Windshield wiper

• US 6,681,440 B2
• Filed: 08/07/2002
• Issued: 01/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Rapp, Harald, Zimmer, Joachim
• Primary Examiner(s): Graham, Gary K.
• Application Number:
  US10/130,654
• Publication Number:
  US 20030131437A1
• Time in Patent Office: 538 Days
• Field of Search: 152/503.2, 152/504.4, 152/504.3, 152/503.1, 152/503.51, 152/503.3, 152/504.8, 152/504.6, 152/503.61
• US Class Current: 15/250.32
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/4038 for arms provided with a channel-shaped end
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 2001/4051 the intermediate element engaging the side walls of the arm

Abstract

A windshield wiper having a wiper arm, which is made up of a mounting part and a hinge member including an integrated wiper rod having a u-shaped cross-section profile, and on which a wiper blade pivots via a retaining spring; the side walls of retaining spring being connected by an open hub for a hinge pin and which guide the wiper rod on the outside by their projecting inner walls. The u-shaped cross-section profile extends to the free end of the wiper rod, and, in the end region, in side flanges of the cross-section profile located across from one another, at least one crosspiece-pair is preformed, at least one of which being provided with a flap bent toward the inside, the retaining spring engaging by at least one longitudinally positioned plug between the strips of a crosspiece-pair and locking into place on the wiper rod.

Claims

1. A windshield wiper, comprising:

a wiper arm having a mounting part and a hinge member, the hinge member including an integrated wiper rod having a u-shaped cross-section profile extending to a free end of the wiper rod, the u-shaped cross-section profile having opposite side flanges and at least one crosspiece pair formed in the opposite side flanges at the free end, the at least one crosspiece pair including at least one crosspiece having a flap that is bent toward an inside;

a wiper blade;

a hinge pin; and

a retaining spring to couple the wiper blade to the wiper rod, the retaining spring including side walls having projecting inner sides to guide the wiper rod on an outside, an open hub to connect the side walls and to engage the hinge pin, and at least one longitudinally oriented plug to engage and lock the wiper rod in a place between crosspieces of the at least one crosspiece pair.

2. The windshield wiper according to claim 1, wherein the flap includes a stop hole.

3. The windshield wiper according to claim 1, further comprising:

an angled stop preformed on one of a top wall of the u-shaped cross-section profile, a crosspiece of the at least one crosspiece pair, and the flap, the angled stop beginning at a front side at the free end of the wiper rod.

4. The windshield wiper according to claim 1, wherein the at least one crosspiece pair includes two crosspiece pairs having a clearance with respect to one another.

5. The windshield wiper according to claim 1, wherein the opposite side flanges of the u-shaped cross-section profile have a reduced height in front of a first crosspiece pair.

6. The windshield wiper according to claim 1, wherein flaps on different crosspiece-pairs are preformed on crosspieces located on a same side flange of the opposite side flanges.

7. The windshield wiper according to claim 1, wherein flaps on different crosspiece-pairs are preformed alternately on one of a crosspiece located on a first side flange of the opposite side flanges and a crosspiece located oh a second side flange of the opposite side flanges, the first side flange being arranged opposite the second side flange.

8. The windshield wiper according to claim 1, wherein the retaining spring includes:

a front wall at the free end having an end face, and

at least one plug connected to one of the end face and the hub.

9. The windshield wiper according to claim 8, wherein the retaining spring includes at least one transversely running assembly shaft arranged between the front wall and the hub through which a crosspiece pair of the wiper rod is guided during assembly.

10. The windshield wiper according to claim 1, wherein:

the at least one crosspiece pair includes a crosspiece having an end face, and

the retaining spring includes a stop spring arranged to lock into a place at the flap.

11. The windshield wiper according to claim 1, wherein the wiper rod includes an axial stop and the retaining spring includes a tensioning element to support the retaining spring on the axial stop.

12. The windshield wiper according to claim 1, wherein the retaining spring is premounted on the wiper rod.

13. The windshield wiper according to claim 1, wherein the retaining spring is premounted on the wiper blade.