Device for the articulated connection of a wiper blade to a wiper arm of a windshield wiper

• US 8,484,794 B2
• Filed: 08/06/2009
• Issued: 07/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Westermann, Klaus-Juergen, Geppert, Bernhard
• Primary Examiner(s): Spisich, Mark
• Assistant Examiner(s): HORTON, ANDREW ALAN
• Application Number:
  US13/063,521
• Publication Number:
  US 20110265280A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,440 Days
• Field of Search: 152/503.2, 152/504.3, 152/503.61, 1525044-25048, 152/502.01
• 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 1/3879 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 2001/4012 the element being provided with bearing surfaces on its side walls

Abstract

A device for the articulated connection of a wiper blade to a wiper arm includes a connection element connected to a carrier element of the wiper blade. The connection element has a side wall on each longitudinal side angled toward the wiper arm. The adapter encompasses the side wall of the connection element on each side and includes a spring switch on the side of the adapter facing the wiper arm and guide and retaining means for the wiper arm. The adapter has at least one first adapter element and one second adapter element. The first adapter element comprises the inner and outer side walls. The inner side walls are connected to each other via a base and a contact part. The contact part has an outer contour to receive a hook-shaped end of the wiper arm and a second adapter element on which the spring switch is disposed.

Claims

1. A device (10) for the articulated connection of a wiper blade (12) to a wiper arm (114, 132), the device (10) comprising a junction element (28) which is connected fixedly to a carrying element (22) of the wiper blade (12) and has on longitudinal sides of the junction element, starting from a bottom (40), a sidewall (38) which is angled with respect to the wiper arm (114, 132) and carries a hinge bolt (46) on which is mounted pivotably an adapter (32, 34) having longitudinal sides, the adapter on each longitudinal side thereof surrounding with an inner sidewall (68) and an outer sidewall (70) the sidewall (38) of the junction element (28) and the adapter having, on its side facing the wiper arm (114), a spring button (90) and, in the region of its sidewalls (68, 70), guide and holding means (78) for the wiper arm (114, 132), characterized in that the adapter (32, 34) possesses at least one first adapter element (32) and one second adapter element (34), the first adapter element (32) having the inner and outer sidewalls (68, 70), the inner sidewalls (68) of which are connected fixedly to one another via a bottom (66) and a bearing part (80) running with a clearance in relation to the bottom, the bearing part (80) possessing an outer contour configured to both receive a hook-shaped end (134) of the wiper arm (132) and receive the second adapter element (34) on which the spring button (90) is located.

2. The device (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first adapter element (32) is configured to be snapped with a hub (76) open towards the bottom (66) onto the hinge bolt (46).

3. The device (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inner sidewalls (68) have, with respect to the bearing part (80), a projection (82) which serves for the lateral guidance of the hook-shaped end (95, 134) of the second adapter element (34) or of the wiper arm (114).

4. The device (10) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the bearing part (80) possesses a transversely running gap (84) at a rounded end for the hook-shaped end (95, 134).

5. The device (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inner sidewall (68) is connected to the outer sidewall (70) by a spine (72), the outer sidewall (70) being shorter in the direction of the carrying element (22) and possessing a lower edge (78).

6. The device (10) as claimed in claim 5, wherein the lower edge (78) runs parallel to the bottom (66) in the region of an open hub (76) and approaches the spine (72) in a convex contour with respect to a wiper-arm-side end of the first adapter element (32).

7. The device (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second adapter element (34) has the spring button (90) at an end facing the wiper arm (114), while with an other, hook-shaped end (134) the second adapter element surrounds the bearing part (80).

8. The device (10) as claimed in claim 7, wherein the second adapter element (34) has, in a region of the spring button (90), a guide web (88) which is guided in a guide slot (86) of the bearing part (80) of the first adapter element (32).

9. The device (10) as claimed in claim 8, wherein a lower contour (92) of the second adapter element (34) is reduced increasingly, on both sides of the guide web (88), starting from an inner bearing surface (94).

10. The device (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein a frame (30) comprises a region, pointing toward the carrying element (22), of the junction element (28) and is fastened to the junction element (28) or to the carrying element (22).

11. The device (10) as claimed in claim 10, wherein the frame (30) possesses, at an end facing the wiper arm (114, 132), lateral pivot pins (58) which form an axis of articulation (60) and on which a locking cap (36) is mounted in an articulated manner.

12. The device (10) as claimed in claim 11, wherein the locking cap (36) is snapped with open hubs (104) onto the pivot pins (58).

13. The device (10) as claimed in claim 11, wherein, at an end facing away from the pivot pins (58), the locking cap (36) has a guide surface (110) which, when the locking cap (36) is in a closed state, limits axial movement of the second adapter element (34) or of the hook-shaped end (134) of the wiper arm (132) in relation to the first adapter element (32).

14. The device (10) as claimed in claim 11, wherein sidewalls (98) of the locking cap (36) have concave guide contours (112) which face the wiper arm (114).

15. A wiper assembly comprising a wiper blade and a device for the articulated connection of the wiper blade (12) to a wiper arm (114, 132), the device (10) comprising a junction element (28) which is connected fixedly to a carrying element (22) of the wiper blade (12) and has on longitudinal sides of the junction element, starting from a bottom (40), a sidewall (38) which is angled with respect to the wiper arm (114, 132) and carries a hinge bolt (46) on which is mounted pivotably an adapter (32, 34) having longitudinal sides, the adapter on each longitudinal side thereof surrounding with an inner sidewall (68) and an outer sidewall (70) the sidewall (38) of the junction element (28) and the adapter having, on its side facing the wiper arm (114), a spring button (90) and, in the region of its sidewalls (68, 70), guide and holding means (78) for the wiper arm (114, 132), characterized in that the adapter (32, 34) possesses at least one first adapter element (32) and one second adapter element (34), the first adapter element (32) having the inner and outer sidewalls (68, 70), the inner sidewalls (68) of which are connected fixedly to one another via a bottom (66) and a bearing part (80) running with a clearance in relation to the bottom, the bearing part (80) possessing an outer contour configured to both receive a hook-shaped end (134) of the wiper arm (132) and receive the second adapter element (34) on which the spring button (90) is located.