Flat-blade type wiper apparatus having improved end cap structure

A flat-blade type wiper apparatus includes: a wiper lip; a spoiler-integrated lever that prevents the wiper lip from floating on the windshield of a vehicle; a vertebra that elastically supports the wiper lip; and an end cap that prevents the wiper lip from slipping in a direction of a length of the vertebra, wherein a cap fixing hole is disposed at one end of the vertebra and passes through an upper surface and a lower surface of the vertebra; a first stopper protrudes from a ceiling surface of the end cap in a downward direction and couples to the cap fixing hole; and a second stopper protrudes from a sidewall of the end cap toward the wiper lip, and prevents the wiper lip from slipping by being accommodated in a coupling groove that is formed in the wiper lip.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No, 10-2012-0119299, filed on Oct. 25, 2012, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

BACKGROUND

One or more embodiments of the present invention relate to a wiper blade apparatus for a vehicle, and more particularly, to a flat-blade type wiper apparatus.

2. Description of the Related Art

A blade assembly for cleaning a windshield of a vehicle is an active safety device, as well as device that provides user convenience, which is installed to ensure a driver's view by removing foreign substances or rain drops on a glass surface of the windshield.

Generally, the blade assembly for cleaning the windshield slides on and contacts the vehicle. The blade assembly for cleaning the windshield includes a wiper strip that slides on and contacts the windshield and has rubber elasticity, a vertebra that elastically supports the wiper strip, and a retainer and a coupling apparatus as a coupling assembly for firmly fixing the wiper strip to a wiper arm. Generally, the retainer has a tournament structure, so as to accommodate a deviation in contact between a wiper strip and the windshield, according to a difference in curvature of the windshield between the wiper strip and the retainer. The tournament structure may include a space between the wiper strip and the retainer. Recently, as roads have been improved for high-speed driving, and the performance of a vehicle has been enhanced, a problem of a conventional blade assembly to clean the windshield has been raised. That is, when a wiper apparatus operates while a vehicle is moving at a high speed of 160 km or more, a lift may be exerted on the blade assembly for cleaning the windshield, and the blade assembly for cleaning the windshield may not properly contact the windshield. Thus, the wiper apparatus may not properly wipe the windshield. In order to solve such a problem, there is a need to develop a new blade assembly for cleaning the windshield that does not include a retainer structure.

Recently, a wiper apparatus, referred to as a “flat-blade type wiper apparatus”, has drawn attention for preventing floating of a wiper while a vehicle is moving at a high speed.

In the case of the flat-blade type wiper apparatus, a vertebra that supports a wiper lip is formed of a spoiler-integrated lever, and a connector apparatus for connecting a wiper arm to the wiper apparatus is disposed at a center of the vertebra. Korean Patent Publication No. 2011-0074552 discloses an example of the flat-blade type wiper apparatus.

A flat-blade type wiper apparatus generally includes a wiper apparatus and a vertebra, which are coupled to the spoiler-integrated lever. Then, a cover, referred to as an end cap, is installed at both ends of the wiper lip, so that the wiper lip does not slide and detach from the spoiler-integrated lever. The end cap also functions to improve an appearance of the flat-blade type wiper apparatus. However, since a conventional end cap is not directly clipped or fixed to the wiper lip, it may be difficult to replace the wiper lip, or the wiper lip may slip in a direction of a length of the wiper lip, and thus, the wiping performance of the wiper apparatus may deteriorate.

The present invention solves such a problem. The present invention provides a flat-blade type wiper apparatus having an improved end cap structure, so that the wiper lip is effectively supported and firmly coupled to a vertebra. Thus, while the wiper apparatus is operating, the wiper lip may not slip and may be easily replaced.

SUMMARY

According to one or more embodiments of the present invention, a flat-blade type wiper apparatus having an improved end cap structure includes a wiper lip that is manufactured of an elastic material, so as to remove a foreign substance on a surface of the windshield of a vehicle by contacting and sliding on the windshield; a spoiler-integrated lever that accommodates an upper part of the wiper lip and prevents the wiper lip from floating on the glass while the vehicle is moving at a high speed; a vertebra that is assembled in the spoiler-integrated lever and elastically supports the wiper lip to the glass; and an end cap that couples to one end of the vertebra and prevents the wiper lip from slipping in a direction of a length of the vertebra, wherein a cap fixing hole is disposed at one end of the vertebra in a direction of a length of the vertebra and passes through an upper surface and a lower surface of the vertebra, a first stopper protrudes from a ceiling surface of the end cap to a downward direction and couples to the cap fixing hole and a second stopper protrudes from a sidewall of the end cap toward the wiper lip, and prevents the wiper lip from slipping by being accommodated in a coupling groove that is formed in the wiper lip.

The first stopper may be formed so that a cross-section thereof is formed in the form of a sawtooth and a slope at an end in a direction of a length of the vertebra is steeper than a slope at a center of the vertebra.

The second stopper may be formed so that a cross-section thereof is formed in the form of a sawtooth and a slope at an end in a direction of a length of the wiper lip is steeper than a slope at a center of the wiper lip.

Two end caps are provided, wherein one end cap is arranged on one end of the vertebra and the other end cap is arranged on the other end of the vertebra, and the end cap, disposed at the other end of the vertebra, may not include the second stopper.

The end cap, disposed at the other end of the vertebra, includes a work cover that may be opened and closed so that the wiper lip may be disassembled or assembled while the end cap, disposed at the other end of the vertebra, is not detached from the vertebra.

The work cover may be rotatably coupled to the end cap, disposed at the other end of the vertebra.

The flat-blade type wiper apparatus may include an auxiliary stopper that is disposed in a periphery of the first stopper in a direction of a length of the vertebra from the first stopper to a center of the vertebra, and that is smaller than the first stopper.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown.

FIG. 1is a plan view of a flat-blade type wiper apparatus10(hereinafter, referred to as “wiper apparatus”) to which end caps50and51are applied, according to an embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 2is a cutaway perspective view of area “A” shown inFIG. 1.FIG. 3is a cutaway perspective view of the end cap50in the area “A” shown inFIG. 1.FIG. 4is a cutaway perspective view of area “B” shown inFIG. 1.FIG. 5is a cutaway perspective view of the end cap51in the area “B” shown inFIG. 1.FIG. 6is a diagram illustrating a state in which a work cover60, which is installed in the end cap51in the area “B” shown inFIG. 1, is opened.FIG. 7is a front view of the wiper apparatus10shown inFIG. 1.FIG. 8is a cross-sectional view of the area “A”, shown inFIG. 7, which is taken along line VIII-VIII.FIG. 9is a cross-sectional view of the area “B”, shown inFIG. 7, which is taken along line VIII-VIII.

Referring toFIGS. 1 through 9, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the flat-blade type wiper apparatus10that has an improved end cap structure, hereinafter referred to as a wiper apparatus, is an apparatus that is installed on the windshield of a vehicle. The wiper apparatus10includes a wiper lip20, a spoiler-integrated lever30, a vertebra40, and the end caps50and51.

The wiper lip20is a member that contacts and slides on a glass surface of the windshield. The wiper lip20may be formed of elastic rubber. The wiper lip20functions to remove foreign substances on the glass surface of the windshield.

The spoiler-integrated lever30is a member that supports and accommodates the wiper lip20. The spoiler-integrated lever30performs functions of a yoke member, a lever member, and a spoiler, which are included in a well-known conventional tournament-type wiper apparatus. The spoiler-integrated lever30is a member that extends long in a length direction of the wiper lip20. A shape of a spoiler is formed on an upper part of the spoiler-integrated lever30. A space that accommodates an upper part of the wiper lip20is included on a lower part of the spoiler-integrated lever30. The spoiler-integrated lever30functions to prevent the wiper lip20from floating from the glass surface of the windshield when the vehicle is moving at a high speed. Two spoiler-integrated levers30may be provided symmetrically at both sides of a connector apparatus70, which is disposed in a central area of the vertebra40that is described later.

The vertebra40is assembled with the spoiler-integrated lever30. The vertebra40is a member that is formed by a linear extension of a member in a shape of a flat-plate. The vertebra40may be formed of a material, such as carbon steel. Since such a material has a high elastic modulus, the vertebra40has a fine elastic recovering force. The vertebra40elastically supports the wiper lip20on the windshield. The vertebra40is formed longer than the spoiler-integrated lever30. The vertebra40includes a cap fixing hole42. The cap fixing hole42is disposed at an end of the vertebra40in a direction of a length of the vertebra40. In the current embodiment, one cap fixing hole42is respectively provided at both ends of the vertebra40. The cap fixing hole42is formed to pass through an upper surface and a lower surface of the vertebra40. The cap fixing hole may be formed, for example, in a square shape.

The end cap50couples to an end of the vertebra40. The end cap50functions to prevent the wiper lip20from slipping in a direction of a length of the vertebra40. A structure of the end cap50performs a key function in the present invention, as described in detail hereinafter.

The end cap50includes a first stopper52, a second stopper55, and an auxiliary stopper53.

The first stopper52is formed to protrude from a ceiling surface of the end cap50in a downward direction. The first stopper52is a projection that couples to the cap fixing hole42. The first stopper52fixes the vertebra40and the end cap50to each other, and thus, prevents the end cap50from being detached from the vertebra40. The first stopper52is formed to have a cross-section in the form of a sawtooth. The cross-sectional structure of the first stopper52is formed such that a slope at an end in a direction of a length of the vertebra40is steeper than a slope at a center of the vertebra40. Accordingly, the first stopper52strongly prevents the end cap50from detaching from the end of the vertebra40, and relatively weakly prevents the end cap50from accessing a center of the vertebra40. The auxiliary stopper53is disposed in a periphery of the first stopper52. If the first stopper52is damaged or dislocated from the cap fixing hole42, the auxiliary stopper53secondarily prevents the end cap50from being detached from the vertebra40. Like the first stopper52, a cross-sectional structure of the auxiliary stopper53is formed in the form of a sawtooth. When the first stopper52is accommodated in the cap fixing hole42, the second stopper55is disposed to contact an upper surface of the vertebra40. Accordingly, the auxiliary stopper53is formed smaller than the first stopper52. A cross-sectional structure of the auxiliary stopper53is substantially identical to that of the first stopper52. The auxiliary stopper53is disposed in a periphery of the first stopper52in a direction of a length of the vertebra40from the first stopper52to a center of the vertebra40.

The second stopper55is a structure in the form of a projection that protrudes toward the wiper lip20from a sidewall of the end cap50. The second stopper55is accommodated in a coupling notch22that is formed in the wiper lip20, thus preventing the wiper lip20from slipping. As shown inFIG. 8, the second stopper55may be formed at both sides of an inner wail of the end cap50, with the wiper lip20therebetween. The second stopper55is formed to have a cross-section in the form of a sawtooth. The cross-sectional structure of the second stopper55is formed such that a slope at an end in a direction of a length of the wiper lip20is steeper than a slope at a center of the wiper lip20. That is, the cross-sectional structure of the second stopper55is similar to that of the first stopper52.

The end caps50and51are provided respectively to opposite ends of the vertebra40; ie., an end and the other end of the vertebra40. As shown inFIG. 9, it may be desirable that the end cap51, disposed at the other of the vertebra40, does not include the second stopper55. The end cap51, disposed at the other end of the vertebra40, includes a work cover60. The work cover60may be opened and closed, so that the wiper lip20may be disassembled or assembled while not detaching the end cap51from the vertebra40. The work cover60is rotatably coupled to the end cap51. Referring toFIG. 8, it may be easily understood that the work cover60has a structure that is rotatably coupled to the end cap51. If the second stopper55is not included in the end cap51at the other end of the vertebra40, this may help to replace the wiper lip20. That is, if the wiper lip20is pulled toward the end of the vertebra40, there are no obstacles when detaching the wiper lip20from the wiper apparatus10.

Hereinafter, a working effect of the wiper apparatus10, which includes such a configuration as described above, will be described in detail.

First, a process of assembling the wiper apparatus10is described as example.

A sequence of assembling elements, which constitute the wiper apparatus10, is generally as follows, though not limited thereto:

First, the vertebra40is coupled to the spoiler-integrated lever30. The vertebra40may be coupled to the spoiler-integrated lever30, by inserting the vertebra40into a hole or a groove that is formed on the spoiler-integrated lever30. The wiper lip20is coupled to the spoiler-integrated lever30, in this process, the wiper lip20is coupled to the spoiler-integrated lever30by pushing and inserting the wiper lip20into the spoiler-integrated lever30from the other end of the vertebra40toward the end of the vertebra40. Then, the end cap50is coupled to the end of the vertebra40. The end cap50is slid into and coupled to the end of the vertebra40. In this process, the first stopper52, provided in the end cap50, is accommodated in the cap fixing hole42that is provided in the vertebra40. Additionally, the second stopper55is accommodated in the coupling notch22that is provided in the wiper lip20. Additionally, the second stopper55is coupled to the other end of the vertebra40. As shown inFIG. 9, the end cap51, coupled to the other end of the vertebra40, does not include the second stopper55, but includes the first stopper52and the auxiliary stopper53. Accordingly, the end cap51, coupled to the other end of the vertebra40, does not directly couple to the wiper lip20. After assembly of the end cap51is completed, the connector apparatus70is coupled to a center of the vertebra40. Additionally, the wiper apparatus10is assembled on a wiper arm (not illustrated) via the connector apparatus70. As such, in a process of assembling the wiper apparatus10, the first stopper52and the second stopper55which are provided in the end cap50, respectively fix the vertebra40and the wiper lip20. Thus, at least one of the end caps50and51directly fixes the vertebra40and the wiper lip20at the same time. Accordingly, the wiper lip20may be prevented from slipping on the vertebra4.

A process of detaching the wiper lip20from the assembled wiper apparatus10is as follows: If the wiper apparatus10is installed on a vehicle and used for a long time, the wiper lip20may be worn out and needs to be replaced. When the wiper lip20is replaced, the wiper lip20, which is assembled in the wiper apparatus10, needs to be detached from the wiper apparatus10. To detach the wiper lip20from the wiper apparatus10, the work cover60that is installed on the end cap51is lifted upward by rotation. Referring toFIG. 8, a state in which the work cover60is opened may be easily understood. In this state, the wiper lip20is pulled toward the other end of the vertebra40. The wiper lip20is fixed by the second stopper55of the end cap50that couples to the end of the vertebra40. Accordingly, an external force is applied to the wiper lip20to a degree to overcome a fixing force of the second stopper55, so that the wiper lip20goes over the second stopper55. Then, the wiper lip20is pulled out and detached from the spoiler-integrated lever30. Then, a new wiper lip20is coupled to the spoiler-integrated lever30through a space of the opened work cover60. After the new wiper lip20is coupled to the spoiler-integrated lever30, the new wiper lip20is fixed to the second stopper55at the end of the vertebra40. Additionally, the work cover60of the end cap50, which is coupled to the other end of the vertebra40, is rotated to be closed. Through this process, the wiper lip20of the wiper apparatus10may be replaced.

As described above, according to the one or more of the above embodiments of the present invention, a wiper apparatus includes an improved end cap structure in which a wiper lip and a vertebra may be fixed at the same time. Accordingly, the wiper lip may be prevented from slipping on the vertebra, and thus, a durability of the wiper apparatus may be improved. Additionally, since the end cap is assembled in a process of assembling the wiper apparatus, the vertebra and the wiper lip may be fixed at the same time. Thus, assembly may be simple and easy. If the wiper lip is worn out or damaged, and thus, is to be replaced, the wiper lip may be detached from and assembled in the wiper apparatus, without having to detach the end cap from the wiper apparatus. Therefore, serviceability may be remarkably enhanced.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the work cover is included in the wiper apparatus. However, even when the work cover is not included, a wiper lip may be replaced when one of two end caps is detached from the wiper apparatus.