Vehicular wiper frame

A vehicular wiper frame and a rubber blade that mounts to the frame are provided. The frame allows the rubber blade to exert vertical pressure against a windshield for a secure contact between the two surfaces. The frame includes a slot in which a mounting portion of the rubber blade is mounted, creates a predetermined offset between the centers of the mounting portion and a wiping portion of the rubber blade therebelow, and is formed in a position so that the pressure of the wiper arm can fall at the center of the wiping portion. The mounting portion is slanted and installed at a predetermined angle to the frame, and the wiping portion extends from the mounting portion and includes a contact surface contacting the windshield surface. The pressing force of the wiper arm 80 passes through the central point of the wiping portion.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a vehicular wiper frame and a rubber blade mounted thereon, and more particularly, to a frame that can allow a rubber blade lying against a vehicular windshield to exert vertical pressure against the windshield. By maintaining the pressure against the windshield in a substantially vertical direction, the moment of a force generated between the wiping surface of the rubber blade and the surface of the windshield is minimized and a secure contact between the two surfaces is maintained.

2. Description of the Related Art

An automotive wiper is operated by a wiper motor through a mechanical linkage that moves the wiper arm back and forth in a predetermined arc. Disposed on the end of the wiper arm is a detachably mounted wiper frame to which a wiper blade made of rubber is attached.

Conventional wipers attached to wiper arms include a skeletal frame and a blade portion mounted on the frame and contacting a windshield to wipe it in a pendular movement.

Referring toFIG. 1, a conventional wiper10includes: a main frame12having an adapter11thereon for mounting the wiper arm10; a first frame16symmetrically mounted on rivet joints13at either end of the main frame12, and having a blade bracket15for evenly distributing load on the blade14and holding the blade14inserted therein; a second frame17symmetrically mounted on rivet joints13at either end of the first frame16, and having blade brackets15on either end thereof for evenly distributing load on the blade14and holding the blade14inserted therein; a blade14having a rail portion19formed thereon along in which resilient tension springs18and18ahaving a predetermined elasticity are inserted, the resilient tension springs applying a predetermined load furnished by the first and second frames16and17along the length of the blade14so that the blade14presses evenly against a windshield when wiping it; and a metallic tension spring18and18ainserted along the length on either side of the blade14to support the load furnished by the first and second frames16and17.

Here, in order for the main frame12to transmit the movement of the wiper arm10to an arcuate movement of the blade14, the wiper arm10, blade14, and the tension springs18and18athat provide resilience to the blade14converge at one point so that they move in unison according to the movement of the wiper arm10. Also, the first and second frames16and17evenly distribute load furnished by the main frame12, and, along with the main frame12, are press-formed to have holes formed therein to facilitate water drainage and reduce weight.

The blade has a groove20(seeFIG. 3) running lengthwise therealong for guiding the blade brackets15of the first and second frames16and17, and a separate rail portion19for accommodating the tension springs18and18athat provide resilience to the blade14.

In the structure of this type of wiper, because the load on the blade is applied at certain points on the blade, it is unevenly distributed along the length of the blade. This unevenness causes premature wear of blade areas that are more compressed, while less compressed areas are prone to streak or overshoot the windshield glass underneath.

The wiper shown inFIGS. 4 and 5does not have a main frame supporting a metal frame separately from a blade, but has tension springs inserted in the blade14, over which a rubber cover21covers the unit.

That is, the rail portion19is formed along the lengths on either side of the blade14, tension springs18and18aare inserted into each rail portion, and a rubber cover21that functions as a spoiler is then inserted over the unit to conceal the tension springs18and18a.

The problem with the foresaid wiper is that the aggregate tension of the two tension springs18and18aand the rubber cover21necessitate the wiper arm maintaining an increased load on the wiper for the wiper to be operationally effective, unduly stressing the mechanism. Also, this type of wiper is not interchangeable with existing wiper arms on vehicles that have a tension present for the previously mentioned multi-point-type wiper blade. Furthermore, because the wiper requires the rubber spoiler-cum-cover to complete the formation thereof, the latter item cannot be omitted.

Another conventional type of wiper, shown inFIGS. 6aand6b, is formed with a separate spoiler22fitted at the top of the rubber blade that the tension springs are inserted into. This type of blade prevents vibration, while maintaining a secure and even contact with a windshield.

However, because this wiper structure has an adapter11and frame12disposed in a vertical axis (H) direction of the adapter11, the frame12and the tension spring by themselves cannot function as a spoiler. Therefore a separately formed spoiler is required, complicating the overall structure, and creating the possibility of vibration or judder caused by the spoiler and wind noise when pressed against a windshield.

In another conventional type of wiper shown inFIG. 7, the upper portion of the rubber blade50has a head portion52defining a mounting slot51for mounting the blade to a frame60. The mounting slot51of the head portion52is inclined at an offset angle θ1according to the disposition of a frame60, such that a normal line of a cross section of the mounting slot51is offset by a predetermined angle from a vertical axis of the rubber blade50. The lower portion of the rubber blade50that contacts a windshield is a wiping portion53, which is formed perpendicularly on the vertical axis.

Thus, even without a spoiler, lifting of the wiper blade can be prevented at high speeds.

However, although the rubber blade is structurally prevented from lifting without a separately installed spoiler, the blade is not disposed vertically on the glass, so that its clearing capability diminishes.

That is, when the wiper operates and moves across the surface of the glass about the pivoting pressure center of the motor, the blade does not continuously contact the surface of the windshield at a perpendicular angle, thus failing to impart adequate contact between the blade and the windshield.

FIG. 8is a typically shaped rubber blade50athat is formed symmetrically around a center of a pressing force (fs), so that despite the position to which the wiper arm moves, the blade maintains a vertical contact with the surface of the windshield.

The rubber blade50with the anti-lift characteristic shown inFIG. 7is asymmetrical to the left and right of the pressing force (fs) from the wiper arm so that the wiper blade cannot maintain a vertical disposition to the windshield throughout the movement range of the wiper arm. That is, the angle of the pressing force imparted on the rubber blade by the wiper arm cannot maintain a vertical disposition with respect to the surface of the glass, so that the wiper's contact, wiping ability, secure disposition, etc. are insufficiently maintained.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a vehicle wiper frame that substantially obviates one or more problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.

An object of the present invention is to provide a wiper frame and rubber blade that are asymmetrically formed to both sides of a center of pressure applied by the wiper arm, while maintaining the wiper blade in substantially perpendicular contact with the surface of a windshield, without using a separate component.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a wiper frame and a rubber blade that can maintain a predetermined lean of the entire wiper to prevent judder and streaking and maintain reliable contact with a windshield.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a wiper frame and a rubber blade that maintain an even load distribution across the rubber blade on a windshield surface to increase wiping effectiveness and firm contact of the blade on the windshield, while preventing noise induced by judder and lift while the vehicle is in motion.

To achieve these objects and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, there is provided a vehicular wiper frame that supports and presses a rubber blade on a vehicle's windshield surface, and is coupled through an adaptor to a wiper arm that presses and moves the rubber blade against and across the windshield surface. The wiper frame with a predetermined resilience has a slot that guides a sliding insert formed on the rubber blade to mount the rubber blade so that load thereon presses evenly across the windshield surface. The mounting portion at the upper end of the rubber blade is disposed at a predetermined angle against and mounted to the frame. The mounting portion supports a wiping portion having a contact surface forming the bottom end of the rubber blade. To allow the wiping portion of the rubber blade to apply vertical force on and contact the windshield surface by being mounted on the frame through the mounting portion, the slot, for mounting the rubber blade to create a predetermined offset between the centers of the mounting portion and the wiping portion of the rubber blade, is formed in a position so that the pressure of the wiper arm can fall at the center point of the wiping portion.

In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicular rubber blade that is mounted to a frame with a certain elasticity that evenly distributes load along the rubber blade onto the windshield surface. The frame is coupled through an adapter to a wiper arm and presses the rubber blade against the windshield surface to simultaneously move the rubber blade across the windshield surface. The rubber blade has a sliding insert into which the frame is installed. The top of the rubber blade is slanted and installed at a predetermined angle at a mounting portion with respect to the frame, and the lower end of the rubber blade has a wiping portion that extends from the mounting portion and includes a contact surface contacting the windshield surface. The mounting portion and wiping portion are formed so that their centers are offset from one another by a predetermined distance, so that the pressing force of the wiper arm passes through the central point of the wiping portion.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.

FIG. 9is a perspective view showing an overall structure of a rubber blade mounted on a wiper frame according to the first embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 10is a plan view of the wiper according to the first embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 11is a graph showing the load distribution on the wiper frame inFIG. 10and the response of the frame to the load.FIG. 12is a sectional view showing an example of an installed rubber blade according to the first embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 13is a plan view of a rubber blade installed on a wiper according to the second embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 14is a side view of the wiper according to the second embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 15is a sectional view showing the structure and shape of the rubber blade according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, the wiper frame according to the present invention will be described in the first embodiment, and the rubber blade of the wiper according to the present invention will be described in the second embodiment.

First Embodiment

Referring toFIGS. 9 through 12, a wiper frame200according to the first embodiment of the present invention supports and presses a rubber blade100on a vehicle's windshield surface70, and is coupled through an adaptor90to a wiper arm80such that it presses and moves the rubber blade100against and across the windshield surface70. The wiper frame200with a predetermined resilience has a slot201that guides a sliding insert101formed on the rubber blade100to mount the rubber blade100so that load thereon presses evenly across the windshield surface70. The mounting portion102at the upper end of the rubber blade100is disposed at a predetermined angle and mounted to the frame200. The mounting portion102supports a wiping portion104having a contact surface103defining the bottom end of the rubber blade100.

To allow the wiping portion104of the rubber blade100to apply a vertical force on and contact the windshield surface70by being mounted on the frame200through the mounting portion102, the slot201that mounts the rubber blade100to create a predetermined offset L1between the centers of the mounting portion102and the wiping portion104of the rubber blade100is formed in a position so that the pressure fs1-fs2of the wiper arm80can fall at the center point of the wiping portion104.

The shape of the slot201formed in the frame200is symmetric about the center (fp) of the frame200, as shown inFIG. 11.

Also, the shape of the slot201formed in the frame200has a curvature Cv that curves gently toward both ends.

A wiper frame200according to the present invention may be applied to a wiper integrally formed with an elastic spring rail, from which an adaptor90is bent to connect to a wiper arm. That is, a frame60may be designed to support a rubber blade100against a windshield surface70while being coupled through an adapter90to a wiper arm80that moves the wiper across the windshield surface70. Specifically, the wiper frame60is installed along the sliding insert101of the rubber blade100, and is a spring rail having a predetermined elasticity for distributing the load on the rubber blade100evenly across the windshield surface70. This may be applied to wiper structures with frames and blades that have built-on spoilers for reducing air resistance by being formed at a certain angle, in order to prevent lift of the wiper.

Second Embodiment

Referring toFIGS. 13 through 15, a rubber blade100of a wiper according to the second embodiment is mounted to a frame200awith a certain elasticity that evenly distributes load along the rubber blade100onto the windshield surface70. The frame200ais coupled through an adapter90to a wiper arm80and presses the rubber blade100against the windshield surface70to simultaneously move the rubber blade across the windshield surface70. The rubber blade has a sliding insert101into which the frame200ais installed.

The top of the rubber blade100is slanted and installed at a predetermined angle at a mounting portion102with respect to the frame200a, and the lower end of the rubber blade100has a wiping portion104that extends from the mounting portion102and includes a contact surface103contacting the windshield surface70.

The mounting portion102and wiping portion104are formed so that their centers are offset from one another by a predetermined distance L1, so that the pressing force (fs) of the wiper arm80passes through the central point P4of the wiping portion104.

The offset distance L1between the mounting portion102and the wiping portion104of the rubber blade100may be deemed the distance between the center P1of the mounting portion102and the center P2of the wiping portion104.

The pressing force (fs) of the wiper arm80applied to the rubber blade100passes between the center P2of the wiping portion104and the contact point P3on the windshield surface70through the offset between the mounting portion102and the wiping portion104.

The rubber blade100according to the present invention may be applied to a wiper that is a tensile member having an integrally formed frame and spring with an adapter bent therefrom. That is, the frame200ais coupled through its adapter90to the wiper arm80that presses the rubber blade100against a windshield surface70and simultaneously moves the rubber blade across the windshield surface70, where the rubber blade has a sliding insert101into which the spring rail (with a certain elasticity that evenly distributes load along the rubber blade100onto the windshield surface70) is installed. This may be applied to wiper structures with frames and blades that have built-on spoilers for reducing air resistance by being formed at a certain angle, in order to prevent lift of the wiper.

The wiper frame and rubber blade according to the embodiments of the present invention have the following characteristics.

In order to prevent lift of the wiper, the wiper structure shown inFIG. 7Apositions the frame60and the rubber blade50at an overall slant of θ1, so that they are disposed at an angle θ3with respect to a vertical axis θ2. Here, the driving force of the motor remains constant, and when the pressing force (fs) of the wiper arm is transferred to the rubber blade50, the point of the pressing force (fs) is applied asymmetrically in directions (a) and (b) (seeFIG. 7B), so that the contacting end of the rubber blade is not maintained in a vertical disposition with respect to the windshield surface. That is, the blade does not evenly contact the windshield surface due to the asymmetrical pressing force in directions (a) and (b).

Comparatively,FIG. 8Ashows a rubber blade50aaccording to the related art. This blade is not configured at an angle, so that the pressing force (fs) is symmetrically and evenly applied vertically on the windshield surface70in directions (a) and (b), and regardless of the rotation and position of the wiper, as shown inFIG. 8B.

The present invention changes the configuration of the frame and/or the rubber blade so that an ideal contact is maintained under all circumstances, which is shown in the first and second embodiments.

FIGS. 9 and 10show a frame structure of a wiper according to the first embodiment of the present invention, which includes a spoiler function to prevent lift of the wiper, as illustrated inFIG. 7.FIG. 11shows the even distribution of the initial applied pressure (fs1) and the latter applied pressure (fs2) from the wiper arm along sectors A through E along the wiper frame inFIG. 10, andFIG. 12shows the slot configuration of a wiper frame according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 13 and 14show the structure of a rubber blade according to the second embodiment of the present invention, with an air spoiler function for preventing lift of the wiper as that shown inFIG. 7.FIG. 15shows the structure and shape of the rubber blade according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

First Embodiment

Referring toFIGS. 9 through 12, a rubber blade100installed to a frame200according to the present invention has a mounting portion102at its top that is disposed at a predetermined angle and installed to the frame200. The bottom portion of the rubber blade100has a wiping portion104that extends from the mounting portion102and has a contact surface103that contacts the windshield surface70.

Here, the centers of the mounting portion102and wiping portion104are offset by a distance L1from each other, due to the position of the slot201of the frame200. When the pressing force (fs) or (fs1-fs2) is applied by the wiper arm80, it passes through the center P4of the wiping portion104. Thus, the slant of the slot201of the frame200and its shape take into consideration and are formed at the point of applied pressure of the wiper arm.

According to the shape and position of the slot201of the frame200, an offset is formed between the mounting portion102and washing portion104of the rubber blade100, with the offset L1being the distance between the central point P1of the mounting portion102and the central point P2of the washing portion104.

The pressing force (fs, or fs1-fs2) of the wiper arm80that is applied to the rubber blade100passes between the center point P2of the wiping portion104and the contact point P3that contacts the windshield surface70, by means of the structural offset between the mounting portion102and the wiping portion104.

The shape of the slot201formed in the frame200is formed symmetrically to either side of the center (fp) of the frame200, as shown inFIG. 11, and the shape of the slot201formed in the frame200has a gradual curve (Cv) towards either end thereof.

That is, when pressure is equally distributed along sectors A through E from the center (fp) of the pressing force, the contact surface103of the wiping portion104of the rubber blade is resultantly offset from a vertical disposition on the windshield surface. However, when the shape of the slot201of the frame200is curved similarly, the angle of the contact surface of the wiping portion104receives elasticity and is disposed at an angle almost perpendicular to the glass.

Accordingly, when the mounting structure of the rubber blade in the frame is configured according to the present invention, in the case of an asymmetrical pivoting movement of the rubber blade contacting the windshield surface, a spoiler effect for preventing lift of the wiper at high speed can be achieved without using a separate spoiler. Therefore, the problem of not being able to maintain the angle of the rubber blade (which has vertical pressure applied thereon) at an angle vertical to the windshield surface can be easily overcome by using the offset maintained between the point of pressure exerted by the wiper arm and the center point of actual contact on the windshield surface as a center.

Second Embodiment

Referring toFIGS. 13 through 15, the upper portion of the rubber blade100has the mounting portion102that is disposed and installed at a predetermined angle with respect to the frame200a, and the lower end of the rubber blade100includes a wiping portion104extending from the mounting portion102and having a contact surface103that contacts the windshield surface70.

The mounting portion102and the wiping portion104are formed such that their respective centers are offset by a predetermined distance L1. When a pressing force (fs) is applied by the wiper arm80, it passes through the center point P4of the wiping portion104. Accordingly, the angle and shape of the rubber blade is formed to be at the center of pressure applied by the wiper arm.

The offset distance L1between the mounting portion102and wiping portion104of the rubber blade100is set as the distance between the center point P1of the mounting portion102and the center point P2of the wiping portion104.

The pressing force (fs) of the wiper arm80on the rubber blade100is structurally configured to pass through the offset between the mounting portion102and the wiping portion104and through between the center point P2of the wiping portion104and the contact point P3contacting the windshield surface70.

Accordingly, when the mounting structure of the rubber blade in the frame is configured according to the present invention, in the case of a wiper structure with an asymmetrical pivoting movement of the rubber blade contacting the windshield surface, a spoiler effect for preventing lift of the wiper at high speed can be achieved without using a separate spoiler. Therefore, the problem of not being able to maintain the angle of the pressure applied on the rubber blade at an angle vertical to the windshield surface can be easily overcome by using the offset maintained between the point of pressure exerted by the wiper arm and the center point of actual contact on the windshield surface as a center.

The wiper frame and rubber blade according to the present invention act as a spoiler for oncoming air, and maintain the contacting angle between the rubber blade and the windshield surface close to a perpendicular 90°, regardless of the pressure point exerted by the wiper arm and the motion provided by the motor, so that a close contact is maintained between the rubber blade and windshield surface for superb wiping ability.