Wiper blade with frame

The present invention relates to a wiper blade mounted to a wiper apparatus for a vehicle to wipe a windshield, a jig for heat treating a wiper frame of a wiper blade, and a method for machining a wiper frame using the same. An object of the present invention is to provide a wiper blade, which has a wiper frame formed to have elasticity, has an improved structure for securing a wiper strip, causes a wiper strip to be directly coupled with the wiper frame, and is easily assembled, thereby saving a time required for an assembling process and having improved durability and contacting force, a jig for heat treating a wiper frame of a wiper blade and a method for machining a wiper frame using the same. According to the present invention for achieving the object, there is provided a wiper blade for wiping a windshield, comprising a wiper strip in contact with the windshield, the wiper strip having rail grooves formed on both sides thereof; a wiper frame curved along its lengthwise direction and having elasticity to bring the wiper strip into contact with the windshield; a coupling slit formed in the wiper frame, the rail grooves of the wiper strip being slidably fitted to the coupling slit; and a coupling aperture formed in one end of the coupling slit and allowing the wiper strip to be inserted thereinto.

PRIORITY INFORMATION

This application claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2005-0115734, filed Nov. 30, 2005, entitled WIPER BLADE, JIG FOR HEAT TREATING WIPER FRAME OF WIPER BLADE AND METHOD FOR MACHINING WIPER FRAME USING THE SAME, which application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a wiper blade mounted to a wiper apparatus for a vehicle to wipe a windshield, a jig for heat treating a wiper frame of a wiper blade, and a method for machining a wiper frame using the same, and more particularly, to a wiper blade of which a wiper frame is elastic and is mounted with a wiper strip to have a simple structure and be easily assembled, a jig for heat treating a wiper frame of a wiper blade and a method for machining a wiper frame using the same.

BACKGROUND

FIG. 1is a perspective view of a vehicle to which a conventional wiper blade is mounted, andFIG. 2is a front view of the conventional wiper blade.

As shown inFIG. 1andFIG. 2, the conventional wiper apparatus comprises a wiper arm15installed at one side of a vehicle body10and rotated from side to side by a wiper motor (not shown), and a wiper blade20mounted to the wiper arm15, moved on and contacted with a windshield12to wipe it, and provided with a wiper strip30.

The wiper blade20is coupled with the wiper arm15and is rotated within a predetermined angle range according to operation of the wiper motor. To this end, a main link22of the wiper blade20is coupled with the wiper arm15. A plurality of intermediate links24are connected to the main link22through pins25for uniformly transmitting pressure of the wiper arm15to the main link22. A plurality of sub links26are connected to the intermediate links24with pins27to connect the intermediate links24to the wiper strip30. Also, clips28are formed at both ends of the sub link26and coupled with coupling grooves formed in the wiper strip30.

Further, the wiper blade20is provided with a joint29to reduce a friction force between the main link22and the intermediate links24.

In the wiper blade according to the prior art, however, a process of assembling a wiper strip as well as a structure for securing it are complicated, whereby there is a problem in that a time required for assembling the wiper blade is increased to lower a productivity of the articles. Also, in the conventional wiper blade, since the links are moved relative to each other when the wiper blade is operated, noises can be generated in the operation of the wiper blade. In addition, in the conventional wiper blade, the wiper blade is lifted up from the windshield by the wind when the vehicle is driven at a high speed, which causes a contacting force between the wiper blade and the windshield to be lowered. Accordingly, in order to solve the above problem, the structure in which an additional windbreak rib is provided on the main link has been proposed. However, a complete solution has not been proposed, so that there is a room for improvement of the wiper blade.

Technical Problem

The present invention is conceived to solve the aforementioned problems in the prior art. An object of the present invention is to provide a wiper blade, which has a wiper frame formed to have elasticity, has an improved structure for securing a wiper strip, causes a wiper strip to be directly coupled with the wiper frame, and is easily assembled, thereby saving a time required for an assembling process and having improved durability and contacting force, a jig for heat treating a wiper frame of a wiper blade and a method for machining a wiper frame using the same.

Technical Solution

According to an aspect of the present invention for achieving the object, there is provided a wiper blade for wiping a windshield, comprising a wiper strip in contact with the windshield, the wiper strip having rail grooves formed on both sides thereof; a wiper frame curved along its lengthwise direction and having elasticity to bring the wiper strip into contact with the windshield; a coupling slit formed in the wiper frame, the rail grooves of the wiper strip being slidably fitted to the coupling slit; and a coupling aperture formed in one end of the coupling slit and allowing the wiper strip to be inserted thereinto. Here, the wiper frame may have at least one coupling slit and the wiper strip may be formed corresponding to the coupling slit. In addition, any one of a through-hole and a protrusion may be formed between the coupling slits, and then, the other one of the through-hole and the protrusion may be formed in an upper end of the wiper strip to be inserted thereinto. Further, the wiper blade may comprise an auxiliary slit which is connected to an end of the coupling aperture and formed collinearly with the coupling slit. In addition, the coupling aperture that is connected to the coupling slit may be formed to be inclined in the fitting direction of the wiper strip. In the meantime, the wiper blade may further comprise a connector provided at one side of the wiper frame to be coupled with the wiper arm. Preferably, the wiper frame may be formed with a seating portion for guiding a connecting position of the connector. In addition, the wiper frame may be configured such that an area of one side of the wiper frame is increased as it goes to its center. Further, in a case where the wiper frame is arranged to be inclined at a predetermined angle, the wiper strip may be formed to be inclined with respect to the wiper frame to be brought into perpendicular contact with the windshield. Also, the connector to be coupled with the wiper frame may be formed to be inclined in the direction opposite to the inclination direction of the wiper frame.

According to another aspect of the present invention for achieving the object, there is provided a jig for heat treating a wiper frame of a wiper blade, comprising a first jig provided with a first working surface having a predetermined curvature to press an upper portion of a wiper frame workpiece; a second jig arranged opposite to the first jig and provided with a second working surface having a curvature corresponding to the first working surface to press a lower portion of the wiper frame workpiece; and a press for pressing the first and second jigs to form the wiper frame workpiece disposed between the first and second jigs.

Further, the first and second jigs may be provided with a heating means. Furthermore, the jig may further comprise an auxiliary jig disposed between a plurality of wiper frame workpieces placed between the first and second jigs, the auxiliary jig having a curvature corresponding to the first and second working surfaces.

According to a further aspect of the present invention for achieving the object, there is provided a method for manufacturing a wiper frame of a wiper blade, comprising the steps of heat treating a workpiece made of steel to obtain martensite; blanking the workpiece heat treated in the heat treating step to prepare a wiper frame workpiece for a wiper blade; piercing the wiper frame workpiece prepared in the blanking step to remove an unnecessary portion from the wiper frame workpiece; bending the wiper frame workpiece to be formed to have a predetermined curvature; and heat treating and forming the wiper frame workpiece to have a desired curvature by pressing it and simultaneously to relieve internal stress thereof through annealing.

Also, the step of heat treating may comprise the steps of heating the wiper frame workpiece at a transformation temperature or more; and rapidly cooling the wiper frame workpiece heated in the heating step.

Advantageous Effects

According to a wiper blade, a jig for heat treating a wiper frame of a wiper blade and a method for machining a wiper frame using the same of the present invention configured as above, there are the advantages in that a structure of a wiper frame for securing a wiper strip is simple, a process of assembling the wiper strip to the wiper frame is simple, a time required for the assembling process can be reduced, and the manufacturing costs can be remarkably reduced and the durability of the article can be significantly improved since the wiper frame is formed to have predetermined elasticity and therefore no additional part is necessary. It is also possible to form a plurality of wiper frames in a short time using the jig for heat treating a wiper frame.

EXPLANATION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS FOR MAJOR PORTIONS SHOWN IN DRAWINGS

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 3is a perspective view of a wiper blade according to the present invention, andFIG. 4is an exploded perspective view of the wiper blade according to the present invention. Also,FIGS. 5(a) and (b) are sectional views of a wiper strip of the wiper blade according to the present invention,FIG. 6is a sectional view of the wiper blade according to the present invention, andFIG. 7is a plane view of a wiper frame of the wiper blade according to the present invention.

As shown inFIGS. 3 to 7, a wiper blade50according to the present invention comprises a wiper strip60in contact with a surface of a windshield to wipe out moisture, dust and the like got on the surface of the windshield, and a wiper frame70with which the wiper strip60is coupled.

As shown inFIG. 5(a), the wiper strip60includes a body portion62, rail grooves65formed in an upper end portion64of the body portion62to be opened to both sides, and a strip portion68formed in a lower end portion of the body portion62to be brought into contact with a surface of a windshield.

The wiper frame70exerts a certain elastic force to the wiper strip60such that the wiper strip60is brought into close contact with a windshield12. To this end, as shown inFIG. 7, the wiper frame70is made of a thin metal plate and is formed to be curved along the lengthwise direction. Also, the wiper frame70comprises coupling slits75extending in the lengthwise direction. At this time, each coupling slit75, which is a structure for coupling the wiper strip60thereto, has a predetermined width such that the rail grooves65of the wiper strip60can be fitted to the coupling slit.

In addition, a coupling aperture74is formed at one end of each coupling slit75so that a portion of the upper end portion64of the wiper strip60can be disposed in the coupling aperture in order to fit the rail grooves65of the wiper strip60to the coupling slit.

An end of the coupling aperture74connected to the coupling slit75is formed to be inclined in the fitting direction of the wiper strip60, and thus guides so that the rail grooves65of the wiper strip60are fitted to the coupling slit75.

In the meantime, only one of the coupling slits75may be formed in the wiper frame70. However, it is preferred that a plurality of coupling slits be successively formed in order to maintain the rigidity of the wiper frame70and make it easy to couple the wiper strip60thereto. Also, the wiper strip60is formed such that its upper end portion corresponds to the coupling slits75of the wiper frame70. That is, a cut-out portion69is formed in the upper end portion64of the wiper strip60by cutting out a part of the upper end portion64corresponding to a portion in which the coupling slit75is not formed.

Also, when the plurality of coupling slits75are formed in the wiper frame70as described above, a through-hole82may be formed between the coupling slits75. In addition, a protrusion84may be formed on the upper end portion of the wiper strip60, to be inserted into the through-hole82of the wiper frame70. Accordingly, as the protrusion84of the wiper strip60is inserted into the through-hole82of the wiper frame70, the wiper strip60and the wiper frame70are fixedly coupled. In the embodiment of the present invention, although it is described that the through-hole is formed in the wiper frame70and the protrusion corresponding to this through-hole is formed on the wiper strip60, it is possible to form a protrusion on the wiper frame70and a through-hole in the upper end portion of the wiper strip60. In addition, a plurality of the through-holes or protrusions may be formed, and a shape of the through-hole or protrusion may be variously modified.

Also, an auxiliary coupling slit78is formed in the wiper frame70to be connected to the other end of the coupling aperture74. The auxiliary coupling slit78is formed collinearly with the coupling slit75and fitted to the rail grooves65formed in an end of the wiper strip60. To this end, the other end of the wiper strip60is fitted to the coupling slits75via the coupling aperture74, and then, the one end of the wiper strip60is inserted into the coupling aperture74by compressing the one end of the wiper strip60. At this time, once the compression force exerted on the wiper strip60is removed, the rail grooves65formed at the one end of the wiper strip60is fitted to the auxiliary coupling slit78.

In the meanwhile, a connector80is installed to a portion of the wiper frame70to couple the wiper frame to a wiper arm15(FIG. 1). Preferably, a seating portion72may be formed in the portion of the wiper frame70to guide a connecting position of the connector80. The seating portion72may comprises a step section which may be formed to have the length and width corresponding to a coupling section of the connector80. In addition, in order to increase the area which is exposed to wind, an area of a side of the wiper frame70is increased as it goes to its center. At this time, a central portion of the side of the wiper frame70of which the area is increased is partially cut out in order to couple the wiper frame with the connector80.

In the meantime, the wiper frame70may be arranged slantingly to be inclined at a predetermined angle in order to bring the wiper strip60into more close contact with the windshield by the wind. When the wiper frame70is arranged to be inclined as described above, the wiper strip60is formed to be inclined with respect to the wiper frame70so as to be brought into perpendicular contact with the windshield.

To this end, as shown inFIG. 5(b), a wiper strip160has a body portion162, rail grooves165formed in an upper end portion of the body portion162to be opened to both sides, a strip portion168formed in a lower end portion of the body portion162to be brought into contact with a surface of a windshield. At this time, the body portion162may be formed in an inclined wedge shape and a groove section169(←168) may be formed in a portion of the body portion162in order to reduce the weight and material cost of the wiper strip.

Also, when the wiper frame70is arranged to be inclined as described above, the connector80is formed to be inclined in the direction opposite to the inclination direction of the wiper frame70in order to couple the connector80with the wiper arm15(FIG. 1).

In the meantime, the wiper frame70configured as described above is formed through a jig for heat treating a wiper frame to have a predetermined curvature by machining a wiper frame workpiece made of steel.

FIG. 8is a plane view schematically showing a jig for heat treating a wiper frame according to the present invention.

As shown inFIG. 8, in a jig200for heat treating a wiper frame according to the present invention, a first jig212provided with a first working surface213having a predetermined curvature and a second jig216provided with a second working surface217having a predetermined curvature corresponding to the first working surface213are arranged opposite to each other at both ends of the jig200.

The first jig212and the second jig216are installed to a fixed forming frame210with a fixing means such as bolts or the like. Preferably, the first jig212is fixedly installed while the second jig216is moveably installed. Also, a pressing means218is installed to a lowerportion of the second jig216to press it to move the second jig216.

As described above, the heat treatment jig200to which a wiper frame workpiece220is mounted is fed to a heating furnace for annealing. Accordingly, in a state where the wiper frame workpiece200is bent to have an approximate curvature between the first jig212and the second jig216, the workpiece can be pressed and annealed at the same time.

Meanwhile, in order to improve the heat treatment performance of the heat treatment jig200, a heating means (not shown) may be provided in the first and second jigs212and216or the forming frame210.

A view showing a state where a plurality of wiper frames are machined in the jig heat treating a wiper frame according to the present invention is described with reference toFIG. 9.

First, the wiper frame workpiece220, which has been subjected to the heating and cooling processes to have elasticity, is bent to have an approximate curvature by means of an additional machining apparatus.

Next, the wiper frame workpiece220bent to have the approximate curvature is mounted to the jig200for heat treating a wiper frame. At this time, the wiper frame workpiece220is disposed between the first and second jigs212and216. Thereafter, in a state where the pressing means218is operated to cause the second jig216to press the wiper frame workpiece220, the heat treatment jig200feeds the wiper frame workpiece220to the heating furnace (not shown), and the wiper frame workpiece220is then annealed.

Meanwhile, in a state where upper and lower surfaces of the wiper frame workpiece220is respectively pressed by the first and second working surfaces213and217of the first and second jigs212and216, the wiper frame workpiece220is heated to an appropriate temperature to have a curvature which is the same as that of the first and second jigs212and216and to remove internal stress of the workpiece, thereby having a predetermined shape.

Accordingly, with the jig220for heat treating a wiper frame, the wiper frame workpiece220is formed to have a curvature corresponding to a specification of the article and to have a shape of the wiper frame.

In the meantime, in the jig200for heat treating a wiper frame, only one wiper frame workpiece220is put between the first jig212and the second jig216to be machined, or a plurality of wiper frame workpieces220can be put in a lump therebetween to be machined. To this end, as shown inFIG. 10, an auxiliary jig230may be installed between the plurality of wiper frame workpieces220so that the wiper frame workpieces have a desired curvature.

FIG. 10is a view showing a state where a plurality of the wiper frames are machined in the jig for heat treating a wiper frame according to the present invention. In the jig200for heat treating a wiper frame, if the number of the wiper frame workpieces220to be simultaneously formed is increased, it is preferred that the auxiliary jigs230having a curvature corresponding to the first and second working surfaces213and217be disposed between the wiper frame workpieces220.

As described above, since the auxiliary jigs230are disposed between the wiper frame workpieces220, it is possible to reduce a curvature error occurring when the plurality of wiper frame workpieces220are simultaneously formed.

In addition, a method for manufacturing the wiper frame of the wiper blade50according to the present invention is as follows.

The wiper frame70of the wiper blade50according to the present invention is made of a steel material. The structure and strength of the wiper frame can be varied depending on conditions of heat treatment of the steel material, so that the formed configuration of the wiper frame can be maintained continuously.

FIG. 11is a flow chart illustrating a method for manufacturing the wiper frame70of the wiper blade50according to the present invention.

As shown inFIG. 11, the method for manufacturing the wiper frame70of the wiper blade50according to the present invention comprises a heat treating step S11including a heating and cooling step, a blanking step S14, a piercing step S15, a bending step S16, and a heat treating and forming step S17.

The heat treating step S11, which is the step of heat treating a workpiece made of steel, comprises a heating step S12of heating the workpiece to a transformation temperature or more and a cooling step S13of rapidly cooling the workpiece heated in the heating step S12. If the workpiece is subjected to such steps, the structure of the workpiece is transformed into martensite.

The martensite obtained in the above process is a rigid structure which is formed when the transformation from austenite stable at high temperature to a structure composed of cementite and α-iron stable at room temperature is partially interrupted. Next, the blanking step S14is to blank the workpiece, which has been heat treated in the heat treating step, according to a shape of the article. The blanked workpiece is machined into a wiper frame workpiece.

Once the wiper frame workpiece is prepared as described above, the wiper frame workpiece is subjected to the piercing step. At this time, unnecessary portions are removed from the wiper frame workpiece through the piercing step S15, thereby forming the coupling slits and the coupling aperture.

Next, the bending step S16is to bend the wiper frame workpiece to have a predetermined curvature. In the step, the wiper frame workpiece is preformed by being bent through a separate tool to have an approximately bent shape.

Meanwhile, in the heat treating and forming step S17, the wiper frame workpiece is mounted to the jig for heat treating a wiper frame as described above. At this time, the wiper frame workpiece is mounted between the first and second jigs. The pressing means is operated to press the wiper frame workpiece, and at the same time, the heat treatment jig is fed into the heating furnace to anneal the wiper frame workpiece.

As described above, after being preformed in the bending step S16, the wiper frame workpiece is pressed by means of the first and second jigs and simultaneously annealed in the heat treating and forming step S17. Thus, the wiper frame workpiece is completely formed to have a desired curvature. At this time, when the wiper frame workpiece is subjected to the anneal process, the internal stress of the wiper frame workpiece increased in the bending step S16is relieved and the internal structure becomes uniform, thereby completing the finished product.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

Although the present invention is described with respect to certain preferred embodiment, it will be apparent in the art can make that various modifications, variations and changes may be made thereto within the spirit and scope of the invention defined by the claims. Therefore, the above descriptions and appended drawings are not intended to limit the technical spirit of the present, invention but should be analyzed as the exemplifications of the present invention.