Connecting device for a wiper arm

• US 8,370,986 B2
• Filed: 09/29/2006
• Issued: 02/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Wilms, Christian
• Primary Examiner(s): GRAHAM, GARY K
• Application Number:
  US12/090,913
• Publication Number:
  US 20120000028A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,328 Days
• Field of Search: 152/503.2, 152/503.51, 152/502.01, 152/503.61, 152/504.3
• US Class Current: 15/250.201
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/381 Spoilers mounted on the squeegee or on the vertebra
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/3863 Connectors having a spoiler
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/3879 placed in side grooves in the squeegee
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/4067 for arms provided with a side pin
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/407 with means provided on the arm for locking the side pin

Abstract

The invention relates to a connecting device (10) for a wiper arm (14) and a wiper blade (12). Said wiper blade comprises a first connecting part (16) on the wiper blade end and a second connecting part (18) on the wiper arm end, both parts being juxtaposed in the operational position and being connected to each other via a hinge element (44) so that they can be swiveled about a hinge axis. Securing means (32) are provided so that the first and second connecting part (16, 18) engage with each other. The invention is characterized in that the first connecting part (16) has a recess (38) for accommodating the securing means (32) in which a longitudinal, shaped portion (66) is provided which is parallel to the hinge axis. The invention also relates to a flat bar wiper blade (12) which comprises a first connecting part (16) for fastening the flat bar wiper blade (12) to a wiper arm (14). The connecting part (16) comprises a counter-hinge element (42) so that the flat bar wiper blade (12) can be connected to the wiper arm (14) so that it can be swiveled about a hinge axis. Said flat bar wiper blade is characterized in that a recess (38) for accommodating a securing means (32) is provided in which a longitudinal, shaped portion (66) is provided which is parallel to the hinge axis.

Claims

1. Connecting device (10) for a wiper arm (14) and a wiper blade (12), with a first connecting part (16) on the wiper blade and a second connecting part (18) on the wiper arm, which parts are juxtaposed in an operational position and are connected to each other via a hinge element (44) including a bolt (26) and a counter-hinge hole (42) so that the first and second connecting parts (16, 18) can be swiveled around a hinge axis and partially engage with one another at least via securing means (32) including a bridge (34) and a limit (36), characterized in that the first connecting part (16) has a receptacle (38) for accommodating the securing means (32), the receptacle (38) having a base (60) and a longitudinal shaped portion (66) that extend parallel to the hinge axis and to each other, characterized in that the first connecting part (16) is one of detachable from and connectable to the second connecting part (18) by rotation of at least one of the connecting parts (16, 18) around the hinge element (44) by at least a detachment angle (50), characterized in that the limit (36) has a shoulder (56) and the longitudinal shaped portion (66) is a groove, characterized in that the groove is dimensioned to accommodate the shoulder (56) when one of detaching and connecting the connecting parts (16, 18), characterized in that the bridge (34) substantially covers and is positioned above the base (60) and the groove when the first connecting part (16) is connected to the second connecting part (18), and characterized in that the base (60) is positioned a first distance from the bridge (34) extending in a direction parallel to the limit (36) and the groove is positioned a second distance from the bridge (34) extending in a direction parallel to the limit (36) when the first and second connecting parts (16, 18) are in the operational position, the second distance being greater than the first distance.

2. Connecting device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the bridge (34) at least partially overlaps the first connecting part (16) and the limit (36) is arranged such that, in the operational position, the first connecting part (16) and the second connecting part (18) are locked against axial displacement on the hinge axis.

3. Connecting device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the shoulder (56) abuts the longitudinal shaped portion (66) at the detachment angle (50), which is between 15 and 50 degrees.

4. Connecting device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the limit stop (36) prevents rotation beyond the detachment angle (50).

5. Connecting device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the receptacle (38) is embodied to be groove-shaped, having two side walls (62, 64) and a base (60).

6. Connecting device (10) according to claim 5, characterized in that the longitudinal shaped portion (66) is arranged on the base (60).

7. Connecting device (10) according to claim 6, characterized in that the shaped portion (66) is arranged on the base (60) in the area of one of the side walls (62, 64).

8. Connecting device (10) according to claim 5, characterized in that the base (60) is essentially flat.

9. Connecting device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the first connecting part (16) has a spoiler wall (46), which forms an entire height of the first connecting part (16) and terminates one spoiler side, characterized in that the wiper blade (12) has a spoiler (24), and characterized in that the spoiler wall (46) and the spoiler (24) are oriented at an acute angle with respect to the bolt (26) to urge the connecting device (10) and the wiper blade (12) against a windshield of a vehicle in response to wind flowing past the vehicle while the vehicle is in motion.

10. Connecting device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the securing means (32) terminates essentially flush with the first connecting part (16).

11. Connecting device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the shoulder (56) determines the detachment angle (50), which is between 20 and 40 degrees.

12. Connecting device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the shoulder (56) determines the detachment angle (50), which is between 20 and 30 degrees.

13. Connecting device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the shoulder (56) determines the detachment angle (50), which is approximately 25 degrees.

14. Connecting device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the limit (36) is formed by an edge (68) or surface of the receptacle (38).

15. Connecting device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the receptacle (36) includes a pocket (40) that receives the limit (36) and substantially surrounds the limit (36) when the first connecting part (16) is connected to the second connecting part (18).

16. Connecting device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the groove extends along substantially an entire longitudinal width of the first connecting part (16) and connects to the pocket (40).

17. Connecting device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the limit (36) slides through the groove to one of detach and connect the first connecting part (16) and the second connecting part (18), and characterized in that the groove is at least partially aligned with the counter-hinge hole (42) in an elongate direction of the wiper blade (12).

18. Flat bar wiper blade (12), with a first connecting part (16) for fastening the flat bar wiper blade (12) to a wiper arm (14), which is comprised of a counter-hinge element (42) so that the flat bar wiper blade (12) can be connected to the wiper arm (14) so that it can be swiveled around a hinge axis, characterized in that a groove-shaped receptacle (38) for accommodating a securing means (32) of a second connecting part (18) is provided, the receptacle (38) having a base (60) and a longitudinal shaped portion (66) that extend parallel to the hinge axis and to each other, characterized in that the longitudinal shaped portion (66) is a groove extending parallel to the hinge axis to permit the securing means (32) to slide therethrough in a direction parallel to the hinge axis upon one of connecting and disconnecting the first connecting part (16) to a second connecting part, characterized in that the longitudinal shaped portion (66) is at least partially aligned with the counter-hinge element (42) in an elongate direction of the flat bar wiper blade (12), and characterized in that the base (60) is positioned a first distance from the securing means (32) extending in a direction perpendicular to a plane extending in the elongate direction of the flat bar wiper blade and in which the hinge axis lies and the groove is positioned a second distance from the securing means (32) extending in a direction perpendicular to the plane when the first and second connecting parts (16, 18) are in the operational position, the second distance being greater than the first distance.

19. Flat bar wiper blade (12) according to claim 18, characterized in that a spoiler (24) is provided and the first connecting part (16) has a spoiler wall (46), which essentially accommodates the spoiler (24) in its cross section and terminates the first connecting part (16) on a spoiler side, and characterized in that the spoiler wall (46) and the spoiler (24) are oriented at an acute angle with respect to the groove to urge the connecting device (10) and the wiper blade (12) against a windshield of a vehicle in response to wind flowing past the vehicle while the vehicle is in motion.

20. Flat bar wiper blade (12) according to claim 18, characterized in that the counter-hinge element (42) is embodied as a circular opening, which is able to accommodate a hinge bolt (26), and characterized in that the securing means (32) includes a limit (36) that is insertable into the receptacle (38) such that the receptacle (38) substantially surrounds a perimeter of the limit (36).

21. Flat bar wiper blade (12) according to claim 18, characterized in that the securing means (32) substantially covers and is positioned above the base (60) and the groove when the first connecting part (16) is connected to the second connecting part (18).