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US 2006/0048329 A1Published application
Connector linking a wiper arm to a wiper blade
AssigneeValeo Systèmes d'Essuyage
InventorJean-Claude Thienard
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AssigneeValeo Systèmes d'Essuyage
InventorJean-Claude Thienard
Estimating the term…
The invention concerns a connector (36) for linking one end of a wiper arm (32a, 32b, 32c) to a first transverse hinge pin (54) belonging to a structural element (38) of a wiper blade (30), the connector (36), comprising: a first housing (70) wherein the first transverse hinge pin (54) can be inserted; a second housing (84) for receiving a second transverse hinge pin (62), belonging to a second category of arm (32b), said second housing (84) being partly delimited by a first elastically deformable lower tab (86) which extends globally longitudinally, whereof one first longitudinal end (86a) is fixed to the connector and is adapted to be retractable to enable the second pin (62) to be inserted, and to transversely lock the second pin (62) in mounted position in the second housing (84).
A connector (36) for connecting one end of a windshield wiper arm (32a, 32b, 32c) to a first transverse hinge pin (54) belonging to a structure element (38) of a wiper blade unit (30), the connector being suitable for being received at least in part against the inside end wall of the end of an arm (32a) that belongs to a first category of arm, which end is in the form of a U-shaped hook, the connector (36) comprising:
A connector (36) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the connector comprises adapter means (78) so that it is suitable for being received against the inside end walls of ends of arms (32a) of the first category and of various sizes.
A connector (36) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the adapter means (78) comprise shapes in relief (78) provided on the facing inside longitudinal faces (66i) of side cheek plates (66) of the connector.
A connector (36) according to any preceding claim, characterized in that the top tongue (90) is of transverse width complementary to the width of the annular groove (64) in the second pin (62) so as to be received snugly in the groove (64).
A connector (36) according to any preceding claim, characterized in that the top tongue (90) is connected to each of the cheek plates of the connector (36) via films of material (94) whose dimensions are determined so that inserting a second pin (62) of the first size does not cause the films of material (94) to break.
A connector (36) according to any preceding claim, characterized in that the body comprises a front segment (74) that defines the first recess (70), the front outside wall (74a) of the front segment being suitable for being received against the inside end wall of the U-shaped hook of the arm (32a), a top rear segment (76) and a bottom rear segment (98).
A connector (36) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the front longitudinal end (86a) of the bottom tongue (86) is fastened to the front segment (74).
A connector (36) according to any preceding claim, characterized in that it is suitable for receiving the end (34) of a third category of arm (32c), which end consists in a shaped-section member segment that extends substantially longitudinally forwards, in a cylindrical third recess (96) that is open in its rear face.
A connector (36) according to any preceding claim, characterized in that a portion of the bottom tongue (86) is curved downwards so that, for at least one size of arm (32a) belonging to the first category of arm, the bottom tongue (86) is deformed elastically upwards so as to exert a substantially vertical force downwards on the top face of a horizontal bottom segment (60) of the end of the arm.
A connector (36) according to any preceding claim, characterized in that the top tongue (90) comprises two side studs (92) disposed on either side of the front longitudinal end (90a) of the top tongue (90), which studs extend transversely towards the outside of the connector (36) and pass through respective orifices (82) in the associated side cheek plates so that the free end of each stud (92) comes flush with the outside vertical face (66e) of the associated cheek plate.
A connector (36) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that, when an arm (32c) belonging to the third category of arm is in the position in which it is mounted in the third recess (96), each of the side studs (92) is in vertical abutment against a top edge (82a) of the orifice (82) of the associated cheek plate (66).
A connector (36) according to any preceding claim, characterized in that the side edges of the bottom tongue (86) are extended transversely outwards by projections (102).
A connector (36) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the projections (102) of the bottom tongue (86) extend transversely while passing through an orifice (82) in the associated side wall (66) so that the free transverse end of each projection comes flush with the outside vertical face (66e) of the associated cheek plate (66).
A connector (36) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that each projection (102) is curved so that the curvature of its top face (102s) is substantially complementary to the outside cylindrical wall of a second pin (62) of the second size.
A connector (36) according to any preceding claim, characterized in that the free front end (90a) of the top tongue (90) is curved downwards so that when the end of an arm (32c) belonging to the third category of arm is inserted into the third recess (96), the top tongue (90) is deformed elastically upwards, and the free front end (90a) of the top tongue (90) exerts a return force directed substantially downwards on the top face of the end (34) of the arm (32c).
A connector (36) according to any preceding claim, characterized in that the front end segment (66a) of each cheek plate (66), which segment extends cantilevered out forwards from the body (68), is elastically deformable and, on its inside vertical longitudinal face, comprises a ramp-forming abutment (80) so as to retract when the end of an arm (32a) belonging to the first category of arm is inserted, and so as to lock the U-shaped hook in the position in which it is mounted around the body (68) of the connector (36).
A connector (36) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the ramp-forming abutment (80) extends over a top portion of the front end segment (66a) of the associated cheek plate (66), and in that a bottom portion of the front end segment (66a) comprises an opening (72) for insertion of the U-shaped hook.
A connector (36) according to any preceding claim, characterized in that the bottom face (86i) of the bottom tongue (86) comprises ribs (104) for vertically and/or transversely positioning an arm (32a) of the first category and of at least one size.
A connector (36) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that each positioning rib (104) extends substantially vertically downwards along a side edge of the bottom face (86i) of the bottom tongue (86).
A connector (36) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the curvature of a top edge (82s) of the opening (82) in a cheek plate (66) is substantially identical to the curvature of the outside cylindrical wall of a second pin (62) of the second size.
A connector (36) according to any preceding claim, characterized in that each cheek plate (66) comprises a notch (106) which extends vertically downwards from its top edge and which is complementary to a manipulator element for manipulating the connector (36).
A connector (36) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the ribs (79) extend longitudinally forwards so as to extend to the front end of the front segment (74) of the body (68) of the connector (36).
A connector (36) according to any preceding claim, characterized in that it comprises a cross-member (108) that interconnects the rear bottom ends of the cheek plates (66).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.