Windshield wiper, especially for a motor vehicle

• US 7,780,214 B2
• Filed: 02/14/2005
• Issued: 08/24/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Kraus, Achim, Bohn, Roland, Schabanel, Francois, Pierron, Didier, Friderichs, Guenther, Albrecht, Gerard
• Primary Examiner(s): Dayoan; Glenn
• Assistant Examiner(s): BLANKENSHIP, GREGORY A
• Application Number:
  US11/547,657
• Publication Number:
  US 20080189896A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,017 Days
• Field of Search: 296/96.15, 296/96.17, 152/503, 152/503.1
• US Class Current: 296/96.15
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0438 Attachement of separate wiper motor assembly to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0444 comprising vibration or noise absorbing means
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0447 non-screw fixation, (e.g. snap-in, bayonnet-type..)
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/583 including wiping devices

Abstract

The invention starts with a windshield wiper device (10), in particular for a motor vehicle, with at least one drive element (16) that can be fastened to the vehicle body (26) and that has a driven shaft (28) and at least two axially rigid fastening elements (22), which engage in receiving openings (24) on the vehicle body (26) and are provided with at least one damping element (76, 90, 96) for damping mechanical vibrations. It is proposed that the damping elements (76, 90, 96) are fastening blocks made of a rubber-elastic material and are fastened to the drive element (16), that said damping elements are provided with slots (78) and are arranged in such a manner that they can be inserted in a first assembly direction (64) in the receiving openings (24) and prompted by a movement in a second assembly direction (32) transverse to the first direction the damping elements reach across the first edge (88) of the receiving opening (24) with a slot (78), and that a locking element (30, 52, 66, 80, 92, 98) secures the final position in the second assembly direction (32).

Claims

1. Windshield wiper device (10), for a motor vehicle, with at least one drive element (16) that can be fastened to the vehicle body (26) and that has a driven shaft (28) and at least two axially rigid fastening elements (22), which engage in receiving openings (24) on the vehicle body (26) and are provided with at least one damping element (76, 90, 96) for damping mechanical vibrations, characterized in that the damping elements (76, 90, 96) are fastening blocks made of a rubber-elastic material and are fastened to the drive element (16), that said damping elements are provided with slots (78) and are arranged in such a manner that they can be inserted in a first assembly direction (64) in the receiving openings (24) and prompted by a movement in a second assembly direction (32) transverse to the first direction the damping elements reach across the first edge (88) of the receiving opening (24) with a slot (78), and that a locking element (30, 52, 66, 80, 92, 98) secures the final position in the second assembly direction (32).

2. Windshield wiper device according to claim 1, characterized in that the flank (104) of the slot (78), which flank lies in the rear in the first assembly direction, (64) projects further than the other flank in the second assembly direction (32) and forms a limit stop.

3. Windshield wiper device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the fastening elements (22) are each arranged essentially on tangents of a circle around the driven shaft (28) or an axis essentially parallel to this shaft and the movement in the second assembly direction (32) is a rotational movement around the driven shaft (28) or the axis.

4. Windshield wiper device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the locking element (30, 52) is a bolt which has a damping layer (44, 54) on its circumference and in an assembled state grips through an elongated hole (48) in the drive element (16) and an assembly opening (34) of the vehicle body (26), wherein the elongated hole (48) and the assembly opening (34) extend transverse to the second assembly direction (32).

5. Windshield wiper device (10) according to claim 4, characterized in that the locking element (30, 52) in an assembled state is adjacent on one end with a flange (40) on the drive element (16) and gradually tapers towards its other end (50) so that a step (42) is adjacent to the edge of the assembly opening (34).

6. Windshield wiper device (10) according to claim 4, characterized in that the damping layer (54) of the locking element (52) extends only from the free end to the step (42) and has bulges (56, 58) on its ends.

7. Windshield wiper device (10) according to claim 6, characterized in that the bulges (56, 58) are formed by thickenings (60, 62) of the basis material of the locking element (52).

8. Windshield wiper device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the locking element (66) has a spring clip (68), which is connected via angled legs (70) on its free ends to the drive element (16), wherein the spring clip (68) has an inner and outer damping layer (72, 74) and is pressed together during assembly in the first assembly direction (64) by the legs (70).

9. Windshield wiper device (10) according to claim 8, characterized in that the spring clip (68) has a thickening on its bent end (75), with which it locks on the edge (36) of the assembly opening (34) of the vehicle body (26).

10. Windshield wiper device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the locking element (80, 92, 98) is combined with a fastening element (22) and in an assembled state on its side that lies in the rear as viewed in the second assembly direction (32) bridges the intermediate space between the fastening block (76, 90, 96) and the receiving opening (24).

11. Windshield wiper device (10) according to claim 10, characterized in that the locking element is embodied as a locking block (80, 92), which can be displaced in the first assembly direction (64) relative to the fastening block (76, 90).

12. Windshield wiper device (10) according to claim 11, characterized in that the locking block (80) is connected to the fastening block (76) via shear ribs (82).

13. Windshield wiper device (10) according to claim 10, characterized in that the locking block (92) is connected to the fastening block (90) via a longitudinal guide (94).

14. Windshield wiper device (10) according to claim 11, characterized in that the locking block (80, 92) has locking elements (84, 86) towards the edge (88) of the receiving opening (24).

15. Windshield wiper device (10) according to claim 10, characterized in that the locking element (98) is a bar (98) that is flexible towards the first assembly direction (64), which locks into the receiving openings (24) with a locking hook (100) at the end of the second assembly movement (32).

16. Windshield wiper device (10) according to claim 15, characterized in that the bar (98) has a limit stop (102) on its free end and in an assembled state runs approximately parallel to the receiving opening (24).

17. Windshield wiper device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the basis material of the locking element (30, 52, 66, 80, 92, 98) is a largely inflexible plastic.