Device for detachably linking a wiper blade with a wiper arm

• US 7,886,401 B2
• Filed: 07/17/2009
• Issued: 02/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Herinckx, Dirk, Wilms, Christian, Baseotto, Michel, Breesch, Frans, Geling, Johnny, Op't Roodt, Inigo, Holsbeekx, Philippe, Rapp, Harald, Beelen, Hans, Verelst, Hubert, Weber, Matthias, De Block, Peter, Mayer, Juergen, Vertongen, Robert, Windmolders, Eric, Leutsch, Wolfgang, Kraemer, Godelieve
• Primary Examiner(s): Graham; Gary K
• Application Number:
  US12/505,078
• Publication Number:
  US 20090282637A1
• Time in Patent Office: 578 Days
• Field of Search: 152/503.2, 152/503.51, 152/504.3, 152/502.01, 152/503.61, 152/504.4, 152/503.3
• US Class Current: 15/250.32
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/3856 Gripping the blade
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/3868 pin formed on the exterior of side walls
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/3879 placed in side grooves in the squeegee
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/40 Connections between blades and arms
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/4038 for arms provided with a channel-shaped end
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/4045 comprising a detachable intermediate element mounted on the channel-shaped end
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 2001/4051 the intermediate element engaging the side walls of the arm
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 2001/4054 the intermediate element engaging the back part of the arm

Abstract

A device is proposed which is used to detachably connect a wiper blade (12) to clean windows, particularly of motor vehicles, to a driven wiper arm (10) featuring a wiper blade holder (50 or 150), whereby the wiper blade (12) that can be placed on the window (20) with a long-stretched-out, rubber elastic wiper strip (18) features a band-like, long-stretched-out elastic supporting element (16) that is curved in the longitudinal direction over its band surfaces (15, 17) on whose lower, concave band surface (17) the wiper strip (18) is arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis. On the outer convex band surface (15) of the supporting element (16) sits a connecting element (26), which features two parallel wall surfaces (36) mat are aligned in a vertical plane on the band surface and extend in the longitudinal direction of the wiper blade and that a pivot pin (42) projects from each wall surface, whereby the longitudinal axes of the two pivot pins are aligned with one another. An especially simple embodiment of the articulated connection with an integrated connecting device is achieved if an adapter (66 or 166) that can move in a pendulum fashion is positioned on the two pivot pins of the connecting element (26), and said adapter features means to connect to the wiper blade holder (50 or 150) of the wiper arm (10).

Claims

1. A device detachably connecting a wiper blade (12), to clean windows, to a driven wiper arm (10) featuring a wiper blade holder (50 or 150) and the wiper blade that can be placed on a window (20) with an elongated, rubber elastic wiper strip (18), the wiper blade featuring a band-like, elongated elastic supporting element (16) that is curved in a longitudinal direction over its band surfaces (15, 17), on a lower, concave band surface (17), the wiper strip (18) is arranged parallel to a longitudinal axis and, on an outer, convex band surface, a connecting element (26) sits, the connecting element (26) featuring two parallel wall surfaces (36) generally parallel to a plane generally perpendicular to the band surface and extending in the longitudinal direction of the wiper blade, whereby a pivot pin (42) projects from each wall surface and whereby longitudinal axes of the pivot pins are aligned, characterized in that an adapter (66 or 166) is positioned on the pivot pins (42) of the connecting element (26) to move in a pendulum fashion, the adapter (66 or 166) having U-shape with a U-base providing a closed end and a pair of U-legs extending from the U-base to an opposite open end, when positioned on the connecting element (26), the U-base covering a portion of the connecting element (26) facing away from a wiping portion of the wiper strip (18) and the U-legs extending towards and the open end facing towards the wiping portion of the wiper strip (18), the U-legs each defining a recess extending from the open end and toward the U-base, the adapter (66 or 166) being connected to the connecting element (26) by moving the pivot pins (42) in the recess in the adjacent U-leg from the open end and towards the U-base, and said adapter features means to connect to the wiper blade holder (50 or 150) of the wiper arm (10), wherein the wiper blade holder has a pair of opposed walls configured to detachably receive the adapter therebetween, each of the opposed walls having a recess configured to receive a respective projection of the adapter when the adapter is received between the opposed walls.

2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that a distance (38) between the two wall surfaces (36) is smaller than a width (46) of the supporting element (16).

3. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the two wall surfaces (36) are formed by outside surfaces on a T-foot (28) of the connecting element (26), the connecting element (26) having a T-shaped cross-section, at least in sections, and a T-head (30) facing the supporting element (16) and connected to the supporting element (16).

4. The device according to claim 3, characterized in that the connecting element (26) is provided with claw-like extensions (32) on longitudinal edges of the T-head (30) facing away from each other, the claw-like extensions gripping around associated outer longitudinal edges of the supporting element (16).

5. The device according to claim 3, characterized in that the connecting element (26), in cross-section, has two essentially rectangular halves forming the T-foot with an adjacent angle leg and having other angle legs together forming the T-head (30).

6. The device according to claim 5, characterized in that the two halves on the T-foot (28) are connected as a single piece.

7. The device according to claim 3, characterized in that the connecting element (26) is fabricated of a plastic.

8. The device according to claim 3, characterized in that the U-legs (70 or 170) grip over the T-foot (28) of the connecting element (26) laterally, and the U-base (72) covers the T-foot (28) of the connecting element (26), and that each recess defined by the U-legs is an open-edge, slot-like recess having slot ends forming rest receptacles (76 or 176) for the pivot pins (42).

9. The device according to claim 8, characterized in that the adapter (66 or 166) is fabricated of an elastic plastic and that the slot-like recesses (74) have elastically expandable narrowings (78) limiting the rest receptacles.

10. The device according to claim 8, characterized in that projections are collar-like projections (80) surrounding the rest receptacles (76 or 176) on outer surfaces of the U-legs (70 or 170).

11. A wiper blade assembly to clean windows, with a wiper blade (12) with an elongated, rubber elastic wiper strip (18) and a band-like, elongated elastic supporting element (16) that is curved in a longitudinal direction over band surfaces (15, 17), on a lower, concave band surface (17), the wiper strip (18) is arranged parallel to a longitudinal axis and, on a convex band surface, a connecting element (26) sits, the connecting element (26) featuring two parallel wall surfaces (36) generally parallel to a plane generally perpendicular to the band surface and extending in the longitudinal direction of the wiper blade, whereby a pivot pin (42) projects from each wall surface and whereby longitudinal axes of the pivot pins are aligned, characterized in that an adapter (66, 166) is positioned on the pivot pins (42) of the connecting element (26) to move in a pendulum fashion, the adapter (66 or 166) having U-shape with a U-base providing a closed end and a pair of U-legs extending from the U-base to an opposite open end, when positioned on the connecting element (26), the U-base covering a portion of the connecting element (26) facing away from a wiping portion of the wiper strip (18) and the U-legs extending towards and the open end facing towards the wiping portion of the wiper strip (18), the U-legs each defining a recess extending from the open end and toward the U-base, the adapter (66 or 166) being connected to the connecting element (26) by moving the pivot pins (42) in the recess in the adjacent U-leg from the open end and towards the U-base, and said adapter features means to connect to a wiper blade holder (50, 150) of a wiper arm (10), wherein the wiper blade holder has a pair of opposed walls configured to detachably receive the adapter therebetween, each of the opposed walls having a recess configured to receive a respective projection of the adapter when the adapter is received between the opposed walls.

12. The assembly according to claim 11, characterized in that a distance (38) between the two wall surfaces (36) is smaller than a width (46) of the supporting element (16).

13. The assembly according to claim 11, characterized in that the two wall surfaces (36) are formed by outside surfaces on a T-foot (28) of the connecting element (26), the connecting element (26) having a T-shaped cross-section, at least in sections, and a T-head (30) facing the supporting element (16) and connected to the supporting element (16).

14. The assembly according to claim 13, characterized in that the connecting element (26) is provided with claw-like extensions (32) on longitudinal edges of the T-head (30) facing away from each other, the claw-like extensions gripping around associated outer longitudinal edges of the supporting element (16).

15. The assembly according to claim 13, characterized in that the connecting element (26), in cross-section, has two essentially rectangular halves forming the T-foot with an adjacent angle leg and having other angle legs together forming the T-head (30).

16. The assembly according to claim 15, characterized in that the two halves on the T-foot (28) are connected as a single piece.

17. The assembly according to claim 13, characterized in that the connecting element (26) is fabricated of a plastic.

18. A wiper arm assembly for use in a wiper device to detachably connect a wiper arm (10) featuring a wiper blade holder (50 or 150) to a wiper blade (12), to clean windows, the wiper blade (12), that can be placed on a window (20) with an elongated, rubber elastic wiper strip (18), featuring a band-like, elongated elastic supporting element (16) that is curved in a longitudinal direction over band surfaces (15, 17), on a lower, concave band surface (17), the wiper strip (18) is arranged parallel to a longitudinal axis and, on an outer, convex band surface a connecting element (26) sits, the connecting element (26) featuring two parallel wall surfaces (36) generally parallel to a plane generally perpendicular to the band surface and extend in the longitudinal direction of the wiper blade, whereby a pivot pin (42) projects from each wall surface and whereby longitudinal axes of the pivot pins are aligned, characterized in that the assembly includes the wiper blade holder (50 or 150) and an adapter (66 or 166) positionable on the pivot pins (42) of the connecting element (26) to move in a pendulum fashion, said adapter featuring means to connect to the wiper blade holder (50 or 150) of the wiper arm (10), the means to connect including the wiper blade holder (50 or 150) of the wiper arm (10) gripping over the adapter (66) with side cheeks having open-edge recesses (56 or 156) arranged in the side cheeks (54) for collar-like projections (80) of the adapter, the recesses in the side cheeks of the wiper blade holder (50 or 150) featuring an L-shaped form, wherein the adapter and the wiper blade holder are configured to detachably latch together when the collar-like projections are received in the open-edge recesses.

19. A wiper blade assembly for cleaning a windshield, the assembly being connected to a wiper arm for driving the assembly, the wiper arm including a wiper blade holder, the assembly comprising a wiper blade including a wiper strip extending in a longitudinal direction and having a wiping portion engageable with the windshield, a supporting element connected to the wiper strip, and a connecting element non-movably connected to the supporting element and including a pivot pin, and an adapter including a base and a pair of legs depending from the base, each leg being connected at one end to the base and having an opposite end, a space being defined between the legs, at least one leg defining a recess having an opening in the opposite end and extending towards the base, the adapter being supported on the connecting element with the base covering a portion of the connecting element facing away from the wiping portion of the wiper strip and with each leg covering a lateral portion of the supporting element and the opposite end of each leg facing toward the wiping portion of the wiper strip, the adapter and the connecting element being connected by moving the connecting element into the space between the legs with the pivot pin moving into the recess from the opposite end of the at least one leg and towards the base, the adapter being supported on the pivot pin of the connecting element for pendulum movement relative to the wiper blade, the adapter being non-pivotably connected to the wiper blade holder of the wiper arm, wherein the wiper blade holder has a pair of opposed walls configured to detachably receive the adapter therebetween, each of the opposed walls having a recess configured to receive a respective projection of the adapter when the adapter is received between the opposed walls.

20. The assembly according to claim 19, wherein the recess defined by the at least one leg includes a slot extending from the opening and having a closed slot end for receiving the pivot pin, the slot having a narrowing to retain the pivot pin in the slot adjacent the closed slot end, and wherein the leg is formed of a flexible material such that the narrowing is expanded to allow the pivot pin to pass and flexes to return to a narrowed condition to retain the pivot pin.

21. The assembly according to claim 19, wherein the adapter is connected to the wiper blade holder of the wiper arm at least partially in an arm connection direction parallel to the base and to the legs, and wherein the adapter further comprises a locking shoulder extending transverse to the arm connection direction, the locking shoulder being engageable with a portion of the wiper blade holder to prevent relative movement of the adapter and the wiper arm in a direction opposite to the arm connection direction.

22. The assembly according to claim 21, and further comprising a tongue supporting the locking shoulder, the tongue being flexible relative to the base to move the locking shoulder from a locking position engageable with the portion of the wiper blade holder and a release position to allow relative movement of the adapter and the wiper arm in the direction opposite to the arm connection direction.