Joints and connections – With distinct fluid or article handling or directing feature
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-25
2001-03-06
Browne, Lynne H. (Department: 3629)
Joints and connections
With distinct fluid or article handling or directing feature
C403S038000, C403S039000, C015S250300, C015S250310, C015S250340
Reexamination Certificate
active
06196752
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a pivot structure for a vehicle wiper device. In particular, the invention relates to a pivot structure for a vehicle wiper mounted on passenger cars, buses, and trucks, for example.
2. Description of Related Art
In general, vehicles are equipped with a wiper device for wiping the window surface of a windshield and the like. As shown in FIGS.
7
(A) and
7
(B), a known wiper device is arranged such that a pivot shaft
22
is rotatably supported by a pivot holder
21
fixed to a body, and specifically a body exterior sheet. A link arm
23
, which is coupled with a motor (not shown), is fixed to the base end of the pivot shaft
22
. A wiper arm
24
is fixed to the extreme end of the pivot shaft
22
. With this arrangement, when the motor is driven, the wiper arm
24
is reciprocatingly circularly moved about the pivot shaft
22
, as a swing support shaft, so as to perform a wiping motion.
The wiper device is arranged such that a pivot holder
21
has a fixing piece
21
a
formed in a collar shape and fixed to the body. The portion of the body above the fixing piece
21
a
is covered with a cowl top
25
. With this arrangement, the cowl top
25
has a large diameter through-hole
25
a
so that the pivot holder
21
loosely passes therethrough.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
However, known wiper devices have various problems. That is, rainwater may invade between the through-hole
25
a
and the pivot holder
21
. The water may enter a wiper drive unit and splash on a drive link, for example. Also, foreign matter may be sucked in when a vehicle travels, i.e., by the negative pressure in an upper-section of a dash board where the wiper device is mounted. The foreign matter may invade the dash board upper section through a through-hole formed in a body exterior sheet, for example. The foreign matter may generate noise by interfering with a wiper link, a wiper arm, and the like, when the wiper device is operated.
To overcome the above problems, there has been proposed to form a large diameter regulating section to the pivot holder fixing piece so as to surround the outside periphery of the pivot holder to regulate the invasion of rainwater and foreign matters, as well as to provide a guide path for guiding and discharging invaded rainwater. However, vehicles are manufactured in two types, that is, in a left-hand-drive type and a right-hand-drive type. As a result, two kinds of the pivot holders must be used to provide a driver side pivot holder and a passenger side pivot holder to accommodate left-hand-drive vehicles and right-hand-drive vehicles. Accordingly, there arises a problem to be solved by the present invention that not only the number of parts is increased, but also the management of the parts are troublesome.
The present invention is directed to solving these problems in view of the above circumstances. In accordance with the invention, there is provided a pivot structure for a vehicle wiper device. A pivot holder, through which a pivot shaft having a wiper arm fixed thereto passes so as to rotate about the axis of the pivot shaft, is mounted by fixing a fixing piece. The fixing piece is formed on the pivot holder in a collar shape. The fixing piece is fixed to a body exterior sheet disposed below a cowl top in an inclined state. The pivot structure includes a regulating section formed on the upper surface of the fixing piece, which opposes the cowl top.
The regulating section has a large diameter so as to surround the outside periphery of the pivot holder for restricting entry of foreign substance from the cowl top. The regulating section is formed symmetrically, with respect to an imaginary line passing through the axial center of the pivot shaft, on the right side and the left side.
Further, according to the present invention, the regulating section may be divided into a plurality of portions.
According to the pivot structure for the vehicle wiper device of the present invention as described above, the invasion of foreign matters such as rainwater, dead leaves, and the like, into a dash board upper section can be regulated. Additionally, in accordance with the invention, a guide path is formed to discharge entering rainwater. Further, the pivot holder can be employed to both left-hand-drive vehicles and right-hand-driver vehicles.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5067198 (1991-11-01), Ishikawa et al.
patent: 5440842 (1995-08-01), Sorkin
patent: 5895025 (1999-04-01), Alesi et al.
patent: 5960512 (1999-10-01), Schael et al.
patent: 1816835 (1969-07-01), None
patent: 1900185 (1970-10-01), None
patent: 2352535 (1975-04-01), None
patent: 2911155 (1980-09-01), None
patent: 4323551 (1994-01-01), None
patent: 50057 (1991-03-01), None
Browne Lynne H.
Garcia Ernesto
Mitsuba Corporation
Oliff & Berridg,e PLC
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