Wiper blade for a window washing apparatus

• US 5,819,361 A
• Filed: 09/16/1996
• Issued: 10/13/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Pollaris, Eric, Merkel, Wilfried, Mayer, Jurgen
• Primary Examiner(s): Graham, Gary K.
• Application Number:
  US08/714,127
• Time in Patent Office: 757 Days
• Field of Search: 15/250.46, 15/250.361, 15/250.48, 15/250.44, 15/250.31, 15/250.32, 15/250.43, 403/24, 403/153, 403/154, 403/161, 403/162, 411/514
• US Class Current: 15/250.46
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/3801 characterised by a blade support harness consisting of several articulated elements B60S1/3803, B60S1/3806 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 2001/3815 chacterised by the joint between elements
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 11/02 Trunnions; Crank-pins fastening crank-pins to webs, crank-pins integral with cranks F16C3/06, F16C3/22
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 11/045 with at least a pair of arms pivoting relatively to at least one other arm, all arms being mounted on one pin crank-pins F16C11/02
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2326/09 Windscreen wipers, e.g. pivots therefore in general B60S
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32885 Expanded pin or end

Abstract

A wiper blade is proposed which is a part of windshield wiper systems of motor vehicles and is used for cleaning windshields of motor vehicles. The wiper blade has a multi-link elongated support bow system for a wiper strip resting against the windshield and has at least one upper support bow, on whose at least one end a lower support bow is hinged by means of a hinge bolt disposed transversely to the long extension of the support bow, wherein the upper bow of a U-shaped cross section in the area of the hinged connection extends with its U-shaped legs over a section of the lower bow of a U-shaped cross section in such a way, that the U-shaped legs of the two support bows essentially lie parallel with each other. The hinge bolt fittingly projects through the U-shaped legs in openings which are coaxial in respect to each other and the hinge bolt is provided with means for securing it against axial displacement in its center area located between the U-shaped legs of the lower bow. The securing means are connected in one piece with the hinge bolt made of an elastic material and can be deflected against a spring force at least as far as the surface area of the bolt, wherein the securing means have detent shoulders located between the U-shaped legs of the lower bow and facing away from each other, which cooperate with counter-shoulders of the lower bow facing them. It is assured in this way that the lower bow as well as the upper bow are always smoothly pivotable in respect to the hinge bolt.

Claims

1. A wiper blade for windshield wiper systems of motor vehicles, the wiper blade comprising a wiper strip;

and a multi-link elongated support bow system for supporting said wiper strip, said bow system having at least one upper support bow, at least one lower support bow and a hinge bolt hingedly connecting said support bows with one another, said support bows having transverse U-shaped cross-sections provided in an area of said hinge, said U-shaped cross-section of said upper bow extending over a part of said U-shaped cross-section of said lower bow so that legs of said support bows extend essentially parallel to one another and have coaxial openings through which said hinge bolt extends, said hinge bolt further having means for securing said hinge bolt against an axial displacement in said opening with respect to said bow system, said securing means being connected with said hinge bolt and composed of an elastic material to be deflected against a spring force at least as far as a surface area of said bolt, said securing means being provided with detent shoulders located between said legs of said lower bow and facing away from one another, and counter shoulders provided on said lower bow so that said detent shoulders cooperate with said counter shoulders.

2. The wiper blade as defined in claim 1, wherein said said securing means include at least one wing which has one long side connected with said hinge bolt inside a surface area of said hinge bolt, said wing extending tangentially with said hinge bolt past the surface area and having a length which corresponds to a distance between facing surfaces of said legs of said lower bow, said hinge bolt having a recess extending past a length of said wing, said wing having a free end insertable in said recess.

3. The wiper blade as defined in claim 1, and further comprising an intermediate layer of a slidable material located in an area of said hinge bolt between facing surfaces of said legs of said upper bow and said lower bow.

4. The wiper blade as defined in claim 3, wherein said intermediate layer is formed as a coating provided on at least one of surfaces of said legs.

5. The wiper blade as defined in claim 3, wherein said intermediate layer is formed as a plate-shaped separate component which is composed of a plastic material and is provided with a through bore for said hinge bolt.

6. The wiper blade as defined in claim 3, wherein said intermediate layer is formed as a liner composed of a plastic material, said liner having seating eyes projecting into said openings of said outer bow.

7. The wiper blade as defined in claim 1, and further comprising outwardly directed rails provided on said upper bow and increasing a seating surface in said openings of said upper bow for said hinge bolt.

8. A wiper blade for windshield systems of motor vehicles, the wiper blade comprising a wiper strip;

and a multi-link elongated support bow system for supporting said wiper strip, said bow system having at least one upper support bow, at least one lower support bow and a hinge bolt hingedly connecting said support bows with one another, said support bows having transverse-U-shaped cross-sections provided in an area of said hinge, said U-shaped cross-section of said upper bow extending over a part of said U-shaped cross-section of said lower bow so that legs of said support bows extend essentially parallel to one another and have coaxial openings through which said hinge bolts extends, said hinge bolt further having means for securing said hinge bolt against an axial displacement, said securing means being connected with said hinge bolt and composed of an elastic material to be deflected against a spring force at least as far as a surface area of said bolt, said securing means being provided with detent shoulders located between said legs of said lower bow and facing away from one another, and counter shoulders provided on said lower bow so that said detent shoulders cooperate with said counter shoulders, said securing means including at least one tab-shaped wing which is provided with said detent shoulders, said wing having one long side connected with said hinge bolt inside a surface area of said hinge bolt, said wing extending tangentially with said bolt past the surface area and having a length which corresponds to a distance between facing surfaces of said legs of said lower bow, said hinge bolt having a recess extending past a length of said wing, said wing having a free end insertable in said recess.

9. The wiper blade as defined in claim 8, wherein said securing means include two tab-shaped wings located on said hinge bolt, said hinge bolt having recesses associated with said wings.

10. The wiper blade as defined in claim 9, wherein said tab-shaped wings are located in planes which are spaced from one another and are parallel with each other.

11. The wiper blade as defined in claim 10, wherein said tab-shaped wings have points of origin on said hinge bolt and extend from said points of said origin in a same direction.

12. A wiper blade for windshield wiper systems of motor vehicles, the wiper blade comprising a wiper strip arranged to rest against a windshield;

and a multi-link elongated support bow system provided for said wiper strip, said bow system having at least one upper elongated support bow, at least one elongated lower support bow and a hinge bolt hingedly connecting said support bows with one another, said hinge bolt defining a pivot axis, said support bows having U-shaped transverse cross-sections provided in an area of said hinge bolt and said U-shaped cross-section of said upper bow extends over a part of said U-shaped cross-section of said lower bow so that legs of said support bows extend essentially parallel to one another and have coaxial openings through which said hinge bolt extends, said hinge bolt having means for securing said hinge bolt against an axial displacement in said opening with respect to said bow system, said securing means being connected with said hinge bolt and composed of an elastic material to be deflected against a spring force at least as far as a surface area of said bolt, said securing means being provided with detent shoulders located between said legs of said lower bow, said shoulders defining end surfaces extending substantially perpendicular to said axis and facing away from one another, and counter shoulders provided on said lower bow so that said detent shoulders cooperate with said counter shoulders, said securing means including at least one tab-shaped wing attached along a longitudinal edge thereof to said bolt, said wing being provided with said detent shoulders.