Device for the jointed connection of a wiper blade

• US 8,448,290 B2
• Filed: 02/18/2009
• Issued: 05/28/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Op't Roodt, Inigo, De Block, Peter, Beelen, Hans, Windmolders, Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): Hail, Joseph J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Carlson, Marc
• Application Number:
  US12/867,284
• Publication Number:
  US 20100306949A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,560 Days
• Field of Search: 152/502.01, 152/503.1, 152/503.51, 152/504.3, 152/503.2
• US Class Current: 15/250.32
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/3849 Connectors therefor; Connection to wiper arm; Attached to blade
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/4083 for arms provided with a flat end
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 2001/409 characterised by the arm or connecting part mounted on the arm presenting a shaped opening for bearing the pivot axis

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (10) for the jointed connection of a wiper blade (12), having a wiper arm (18), wherein a connector (20) intended to be connected to the wiper blade (12) has a joint part (32) which forms a joint with a joint part (40) on a connector (38) intended to be connected to the wiper arm, and one of the joint parts (40) is a hub (40) open in the longitudinal direction of the associated component (20 or 28), the hub being supported with respect to the other component (38) in the direction opposite (42) the hub opening (42) when in the installed state, wherein the side walls (30, 56) of the connector (20) and of the connector (38) overlap. It is suggested that the side walls (56) of one component (38) has recesses (44) which are open to the wiper strip (14), and plunge into the projections (34) in the wiper blade (12) operating position, such that both components (20, 38) are locked against each other in the longitudinal direction.

Claims

1. A device (10) for a jointed connection of a wiper blade (12) to a wiper arm (18), wherein a joining element (20) which is to be connected to the wiper blade (12) has a joint part (32) which forms a joint with a joint part (40) on a connecting element (38) to be connected to the wiper arm (18), and one of the joint parts (40) is a hub (40) which is open in a longitudinal direction of the joining element (20) and, in a fitted state, is supported with respect to the connecting element (38) in a direction opposed to the hub opening (42), and wherein side walls (30, 56) of the joining element (20) and of the connecting element (38) overlap, characterized in that the side walls (56) of the connecting element (38) have cutouts (44) which are open toward a wiper strip (14) and into which projections (34) on the joining element (20) enter in an operating position of the wiper blade (12) such that the joining and connecting elements (20, 38) are locked against each other in the longitudinal direction, and characterized in that the joining element (20) is designed as a sheet-metal claw and the projections are formed by tabs (34) which are cut free from the side walls (30) of the joining element (20) and are bent toward the connecting element (38) at an acute angle with respect to the side wall (30) and enter into the cutouts (44) therein.

2. The device (10) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the side walls (30) of the joining element (20) as one joint part bear a joint pin (32) which is arranged between an outer end of the joining element (20) and the tabs (34).

3. The device (10) as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that a cutout (36) is provided in a base (28) of the joining element (20) in the region of the joint pin (32).

4. The device (10) as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the connecting element (38) has latching studs (48) or a latching lug (50) which can latch into corresponding latching holes (52) in the wiper arm (18).

5. The device (10) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the connecting element (38) has latching studs (48) or a latching lug (50) which can latch into corresponding latching holes (52) in the wiper arm (18).

6. The device (10) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the joining element (20) defines an upwardly-facing U-shaped profile sized to receive the connecting element (38) therein.

7. A wiper arm (18) and a device (10) for a jointed connection of a wiper blade (12) to the wiper arm (18), wherein a joining element (20) which is to be connected to the wiper blade (12) has a joint part (32) which forms a joint with a joint part (40) on a connecting element (38) to be connected to the wiper arm (18), and one of the joint parts (40) is a hub (40) which is open in a longitudinal direction of the joining element (20) and, in a fitted state, is supported with respect to the connecting element (38) in a direction opposed to the hub opening (42), and wherein side walls (30, 56) of the joining element (20) and of the connecting element (38) overlap, characterized in that the side walls (56) of the connecting element (38) have cutouts (44) which are open toward a wiper strip (14) and into which projections (34) on the joining element (20) enter in an operating position of the wiper blade (12) such that the joining and connecting elements (20, 38) are locked against each other in the longitudinal direction, characterized in that lateral pockets (46) are provided on the wiper arm (18) in the region of the cutouts (44) in the side walls (56) of the connecting element (38), and characterized in that the projections (34) extend into the lateral pocket (46).

8. The wiper arm (18) and the device (10) as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that the projections (34) at bent at an acute angle with respect to the connecting element (38).

9. The wiper arm (18) and the device (10) as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that the joining element (20) defines an upwardly-facing U-shaped profile sized to receive the connecting element (38) therein.

10. A wiper blade (12) comprising a device (10) for a jointed connection of the wiper blade (12) to a wiper arm (18), wherein a joining element (20) connected to the wiper blade (12) has a joint part (32) which forms a joint with a joint part (40) on a connecting element (38) to be connected to the wiper arm (18), and one of the joint parts (40) is a hub (40) which is open in a longitudinal direction of the joining element (20) and, in a fitted state, is supported with respect to the connecting element (38) in a direction opposed to the hub opening (42), and wherein side walls (30, 56) of the joining element (20) and of the connecting element (38) overlap, characterized in that the side walls (56) of the connecting element (38) have cutouts (44) which are open toward a wiper strip (14) and into which projections (34) on the joining element (20) enter in an operating position of the wiper blade (12) such that the joining and connecting elements (20, 38) are locked against each other in the longitudinal direction, the projections are formed by tabs (34) which have free ends and which are cut free from the side walls (30) of the joining element (20), characterized in that the joining element (20) defines an upwardly-facing U-shaped profile sized to receive the connecting element (38) therein, and characterized in that the sidewalls (56) of the connecting element (38) are positioned between the sidewalls (30) of the joining element (20).

11. The wiper blade (12) as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that the joining element (20) is designed as a sheet-metal claw and the tabs (34) are bent toward the connecting element (38) and enter into the cutouts (44) therein.

12. The wiper blade (12) as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that the side walls (30) of the joining element (20) as one joint part bear a joint pin (32) which is arranged between the outer end of the joining element (20) and the tabs (34).

13. The wiper blade (12) as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that a cutout (36) is provided in the base (28) of the joining element (20) in the region of the joint pin (32).

14. The wiper blade (12) as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that the connecting element (38) has latching studs (48) or a latching lug (50) which can latch into corresponding latching holes (52) in the wiper arm (18).

15. The wiper blade (12) as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that the tabs (34) are bent at an acute angle toward the connecting element (38) and enter into the cutouts (44) therein.