Device for the pivoting connection of a wiper blade to a wiper arm of a windscreen wiper

• US 8,186,002 B2
• Filed: 12/12/2005
• Issued: 05/29/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Kinnaert, Erik, Beelen, Hans
• Primary Examiner(s): GRAHAM, GARY K
• Application Number:
  US11/815,492
• Publication Number:
  US 20080134455A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,360 Days
• Field of Search: 152/503.2, 152/503.51, 152/503.1, 152/504.3, 152/504.4, 152/502.01
• US Class Current: 15/250.201
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0408 Means for influencing the aerodynamic quality of wipers, e.g. clip-on wind deflectors B60S1/32 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/3856 Gripping the blade
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/3863 Connectors having a spoiler
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/3867 pin formed on the interior of side walls
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/40 Connections between blades and arms
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/4048 the element being provided with retention means co-operating with the channel-shaped end of the arm
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 2001/4054 the intermediate element engaging the back part of the arm
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 2001/4058 comprising a separate locking element, e.g. in addition to an intermediate element

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (10) for the pivoting connection of a wiper blade (14) to a wiper arm (12) of a windscreen wiper, comprising a connector element (52, 84, 100) fixed to the wiper arm (12) and a connector element (24) fixed to a support element (20) on the wiper blade (14), which supports a bearing element (32), forming a pivoting bearing with a bearing element (34) on an adapter (38, 80) made from plastic. The adaptor (38, 80) is fixed in the profile of the connector element (52, 84, 100) open in the direction of the connector element (24) by clip elements (40, 78, 82) and retainer elements (62, 64, 86, 90, 104). According to the invention, the connector element (52, 84, 100) is an essentially rectangular hollow body, open on the side facing the connector element (24), with a fixing element (60) molded on a longitudinal side thereof which covers the longitudinal side and is fixed to the end of the wiper arm (12) and at least the front walls (54, 56) and a cover wall (58) of the connector element (52, 84, 100) are essentially sealed.

Claims

1. Device (10) for pivoting connection of a wiper blade (14) to a wiper arm (12) of a windshield wiper, comprising a connecting element (52, 84, 100) fixed to the wiper arm (12) and a connecting piece (24) fixed to a support element (20) on the wiper blade (14), which supports a bearing element (32), forming a pivoting bearing with a bearing element (34) on an adapter (38, 80) made of plastic, whereby the adapter (38, 80) is fixed in the profile of the connecting element (52, 84, 100), that is open in a direction of the connecting piece (24), by clip elements (40, 78, 82) and retainer elements (62, 64, 86, 90, 104), characterized in that the connecting element (52, 84, 100) is an essentially rectangular hollow body, open on the side facing the connecting piece (24) with a fixing element (60) molded on a longitudinal side thereof, which covers the longitudinal side and is fixed to the end of the wiper arm (12) and substantially open on an opposite longitudinal side except for a presence of the retainer elements, and that at least front walls (54, 56) and a cover wall (58) of the connecting element (52, 84, 100) are essentially sealed.

2. Device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the adapter (38, 80) has a rectangular outer contour and surrounds the connecting piece (24) from the outside, whereby the adapter (38, 80) is inserted in the connecting element (52, 84, 100) from a side of the wiper blade (14) and on a longitudinal side has at least one clip element (40) with a clip nose (42), which engages on a retainer element (62) on the open longitudinal side of the connecting element (52, 84, 100), while on the covered longitudinal side a retainer bracket (64) secures the adapter (38, 80) in a direction of the wiper blade (14).

3. Device (10) according to claim 2, characterized in that two clip elements (40) cooperate with two retainer elements in the form of two lateral brackets (62), which are arranged on the front walls (54, 56) of the connecting element (52).

4. Device (10) according to claim 3, characterized in that a lateral bracket (62) projects from each front wall (54, 56) along the open longitudinal side.

5. Device (10) according to claim 4, characterized in that the adapter (38) has an upper surface facing toward the cover wall (58), the clip element (40) has a free end projecting toward the upper surface, a groove extending from the upper surface and behind the clip element (40).

6. Device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that a spoiler element (70, 110) extending in a longitudinal direction of the wiper blade (14) is provided on the cover wall (58) of the connecting element (52, 84 100).

7. Device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the adapter (80) has a button (82) on one front side, which engages in a button opening (86) in a front wall (54, 56) of the connecting element (84), while the adapter (40) is held on the opposing front side (54, 56) by a retainer bracket (90) of the connecting element (84).

8. Device (10) for pivoting connection of a wiper blade (14) to a wiper arm (12) of a windshield wiper, comprising a connecting element (52, 84, 100) fixed to the wiper arm (12) and a connecting piece (24) fixed to a support element (20) on the wiper blade (14), which supports a bearing element (32), forming a pivoting bearing with a bearing element (34) on an adapter (38, 80) made of plastic, whereby the adapter (38, 80) is fixed in the profile of the connecting element (52, 84, 100) that is open in a direction of the connecting piece (24) by clip elements (40, 78, 82) and retainer elements (62, 64, 86, 90, 104), characterized in that the connecting element (52, 84, 100) is an essentially rectangular hollow body, open on the side facing the connecting piece (24) with a fixing element (60) molded on a longitudinal side thereof, which covers the longitudinal side and is fixed to the end of the wiper arm (12), that at least front walls (54, 56) and a cover wall (58) of the connecting element (52, 84, 100) are essentially sealed, and

that the connecting piece (24) has a lateral cheek (30) on each of its longitudinal sides starting from a base piece (26), and said cheeks are pointed towards the adapter (38, 80) and are connected to one another by a bearing bush (32) in which a bearing pin (34) is rotatably mounted.

9. Device (10) according to claim 8, characterized in that the bearing pin (34) is connected on its ends in a rotationally secured manner to lateral walls (50) of the adapter (38, 80).

10. Device (10) according to claim 9, characterized in that the bearing pin (34) has form closure elements (36) on its ends, which engage and/or are pressed in openings (46) on the lateral walls (50) of the adapter (38).

11. Device (10) for pivoting connection of a wiper blade (14) to a wiper arm (12) of a windshield wiper, comprising a connecting element (52, 84, 100) fixed to the wiper arm (12) and a connecting piece (24) fixed to a support element (20) on the wiper blade (14), which supports a bearing element (32), forming a pivoting bearing with a bearing element (34) on an adapter (38, 80) made of plastic, whereby the adapter (38, 80) is fixed in the profile of the connecting element (52, 84, 100) that is open in a direction of the connecting piece (24) by clip elements (40, 78, 82) and retainer elements (62, 64, 86, 90, 104), characterized in that the connecting element (52, 84, 100) is an essentially rectangular hollow body, open on the side facing the connecting piece (24) with a fixing element (60) molded on a longitudinal side thereof, which covers the longitudinal side and is fixed to the end of the wiper arm (12), that at least front walls (54, 56) and a cover wall (58) of the connecting element (52, 84, 100) are essentially sealed, and

that the device (10) has a protective cap (68, 102), which is connected to the adapter (38, 80) or to the connecting element (52, 84, 100) via a lateral wall (72), covers an associated longitudinal side of the connecting element (52, 84, 100) and extends at least partially over the cover wall (58) of the connecting element (52, 84, 100).

12. Device (10) according to claim 11, characterized in that the protective cap (68) has inwardly pointing stop pins (74) on its lateral wall (72) that engage in snap-in holes (48) of the adapter (38).

13. Device (10) according to claim 11, characterized in that the retainer elements include lateral brackets (62), and in that the protective cap (68) is clipped on the lateral brackets (62) of the connecting element (52).

14. Device (10) according to claim 11, characterized in that the retainer elements include lateral brackets (62), and in that the protective cap (102) is pivotably connected to the lateral brackets (104) of the connecting element (100) via an articulation (106) and engages with the connecting element (100) via clipping means (112) on the cover wall (58).

15. Device (10) according to claim 11, characterized in that the lateral wall (72) of the protective cap (68) is connected to the adapter via an articulation (106) on one longitudinal side of the adapter (38, 80) and engages with the connecting element (100) via clipping means (112) on the cover wall (58).

16. Device (10) according to claim 11, characterized in that a spoiler element (70, 110) is molded on the protective cap (68, 102).

17. Wiper blade (14) with a connecting piece (24) for use in a device (10) for pivoting connection of the wiper blade (14) to a wiper arm (12) of a windshield wiper, with a connecting element (52, 84, 100) fixed to the wiper arm (12), the connecting piece (24) fixed to a support element (20) on the wiper blade (14), which supports a bearing element (32), forming a pivoting bearing with a bearing element (34) on an adapter (38, 80) made of plastic, whereby the adapter (38, 80) is fixed in the profile of the connecting element (52, 84, 100) that is open in a direction of the connecting piece (24) by clip elements (40, 78, 82) and retainer elements (62, 64, 86, 90, 104), characterized in that the connecting element (52, 84, 100) is an essentially rectangular hollow body, open on the side facing the connecting piece (24) with a fixing element (60) molded on a longitudinal side thereof, which covers the longitudinal side and is fixed to the end of the wiper arm (12) and substantially open on an opposite longitudinal side except for a presence of the retainer elements, and that at least front walls (54, 56) and a cover wall (58) of the connecting element (52, 84, 100) are essentially sealed.

18. Wiper arm (12) with a connecting element (52, 84, 100) for use in a device (10) for pivoting connection of a wiper blade (14) to the wiper arm (12) of a windshield wiper, the connecting element (52, 84, 100) fixed to the wiper arm (12) and a connecting piece (24) fixed to a support element (20) on the wiper blade (14), which supports a bearing element (32), forming a pivoting bearing with a bearing element (34) on an adapter (38, 80) made of plastic, whereby the adapter (38, 80) is fixed in the profile of the connecting element (52, 84, 100) that is open in a direction of the connecting piece (24) by clip elements (40, 78, 82) and retainer elements (62, 64, 86, 90, 104), characterized in that the connecting element (52, 84, 100) is an essentially rectangular hollow body, open on the side facing the connecting piece (24) with a fixing element (60) molded on a longitudinal side thereof, which covers the longitudinal side and is fixed to the end of the wiper arm (12) and substantially open on an opposite longitudinal side except for a presence of the retainer elements, and that at least front walls (54, 56) and a cover wall (58) of the connecting element (52, 84, 100) are essentially sealed.

19. Adapter (38, 80) with clipping means (40, 78, 82) and openings (46) in its longitudinal walls for use in a device (10) for pivoting connection of a wiper blade (14) to a wiper arm (12) of a windshield wiper, comprising a connecting element (52, 84, 100) fixed to the wiper arm (12) and a connecting piece (24) fixed to a support element (20) on the wiper blade (14), which supports a bearing element (32), forming a pivoting bearing with a bearing element (34) on the adapter (38, 80), the adapter made of plastic, whereby the adapter (38, 80) is fixed in the profile of the connecting element (52, 84, 100) that is open in a direction of the connecting piece (24) by clip elements (40, 78, 82) and retainer elements (62, 64, 86, 90, 104), characterized in that the connecting element (52, 84, 100) is an essentially rectangular hollow body, open on the side facing the connecting piece (24) with a fixing element (60) molded on a longitudinal side thereof, which covers the longitudinal side and is fixed to the end of the wiper arm (12) and substantially open on an opposite longitudinal side except for a presence of the retainer elements, and that at least front walls (54, 56) and a cover wall (58) of the connecting element (52, 84, 100) are essentially sealed.