Connection apparatus for a wiping arm

• US 8,196,255 B2
• Filed: 11/17/2006
• Issued: 06/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: De Block, Peter, Windmolders, Eric, Vangeel, Tom, Beelen, Hans
• Primary Examiner(s): Graham, Gary
• Assistant Examiner(s): JENNINGS, MICHAEL DEANGILO
• Application Number:
  US12/097,601
• Publication Number:
  US 20080263810A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,034 Days
• Field of Search: 15/32, 15/351, 15/43, 15/44, 152/01, 152/503.2, 152/503.51, 152/504.3, 152/504.4, 152/502.01, 152/503.61
• US Class Current: 15/250.32
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/3863 Connectors having a spoiler
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/407 with means provided on the arm for locking the side pin

Abstract

The invention relates to a connection apparatus (10) for a wiper arm (14) and a wiper blade (12). The connection apparatus comprises a first and a second connection part. According to the invention, provision is made for the first connection part to have a first identification means and for the second connection part to have a second identification means which corresponds to the first identification means. The invention also comprises a system with two flat-bar wiper blades, with at least one first identification means being provided on at least one flat-bar wiper blade in order to distinguish between the two wiper blades.

Claims

1. In a system comprising two wiper arms, each wiper arm connected to a respective wiper blade by a respective connection device, each connection device comprising a first connection part (16) on a wiper blade side and a second connection part (18) on a wiper arm side, which connection parts are arranged adjacent to one another in the operating position, are pivotably connected via a hinge element about a hinge axis, and at least partially engage in one another by a securing means (32), each first connection part (16) having a receiver (38) for receiving the respective securing means (32), characterized in that the receiver (38) of one wiper blade has a first identification means (101) and the securing means (32) of one wiper arm has a second identification means (102) corresponding to the first identification means (101) in order for mounting the one wiper blade on the one wiper arm, and in that the other wiper blade has a different first identification means, the second identification means (102) on the one wiper arm not corresponding to the different first identification means of the other wiper blade to prevent mounting of the other wiper blade on the one wiper arm.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the first identification means (101) of the one wiper blade is of complementary shape to the second identification means (102), and in that the different first identification means of the other wiper blade does not have a complementary shape to the second identification means (102).

3. The system as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the securing means (32) comprises a bridge (34) with a limit stop (36), in that the securing means (32) overlaps at least partially the first connection part (16) by means of the bridge (34), and in that the limit stop (36) is arranged such that in the operating position the first connection part (16) and the second connection part (18) are blocked relative to an axial displacement on the hinge axis.

4. The system as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the first connection part (16) is at least one of releasable from and connectable to the second connection part (18) by at least one rotation of at least one of the connection parts (16, 18) about the hinge axis by at least one releasing angle of approximately 25 degrees.

5. The system as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the limit stop (36) is configured as the second identification means (102) and a recess (40) for receiving at least one of the limit stop (36) and the upper face (70) of the first connection part (16) as the first identification means (101).

6. The system as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the first connection part (16) is at least one of releasable from connectable to the second connection part (18) by at least one rotation of at least one of the connection parts (16, 18) about the hinge axis by at least one releasing angle of between 5 and 50 degrees.

7. The system as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the first connection part (16) is at least one of releasable from connectable to the second connection part (18) by at least one rotation of at least one of the connection parts (16, 18) about the hinge axis by at least one releasing angle of between 20 and 40 degrees.

8. The system as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the first connection part (16) is at least one of releasable from connectable to be connected to the second connection part (18) by at least one rotation of at least one of the connection parts (16, 18) about the hinge axis by at least one releasing angle of between 20 and 30 degrees.

9. The system as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the first identification means (101) of the one wiper is configured as an opening and the second identification means (102) is configured as a pin which engage one another in the operating position.

10. The system as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the identification means (101, 102) are arranged eccentrically along a longitudinal extension of the securing means (32).

11. The system as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the first identification means of the other wiper blade corresponds to a second identification means of the other wiper arm of the vehicle, the second identification means of the other wiper arm being different that the second identification means of the one wiper arm.

12. The system as claimed in claim 11, characterized in that the first identification means of the one wiper blade does not correspond to the second identification means of the other wiper arm.

13. A system for a vehicle comprising two flat-bar wiper blades comprising one first connection part (16) for fastening one flat-bar wiper blade (12) to one wiper arm (14) and another first connection part (16) for fastening another flat-bar wiper blade (12) to another wiper arm (14), each first connection part (16) comprising a counter hinge element (42), so that each flat-bar wiper blade (12) is pivotably connected about a hinge axis to the corresponding wiper arm (14), and each first connection part (16) comprising one receiver (38) for receiving a securing means (32) of a second connection part (18) of the corresponding wiper arm (14), characterized in that on each receiver (38), at least one first identification means (101) is provided for differentiating the two wiper blades (12), in that the first identification means of the one wiper blade corresponds to a second identification means of the one wiper arm in order for mounting the one arm on the one wiper blade, and in that the first identification means of the one wiper blade does not correspond to the second identification means of the other wiper arm to prevent mounting of the other wiper arm on the one wiper blade.

14. The system as claimed in claim 13, characterized in that the first identification means (101) is configured as a pin or opening.

15. The system as claimed in claim 13, characterized in that at least one of a pin and an opening is arranged on each flat wiper blade as first identification means (101), and in that at least one of the pins and the openings are at least one of differently formed, positioned and present in different numbers to differentiate the two wiper blades (12).

16. The system as claimed in claim 13, characterized in that the first identification means (101) are configured as recesses (40) for receiving respectively at least one limit stop (36) of the securing means (32), the recesses (40) of the two flat-bar wiper blades (12) being at least one of differently formed and positioned.

17. The system as claimed in claim 13, characterized in that the first identification means (101) is configured as an identification logo (78) preferably arranged on the base (60) of the receiver (38).

18. The system as claimed in claim 13, characterized in that the first identification means of the other wiper blade corresponds to a second identification means of the other wiper arm, the second identification means of the other wiper arm being different that the second identification means of the one wiper arm.

19. The system as claimed in claim 18, characterized in that the first identification means of the other wiper blade does not correspond to the second identification means of the one wiper arm.

20. The system as claimed in claim 13, characterized in that the one wiper blade is a driver side wiper blade and the one wiper arm is a driver side wiper arm, and in that the other wiper blade is a passenger side wiper blade and the other wiper arm is a passenger side wiper arm.