Windshield wiper device

• US 6,857,160 B2
• Filed: 03/19/2003
• Issued: 02/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Weiler, Michael, Zimmer, Joachim
• Primary Examiner(s): Graham, Gary K.
• Application Number:
  US10/391,996
• Publication Number:
  US 20030233724A1
• Time in Patent Office: 706 Days
• Field of Search: 152/503.51, 152/503.52, 152/501.9, 152/503.4, 152/502.1, 152/500.4, 152/502.3, 152/502.02
• US Class Current: 15/250.351
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/32 characterised by constructional features of wiper blade arms or blades
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/344 Flat-type mounting heads

Abstract

A windshield wiper device, in particular for a motor vehicle, includes a wiper arm (10) that is drivable by a drive, the wiper arm (10) being foldable onto the windshield and able to be folded away from the windshield. The wiper arm is associated with a wiper blade, whereby the wiper arm (10) has a region (11) that faces toward the drive and a region (12) that faces toward the wiper blade. Both regions are connected to two torsion spring elements (13, 14). The torsion spring element (13, 14) are provided with two opposite torsion angles. The torsion spring elements (13, 14) have a square cross section, whose width is greater than its thickness, so that the torsion spring elements (13, 14) are curved in a longitudinal direction toward the windshield or curved away from the windshield.

Claims

1. A windshield wiper device, comprising:

a wiper arm (10, 30) that is drivable by means of a drive, wherein said wiper arm (10, 30) is able to be folded against a windshield and is able to be folded away from the windshield, wherein a wiper blade is arranged on the wiper arm, wherein the wiper arm (10, 30) has a first region (11) that faces the drive and a second region (12) that faces the wiper blade,

wherein the first region (11) of the wiper arm (10, 30) facing the drive and the second region (12) of the wiper arm (10, 30) facing the wiper blade are connected with two torsion spring elements (13, 14, 21, 22, 41, 42, 51, 52, 61, 62, 71, 72), and wherein the torsion spring elements are inserted in the first region (11) and second region (11) of the wiper arm (10, 30), whereby the torsion spring elements (13, 14, 21, 22, 41, 42, 51, 52, 61, 62, 71, 72) are provided with torsion angles that are opposed to one another and the torsion spring elements (13, 14, 21, 22, 41, 42, 51, 52, 61, 62, 71, 72) have a rectangular cross section, whose width is greater than its thickness, so that the torsion spring elements (13, 14, 21, 22, 41, 42, 51, 52, 61, 62, 71, 72) are curved in toward the windshield or curved away from the windshield, wherein one connecting element (53, 63) is formed in one piece and another connecting element is formed in two pieces, and wherein, in a pre-assembled state, the two torsion spring elements (51, 52, 61, 62) are arranged with a first end in a V-shape at the one-piece connecting element (53, 63) and wherein a part (54, 55, 54, 66) of the two-piece connecting element is mounted on a second end of the torsion spring elements (51, 52, 61, 62).

2. The windshield wiper device according to claim 1, wherein the two torsion spring elements (13, 14, 21, 22, 41, 42, 51, 52, 61, 62, 71, 72) are spaced apart from one another.

3. The windshield wiper device according to claim 1, wherein the two torsion spring elements (13, 14, 21, 22, 41, 42, 51, 52, 61, 62, 71, 72) are connected to one another at end regions, respectively, by means of the connecting elements (23, 43, 44, 53, 54, 55, 63, 64, 66, 73, 74), so that the torsion spring elements (13, 14, 21, 22, 41, 42, 51, 52, 61, 62, 71, 72) and the connection elements (23, 43, 44, 53, 54, 55, 63, 64, 66, 73, 74) form a single spring element (20, 40, 50, 60, 70).

4. The windshield wiper device according to claim 3, wherein one of the connecting elements (74) is provided in a central region with a shoulder.

5. The windshield wiper device according to claim 3, wherein the single spring element (40) is formed as a longitudinally curved component with the torsion spring elements (41, 42) arced around its longitudinal axis.

6. The windshield wiper device according to claim 3, wherein the torsion spring elements (13, 14) or the single spring element (20, 40, 50, 60, 70) are formed as a stamped metal part.

7. The windshield wiper device according to claim 3, wherein the torsion spring elements (13, 14) or the single spring element (20, 40, 50, 60, 70) are formed as a fiber-reinforced plastic part.

8. The windshield wiper device according to claim 1, wherein the two-piece connecting element has attachment means (56, 58), in order to hold together the ends of the torsion spring elements (51, 52, 61, 62) running in the V-shape from one another, to press the torsion spring elements against one another.

9. A windshield wiper device, in particular for a motor vehicle, with a wiper arm (10, 30) that is drivable by means of a drive, wherein said wiper arm (10, 30) is able to be folded again a windshield and is able to be folded away from the windshield, wherein a wiper blade is arranged on the wiper arm, wherein the wiper arm (10, 30) has a first region (11) that faces the drive and a second region (12) that faces the wiper blade, characterized in that the first region (11) of the wiper arm (10, 30) facing the drive and the second region (12) of the wiper arm (10, 30) facing the wiper blade are connected with two torsion spring elements (13, 14, 21, 22, 41, 42, 51, 52, 61, 62, 71, 72), whereby the torsion spring elements (13, 14, 21, 22, 41, 42, 51, 52, 61, 62, 71, 72) are provided with torsion angles that are opposed to one another and the torsion spring elements (13, 14, 21, 22, 41, 42, 51, 52, 61, 62, 71, 72) have a rectangular cross section, whose width is greater than its thickness, so that the torsion spring elements (13, 14, 21, 22, 41, 42, 51, 52, 61, 62, 71, 72) are curved in toward the windshield or curved away from the windshield, wherein the first region (11) of the wiper arm (10) facing toward the drive and the second region (12) of the wiper arm (10) facing toward the wiper blade each have an opening for receiving a single spring element (20, 40, 50, 60, 70) which includes the torsion spring elements or each of the first and second regions (11, 12) is provided with two openings (15, 16, 17, 18) for receiving the two torsion spring elements (13, 14).

10. The windshield wiper device according to claim 9, wherein the spring element (20, 40, 50, 60, 70) or the torsion spring elements (13, 14) are clippable in the first region (11) facing toward the drive and/or in the second region (12) facing toward the wiper blade.