Search

EP-4121326-B1 - WIPER ARM AND WIPER ASSEMBLY

EP4121326B1EP 4121326 B1EP4121326 B1EP 4121326B1EP-4121326-B1

Inventors

  • HONG, Haoyi
  • PU, Jinlong
  • CHENG, XU

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20210311

Claims (11)

  1. A wiper arm (1; 1'), the wiper arm (1; 1') comprising: a wiper arm holder (10), which is connected at one end (10A) to an output portion of a driving mechanism for the wiper arm, the driving mechanism being configured to drive the wiper arm (1; 1') to swing back and forth in a return direction (Z) and an outward-swinging direction (B); an extension arm (20), which is pivotally connected to an other end (10B) of the wiper arm holder (10); a wiper arm end member (40; 40'), which is located on the side of the wiper arm (1; 1') opposite to the wiper arm holder (10) and configured to hold a wiper blade (60); and a washer assembly (2), which is configured to spray a washer fluid to a windshield (G) and comprises at least a first nozzle (50; 50') and a first conduit (71A) in fluid communication with the first nozzle (50; 50'), the first nozzle (50; 50') spraying the washer fluid to an outward-swinging side of the wiper blade (60), and the first conduit (71A) being directed in a longitudinal extension direction of the wiper arm (1; 1'), the first nozzle (50; 50') comprising at least one nozzle unit, a first connector (54; 54') for the first conduit, and a bridge channel (52; 52') located between them, the bridge channel (52; 52') being located above the wiper blade (60) and at least partially aligned with a segment of the wiper arm end member (40; 40') that is also located above the wiper blade (60), the bridge channel (52; 52') being at a predetermined angle to a longitudinal extension direction of the wiper arm end member (40; 40'), in particular perpendicular to the longitudinal extension direction of the wiper arm end member (40; 40'), the first nozzle (50; 50') having an engagement segment (53, 53') such that the first nozzle (50; 50') is engaged at the wiper arm end member (40; 40'). the wiper arm end member (40; 40') having an engagement port (44'), the engagement segment has notches (53A') on two sides, and edges (44A') of the wiper arm end member (40; 40') that define the engagement port are accommodated in the notches, characterized in that the bridge channel is provided between the notches (53A') in the engagement segment.
  2. The wiper arm (1; 1') according to claim 1, characterized in that the first nozzle (50; 50') is provided with at least one penetration portion (57) to allow air to pass through when a vehicle is travelling.
  3. The wiper arm (1; 1') according to claim 1, characterized in that the first nozzle (50; 50') is in the shape of a bend, and has a first bend segment (51') and a second bend segment (55') the first bend segment (51') is provided with the engagement segment and the bridge channel (52') and the nozzle unit is provided at the second bend segment (55').
  4. The wiper arm (1; 1') according to claim 3, characterized in that the engagement segment (53, 53') has an engagement opening (53A') which accommodates a wall portion of the wiper arm end member (40; 40').
  5. The wiper arm (1; 1') according to claim 1, characterized in that the bridge channel (52') is located on the side facing the wiper arm holder (10).
  6. The wiper arm (1; 1') according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the first nozzle (50; 50') has a first nozzle unit (56A) that sprays a fluid towards one end of the wiper blade, a second nozzle unit (56C) that sprays the fluid towards the other, opposite end of the wiper blade, and a third nozzle unit (56B) that sprays the fluid towards the windshield (G).
  7. The wiper arm (1; 1') according to claim 6, characterized in that the washer assembly (2) comprises a second nozzle (80) and a second conduit (71B) in fluid communication with the second nozzle (80) to spray a cleaning fluid to a return side of the wiper blade (60), wherein the second nozzle (80) is mounted at the extension arm (20).
  8. The wiper arm (1; 1') according to claim 7, characterized in that the extension arm (20) comprises a segment with a U-shaped cross-section, and the second nozzle (80) is mounted at a side wall (21B) of the U-shaped segment of the extension arm (20).
  9. The wiper arm (1; 1') according to claim 8, characterized in that the second nozzle (80) has a fourth nozzle unit (81A) that sprays a fluid towards one end of the wiper blade, a fifth nozzle unit (81C) that sprays the fluid towards the other, opposite end of the wiper blade, and a sixth nozzle unit (81B) that sprays the fluid towards the windshield (G).
  10. The wiper arm (1; 1') according to claim 9, characterized in that a fluid spraying direction of the corresponding nozzle unit of the second nozzle (80) is adjustable.
  11. A wiper assembly (S, S'), characterized by comprising a wiper blade (60) and a wiper arm (1; 1') according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

Description

Technical Field The present invention relates to a wiper arm and a wiper assembly, which are especially used for motor vehicles. Background Art Wiper assemblies play an important role in transport means, which are used to clean up rainwater or other dirt on a windshield that affects the driver's line of sight to ensure driving safety. In the traditional wiper assemblies, a rain wiper system is separated from a washer system. The washer system is hidden below a front hood. When the windshield needs to be washed, the washer system sprays a washing liquid onto the surface of the windshield, and then the rain wiper system starts to work. In this case, after spraying the washing liquid, it is possible to cause a blind spot of the driver in a short time, thereby endangering driving safety. In addition, since the washing liquid is sprayed onto the entire surface, this causes unnecessary waste of the washing liquid. The document US2019/152442 describes a wiper device including a wiper arm, a wiper blade, a nozzle body, a hose, and a cleaning fluid supply section. where the cleaning fluid supply section is at an opposite side of a rubber holder from the windshield, and extends from the nozzle body so as to extend across the rubber holder from the outward movement side toward a return movement side of the wiper blade, is connected to the hose, and supplies cleaning fluid to the nozzle body. Summary of the Invention Therefore, an object of the present invention is to propose a wiper arm, which can at least partially solve the above problems with a compact structure. According to a first aspect of the present invention a wiper arm is proposed, the wiper arm comprising: a wiper arm holder, which is connected at one end to an output portion of a driving mechanism for the wiper arm, the driving mechanism being configured to drive the wiper arm to swing back and forth in a return direction and an outward-swinging direction;an extension arm, which is pivotally connected to an other end of the wiper arm holder;a wiper arm end member, which is located on the side of the wiper arm opposite to the wiper arm holder and configured to hold a wiper blade; anda washer assembly, which is configured to spray a washer fluid to a windshield and comprises at least a first nozzle and a first conduit in fluid communication with the first nozzle, the first nozzle spraying the washer fluid to an outward-swinging side of the wiper blade, and the first conduit being directed in a longitudinal extension direction of the wiper arm,the first nozzle comprising at least one nozzle unit, a first connector for the first conduit, and a bridge channel located between them, the bridge channel being located above the wiper blade and at least partially aligned with a segment of the wiper arm end member that is also located above the wiper blade, the bridge channel being at a predetermined angle to a longitudinal extension direction of the wiper arm end member, in particular perpendicular to the longitudinal extension direction of the wiper arm end member, the first nozzle having an engagement segment such that the first nozzle is engaged at the wiper arm end member, the wiper arm end member having an engagement port, the engagement segment has notches on two sides, and edges of the wiper arm end member that define the engagement port are accommodated in the notches, characterized in that the bridge channel is provided between the notches in the engagement segment. "Aligned" should be understood as follows: from the perspective of the extension direction of the wiper arm, the projection of the bridge channel is partially overlapped with the projection of the related segment of the wiper arm end member. In particular, in the wiper arm in the mounted state, the bridge channel is not located between the wiper arm end member and the wiper blade below the side of the wiper arm end member facing the wiper blade. This can reduce the height dimension of the wiper arm, or there is no need to redesign the structure of related components. Therefore, the wiper arm has a compact structure and is cost-effective. According to the present invention, the bridge channel is at a predetermined angle to a longitudinal extension direction of the wiper arm end member, in particular perpendicular to the longitudinal extension direction of the wiper arm end member. According to the present invention, the first nozzle has an engagement segment such that the first nozzle is engaged at the wiper arm end member. According to an advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the first nozzle is in the shape of a bend, and has a first bend segment and a second bend segment, the first bend segment is provided with the engagement segment and the bridge channel, and the nozzle unit is provided at the second bend segment. According to an advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the engagement segment has an engagement opening, which accommodates a wall portion of the wiper arm e