Connector for installing and articulating a windscreen wiper on the end of a drive arm

• US 8,719,994 B2
• Filed: 09/21/2006
• Issued: 05/13/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Valeo Systemes D'Essuyage (Valeo SE)
• Original Assignee: Valeo Systemes D'Essuyage (Valeo SE)
• Inventors: Thienard, Jean-Claude, Boussicot, Frederic
• Primary Examiner(s): GRAHAM, GARY K
• Application Number:
  US12/067,647
• Publication Number:
  US 20100212101A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,791 Days
• Field of Search: 152/503.2, 152/503.51, 152/502.01, 152/504.3, 152/504.4, 152/503.61
• US Class Current: 15/250.32
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/3808 Spoiler integral with the squeegee
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/3848 Flat-type wiper blade, i.e. without harness
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/3849 Connectors therefor; Connection to wiper arm; Attached to blade
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/3868 pin formed on the exterior of side walls
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/3879 placed in side grooves in the squeegee
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/4038 for arms provided with a channel-shaped end
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/4048 the element being provided with retention means co-operating with the channel-shaped end of the arm
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 2001/4051 the intermediate element engaging the side walls of the arm
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 2001/4054 the intermediate element engaging the back part of the arm

Abstract

A connector between a windscreen wiper and a drive arm, with the wiper extending in a longitudinal direction, and the connector being capable of being installed in a free end of the arm, includes an attachment part equipped with a housing open towards a bottom and allowing removable attachment according to a vertical direction of the wiper with the connector, and elastically deformable locking means having a portion that is capable of ensuring locking in the longitudinal direction of the connector in an installed position thereof in the free end of the arm. The attachment part is designed to cooperate with an installation element other than the locking means and is permanently fixed to the wiper. The locking means comprise a tab that extends in the longitudinal direction.

Claims

1. A connector between a windscreen wiper and a drive arm, the wiper extending in a longitudinal direction, and the connector being capable of being installed in a free end of the drive arm and comprising:

an attachment part equipped with a housing open towards a bottom and allowing removable attachment according to a vertical direction of the wiper with the connector; and

elastically deformable locking means having a portion that is capable of ensuring locking in the longitudinal direction of the connector in an installed position thereof in the free end of the arm,

wherein the attachment part is designed to cooperate with an installation element, other than the elastically deformable locking means, the installation element being permanently fixed to the wiper,

wherein the elastically deformable locking means comprise a tab that extends in the longitudinal direction of the wiper, and

wherein the connector comprises two lateral flanges, each extending in an overall vertical plane, the flanges being suitable for being installed transversally on either side of the installation element of the wiper, and each flange comprising a transversal housing that is capable of receiving a pivoting transversal axle for articulation of the installation element,

wherein, on each flange, the transversal housing has a lower opening, delimited, at least partially, by an elastically deformable attachment portion that allows for an installation and removal of the connector from the wiper as well as the attachment of the transversal axle in an installed position in the housing,

wherein the longitudinal locking of the connector with the arm is provided by a connector-side end of the tab, located level with a bottom part of the connector,

wherein the tab is located to a rear of the connector, the connector-side end thereof forming at least partially a longitudinal stop towards a rear of at least one associated end section of the arm, and

wherein the connector-side end of the tab is mobile between a lower locking position and a raised unlocking position, allowing the connector to slide longitudinally forward in relation to the arm.

2. An assembly comprising:

a windscreen wiper;

a drive arm for said windscreen wiper; and

a connector between the windscreen wiper and the drive arm, the wiper extending in a longitudinal direction, and the connector being capable of being installed in a free end of the drive arm and comprising;

an attachment part equipped with a housing open towards a bottom and allowing removable attachment according to a vertical direction of the wiper with the connector; and

elastically deformable locking means having a portion that is capable of ensuring locking in the longitudinal direction of the connector in an installed position thereof in the free end of the arm,

wherein the attachment part is designed to cooperate with an installation element, other than the elastically deformable locking means, the installation element being permanently fixed to the wiper,

wherein the elastically deformable locking means comprise a tab that extends in the longitudinal direction of the wiper, and

wherein the connector comprises two lateral flanges, each extending in an overall vertical plane, the flanges being suitable for being installed transversally on either side of the installation element of the wiper, and each flange comprising a transversal housing that is capable of receiving a pivoting transversal axle for articulation of the installation element,

wherein, on each flange, the transversal housing has a lower opening, delimited, at least partially, by an elastically deformable attachment portion that allows for an installation and removal of the connector from the wiper as well as the attachment of the transversal axle in an installed position in the housing,

wherein the longitudinal locking of the connector with the arm is provided by a connector-side end of the tab, located level with a bottom part of the connector,

wherein the tab is located to a rear of the connector, the connector-side end thereof forming at least partially a longitudinal stop towards a rear of at least one associated end section of the arm,

wherein the connector-side end of the tab is mobile between a lower locking position and a raised unlocking position, allowing the connector to slide longitudinally forward in relation to the arm,

wherein said free end of the arm comprises two parallel longitudinal wings connected by a horizontal top spine, wherein each wing of the free end of the arm comprises a lower end section, which is bent transversally in the direction of the other wing, wherein each lower end section is designed such as to extend under a longitudinal edge of a lower end of an associated flange when the connector is in installed position in the free end of the arm and such as to come to a stop upwards against the lower edge of the associated flange.

3. The assembly according to claim 2, further configured to make possible to install and/or remove the connector from the installation element when the connector is already installed in the free end of the arm.