Surface Wiper Arrangement | Patent Publication Number 20140289988
US 20140289988 A1A wiper has a wiper arm having first and second ends. A leaf spring urges the wiper arm and a compliant force distribution arrangement toward the surface, and a mounting arrangement couples the first end of the wiper arm and the leaf spring element to a source of motion. The wiper arm has a first end coupling the first end of the wiper arm member to a source of motion, and a compliant force distributor is coupled to the second end, having plural resilient beam members integrally formed with each other and adapted to engage a wiper blade. A wiper mount has a mounting element having a mounting portion coupled to a source of motion and a drive portion for engaging the wiper arm. The leaf spring element also has a mounting portion coupled to the source of motion, and has a drive portion for engaging the wiper arm.
- 1. A wiper arrangement for a surface, the wiper arrangement comprising:na wiper arm member having first and second ends;a mounting arrangement disposed on the first end of said wiper arm for coupling the first end of the wiper arm member to a source of motion; anda compliant wiper force distribution arrangement coupled to the second end of said wiper arm member and having an integrally formed resilient beam member adapted to engage a wiper blade.
- 19. A wiper arrangement for a surface, the wiper arrangement having a compliant wiper force distribution arrangement, the wiper arrangement comprising:na wiper arm member having first and second ends, and an intermediate portion disposed between said first and second ends;a leaf spring element for urging the compliant wiper force distribution arrangement in the direction of the surface; anda mounting arrangement for coupling the first end of the wiper arm member and said leaf spring element to a source of motion.
- 25. A wiper mounting arrangement for a wiper having an elongated wiper arm, the wiper mounting arrangement comprising:na mounting element having a mounting portion thereof adapted for coupling to a source of wiper motion and a drive portion for engaging the elongated wiper arm; anda leaf spring element having a mounting portion thereof adapted for coupling to a source of wiper motion and a drive portion for engaging the elongated wiper arm.
- 32. A wiper arrangement for a surface, the wiper arrangement comprising:na wiper arm member having first and second ends; anda mounting arrangement disposed on the first end of said wiper arm for coupling the first end of the wiper arm member to a source of motion, said mounting arrangement imparting a torque to said wiper arm member for urging a wiping motion, and affording a limited pivoting action for accommodating motion of said wiper arm member toward and away from the surface.
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to arrangements for wiping a liquid from a surface, and more particularly, to a wiper arrangement that is biased against the surface to be wiped at the source of wiper motion.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Wiper arrangements, particularly for vehicle glass, typically are formed of metal and have a mounting portion that mounts onto a source of motion, such as a wiper motor post. The mounting portion is coupled to a wiper arm by a hinge, and the wiper arm is then coupled to a wiper blade support, and ultimately to a wiper blade. A helical spring that is coupled at one end thereof to the mounting portion and at a distal end to the wiper arm serves to urge the wiper arm toward the vehicle glass. The combination of the interconnecting hinge and the helical spring accommodate out-of-plane displacement of the wiper blade as it follows the non-planar contour of the vehicle glass.
The conventional coupling between the metal wiper arm and the wiper blade support is a latching arrangement that also functions as a hinge. In addition, the conventional wiper blade support typically is formed of hinged arms, whereby a conventional wiper arrangement will have five hinge joints.
In addition to mechanical complexity, conventional wiper arrangements suffer from stylistic shortcomings. Modern automobiles are stylistically incongruent with the mechanically complex presentation of conventional wipers. This is particularly true of rear window and other wiper arrangements that are not parked when not in use, and therefore are continuously visible.
There is, therefore, a need for a mechanically simpler wiper arrangement that conforms stylistically to modern principles of vehicle styling, while meeting the aerodynamic demands imposed by high air speeds.
The foregoing is met by this invention which provides a wiper arrangement for a surface. The wiper arrangement includes a wiper arm member having first and second ends. A mounting arrangement disposed on the first end of the wiper arm for coupling the first end of the wiper arm member to a source of motion. A compliant wiper force distribution arrangement is coupled to the second end of the wiper arm member and has a plurality of resilient beam members that are integrally formed with each other. The plurality of resilient beam members are adapted to engage a wiper blade. In one embodiment, the wiper arm member and the compliant wiper force distribution arrangement are integrally formed. In a further embodiment, the compliant wiper force distribution arrangement is provided with a resilient beam member. In embodiments where a plurality of resilient beam members are provided, such plural resilient beam members are optionally configured as respective resilient triangles. In an advantageous embodiment, the wiper arm member and the mounting arrangement are integrally formed.
In a practicable embodiment of the invention the mounting arrangement is pivotally coupled to the first end of the wiper arm member so as to facilitate angular translation of the wiper arm member in directions away and toward the surface. This accommodates for translation of the wiper arrangement in response to variations in the contour of the surface that is to be wiped. In one embodiment, the mounting arrangement is formed of a metallic material.
In a highly advantageous embodiment of the invention, there is further provided a leaf spring element that is coupled at a first end thereof to the mounting arrangement for urging the compliant wiper force distribution arrangement in the direction of the surface. The leaf spring element engages at its first end with the mounting arrangement for urging the compliant wiper force distribution arrangement laterally across the surface. The leaf spring urges the compliant wiper force distribution arrangement in the direction of the surface with a force that had been predetermined in its magnitude in response to a resilience characteristic of the compliant wiper force distribution arrangement. In embodiments of the invention wherein the surface has a non-linear contour, the leaf spring element urges the compliant wiper force distribution arrangement in the direction of the surface with a force adequate to maintain contact between the compliant force distribution arrangement and the non-linear contour of the surface throughout a wipe cycle.
A fastener engages the wiper arm member to the source of motion. Moreover, the leaf spring element is biased toward the surface in response to engagement of the fastener with the source of motion. In one embodiment, the leaf spring element is configured to be accommodated within the wiper arm member.
In some embodiments of the invention, the compliant wiper force distribution arrangement is configured to apply a non-uniform force to the surface. The wiper arm member is provided with an elongated portion intermediate of the first and second ends, and there is further provided a hinge element for coupling the elongated portion to the first end. An actuatable locking element having locked and unlocked positions, is provided in some embodiments for preventing the elongated portion of the wiper arm member from being urged in a direction away from the surface when the actuatable lock is in the locked position.
In embodiments of the invention that are used for vehicles, the surface is a translucent surface of a vehicle, such as a windshield, a rear window, a headlight lens, etc.
In accordance with a further apparatus aspect of the invention, there is provided a wiper arrangement having a compliant wiper force distribution arrangement. The wiper arrangement includes a wiper arm member having first and second ends, and an intermediate portion disposed between the first and second ends. A leaf spring element urges the compliant wiper force distribution arrangement in the direction of the surface. Additionally, a mounting arrangement couples the first end of the wiper arm member and the leaf spring element to a source of motion.
In one embodiment of this further apparatus aspect, there is provided a compliant wiper force distribution arrangement that is coupled to the second end of the wiper arm member. The compliant wiper force distribution arrangement has a plurality of resilient beam members that are integrally formed with each other. The plurality of resilient beam members are adapted to engage a wiper blade. In a highly advantageous embodiment the compliant wiper force distribution arrangement is integrally formed with the wiper arm member.
There is further provided in some embodiments a decorative cover that is arranged to overlie first end of the wiper arm member and the source of motion. Such a cover affords a pleasing appearance that conforms to modern vehicle styling.
In accordance with a still further apparatus aspect of the invention, there is provided a wiper mounting arrangement for a wiper having an elongated wiper arm. The wiper mounting arrangement includes a mounting element having a mounting portion thereof adapted for coupling to a source of wiper motion and a drive portion for engaging the elongated wiper arm. Additionally, a leaf spring element is provided having a mounting portion thereof adapted for coupling to a source of wiper motion and a drive portion that engages the elongated wiper arm.
In one embodiment of this apparatus aspect, the mounting element is configured to engage the leaf spring element to preclude relative motion in the direction of the wiper motion. This is achieved, in some embodiments, by providing the mounting element with a key portion. The leaf spring element is provided with a corresponding key way portion, or a flattened portion, that is configured to engage that key portion of the mounting element.
In an advantageous embodiment the mounting element is configured to engage pivotally with the elongated wiper arm. In this manner, the elongated wiper arm is afforded limited freedom of motion towards, and away from, the surface to be wiped.
As previously noted, the leaf spring element biases the elongated wiper arm toward the surface to be wiped. In an advantageous embodiment, a fastener couples the mounting element and the leaf spring element to the source of wiper motion, and serves to bias the elongated wiper arm toward the surface to be wiped.
In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention, there is provided a wiper arrangement for a surface. The wiper arrangement is provided with a wiper arm member that has first and second ends. In addition, a mounting arrangement is disposed on the first end of the wiper arm for coupling the first end of the wiper arm member to a source of motion. The mounting arrangement imparts a torque to the wiper arm member for urging the wiping motion, and concurrently affords a limited pivoting action for accommodating motion of the wiper arm member toward and away from the surface.
In one embodiment of this aspect of the invention, there is further provided a compliant wiper force distribution arrangement coupled to the second end of the wiper arm member. The compliant wiper force distribution arrangement has an integrally formed resilient beam member adapted to engage a wiper blade, and in an advantageous embodiment, is formed integrally with the wiper arm member.
In a further embodiment, the wiper arm member is pivotally displaceable relative to the mounting arrangement. The wiper arm member and the mounting arrangement are configured to engage one another as a hinge. Structurally, the mounting arrangement is provided with a lateral protuberance, and the wiper arm member is provided with a notch for pivotally engaging the lateral protuberance.
Comprehension of the invention is facilitated by reading the following detailed description, in conjunction with the annexed drawing, in which:
Referring once again to
It is to be understood that the practice of the invention is not limited to the number and arrangement of first and second resilient beam members presented in the specific illustrative embodiment of the invention that has been selected herein to be described. More specifically, any number of resilient beam members can be employed in the practice of the invention, as few as one or none, depending upon the wiping application to which the invention is applied. It is further to be understood that the wiper arm member and the compliant wiper force distribution arrangement need not be formed integrally. As will be described below, particularly in connection with
The transmission of torque from mounting post 220 to leaf spring 330 is enhanced by indexing protuberance 324 of coupling portion 321 of mountable drive element 320. Indexing protuberance 324 communicates with a flattened portion 522 of leaf spring 330.
In some embodiments of the invention, substantially cylindrical protuberances 322a and 322b additionally serve to impart a wiping torque to wiper arm member 110. It is to be noted that the engagement of mountable drive element 320 with splined region 310 precludes mountable drive element 320 from pressing against wiper arm member 110 at wiper arm member through aperture 525. Thus, wiper arm member 110 is, as noted above, permitted a slight pivoting motion toward and away from the surface (not shown) to be wiped, and essentially floats beneath mountable drive element 320, such flotation being limited by the engagement between substantially cylindrical protuberances 322a and 322b and circular notches 530a and 530b. Leaf spring 330, however, is firmly urged against mountable drive element 320 by the tightening of fastener 350, such tightening serving to urge leaf spring 330 in the direction toward the surface that is to be wiped.
Referring once again to wiper arm member through aperture 525, this aperture is, in this specific illustrative embodiment of the invention, not precisely round and slightly larger that the dialer of mounting post 220. The aperture is a close fit to the mounting post along the axially parallel sides of the aperture, but is slightly elongated along the axis to accommodate a slight pivoting action. In a practical embodiment of the invention, wiper arm member through aperture 525 is configured to allow wiper arm member 110 to pivot about substantially cylindrical protuberances 322a and 322b by approximately between 5° and 7°. In addition, in some embodiments, wiper arm member through aperture 525 is slightly tapered (conical) to enable such pivotal displacement.
Although the invention has been described in terms of specific embodiments and applications, persons skilled in the art may, in light of this teaching, generate additional embodiments without exceeding the scope or departing from the spirit of the invention described herein. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the drawing and description in this disclosure are proffered to facilitate comprehension of the invention, and should not be construed to limit the scope thereof.