Wiper blade for automobile glass panels

• US 6,427,282 B1
• Filed: 08/07/2000
• Issued: 08/06/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Kotlarski, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Graham, Gary K.
• Application Number:
  US09/601,746
• Time in Patent Office: 729 Days
• Field of Search: 152/504.3, 152/503.2, 152/504.4, 152/504.8, 152/504.51, 152/504.52, 152/504.53, 152/504.54, 152/503.61, 264/273, 264/274, 264/271.1, 298/972
• US Class Current: 15/250.32
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/38 Wiper blades provided with liquid spreading means B60S1/524; provided with gas spreading means B60S1/546
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/3855 by welding, gluing or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/3858 with protrusions cooperating with holes
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/3867 pin formed on the interior of side walls
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/4006 for arms provided with a hook-shaped end
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 2001/382 the backing strip being an essentially planar reinforcing strip, e.g. vertebra
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49622 Vehicular structural member making

Abstract

A wiper blade is proposed that is used to clean windows of motor vehicles. The wiper blade (10) has an elongated, rubber-elastic wiper strip (14), which is retained, substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, on a support element (30) that has a spring-elastic retaining rail (12) elongated in bandlike fashion and a connection device (16) disposed on the retaining rail, in which the connection device (16) is disposed on the band face (32), remote from the window, on the middle portion of the retaining rail (12) and serves to connect the wiper blade (10) to a driven wiper arm that can be stressed toward the window. Advantages in terms of both production and use are obtained if the connection device (16), made from a plastic, is formed directly and immovably onto the retaining rail.

Claims

1. A wiper blade (10) for windows of motor vehicles, having an elongated, rubber-elastic wiper strip (14) which can be pressed against the window (26) to be wiped and which is retained, substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis, on a support element (30) that has an elongated spring-elastic retaining rail (12) forming a band with a band face and a connection device (16) disposed on the retaining rail, in which the connection device (16) is disposed on the band face, remote from the window (26), on the middle portion of the retaining rail (12) and serves to connect the wiper blade (10) to a driven wiper arm (18) that can be stressed toward the window, characterized in that the connection device (16) is distinct from said wiper strip and formed directly onto the retaining rail (12) by means of a heated, and thereby flowable, plastic, and wherein, upon cooling and contraction of said plastic, said connection device is immovably seated onto said retaining rail (12).

2. The wiper blade of claim 1, characterized in that the connection device is provided with claw shaped extensions (46, 48), which at least intermittently clasp two longitudinal edges (36, 38) of the retaining rail (12) and rest on the band face (34), toward the window, of the retaining rail (12).

3. The wiper blade of claim 1, characterized in that the retaining rail (12) is provided with shoulders, with which counterpart shoulders of the connection device (16) are associated.

4. The wiper blade of claim 3, characterized in that the shoulders of the retaining rail are embodied on apertures (50).

5. The wiper blade of claim 3, characterized in that the shoulders of the retaining rail are embodied on recesses (52) that are open at a longitudinal edge of the retaining rail.

6. The wiper blade of claim 3, characterized in that the shoulders of the retaining rail are embodied on hook-shaped features (54).

7. The wiper blade of claim 1, characterized in that the retaining rail (12) is provided with roughened features (56) on at least one of its surfaces oriented toward the connection device (16).

8. The wiper blade of claim 1, characterized in that the retaining rail is made from a metal.

9. A method for fastening the plastic connection device of the wiper blade of claim 1 to the retaining rail (12), characterized in that the retaining rail is placed in a mold (102,104), which after closure is filled with hardenable plastic forming said connection device, so that after the mold is opened, the finished connection device immovably seated on said retaining rail can be removed.