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 the windscreen to be wiped

• US 8,555,455 B2
• Filed: 06/29/2009
• Issued: 10/15/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2008
• 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:
  US12/493,550
• Publication Number:
  US 20090320230A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,569 Days
• Field of Search: 152/504.3, 152/504.4, 152/503.61, 152/504.51, 152/503.2
• US Class Current: 15/250.201
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/3851 Mounting of connector to blade assembly
• 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

Abstract

A windscreen wiper device includes 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. the wiper blade includes at least one groove, in which groove at least one longitudinal strip of the carrier element is disposed. The windscreen wiper device comprises a connecting device for an oscillating wiper arm, with the special feature that the connecting device comprises an internal reinforcement element.

Claims

1. 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, which windscreen wiper device comprises a connecting device secured to said carrier element for an oscillating wiper arm, and which windscreen wiper device further includes a pair of connecting pieces interconnecting neighboring ends of said longitudinal strips of said carrier element and spaced longitudinally from one another and from said connecting device, and a spoiler extending longitudinally between said connecting device and each of said connecting pieces and wherein said connecting device is made of plastic and includes a metal reinforcement element molded in situ with said plastic connecting device and thereby said metal reinforcement element is embedded inseparably in said plastic connecting piece independently of the securement of said connecting device to said carrier element, and wherein said connecting device comprises engaging members engaging around said longitudinal strips, wherein said reinforcement element has an at least substantially U-shaped cross-section, and wherein legs of the U-shaped cross-section are provided inside said engaging members, and wherein a base of the U-shaped cross-section of said reinforcement element is provided inside a base of said connecting piece, and wherein outer ends of the legs of the U-shaped cross-section of said reinforcement element are bent inwardly.

2. A windscreen wiper device according to claim 1, wherein the reinforcement element is provided with weakening locations.

3. A windscreen wiper device according to claim 2, wherein the weakening locations comprise through holes.

4. A method for manufacturing a windscreen wiper device according to claim 1, wherein the plastic connecting device is cast in a mold around the metal reinforcement element.

5. A windscreen wiper device according to claim 1, wherein said metal reinforcement element is substantially entirely surrounded by said plastic connecting device as viewed in cross-section.