Connecting device for connecting wiper blade to wiper arm

• US 8,453,292 B2
• Filed: 02/10/2011
• Issued: 06/04/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kb Wiper Systems Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Bosch Electrical Drives Co., Ltd. (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Inventors: Jeon, Sung Wook
• Primary Examiner(s): GRAHAM, GARY K
• Application Number:
  US12/931,799
• Publication Number:
  US 20110197386A1
• Time in Patent Office: 845 Days
• Field of Search: 152/503.2, 152/504.3, 152/504.4, 152/503.51, 152/503.52, 152/503.61
• US Class Current: 15/250.32
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/3863 Connectors having a spoiler
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/4041 the channel-shaped end comprising a pivot pin mounted between the side walls

Abstract

A connecting device for connecting a wiper blade to a wiper arm. The connecting device includes a hinge unit formed at one side of the wiper arm and an adapter provided at an upper end of the wiper blade so that the adapter is coupled to the hinge unit. The hinge unit includes retainers disposed opposite to each other about an opening formed at one side of the wiper arm. A pin is transversely disposed between the retainers. The adapter includes a guide for guiding the pin and a coupling hole connected to the guide so that the pin is hingedly coupled into the coupling hole. Connection between the wiper arm and the wiper blade is achieved by sliding a projecting jaw projecting downward from the coupling hole of the adapter along an inclined plane formed at the pin of the hinge unit and rotating the wiper blade so that one side of the adapter coincides with the inside of the opening.

Claims

1. A connecting device for connecting a wiper blade to a wiper arm, the connecting device comprising:

a hinge unit formed at one end of the wiper arm, to an other end of which is connected a wiper arm head to which rotational force is transmitted; and

an adapter provided at an upper end of the wiper blade so that the adapter is coupled to the hinge unit of the wiper arm, wherein

the hinge unit comprises retainers disposed opposite to each other about an opening formed at one side of the wiper arm so that the opening is defined between the retainers, the retainers having a pin transversely disposed therebetween,

the adapter comprises a guide for guiding the pin and a coupling hole connected to the guide so that the pin is hingedly coupled into the coupling hole, and

connection between the wiper arm and the wiper blade is achieved by sliding a projecting jaw projecting downward from an upper end of the coupling hole of the adapter along an inclined plane formed at an outer circumference of the pin of the hinge unit and rotating the wiper blade so that one side of the adapter coincides with an inside of the opening in a state in which the pin is hingedly coupled in the coupling hole,

wherein the inclined plane of the pin is provided at opposite ends thereof with first step jaws disposed in tight contact with opposite sides of the projecting law to guide the projecting jaw, and

wherein the pin further comprises stoppers extending from the first step jaws so that the stoppers protrude in a direction in which the inclined plane is cut, and the stoppers are disposed in tight contact with the upper end of the coupling hole of the adapter to restrict a rotating direction of the adapter to only one direction to prevent a back of the adapter from coming into tight contact with the inside of the opening.

2. The connecting device according to claim 1, wherein the stoppers and the first step jaws are provided at bottoms thereof with sink mark preventing spaces for preventing sink marks from being formed at outer circumferences of the retainers.

3. A connecting device for connecting a wiper blade to a wiper arm, the connecting device comprising:

a hinge unit formed at one end of the wiper arm, to an other end of which is connected a wiper arm head to which rotational force is transmitted; and

an adapter provided at an upper end of the wiper blade so that the adapter is coupled to the hinge unit of the wiper arm, wherein

the hinge unit comprises retainers disposed opposite to each other about an opening formed at one side of the wiper arm so that the opening is defined between the retainers, the retainers having a pin transversely disposed therebetween,

the adapter comprises a guide for guiding the pin and a coupling hole connected to the guide so that the pin is hingedly coupled into the coupling hole, and

connection between the wiper arm and the wiper blade is achieved by sliding a projecting jaw projecting downward from an upper end of the coupling hole of the adapter along an inclined plane formed at an outer circumference of the pin of the hinge unit and rotating the wiper blade so that one side of the adapter coincides with an inside of the opening in a state in which the pin is hingedly coupled in the coupling hole,

wherein each of the retainers further includes a locking protrusion configured to be held at an outer circumference of the adapter, and the locking protrusion has first and second tapered planes tapered upward and downward from a middle thereof.

4. The connecting device according to claim 3, wherein

the adapter is provided at opposite sides thereof with a guide groove corresponding to a rotational range within which the locking protrusions are rotated about the pin, and

the guide groove is provided with second step jaws, along which the locking protrusions are inserted into or removed from the guide groove to hold or release ends of the retainers.

5. The connecting device according to claim 4, wherein each of the second step jaws has a third tapered plane, along which a corresponding one of the locking protrusions is smoothly inserted into the guide groove.