Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02797693 2014-07-21
1
SPRING FOR WINDSHIELD WIPER ASSEMBLIES
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[001] The present invention relates generally to the windshield wiper
assemblies used on various vehicles and, more particularly, to devices
adapted to apply force on wiper arms for increased pressure thereof on
outside surfaces of windshields.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
10[002] Windshield wiper assemblies for motor vehicles basically include a
drive
shaft mounted on the vehicle body, below the windshield, and a drive
arm mounted on the drive shaft for rotation therewith. The windshield
wiper assembly also includes a wiper arm that is hingedly mounted to
the drive arm and that carries a wiper blade adapted to be in contact
with the windshield. The drive arm and the wiper arm are spring loaded
such that the wiper arm and thus the wiper blade are urged into contact
with the windshield. Typically, a helical spring extends between the drive
arm and the wiper arm with the hinge connecting the drive arm and the
wiper arm being located between the attachment points of the helical
spring thereto. The drive shaft when actuated imparts a back-and-forth
movement to the drive arm and thus to the wiper arm thereby causing
the wiper blade to clear the windshield of rain, snow, and the like. Such
CA 02797693 2014-07-21
2
an arrangement is also used for the wiper assemblies of rear windows of
certain vehicles, such as hatchbacks, vans and SUVs.
[003] Therefore, windshield wiper assemblies on vehicles are biased towards
the windshield so that the wiper blade exerts a certain pressure against
the windshield. Generally the wiper arm does not sit very high off the
windshield and the helical tension spring that is stretched between the
drive arm and the wiper arm does not have sufficient space to exert a
long moment arm thus creating weak pressure on the wiper blade
compared to the force exerted by the spring since it is working in tension
with a short moment arm. Nevertheless, the spring must be extremely
strong so as to create a sufficiently strong torque to generate a good
pressure on the wiper blade so that in turn the blade gives a satisfactory
wiping action against the windshield. However, wiper assemblies do not
always maintain sufficient contact of the wiper blade against the
windshield being wiped to keep the latter clean.
[004] Moreover, as generally encountered at high vehicle speeds or when
vehicle is facing strong winds, wind lift on the wiper arm and blade
counteracts at least some of the force exerted by the spring thereby
reducing the wiping action of the wiper blade in an unsatisfactory
manner.
CA 02797693 2014-07-21
3
[005] Accordingly, vehicle aftermarket products have been developed for
increasing the wiping pressure of the wiper blade on the windshield.
Such products are typically fitted onto the wiper assembly to increase
the spring force acting on the wiper arm such as to provide better
contact between the wiper blade and windshield being wiped.
[006] There thus exist different types of devices that can be mounted onto
windshield wiper assemblies so as to at least partly oppose a lifting
effect of the wiper arm from the windshield when the assembly is in
operation. Examples of such devices are disclosed, for example, in U.S.
Patent Nos. 2,782,450 (issued on February 26, 1957 to Nesson);
2,885,710 (issued on May 12, 1959 to Brasty); 5,320,333 (issued on
June 14, 1994 to Koch); 6,804,855 B2 (issued on October 19, 2004 to
Lebel); and 6,931,691 B1 (issued on August 23, 2005 to Ward); as well
as in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2008/0155777 A1 in the
name of Stull.
[007] Though these devices allow for the wiper blade of a windshield wiper
assembly to be in contact with the windshield of the vehicle, they may
not fit on all existing types of windshield wiper assemblies and, more
particularly, on the drive arm and wiper arm thereof. Indeed, there are
multiple windshield wiper assembly models that are of different
dimensions, whereby various sizes and configurations of these
aftermarket devices may be required to properly fit these different wiper
CA 02797693 2014-07-21
4
assemblies. For instance, the spring device of U.S. Patent No.
5,320,333 has been manufactured in four different sizes so that the
hook-like end portions thereof can be appropriately mounted to the drive
arm and wiper arm of various models of windshield wiper assemblies.
5[008] There is thus still a need for a device for windshield wiper
assemblies,
which can be engaged onto many windshield wiper assembly models,
i.e. which are of different sizes and/or shapes, and which increases the
pressure of the wiper blade onto the windshield for providing a better
contact between the wiper blade and the surface being wiped.
10SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[009] In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known devices
now present in the prior art, the present invention, which will be
described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide objects and
advantages which are:
15[0010] To provide for a novel spring for windshield wiper assemblies.
[0011] In order to do so, the invention consists of a specially configured and
sized rounded and curved shape which allows it to be fitted on all types
of wiper assemblies.
CA 02797693 2014-07-21
[0012] It is comprised of a resilient rod having a plurality of sections
adapted to
removably attach to a windshield assembly wiper of a vehicle, the rod
includes a first hook section at one end section thereof; a second hook
section located at an opposite end section thereof; an intermediate
5 coiled section attached to and located adjacent the first hook section;
and a connector section defining an axis along its length and connected
between the intermediate coiled section and the second hook section.
[0013] The first hook section is substantially U-shaped and is adapted to
removably attach to a drive arm of the windshield wiper assembly. The
second hook section has a convoluted U-shape and is adapted to
removably attach to a wiper arm of the windshield wiper assembly, and
wherein the rod is bent such that the first and second hook sections are
adapted to be placed on a first side of the windshield wiper assembly,
the intermediate coil is adapted to be placed on a second side of the
windshield wiper assembly opposite the first side, and the connector
section being adapted to be placed on a third side of the windshield
wiper assembly in between the first and second sides, such that the
spring is adapted to wrap around and attach to windshield wiper
assemblies having any of a variety of shapes and sizes, and used to
increase the pressure between a windshield wiper arm and a windshield
of a vehicle.
CA 02797693 2014-07-21
6
[0014] The spring has the first hook section include a proximal arm, a distal
arm, and an arcuate bight therebetween, thereby forming its U-shape;
and wherein the proximal arm and a distal arm both define axes that are
parallel to one another; and wherein the intermediate coil section
defines an axis that is perpendicular to the axes of the proximal arm and
a distal arm of the first hook section.
[0015] The spring has the convolution of the U-shape of the second hook
section formed as a distortion of the U-shape in the direction of the axis
of the connector section.
10[0016] The spring has the second hook section include a proximal arm, a
distal
arm, and an arcuate bight therebetween, thereby forming its U-shape;
wherein the U-shape of the first hook section and the U-shape of the
second hook section form respective opening sides that face in the
same direction; and wherein the first and second hook sections are
adapted to engage the windshield wiper assembly on top, bottom, and
one side portion therebetween, and the intermediate coil section is
adapted to engage a side portion of the windshield wiper assembly
opposite the one side portion, such that the spring is adapted to engage
completely around an outer circumference of the windshield wiper
assembly.
CA 02797693 2014-07-21
7
[0017] The spring has the first hook section and the intermediate coil adapted
to be placed upon the drive arm of the windshield wiper assembly, and
wherein the axis of the intermediate coil is adapted to be placed in a
parallel position to an axis defined by a pivot axis between the drive arm
and the wiper arm of the windshield wiper assembly.
[0018] The spring has a resilient rod which is formed from a resilient
material
chosen from a list of resilient materials comprising metal and plastic.
[0019] In an alternate embodiment, the second hook section includes a
proximal arm, a side arm, and an arcuate bight therebetween, such that
the second hook section is adapted to be placed on the windshield wiper
arm such that it does not extend to an underside opposite the third side
of the wiper arm and thereby will not do any damage to an underside
thereof, such that the first hook section is adapted to engage the
windshield wiper drive arm on a top, bottom, and the one side portion
therebetween, the intermediate coil section is adapted to engage a side
portion of the windshield wiper assembly opposite the one side portion,
and the second hook section is adapted to engage the windshield wiper
arm on only a top side and the one side portion thereof.
CA 02797693 2014-07-21
8
[0020] In combination. a windshield wiper assembly for a vehicle and an add-
on wiper spring, the combination comprising a windshield wiper for a
vehicle, the wiper including a drive arm, a wiper arm, and pivot member
therebetween defining a pivot axis, and a spring member connected
between the drive arm and the wiper arm biasing the wiper arm in a
pivotal motion with respect to the drive arm; and an add-on wiper spring
comprising a resilient rod having a plurality of sections adapted to
removably attach to the windshield wiper assembly, the rod including a
first hook section at one end section thereof; a second hook section
located at an opposite end section thereof; an intermediate coiled
section attached to and located adjacent the first hook section; and a
connector section defining an axis along its length and connected
between the intermediate coiled section and the second hook section;
the first hook section is substantially U-shaped and is adapted to
removably attach to a drive arm of the windshield wiper assembly; the
second hook section having a convoluted U-shape and is adapted to
removably attach to the wiper arm of the windshield wiper assembly;
and wherein the rod is bent such that the first and second hook sections
are adapted to be placed on a first side of the windshield wiper
assembly, the intermediate coil is adapted to be placed on a second
side of the windshield wiper assembly opposite the first side, and the
connector section being adapted to be placed on a third side of the
windshield wiper assembly in between the first and second sides, such
CA 02797693 2014-07-21
9
that the spring is adapted to partially wrap around and attach to
windshield wiper assemblies having any of a variety of shapes and
sizes, and used to increase the pressure between the windshield wiper
arm and a windshield of a vehicle.
5[0021] There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important
features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof
that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present
contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional
features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will
form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
[0022] In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the
invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited
in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements
of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in
the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of
being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be
understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are
for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
[0023] Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S.
Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially
the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar
CA 02797693 2014-07-21
with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a
cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of
the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention
of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to
5 be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.
[0024] These together with other objects of the invention, along with the
various
features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with
particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this
disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating
10 advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference
should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter
which contains illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0025] Fig. 1 Perspective view of a windshield wiper assembly provided with a
spring in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention,
the spring being shown in a mounted position thereof on the wiper
assembly.
CA 02797693 2014-07-21
11
[0026] Fig. 2 Side elevation view of the spring of Fig. 1, but shown in an at
rest
position.
[0027] Fig. 3 Perspective view of the spring Figs. 1 and 2 shown in the at
rest
position.
5[0028] Figs. 4a-b Vertical cross-sectional view and partial side elevation of
the
spring mounted on a first wiper assembly configuration.
[0029] Figs. 5a-b Vertical cross-sectional view and partial side elevation of
the
spring mounted on a second wiper assembly configuration.
[0030] Figs. 8a-b Vertical cross-sectional view and partial side elevation of
the
spring mounted on a third wiper assembly configuration.
[0031] Figs. 7a-b Vertical cross-sectional view and partial side elevation of
the
spring mounted on a fourth wiper assembly configuration.
[0032] Fig. 8 Perspective view of a spring in accordance with a second
embodiment, shown in a first installation step thereof onto a windshield
wiper assembly.
[0033] Fig. 9 Perspective view of the spring of Fig. 8, showing the spring in
a
second installation step thereof onto the windshield wiper assembly.
CA 02797693 2014-07-21
12
[0034] Fig. 10 Perspective view of the spring of Fig. 8, showing the spring in
a
third installation step thereof onto the windshield wiper assembly.
[0035] Fig. 11 Perspective view of the spring of Fig. 8, showing the spring in
a
fourth installation step thereof onto the windshield wiper assembly.
5[0036] Fig. 12 Perspective view of the spring of Fig. 8, showing the spring
in a
fifth and final installation step thereof onto the windshield wiper
assembly.
[0037] Figs. 13 to 17 Schematic vertical cross-sectional views showing the
spring of Fig. 8 in successive steps being mounted to the windshield
wiper assembly, these successive steps corresponding to those
illustrated in Figs. 8 to 12.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0038] A wiper spring S made of a resilient rod made of a sturdy, waterproof
material such as plastic or metal. The rod is bent to form various
sections of the wiper spring S, as described hereinbelow. W denotes a
conventional windshield wiper assembly onto which the wiper spring S is
to be mounted.
CA 02797693 2014-07-21
13
[0039] As it is well known, the windshield wiper assembly W include a drive
shaft (not shown) mounted on a body of the vehicle, below the
windshield, and the drive shaft is motor-driven. The windshield wiper
assembly W also includes a drive arm 10 mounted on the drive shaft for
rotation therewith, and a wiper arm 12. The wiper arm 12 is pivotally
mounted to the drive arm 10 at hinge 14, and carries a wiper blade 16
adapted to be in contact with the windshield. The drive arm 10 and the
wiper arm 12 are spring loaded such that the wiper arm 12 and thus the
wiper blade 16 are urged into contact with the windshield. More
particularly, a helical spring or coil spring (not shown) extends between
the drive arm 10 and the wiper arm 12, on the underside of the
windshield wiper assembly W. The hinge 14 connecting the drive arm 10
and the wiper arm 12 is located between the attachment points of the
helical spring to the drive arm 10 and the wiper arm 12. The drive shaft
when actuated imparts a back-and-forth movement to the drive arm 10
and thus to the wiper arm 12 thereby causing the wiper blade 16 to clear
the windshield of rain, snow,bugs, road dust, and the like.
[0040] As best seen in Figs. 2 and 3, the wiper spring S includes first and
second hook sections 18 and 20, respectively, provided at opposed
ends of the wiper spring S. An intermediate coiled section 22 is provided
between the first and second hook sections 18 and 20. The coiled
CA 02797693 2014-07-21
14
section 22 is located adjacent the first hook section 18, whereas it is
connected to the second hook section 20 by a connector section 24.
[0041] The first hook section 18, which is substantially U-shaped, includes a
proximal arm 26, a distal arm 28 and an arcuate bight 30 connecting the
proximal and distal arms 26 and 28. The proximal and distal arms 26
and 28 are substantially straight and extend substantially parallelly one
to the other and to the axis of the coiled section 22. The distal arm 28 of
the first hook section 18 typically extends directly from an inner
convolution 42 of the coiled section 22. The proximal arm 26, the distal
arm 28 and the bight 30 define an open side 32.
[0042] The second hook section 20 defines a curved or somewhat convoluted
U-shape, which is stretched along an axial direction of the wiper spring
S. The second hook section 20 includes a proximal arm 34, a distal arm
36 and an arcuate bight 38 connecting the proximal and distal arms 34
and 36. The proximal arm 34, the distal arm 36 and the bight 38 define
an open side 40.
[0043] The connector section 24 extends from an outer convolution 44 of the
coiled section 22 to the proximal arm 34 of the second hook section 20.
The connector section 24 is generally tangent to the outer convolution
44 of the coiled section 22.
CA 02797693 2014-07-21
[0044] The wiper spring S is adapted to be mounted on a conventional wiper
assembly W with the first hook section 18 engaging the drive arm 10,
whereas the second hook section 20 engages the wiper arm 12, as will
be described in more details hereinbelow.
5[0045] When the wiper spring S is mounted onto the wiper assembly W, the
coiled section 22 is disposed on one side of the drive arm 10 and wiper
arm 12 (see Fig. 1) in the region of the pivotal axis of the hinge 14 and
with the axis of the coiled section 22 being generally parallel to this
hinge axis.
10[0046] The two bights 30 and 38 extend over the sides of the drive arm 10
and
wiper arm 12, which are opposite to the coiled section 22. The proximal
arm 26 and the distal arm 28 extend transversely of the drive arm 10
and are applied respectively against the top side and the underside of
the drive arm 10.
15[0047] Similarly, the proximal arm 34 and the distal arm 36 of the second
hook
section 20 extend transversely of the wiper arm 12 with the proximal
arm 34 and the distal arm 36 bearing respectively against the top side
and the underside of the wiper arm 12.
[0048] The provision of the coiled section 22 including several convolutions
enables the wiper arm 12 to pivot at least through 90 degrees with
CA 02797693 2014-07-21
16
respect to the drive arm 10 without the spring S reaching its elastic limit
and breaking. Also, the several convolutions of the coiled section 22
result in a spring S which applies a great pressure on the wiper arm 12.
[0049] Figs, 4 to 7 illustrate the wiper spring S mounted to windshield wiper
assemblies of different configurations and, more particularly, to drive
arms 10 of different cross-sectional dimensions, as seen by the hatched
lines ion Figs. 4a, 5a, 6a and 7a. Therefore, the wiper spring S can be
installed onto various types of wiper assemblies W (e.g. having different
sizes), as opposed to having to resort to a number of models of springs,
each of different configuration so as to accommodate specific
configurations of wiper assemblies W. The ability of the present wiper
spring S to be installable on various models of windshield wiper
assemblies W results mainly from the configuration of the first hook
section 18 and, more particularly, of the arcuate bight 30 thereof. This
characteristic will be explained in more details hereinafter when a
second embodiment of the wiper spring is described with reference to
Figs. 8 to 17.
[0050] Now referring to Figs. 8 to 17, a second wiper spring S' will now be
described.
20[0051] The second wiper spring S' is similar to the wiper spring S of Figs.
1 to
7, except specifically for the second hook section 120 of the second
CA 02797693 2014-07-21
17
spring S', which is of a different configuration than that of the second
hook section 20 of the spring S. More particularly, the second hook
section 120 includes a proximal arm 134 adapted to overlie the wiper
arm 12, as seen in Figs. 12 and 17, and further includes a side arm 138
adapted to extend alongside the wiper arm 12, as also seen in Figs. 12
and 17. As opposed to the wiper spring S of Figs. 1 to 7, the second
hook section 120 of the spring S' does not extend under the wiper arm
12 thereby preventing the second hook section 120 from possibly
damaging the wiper arm 12 (e.g. the paint thereof) during installation of
the spring S'.
[0052] As opposed to the second hook section 20 of the spring S, the second
hook section 120 of the second spring S' is not provided with a distal
arm that would extend under the wiper arm 12. As seen in Fig. 12, the
spring S' remains solidly installed to the wiper assembly W even without
its second hook section 120 being devoid of a distal or lower arm.
Indeed, in addition to the strong forces exerted downwardly by the first
and second hook sections 18 and 120 respectively on the drive and
wiper arms 10 and 12, the spring S' cannot easily displace sideways as
it engages one side of the wiper assembly W with its coiled section 22
and the other side of the wiper assembly W with the bight 30 and side
arm 138 respectively of the first and second hook sections 18 and 120
thereof.
CA 02797693 2014-07-21
18
[0053] Figs. 8 to 12 show in sequential views the installation of the wiper
spring
S' onto the windshield wiper assembly W. In Fig. 8, the spring S' is first
displaced along arrow 150, with the open end 32 of the first hook section
18 facing the drive arm 10 such that the first hook section 18 is engaged
around the drive arm 10.
[0054] In Fig. 9, the spring S' is pivoted transversally 90 degrees along
arrow
152. The spring S' is then pivoted in Fig. 10 generally along arrow 154
up to its position shown in Fig. 11, whereat the spring S' is displaced
along 156 and against spring force such that the second hook section
120 is lifted and then brought transversally over the wiper arm 12 up to
its final position shown in Fig. 12.
[0055] Figs. 13 to 17 are schematic cross-sectional views showing the
installation steps illustrated in Figs. 8 to 12 respectively, but looking
axially along the wiper assembly W, from the drive arm 10 towards the
wiper arm 12 thereof, the vertical cross-section cutting through the drive
arm 10 generally where the first hook section 18 is positioned. Figs. 13
to 16 show how the first hook section 18 rotates around the drive arm 10
and, more particularly, how the rectangular cross-sectional shape of the
drive arm 10 (i.e. the corners thereof) slides along the arcuate bight 30
of the first hook section 18. The final position of the first hook section 18
of either spring S or spring S' for drive arms of various dimensions and
shapes can be seen in Figs. 4a to 7a.
CA 02797693 2014-07-21
19
[0056] Accordingly, multiple rectangular transversal dimensions of drive arms
of wiper assemblies can be accommodated by the configuration of the
first hook section 18 in view of the arcuate portion thereof, as opposed
for instance to the square hook portion 6,8,10 of U.S. Patent No.
5,320,333.
[0057] It is noted that the installation of the spring S is similar to that of
spring
S', except that at the end of the installation of spring S, i.e. in Fig. 12,
the distal arm 36 of the second hook section 20 of the spring S of Figs. 1
to 7 must be brought underneath the wiper arm 12. This is done by
forcing the second hook section 20 further along arrow 156 and up to a
point where the distal arm 36 thereof can be lowered alongside the
wiper arm 12. Once the distal arm 36 is below the wiper arm 12, the
distal arm 36 can be allowed to biasedly move under the wiper arm 12
and assume its final position thereat, as seen in Fig. 1.
15[0058] As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of
the
present invention, the same should be apparent from the above
description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of
usage and operation will be provided.
[0059] With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that
the
optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to
include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of
CA 02797693 2014-07-21
operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious
to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those
illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are
intended to be encompassed by the present invention.
5[0060] Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the
principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and
changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to
limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and
described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents
10 may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.
,
