Joint spacer for the yoke of a windshield wiper

A joint spacer member for a pivotable connection between first and second yokes of a windshield wiper assembly includes a longitudinally extending U-shaped portion including first and second sides with a connecting side extending therebetween, the U-shaped portion having a first longitudinal end and a second longitudinal end, each of the first and second sides having a central section and resilient sections, wherein the resilient sections extend at an incline with respect to each of the central sections from each of the central sections to each of the ends.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to a windshield wiper and, particularly, to a 
windshield wiper adapted for use in a vehicle such as an automobile and 
the like. 
A typical prior art windshield wiper comprises a wiper arm, a primary yoke 
member connected pivotally to one end of the wiper arm at the lengthwise 
central portion thereof, a pair of secondary yoke members connected 
respectively and pivotally to the opposite ends of the primary yoke 
member, and a blade rubber assembly connected to opposite ends of 
respective secondary yoke members. 
Usually, the yoke members have respectively generally U-shaped form having 
spaced apart side walls at the pivotal connecting portions, and a pivot 
pin extends through respective side walls of the inner and outer members. 
Further, a spacer member is usually disposed between side walls of the 
outer and inner members. The spacer member acts to absorb excessive 
clearance in the sidewise direction or in the direction of the axis of the 
pivot pin, and to reduce the friction during the pivotal movement. 
However, in such prior art construction, there are shortcomings that 
manufacturing tolerance of the yoke members and the spacer member tends to 
cause excessive clearance, and excessive axial clearance tends to cause a 
noisy sound. 
The present invention aims to overcome above described shortcomings in the 
windshield wiper. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
According to the present invention, there is provided a windshield wiper 
including at least two pivotally connected yoke members, in which a 
resilient portion is provided at a connecting portion pivotally connecting 
the yoke members with the resilient portion being resiliently deformable 
in the widthwise direction of the yoke members. The resilient portion may 
be provided on either one or on both of the yoke members. Otherwise, the 
resilient portion may be provided on a spacer which is disposed between 
the yoke members. 
According to the invention, it is possible to reduce excessive clearance 
between the yoke members in the direction of the axis of the pivot pin 
without reducing the manufacturing tolerance of the yoke members, thereby 
reducing the noisy sounds of the wiper during operation, and to prevent 
insufficient wiping condition.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
In FIG. 4, an end of a wiper arm 1 is pivotally connected to a generally 
lengthwise central portion of a primary yoke member 2, and opposite ends 
of the primary yoke member 2 are respectively connected pivotally to 
secondary yoke members 3 and 3 through pivot pins 4 and 4. The opposite 
ends of the secondary yoke members 3 and 3 are connected respectively with 
a blade rubber assembly 5. 
It will be understood that the arrangement shown in FIG. 4 is an example, 
and the number and the arrangement of the yoke members is not limited to 
that shown in the drawing. For example, there may be provided one or more 
third yoke members connected pivotally to one or more ends of the 
secondary yoke members 3 and 3. Alternatively, one end of the primary yoke 
member 2 may be connected directly to the blade rubber assembly 5 with one 
of the secondary yoke members 3 and 3 being omitted. 
Usually, the yoke members 2 and 3 have, respectively, as shown in FIG. 3, 
generally U-shaped form having spaced apart side walls at the pivotal 
connecting portions, and a pivot pin 4 extends through respective side 
walls of the yoke members 2 and 3. Further, a spacer member 6 is disposed 
between side walls of the yoke members 2 and 3. The spacer member 6 acts 
to absorb excessive clearance between the yoke members 2 and 3 in the 
sidewise direction or in the direction of the axis of the pivot pin 4, and 
to reduce the friction during the pivotal movement. 
In the construction shown in FIG. 3, there are shortcomings that 
manufacturing tolerance of the yoke members 2 and 3 and the spacer member 
6 tends to cause excessive clearance, and the yoke member 3 tends to move 
in the direction of the axis of the pivot pin due to excessive axial 
clearance, which may cause insufficient wiping and generate a noisy sound. 
FIG. 1 is a schematic exploded perspective view of a connecting portion 
between a yoke member 2 and a yoke member 3 of a windshield wiper 
according to an embodiment of the present invention. The yoke members 2 
and 3 are generally similar to those shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. A spacer 
member 7 is disposed between the yoke members 2 and 3, and a pivot pin 4 
extends through respective side walls of the yoke members 2 and 3 and of 
the spacer member 7. The opposite end portions 7a and 7a of the spacer 
member 7 in the lengthwise directions of the yoke member 3 are bent 
resiliently inward or toward the yoke member 3 such that, in the assembled 
condition, the opposite end portions 7a and 7a of the spacer member 7 
resiliently contact with the outer surfaces of the opposite side surfaces 
of the yoke member 3, thereby absorbing clearance between the yoke members 
2 and 3. 
FIG. 2 shows another embodiment of the invention, in which, resilient 
spacers 8 and 8 are disposed respectively between the yoke members 2 and 
3. Incidentally, there are provided tubular portions 8a and 8a on the 
spacers 8 and 8 respectively to guide and support the pivot pin 4 and the 
yoke member 3. 
The function and the effect of the second embodiment are similar to that of 
the first embodiment. 
As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to 
reduce excessive clearance between the yoke members in the direction of 
the axis of the pivot pin without reducing the manufacturing tolerance of 
the yoke members, thereby reducing the noisy sounds of the wiper during 
operation, and to prevent insufficient wiping condition. 
It will be understood that the embodiments shown and described as above are 
mere preferable embodiments, but the invention is not limited to these 
embodiments, and many other modifications or changes may be applied for 
those skilled in the art within the scope and spirit of the following 
claims.