Connection device for the articulated connection of a wiper blade to a wiper arm

• US 8,429,786 B2
• Filed: 03/19/2008
• Issued: 04/30/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Van Baelen, David, Westermann, Klaus-Juergen, Geppert, Bernhard, Janssis, Yves, Herinckx, Dirk
• Primary Examiner(s): GRAHAM, GARY K
• Application Number:
  US12/599,091
• Publication Number:
  US 20110072607A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,868 Days
• Field of Search: 152/503.2, 152/503.3, 152/503.61, 152/504.3, 152/504.4, 152/503.51, 152/502.01, 152/503.1
• US Class Current: 15/250.32
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/381 Spoilers mounted on the squeegee or on the vertebra
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/3856 Gripping the blade
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/386 made in two halves
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/3868 pin formed on the exterior of side walls
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/3879 placed in side grooves in the squeegee
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/4003 Multi-purpose connections for two or more kinds of arm ends
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/4038 for arms provided with a channel-shaped end
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/407 with means provided on the arm for locking the side pin

Abstract

The invention relates to a connection device (10) for the articulated connection of a wiper blade (28, 30) to a wiper arm, wherein a connection element (12, 120, 126) is tightly connected to the free end of the wiper arm, and the connection element is connected in an articulated manner via mounting means (88, 122, 124) to an adapter (22, 24), and the adapter is tightly seated on a support element (28) of the wiper blade (28, 30). It is suggested that a base cover (18), which surrounds the adapter (22, 24) and which can be attached to the adapter or to the support element (28), has a guide rail (66) running in the longitudinal direction (136), and that a push-spring (16) is mounted thereon and is adjustable in the longitudinal direction (136), and that the push-spring can be attached to a guide block (112) of the base cover (18) in different positions with different offset distances (114, 116, 118) in the longitudinal direction (136) of the guide rail (66) by means of locking means (68, 70, 72), wherein the guide block is connected to the end of the guide rail (66) on the wiper arm side.

Claims

1. A connection device (10) for the articulated connection of a wiper blade (28, 30) to a wiper arm, to the free end of which a joining element (12, 120, 126) is fixedly connected, said joining element being connected in an articulated manner via bearing means (88, 122, 124) to an adapter (22, 24) which is seated fixedly on a support element (28) of the wiper blade (28, 30), characterized in that a base cover (18) which surrounds the adapter (22, 24) and can be fastened thereto or to the support element (28) has a guide rail (66) which runs in the longitudinal direction (136) and on which a push-spring (16) is mounted displaceably in the longitudinal direction (136), said push-spring being fixable by latching means (68, 70, 72) in various positions in the longitudinal direction (136) of the guide rail (66) at different distances (114, 116, 118) from a guide block (112) of the base cover (18), which guide block adjoins that end of the guide rail (66) which is on the wiper arm side.

2. The connection device (10) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the base cover (18) is seated on the adapter (22, 24) by means of a fastening profile (64).

3. The connection device (10) as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the guide rail (66) has, on its longitudinal sides, longitudinal grooves (74) in which longitudinal ribs (76) of the push-spring (16) are guided.

4. The connection device (10) as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the guide rail (66) has, at various positions of its extent in the longitudinal direction (136), as latching means two mutually opposite latching depressions (68, 70, 72).

5. The connection device (10) as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the latching connectors can be released by pressure from the outside on the side walls (78) of the push-spring (16).

6. The connection device (10) as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the adapter comprises a functional adapter (22) and two base adapter parts (46) of a base adapter (24), which base adapter parts can be placed laterally onto the support element (28) and are held together by the functional adapter (22).

7. The connection device (10) as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that a retaining spring (14) of the connection device (10) has, on an end side, a bearing roller (88) configured to partially form a hinge.

8. The connection device (10) as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that a cover wall (92) of the retaining spring (14) has a spring tongue (96), at the free end of which a push button (98) is provided, which push button can latch into a latching hole (106) of a receiving profile (102) of the joining element (12).

9. The connection device (10) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the guide rail (66) has, on its longitudinal sides, longitudinal grooves (74) in which longitudinal ribs (76) of the push-spring (16) are guided.

10. The connection device (10) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the guide rail (66) has, at various positions of its extent in the longitudinal direction (136), as latching means two mutually opposite latching depressions (68, 70, 72).

11. The connection device (10) as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that the latching connectors can be released by pressure from the outside on the side walls (78) of the push-spring (16).

12. The connection device (10) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the adapter comprises a functional adapter (22) and two base adapter parts (46) of a base adapter (24), which base adapter parts can be placed laterally onto the support element (28) and are held together by the functional adapter (22).

13. The connection device (10) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that a retaining spring (14) of the connection device (10) has, on an end side, a bearing roller (88) configured to partially form a hinge.

14. The connection device (10) as claimed in claim 13, characterized in that a cover wall (92) of the retaining spring (14) has a spring tongue (96), at the free end of which a push button (98) is provided, which push button can latch into a latching hole (106) of a receiving profile (102) of the joining element (12).

15. The connection device (10) as claimed in claim 13, characterized in that inner sides of the side walls (90) of the retaining spring (14) are guided on outer sides of the guide block (112) of the base cover (18), the retaining spring (14) being retained in the longitudinal direction (136) in a fitted position by means of transverse pegs (61) which are provided on the base cover (18).

16. The connection device (10) as claimed in claim 15, characterized in that the transverse pegs (21) are formed by a transverse pin which is fitted in a central web (60) of the adapter (22, 24) and protrudes outward for a distance out of the side walls (62) of the guide block (112) through openings (63).

17. The connection device (10) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that, in a central position of the push-spring (16), an intermediate space, into which an articulation head (122) of a joining element (120) fits, is formed between said push-spring and the guide block (112), with an extension (86) of a cover wall (80) of the push-spring (16) covering the intermediate space and engaging in a holder (113) of the guide block (112).

18. The connection device (10) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that, in a position which faces away from a drive-side end of the wiper blade (28, 30), the push-spring (16), by means of its side walls (78), laterally covers the guide block (112) for a distance, and an extension (86) of the cover wall (80) engages in a holder (113) of the guide block (112), a bearing opening (82) being provided in at least one bearing wall (78).

19. The connection device (10) as claimed in claim 18, characterized in that a bearing sleeve (20) is inserted into two mutually opposite bearing openings (82).

20. A wiper blade (28, 30) with a connection device (10) for the articulated connection of the wiper blade (28, 30) to a wiper arm, to the free end of which a joining element (12, 120, 126) is fixedly connected, said joining element being connected in an articulated manner via bearing means (88, 122, 124) to an adapter (22, 24) which is seated fixedly on a support element (28) of the wiper blade (28, 30), characterized in that a base cover (18) which surrounds the adapter (22, 24) and can be fastened thereto or to the support element (28) has a guide rail (66) which runs in the longitudinal direction (136) and on which a push-spring (16) is mounted displaceably in the longitudinal direction (136), said push-spring being fixable by latching means (68, 70, 72) in various positions in the longitudinal direction (136) of the guide rail (66) at different distances (114, 116, 118) from a guide block (112) of the base cover (18), which guide block adjoins that end of the guide rail (66) which is on the wiper arm side.