Abstract:
A wiper blade structure comprises a pivot assembly, a plurality of deflectors, a plurality of end ferrule caps, a resilient strip, and a blade element. The pivot assembly may comprise a connecting adapter for engaging various wiper arms and the connecting adapter is further coupled with a pivot socket settled on the resilient strip, so that the connecting adapter can be easily connected with various wiper arms. Besides, by the combining structure among the pivot socket, end ferrule caps and the resilient strip, as well as the combination among the deflectors, resilient strip and the blade element, the wiper blade can firmly and closely contact the windshield glass, so that the defects of the conventional wiper blade structures can be remedied. Thus, the disclosed subject matter can perform improved efficiency of use and therefore is an invention having utilitarian value.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Technical Field 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a wiper blade and, more particularly, to an assembled structure of a wiper blade that is compatible with various wiper arms of a vehicle and facilitates tight, and firm contact between the wiper blade and the windshield glass so as to remedy the drawbacks of the conventional wiper blade structure. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    Presently, many different types of wiper blade structures have been provided for addressing some particular problems. For instance, Taiwan Patent M269236 (Application Number 93212160) discloses a wiper blade structure that is compatible with a variety of wiper arms of vehicles. More particularly, the wiper blade structure of M269236 implements a connector and some accessories for being collocated with the connector to satisfy the different demands of different structures of wiper arms. However, with the increment of the components of the wiper blade, the manufacturing cost can be immediately raised. Meantime, during actual use, since the consumer can merely choose one of the accessories to use, the unchosen accessories are left aside and thus wasted. Thus, such a strategy still has shortcomings. Further, in Taiwan Patent M274290 (Application Number 94207166), a pivot socket of a fulcrum-less flexible wiper blade is disclosed. In the same Patent, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,687,948 and 6,799,348 are mentioned as related prior arts. The recited wiper blade structure of one of the prior arts is characterized by the jointing structure between a pivot socket and a resilient strip thereof, wherein two pairs of clips are provided on the pivot socket to engage a plurality of indentations correspondingly arranged at the lateral edges of the resilient strip. For such a structure, high precision is required of the processing process; otherwise, the joints between the pivot socket and the resilient strip may be liable to loosening, and the efficiency of windshield wiping can be consequently depressed. Thus, the recited remedy is a novel fulcrum-less flexible wiper blade that is constructed by inserting a plurality of clips on a pivot socket of a wiper blade into a plurality of retaining holes provided on the resilient strip for making the components fasten mutually. Though the disclosure remedy helps to overcome the disadvantage of loosening joints of the previously recited US Patent, the restriction caused by the coupled clips and retaining holes of the resilient strip can inflexibly limit the elastic deformation of the resilient strip. As a result, since the resilient strip is restrained from natural extension, the pressing force it presents on the windshield glass can become uneven. Besides, it is very difficult to precisely punch the retaining hole, while the punched holes can undesirably affect the elastic deformation of the surrounding resilient strip. In view of theses defects, Patent M274290 implements a connection between a plurality of protrusions and clips settled at the bottom of the pivot socket to avoid foresaid problems. By executing this strategy, no more holes have to be punched on the resilient strip and the undesirable effects upon deformation and strength of the resilient strip can be eliminated. However, the variation of the interval between the protrusions before and after the deformation of the resilient strip may nevertheless cause the socket to shake during windshield wiping. Hence, the defect of failing to wipe cleanly is still uncured. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The wiper blade structure of the present invention is provided for remedying the aforementioned drawbacks of the conventional wiper blade structures. The disclosed wiper blade structure provides a novel structure that allows for easy assembly. Also, the disclosed structure is compatible with various types of vehicle wiper arms and facilitates close contact between the wiper blade and the windshield glass, while also allows the manufacturing cost thereof to be reduced. 
         [0006]    It is one objective of the present invention to provide a wiper blade structure, which has pin holes and clamping recess provided on the opposite ends, and upper as well as lower edges of the laterals of the connecting adapter and the protective lid of the pivot assembly so as to engage various types of vehicle wiper arms. Thereby the need for additional accessories of the wiper blade assembly can be eliminated, and consequently, the purposes of convenient use and reduced manufacturing cost can be achieved. 
         [0007]    It is another objective of the present invention to provide a wiper blade structure, which has rivets provided at the central portion of the pivot socket and positioning pieces arranged at the opposite ends of the pivot socket, for being engaged by rivet recesses provided at the central edges of the resilient strip. By the coupling between the rivets and the rivet recesses as well as the coupling between the positioning pieces and the positioning holes, the pivot socket and resilient strip can be firmly combined. Meantime, when the wiper resilient strip contacts the glass surface, the proper deformation thereof is free from restriction. Additionally, the recesses of the resilient strip are easy to make, but also eliminating the defect of causing stress that may disadvantageously affect the elastic deformation of the resilient strip. Therefore, the function of wiping windshield can be effectively achieved. 
         [0008]    It is still another objective of the present invention to provide a wiper blade structure, which has deflectors respectively composed of a rigid rubber strip and a flexible deflecting plate, wherein the rigid rubber strip is capable of engaging various resilient strips by inlay recesses and ribs that are mating mutually and can fix the blade element thereon, whereby the firm assembly as well as the function of wiping windshield can be effectively fulfilled. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    The invention as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 1-1  is a perspective view of another preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 1-2  is a perspective view of yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2-1  is an exploded view of the second embodiment of  FIG. 1-1 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2-2  is an exploded view of the third embodiment of  FIG. 1-2 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is an applied view showing the use of one embodiment of the connecting adapter of the pivot assembly according to the present invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3-1  is an applied view showing the use of another embodiment of the connecting adapter of the pivot assembly according to the present invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is an applied view showing the use of one embodiment of the pivot socket of the pivot assembly according to the present invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 4-1  is an applied view showing the use of another embodiment of the pivot socket of the pivot assembly according to the present invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  is a sectional view of one embodiment of the deflector according to the present invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  is a schematic drawing showing the assembly of the end ferrule caps an the resilient strip of one preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0022]      FIG. 6-1  is a schematic drawing showing the assembly of the end ferrule caps an the resilient strip of another preferred embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0023]      FIG. 7  is a lateral view of the rigid rubber strip according to one preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0024]    Please refer to  FIG. 1  for the assembly drawing of one preferred embodiment of the present invention. The disclosed wiper blade structure comprises a pivot assembly  30 , a plurality of deflectors  40 , a plurality of end ferrule caps  60 , a resilient strip  70  (as shown in  FIG. 2 ), and a blade element  8 . The pivot assembly  30  further comprises a connecting adapter  31  and a pivot socket  32 . As can be seen in  FIG. 2 , a protective casing  33  and a protective lid  34  are provided around the periphery of the connecting adapter  31  and the pivot socket  32  for the purpose of protection. Thereupon, by connecting the connecting adapter  31 , the protective casing  33  and the protective lid  34  with a vehicle wiper arm, and then connecting the said assembly with the resilient strip  70  and the blade element  8  by means of the pivot socket  32 , the wiper blade can be assembled with the vehicle wiper arm. Each of the deflectors  40  is composed of a rigid rubber strip  41  and a flexible deflecting plate  42  (as shown in  FIG. 5 ). The flexible deflecting plate  42  may be of a side-beam type (as shown in  FIG. 1 ), a central-beam type (as shown in  FIG. 1-1 ) or an arched-beam type (as shown in  FIG. 1-2 ) depending upon a user&#39;s demand. For fitting foresaid different types of the deflectors  40 , the protective lid  34  may have retaining notches  341  correspondingly arranged at the edge of the lateral thereof (as shown in  FIG. 3 ) or arranged at the center of the lateral thereof (as shown in  FIG. 3-1 ) for retaining the flexible deflecting plate  42  therein. Alternatively, the protective lid  34  may be provided for fitting the deflectors  40  of the arched-beam type (as shown in  FIGS. 1-2  and  2 - 2 ). Furthermore, the two end ferrule caps  60  can also be properly shaped to fitly engage with the deflectors  40  of different types, so that the resilient strip  70  and the blade element  8  can be assembled with the deflectors  40 . Particularly, in the deflectors  40 , an upper end  411  and the periphery of the rigid rubber strip  41  are wrapped by the lower end of the flexible deflecting plate  42  whereby the connection between the rigid rubber strip  41  and the flexible deflecting plate  42  of the deflectors  40 , as shown in  FIG. 5 , is accomplished. Then the rigid rubber strip  41  may further grip the blade element  8  with an insert recess  412  provided at the bottom thereof, while also connect with the resilient strip  70  (a single-piece resilient strip  700  is depicted herein for instance.) at another insert recess  413  provided at the upper end thereof. Besides, a fluorescent strip  43  may be deposited on the windward surface at the upper end of the flexible deflecting plate  42 . At last, when the end ferrule caps  60  cap onto the opposite ends of the assembled resilient strip  70  respectively and enclose the ends of the deflectors  40  entirely, the wiper blade can be thus firmly assembled. 
         [0025]    Please refer to  FIG. 3  for the use of the connecting adapter  31  of the pivot assembly  30 . A clamping recess  311  is provided at one end of the connecting adapter  31  for being engaged by a hook A 1  of a hook-type wiper arm A of a vehicle-driven windshield wiper. Moreover, a connecting recess  331  is provided at one lateral of the protective casing  33 , while an inlay recess  312  is provided at the lower end of the connecting adapter  31  for receiving a shaft  321  of the pivot socket  32  of the pivot assembly  30  (as shown in  FIG. 3 ). Thereby, the connecting adapter  31  and the pivot socket  32  can be connected and retained mutually. Then, the protective casing  33  and the protective lid  34  can be mounted and fixed around the pivot socket  32  for receiving a pivot-joint wiper arm C that has a pivot pin C 1  and a bent end C 2 . To assemble the pivot-joint wiper arm C with the pivot assembly  30 , the wiper arm C is connected with the pivot assembly  30  perpendicularly (as shown in  FIG. 1 ) in the manner that the pivot pin C 1  is inserted into pin holes  313 ,  320  of the connecting adapter  31 , and the pivot socket  32  and the wiper arm C is then rotated to make the hook C 2  get engaged by the clamping recess  331  of the protective casing  33 . For a insertion-type wiper arm B, as shown in  FIG. 3-1 , a connecting pin B 1  (with two end having enlarged diameters and with a shaft having various diameters) can be also inserted into the pin holes  320  of the pivot socket  32  so as to achieve the combination between the insertion-type wiper arm B and the pivot assembly  30  directly. Meantime, the pivot assembly  30  further comprises a connector  35  for being inserted onto the protective lid  34 . Plural clips  351  (may be sized to fitly receive the shaft of the connecting pin B 1  with various diameters) provided at the bottom of the connector  35  facilitate firmly fixing the connecting pin B 1 . Further, an inlay recess  352  is further provided at the lower end of the connector  35  for receiving the shaft  321  of the pivot socket  32  so as to realize the assembly of the connector  35  and the pivot socket  32 . Thereupon, the pivot assembly  30  is capable of engaging various vehicle wiper arms A, B and C without the need of any additional accessories. Accordingly, not only a user can assemble the wiper blade with a wiper arm conveniently, but the manufacturing cost as well as the waste of resources can also be reduced. Thus, the disclosed subject matter can successfully overcome the aforementioned defects of the conventional windshield wiper components. 
         [0026]    Besides, the pivot socket  32  further comprises a plurality of positioning pieces  322  at the opposite ends thereof and a plurality of rivets  323  deposited at the central portion thereof for being coupled with the resilient strip  70 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , on a resilient strip  70  of a symmetrical dual-piece type, a plurality of positioning holes  701  are settled at the central portion thereof corresponding to the positioning pieces  322 , while a plurality of rivet recesses  702  are provided at the central edges thereof corresponding to the rivets  323 . Thus, when the positioning pieces  322  are inserted into the corresponding positioning holes  701 , and the rivets  323  of the pivot socket  32  are engaged by the rivet recesses  702  of the resilient strip  70 , the pivot socket  32  and the resilient strip  70  can be assembled. Alternatively, a single-piece resilient strip  700  can also be fastened by the same structure (as shown in  FIG. 4-1 ). Through such assembly structure, the wiper resilient strip  70  or  700  can maintain an arched shape with appropriate elasticity when not contacting a windshield glass surface. When the wiper resilient strip  70  or  700  contacts the glass surface, an appropriate amount of deformation can be performed in virtue of the elasticity of the wiper resilient strip  70  or  700 , so that the blade element  8  installed on the wiper resilient strip  70  or  700  can closely contact the glass. At this time, since the positioning pieces  322  are provided at the central portion of the resilient strip  70  or  700 , no restriction may occur against the deformation of the resilient strip  70  or  700 . Thus, the drawbacks of the conventional resilient strips having pin holes punched thereon can be eliminated. Additionally, as the rivets  323  of the pivot socket  32  and the resilient strip  70  or  700  are mutually combined in such means, the previous problem of undesirable looseness between the two components caused by the enlarged intervals resulted from the deformation of the resilient strip can be avoided. In addition, since the positioning holes  701  are located near the edges of the resilient strips  70 ,  700 , the same are easy to be punched and made. Hence, the disclosed subject matter can efficiently overcome the drawbacks of the conventional wiper blade structure. 
         [0027]    Furthermore, the connection between the end ferrule caps  60  and the resilient strips  70 ,  700  is illustrated in  FIG. 6-1 . At the inner bottom surface of each said end ferrule cap  60 , a pair of columns  601 , a pair of one-way hooks  602  and a triangular revetment  603  for the purpose of positioning are successively arranged between the opening end  61  and the inner surface  62 . Meantime, the resilient strip  70  or  700  correspondingly comprises a triangular guiding recess  713  at each end of either the dual-piece or single-piece strip respectively. Also, a pair of indentations  712  is provided near each end of the resilient strip  70  or  700  while a pair of retaining holes  711  is arranged on the strip(s) for each end thereof. Thereby, when each said end ferrule cap  60  is assembled with the resilient strip  70  or  700 , the corresponding triangular guiding recess  713  and the triangular revetment  603  come to lean against each other, so that the one-way hooks  602  can engage the indentations  712  at the edges of the strip  70  while the columns  601  are respectively retained by the retaining holes  711  provided on the strip  70 . Thereby, a triple-combination structure can be achieved. Then the assembled end ferrule caps  60  can further cover the deflectors  40  downward. Additionally, the rigid rubber strip  41  of the deflectors  40  holds the blade element  8  by the insert recess  412 , while a plurality of gaps  410  may be provided on the insert recess  412  spaced with equal intervals, as shown in  FIG. 7 , so that when the resilient strip  70  or  700  is properly bent or deformed, the gaps  410  allow the blade element  8  inlaid in the insert recess  412  to become bent or deformed correspondingly. Therefore, a complete wiper blade structure is realized. 
         [0028]    Although a particular embodiment of the invention has been described in detail for purposes of illustration, it will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that numerous variations will be possible to the disclosed embodiments without going outside the scope of the invention as disclosed in the claims.