Abstract:
The present invention relates to a cap for a wiper connector of a motor vehicle. A cap for wiper is comprised of a pair of side walls facing each other to form space where at least a portion of the wiper connector is accommodated, a connecting part for connecting the pair of side walls, a mounting part which is releasably mounted to the wiper connector and a flab protruding outwardly from at least one of the the side walls.

Description:
This patent application claims priority from Korean Patent Application No. 10-2005-0031952 filed on Apr. 18, 2005, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to a cap for a wiper connector of a motor vehicle. More particularly, but not exclusively the present invention relates to a cap for a wiper connector provided to accommodate wiper connector of a flat type wiper blade assembly. 
   BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
   A wiper blade assembly is provided in a windshield of a vehicle to wipe out drops of the rain on the windshield so that driver can secure his/her view. The wiper blade assembly is driven by a wiper arm which is operated by an operating motor. A wiper connector is provided in order to connect the wiper arm with the wiper blade assembly. Generally, the wiper blade assembly is provided with a guide clip to which a wiper connector is fastened. The wiper arm is connected to the wiper connector after the connector is fastened to the guide clip. 
   The windshield of a vehicle is disposed in a vehicle such that it directly receives an air resistance when the vehicle travels. Thus, when the vehicle travels at a high speed, the wiper blade can rise from the windshield. The rising of the wiper blade hinders the wiping operation. To prevent this situation spoiler is installed to the wiper blade assembly. However, a conventional spoiler is connected to the wiper assembly by a screw in general. 
   The wiper blade assembly is classified into a yoke-type wiper arm and a flat-type wiper arm according to structure of the wiper blade. The yoke-type wiper arm is configured such that a plurality of the yokes which is curved like a bow are fastened one another. The yoke-type wiper arm is widely used at present. The flat-type wiper blade is constructed with one elastic support member instead of a plurality of the yokes. Thus, the structure of the wiper blade is simple and the appearance of the wiper blade assembly is aesthetic. In these reasons, the distribution of the flat-type wiper blade increases recently. Meanwhile, aforementioned spoiler is generally disposed on elastic support member of the conventional flat type wiper blade. 
     FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of the flat-type wiper blade assembly. The wiper blade assembly  20  shown in  FIG. 1  is so called a flat-type wiper blade. Its detailed description is described in Korean Patent No. 0454874. The patent is incorporated herein by a reference. 
   As shown in  FIG. 1 , the wiper blade assembly  20  comprises a blade rubber  23  which contacts with a windshield of a vehicle; a pair of spoilers  21  disposed on the elastic support member  25 ; and a wiper connector  300  disposed on the longitudinally center of the elastic support member  25 . The wiper connector  300  comprises a connecting member  40  where a wiper arm (not shown) is connected, and a guide clip  30  where the connecting member  40  is fastened and accommodates the connecting member  40 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , it is preferred that the guide clip  30  and the connecting member  40  are formed separately and thereafter they are assembled. However, the guide clip  30  and the connecting member  40  may be integrally formed. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the spoiler  21  that is provided at a wiper blade assembly  20  cannot be disposed on the location where the wiper connector  300  is provided. Thus, the appearance is not so aesthetic because of the discontinuity of the spoiler caused by provision of the wiper connector  300 . Further, wiping performance is lowered and noise is also generated because the wiper blade assembly rises from a windshield due to not providing spoiler in the location where the connector is provided. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The object of the present invention is to provide a cap accommodating the portion where a wiper connector is provided and having a spoiler thereof such that the appearance of the wiper connector becomes aesthetic and such that rising of the wiper is not occurred when a vehicle travels at a high speed. 
   The wiper connector cap of the present invention comprises a couple of side walls facing each other to form a volume where at least a part of the wiper connector can be accommodated; a connecting part connecting one side wall to the other side wall; and an engaging part provided to be releasably connected to the wiper connector; and a flap protruding outwardly from at least one of the said side walls. 
   It can be understood that the connector can be constructed of two or more members, for example, a combination of a guide clip and a connecting member. The flap is formed integrally with the side walls. Preferably, the flap is provided in the side wall that is outwardly facing with respect to the windshield in order to reduce air resistance applied to the wiper connector cap while vehicle&#39;s traveling and in order to prevent wiper from rising from the windshield. On the other hand, the wiper connector may comprise a guide clip and a wiper connecting member that is pivotably fastening to the guide clip. Alternatively, the connector may be constructed by a single member. 
   According to this constitution, the appearance of the wiper becomes aesthetic by virtue of the wiper connector cap accommodating the wiper connector. Further, the flap provided in at least one of the side walls of the wiper connector cap prevents the wiper blade assembly from rising while a vehicle travels at a high speed. 
   Preferably, the connecting part comprises a first transverse portion and a second transverse portion that is apart from the first connecting portion at a predetermined distance. 
   A wiper arm that is driven by driving shaft is connected with the wiper connector accommodated between the side walls. In the event that the wiper arm is U-hook type arm, the hook is disposed ahead of the connector at a predetermined distance and then the hook is pulled toward the connector, thereby making the hook fastened with the connector. Thus, it is preferred that the first and second transverse portions are apart each other at a sufficient distance in order not to interfere the move of the U-hook type wiper arm. 
   More preferably, the wiper connector cap further comprises a support that is axially supported in at least one of the first and second transverse portions, and a cover having upper surface extending by less distance than the predetermined distance between the first and second transverse portions. 
   As described above, the transverse portions are apart with each other in order not to interfere in the move of the U-hook type wiper arm. In this structure, once the wiper arm is connected with the wiper connector, the space between the transverse portions does not look so aesthetic. Thus, the wiper cap is provided with a cover for closing the space between the transverse portions of the side walls. The cover is pivotabley fastened to the transverse portion in order that a wiper arm is disposed in the space between the transverse portions in the event that the wiper arm is U-hook type wiper arm. 
   More preferably, the side wall comprises a flange protruding from inner surface of the side wall, and the cover comprises an engaging portion that is releasably engaged with the flange. It is because it is preferable that the cover is not movable with respect to the side wall after the cover closes the space between the transverse portions. 
   It is preferred that the wiper blade assembly is a flat-type wiper blade. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a wiper connector of a conventional flat blade wiper assembly; 
       FIG. 2  shows a partial perspective view of a wiper to which a cap for wiper connector according to the present invention is connected; 
       FIG. 3  shows a front view of a cap for wiper connector according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 4  shows a bottom view of a cap for wiper connector according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 5  shows a cross-sectional view of a cap for wiper connector according to the present invention, in which its section taken along line A–A′ of  FIG. 4  is depicted; 
       FIG. 6  shows a cross-sectional view of a cap for wiper connector according to the present invention, in which its section taken along line B–B′ of  FIG. 3  is depicted; 
       FIG. 7   a ,  FIG. 7   b  and  FIG. 7   c  show an exemplified process for connecting a cap for wiper connector according to the present invention to a wiper connector; and 
       FIG. 8  shows a cross-sectional view of a connecting portion of wiper connector cap and a wiper connector. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to accompanying drawings. The invention will now be described based on the preferred embodiments, which do not intend to limit the scope of the present invention, but exemplify the invention. All of the features and the combinations thereof described in the embodiments are not necessarily essential to the invention. 
     FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of a wiper to which a cap for wiper connector according to the present invention is connected. The wiper connector and the cap for wiper connector will be described hereinafter with reference to  FIG. 2 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 2 , the cap  50  for wiper connector is releasably fastened to a wiper connector  300  that is provided at about longitudinally center of elastic support member  25  supporting flexible strip which is directly contacting with a windshield. A wiper arm  70  is connected to the connecting member  40  of the wiper connector  300 . 
   The wiper connector cap  50  comprises a pair of side walls  501  that are apart with each other to form space accommodating the wiper connector  300 , transverse portions  503 ,  505  for connecting the pair of side walls, a flap  520  that is integrally formed with at least one of the side walls, and cover  510 . 
     FIG. 3  shows a front view of the wiper connector cap according to the present invention. 
   It is preferred that flap  520  is integrally formed with side wall  501  as shown in  FIG. 2 . The flap  520  may be formed as being separate with the side wall. The flap  520  can act as a role of spoiler for further preventing rise of the wiper when a vehicle travels at a high speed. Preferably, the flap has a streamline shape as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
     FIG. 4  shows a bottom view of a wiper connector cap  50  according to the present invention. 
   As shown in  FIG. 4 , the wiper connector cap  50  is comprised of a pair of side walls  501  that define space for accommodating a wiper connector therebetween, and a first transverse portion  503  and a second transverse portion  505  that extend between the side walls. The flap  520  is integrally formed with at least one of the pair of side walls  501 . The side wall  501  is provided with a flange  550  to which a cover  510  is releasably fastened, and a stopper  507  for preventing the cover  510  from pivoting toward the space between the side walls  501 . Further, provided is a wiper connector mounting portion  530  which is releasably mounted to the wiper connector  300 . 
   Further, it is preferred that gripping groove  509  is provided in order to make it easy to fasten a wiper arm  70  to a wiper connector  300  or to release the wiper arm  70  from the wiper connector  300 . It is easily understood that the flap  520  may be provided in both of side walls  501  if necessary even though  FIG. 4  shows a structure wherein the flap  520  is provided in one of side walls  501 . 
     FIG. 5  shows a cross-sectional view of the wiper connector cap, which is seen from line A–A′ of  FIG. 4 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 5 , a cover  510  is fastened to first transverse portion  503 . The side wall  501  is provided with flange  550  to which the cover  510  is releasably fastened and is provided with a stopper  507  for preventing the cover  510  from pivoting after the cover  510  is fastened to the flange  550 . Further, the side wall  501  of the wiper cap  50  is provided with a mounting portion  530  for releasably fastening to the wiper connector  300 . The wiper connector  300  is provided with a mounting groove where the mounting portion is fastened. The mounting groove  31  is shown in wiper connector  300  of  FIG. 1 . It is preferred that the wiper cap  50  is made of a material such as plastic in order to have elasticity. The mounting portion  530  is releasably fastened to the mounting groove by use of elastic deformation. 
     FIG. 6  shows a structure of the cover  510  and the flange  550  of the side wall  501  when they are fastened. Referring to  FIG. 6 , fastening between the side walls and the cover will be described in detail hereinafter. 
     FIG. 6  shows a cross-sectional view of the wiper cap, which is seen from line B–B′ of  FIG. 3 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 6 , the cover  510  is provided with engaging portion  515  that is releasably engaged with the flange  550  of the side wall  501 . The engaging portion  515  extends from the cover  510  to the space where the wiper connector is accommodated and has engaging protrusions at the ends thereof, which engages with the flange  550 . The engaging portion is made of elastic material such that the protrusions are deformed to decrease the distance therebetween once a first inclined surface  515   b  of the engaging protrusion contacts with the flange  550 . Thereafter, the engaging protrusions return to their original state such that the engaging portion  515  engages with the flange  550 . 
   When it is intended to release the fastening state between the cover  510  and the flange  550 , the cover  510  only has to be pulled upwardly. It is preferred that a second inclined surface  515   a  is provided at the upper portion of the engaging portion  515  in order to easily release the fastening state. 
   On the other hand, it is preferred to provide a stopper  507  at the side wall  501  as shown in  FIG. 7   a  in order to prevent the cover  510  from pivoting toward the inner space between the side walls  501 . 
     FIGS. 7   a ,  7   b  and  7   c  show a process by which the cover is fastened in accordance with the present invention.  FIG. 7   a  shows the configuration before the cover is assembled to the body of the wiper cap  50 .  FIG. 7   b  shows the configuration before the cover  510  is fastened to the flange  550 .  FIG. 7   c  shows the configuration after the cover  510  is fastened to the body of the wiper. A wiper connector  300  and a wiper arm  70  are not shown for illustrative simplicity. 
   The wiper connector cap  50  accommodates the wiper connector  300  where a wiper arm  70  is connected as shown in  FIG. 2 . In the event that the wiper arm is a U-hook type arm, it is necessary to form space in front of the wiper connector  300  in order to make the hook dispose for fastening or releasing. Therefore, the transverse portions of the connector cap  50  should be configured such that the distance therebetween is longer than the length of the wiper connector  300 . However, once the wiper arm  70  is fastened to the wiper connector  300 , the space that is provided for easy fastening of the U-hook type wiper arm becomes unnecessary. This space may cause noise when a vehicle travels and does not have aesthetic appearance. The cover  510  is provided for solving this problem by covering the upper portion of the space after completing fastening of the wiper arm. 
   The connector cap  50  where the cover  510  is provided will be described in detail hereinafter. 
   As shown in  FIG. 7   a , the wiper cap  50  is provided with a first transverse portion  503  and a second transverse portion  505  extending between a pair of side walls  501 . The cover  510  is pivotably fastened to the first transverse portion  503 . The cover  510  comprises a support  513  that is pivotably supported at the first transverse portion  503  and an upper surface  517 . An engaging portion  515  that extends downwardly from the upper surface  517  is configured so as to be releasably engaged with the flange  550  provided at the side wall  501  as described above. It is preferred that the inner diameter of the support  513  is configured as being less than the outer diameter of the first transverse diameter such that the support  513  is not easily separated from the first transverse portion once it is fastened to the first transverse portion  503 . 
     FIG. 7   b  shows a configuration that the support  513  of the cover  510  is fastened to the first transverse portion  503 . The wiper connector  300  is accommodated inside the side walls although not being illustrated in  FIGS. 7   a  and  7   b . The configuration shown in  FIG. 7   b  is that the cover  510  is turn over in order to fasten a U-hook type wiper arm to the wiper connector  300 . It can be understood that the hook of the wiper arm is disposed in the space between the side walls opening since the cover  510  is turn over. 
     FIG. 7   c  shows a configuration that the cover  510  is fastened to the side walls  501  after the wiper arm  70  is connected to the wiper connector  300 . The fastening configuration between the cover  510  and the side walls  501  can be understood with reference to  FIG. 4 . 
     FIG. 8  shows a cross-sectional view of the configuration that a wiper connector cap according to the present invention is fastened to a wiper connector. Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 8 , the fastening between the wiper connector cap and wiper connector will be described in detail. 
     FIG. 8  shows a configuration that the wiper connector cap  50  is fastened to guide clip  30  of the wiper connector  300 . The guide clip  30  is provided with a shaft  38  to which a connecting member  40  is fastened. Fastening groove  31  to which mounting portion  530  of the wiper connector cap is fastened is formed at walls that face each other so as to define space for accommodating the connecting member  40 . It is preferred that lower portion  35  of the guide clip  30  is fixed at a wiper blade  20  and that fixing is conducted by riveting. 
   Although the present invention has been described by way of exemplary embodiments, it should be understood that those skilled in the art might make many changes and substitutions without departing from the spirit and the scope of the present invention which is defined only by the appended claims.