Patent Description:
The present disclosure relates to a wiper connector, a wiper blade assembly, and a wiper device.

In general, wiper devices are installed in a vehicle or the like to wipe a surface of a windshield. Such a wiper device includes a wiper motor, a wiper arm, a wiper blade, etc., and an adapter may be used for structural connection between the wiper arm and the wiper blade.

Such a wiper arm has a base end connected to a rotational shaft of the wiper motor and rotated reciprocally by the wiper motor, one or more wiper arms are provided according to a size of the windshield, and when a plurality of wiper arms are provided, the plurality of wiper arms are provided so that the rotations thereof are not interfered with each other.

In addition, the wiper blade is detachably coupled to an end of the wiper arm through an adapter. The wiper blade is provided in a straight shape and slides and wipes a surface of the windshield by the movement of the rotating wiper arm while maintaining a state of being in close contact with the windshield.

Such a wiper blade is continuously rubbing the windshield in a state of being installed in a vehicle and thus may be worn over a period of use, may generate unnecessary noise, or may degrade surface wiping performance. Therefore, the wiper blade needs periodic replacement. In this case, the user of the vehicle separates a current wiper blade from the wiper arm and then fastens a new wiper blade thereto, and in this case, an adapter having a detachable structure is used between the wiper arm and the wiper blade.

The adapter has various shapes depending on the type of wiper arm, and recently, since a type of wiper arm in which a nozzle for spraying a washing liquid to wash the windshield is integrated into the wiper arm is used, the development for the adapter that may be efficiently detached from such the type of wiper arm is urgently required.

<CIT> discloses an adapter for connecting a windshield wiper blade to a drive arm of the blade, the adapter adapted to connect to a connector of the one degree of freedom pivoting pivot about an articulation axis.

<CIT> discloses a wiper device for cleaning vehicle windows, with a wiper arm and a wiper blade able to be fastened to the wiper arm, with a cleaning arrangement having at least one first spray nozzle for spraying a washing fluid.

The present disclosure is directed to providing a wiper connector, a wiper blade assembly, and a wiper device, which are provided with an adapter capable of being easily detached from a wiper arm equipped with a nozzle for spraying a washing liquid, thereby significantly increasing a user's convenience.

A wiper connector for mutually connecting a wiper blade and a wiper arm according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes an insertion portion inserted into the wiper arm and disposed at one side of a washing liquid spray nozzle provided on the wiper arm, and a fixing portion integrally provided with the insertion portion and fixed to the wiper blade, wherein the insertion portion includes a first fastener caught by a hole provided in an upper surface of the wiper arm, and a second fastener caught by a rib provided inside the wiper arm, and the second fastener is provided to be elastically deformed and provided to be switched from a first state in which the first fastener is elastically deformed by the rib when passing through the hole to a second state in which the first fastener passes the rib and is restored to an original state when being caught by the hole.

The first fastener may have a hook shape in which an upper end has relatively greater area than a lower end and may be switched between the first state in which the upper end passes through the hole and the second state in which the lower end moves in the hole and at least a part of the upper end is misaligned with the hole.

In the second state, the upper end of the first fastener may face the upper surface of the wiper arm to limit movement of the wiper arm in a height direction.

The second fastener may have a cantilever shape, and have a pressing portion that induces deformation of the wiper arm in a width direction while pressed by the rib, and a button portion that integrally moves with the pressing portion and has at least a part exposed to the outside.

In the second state, the pressing portion may face the rib in a longitudinal direction of the wiper arm to limit movement of the wiper arm in the longitudinal direction.

One surface of the pressing portion facing the rib may have an inclined surface or curved surface shape.

The second fastener may be switched from the second state to a third state in which when the button portion is deformed by an external force, the pressing portion is misaligned with the rib to allow the movement in a longitudinal direction.

A wiper blade assembly according to another aspect of the present disclosure includes the wiper connector, and a wiper blade connected to the wiper connector and being in close contact with a surface of a close contact target to slide along the surface, wherein the wiper connector further includes a base portion provided on the wiper blade, and the fixing portion is rotatably connected to the base portion.

A wiper device according to still another aspect of the present disclosure includes the wiper blade assembly, and the wiper arm seated on the wiper connector.

A pair of washing liquid spray nozzles may be provided in parallel to each face an end of the wiper arm, and the insertion portion may be disposed between the pair of washing liquid spray nozzles.

Objects, specific advantages, and novel features of the present disclosure will become more apparent from the following detailed description and exemplary embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In adding reference numerals to components of each drawing in the specification, it should be noted that the same components have the same numbers as much as possible even when the same components are shown in different drawings. In addition, in describing the present disclosure, when it is determined that a detailed description of related known technologies may unnecessarily obscure the gist of the present disclosure, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Hereinafter, a wiper connector, a wiper blade assembly, and a wiper device according to the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

<FIG> and <FIG> are perspective views of a wiper device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, <FIG> and <FIG> are side views of the wiper device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, and <FIG> and <FIG> are exploded perspective views of the wiper device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

In addition, <FIG> is a partially exploded perspective view of the wiper device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, <FIG> is a partially exploded side view of the wiper device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, and <FIG> is a partial perspective view of the wiper device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

In addition, <FIG> is a partial side cross-sectional view of the wiper device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, <FIG> is a partial bottom view of the wiper device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, <FIG> is a partial side cross-sectional view of the wiper device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, and <FIG> is a partial bottom view of the wiper device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. In addition, <FIG> is a partial perspective view of the wiper device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

In this case, <FIG> are views showing a second state to be described below, <FIG> are views showing a zeroth state to be described below, and <FIG> and <FIG> are views showing a first state to be described below. In addition, <FIG> are also views showing the second state.

For reference, in the specification, a longitudinal direction is a direction in which a wiper blade <NUM> or a wiper arm <NUM> extends, and may be a left-right direction based on <FIG>. In addition, a width direction may be a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. In addition, a height direction may be a direction away from a close contact target with which the wiper blade <NUM> is in close contact and may be a vertical direction based on <FIG>. Of course, it should be noted that the above directions do not limit the scope of the present disclosure, but are merely for convenience in the description of the present disclosure.

In addition, movement or motion described in the specification is relative, and components other than moving targets may not necessarily be construed as sticking to a fixed position. Furthermore, in the specification, expressions, such as connecting, fastening, engaging, and fixing, in addition to direct action between two components, include indirect action between the two components with other components therebetween.

Referring to <FIG>, a wiper device <NUM> according to one embodiment of the present disclosure includes a wiper arm <NUM>, a wiper blade <NUM>, and a wiper connector <NUM>.

In the present disclosure, the wiper arm <NUM>, the wiper blade <NUM>, the wiper connector <NUM>, etc. may be collectively referred to as the wiper device <NUM>, and in the wiper device <NUM>, the components (the wiper blade <NUM> and the wiper connector <NUM>) other than the wiper arm <NUM> and the like may be referred to as an assembly of a wiper blade <NUM>. In other words, the wiper device <NUM> may be formed in a form in which the wiper arm <NUM> is connected to the assembly of the wiper blade <NUM>.

The wiper arm <NUM> has a base end to be rotatably connected and an end to which the wiper blade <NUM> is connected. The wiper arm <NUM> is implemented to transmit a rotational force to the wiper blade <NUM> connected to the end while rotating about the base end so that the wiper blade <NUM> cleans a close contact target.

In the present disclosure, the close contact target may be a windshield of a vehicle, but is not limited thereto, and any object that can be cleaned by sliding may be the close contact target. However, the following description will be made assuming that the close contact target is the windshield for convenience.

The wiper arm <NUM> is directly or indirectly connected to a driving source (motor or the like) provided in the vehicle or the like and has the end that rotates along an arc by a rotational force of the driving source. At this time, since the wiper blade <NUM> is connected to the end of the wiper arm <NUM>, the wiper blade <NUM> may implement cleaning while moving along a predetermined path in a state of being in close contact with the close contact target.

The wiper arm <NUM> has a washing liquid spray nozzle <NUM>. In the conventional case, the washing liquid is sprayed through the nozzle disposed to be spaced apart from the wiper arm <NUM>, but in the present disclosure, by integrating the washing liquid spray nozzle <NUM> into the wiper arm <NUM>, it is possible to efficiently supply the washing liquid to a portion to be swept with the wiper blade <NUM>.

To this end, the washing liquid spray nozzle <NUM> may be embedded in the wiper arm <NUM> to face the wiper blade <NUM> or the close contact target. The washing liquid spray nozzle <NUM> may be connected to a washing liquid supply source (not shown) through a washing liquid supply tube (not shown), and the washing liquid may be sprayed through the washing liquid spray nozzle <NUM> at a constant pressure by performing a separate operation.

In the embodiment, a pair of washing liquid spray nozzles <NUM> may be provided and disposed in parallel at both sides at a front end of the wiper arm <NUM>. Therefore, since the washing liquid may be sprayed at start and end points of a sweep direction of the wiper blade <NUM>, it is possible to further increase a washing force for the close contact target.

The wiper connector <NUM> to be described below may be inserted into a space between the pair of washing liquid spray nozzles <NUM> provided on the wiper arm <NUM>. In other words, the washing liquid spray nozzle <NUM> is provided not to interfere with the wiper connector <NUM> when embedded in the wiper arm <NUM>.

The wiper arm <NUM> may have various unlimited shapes, and a shape of the wiper connector <NUM> may be freely changed to correspond to the shape of the wiper arm <NUM>. Of course, the wiper connector <NUM> may also be provided in a multi-fastening type in which a plurality of wiper arms <NUM> having different shapes may be selectively coupled.

However, the wiper arm <NUM> in the embodiment may have a hole <NUM> provided in an upper surface thereof to be coupled with the wiper connector <NUM>. The hole <NUM> is configured to fasten a first fastener <NUM> of the wiper connector <NUM> to be described below and has a larger planar cross-section than the first fastener <NUM> so that the first fastener <NUM> may pass therethrough and a form in which a part of the first fastener <NUM> is movable in the longitudinal direction.

As will be described again below, the first fastener <NUM> may pass through the hole <NUM> of the wiper arm <NUM>, and the first fastener <NUM> may move in the longitudinal direction in the state of passing through the hole <NUM> of the wiper arm <NUM>. In other words, the first fastener <NUM> has a "┐"-shaped cross section and couples the wiper arm <NUM> and the wiper connector <NUM> by moving in the longitudinal direction in the state of passing through a certain portion of the hole <NUM> of the wiper arm <NUM> and being caught by the hole <NUM> of the wiper arm <NUM>.

In this case, the hole <NUM> of the wiper arm <NUM> and the first fastener <NUM> are implemented for fixing in the height direction and the width direction, and fixing in the longitudinal direction is implemented using a second fastener <NUM> to be described below.

The wiper arm <NUM> includes a rib <NUM> therein for fastening of the second fastener <NUM>. The rib <NUM> is provided inside the wiper arm <NUM> and has a shape protruding from an inner surface of the wiper arm <NUM> in the width direction.

The rib <NUM> is provided to interfere with the second fastener <NUM> when the first fastener <NUM> of the wiper connector <NUM> is vertically disposed side by side in the hole <NUM> of the wiper arm <NUM>. This case means that the first fastener <NUM> may pass through the hole <NUM>.

In addition, the rib <NUM> is provided not to interfere with the second fastener <NUM> in the state in which the first fastener <NUM> of the wiper connector <NUM> is fastened to the hole <NUM> of the wiper arm <NUM>. However, this will be described in detail below.

The rib <NUM> of the wiper arm <NUM> is configured to elastically deform the second fastener <NUM> while pressing a pressing portion 312a provided on the second fastener <NUM>, and an inclined surface or a curved surface may be applied to at least one side of a portion in which the second fastener <NUM> and the rib <NUM> are in contact with each other. Although the drawings show that the rib <NUM> has a planar surface and the pressing portion 312a has an inclined surface, the rib <NUM> may have an inclined surface and the pressing portion 312a may have a planar surface, or both the rib <NUM> and the pressing portion 312a may have inclined surfaces.

In addition, the rib <NUM> may be provided to have a partition wall shape in the width direction inside the wiper arm <NUM> and may serve to reinforce the structural strength of the wiper arm <NUM>. In this case, since the rib <NUM> has a shape in which at least a portion is recessed upward, the second fastener <NUM> may be elastically deformed through the recessed portion of the rib <NUM>.

The wiper blade <NUM> is in close contact with a surface of the close contact target and cleans the surface of the close contact target by movement. At this time, as described above, the close contact target may be any object to be cleaned by sliding, such as a windshield of a vehicle.

The wiper blade <NUM> may include a close contact member (not shown), an elastic member (not shown), a cover member (not shown), and a finishing cover (not shown).

The close contact member is in direct close contact with the surface of the close contact target and slides along the surface. The close contact member may have a shape in which a close contact side is different from the surface of the close contact target in a state in which an external force is not applied thereto and then may be deformed into a shape in which the close contact side is naturally consistent with the surface of the close contact target while being pressed toward the close contact target when the wiper blade <NUM> is coupled to the wiper arm <NUM> through the wiper connector <NUM>.

The elastic member is made of a metal material and embedded inside the wiper blade <NUM> to apply an elastic force to the close contact member. The elastic member may be provided as a plate spring or the like and give an elastic force, which allows the close contact member to return to a more curved shape than the surface of the close contact target, to the close contact member. Therefore, when the close contact member is pressed to the close contact target by the wiper arm <NUM>, the close contact side of the close contact member is deformed and applies a force to push the close contact target, but the close contact side may be firmly in close contact with the close contact target while maintaining the state of being pressed by the wiper arm <NUM>.

The cover member is provided at a side opposite to the close contact member and has an A-shaped or mountain-shaped cross-section at the top, thereby preventing the wiper blade <NUM> from being lifted by wind while a vehicle travels.

The finishing cover (not shown) may be provided to finish both ends of the cover member and the close contact member and isolate the elastic member from the outside. A pair of finishing covers may be provided at both ends of the wiper blade <NUM> in the longitudinal direction, but the finishing covers may be omitted depending on the shape of the cover member.

As shown in <FIG> and the like, the wiper arm <NUM> may be connected to a central portion of the wiper blade <NUM> in the longitudinal direction. To this end, the wiper connector <NUM> is seated on the central portion of the wiper blade <NUM> in the longitudinal direction.

For example, a base portion <NUM> of the wiper connector <NUM> to be described below may be coupled to the wiper blade <NUM>, and in a coupling method between the wiper connector <NUM> and the wiper blade <NUM>, protrusion engagement, rivet, bolting, etc. may be used.

However, in order to connect the wiper connector <NUM> to the central portion of the wiper blade <NUM>, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, a pair of cover members or the like may have a shape in which the pair of cover members are spaced apart from each other with respect to the center of the wiper blade <NUM>.

The wiper connector <NUM> is for mutually fastening the wiper blade <NUM> and the wiper arm <NUM> and may be referred to as an adapter.

However, the wiper connector <NUM> does not only have a shape completely separable from the wiper blade <NUM>, the wiper arm <NUM>, etc. and may be formed by a part of the wiper blade <NUM>, or may also be formed in a shape in which at least a portion is integrated into the wiper blade <NUM> or the wiper arm <NUM>. However, hereinafter, in the specification, for convenience, the wiper connector <NUM> will be described as a separate component provided independently of the wiper blade <NUM> and the wiper arm <NUM>.

Referring primarily to <FIG> and the like, the wiper connector <NUM> includes an insertion portion <NUM>, a fixing portion <NUM>, and the base portion <NUM>.

The insertion portion <NUM> is inserted into the wiper arm <NUM> and disposed at one side of the washing liquid spray nozzle <NUM> provided on the wiper arm <NUM>. As described above, the pair of washing liquid spray nozzles <NUM> may be provided on the wiper arm <NUM>, and the insertion portion <NUM> may be disposed between the pair of washing liquid spray nozzles <NUM>.

At least a part of the insertion portion <NUM> is inserted into the wiper arm <NUM> and fixed to the wiper arm <NUM>, and a part of a lower portion of the insertion portion <NUM> may be exposed to the outside of the wiper arm <NUM>. In particular, a part of the second fastener <NUM> provided on the insertion portion <NUM> is exposed to the outside.

The insertion portion <NUM> has the first fastener <NUM> and the second fastener <NUM> to be fixed to the wiper arm <NUM>. The first fastener <NUM> restricts movement between the wiper connector <NUM> and the wiper arm <NUM> in the height direction and the width direction.

For example, the first fastener <NUM> is caught by the hole <NUM> provided in an upper surface of the wiper arm <NUM>. As described above, the hole <NUM> having a size that the first fastener <NUM> can pass through may be provided in the upper surface of the wiper arm <NUM>, and the first fastener <NUM> may be switched to enter a second state of being caught by the hole <NUM> from a first state of passing through the hole <NUM>.

Specifically, the first fastener <NUM> is provided to have a lower end 311b and an upper end 311a and has a hook shape (e.g., a "¬" shape) in which the upper end 311a has a relatively larger area than the lower end 311b. In this case, the area of the upper end 311a of the first fastener <NUM> is smaller than the area of the hole <NUM> so that the first fastener <NUM> passes through the hole <NUM> of the wiper arm <NUM>.

The first fastener <NUM> is switched between the first state in which the upper end 311a passes through the hole <NUM> and the second state in which the lower end 311b moves in the hole <NUM> so that at least a part of the upper end 311a is misaligned with the hole <NUM>. In the first state, since the upper end 311a of the first fastener <NUM> is disposed to pass through the hole <NUM> in the height direction, the movement of the first fastener <NUM> in the width direction with respect to the wiper arm <NUM> is restricted, but the movement thereof in the height direction may not be restricted.

On the other hand, when the first fastener <NUM> is in the second state, a part of the upper end 311a of the first fastener <NUM> is misaligned with the hole <NUM> to face the close upper surface of the wiper arm <NUM>, and thus the first fastener <NUM> may not move downward from the hole <NUM>. In addition, since the upper surface of the insertion portion <NUM> faces the surrounding of the hole <NUM>, the first fastener <NUM> may not move upward from the hole <NUM>. Therefore, the first fastener <NUM> restricts the movement of the wiper arm <NUM> in the width direction and the longitudinal direction in the second state.

The switching of the first fastener <NUM> between the first state and the second state, as described above, will be described again below with reference to <FIG>. However, in the specification, the state of <FIG> in which the first fastener <NUM> is disposed just under the hole <NUM> and which is a state before the first fastener <NUM> passes through the hole <NUM> may be defined as a zeroth state.

The second fastener <NUM> is caught by the rib <NUM> provided inside the wiper arm <NUM>. The second fastener <NUM> is provided in an elastically deformable form and is in the first state of being elastically deformed by being pressed by the rib <NUM> when the first fastener <NUM> passes through the hole <NUM>.

Then, when the first fastener <NUM> is caught by the hole <NUM> of the wiper arm <NUM> by the relative movement of the wiper connector <NUM> and the wiper arm <NUM> in the longitudinal direction, the second fastener <NUM> passes the rib <NUM> and is restored to an original state by the elastic force, and at this time, the second fastener <NUM> enters the second state of restricting the movement of the wiper arm <NUM> in the longitudinal direction.

However, the second fastener <NUM> may limit the retract of the wiper arm <NUM> in the longitudinal direction with respect to the wiper connector <NUM> while facing the rib <NUM> at a rear side thereof, and the advance of the wiper arm <NUM> in the longitudinal direction with respect to the wiper connector <NUM> may be limited by the insertion portion <NUM> itself and an inner structure of the wiper arm <NUM> in contact with each other.

Of course, unlike this, one or more ribs <NUM> may be provided on the wiper arm <NUM>, and the rib <NUM> is additionally disposed in front of the second fastener <NUM> in the second state in the longitudinal direction so that the front-rear movement of the wiper arm <NUM> in the longitudinal direction may be all restricted by only the second fastener <NUM>. However, in this case, the insertion portion <NUM> has a shape that does not interfere with the rib <NUM> when moving upward to the wiper arm <NUM> to pass the first fastener <NUM> through the hole <NUM>.

Specifically, the second fastener <NUM> has a cantilever shape and includes the pressing portion 312a, a button portion 312b, etc. The pressing portion 312a is disposed above the second fastener <NUM> having the cantilever shape adjacent to the wiper arm <NUM> and induces the deformation of the wiper arm <NUM> inward in the width direction with respect to the second fastener <NUM> while being pressed by the rib <NUM> of the wiper arm <NUM> when the wiper connector <NUM> and the wiper arm <NUM> are fastened to each other.

In order to perform the induction more smoothly, as described above, one surface of the pressing portion 312a facing the rib <NUM> may have an inclined surface or curved surface shape. However, the pressing portion 312a is in contact with or faces the rib <NUM> in the second state to limit the movement of the wiper arm <NUM> in the longitudinal direction, and a thickness of the pressing portion 312a in the width direction may be sufficiently determined in consideration of the fastening force of the wiper arm <NUM>.

The button portion 312b is disposed at a lower portion of the second fastener <NUM> having the cantilever shape that is far from the wiper arm <NUM> and moves integrally with the pressing portion 312a. The button portion 312b may have at least a part exposed to the outside and may be pressed by a user.

To this end, the button portion 312b may be sufficiently exposed to be easily pressed by the user, and an uneven structure may also be applied to the surface to enhance the user's pressing convenience. In other words, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG> and the like, a recess structure may be applied to an exposed surface of the button portion 312b, and unevenness may be given thereto. Alternatively, unlike in the drawings, friction protrusion may also be added.

The button portion 312b may have an area that may be sufficiently pressed by at least one fingertip, but has a form in a range in which the hinge movement of the fixing portion <NUM> and the base portion <NUM> is not interfered with the button portion 312b. In addition, the button portion 312b may have an outstanding color when compared to the wiper arm <NUM> or the insertion portion <NUM>, and thus when the user separates the wiper arm <NUM> from the wiper connector <NUM>, the user can easily find the button portion 312b.

The button portion 312b is deformed inward in the width direction of the wiper arm <NUM> by an external force. In other words, the direction in which the pressing portion 312a is deformed by being pressed by the rib <NUM> and the direction in which the button portion 312b is deformed by being pressed by the external force are the same.

However, a case in which the pressing portion 312a is pressed is the first state and is to be switched to the second state, and a case in which the button portion 312b is pressed is the second state and is to be switched to a third state to be described below.

In other words, in the second state in which the first fastener <NUM> is caught by the hole <NUM> of the wiper arm <NUM> to restrict the movement of the wiper arm <NUM> in the height and width directions and the pressing portion 312a of the second fastener <NUM> faces the rib <NUM> to restrict the movement of the wiper arm <NUM> in the longitudinal direction, when the button portion 312b of the second fastener <NUM> is sufficiently deformed by the external force, the pressing portion 312a is separated to be misaligned in the longitudinal direction of the rib <NUM>.

At this time, since the pressing portion 312a does not face the rib <NUM> in the longitudinal direction and the first fastener <NUM> may not limit the movement in the longitudinal direction in the hole <NUM> (especially backward movement), the wiper connector <NUM> is disposed to be movable backward from the wiper arm <NUM>.

As described above, a state in which in the second state, the pressing portion 312a is misaligned with the rib <NUM> as the button portion 312b is pressed, and thus the second fastener <NUM> is movably disposed in the longitudinal direction with respect to the wiper arm is defined as the third state. In other words, when the button portion 312b is pressed by the external force, the switching from the second state to the third state may be made.

The fixing portion <NUM> is integrally provided with the insertion portion <NUM> and fixed to the wiper blade <NUM>. The fixing portion <NUM> may be provided under the insertion portion <NUM> and manufactured separately and then connected to the insertion portion <NUM> or integrally manufactured with the insertion portion <NUM>.

The fixing portion <NUM> may be integrated with the insertion portion <NUM> in a shape in which a point structurally separated from the insertion portion <NUM> is not clearly partitioned, but a portion under the second fastener <NUM> having the cantilever shape may be defined as the fixing portion <NUM>.

The fixing portion <NUM> may be directly or indirectly connected to the wiper blade <NUM>, and in the embodiment, the fixing portion <NUM> may be indirectly connected to the wiper blade <NUM> through the base portion <NUM> fastened to the wiper blade <NUM>.

In addition, the fixing portion <NUM> may be provided to be hinge-rotated with respect to the wiper blade <NUM>, and to this end, a rotational shaft <NUM> is provided on the fixing portion <NUM>. The rotational shaft <NUM> may have a bar shape extending from the fixing portion <NUM> in the width direction or have at least a pair of protrusion shapes capable of implementing a stable hinge rotation on the base portion <NUM>.

The fixing portion <NUM> may be rotatably provided with the wiper blade <NUM> in the longitudinal direction using the rotational shaft <NUM>, and therefore, even when an angle between the wiper arm <NUM> and the close contact target is changed, the wiper blade <NUM> can be in stable close contact with the close contact target.

The base portion <NUM> is provided on the wiper blade <NUM>. The base portion <NUM> may be provided at the central point of the wiper blade <NUM> in the longitudinal direction and fastened to the close contact member, the cover member, etc. of the wiper blade <NUM>.

For example, a pair of cover members of the wiper blade <NUM> may be divided with respect to the central portion of the wiper blade <NUM> in the longitudinal direction, and the base portion <NUM> may be fixedly seated in a space between the pair of cover members.

A rotation groove <NUM> is provided in the base portion <NUM>. The rotation groove <NUM> of the base portion <NUM> accommodates the rotational shaft <NUM> provided on the fixing portion <NUM>, but has a shape in which the rotational shaft <NUM> is not easily separated. In other words, an open top of the rotation groove <NUM> may be formed in a shape having a smaller diameter than a diameter of the rotational shaft <NUM> of the base portion <NUM>.

In this case, since the rotational shaft <NUM> of the fixing portion <NUM> is forcibly fitted into the rotation groove <NUM> of the base portion <NUM>, the coupling between the base portion <NUM> and the fixing portion <NUM> is maintained unless a predetermined external force is applied. In addition, since the fixing portion <NUM> is rotatably connected to the base portion <NUM>, the hinge rotation between the wiper blade <NUM> and the wiper arm <NUM> is implemented.

Of course, the rotational shaft <NUM> and the rotation groove <NUM> may also be disposed in an opposite way. That is, the rotation groove <NUM> may be provided in the fixing portion <NUM>, and the rotational shaft <NUM> may also be provided on the base portion <NUM>. In addition, as necessary, the wiper connector <NUM> may also be fastened to the wiper blade <NUM> without hinge rotation, and in this case, the base portion <NUM> may be omitted, and the fixing portion <NUM> may also be directly coupled to the wiper blade <NUM>. In this case, the fixing portion <NUM> may have a structure that is detachably coupled to the wiper blade <NUM> or the fixing portion <NUM> may be integrated with the wiper blade <NUM>, and thus the wiper blade <NUM> and the wiper connector <NUM> may be integrally provided.

Hereinafter, the fastening and separating operation of the wiper connector <NUM> will be described with reference back to the drawings. For reference, the drawings correspond to each state as follows.

First, referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, the base portion <NUM> may be separated from the wiper blade <NUM>, and the base portion <NUM> and the wiper blade <NUM> may be assembled in a manufacturing process rather than user work. In other words, the base portion <NUM> may be integrated with the wiper blade <NUM> at the time of manufacture.

The fastening of the wiper connector <NUM> may be started in the state of <FIG> and <FIG>. However, <FIG> and <FIG> show the wiper connector <NUM> in which the base portion <NUM> is omitted, but the starting step in which the user couples the wiper connector <NUM> to the wiper arm <NUM> will be described assuming as being a state in which the base portion <NUM> is already fastened on the wiper blade <NUM>, and the base portion <NUM> and the fixing portion <NUM> are interconnected so that the wiper connector <NUM> is connected to the wiper blade <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, the wiper connector <NUM> is disposed under the wiper arm <NUM> in the height direction. In this case, as shown in <FIG>, the upper end 311a of the first fastener <NUM> is provided just under the hole <NUM> provided in the upper surface of the wiper arm <NUM>.

In the embodiment, such a state may be defined as the zeroth state. In other words, the zeroth state is a state in which the wiper arm <NUM> and the wiper connector <NUM> are vertically disposed in a column and the fastening to the first fastener <NUM> is prepared.

Referring to <FIG>, the wiper connector <NUM> is disposed adjacent to the wiper arm <NUM> when compared to <FIG> and <FIG>. This state is that the wiper connector <NUM> moves toward the wiper arm <NUM> when compared to <FIG> and the like, but may still be defined as the zeroth state.

Referring to the zeroth state shown in <FIG>, the pressing portion 312a of the second fastener <NUM> is in contact with the rib <NUM>. In other words, in the embodiment, states from the state of the wiper arm <NUM> separated from the wiper connector <NUM> to the state of the second fastener <NUM> in contact with the rib <NUM> of the wiper arm <NUM> are collectively referred to as the zeroth state.

In <FIG>, the rib <NUM> is in contact with the pressing portion 312a of the second fastener <NUM> with an inclined surface, and in this case, when a predetermined external force (an extent to which the rib <NUM> deforms the pressing portion 312a) is not applied, the wiper connector <NUM> is not inserted into the wiper arm <NUM>.

Then, referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, the wiper connector <NUM> may be completely inserted into the wiper arm <NUM>, and the first fastener <NUM> may pass through the hole <NUM> provided in the wiper arm <NUM>. In this case, the upper end 311a of the first fastener <NUM> may pass through the hole <NUM>, and the lower end 311b of the first fastener <NUM> is positioned in the hole <NUM>.

On the other hand, the pressing portion 312a of the second fastener <NUM> is pressed by the rib <NUM>. In other words, when the user relatively moves the wiper connector <NUM> toward the wiper arm <NUM> in the zeroth state in <FIG>, the rib <NUM> presses the inclined surface of the pressing portion 312a and thus the second fastener <NUM> is elastically deformed.

As shown in <FIG>, a free end of the second fastener <NUM> having the cantilever shape is bent inward from the wiper arm <NUM> in the width direction, and in this case, the pressing portion 312a is misaligned inward from the rib <NUM> in the width direction.

In the embodiment, the above state is defined as the first state, and in the first state, the first fastener <NUM> is in a state of passing through the hole <NUM>, but does not restrict the movement of the wiper arm <NUM> in the height direction and the longitudinal direction.

Then, referring to <FIG>, when the second fastener <NUM> is bent, the user moves the wiper connector <NUM> relatively with respect to the wiper arm <NUM> in the longitudinal direction. In this case, as shown in <FIG>, the first fastener <NUM> is in contact with the upper surface of the wiper arm <NUM> while the upper end 311a is misaligned with the hole <NUM>, and the lower end 311b is positioned adjacent to a front end of the hole <NUM>. Therefore, the first fastener <NUM> may restrict the movement of the wiper arm <NUM> in the height direction and the width direction. However, since the first fastener <NUM> may not restrict the rightward movement of the wiper connector <NUM> based on the drawings, the first fastener <NUM> may be not seen as completely restricting the movement of the wiper arm <NUM> in the longitudinal direction.

In this case, the second fastener <NUM> restricts the movement of the wiper arm <NUM> in the longitudinal direction. Specifically, the second fastener <NUM> is restored to the original state by the elastic force as the pressing portion 312a passes the rib <NUM> forward in the longitudinal direction. In this case, since the pressing portion 312a of the second fastener <NUM> is disposed to overlap the rib <NUM> in the longitudinal direction, and as can be seen in <FIG>, the backward movement of the pressing portion 312a in the longitudinal direction is limited by the rib <NUM>.

In addition, as shown in <FIG>, since the front end of the insertion portion <NUM> of the wiper connector <NUM> is in contact with the inner structure of the wiper arm <NUM>, the forward movement of the wiper connector <NUM> is restricted in the longitudinal direction with respect to the wiper arm <NUM>.

Therefore, in the state of <FIG>, the movement of the wiper arm <NUM> in the longitudinal direction with respect to the wiper connector <NUM> is restricted by the insertion portion <NUM> itself and the second fastener <NUM>, and in the embodiment, such a state is defined as the second state.

The second state is a state in which the wiper arm <NUM> is completely fastened to the wiper blade <NUM> by the wiper connector <NUM>. Specifically, the movement of the wiper arm <NUM> in the height direction and the width direction is restricted by the first fastener <NUM>, and the movement of the wiper arm <NUM> in the longitudinal direction (backward movement) is restricted by the second fastener <NUM>, and the movement of the wiper arm <NUM> in the longitudinal direction (advance) is restricted by the insertion portion <NUM>.

Furthermore, the movement of the wiper arm <NUM> in the width direction may be additionally restricted by the insertion portion <NUM> inserted into the wiper arm <NUM>. To this end, one or more protrusions (not shown), which allows the insertion portion <NUM> to face or be in contact with the inner surface of the wiper arm <NUM>, may be provided on both side surfaces of the insertion portion <NUM>.

As described above, the first fastener <NUM> may pass through the hole <NUM> of the wiper arm <NUM>, and in the state of being inserted into the hole <NUM>, the movement of the first fastener <NUM> in the width direction may be naturally restricted by the hole <NUM>, and thus the first fastener <NUM> may structurally restrict the movement of the wiper arm <NUM> in the width direction.

However, considering that a predetermined tolerance may also be applied between the width of the hole <NUM> and the width of the first fastener <NUM> in order to allow the first fastener <NUM> to pass through the hole <NUM>, in the embodiment, it is possible to mainly restrict the movement of the wiper arm <NUM> in the width direction by the shape of the insertion portion <NUM> itself and subsidiarily restrict the movement of the wiper arm <NUM> in the width direction by the first fastener <NUM>.

To this end, in the embodiment, one or more (e.g., a front end, a rear end, a center, etc.) protrusions in the longitudinal direction and/or one or more protrusions in the height direction may be disposed to protrude from a side surface of the insertion portion <NUM>. In this case, the protruding degree of the protrusion may be uniformly or non-uniformly determined depending on the shape of the inner surface of the wiper arm <NUM>.

When the insertion portion <NUM> is positioned in the wiper arm <NUM>, at least some of the plurality of protrusions may be in direct contact with the inner structure of the wiper arm <NUM>, thereby not only sufficiently limiting the movement of the wiper arm <NUM> in the width direction but also effectively suppressing shaking.

Then, in order to separate the wiper arm <NUM>, the user may press the button portion 312b of the second fastener <NUM>. When the button portion 312b is pressed, the pressing portion 312a also moves inward in the width direction of the wiper arm <NUM>, and thus the pressing portion 312a is misaligned with the rib <NUM> in the longitudinal direction. Therefore, the wiper connector <NUM> can move backward in the longitudinal direction with respect to the wiper arm <NUM>.

In the embodiment, a state in which the pressing portion 312a is misaligned with the rib <NUM> when the button portion 312b of the second fastener <NUM> is pressed may be defined as the third state. In the third state, the user may retract the wiper connector <NUM> in the longitudinal direction with respect to the wiper arm <NUM>, and when the wiper connector <NUM> sufficiently moves backward, this returns to the first state in which the first fastener <NUM> may pass through the hole <NUM> of the wiper arm <NUM>.

In the returned first state, the user may move the wiper connector <NUM> downward from the wiper arm <NUM>, and thus the wiper arm <NUM> and the wiper blade <NUM> are separated.

As described above, in the embodiment, in the case of the wiper arm <NUM> having the washing liquid spray nozzle <NUM>, the wiper connector <NUM> partially inserted into the wiper arm <NUM> is provided, and it is possible to not only simply couple the wiper arm <NUM> and the wiper connector <NUM>, but also easily separate the wiper arm <NUM> from the wiper connector <NUM> through the button operation, thereby maximizing the user's convenience.

According to a wiper connector, a wiper blade assembly, and a wiper device according to the present disclosure, it is possible to apply an adapter that is easily fastened to and separated from a wiper arm having a washing liquid spray nozzle by performing a simple operation, thereby securing fixing strength between the wiper arm and the adapter and easily disassembling the wiper arm from the adapter.

All simple modifications or changes of the present disclosure fall within the scope of the present disclosure, and the specific scope of the present disclosure will be clarified by the appended claims.

Claim 1:
A wiper connector (<NUM>) for mutually connecting a wiper blade (<NUM>) and a wiper arm (<NUM>), comprising:
an insertion portion (<NUM>) inserted into the wiper arm (<NUM>) and disposed at one side of a washing liquid spray nozzle (<NUM>) provided on the wiper arm (<NUM>); and
a fixing portion (<NUM>) integrally provided with the insertion portion (<NUM>) and fixed to the wiper blade (<NUM>),
wherein the insertion portion (<NUM>) includes a first fastener (<NUM>) caught by a hole (<NUM>) provided in an upper surface of the wiper arm (<NUM>), and
a second fastener (<NUM>) caught by a rib (<NUM>) provided inside the wiper arm (<NUM>), and
the second fastener (<NUM>) is provided to be elastically deformed and provided to be switched from a first state in which the second fastener (<NUM>) is elastically deformed by being pressed by the rib (<NUM>) when the first fastener (<NUM>) passes through the hole (<NUM>) to a second state in which the second fastener (<NUM>) passes the rib (<NUM>) and is restored to an original state when the first fastener (<NUM>) is moved in the hole (<NUM>) and caught by the hole (<NUM>).