Adapter for connecting a connecting element at the end of a wiper arm to a wiper blade in particular of flat beam construction

• US 8,850,653 B2
• Filed: 09/21/2010
• Issued: 10/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Depondt, Helmut
• Primary Examiner(s): Spisich, Mark
• Assistant Examiner(s): HORTON, ANDREW ALAN
• Application Number:
  US13/510,520
• Publication Number:
  US 20120279008A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,477 Days
• Field of Search: 152/503.2, 152/404.3, 152/503.61, 1525044-25048, 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 1/4087 the end being provided with protrusions or holes
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 2001/4054 the intermediate element engaging the back part of the arm

Abstract

The invention is based on an adapter (16) for connecting a connecting element (30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40) at the end of a wiper arm (18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28) to a wiper blade (10) in particular of flat beam construction, wherein the adapter (16) has a base element (42). It is proposed that the base element (42) have a U-shaped cross-sectional profile which is formed from a base (56) and two side walls (48) and which, at that end side thereof which faces away from the wiper arm (18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28), is closed off by a closure cap (44), that spring arms (68) be integrally formed on the side walls (48) of the base element (42), which spring arms (68) extend in the longitudinal direction (124) toward the closure cap (44), engage into the latter and latch with buttons (70) into cutouts (84) which are provided in side walls (82) of the closure cap (44), and in that longitudinally directed bars (78) are arranged on the inner sides of the side walls (82) of the closure cap (44), which bars (78) are guided in a movable manner in cutouts (60) of the side walls (48) of the base element (42) when the buttons (70) are released, and which bars, in the closed state, block transversely running assembly gaps (62) and close off receiving chambers (66) for locking cams (104, 120).

Claims

1. An adapter (16) for connecting a connecting element (30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40) at the end of a wiper arm (18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28) to a wiper blade (10) wherein the adapter (16) has a base element (42), characterized in that the base element (42) has a U-shaped cross-sectional profile which is formed from a base (56) and two side walls (48) and which, at an end side thereof which faces away from the wiper arm (18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28), is closed off by a closure cap (44), in that spring arms (68) are integrally formed on the side walls (48) of the base element (42), which the spring arms (68) extend in a longitudinal direction (124) toward the closure cap (44), engage into the closure cap and latch with buttons (70) into cutouts (84) in side walls (82) of the closure cap (44), the cutouts (84) being through openings that extend through the side walls (82) and are completely surrounded by material of the side walls (82), and in that longitudinally directed bars (78) are arranged on inner sides of the side walls (82) of the closure cap (44), which the bars are guided in a movable manner in cutouts (60) of the side walls (48) of the base element (42) when the buttons (70) are released, and which the bars, in a closed state, block transversely running assembly gaps (62) and close off receiving chambers (66) for locking cams (104, 120).

2. The adapter (16) according to claim 1, characterized in that the bars (78), in the closed state, engage with free ends thereof in cutouts (92) in the base element (42) on sides of the assembly gaps (62) opposite to end sides (90) of the bars (78).

3. The adapter (16) according to claim 2, characterized in that the cutouts (92) on the sides of the gaps have a detent (64) on edges thereof, said detent latching with a detent edge (65) on an edge of the end side (90) of each bar (78).

4. The adapter (16) according to claim 1, characterized in that stops (72) are provided on the spring arms (68), the stops delimiting opening movement of the closure cap (44).

5. The adapter (16) according to claim 4, characterized in that the spring arms (68) run outwardly offset relative to the side walls (48) and form shoulders (69), which serve as stops for end sides (127, 129) of the connecting element (34, 36).

6. The adapter (16) according to claim 1, characterized in that the base element (42) has a play compensation button (50) in a region of the end side thereof, which faces the wiper arm (18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28), said button being connected via a spring tongue (52) to an intermediate base (58), which connects the two side walls (48) of the base element (42).

7. The adapter (16) according to claim 6, characterized in that the play compensation button (50) has a detent edge (51) on a side facing the spring arms (68) and serves as a further securing means for the connecting element (30, 32) of the wiper arm (18, 20).

8. The adapter (16) according to claim 6, characterized in that the base element (42) has, in a region of the play compensation button (50), a play compensation recess (74) on outer sides of the side walls (48).

9. The adapter (16) according to claim 1, characterized in that end sides (99) of the side walls (82) of the closure cap (44) which face the wiper arm (18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28) are concave and can serve as stops for the connecting element (30, 32) of the wiper arm (18, 20) or of a protective cap (46).

10. The adapter (16) according to claim 9, characterized in that the protective cap (46) has a U-shaped cross-sectional profile formed from a top wall (96) and two side walls (94) and encloses the base element (42) laterally and from above with the side walls (94) of the protective cap and the top wall (96) of the protective cap and with convex end sides (98) of the side walls (94) of the protective cap flushly adjoining opposing concave end sides (99) of the side walls (82) of the closure cap (44), wherein, in an assembled state, locking cams (104) on inner sides of the side walls (94) of the protective cap (46) engage in receiving chambers (66) at an end of the assembly gaps (62) and wherein an end side (100) of the protective cap (46) facing the wiper arm (18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28) has an aperture (108).

11. The adapter (16) according to claim 10, characterized in that the protective cap (46) has lateral, inwardly resiliently pliable detent wings (106), which have angled stops (140) facing the closure cap (44) and stops (142) running approximately perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction (124).

12. The adapter (16) according to claim 10, characterized in that the protective cap (46) has a detent cam (154) in a region of the aperture (108) on the end side.

13. The adapter (16) according to claim 9, characterized in that the base element (42) comprises a hub (54) which is open towards a top and above which the side walls (48) of the base element (42) project, wherein the side walls (48) in the region of the hub (54) are clip-like and the protective cap (46) has a bearing aperture (168) at least in one side wall (94).

14. The adapter (16) according to claim 1, characterized in that a stop (142) for an end side (151) of the connecting element (38) is provided on an inner side of the end wall (86) of the closure cap (44).

15. The adapter (16) according to claim 1, characterized in that when mounting one type of wiper arm (18, 20) in comparison to mounting another type of wiper arm (22, 24, 26, 28), said adapter assumes a position relative to the wiper blade (10) which is rotated about an angle (α

) with respect to a free end of said wiper blade (10).

16. The adapter (16) according to claim 15, characterized in that the angle (α

) lies in the range between 4° and

8°

.

17. An adapter (16) for connecting a connecting element (30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40) at the end of a wiper arm (18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28) to a wiper blade (10) wherein the adapter (16) has a base element (42), characterized in that the base element (42) has a U-shaped cross-sectional profile which is formed from a base (56) and two side walls (48) and which, at an end side thereof which faces away from the wiper arm (18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28), is closed off by a closure cap (44), in that spring arms (68) are integrally formed on the side walls (48) of the base element (42), which spring arms (68) extend in a longitudinal direction (124) toward the closure cap (44), engage into the closure cap and latch with buttons (70) into cutouts (84) in side walls (82) of the closure cap (44) and in that longitudinally directed bars (78) are arranged on inner sides of the side walls (82) of the closure cap (44), which bars are guided in a movable manner in cutouts (60) of the side walls (48) of the base element (42) when the buttons (70) are released, and which bars, in a closed state, block transversely running assembly gaps (62) and close off receiving chambers (66) for locking cams (104, 120), characterized in that stops (72) are provided on the spring arms (68), the stops delimiting opening movement of the closure cap (44), and characterized in that the spring arms (68) run outwardly offset relative to the side walls (48) and form shoulders (69), which serve as stops for end sides (127, 129) of the connecting element (34, 36).

18. The adapter (16) according to claim 17, characterized in that the bars (78), in the closed state, engage with free ends thereof in cutouts (92) in the base element (42) on sides of the assembly gaps (62) opposite to end sides (90) of the bars (78).

19. The adapter (16) according to claim 18, characterized in that the cutouts (92) on the sides of the gaps have a detent (64) on edges thereof, said detent latching with a detent edge (65) on an edge of the end side (90) of the bar (78).