Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02568561 2006-11-22
Title
Windshield Wiper Structure For Vehicles
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a windshield wiper structure for vehicles.
More particularly
the contact between the scraper of windshield wiper and the windshield glass
is holistically even
tight uniformly and hermetic closely to enhance the scraping effect of
windshield wiper as well
as the effect of no noise in scraping action. And it can simplify the assembly
process and reduce
the process time in production due to simple structure and fewer parts so that
decreasing the
waste in wearing and damage of trivial parts. Hence, it has much more effects
in economy and
environment protection.
Background of the Invention
Referring to Fig. 1 to Fig. 3, the structure of the conventional first kind
and second kind of
windshield wiper comprises a master wiper 2, in which having a first holding
arm 4 being
jointed with each articulation 3 on both ends respectively. And, a second
holding arm 6 is
jointed on the articulation 5 of each inwards end of said both first holding
arm 4 respectively. A
clamping device 7 is disposed on each outwards end of said both first holding
arm 4 and both
ends of said both second holding arm 6 respectively. A strip scraper 8 being
made of flexible
elastic material is clipped by means of these said clamping devices 7. And, a
metal elastic stripe
801 (as shown in FIG. 3) is imbedded in order to brace the holding uphold on
both sides of said
strip scraper 8. Furthermore, on the joint of both ends of said strip scraper
8 and the outwards
end of said both first holding arm 4 is securely sleeved by an end ferrule cap
9 respectively as
shown in FIG. 1.
When said strip scraper 8 of both aforementioned conventional windshield wiper
sweeps
back and forth on the windshield G, a gap is created in said articulations 3,
which being the
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joint of said master wiper arm 2 and said both first holding arms 4, and said
articulations 5,
which being the joint of each inwards end of said both first holding arms 4
and said both second
holding arms 6. And, the more frequency by the wiper sweeps, the more
gradually enlarged the
gap will be. Hence, the linearity among said master wiper arm 2, said first
holding arms 4 and
said second holding arms 6 eventually loses alignment (as shown in FIG. 4).
Consequently, said
strip scraper 8 being bent indirectly is disabled to synchronously sweep in
linear alignment and
losing the effect of clearing off the extraneous impurities or dust. Thus, the
turnover of replacing
new product is increased. Furthermore, the way of replacement must be whole
integral wiper
instead of part by part individually. And, the discarded old products become
garbage and pollute
the environment.
Therefore, the businessmen bring the third kind of conventional windshield
wiper (also
called no-holding-arm wiper) into the market recently. As shown in FIG. 5 to
FIG. 9, the wiper
comprises a truss saddle 10, a stripe main body 20, a pair of bow elastic
stripes 22, and two end
ferrule caps 23. Wherein said stripe main body 20 is firmly clipped by said
truss saddle 10 and
is unitary-molded made of flexible elastic material. There are multiple strip
fluted grooves 21
being formed on both sides of said stripe main body 20 with a unitary-molded
(scraper edge 24
at its undermost side). And, said pair of bow elastic stripes 22 are made of
metal and will be
inserted into the uppermost pair of said strip fluted grooves 21 to serve as
splint. Furthermore,
on the joint of both ends of said stripe main body 20 and the both ends of
said both pair of bow
elastic stripes 22 is securely sleeved by an end ferrule caps 23 respectively.
Referring to FIG. 7 to FIG. 9, when said third conventional windshield wiper
sweeps back
and forth on the windshield G in tight pressure contact, said truss saddle 10
becomes the prime
force-acting point (as shown in FIG. 8). Thus, the scraping pressure of the
said wiper on said
windshield G gradually increases lengthwise from said central truss saddle 10
toward both ends
(as shown of black arrow in FIG. 8). Hence, the pressure of every contact
point in said scraper
edge 24 is not even distributed uniformly and not tightly contact with said
windshield G.
Consequently, the scraping effect of said wiper is diminished. Either, the
noise due to the
friction with said windshield G increases to affect the internal tranquility
in the car contrarily.
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Besides, said scraper edge 24, which being unitary-molded made of flexible
elastic
material, is splinted with said metal bow elastic stripes 22 on its both sides
to bend itself. When
said wiper sweeps back and forth, said both bow elastic stripes 22 bear
different push and pull
forces everywhere due to exchange of along or against motion direction. So
that said whole
wiper is tilted and bent distorted in consequence of action of squeeze and
extract on said strip
fluted groove 21 (as shown in FIG. 9). Contrarily, it decreases the lifetime
of said stripe main
body 20 without practicality. Moreover, said end ferrule caps 23 is to sleeve
and buckle the
snap-on notch 221 on both ends of said both bow elastic stripes 22. It can be
easily fallen off
unexpectedly in consequence of being deformed in aforementioned motion.
Consequently, the
separation of said bow elastic stripes 22 from said stripe main body 20 will
happen to disable
said wiper function in uselessness.
Accordingly, some other businessmen introduces the fourth kind of no-holding-
arm wiper
as shown in FIG. 10 to FIG. 12, which comprises:
a truss saddle 30;
a bow elastic stripe 40, which being made by metal bow stripe, is securely
jointed with the
base side of said truss saddle 30 at its central upper side; On its surface,
some square holes 41
are evenly punched; Near its both ends, a snap-on hole 42 is created
respectively;
two stripe main body 50, which being unitary-molded made of flexible elastic
material, is
securely caught on said bow elastic stripe 40at both sides of said truss
saddle 30; At two sides of
its bottom, a indented grapple stripe 51 is created correspondingly; At the
internal top center of
said indented grapple stripe 51, a cone-shaped suspending bracket stripe 52 is
built
some detachable clamping devices 60 are securely buckled in each said square
hole 41
respectively on said bow elastic stripe 40; On its upper section, a pair of
protruding lugs 61 are
created in cross sectional shape of trapezoid; On the center in each of said
both protruding lug
61, a elastic barb 62 is created; On its lower section, a pair of jaw-like
paws 63 is built;
two end ferrule caps 70 securely sleeves and buckles in each said snap-on hole
42 on both
ends of said bow elastic stripe 40; On the center of its bottom, a spline
buckle plate 71 is built
internally; At each free end of said spline buckle plate 71, a snap-on lug 72
is created to be
buckled in said snap-on hole 42 (as shown in the sectional view taken along
the direction
indicated by a line B-B as shown in FIG. 10.); And
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a strip scraper 80 is unitary-molded made of flexible elastic material; On its
upper section, a
pair of strip fluted grooves 81 are created at its both sides in order to be
securely caught and
inserted by said jaw-like paw 63 of said detachable clamping device 60;
Between said strip
fluted groove 81 and its top side, a pair of metal elastic stripes 82 is
mounted at both sides; A
pair of elastic splint rods 84 are inserted into said strip fluted grooves 81
respectively; On its
lower section, a scraper edge 83.
Said fourth kind of conventional windshield wiper is contrived by combining
said
conventional first kind, second kind and third kind of windshield wipers. Its
advantage in
replacing wiper is need to replace worn strip scraper 80 only instead of
replacing whole integral
wiper while said conventional first kind, second kind and third kind of
windshield wipers have
to replace whole integral wiper if any part being worn. In comparing one
another, said fourth
kind of conventional windshield wiper possesses advantages in expanses of
environmental
protection and replacing new product by consumers. It is also better in
serving lifetime and
scraping effect. However, it still exists some drawbacks as below:
1. Referring to FIG. 11, just like said third conventional windshield wiper,
said truss saddle 30
serves as force-acting point in the pressing contact of bow elastic stripe 40
with windshield
G. So that the pressure in both end points of said strip scraper 80, which
being at the bottom
side of said bow elastic stripe 40, is strongest comparing with every other
points. Thus,
neither the scraping effect can be maintained nor the internal car tranquility
can be sustained
due to noise of friction with windshield G in consequence of every points do
not own even
pressure distribution and closed tight contact with surface of said windshield
G.
2. Referring to FIG. 12 and FIG. 10, the process steps of assembly are
illustrated as below:
a. One by one, insert and buckle said protruding lug 61 of said detachable
clamping device
60 into said square hole 41 of said bow elastic stripe 40 (as shown in the
section A of the FIG.
12).
b. Push said detachable clamping device 60 from the bottom of said jaw-like
paw 63 such
that said elastic barb 62 being pressed and bent inwards (as shown in the
section B of the FIG.
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12). Continue to push it up to said elastic barb 62 passing through said
square hole 41 and
bouncing to its original status as well as being buckled in said square hole
41 (as shown in the
section C of the FIG. 12).
c. Guide and sleeve said two stripe main bodies 50 into bow elastic stripe 40.
During this
process, careful to keep said indented grapple stripes 51 and suspending
bracket stripe 52
dovetail with both side of said bow elastic stripe 40. And, to slide and
sleeve them into said
protruding lugs 61 of said detachable clamping device 60 (as shown in the
section D of the
FIG. 12).
d. After said two stripe main bodies 50 have been wholly sleeved with said bow
elastic
stripe 40, put and buckle said end ferrule cap 70 at both ends of said bow
elastic stripe 40. So
that said snap-on lugs 72 at the bottom side of said end ferrule cap 70 are
completely inserted
and buckled into said snap-on holes 42 of said bow elastic stripe 40 (as shown
in the section E
of the FIG. 12).
e. Finally, put and insert said strip scraper 80 into said jaw-like paw 63,
which being the
lower section of said detachable clamping device 60. And, put and insert said
two elastic splint
rods 84 into said strip scraper 80. All assembly process finishes here (as
shown in the section F
of the FIG. 12).
It is learnt from the above assembly process that the two stripe main bodies
50 must
carefully with directionality in assembly and avoid to caused an error place
by an incorrect
direction. Therefore, the man-hour in assembly of the main bodies 50 is much
more due to
directionality in step c.
3. Referring to the section E of the FIG. 12 and the sectional view taken
along a line C-C of
the FIG. 10, said suspending bracket stripe 52, which being downwards formed
in the
internal top center of said stripe main bodies 50, is to serve as stopper. Its
function is to
block said elastic barb 62, which being in said protruding lug 61 of said
detachable
clamping device 60, from bending inwards. Thus, it prevents said stripe main
bodies 50
from dropping off from said square hole 41 of said bow elastic stripe 40.
Hence, its material
should be non-elastic hard material instead of same flexible elastic material
as that used by
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said stripe main bodies 50. Therefore, it not only causes extra expense in
extruding process
of mold but also increases the difficulty in production process, which also
relatively
resulting in elevation of production cost.
4. Usually, the windshield wiper in the market should be passed by erosion-
resistant weather test
to make sure it can stand being battered by the wind and the rain in practical
car-driving
usage. All said detachable clamping devices 60 in said fourth kind of
conventional windshield
wiper are directly exposed without any weather-stripping protective design
such that being
easily beaten by different degree of the wind and the rain during practical
car-driving usage.
Hence, it causes the increase of damage rate in consequence of bad erosion-
resistant
capability. Thus, its service lifetime is indirectly decreased and resulting
in drawback of need
to replace it early.
Summary of the Present Invention
The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a windshield
wiper structure for
vehicles, which comprises a truss saddle, a bow elastic stripe, a cover body ,
some detachable
clamping devices, a strip scraper and a frame cover; wherein, some hollow
pressure adjusting
vents are created on said bow elastic stripe in order to keep nearly same
elasticity at every
sections of said bow elastic stripe. Hence, it can equilibrate force in every
portions of whole
wiper such that achieving in adjust-effect of even pressure distribution.
Thus, the contact
between said strip scraper and the windshield glass is holistically even tight
uniformly and
hermetic closely to enhance the scraping effect of windshield wiper as well as
the effect of
prolonging service-lifetime with reducing expense in association with
decreasing of replacing
new product frequency in consequence of such even pressure distribution.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a windshield wiper
structure for
vehicles, wherein, said cover body is unitary-molded such that freeing from
directionality as
sleeve it with said bow elastic stripe up to completely matched. Hence, it
substantially simplifies
assembly process and decreases man-hour in production. Moreover, a pair of
weather-stripping
fasciae are contrived at bottom section of said cover body to prevent all
detachable clamping
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devices from being battered by the wind and the rain as well as weathering
such that prolonging
its service-lifetime in consequence of promoting erosion-resistant capability.
The other object of the present invention is to provide a windshield wiper
structure for
vehicles, wherein, all said detachable clamping devices are directly riveted
on said bow elastic
stripe without any extra bracing design such that simplifying the structure of
said cover body.
Thus, total production cost can be substantially decreased in consequence of
simplifying the
production process.
The features and the advantages of the present invention will be more readily
understood
upon a thoughtful deliberation of the following detailed description of the
present invention with
reference to the accompanying drawings.
Brief Description of the Drawings
FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of the first kind of conventional windshield
wiper.
FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of the second kind of conventional windshield
wiper.
FIG. 3 is a exploded view of the FIG. 2 in partially.
FIG. 4 is a top view of the second kind of conventional windshield wiper.
FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the third kind of conventional
windshield wiper.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the third kind of conventional windshield
wiper.
FIG. 7 is a schematic view of the third kind of conventional windshield wiper.
FIG. 8 is the functional view of the third kind of conventional windshield
wiper in acting.
FIG. 9 shows a sectional view taken along the direction indicated by a line A-
A as shown in
FIG. 8.
FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of the fourth kind of conventional
windshield wiper.
FIG. 11 is the functional view of the fourth kind of conventional windshield
wiper in acting.
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FIG. 12 shows an enlarged sectional schematic view of the fourth kind of
conventional
windshield wiper in assembly process.
FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view according to the preferred embodiment
of the present
invention.
FIG. 14 is a perspective view according to the preferred embodiment of the
present invention in
assembly.
FIG. 15 is a perspective view according to the preferred embodiment of the
present invention.
FIG. 16 shows a sectional view taken along the direction indicated by a line F-
F as shown in
FIG. 15.
FIG. 17 is the functional view according to the preferred embodiment of the
present invention in
acting.
FIG. 18 shows a sectional view taken along the direction indicated by a line H-
H as shown in
FIG. 17.
Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment
Referring to FIG. 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17, a windshield wiper structure for
vehicles according
to a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a truss saddle
100, a bow elastic
stripe 200, a cover body 300, a plurality of detachable clamping devices 400,
a strip scraper 500
and a frame cover 600; wherein the truss saddle 100 is fixed on one end of the
wiper arm (not
shown in the figures) by means of wiper connector 700; the bow elastic stripe
200, which being
made of metal in stripe of bow-shaped bending downward, and tightly affixed on
the bottom
side of the truss saddle 100 with a bottom surface of the truss saddle 100
abutting to a central
top surface of the bow elastic stripe 200. Referring to FIG. 13, the bow
elastic stripe 200 has a
plurality of polygon holes 201 by punched on its body with equidistantly, and
has a plurality of
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hollow pressure adjusting vents 202 between in said polygon holes 201 which
having a aperture
size being determined in coordination with even pressure distribution;
Referring to FIG. 13 and 14, the cover body 300 is unitary-molded made of
flexible elastic
material, and is provided at the center with a hollow opening 301 which has a
aperture size
bigger than the truss saddle 100 but smaller than the frame cover 600. As
shown in an enlarged
sectional view taken along the direction indicated by a line E-E of FIG. 13,
the upper portion of
said cover body 300 is formed of an upward tapered shape, and middle portion
has a pair of strip
fluted grooves 302 with a dovetail shape which is holding both sides of said
bow elastic stripe
200, wherein said bottom portion has a pair of weather-stripping fasciae 303
are downward
contrived at both sides in connection with said strip fluted grooves 302;
Referring to FIG. 13, the detachable clamping device 400 has a polygon
protruding ring 401
protruded at a top end thereof for fitting into the polygon hole 201 of the
bow elastic stripe 200,
and has a pair of jaw-like paw 402 protruded at a bottom end thereof for
claiming the strip
scraper 500.
Referring to FIG. 13 and 14, the strip scraper 500 is unitary-molded made of
flexible elastic
material, and has a pair of strip fluted grooves 501 which is concaved at its
both sides of the
upper portion for insert into the jaw-like paw 402 of the detachable clamping
device 400,
wherein said strip fluted groove 501 further provided with two metal elastic
splint rods 502 and
a scraper edge 503 in connection with said both sides and lower portion of the
strip scraper 500
respectively.
Referring to FIG. 13 and 14, the frame cover 600 serves as sheath to
accommodate said
truss saddle 100 and is provided at the center with a rectangular hole 601,
and built at the central
bottom of both sides with two snap-on nose 602 thereof respectively.
Referring to FIG. 14 to FIG. 18, the assembly process of the present invention
is as below:
a. Insert said polygon lug 401 of each said detachable clamping device 400
into each
corresponding said polygon hole 201 on said bow elastic stripe 200 and
securely rivet them
respectively. Then, solder the bottom side of said truss saddle 100 with
central top side of said
bow elastic stripe 200.
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b. Take any end of said cover body 300 to sleeve into any end of said bow
elastic stripe
200. By means of opening up said weather-stripping fascia 303 at the bottom
portion of said
cover body 300, it can be push inward inch by inch up to completely sheath on
said bow elastic
stripe 200 (as shown in FIG. 14).
c. Insert said strip scraper 500 into said jaw-like paw 402 at the lower
portion of each said
detachable clamping device 400 progressively. Then, pass said frame cover 600
through truss
saddle 100 until said snap-on nose 602 snap-on and being buckled at the bottom
of both sides in
said bow elastic stripe 200. Thus, the assembly process of the present
invention is finished here
(as shown in FIG. 15 and FIG. 16).
It is learnt from above assembly process that the man-hour in assembly of the
present
invention is very few due to non-directionality of cover body 300 in step b.
Moreover, referring to FIG. 17 and FIG. 18, under the action of said hollow
pressure
adjusting vent 202 punched on said bow elastic stripe 200, the pressure in
every section of said
strip scraper 500 is even distributed in equal pressure after it contacts with
said windshield G.
(as shown of black arrow in FIG. 17). Thus, it not only allow said strip
scraper 500 holistically
even tight contact uniformly with the bow surface of said windshield G (as
shown in FIG. 18),
but also enhance the scraping effect as well as reducing friction noise with
said windshield G
without affecting internal tranquility of driving car.
