GB2153207A

GB2153207A - Wiper blade components

Info

Publication number: GB2153207A
Application number: GB08501439A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Edmund Joseph Sumins; Roger William Baker
Original assignee: Trico Ltd
Current assignee: Trico Ltd
Priority date: 1984-01-24
Filing date: 1985-01-21
Publication date: 1985-08-21
Also published as: AU566454B2; BE901569A; DE3501745A1; JPH0723084B2; GB2153207B; AU3802485A; GB8501439D0; JPS60215454A; GB8401769D0; DE3501745C2; NZ210893A

Abstract

A plastics insert is disclosed for use with a pivot pin in pivotally connecting a wiper blade alongside a wiper arm. Side portions 54 of the insert have resilient flexibility in the lateral sense and have a pair of holes 64, one in each side portion, aligned transversely of the insert and bounded by a pair of cylindrical bearing surfaces 66 for receiving bearing portions 36, 38 of the pin. Each of the bearing surfaces 66 extends through a respective one of the side portions 54 and through an external hollow projection 62 on that side portion. Each of the hollow projections 62 is intended to extend through or deep into a respective one of the holes 32 in the side walls 26 of the yoke 16 of the wiper blade in order to keep the pin out of contact with the yoke 16. A plastics latch member may be provided for sliding movement relatively to the insert between an unlatched position and a latched position in which a block 70 forming part of the latch member makes snp engagement with a circumferential groove 40 disposed between the bearing portions 36, 38 of the pivot pin. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Wiper blade components The present invention relates to wiper blade components which are improvements of wiper blade components embodying one of our earlier inventions.

More particularly, it is known from our patent specification GB 2 125 691 A that an insert of a plastics material can be provided for use in pivotally connecting a wiper blade alongside a wiper arm in a manner which is secure, but releasable.

In said specification, the wiper blade can be described as having a harness including a metal yoke of inverted channel cross-section having an elongate aperture along its back and intermediate its ends, the aperture being defined laterally by opposite side walls of the yoke, and the side walls having a pair of holes, one in each side wall, aligned transversely of the yoke. As part of a means for connecting the harness to the wiper arm, there was a pivot pin described as having portions for bearing in the holes and having a circumferential groove disposed between said portions. The pin could be a permanent part of the wiper arm and be releasably connectable to the wiper blade, or alternatively the pin could be separable from both the wiper arm and the wiper blade.The insert can be described as being a single piece of moulded plastics of generally rectangular form having a length substantially greater than its width, the insert being intended to fit in the aperture in the back of the yoke. having at each end a lip projecting longitudinally of the insert for forming a lap joint with the back of the yoke, and having opposite side portions for lying within the aperture closely adjacent to the side walls of the yoke.

The insert was releasably connected to the pin in a manner which is not relevant to the present invention.

A primary object of the present invention is to reduce the possibility of corrosion occurring where the pin bears in the holes in the side walls of the yoke. The corrosion has been particularly bad when a protective finish on the yoke has been worn through by the pin to expose a non-stainless steel which has then been subjected to for example salt from the road or spray from the sea. The existence of the corrosion has inhibited pivoting of the wiper blade around the pin and has also been unsightly.

In accordance with the present invention, wiper blade components comprise a harness, a pin and an insert, as described above, characterised in that the side portions of the insert have resilient flexibility in the lateral sense and have a pair of holes, one in each side portion, aligned transversely of the insert and bounded by a pair of cylindrical bearing surfaces for receiving said portions of the pin, each of the bearing surfaces extending through a respective one of the side portions and through an external hollow projection on that side portion, each of the hollow projections being intended to extend through or deep into a respective one of the holes in the side walls of the yoke in order to keep the pin out of contact with the yoke.

Protection is also sought for the abovedefined insert per se.

To enable the pin to be latched to the wiper blade in a simple and effective manner, the insert is preferably provided with a latch member which is accessible from outside the insert and is movable between a latched position in which the latch member protrudes into a space between the aligned holes in the side portions of the insert to engage the groove in the pin, and an unlatched position in which the latch member lies withdrawn from said space and disengaged from the pin.

One example of wiper blade components embodying the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side view of parts of a wiper arm and a wiper blade shown in assembly with an insert and latch member; Figure 2 is a top plan view of the insert omitting the latch member but showing the main yoke of the wiper blade in chain lines; Figure 3 is a longitudinal section through Figure 2 with the latch member in the unlatched position; Figure 4 is a scrap view showing the pin engaged with the latch member; Figure 5 is a transverse section taken along the line A-A of Figure 3 with the latch member in the latched position; and Figure 6 is a transverse section taken along the line B-B of Figure 3 with the latch member in the unlatched position.

Referring initially to the general assembly (Figure 1), a wiper blade 10 is shown comprising a rubber wiper strip 12 and subsidiary yokes 14 which are pivotally mounted with respect to a main yoke 16 of metal. A wiper arm 18 terminates in a rigid plastics moulding 20 which lies alongside the main yoke 16 and is releasably pivotally connected to the main yoke 16 by a cylindrical pin 22. The pin 22 is permanently rigidly supported by the moulding 20 and projects from it at rights angles to the length of the adjacent part of the wiper arm 18. Alternatively the pin 22 can be a discrete member of the kind disclosed in our above-mentioned patent specification GB 2 125 691 A which is releasably connected in known manner to a connector permanently attached to the free end of the wiper arm 18 in place of the moulding 20.An insert and latch member, present in Figure 1 but almost totally hidden, contribute to connecting the main yoke 16 to the pin 22.

As indicated by the chain lines in Figure 3, the majority of the main yoke 16 is of inverted channel section with a web 24 and flanges 26. In a central portion, the main yoke 16 widens slightly as shown in Figure 2 and there presents a rectangular aperture 28, the ends of which are defined by the web 24 and the sides of which are defined by the flanges 26. The flanges 26 extend somewhat upwards along each side of the aperture 28 to upper edges 30. A pair of transversely aligned holes 32 is formed in the flanges 26 to permit the pin 22 to enter and extend from side to side of the main yoke 1 6. In this example there is a gap 1 mm wide between the moulding 20 and the yoke 16 when the pin is latched to the yoke. However, should a discrete pin having a central collar 34 be employed, the collar 34 would occupy the position indicated in chain lines in Figure 5.The outer end part of the pin, whether permanently supported by the moulding or releasably connected to a connector, has two cylindrical portions 36, 38 separated by a circumferential groove 40, the cylindrical portion 38 having a tapering extremity. It should be noted that a shoulder between the cylindrical portion 36 and the circumferential groove 40 is radiused whereas a shoulder between the cylindrical portion 38 and the circumferential groove 40 is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the pin 22.

The insert (Figures 2 to 6) is a single piece of moulded plastics having a generally rectangular body 50 which has a length substantially greater than its width. More particularly, the body 50 comprises a pair of end portions 52 bridging a pair of laterally resilient side portions 54 to present a hollow rectangular frame defining a corresponding opening 58. A pair of external lips 60 projects longitudinally in opposite directions from the end portions 52. The lips 60 are disposed below the upper peripheries of the end portions 52 by an amount corresponding to the thickness of the web 24 of the yoke 16. A pair of hollow external projections 62 having circular internal and external peripheries projects laterally in opposite directions from the side portions 54.

The projections 62 are radially dimensioned to fit the holes 32 in the flanges 26. A pair of aligned holes 64 extends through the side portions 54 and also through the projections 62, the holes 64 being bounded by a pair of cylindrical bearing surfaces 66 for the pin as later described.

The latch member (Figures 3 to 6) is a single piece of moulded plastics and has a block 70 depending from a rectangular platelike cover 76 with chamfered ends which is longer than the aperture 28 and preferably has a running fit with the flanges 26 of the main yoke 16. On the underside of the cover 76 are two dependent stems 90 which are spaced from the ends of the cover and from each other. The stems 90 serve to retain and guide the cover for sliding over the aperture 28. Accordingly each stem is formed at its lower end with depending, laterally resilient, side flanges 72 with outwardly directed lips 74 chamfered as shown to enable them to snap engage with the lower edges of the insert as later described. The block 70, shaped for latching with the pin 22, is dis posed between the stems 90.The left-hand end of the block 70, as shown in Figure 3, is recessed to form a part-cylindrical cavity 80 corresponding in diameter to that of the circumferential groove 40 in the pin 22 The cavity 80 has a slightly narrower mouth 82 at one side.

In assembly procedure, the insert is introduced into the aperture 28 from below the main yoke 16. The lips 60 engage the underside of the web 24 when the upper periphery of the insert is flush with the adjacent upper surface of the web, thereby forming lap joints with the edges defining the ends of the aperture 28 and minimising the overall height when in assembly with the latch member.

Furthermore, when the lips and web are brought into engagement the projections 62 on the insert align with the holes 32 in the yoke and, owing to the resilience of the side portions 54, snap into deep engagement with the holes 32. It should be apparent that the lips 60 locate and steady the insert in the yoke, and that the insert is wholly within the side profile of the yoke.

The latch member is then introduced, lips 74 first, from above through the opening 58 in the insert. The overall width of the latch member at the lips 74 exceeds the transverse width of the opening 58. The chamfering on the lips 74 assists the introduction but pressure between the lips 74 and the upper side edges of the opening 58 causes inward deflection of the flanges 72. Thereafter the side portions 54, supported from outward deflection by the flanges 26 of the main yoke, cause inward deflection of the flanges 72. On reaching the lower edges of the side portions 54, the lips 74 snap outwardly into sliding engagement with the lower edges of the side portions 54. The cover 76 of the latch member is of sufficient extent to ensure that the opening 58 and the insert are always concealed regardless of whether the latch member is in its latched or unlatched position.

In the unlatched position of the latch member the stem 90 on the left in Figure 3 does not obstruct insertion or withdrawal of the pin 22 through the holes 64. The spacing of the stems 90 from the ends of the cover 76 and from the block 70 is such that the stems do not interfere with either sliding or latching movements of the latch member.

The transverse dimension of the block 70 of the latch member corresponds with the axial dimension of the circumferential groove 40 in the pin 22. Also, the stems 90 and block 70 have a running fit with the side portions 54 of the insert. Thus, especially when the latch member is in its latched position, its presence ensures that the side portions 54 are prevented from accidental inward flexing. The projections 62 therefore remain fully engaged in the holes 32 in the main yoke 16 and the pin is borne for pivoting out of contact with the peripheries of the holes 32 in the main yoke 16 by the bearing surfaces 66. Furthermore, the latch member is unobtrusive, the major part of the cover 76 lying within the side profile of the main yoke 16 at the opening 28.

The wiper blade is mounted on the wiper arm by the following procedure. With the latch member in its unlatched position the leading end 38 of the pin 22 is inserted through one of the holes 64 into the space between the side portions 54, and through the other hole 64. Movement of the latch member to the left into its latched position as shown in Figure 4 forces the mouth 82 against the groove 40 in the pin and to open so that the cavity 80 engages around the groove 40 with a snap action. Withdrawal of the pin 22 from the bearing surfaces 66 is then prevented by the interengagement of the perpendicular shoulder on the pin 22 with the adjacent side of the block 70.

The plastics insert and latch member are primarily intended for use with main yokes of metal but they can be applied to equivalent main yokes of plastics and provide means for latching pivot pins to them.

Claims

1. Wiper blade components comprising: a wiper blade, a pivot pin for connecting the wiper blade alongside a wiper arm for relative pivoting and an insert for the wiper blade; the wiper blade having a harness including a metal yoke of inverted channel cross-section having an elongate aperture along its back and intermediate its ends, the aperture being defined laterally by opposite side walls of the yoke, and the side walls having a pair of holes, one in each side wall, aligned transversely of the yoke; the pivot pin having portions for bearing in the holes and having a circumferential groove disposed between said portions; and the insert being a single piece of moulded plastics of generally rectangular form having a length substantially greater than its width, the insert being intended to fit in the aperture in the back of the yoke, having at each end a lip projecting longitudinally of the insert for forming a lap joint with the back of the yoke, and having opposite side portions for lying within the aperture closely adjacent to the side walls of the yoke; characterised in that the side portions of the insert have resilient flexibility in the lateral sense and have a pair of holes, one in each side portion, aligned transversely of the insert and bounded by a pair of cylindrical bearing surfaces for receiving said portions of the pin, each of the bearing surfaces extending through a respective one of the side portions and through an external hollow projection on that side portion, each of the hollow projections being intended to extend through or deep into a respective one of the holes in the side walls of the yoke in order to keep the pin out of contact with the yoke.

2. Wiper blade components as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that each of the hollow projections has circular internal and external peripheries, and the hollow projections are radially dimensioned to fit the holes in the yoke.

3. Wiper blade components as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, characterised in that the lip at each end of the insert forms a lap joint with the back of the yoke internally of the yoke cross-section to locate and steady the insert.

4. Wiper blade components as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised in that the insert is dimensioned so that when in assembly with the yoke the insert is wholly within the side profile of the yoke.

5. Wiper blade components as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised in that the insert is provided with a latch member which is accessible from outside the insert and is movable between a latched position in which the latch member protrudes into a space between the aligned holes in the side portions of the insert to engage the groove in the pin, and an unlatched position in which the latch member lies withdrawn from said space and disengaged from the pin.

6. Wiper blade components as claimed in claim 5, characterised in that the transverse dimension of that part of the latch member for engaging the pin corresponds to the distance between the aligned holes when the side portions of the insert are in a relaxed condition.

7. Wiper blade components as claimed in claim 5 or claim 6, characterised in that the latch member is retainable on the insert for sliding engagement between the latched and unlatched positions.

8. Wiper blade components as claimed in claim 7, characterised in that the latch member is retainable in the latched position by snap action with the pin.

9. Wiper blade components as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 8, characterised in that the latch member is a single piece of moulded plastics.

10. Wiper blade components substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

11. A wiper blade insert having features as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10.

12. A wiper blade insert as claimed in claim 11 in combination with a latch member having features as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 10.

13. A wiper blade insert and a latch member as claimed in claim 12 in combination with a wiper blade having features as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10.