Windshield wiping device for a motor vehicle

• US 7,941,892 B2
• Filed: 04/27/2004
• Issued: 05/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Kraus, Achim, Dietrich, Jan
• Primary Examiner(s): Graham; Gary K
• Application Number:
  US10/559,883
• Publication Number:
  US 20060123580A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,576 Days
• Field of Search: 152/503, 152/503.1, 403/2, 403/DIG.3, 296/96.15, 296/96.17, 384/295, 384/296
• US Class Current: 15/250.31
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0425 characterised by the attachment of the wiper shaft holders to the transverse element
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0488 Wiper arrangement for crash protection or impact absorption
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/34 Wiper arms; Mountings therefor wiper arms provided with liquid spreading means B60S1/522; with gas spreading means B60S1/544
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2200/63 Frangible connections

Abstract

Windshield wiper device for a motor vehicle with at least one molded tube (10) to accommodate a drive shaft to drive at least one wiper arm, wherein the at least one molded tube (10) can be attached to a holding element (11) that can be connected to the body, and to a stub (12) accommodating a mounting plate tube, and connecting bridges (14, 15) are provided to attach the at least one molded tube (10) to the holding element (11) and/or to the stub (12).

Claims

1. Windshield wiper device for a motor vehicle with at least one molded tube (10, 20) to accommodate a drive shaft to drive at least one wiper arm, wherein the at least one molded tube (10, 20) is attached to a holding element (11, 21) that is connectable to a body, and to a stub (12, 22) accommodating a mounting plate tube, whereby at least first and second connecting bridges (14, 15, 23, 24) are provided to attach the at least one molded tube (10, 20) to at least one of the holding element (11, 21) and the stub (12, 22), whereby an impact force (F) acting on the at least one molded tube (10, 20) and therefore on the connecting bridges (14, 15, 23, 24) is strengthened by a lever arm design, whereby the first and second connecting bridges are formed so that the first connecting bridge tears first before the second connecting bridge tears as a result of the impact force, and wherein the second connecting bridges (15) form elbow levers, each defining an elbow secured to one side of the at least one tube with the respective connecting bridges extending therefrom substantially along the one side, the connecting bridges having a length thereof from a respective elbow to the attachment with the holding element or stub, a substantial portion of the length having an entire periphery free from contact with the tube, the holding element and the stub, the substantial portion of the length having a substantially uniform transverse cross-section.

2. Windshield wiper device according to claim 1, characterized in that the connecting bridges (14, 15, 23, 24) can be subjected to tension and/or bending over their entire cross-section via the impact force (F) acting on the lever arm design.

3. Windshield wiper device according to claim 2, characterized by connecting bridges (14, 15, 23, 24) each of which has a different cross-section.

4. Windshield wiper device according to claim 3, characterized in that the connecting bridges (14, 15, 23, 24) feature predetermined breaking points.

5. Windshield wiper device according to claim 1, characterized by connecting bridges (14, 15, 23, 24) each of which has a different cross-section.

6. Windshield wiper device according to claim 1, characterized in that the connecting bridges (14, 15, 23, 24) feature predetermined breaking points.

7. Windshield wiper device according to claim 1, wherein the connecting bridges attach the molded tube to the holding element.

8. Windshield wiper device according to claim 1, wherein the connecting bridges attach the molded tube to the stub.

9. Windshield wiper device according to claim 1, wherein the connecting bridges attach the molded tube to both the holding element and the stub.

10. Windshield wiper device according to claim 1, characterized in that the connecting bridges (14, 15, 23, 24) feature predetermined breaking points.

11. Windshield wiper device according to claim 1, wherein each of the connecting bridges includes an elbow connected to the tube.

12. Windshield wiper device according to claim 11, wherein each of the connecting bridges includes generally linear portions extending from the elbow, one of the generally linear portions being connected to the holding element and the other of the generally linear portions being connected to the stub, and the generally linear portions defining an obtuse angle having a vertex defined by the elbow.

13. Windshield wiper device for a motor vehicle with at least one molded tube to accommodate a drive shaft to drive at least one wiper arm, wherein the at least one molded tube is attached to a holding element that is connectable to the body, characterized in that the holding element features a cross-section reduction in the area of the attachment of the at least one molded tube to the holding element, whereby the molded tube is connected by at least first and second connecting bridges to the holding element, whereby the first and second connecting bridges are formed so that the first connecting bridge tears first before the second connecting bridge tears, and wherein the second connecting bridges (15) form elbow levers, each defining an elbow secured to one side of the at least one tube with the respective connecting bridges extending therefrom substantially along the one side, the connecting bridges having a length thereof from a respective elbow to the attachment with the holding element or stub, a substantial portion of the length having an entire periphery free from contact with the tube, the holding element and the stub, the substantial portion of the length having a substantially uniform transverse cross-section.

14. Windshield wiper device according to claim 13, characterized in that the cross-section reduction is located in the area of a maximum bending moment or a maximum tensile stress.

15. Windshield wiper device according to claim 13, wherein each of the connecting bridges includes an elbow connected to the tube.

16. Windshield wiper device according to claim 15, wherein each of the connecting bridges includes generally linear portions extending from the elbow, one of the generally linear portions being connected to the holding element and the other of the generally linear portions being configured to be connected to the stub, and the generally linear portions defining an obtuse angle having a vertex defined by the elbow.

17. A windshield wiper device for a motor vehicle with at least one molded tube for receiving a drive shaft adapted to drive at least one wiper arm, the molded tube being attached to a holding element that is connectable to a body, and the molded tube being attached to a stub connectable to a mounting plate tube, the molded tube being attached to the holding element and to the stub by first and second connecting bridges formed so that in the event of an impact force the first connecting bridge tears first before the second connecting bridge tears, wherein the impact force is strengthened by a lever arm design of a connecting lever, and wherein the connecting bridges are formed as elbow levers, each defining an elbow secured to one side of the at least one tube with the respective connecting bridges extending therefrom substantially along the one side, the connecting bridges having a length thereof from a respective elbow to the attachment with the holding element or stub, a substantial portion of the length having an entire periphery free from contact with the tube, the holding element and the stub, the substantial portion of the length having a substantially uniform transverse cross-section.

18. A windshield wiper device according to claim 17, wherein each of the connecting bridges has a different cross-section.

19. A windshield wiper device according to claim 17, wherein the connecting bridges have predetermined breaking points.

20. Windshield wiper device according to claim 17, wherein each of the connecting bridges includes an elbow connected to the tube.

21. Windshield wiper device according to claim 20, wherein each of the connecting bridges includes generally linear portions extending from the elbow, one of the generally linear portions being connected to the holding element and the other of the generally linear portions being connected to the stub, and the generally linear portions defining an obtuse angle having a vertex defined by the elbow.