Abstract:
A flow guider and a wiper assembly for wiper, wherein a spring rail is detachably received in the flow guider which is provided with a longitudinal slot providing along the extension direction of the flow guider for accommodating the spring rail, and a receiving portion being able to receive the edges of the spring rail is provided on the side portions of the flow guider forming the longitudinal slot, for restricting the breakaway of the spring rail from the flow guider, wherein at least one stopper is provided on the longitudinal side walls of the longitudinal slot of the flow guider, a stop portion is provided on the spring rail for cooperating with the stopper, and the mutual cooperation of the stopper and the stop portion can stop the breakaway of the spring rail from the flow guider in the extension direction of the flow guider.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to the field of flow guiders or spoilers for wipers and wiper assemblies, and in particular to a flow guider for a wiper and a wiper assembly which are provided with good performances on stability and disassembly to assist the wiper spring rail to be connected firmly to the wiper. 
         [0002]    Automobiles are currently universal transport used by the public, especially when it is windy and rainy. In addition to act as a replacer of walk, automobiles have a better function of sheltering from wind and rain than bicycles or motorcycles. Automobiles will mostly use wiper to keep driving sight and ensure safety when running in the rain. Generally speaking, the wiper comprises a wiper rod, of which a connecting portion cooperates with an adapter so that a wiper arm is connected to the wiper rod. The wiper arm can be driven by a driving component so as to drive the wiper rod connected to the wiper arm, thus enabling the wiper to wipe the windshield. In other words, vehicle wiper device is typically mounted adjacent to vehicle windshield. The wiper rod of the wiper reciprocates in the range of the wiper of the windshield, whereas the wiper rod is used to remove depositions such as dust or water stains, for example, rain or snow pieces adhered to the windshield. 
         [0003]    The end face of one end of a portion of existing wiper flow guiders has mostly open configuration. The above-mentioned open end of the flow guiders is used for receiving spring rail, whereas after the spring rail has been received in the flow guider from the above-mentioned open end of the flow guider, it needs to additionally use an end cap to be fixed to one end of the flow guider to enclose the end of the spring rail appropriately, thereby preventing the spring rail passing through the flow guider from the end of the open flow guider. However, such a configuration undoubtedly adds additional manufacturing process and material cost. 
         [0004]    The other portion of existing wiper flow guiders are configured that the end face of one end of the flow guiders is close in order to improve manufacturing process and material cost problems caused by the additional use of end cap. However, such a flow guider merely close its end face and fails to enclose the end of the spring rail appropriately at the end. It is therefore unable to produce an effective fixing effect to the end of the spring rail. That is, two ends of the spring rail are still easy to break away from the fixing mechanism of the flow guider during using the wiper, resulting in two ends of the spring rail protruding out of the fixing mechanism of the flow guider and the wiper fails to work. In addition, such a wiper flow guider is further provided with a stop portion in the shape of a rectangle, and the end of the stop portion connected to the side surface of the flow guider is the end that has smaller width, thereby to cooperate with the spring rail having a groove in the shape of a trapezoid so as to prevent the displacement between the spring rail and the flow guider in the longitudinal direction. However, the stop portion with such a configuration is not easy to be embedded into the groove, and therefore causing difficulties in assembly. Furthermore, when the stop portion with such a configuration is embedded into the groove, the stop portion will produce a considerable distortion and therefore, the stop portion is prone to be damaged and unable to server the fixing function after repeated assemblies and disassemblies. Therefore, there should be more sophisticated needs for existing flow guiders in the respects of fixing the spring rail firmly and preventing the breakaway of the spring rail and facilitating the user&#39;s operation. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The aftermentioned embodiments of the present invention are directed to a flow guider for wiper and a wiper assembly for wiper, which have substantively overcome one or more problems caused by the limitations and disadvantages in the prior art. 
         [0006]    One objective of the present invention is to provide a flow guider for wiper, and a spring rail is detachably received in the flow guider. The flow guider is provided with a longitudinal slot providing along the extension direction of the flow guider for accommodating the spring rail. A receiving portion being able to receive the edges of the spring rail is provided on the side portions of the flow guider forming the longitudinal slot, for restricting the breakaway of the spring rail from the flow guider, wherein at least one stopper is provided on the longitudinal side walls of the longitudinal slot of the flow guider, a stop portion is provided on the spring rail for cooperating with the stopper, and the mutual cooperation of the stopper and the stop portion can stop the breakaway of the spring rail from the flow guider in the extension direction of the flow guider. 
         [0007]    Preferably, the flow guider may further comprise a connecting portion, two supporting portions and a limiting edge. The connecting portion is connected curvedly to the side portions forming the longitudinal slot at one end of the flow guider. The two supporting portions are provided at the bottom of the longitudinal slot and are adjacent to the side portions respectively. The limiting edge extends along the edges of the side portions and the connecting portion towards the interior direction of the longitudinal slot, and the spring rail is received in the longitudinal slot between the limiting edge and the two supporting portions, and the distance between the limiting edge and the two supporting portions corresponds to the thickness of the spring rail. 
         [0008]    Preferably, the connecting portion is connected to the two side portions in the shape of a semi-circle or a semi-ellipse. 
         [0009]    Preferably, at least one notch is provided at the end of the limiting edge which is adjacent to the flow guider, and the notch locates on the side portions forming the longitudinal slot. 
         [0010]    Preferably, the stopper is provided in the notch and configured to be a protuberance protruding between the side portions, and the stop portion of the spring rail is a groove for corresponding to the stopper. 
         [0011]    Preferably, the stopper further comprises a guide portion which is provided on two sides of one end of the stopper and is opposite to the other end of the stopper connected to the side portions, and the guide portion is of an arc-like structure. 
         [0012]    Preferably, the stopper is provided with a hollowed-out portion which locates adjacent to the geometric center of the stopper. 
         [0013]    Preferably, the stopper comprises two stop blocks which locate on two sides of the notch and are connected between the limiting edge and the supporting portions, and between the limiting edge and the bottom of the longitudinal slot, respectively, and the stop portion of the spring rail is configured to be two grooves for corresponding to the two stop blocks of the stopper. 
         [0014]    Preferably, the stopper further comprises a guide portion which is provided on two sides of one end of the stop blocks of the stopper and is opposite to the other end of the stop blocks connected to the side portions, and the guide portion is of an arc-like structure. 
         [0015]    Another objective of the present invention is to provide a wiper assembly being able to cooperate with a wiper arm, which comprises a spring rail, and two flow guiders which can be detachably provided at two ends of the spring rail respectively, and a wiper connector which is provided on the spring rail and locates between the two flow guiders. 
         [0016]    In order to further understand and realize the technical features of the invention and the effects achieved, the present invention will be described hereinafter by means of the preferred embodiments. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0017]      FIG. 1  is a schematic exploded view of a flow guider for wiper in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  is a schematic assembled view of a flow guider for wiper in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  is a schematic partial sectional view of a flow guider for wiper in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  is a schematic partial view of a flow guider for wiper in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 5  is a schematic exploded view of a wiper assembly for wiper in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 6  is a schematic assembled view of a wiper assembly for wiper in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0023]      FIG. 7  is a schematic partial sectional view of a wiper assembly for wiper in accordance with the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0024]    The embodiments will be described with more details hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings; however, all of these embodiments can be implemented in different forms and should not be considered as being merely limited to these embodiments set forth herein. More specifically, these embodiments are used to make the disclosure more thorough and complete and to fully convey the scope of the present invention to those skilled in the art. 
         [0025]    Please refer to  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 4  together, which are schematic exploded view, schematic assembled view, schematic partial sectional view and schematic partial view of a flow guider for wiper in accordance with the present invention respectively. As shown in 
         [0026]      FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , the flow guider or spoiler  10  of the present invention comprises a the flow guider body  11 , two supporting portions  12 , a limiting edge  13  and two stoppers  14 , wherein the flow guider body  11  is preferably made of flexible and soft plastic such as rubber. The flow guider body  11  includes two separated side portions  111  and connecting portions  112 . Each of the side portions  111  is provided along the X direction as shown in the figures (i.e. the longitudinal direction), and the connecting portion  112  is connected curvedly to the two side portions  111  at one end of the flow guider  10  so as to form a longitudinal slot. That is to say, one end of the flow guider  10  is closed completely when a spring rail  20  is provided in the flow guider  10 , and thereby the spring rail  20  is unable to break away from the one end of the flow guider  10 . 
         [0027]    It is should be specially noted that the connecting portion  112  is connected curvedly to the two side portions  111  at one end of the flow guider  10  in the shape of a semi-circle or a semi-ellipse, and thereby the breakaway or passing through of the spring rail  20  from the flow guider  10  can also be prevented and simultaneously, both flowability and streamlined appearance are achieved. 
         [0028]    Please refer to  FIG. 1  in conjunction with  FIG. 3 . In addition, two supporting portions  12  are provided in the region of the longitudinal slot formed by the side portions  111  and the connecting portion  112 , and the two supporting portions  12  are provided along the wall surfaces of the two side portions  111  respectively. That is, the two supporting portions  12  are provided in the region of the longitudinal slot adjacent to respective side portions  111 . The limiting edge  13  is formed by extending oppositely along the edges of the two side portions  111 , and also extending from the edges of the connecting portion  112  towards the direction of the other end of the flow guider body  11 . That is, the limiting edge  13  extends towards the interior direction of the region of the longitudinal slot along the edges of the two side portions  111  and the connecting portion  112 . Therefore, a receiving area for receiving the spring rail  20  can be formed between the supporting portions  12  and the limiting edge  13  in the longitudinal slot, and by means of the connecting portion  112  and the limiting edge  13 , the freedom degree of the displacement in the Z direction of the stopper  13  received in the flow guider body  11  (i.e. the open direction of the longitudinal slot), as shown in the figures, is restricted. 
         [0029]    It is worth specifically describing that the distance between the above two separated side portions  111  may correspond to the width of the spring rail  20  and an appropriate adjustment is provided in order to use the two side portions  111  to restrict the freedom degree of the displacement in the Y direction of the spring rail  20  (i.e. the transverse direction), as shown in the figures. That is to say, the distance between the two side portions  111  may be equal to or slightly less than the width of the spring rail  20 , or based on the consideration of ease for assembly, the distance between the two side portions  111  may be slightly larger than the width of the spring rail  20 . Furthermore, the distance between the supporting portions  12  and the limiting edge  13  may correspond to the thickness of the spring rail  20  and an appropriate adjustment is provided. For example, the distance between the supporting portions  12  and the limiting edge  13  may be equal to or slightly less than the thickness of the spring rail  20 , or based on the consideration of ease for assembly, the distance between the supporting portions  12  and the limiting edge  13  may be slightly larger than the thickness of the spring rail  20 . 
         [0030]    By means of the above enclosed type provision of the spring rail  20  that it is received by the side portions  111 , the supporting portions  12  and the limiting edge  13 , when the spring rail  20  is received in the flow guider  10 , the side portions  111  can prevent the relative movement between the flow guider  10  and the spring rail  20  in the Y direction, and the supporting portions  12  and the limiting edge  13  can prevent the relative movement between the flow guider  10  and the spring rail  20  in the Z direction. 
         [0031]    By means of the above structure, the above side portions  111 , the supporting portions  12 , the limiting edge  13  and the connecting portions  112  of the flow guider  10  form a receiving portion that can accommodate the edges of the above spring rail  20  so as to restrict the breakaway of the spring rail  20  from the flow guide  10 . 
         [0032]    On the other hand, in order to further prevent the relative movement between the flow guider  10  and the spring rail  20  in the X direction, two stoppers  14  are provided on the side walls of the side portions  111  respectively, and the two stoppers  14  are located within the region of the longitudinal slot and are adjacent to one end of the flow guider body  11 . Correspondingly, a stop portion  23  is provided respectively at the corresponding position of the two sides of the spring rail  20  that corresponds to the two stoppers  14 , and the stop portions  23  are adjacent to the end of the spring rail  20 . 
         [0033]    Please refer to  FIG. 1  in conjunction with  FIG. 4 . Specifically, two notches  131  are provided at one end of the limiting edge  13  which is adjacent to the flow guider body  11 , and the two notches  131  are adjacent to the two side portions  111  respectively. Two stoppers  14  are provide in the notches  131  in the form of protuberance respectively. That is to say, the ends of the stoppers  14  provided in the form of protuberance are connected to the wall surfaces of the side portions  111  and project towards the direction between the two side portions  111 . Herein, the stop portions  23  of the spring rail  20  may be provided in the form of groove, so as to correspond to the stoppers  14  in the form of protuberance. When the spring member  20  is received in the flow guider  10 , by means of the side walls of the protuberances of the stoppers  14  resisting against the inner side walls of the grooves of the stop portions  23 , it is therefore the relative movement between the flow guider  10  and the spring rail  20  in the X direction can be prevent effectively. In addition, the stopper  14  may be, more preferably, made integrally with the flow guider body  11 , and a hollowed-out portion  141  may be provided on the protuberance of the stopper  14 , which is adjacent to the geometric center position of the protuberance of the stopper  14 , thus avoiding the problems such at shrinkage or deformation possibly caused during the stopper  14  is formed integrally with the flow guider body  11  by using injection molding. 
         [0034]    When assembling, the operator may firstly embed one side of the spring rail  20  between the supporting portions  12  and the limiting edge  13  at one side of the flow guider  10  first, and simultaneously, the protuberances of the stoppers  14  will be embedded into the grooves of the stop portions  23  of the spring rail  20 . As the flow guider body  11  of the flow guider  10  is made of a soft plastic material, therefore in the manner of turning over the other side of the flow guider  10  and the limiting edge  13  of the connecting portion  112 , the other side of the spring rail  20  is easily embedded between the supporting portions  12  and the limiting edge  13  at the other side of the flow guider  10 , and the protuberance of the stopper  14  at the other side of the flow guider  10  can be embedded into the groove of the stop portion  23  at the other side of the spring rail  20 , so as to finish the assembly of the spring rail  20  with the flow guider  10 . It is worth mentioning that, the stopper  14  may be provided with a guide portion  142  of curved structure, which is located on two sides at one end of the protuberance of the stopper  14 , and said one end is opposite to the other end connected to the wall surface of the side portions  111 . By means of the provision of the guide portion  142 , during the period of embedding the protuberance of the stopper  14  into the groove of the stop portion  23 , the guide portion  142  can provide appropriate guidance action, so that the protuberance of the stopper  14  can be more easily embedded into the groove of the stop portion  23 . Further, the bottom of the groove of the stop portion  23  may be of an arc-like structure for corresponding to the guide portion  142 , so that a consistency in appearance is achieved after the protuberance of the stopper  14  is embedded into the groove of the stop portion (as shown in  FIG. 4 ). 
         [0035]    Please refer to  FIG. 5  in conjunction with  FIG. 6 , they are schematic exploded view and schematic assembled view of a wiper assembly for wiper in accordance with the present invention. As shown in the figures, the flow guider  10  for wiper in accordance with the present invention is used to be assembled with the spring rail  20 , a wiper strip  30  and a wiper connector  40  to form a wiper assembly and can be used in cooperation with a wiper arm (not depicted in the figures). Wherein, two flow guiders  10  are detachably provided at two ends of the spring rail  20  respectively and located on one side surface  21  of the spring rail  20 . The wiper strip  30  is detachably provided on the other side surface  22  of the spring rail  20 , and said other side surface  22  is opposite to the side surface  21  including the flow guider  10 . The wiper connector  40  is provided on the side surface  21  of the spring rail  20  and located between the two flow guiders  10 . After the flow guider  10 , the spring rail  20 , the wiper strip  30  and the wiper connector  40  have been assembled into a wiper assembly, the wiper assembly can be detachably connected to the wiper arm by means of the wiper connector  40  so as to serve a removal function to the depositions on the windshield of automobiles, such as dust or water stains. In the foregoing, the technologies of providing the wiper strip  30  and the wiper connector  40  in the spring rail  20  and connecting the wiper connector  40  to the wiper arm are well-known to those skilled in the art, so that it is needless to further describe them herein. 
         [0036]    Please make a conjunctive reference to  FIG. 5 , which is another embodiment of the wiper assembly for wiper in accordance with the present invention. The main configuration of this embodiment is similar to the previous embodiment, and it is therefore needless to further describe the connection and action relationships of the same or similar assemblies. This embodiment mainly differs in the provision manners of the stopper  14  and the stop portion  23  of the present embodiment. Hereinafter, the connection relationship or assembly relationship between the stopper  14  of the flow guider  10  and the stop portion  23  of the spring rail  20  will be further described. 
         [0037]    Please make a conjunctive reference to  FIG. 7 , which is a schematic partial sectional view of a wiper assembly for wiper in accordance with the present invention. As shown in the figure, the stopper  14  comprises two stop blocks  143 , wherein the two stop blocks  143  are located in two sides of the notch  131  respectively, and are connected between the limiting edge  13  and the supporting portion  12 , and between the limiting edge  13  and the bottom of the longitudinal slot respectively. Corresponding to the two stop blocks  143  of the stopper  14 , the stop portion  23  of the spring rail  20  is configured to be two grooves. Therefore, when one side of the spring rail  20  is firstly embedded between the supporting portions  12  and the limiting edge  13  at one side of the flow guider  10 , and simultaneously, the two stop blocks  143  of the stopper  14  will be sequentially or simultaneously embedded into the two grooves of the stop portion  23  of the spring rail  20 . Then, in the manner of turning over the other side of the flow guider  10  and the limiting edge  13  of the connecting portion  12 , the other side of the spring rail  20  is easily embedded between the supporting portions  12  and the limiting edge  13  at the other side of the flow guider  10 , and the two stop blocks  143  of the stopper  14  at the other side of the flow guider  10  can be embedded into the two grooves of the stop portion  23  at the other side of the spring rail  20 , so as to finish the assembly of the spring rail  20  with the flow guider  10 . 
         [0038]    It can be known from the foregoing that, although the provision manners of the stopper  14  and the stop portion  23  of this embodiment differ from those of the previous embodiment, it is still effective to prevent the relative movement between the flow guider  10  and the spring rail  20  in the X direction and similarly easy for assembly. Incidentally, the stopper  14  may also comprise a guide portion  142  which is provided on two sides at one end of the stop block  143  of the stopper  14  and is opposite to the other end of the stop block  143  connected to the side portion  111 . By means of the provision of the guide portion  142 , the stopper  14  can be further easily embedded into the stop portion  23 . 
         [0039]    As compared to the prior art, the flow guider for wiper in accordance with the present invention has practicality. By means of the side portion, the connecting portion, the supporting portion and the limiting edge in the manner of enclosing, the flow guider for wiper and the wiper assembly for wiper receive the spring rail, thereby enabling a fixed assembly between the flow guider and the spring rail and further effectively preventing the possibility of the breakaway of the flower guider from the spring rail by utilizing the configurations of the stopper and the stop portion. Furthermore, the above-mentioned configurations can also achieve operating convenience which is convenient and helpful to the users or relevant persons. Therefore, it is considerable convenient whether assembling or disassembling, and the stopper will not cause a damaged situation and can also maintain stable assembly function after repeated assemblies and disassemblies. 
         [0040]    The above description is merely illustrative rather than limiting. Any equivalent modifications or variations to the present invention made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention should be covered by the appended claims. 
       DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 
       [0000]    
       
           10  flow guider 
           11  flow guider body 
           111  side portion 
           112  connecting portion 
           12  supporting portion 
           13  limiting edge 
           131  notch 
           14  stopper 
           141  hollowed-out portion 
           142  guide portion 
           20  spring rail 
           21  one end of the spring rail 
           22  the other end of the spring rail 
           23  stop portion 
           30  wiper strip 
           40  wiper connector