Adapter for the articulated connection of a connecting element at the end of a wiper arm to a connector element of a wiper blade

• US 8,782,847 B2
• Filed: 01/25/2011
• Issued: 07/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Depondt, Helmut
• Primary Examiner(s): Carter, Monica
• Assistant Examiner(s): JENNINGS, MICHAEL DEANGILO
• Application Number:
  US13/637,081
• Publication Number:
  US 20130007977A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,274 Days
• Field of Search: 152/502.01, 152/503.2, 152/504.3
• US Class Current: 15/250.32
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/387 the connector being suitable for receiving different types of adapter
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/4003 Multi-purpose connections for two or more kinds of arm ends
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/407 with means provided on the arm for locking the side pin
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 2001/4054 the intermediate element engaging the back part of the arm

Abstract

The invention relates to an adapter (22) for the articulated connection of a connecting element (86, 102, 120) at the end of a wiper arm to a connector element (18) of a wiper blade (10), in particular in the flat bar method of construction, wherein the adapter (22) has a base element (24). According to the invention, the base element (24) has two lateral walls (30) which, at the end faces thereof facing away from the wiper arm, are connected by an end cap (26), and in the region of the upper edges (64) thereof are connected to each other by a crosspiece (32) and also by a hub (34). A resilient tongue (38) extends from the crosspiece (32) to the end face on the wiper arm side, and has at the free end thereof an outwardly protruding button (40). Furthermore, guide profiles (50) are provided on the longitudinal edges of the lateral walls (30) facing towards the wiper strip (16).

Claims

1. An adapter (22) for the articulated connection of a connecting element (86, 102, 120) at the end of a wiper arm to a connector element (18) of a wiper blade (10), wherein the adapter (22) has a base element (24), characterized in that

the base element (24) has two lateral walls (30) which, at end faces thereof facing away from the wiper arm, are connected by an end cap (26), and in a region of upper edges (64) thereof are connected to each other by a crosspiece (32) and also by a hub (34),

a resilient tongue (38) extends from the crosspiece (32) to an end face on a wiper arm side and has at a free end thereof an outwardly protruding button (40),

guide profiles (50) are provided on longitudinal edges of the lateral walls (30) facing towards the wiper strip (16),

during assembly the button (40) actuates a blocking element (42) such that an improper assembly is prevented by said blocking element, and

the button (40) has a slider (42) as the blocking element on a wiper arm side thereof, which protrudes laterally over the button (40) and is guided along front edges (44) of the lateral walls (30) in an elastically pliable manner.

2. An adapter (22) according to claim 1, characterized in that the guide profiles (50) have in each case a guide groove (52) which runs in a longitudinal direction (36) and is open to an outside and to the end face on the wiper arm side and a guide rib (56) running in the longitudinal direction and protruding towards the wiper strip (16), wherein guide surfaces (54), which run parallel to the upper edges (64) of the lateral walls (30), adjoin the guide ribs (56) towards the outside.

3. An adapter (22) according to claim 2, characterized in that stops (58 or 60), which laterally protrude over the lateral walls (30), are provided at the guide grooves (52) and the guide surfaces (54) at ends thereof oriented towards the end cap (26).

4. An adapter (3) according to claim 3, characterized in that flanks (140) of the guide grooves (52) oriented towards the wiper strip (16) laterally protrude over the lateral walls (30) so that the stops (60) associated with the guide surfaces (54) protrude further laterally than the stops (58) associated with the guide grooves (52).

5. An adapter (22) according to claim 1, characterized in that in an initial position of the button (40), the slider (42) rests with an edge thereof facing the wiper strip (16) against latching steps (46) in the front edges (44) of the lateral walls (30).

6. An adapter (22) according to claim 5, characterized in that the slider (42) covers the guide grooves (52) on an end face side when the button (40) is pushed in an actuating direction (138) up to the upper edges (64) of the lateral walls (30).

7. An adapter (22) according to claim 1, characterized in that said adapter comprises in addition to the base element (24) a cover cap (72) which with lateral walls (74) thereof encompasses the lateral walls (30) of the base element (24), wherein the lateral walls (74) of the cover cap (72) are connected to each other by a cover wall (76) and the cover wall (76) has a recess (82) on an end face thereof on a wiper arm side, said recess in an assembled state abutting with a stop edge (84) thereof against a front edge of the button (40).

8. An adapter (22) according to claim 7, characterized in that the cover wall (76) of the cover cap (72) has a fillet (78) and the lateral walls (74) of the cover cap have bearing openings (80).

9. An adapter (22) according to claim 7, characterized in that the cover cap (72) has guide ribs (142) on longitudinal edges oriented towards the wiper strip (16), said guide ribs interacting with the guide profiles (50) of the base element (24).

10. An adapter (22) according to claim 1, characterized in that the slider (42) extends from one of the front edges (44) of the lateral walls (30) to another one of the front edges (44).

11. An adapter (22) according to claim 1, characterized in that the slider (42) extends perpendicularly to a longitudinal axis of the base element (24).

12. An adapter (22) according to claim 1, characterized in that the slider (42) is directly connected to the button (40).