Windshield wiper device

• US 8,104,134 B2
• Filed: 06/12/2006
• Issued: 01/31/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Ritt, Jean-Marc
• Primary Examiner(s): GRAHAM, GARY K
• Application Number:
  US11/909,268
• Publication Number:
  US 20080209659A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,059 Days
• Field of Search: 152/503, 152/503.1, 403/74, 403/110, 403/234, 403/235, 403/256, 403/338, 403/322.4, 248/229.16, 248/229.26, 248/229.11, 248/229.14, 244/89, 244/94, 244/98, 296/96.15, 296/96.17
• US Class Current: 15/250.31
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0433 Attachement of a wiper modular 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: Y10T 24/44291 including pivoted gripping member
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/44333 having toggle operator for moving
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/44368 Pivoted gripping member applies camming force
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/595 Lever

Abstract

The invention relates to a windshield wiper device, in particular for a motor vehicle, comprising a fastening device (10) for fastening the windshield wiper device to the motor vehicle. Until now windshield wiper devices were mainly fastened to the vehicle body by means of screwed connections and plugging locations. The objective of the invention is reducing the assembly effort for fastening the windshield wiper device to the vehicle body. As a result, the inventive windshield wiper device can be clamped firmly to a vehicle body panel (13) by the fastening device (10).

Claims

1. Windshield wiper device, comprising a fastening device (10) for fastening the windshield wiper device to a motor vehicle, characterized in that the fastening device (10) includes a resilient clamping element (12) having resiliently-coupled guide surfaces (30, 40) engageable with opposite surfaces of a vehicle body panel (13) and a snap lever (14) pivotable about an axis (17) generally parallel to the guide surfaces (30, 40) between an opened state and a closed state, the lever (14) being arranged on the clamping element (12) to move the guide surface (30, 40) closer together during movement from the opened state toward the closed state so that the windshield wiper device is clamped firmly to the vehicle body panel (13) by the fastening device (10).

2. Windshield wiper device according to claim 1, characterized in that the snap lever (14) is positioned eccentrically and pivotably in the axis (17) situated in a bracket (32).

3. Windshield wiper device according to claim 2, characterized in that the bracket (32) has an undulated region (33).

4. Windshield wiper device according to claim 2, characterized in that the snap lever (14) has an elongated form and is locked in the closed state by a movement transverse to its longitudinal axis.

5. Windshield wiper device according to claim 2, characterized in that the snap lever (14) has support surfaces (61, 62) in order to lock the snap lever in at least one of the closed position and an assembly position.

6. Windshield wiper device according to claim 2, characterized in that the snap lever (14) is provided with a hook (60) engageable in a recess (42) in the clamping element (12).

7. Windshield wiper device according to claim 1, characterized in that the fastening device (10) has at least one of a rubber buffer (15) and a spacer sleeve (16).

8. Windshield wiper device according to claim 7, characterized in that the spacer sleeve (16) has an inner hole (70), which extends tubularly towards the vehicle body panel (13).

9. Windshield wiper device according to claim 1, characterized in that the clamping element (12) has at least one spring leg (41) engageable in a recess (50) in the body panel (13) of the motor vehicle.

10. Windshield wiper device according to claim 1, characterized in that the guide surfaces (30, 40) are roughed up on their respective facing sides.

11. Windshield wiper device according to claim 1, characterized in that the snap lever (14) is manufactured of one of an unreinforced plastic, a fiber reinforced plastic, and a metal diecast.

12. Windshield wiper device according to claim 1, characterized in that the fastening device (10) is arranged on a molded tube (11).

13. Windshield wiper device according to claim 1, wherein the snap lever (14) is made of plastic.

14. Windshield wiper device according to claim 1, characterized in that the snap lever (14) has an elongated form and can be locked by a movement of between 40°

and 100°

transverse to its longitudinal axis.

15. Windshield wiper device according to claim 1, characterized in that the snap lever (14) has an elongated form and can be locked by a movement of between 45°

and 95°

transverse to its longitudinal axis.

16. Windshield wiper device according to claim 1, characterized in that the snap lever (14) is positioned on a side of one guide surface (30) opposite the other guide surface (40), in that a support element (34) is positioned on a side of the other guide surface (40) opposite the one guide surface (30) and opposite the snap lever (14), and in that the snap lever (14) is connected to the support element (34) to cause the support element (34) to move the other guide surface (40) toward the one guide surface (30) during movement from the opened state toward the closed state.

17. Windshield wiper device according to claim 16, characterized in that a bracket (32) is connected between the snap lever (14) and the support element (34).

18. Windshield wiper device according to claim 17, characterized in that the bracket (32) defines the axis (17).

19. Windshield wiper device, comprising a fastening device (10) for fastening the windshield wiper device to a motor vehicle, characterized in that the fastening device (10) includes a resilient clamping element (12) having guide surfaces (30, 40) engageable with opposite surfaces of a vehicle body panel (13) and an actuator movable between an opened state and a closed state, the actuator being arranged on the clamping element (12) to move the guide surfaces (30, 40) closer together during movement from the opened state toward the closed state so that the windshield wiper device is clamped firmly to the vehicle body panel (13) by the fastening device (10), the actuator being positioned on a side of one guide surface (30) opposite the other guide surface (40), in that a support element (34) is positioned on a side of the other guide surface (40) opposite the one guide surface (30) and opposite the actuator, and in that the actuator is connected to the support element (34) to cause the support element (34) to move the other guide surface (40) toward the one guide surface (30) during movement from the opened state toward the closed state.

20. Windshield wiper device according to claim 19, characterized in that the actuator includes a snap lever (14) pivotable about an axis (17) between the opened state and the closed state.

21. Windshield wiper device according to claim 20, characterized in that a bracket (32) is connected between the snap lever (14) and the support element (34).

22. Windshield wiper device according to claim 21, characterized in that the bracket (32) defines the axis (17).

23. Windshield wiper device according to claim 19, characterized in that a bracket (32) is connected between the actuator and the support element (34).