of said pair of first connection portions connected to move in said bending direction and in parallel to said first side member, said first connection portions connected to said second connection portions only on one side of said rubber blade, and

each of said third lever is disposed above said rubber blade in said bending direction and rotatably connected to an outer end of said second side member to move in said bending direction and in parallel to said second side member.

25. The wiper blade as claimed in claim 24, wherein said plurality of sealed connecting portions are respectively disposed between said first side member and said longitudinal lever members of said second lever and between said second side members and said third levers.

26. The wiper blade as claimed in claim 24, wherein said sealed connecting portions comprises a pin-and-hole connection disposed at one of portions between said first side member and said longitudinal member of said second lever, and between said second side member and third lever.

27. The wiper blade as claimed in claim 24, wherein each of said connection portions further comprises a elastic sealing member for sealing said connection portion from outside.

28. The wiper blade as claimed in claim 27, wherein said elastic sealing member is an O-ring.