Coupling device and wiper blade

• US 7,421,755 B2
• Filed: 07/07/2004
• Issued: 09/09/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Denso Wiper Systems, Inc. (DENSO Corporation)
• Original Assignee: ASMO Company Limited (DENSO Corporation), Nippon Wiper Blade Company Limited (DENSO Corporation)
• Inventors: Iijima, Yasuhiro, Kinoshita, Nobuaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Graham; Gary K
• Application Number:
  US10/886,511
• Publication Number:
  US 20050005387A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,525 Days
• Field of Search: 152/503.2, 152/503.51, 152/502.01, 152/503.61, 152/504.3, 152/504.4
• US Class Current: 15/250.32
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/3849 Connectors therefor; Connection to wiper arm; Attached to blade
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/4016 the element being provided with retention means co-operating with the hook-shaped end of the arm
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 2001/4022 the element being provided with a locking element movable thereon
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 2001/4035 the connection being covered by a removable cover mounted on the blade

Abstract

A coupling device has a clip and a clip holder. A hook at a distal portion of a wiper arm is attached to the clip. The clip holder has a locking member and a cover. The cover extends along the longitudinal direction of the wiper arm. The cover has a first cover portion and a second cover portion. When the clip holder is located at an engage position where the clip holder is engaged with the clip, the second cover portion extends to connected parts of a boundary between a retainer and an arm piece.

Claims

1. A wiper blade assembly pivotally attached to a distal portion of a wiper arm, the assembly comprising:

a wiper blade having a coupling portion, wherein the coupling portion has a coupling shaft and an insertion opening to which the distal portion of the wiper arm is inserted; and

a coupling device pivotally supported by the coupling shaft, wherein the coupling device includes;

a base member to which the distal portion of the wiper arm is attached; and

a locking member having a locking portion and a cover, wherein the locking member is movable relative to the base member between an engage position and a disengage position, wherein, when the locking member is located at the engage position, the locking portion is engaged with the distal portion of the wiper arm, and the engaged parts of the distal portion of the wiper arm and the locking portion are covered with the cover,

wherein the wiper arm includes a retainer extending along a longitudinal direction of the wiper arm and an arm piece extending from a distal end of the retainer, wherein the cover extends from the locking portion to the boundary between the retainer and the arm piece.

2. The wiper blade assembly according to claim 1, wherein the base portion is pivotally supported by the coupling shaft.

3. The wiper blade assembly according to claim 1, wherein the cover extends from the locking portion along the longitudinal direction of the wiper arm.

4. The wiper blade assembly according to claim 1, wherein the arm piece is detachably attached to the base member.

5. The wiper blade assembly according to claim 1, wherein, when the locking member is located at the engage position, the cover substantially covers the entire arm piece.

6. The wiper blade assembly according to claim 1, wherein the cover has a pair of side walls that are substantially flush with side walls of the retainer when the locking member is located at the engage position.

7. The wiper blade assembly according to claim 6, wherein the arm piece has a width narrower than the width of the retainer, and wherein, when the locking member is located at the engage position, the side walls of the cover support the arm piece.

8. The wiper blade assembly according to claim 6, wherein the cover has an engaging portion that is engaged with the arm piece.

9. The wiper blade assembly according to claim 1, wherein part of the cover that corresponds to the insertion opening has a width that is substantially the same as the width of the insertion opening.

10. The wiper blade assembly according to claim 1, wherein the base member has an attaching portion and an extended portion, the distal portion of the wiper arm being attached to the attaching portion, the extended portion extending from the attaching portion toward a distal end of the wiper blade along the longitudinal direction, wherein the locking member is pivotally coupled to the extended portion.

11. A wiper of a vehicle for wiping a surface to be wiped of the vehicle, the wiper comprising:

a wiper arm having a distal portion and a proximal portion, wherein the proximal portion is fixed to a pivot that is pivotally supported by a vehicle body, wherein the wiper arm is urged to the surface to be wiped;

a wiper blade having a coupling portion, wherein the coupling portion has a coupling shaft and an insertion opening to which the distal portion of the wiper arm is inserted; and

a coupling device pivotally supported by the coupling shaft, wherein the coupling device includes;

a base member to which the distal portion of the wiper arm is attached; and

a locking member having a locking portion and a cover, wherein the locking member is movable relative to the base member between an engage position and a disengage position, wherein, when the locking member is located at the engage position, the locking portion is engaged with the distal portion of the wiper arm, and the engaged parts of the distal portion of the wiper arm and the locking portion are covered with the covers,

wherein the wiper arm includes a retainer extending along a longitudinal direction of the wiper arm and an arm piece extending from a distal end of the retainer, wherein the cover extends from the locking portion to the boundary between the retainer and the arm piece.

12. The wiper according to claim 11, wherein the cover extends from the locking portion along the longitudinal direction of the wiper arm.

13. The wiper according to claim 11, wherein the wiper arm further includes:

an arm head having a proximal portion and a distal portion, the proximal portion being fixed to the pivot,

wherein the retainer has a proximal portion that is pivotally coupled to the distal portion of the arm head such that the retainer is capable of contacting and separating from the surface to be wiped, wherein the retainer has a channel-like cross-section and opens to the surface to be wiped, and

wherein the arm piece has a hook that is attached to the base member.

14. The wiper according to claim 13, wherein part of the cover that corresponds to the insertion opening has a width that is substantially the same as the width of the insertion opening.

15. The wiper according to claim 13, wherein the base member has an attaching portion and an extended portion, the hook being attached to the attaching portion, the extended portion extending from the attaching portion toward a distal end of the wiper blade along the longitudinal direction, wherein the locking member is pivotally coupled to the extended portion.

16. The wiper according to claim 11, wherein the cover has a pair of side walls that are substantially flush with side walls of the retainer when the locking member is located at the engage position.

17. The wiper according to claim 16, wherein the cover has an engaging portion that is engaged with the arm piece.