Wiper blade for cleaning windows of motor vehicles

• US 6,516,491 B2
• Filed: 02/22/2001
• Issued: 02/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Merkel, Wilfried, Kotlarski, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Graham, Gary K.
• Application Number:
  US09/790,753
• Publication Number:
  US 20010008034A1
• Time in Patent Office: 719 Days
• Field of Search: 152/504.8, 152/502.01, 152/504.51, 152/504.3, 152/504.52, 152/504.4, 152/504.53, 152/503.2, 152/503.61
• US Class Current: 15/250.201
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/3806 Means, or measures taken, for influencing the aerodynamic quality of the wiper blades
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/3808 Spoiler integral with the squeegee
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/3851 Mounting of connector to blade assembly
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/3867 pin formed on the interior of side walls
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/3874 with a reinforcing vertebra
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/3875 rectangular section
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/3879 placed in side grooves in the squeegee
• 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

Abstract

A wiper blade (10) is proposed that serves to clean windows of motor vehicles. The wiper blade has an elongated, rubber-elastic wiper strip (14) which is provided on its two long sides with respective facing longitudinal grooves (38, 40), in each of which one spring rail (30, 32), protruding intermittently from the grooves by one longitudinal edge (42, 44), is disposed; the spring rails belong to an elongated, spring-elastic support element (12) for the wiper strip (14), on whose middle portion a connection device (16) for a wiper arm (18) guided on the vehicle body is disposed. An especially simple disposition of a wind deflector strip and a connection device for a wiper arm are obtained if at least one longitudinal portion of the part of the wiper strip located on the side of the spring rails (30, 32) remote from the window is embodied as a wind deflector strip (54), and if furthermore the connection device (16) is retained on the longitudinal edges (42, 44) of the spring rails (30, 32) that protrude from the longitudinal grooves (38, 40).

Claims

1. A wiper blade for cleaning windows of motor vehicles, said wiper blade comprising

an elongated, rubber-elastic wiper strip (14) provided with respective longitudinal grooves (38, 40) on corresponding opposite long sides thereof and with a wiper lip (28) for contact with a window (26);

an elongated spring-elastic support element (12) for the wiper strip (14), said support element (12) having corresponding spring rails (30, 32) engaged in and protruding from the longitudinal grooves (38, 40) provided in the wiper strip (14);

a connection device (16) having means for coupling with a wiper arm (18) connected to a middle portion of the support element (12), wherein said spring rails (30, 32) have respective longitudinal edges (42, 44) extending outside of the longitudinal grooves (38, 40) and said connection device (16) fits on the respective longitudinal edges (42, 44) of the spring rails (30, 32) to retain and hold the spring rails (30, 32) in the longitudinal grooves (38, 40);

a wind deflector strip (54) comprising at least one longitudinal portion of the wiper strip, said at least one longitudinal portion being located on a side of the spring rails (30, 32) remote from the wiper lip (28); and

respective retaining means (34, 36) comprising clamps (74), said respective retaining means (34, 36) engaging corresponding opposite end portions of said spring rails (32) and being separate distinct components from said connection device (16).

2. The wiper blade as defined in claim 1, wherein said wind deflector strip (54) has a first side (56) facing predominatly in a wind direction (55), said first side (56) including a concave surface for wind deflection.

3. The wiper blade as defined in claim 2, wherein said wind deflector strip (54) has a second side (58) on a side of said wind deflector strip (54) opposite from said first side (56) and said wind deflector strip (54) has a substantially triangular transverse cross-section.

4. The wiper blade as defined in claim 2, wherein said wind deflector strip (54) is provided with at least one recess (62) for receiving said retaining means, said at least one recess (62) extending longitudinally along said wind deflector strip (54) nearly to the longitudinal grooves (38,40), and said retaining means (34,36) extend across said deflector strip (54).

5. The wiper blade as defined in claim 4, wherein said clamps (74) comprise claws reaching around the longitudinal edges (42,44) of the spring rails (32) to hold the end portions of the spring rails (32).