Windshield wiper device

• US 8,522,393 B2
• Filed: 01/10/2006
• Issued: 09/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trico Belgium SA
• Original Assignee: Federal-Mogul SA (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Boland, Xavier
• Primary Examiner(s): GRAHAM, GARY K
• Application Number:
  US11/814,022
• Publication Number:
  US 20100154158A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,793 Days
• Field of Search: 152/503.2, 152/502.01, 152/504.3, 152/504.4, 152/503.61, 152/503.51
• US Class Current: 15/250.32
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/3848 Flat-type wiper blade, i.e. without harness
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/3849 Connectors therefor; Connection to wiper arm; Attached to blade
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/40 Connections between blades and arms
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/4038 for arms provided with a channel-shaped end
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/4064 the channel-shaped end being provided with protrusions on, or holes in, the side walls to create a pivot
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/4083 for arms provided with a flat end
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/4087 the end being provided with protrusions or holes

Abstract

A windscreen wiper device comprising an elastic, elongated carrier element, as well as an elongated wiper blade of a flexible material, which can be placed in abutment with a windscreen to be wiped, which wiper blade includes opposing longitudinal grooves on its longitudinal sides, in which grooves spaced-apart longitudinal strips of the carrier element are disposed, wherein neighbouring ends of said longitudinal strips are interconnected by a respective connecting piece, which windscreen wiper device comprises a connecting device for an oscillating arm, wherein the oscillating arm is pivotally connected to the connecting device about a pivot axis near one end, with the special feature that the connecting device comprises at least two parts provided with protrusion/hole features for detachably connecting the parts together, wherein the first part is retained onto the wiper blade and wherein the second part has an at least substantially U-shaped cross-section at the location of its connection to said first part, wherein each leg of said U-shaped cross-section is allowed to bend outwardly upon insertion of the oscillating arm into said second part for connecting said first and second parts together through a snapping operation.

Claims

1. A windscreen wiper device comprising an elastic, elongated carrier element, an elongated wiper blade of a flexible material, which can be placed in abutment with a windscreen to be wiped and includes opposing longitudinal grooves on longitudinal sides thereof, in which grooves spaced-apart longitudinal strips of the carrier element are disposed, wherein neighboring ends of said longitudinal strips are interconnected by a respective connecting piece, which windscreen wiper device further comprises a connecting device for an oscillating arm, wherein said oscillating arm is pivotally connected to said connecting device about a pivot axis near one end, said connecting device including at least two parts provided with protrusion/hole means for detachably connecting said parts together, wherein said first part is retained onto said wiper blade and wherein said second part has an at least substantially U-shaped cross-section at the location of its connection to said first part, wherein each leg of said U-shaped cross-section is bent outwardly in response to insertion of said oscillating arm into said second part for connecting said first and second parts together through a snapping operation.

2. A windscreen wiper device according to claim 1, wherein each leg of said U-shaped cross-section is bendable between a first position, wherein said first and second parts are connected together through a snapping operation upon insertion of the oscillating arm into said second part, and a second position, wherein said first and second parts are released from each other upon removing the oscillating arm from said second part.

3. A windscreen wiper device according to claim 1, wherein said first part is provided with opposite abutting surfaces for abutting against the legs of the U-shaped cross-section, and wherein a protrusion extends laterally outwardly from each leg of the U-shaped cross-section into a hole provided on an abutting surface abutting against a respective leg.

4. A windscreen wiper device according to claim 1, wherein the second part is positioned at least substantially within said first part.

5. A windscreen wiper device according to claim 1, wherein said first part comprises engaging members made integral therewith for engaging around the longitudinal sides of the longitudinal strips that face away from each other.

6. A windscreen wiper device according to claim 1, wherein said second part comprises at least one resilient tongue engaging in a correspondingly shaped hole provided in the oscillating arm, and wherein said resilient tongue is rotatable along a hinge axis between an outward position retaining the wiper blade onto the oscillating arm and an inward position releasing the wiper blade from the oscillating arm.

7. A windscreen wiper device according to claim 6, wherein said resilient tongue is forced in the outward position under the influence of a moment in case a force is exerted on the wiper blade in a direction away from the oscillating arm.

8. A windscreen wiper device according to claim 7, wherein a counterforce exerted by the oscillating arm on the resilient tongue engages at a point located behind the hinge axis, seen in the direction of the force exerted on the wiper blade.

9. A windscreen wiper device according to claim 6, wherein said hole has a closed circumference.

10. A windscreen wiper device according to claim 1, wherein said windscreen wiper device is provided with first and second retaining means for retaining said connecting device onto said oscillating arm, wherein said first retaining means comprises said at least one resilient tongue engaging in a correspondingly shaped hole, and wherein said second retaining means comprise at least one protrusion provided on the first part engaging the oscillating arm.

11. A windscreen wiper device according to claim 10, wherein said protrusion engages into a correspondingly shaped hole with a closed circumference provided on the oscillating arm.

12. A windscreen wiper device according to claim 10, wherein said protrusion engages into a correspondingly shaped hole with an open circumference provided on a longitudinal side of the oscillating arm.

13. A windscreen wiper device according to claim 10, wherein said protrusion engages into a correspondingly shaped recess provided on the oscillating arm.