Wiper blade

• US 7,509,704 B2
• Filed: 04/11/2003
• Issued: 03/31/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Bauer, Peter-Josef, Vangeel, Tom, Grammens, Joris, Wilms, Christian, Verelst, Hubert
• Primary Examiner(s): Wilson; Lee D
• Application Number:
  US10/508,231
• Publication Number:
  US 20050138751A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,181 Days
• Field of Search: 152/503.1, 152/503, 152/503.2, 152/502.01, 152/504.3, 152/503.51, 152/504.4
• US Class Current: 15/250.31
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/3497 Additional means for guiding the blade other than the arm or blade joint
• 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 1/381 Spoilers mounted on the squeegee or on the vertebra
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/3894 having a particular shape
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 2001/3822 characterised by additional means to prevent longitudinal sliding of squeegee in support, e.g. clips

Abstract

The invention starts from a wiper blade (20) of a windshield wiper with a wiper strip support (22) and wiper strip (24), which feature end caps (28) on their ends, whose inner cross-sectional profile is adapted to the cross-sectional profile of the wiper strip support (22). It is proposed that a guide rib (42, 48, 50) running transverse to the longitudinal direction (58) of the wiper blade (20) and having a guide surface (44, 54) be formed laterally on at least one of the end caps (28).

Claims

1. Wiper blade (20) of a windshield wiper having a longitudinal direction, the wiper blade (20) comprising:

a wiper strip support (22) having an end;

a wiper strip (24) having an end; and

at least one end cap (28) on the end of the wiper support (22) and the end of the wiper strip (24), the end cap (28) having an inner cross-sectional profile adapted to the cross-sectional profile of the wiper strip support (22), the end cap (28) having a lateral surface and a guide rib (42, 48, 50) projecting laterally from the lateral surface and running transverse to the longitudinal direction (52) of the wiper blade (20), the guide rib (42, 48, 50) and having a guide surface (44, 54) formed laterally on the guide rib (42, 48, 50).

2. Wiper blade (20) according to claim 1, wherein the wiper strip support (22) has an opposite end, wherein the wiper strip (24) has an opposite end, and wherein the wiper blade (20) further comprises a second end cap (28) on the opposite end of the wiper strip support (22) and on the opposite end of the wiper strip (24).

3. Wiper blade (20) according to claim 1, wherein the wiper blade (20) is assembled with a wiper arm (10), which has a U-shaped cross-sectional profile into which the end cap (28) is guided in an assembled position by guide ribs (48) on both sides on side walls (34).

4. Wiper blade (20) according to claim 3, wherein, on the side that faces away from a base surface (56), the guide rib (42, 48) projects beyond an outer profile of the end cap (28) by an area (46).

5. Wiper blade (20) according to claim 3, wherein a guide bracket (36) made of plastic, which serves as a bearing surface for the guide surface (44, 54), is inserted into the wiper arm (10).

6. Wiper blade (20) according to claim 1, wherein the wiper blade (20) is assembled with a wiper arm (10), which has a roof-shaped cross-sectional profile with a steeper side wall (34), whereby the guide surface (44, 54) on the guide rib (42, 50) formed on one side is guided only on the steeper side wall (34) in an assembled position and the inclination of the guide surface (44, 54) is adapted to the inclination of the side wall (34).

7. Wiper blade (20) according to claim 6, wherein the guide surface (44, 54) has an angle of inclination to a base surface (56), which is slightly less than 90°

.

8. Wiper blade (20) according to claim 7, wherein, on the side that faces away from the base surface (56), the guide rib (42, 48) projects beyond an outer profile of the end cap (28) by an area (46).

9. Wiper blade (20) according to claim 7, wherein the guide rib (50) is shortened as compared with a height of the end cap (28) so that an upper part of the end cap (28) touches an inner contour of the wiper arm (10).

10. Wiper blade (20) according to claim 7, wherein a guide bracket (36) made of plastic, which serves as a bearing surface for the guide surface (44, 54), is inserted into the wiper arm (10).

11. Wiper blade (20) according to claim 6, wherein the guide rib (50) is shortened as compared with a height of the end cap (28) so that an upper part of the end cap (28) touches an inner contour of the wiper arm (10).

12. Wiper blade (20) according to claim 11, wherein a guide bracket (36) made of plastic, which serves as a bearing surface for the guide surface (44, 54), is inserted into the wiper arm (10).

13. Wiper blade (20) according to claim 6, wherein a guide bracket (36) made of plastic, which serves as a bearing surface for the guide surface (44, 54), is inserted into the wiper arm (10).

14. Wiper blade (20) according to claim 6, wherein, on the side that faces away from a base surface (56), the guide rib (42, 48) projects beyond an outer profile of the end cap (28) by an area (46).

15. Wiper blade (20) according to claim 1, wherein, on the side that faces away from a base surface (56), the guide rib (42, 48) projects beyond an outer profile of the end cap (28) by an area (46).

16. Wiper blade (20) according to claim 15, wherein the wiper blade (20) is assembled with a wiper arm (10), and wherein a guide bracket (36) made of plastic, which serves as a bearing surface for the guide surface (44, 54), is inserted into the wiper arm (10).

17. Wiper blade (20) according to claim 1, wherein the wiper arm (20) is assembled with a wiper arm (10), and wherein a guide bracket (36) made of plastic, which serves as a bearing surface for the guide surface (44, 54), is inserted into the wiper arm (10).

18. Wiper blade (20) according to claim 17, wherein the guide bracket (36) lengthens, in cross-section, a side wall (34) of the wiper arm (10) facing the guide surface (44, 54).

19. Wiper assembly comprising:

a wiper arm (10) including a part (12) having a wall (34) with an inner surface; and

a wiper blade (20) having a longitudinal direction, the wiper blade (20) including

a wiper strip support (22) having an end,

a wiper strip (24) having an end, and

at least one end cap (28) on the end of the wiper support (22) and the end of the wiper strip (24), the end cap (28) having an inner cross-sectional profile adapted to the cross-sectional profile of the wiper strip support (22), the end cap (28) having a lateral surface and a guide rib (42, 48, 50) projecting laterally from the lateral surface and running transverse to the longitudinal direction (52) of the wiper blade (20), the guide rib having a lateral guide surface (44, 54) formed laterally on the guide rib, the lateral guide surface (44, 54) being engageable with the inner surface of the wall (34) of the part (12).

20. Wiper assembly according to claim 19, wherein the wiper strip support (22) has an opposite end, wherein the wiper strip (24) has an opposite end, and wherein the wiper blade (20) further includes a second end cap (28) on the opposite end of the wiper strip support (22) and on the opposite end of the wiper strip (24).