CONNECTING APPARATUS FOR HINGING A JOINING ELEMENT RIGIDLY CONNECTED TO A WIPER ARM

• US 20120047673A1
• Filed: 03/10/2010
• Published: 03/01/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Depondt, Helmut
• Granted Patent: US 8,973,209 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/250.32
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/386 made in two halves
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/387 the connector being suitable for receiving different types of adapter
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/4003 Multi-purpose connections for two or more kinds of arm ends
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/4006 for arms provided with a hook-shaped end
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/4019 the retention means being protrusions or holes
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/4038 for arms provided with a channel-shaped end
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/407 with means provided on the arm for locking the side pin
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/4083 for arms provided with a flat end
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/4087 the end being provided with protrusions or holes
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 2001/4054 the intermediate element engaging the back part of the arm

Abstract

The invention relates to a connecting apparatus (24) for hinging a joining element (100, 102, 104, 142, 152, 162, 122 166), which is rigidly connected to a wiper arm, by way of an adapter (62), which is held non-rotatably by the joining element (100, 102, 104, 142, 152, 162, 166), to a connecting element (26) fastened to a wiper blade (10), wherein between the connecting element (26) and the adapter (62) a joint (52, 82) running transversely to the longitudinal direction of the wiper blade (10) is provided, and the adapter (62) forms a frame of two side walls (64) of a front end wall (66) and a rear end wall (70), the frame being partially covered toward the top in the region of the front end wall (66) by a cover wall (68) such that an opening (74) remains toward the rear end wall (70). It is proposed that the adapter (62) has means (76, 78, 80, 86) which are suited for mounting and fixing three different joining elements (100, 102, 104).

Claims

1. A connecting apparatus (24) for hinging a joining element (100, 102, 104, 142, 152, 162, 166), which is rigidly connected to a wiper arm, by way of an adapter (62), which is held non-rotatably by the joining element (100, 102, 104, 142, 152, 162, 166), to a connecting element (26) fastened to a wiper blade (10), wherein between said connecting element (26) and the adapter (62) a joint (52, 82) running transversely to a longitudinal direction of the wiper blade (10) is provided, and said adapter (62) forms a frame of two side walls (64), of a front end wall (66) and a rear end wall (70), the frame being partially covered toward the top in the region of the front end wall (66) by a cover wall (68) such that an opening (74) remains toward the rear end wall (70), characterized in that said adapter (62) has means (76, 78, 80, 86) which are suited for mounting and fixing three different joining elements (100, 102, 104).

2. A connecting apparatus (24) according to claim 1, characterized in that the means for mounting and fixing the different joining elements (101, 102, 104) on the adapter (62) comprise an end edge (76) facing the rear end wall (70), two holding cams (78) facing rearwards in the region of the end edge (76), two steps (80) which are disposed laterally in the region of said end edge (76) and formed concavely toward the rear end wall (70), and two locking mechanisms (86) distributed respectively on both side walls (64) in the vicinity of said rear end wall (70).

3. A connecting apparatus (24) according to claim 2, characterized in that the locking mechanisms (86) comprise contact surfaces (88, 90) and in each case a chamfer (92), which face toward the front end wall (66).

4. A connecting apparatus (24) according to claim 3, characterized in that a first joining element (100) having a u-shaped cross-section partially encompasses with side walls (106) thereof the side walls (64) of the adapter (62), engages with an edge of a cover wall (108) thereof under holding cams (78) on the cover wall (68) of said adapter (62), rests in an assembled position with end edges (110) of the side walls (106) thereof against the step (80) formed concavely toward the rear end wall (70) and is fixed with end faces (116) of two guide flanges (112) to the contact surfaces (88) of the locking mechanism (86) of said adapter (62).

5. A connecting apparatus (24) according to claim 3, characterized in that the second and third joining element (102, 104) have in each case a lug (124, 136) on front sides thereof, said lug being cranked toward the wiper blade (10) and engaging under the cover wall (68) of the adapter (62) as well as being supported in the longitudinal direction at a stop (98) of said adapter (62), whereas projections (130) of the side walls (106) of the joining element (102, 104) are lockably engaged in an assembled state on the contact surfaces (90) and where applicable on the chamfers (92) of the locking mechanism (86), which adjoin said contact surfaces in the direction of the wiper blade (10).

6. A connecting apparatus (24) according to claim 1, characterized in that the adapter (62) comprises means (72, 76, 78, 80, 86, 191), which are suited for mounting and fixing an insert (180), which includes two double walls (182) having respectively an interstice (184), which are connected to one another by way of a middle part (192) and at least partially cover the side walls (64) of the adapter (62) on both sides, wherein the middle part (192) is set back with respect to an upper boundary of the double walls (182) so that said double walls (182) in each case form an overhang (186) and wherein said middle part (192) has a longitudinal channel (194) which is open toward the front end wall (66) and said middle part (192) is set back in the longitudinal direction from a front side of the insert (180).

7. A connecting apparatus (24) according to claim 1, characterized in that the adapter (62) comprises means (72, 76, 78, 80, 86, 191), which are suited for mounting and fixing an insert (180) which includes two double walls (182) having respectively an interstice (184), which are connected to one another by way of a middle part (192) and at least partially cover the side walls (64) of said adapter (62) on both sides, wherein the middle part (192) is set back with respect to an upper boundary of the double walls (182) so that said double walls (182) in each case form an overhang (186), said double walls additionally having respectively a depression (188), and in that the insert (180) has a bearing hole (190) running transversely to the longitudinal direction of the wiper blade (10), which aligns with bearing holes (191) in the side walls (64) of said adapter (62).

8. A connecting apparatus (24) according to claim 7, characterized in that at least one double wall (182) has a recess (198) on the an outer side thereof, which is offset with respect to the bearing hole (190) toward the rear end wall (70) of the adapter (62).

9. A connecting apparatus (24) according to claim 8, characterized in that the bearing hole (190) is closed on the a side of the recess (198).

10. A connecting apparatus (24) according to claim 1, characterized in that the connecting element (26) and the adapter (62) are manufactured from plastic, wherein said adapter (62) has a longitudinal web (94) extending along a longitudinal center plane, said web supporting a bearing pin (82), which runs transversely to the longitudinal direction, in a central region of the web and in that the longitudinal web (94) and the bearing pin (82) protrude beyond the side walls (64) of said adapter (62) toward said connecting element (26), a part of said longitudinal web (94) protruding toward said connecting element (26) being guided between two contact surfaces (58), which run in the longitudinal direction and are offset in relation to one another so that in an assembled position, each longitudinal side of said longitudinal web (94) rests against a contact surface (58) and said longitudinal web (94) can be rotated during assembly through an angle of approximately 45°

about a vertical axis and in that the length of the bearing pin (82) is dimensioned so that in the assembled position, both ends of the pin engage in bearing holes (52) in the side walls (46) of said connecting element (26).

11. A connecting apparatus (24) according to claim 10, characterized in that the longitudinal web (94) is guided radially at end faces thereof through guide surfaces (56) of the connecting element (26).

12. A connecting apparatus (24) according to claim 10, characterized in that the connecting element (26) comprises a connecting part (44), on which bearing holes (52) and contact surfaces (58) are disposed, and a base element (28) which is divided into two side parts (30) in the longitudinal direction and encompasses a carrier element (18) with mutually facing longitudinal grooves (32), the side parts (30) being connected to one another on mutually facing sides by detent connections (34, 36).

13. A connecting apparatus (24) according to claim 10, characterized in that in addition to the detent connections (34, 36), the side parts (30) are laterally held together by the connecting part (44) by way of the side walls (46) of said connecting part (44) engaging with detent cams on inner sides thereof in recesses (40) on outer sides of said side parts (30).

14. A wiper blade (10) comprising a connecting apparatus (24) according to claim 1.

15. An adapter (62) for use with a connecting apparatus (24) according to claim 1, characterized by an insert (180), which is placed onto the side walls (64) thereof, said insert comprising side walls embodied as double walls.