Wiper device

• US 6,606,759 B1
• Filed: 03/08/2000
• Issued: 08/19/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mitsuba Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mitsuba Corporation
• Inventors: Hoshino, Takashi
• Primary Examiner(s): Graham, Gary K.
• Application Number:
  US09/520,804
• Time in Patent Office: 1,259 Days
• Field of Search: 152/502.1, 152/503.51, 152/503.52, 152/502.3, 152/500.01, 152/502.01
• US Class Current: 15/250.21
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/32 characterised by constructional features of wiper blade arms or blades
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/3409 the wiper arms consisting of two or more articulated elements

Abstract

A wiper device has an arm support constituting a wiper arm that is provided with a waterproof structure. The waterproof structure protects a link coupling portion of the arm support from water. First and second link coupling portions are provided on a proximal end portion of the arm support. First and second guiding passages are formed between the first and second link coupling portions, and a third guiding passage is formed above the second link coupling portion. Furthermore, locking hooks for mounting a cover that serve also as dripping guide members are provided and disposed at right ends of the first, second, and third guiding passages such that the locking hooks face each other. Thus, water on a surface of the arm support is positively drained toward a window surface.

Claims

1. A wiper device, comprising:

an arm support constituting a wiper arm; and

a cover that at least partly covers the arm support, wherein at least one of the arm support and the cover is provided with guiding means for guiding water that enters between the arm support and the cover at least across the surface of the arm support, the guiding means extending from a front edge to a rear edge of the arm support.

2. The wiper device according to claim 1, wherein

the arm support has a link for the wiper arm to swing for wiping, the link being pivotally coupled thereto, and

the guiding means are a guiding passage for guiding water across a surface of the arm support so as to avoid a link coupling portion, and a dripping guide member for guiding and dripping the water on the surface from the arm support to a rear surface thereof.

3. The wiper device according to claim 2, wherein the dripping guide member is a locking member for locking the cover onto the arm support.

4. The wiper device according to claim 3, wherein a plurality of dripping guide members are formed such that they avoid the link coupling portion.

5. The wiper device according to claim 2, wherein plurality of dripping guide members are formed such that they avoid the link coupling portion.

6. The wiper device according to claim 1, wherein the arm support has a protuberance formed so that it protrudes sideways from a side edge of the arm support.

7. A wiper device, connected to a motor and a vehicle via a pair of support links, the wiper device comprising:

an arm support pivotally connected at one end to a first support link of the pair of support links and at an intermediate portion pivotally connected to a second support link of the pair of support links; and

a cover removably attached to the arm support at a side away from the vehicle, wherein the arm support has at least one water directing element traversing the arm support proximate each support link to channel water away from the support link, each water directing element descends from a front edge to a rear edge of the arm support.

8. The wiper device according to claim 7, wherein the at least one water directing element is one of a rib and a channel traversing the arm support at an oblique angle when the arm support arm is vertical.

9. The wiper device according to claim 7, wherein the arm support has an arm shaped protuberance extending between the pair of support links.

10. The wiper device according to claim 9, wherein the cover has a plurality of pairs of locking hooks extending from a cover surface facing the vehicle whereby the cover is snap fitted to the arm support.

11. The wiper device according to claim 10, wherein the cover further has a locking hook extending from the cover surface facing the vehicle for engaging the arm shaped protuberance.

12. The wiper device according to claim 11, wherein the cover has a circumferential skirt forming a side surface, the side surface away from the pair of support links having a length greater than the locking hooks so as to completely cover the arm support and the side surface at the pair of support links having a length less than or equal to the locking hooks to avoid contact with the pair of support links.

13. The wiper device according to claim 7, wherein the cover has a plurality of pairs of locking hooks extending from a cover surface facing the vehicle whereby the cover is snap fitted to the arm support.

14. The wiper device according to claim 13, wherein the cover has a circumferential skirt forming a side surface, the side surface away from the pair of support links having a length greater than the locking hooks so as to completely cover the arm support and the side surface at the pair of support links having a length less than or equal to the locking hooks to avoid contact with the pair of support links.

15. The wiper device according to claim 7, wherein the pivotal connection between the first support link and the second support link to the arm support each includes:

a hole in the arm support;

a pivot received in the hole;

an annular seal fixed to one of the support links and spaced from the pivot; and

an annular recess in the arm support surrounding the hole on a side facing the vehicle, the annular seal seated in the annular recess.

16. The wiper device according to claim 15, wherein the pivotal connection between the first support link and the second support link to the arm support each includes:

a hole in the arm support;

a pivot seated in the hole; and

an annular recess around the hole on a side away from the vehicle, the cover having an annular rib and an annular sealing member extending from a surface of the cover facing the vehicle, wherein the annular rib and at least a portion of the annular sealing member are received in the annular recess.

17. The wiper device according to claim 7, wherein the pivotal connection between the first support link and the second support link to the arm support each includes:

a hole in the arm support;

a pivot seated in the hole; and

an annular recess around the hole on a side away from the vehicle, the cover having an annular rib and an annular sealing member extending from a surface of the cover facing the vehicle, wherein the annular rib and at least a portion of the annular sealing member are received in the annular recess.

18. A wiper device used on a vehicle with a linking mechanism having a pair of support links between the wiper device and the vehicle, the wiper device comprising:

an arm support having a hole at one end receiving a pivot of a first support link of the linking mechanism and a hole at an intermediate position receiving a pivot of a second support link of the linking mechanism; and

a cover mounted to the arm support via a plurality of pairs of locking hooks extending from the cover to engage the arm support; and

means for channeling water formed across a surface of the arm support facing to the cover, the means for channel water extends from a front edge to a rear edge of the arm support.

19. The wiper device according to claim 18, further comprising:

a pair of annular rings and sealing members extending from the cover and received in an annular recess surrounding each hole in the arm support.

20. The wiper device according to claim 19, further comprising an annular recess formed around each of the holes in the arm support on a side away from the cover, the annular recesses each receiving a seal mounted to the pivotally connected supporting link.