Wiper blade

• US 8,181,307 B2
• Filed: 12/03/2007
• Issued: 05/22/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Wilms, Christian, Lammens, Koen, Verelst, Hubert
• Primary Examiner(s): GRAHAM, GARY K
• Application Number:
  US12/447,956
• Publication Number:
  US 20100071148A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,632 Days
• Field of Search: 152/504.4, 152/504.3, 15250451-250454, 152/503.61, 152/502.01
• US Class Current: 15/250.43
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/38 Wiper blades provided with liquid spreading means B60S1/524; provided with gas spreading means B60S1/546
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/3806 Means, or measures taken, for influencing the aerodynamic quality of the wiper blades
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/3879 placed in side grooves in the squeegee
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/3891 with locking device
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/3894 having a particular shape
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 2001/3822 characterised by additional means to prevent longitudinal sliding of squeegee in support, e.g. clips

Abstract

The invention is based on a wiper blade (10) having a wiper strip (32) and a support element (30) at whose ends endcaps (12) are guided, said endcaps (12) at their end sides (28) facing the ends of the wiper blade (10) extending as far as a wiper lip (34) via the support element (30), wherein at least one endcap (12) has a lid (14) which is connected to the endcap (12) so as to be capable of pivoting about an articulation axis (18) transversely with respect to the wiper blade (10) and has a gudgeon (22) on its side facing the head strip (38), which gudgeon (22) penetrates the head strip (38) when the lid (14) is closed. It is proposed that the tip of the gudgeon (22) be secured by parts of the endcap (12) or of the lid (14) against contact both in the opened state of the lid (14) and in the closed state.

Claims

1. An elongated wiper blade (10) defining a longitudinal axis with a wiper strip (32) and a support element (30), at the ends of which end caps (12) are guided, said end caps, at their end sides (28) facing the ends of the wiper blade (10), extending over the support element (30) as far as a wiper lip (34), wherein at least one end cap (12) has a lid (14) which is connected to the end cap (12) for pivoting movement about an articulation axis (18) extending transversely with respect to the wiper blade (10) and has a gudgeon (22) on its side facing a head strip (38) of the wiper blade, which gudgeon penetrates the head strip (38) when the lid (14) is in a closed state, characterized in that a tip of the gudgeon (22) is protected by parts of at least one of the end cap (12) and the lid (14) against contact both in an opened state of the lid (14) and in the closed state, the end cap having an internal wall defining a surface extending generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, an opening being defined through the wall, at least the tip of the gudgeon extending through the surface to within the opening in the opened state, the end cap having skirts (44), in the closed state, the skirts laterally overlapping the gudgeon.

2. The wiper blade (10) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the skirts (44) run in the longitudinal direction and are integrally formed on the end cap (12) in a region of the gudgeon (22), said skirts running parallel to the head strip (38) when the wiper strip (32) is fitted.

3. The wiper blade (10) as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the skirts (44) are arranged on lower sides of guides (26), in which the support element (30) is guided, and run with little clearance with respect to the head strip (38).

4. The wiper blade (10) as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the skirts (44) extend into a region of lateral support strips (50) of the wiper strip (32).

5. The wiper blade (10) as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the gudgeon (22) is fitted in a cutout (24) on an inner side (20) of a top wall (48) of the lid (14).

6. The wiper blade (10) as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that a pivoting angle of the lid (14) is restricted in such a manner that, in the opened state of the lid (14), the tip of the gudgeon (22) is covered by parts of the end cap (12).

7. The wiper blade (10) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the skirts (44) extend into a region of lateral support strips (50) of the wiper strip (32).

8. The wiper blade (10) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the gudgeon (22) is fitted in a cutout (24) on an inner side (20) of a top wall (48) of the lid (14).

9. The wiper blade (10) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that a pivoting angle of the lid (14) is restricted in such a manner that, in the opened state of the lid (14), the tip of the gudgeon (22) is covered by parts of the end cap (12).

10. An end cap (12) for use with an elongated wiper blade (10) defining a longitudinal axis with a wiper strip (32) and a support element (30), at an end of which the end cap (12) is guided, when supported on the support element (30), said end cap, at its end side (28) facing the end of the wiper blade (10), extending over the support element (30) as far as a wiper lip (34), and having a lower wall extending generally parallel to the longitudinal axis, said end cap having a lid (14) which is connected to the end cap (12) so as to be capable of pivoting about an articulation axis (18) transversely with respect to the wiper blade (10) and has a gudgeon (22) on its side facing a head strip (38) of the wiper blade, which gudgeon penetrates the head strip (38) when the lid (14) is in a closed state, characterized in that a tip of the gudgeon (22) is protected by parts of at least one of the end cap (12) and the lid (14) against contact both in an opened state of the lid (14) and in the closed state, the end cap having an internal wall defining a surface extending generally perpendicular to the lower wall, an opening being defined through the wall, at least the tip of the gudgeon extending through the surface to within the opening in the opened state, the end cap having skirts (44), in the closed state, the skirts laterally overlapping the gudgeon.

11. An end cap (12) as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that the skirts (44) run in a longitudinal direction and are integrally formed on the end cap (12) in a region of the gudgeon (22), said skirts running parallel to the head strip (38) when the wiper strip (32) is fitted.

12. An end cap (12) as claimed in claim 11, characterized in that the skirts (44) are arranged on lower sides of guides (26), in which the support element (30) is guided, and run with little clearance with respect to the head strip (38).

13. An end cap (12) as claimed in claim 12, characterized in that the skirts (44) extend into a region of lateral support strips (50) of the wiper strip (32).

14. An end cap (12) as claimed in claim 13, characterized in that the gudgeon (22) is fitted in a cutout (24) on an inner side (20) of a top wall (48) of the lid (14).

15. An end cap (12) as claimed in claim 14, characterized in that a pivoting angle of the lid (14) is restricted in such a manner that, in the opened state of the lid (14), the tip of the gudgeon (22) is covered by parts of the end cap (12).

16. An end cap (12) as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that the skirts (44) extend into a region of lateral support strips (50) of the wiper strip (32).

17. An end cap (12) as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that the gudgeon (22) is fitted in a cutout (24) on an inner side (20) of a top wall (48) of the lid (14).

18. An end cap (12) as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that a pivoting angle of the lid (14) is restricted in such a manner that, in the opened state of the lid (14), the tip of the gudgeon (22) is covered by parts of the end cap (12).