GB2189685A

GB2189685A - A connector for connecting a wiper blade to a pantograph windscreen wiper arm

Info

Publication number: GB2189685A
Application number: GB08708357A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Palu Attilio Dal
Original assignee: Fister SpA
Current assignee: Fister SpA
Priority date: 1986-04-28
Filing date: 1987-04-08
Publication date: 1987-11-04
Also published as: GB8708357D0; GB2189685B; FR2597816B3; DE3713599A1; IT8653338V0; IT207926Z2; FR2597816A3

Description

GB 2 189 685 A 1 SPECIFICATION 6 extends a pin 12 having a spherical head

on which is pivoted a first end of a rod 13 a second end of which is A bladefor a pantograph windscreen wiper pivoted in a known way, not illustrated for simplicity, to an articulation point spaced from the axis of the The present invention relates to a blade for a 70 drive spindle.

pantograph windscreen wiper. With referenceto Figures 3,4and 5, the main rocker As is known, pantograph windscreen wipers com- 5 has a cross-section substantially shaped as an prise a main arm which atone end is driven to rotate inverted U and thus has an upperwall 14and two side reciprocatingly by a drive spindle and atthe other end walls 15. In the central region of the rocker arm 5which supports beneath it a blade by means of a pin so that 75 is devoid of a part of the upperwall 14, the side walls this can rotate about the axis of the said pin underthe 15 have a greater height. Between thewalls 15 in this rotary restraint determined by a connecting rod central region is installed an attachment element 16 joining one longitudinal end of the blade and an for connection between the rocker arm 5 and the arm 2 articulation point spaced from the axis of the spindle. which is disposed beneath the rocker arm 5. The Moreover, the connection between this pin and the 80 attachment element 16 has a main body 17 made of blade is formed by means of an additional element plastics material and in which is formed a transverse disposed in the central region of the blade, which through-hole 18 traversed by the shank of a rivet 21 allows rotation of the blade itself in a longitudinal upset at the other end 22 externally of the wall 15 plane. (Figure 2). The blade 4 thus has the possibility of The object of the present invention is that of 85 oscillating in its longitudinal plane aboutthe axis of providing a blade for a pantograph windscreen wiper the rivet 21 to followthe eu rvature of the windscreen.

which allows an attachment between the arm and the From the body 17 extend two tongues 23 between blade of particularly simple structure and assembly to which, in the common root region, is defined a be achieved, with the arm in a position of minimum semi-cylindrical seat 24 in which can be snap-engaged encumbrance beneath the central attachment region 90 a pin 25 fixed nearthe top to the end 3 of the arm 2. The of the blade. tongues 23 aretapered and one of these has a lip 26 Further objects and advantages of the present which, by extending beneath the wall, 14 constitutes a invention will become apparent during the course of limitforthe oscillation of the blade 4. Material is the following description. removed from the outerfaces of the tongues 23 in

According to the present invention there is provided 95 correspondence with the seat 24to form recesses 30 a blade for a pantograph windscreen wiper of the type which confer on the tongues 23 a certain elasticity in comprising an actuating arm which at one end such a way thatthey can deform during the introduc supports the blade by means of an attachment tion of the pin 25 into the seat 24. In this respect it is to element and at a second end is fixed for rotation with a be noted thatthe mouth of the seat 24 (Figure 4) has a drive spindle, and a connection rod for connecting the 100 width less than the diameter of the pin 25 which is thus said blade to an articulation point spaced from the axis fixed against accidental escape. When the attachment of the said spindle, characterised bythe factthatthe element 16 is free (Figure 4) thetongues 23 diverge said attachment element can be connected to the said slightly outwardly so that when it is inserted into the arm when it is disposed beneath a central rocker arm rocker arm 5, with the pin 25 inserted, these tongues of the said blade. 105 23 are broughttogether by contactwith the side walls For a better understanding of the present invention 15 and escape of the pin 25 from the seat 24 is a preferred embodiment is now described purely by obstructed by the fact thatthe tongues 23 cannot way of non-Hmitative example, with reference to the deform outwardly because of the contact between attached drawings, in which: these and the walls 15. Material is also removed in the Figures 1 and 2 are side and plan views respectively 110 region of the seat 24on the upperedge of the tongues of a pantograph windscreen wiperwith the blade of 23 and in the region of the body 17from which these the present invention; latter extend, which defines a seat 27 for receiving a Figure 3 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, of cylindrical head 28 of the pin 25. In the lowerzone of a central attachment portion between an arm and a the body 17, still in correspondence with the seat 24, blade of thewindscreen wiper of Figure 1; 115 there is on the other hand formed an abutment Figure 4 is an exploded plan view, on an enlarged projection 31 forthe end 3 of the arm 2.

scale, of an attachment element and an end portion of The blade 4 of the pantograph windscreen wiper can the windscreen wiper arm of Figure 1; and therefore turn aboutthe axis of the pin 25 under the Figure 5 is a side view of the attachment element of action of its terminal connection with the rod 13. The Figure4. 120 connection between the arm 2 and the blade 4 is easy As illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, a pantograph and rapid to effect in thatwith the attachment element windscreen wiper, generally indicated with the refer- 16, which is connected to the rocker 5 by means of the ence numeral 1, comprises an actuating arm 2 a first rivet 21, it is sufficientto rotatethis element 16 so asto end 3 of which supports a blade 4 and a second end of makethetongues 23 projectfreely and then introduce which isfixed for rotation, in a known way, not 125 and snap-engage (because of the narrow mouth of the illustrated forsimplicity, to a drive spindle. The blade 4 seat 24) the pin 25 into the seat 24 itself and then rotate comprises a main rocker arm 5 which supports, by the blade 4 until the attachment element 16 is carried means of two end rocker arms 6 and two intermediate completely into the central region of the rocker arm 5 rocker arms 7, a spine 8 which carries a wiping and the tongues 23 are broughttogether underthe element 11. Upwardly from one end of one rocker arm 130 action of the side walls 15. The blade 4 can thusturn 2 GB 2 189 685 A 2 bothwith respecttothe axis ofthe pin 25 and with 6. A blade according to Claim 4 or Claim 5, respectto the axis of the rivet 21. The u n hooking of the characterised by the fact that in correspondence with blade 4from the arm 2 takes place with the opposite the said seat, on one edge of the said tongues and the operations from those described. region of the said bodyfrom which these latter extend, From what has been explained above the advan- 70 there is a removal of material which defines a seatfor tages achieved bythe embodiment of the present receiving a head of the said pin.

Claims

invention are apparent; in factthere is formed, for a 7. A blade according to any of Claimsfrom 4to 6, pantograph windscreen wiper, a connection between characterised bythe factthatthe said central rocker the arm 2 and the blade 4 in which the arm 2 is arm has a substantially inverted U-shape cross- disposed beneath the central attachment portion of 75 section forming an upperwall and two side walls; a the rockerarm 5, which has a simple structure and a portion of the said upperwall being removed from the quick and easy assembly. It isto be notedthatthe said central region of the said rocker arm, and in this connection isformed with a very reduced number of central region the said body being installed with parts. resilient contact of the said tongues againstthe said Moreover, the same attachment element 16 can be 80 side walls, and bythe factthatthe said body is used also for arms 2 having mounts above the rocker connected to the paid rocker arm by means of a pin arm 5 (such arms have an attachment pin and passing through and fixed to the said side walls articulation obviouslyfacing downwardly) with the perpendicularly thereto. simple inversion and assembly of the attachment 8. A blade according to Claim 7, characterised by element 16 in the rocker arm 5, thus allowing use of 85 the factthat one of the said tongues has a lip which the same components (blade 4 with attachment extends beneath the said upperwall to constitute an element 16) toform the connection with actuating end stopto the turning movement of the said blade arms 2 assembled to the rocker arm 5 either above or aboutthe axis of the said pin. belowit. 9. A pantograph windscreen wiper characterised Finally, it is clearthatthe subject of the present 90 bythe factthat it includes a blade according to any invention can be modified and varied without bythis preceding Claim. departing from the protectivescope of the invention 10. A blade fora pantograph windscreen wiper, itself. and an associated pantograph windscreen wiper as CLAIMS described with reference to the attached drawings.

1. A blade fora pantograph windscreen wiper of Printed in the United Kingdom for Her Majesty's Stationery Office by the the type comprising an actuating arm which atone Tweeddale Press Group, 8991685, 11187 18996. Published at the Patent Office, end supports the said blade by means of an attach- 25 Southampton Buildings, London WC2A lAY, from which copies may be obtained.

merit element and at a second end is connected for rotation to a drive spindle, and a connecting rod for connecting the said blade to an articulation point spaced from the axis of the said spindle, characterised bythefactthat the said attachment element can be connected to the said arm when it is disposed beneath a central rockerarm of the said blade.

2. A blade according to Claim 1, characterised by the fact that the said attachment element comprises a body in which is formed a seatfor receiving a pin extending upwardly from the said first end of the said arm.

3. A blade according to Claim 2, characterised by the fact thatthe said attachment element is also able to be alternatively connected to the said arm when it is disposed above the said central rocker arm of the said blade, the said seat being able to receive a pin extending downwardly from the said first end of the said arm.

4. A blade according to Claim 2 or Claim 3, characterised by the factthatthe said body is made of plastics material, and by the factthat two tongues 55- extend from the said body inthe rootportion of which is definedthesaid seatwhich is semi-cylindrical and the mouth ofwhich has awidth less than the diameter ofthesaid pin in such a waythatthe introduction of this latter into the said seattakes placewith a snap-engagement by deforming the said tongues.

5. A blade according to Claim 4, characterised by the factthat material is removed from the outer face of the said tongues, in correspondence with the said seat, to form recesses, which confers a predetermined elasticity on the tongues.