Wiper blade latching device

• US 7,966,689 B2
• Filed: 10/03/2007
• Issued: 06/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Rovaart, Robert-Jan, Ritt, Jean-Marc
• Primary Examiner(s): Graham; Gary K
• Application Number:
  US11/866,527
• Publication Number:
  US 20080083082A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,364 Days
• Field of Search: 152/503.2, 152/503.51, 152/504.6, 152/504.4, 152/504.3, 403/154, 403/157, 403/161
• US Class Current: 15/250.32
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/40 Connections between blades and arms
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/4064 the channel-shaped end being provided with protrusions on, or holes in, the side walls to create a pivot
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32893 including distinct pin retainer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32918 fork and tongue
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32951 Transverse pin or stud

Abstract

The invention relates to a wiper blade latching device, for coupling a wiper blade (10) to a wiper arm (12), having at least one wiper unit (14) which has at least one latching means (16, 18), which can be deflected counter to a tensioning force, and at least one guide means (20, 22). It is proposed that the latching means (16, 18) is at least partially decoupled from the guide means (20, 22).

Claims

1. Wiper blade latching device, for coupling a wiper blade (10) to a wiper arm (12), the device having at least one wiper unit (14) which has latching means (16, 18), which can be deflected counter to a tensioning force, the latching means (16, 18) engaging and latching to a fastening means (36), and guide means (20, 22) guiding along the fastening means (36), the guide means and the latching means cooperating to define a recess (28) for receiving the fastening means (36), the recess (28) defined by opposite walls tapering from the guide means (20, 22) into and substantially aligned with respective, opposite walls tapering into the latching means (16, 18), characterized in that the latching means (16, 18) is at least partially decoupled from the guide means (20, 22) by a pair of slots extending from the recess (28) between respective opposite walls of the guide means (20, 22) and the latching means (16, 18).

2. Wiper blade latching device according to claim 1, characterized in that the guide means (20, 22) is arranged in front of the latching means (16, 18) in an insertion direction (30) of the fastening means (36) which, during the assembly of the wiper blade (10), corresponds with the latching means (16, 18).

3. Wiper blade latching device according to claim 1, characterized in that the recess (28) forms an insertion region.

4. Wiper blade latching device according to claim 3, characterized in that the recess (28) which forms the insertion region is formed so as to taper in an insertion direction (30) of the fastening means (36) which, during the assembly of the wiper blade (10), corresponds with the latching means (16, 18).

5. Wiper blade latching device according to claim 1, characterized in that at least the latching means (16, 18) is formed at least partially from plastic.

6. Wiper blade latching device according to claim 1, characterized in that the latching means (16, 18) and the guide means (20, 22) are formed in one piece.

7. Wiper blade latching device according to claim 1, characterized in that the wiper unit (14) forms a part of the wiper arm (12).

8. Wiper blade latching device according to claim 1, characterized in that each slot has an open end between the associated latching means (16, 18) and guide means (20, 22) and a closed end, the slot having a substantially constant width from the open end to the closed end.

9. Wiper blade latching device according to claim 8, characterized in that each slot has a length from the open end to the closed end, and in that the length is at least three times greater than the width of the slot.

10. Wiper blade latching device according to claim 1, characterized in that each slot forms a free movement space of the associated latching means (16, 18).

11. Wiper blade latching device according to claim 1, characterized in that each slot has a first slot portion generally parallel to an insertion direction into the recess (28) and a second slot portion communicating between the recess (28) and the first slot portion, the second slot portion being angled with respect to the insertion direction and with respect to the first slot portion.

12. Wiper arm having a wiper blade latching device, for coupling a wiper blade (10) to the wiper arm, the device having at least one wiper unit (14) which has latching means (16, 18), which can be deflected counter to a tensioning force, the latching means (16, 18) engaging and latching to a fastening means (36), and guide means (20, 22) guiding along the fastening means (36), the guide means and the latching means cooperating to define a recess (28) for receiving the fastening means (36), the recess (28) defined by opposite walls tapering from the guide means (20, 22) into and substantially aligned with respective, opposite walls tapering into the latching means (16, 18), characterized in that the latching means (16, 18) is at least partially decoupled from the guide means (20, 22) by a pair of slots extending from the recess (28) between respective opposite walls of the guide means (20, 22) and the latching means (16, 18).

13. Wiper arm according to claim 12, characterized in that the guide means (20, 22) is arranged in front of the latching means (16, 18) in an insertion direction (30) of the fastening means (36) which, during the assembly of the wiper blade (10), corresponds with the latching means (16, 18).

14. Wiper arm according to claim 12, characterized in that the recess (28) forms an insertion region.

15. Wiper arm according to claim 12, characterized in that each slot has an open end between the associated latching means (16, 18) and guide means (20, 22) and a closed end, the slot having a substantially constant width from the open end to the closed end.

16. Wiper arm according to claim 15, characterized in that each slot has a length from the open end to the closed end, and in that the length is at least three times greater than the width of the slot.

17. Wiper arm according to claim 12, characterized in that each slot forms a free movement space of the associated latching means (16, 18).

18. Wiper arm according to claim 12, characterized in that each slot has a first slot portion generally parallel to an insertion direction into the recess (28) and a second slot portion communicating between the recess (28) and the first slot portion, the second slot portion being angled with respect to the insertion direction and with respect to the first slot portion.