Wiper blade having an adapter unit for attaching to a wiper arm

• US 9,114,783 B2
• Filed: 12/14/2009
• Issued: 08/25/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• 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:
  US13/143,968
• Publication Number:
  US 20120180248A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,080 Days
• Field of Search: 152/503.2, 152/504.3, 152/503.61, 1525044-25048, 152/502.01
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/3806 Means, or measures taken, for influencing the aerodynamic quality of the wiper blades
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/3863 Connectors having a spoiler
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/387 the connector being suitable for receiving different types of adapter
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/3874 with a reinforcing vertebra
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/40 Connections between blades and arms
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/4067 for arms provided with a side pin

Abstract

The invention relates to a wiper blade (10) for a windshield wiper, having a wiper strip (12) and an adapter unit (50) for attaching the wiper strip (12) to a wiper arm, wherein the adapter unit (50) is attached at a base connection device (60) provided on the wiper strip (12), wherein the adapter unit (50) comprises a first adapter holder (52) and a second adapter holder (58) mounted on the base connection device (60) at a distance from each other, and catch elements (51, 59) facing each other, on which a connection element (55) associated with the adapter unit (50) is engaged for connecting with the wiper arm.

Claims

1. A wiper blade (10) for a windshield wiper, the wiper blade comprising a wiper strip (12) having an axial direction, a base connection device (60) mounted on the wiper strip, a spoiler (20) mounted on the wiper strip, and an adapter unit (50) for attaching the wiper strip (12) to a wiper arm (18), wherein the spoiler includes first and second spoiler sections that are spaced apart in the axial direction, wherein the base connection device is located entirely between the spoiler sections, wherein the adapter unit (50) is mounted on the base connection device (60), wherein the adapter unit (50) comprises a first adapter holder (52), a second adapter holder (58) and a connection element (55) each formed separately from the base connection device (60), each formed separately from each other and each mounted on the base connection device (60), wherein the first adapter holder (52) and the second adapter holder (58) are mounted on the base connection device independently of the connection element at a distance from each other in the axial direction of the wiper strip and have respective catch elements (51, 59) facing each other, wherein the connection element (55) is mounted on the base connection device between the first adapter holder (52) and the second adapter holder (58) and engages the catch elements (51, 59) of the first and second adapter holders, wherein the connection element (55) is configured to connect with the wiper arm (18), wherein the first and second adapter holders are respectively adjacent to and separate from the first and second spoiler sections, wherein the connection element (55) comprises counter catch elements (54, 56) which are engaged with the catch elements (51, 59) of the adapter holders (52, 58), and wherein the catch elements (51, 59) comprise projections (41, 49) facing the connection element (55) and the counter catch elements (54, 56) comprise resilient detent tongues (53, 57) which are engaged on the projections (41, 49).

2. A wiper blade according to claim 1, thereby characterized in that the first and second adapter holder (52, 58) are permanently engaged at the base connection device (60) and the connection element (55) is detachably engaged at the first and second adapter holder (52, 58).

3. A wiper blade according to claim 1, thereby characterized in that the counter catch elements (54, 56) can be actuated in order to enable a release of a present engagement between said counter catch elements (54, 56) and the catch elements (51, 59).

4. A wiper blade according to claim 1, thereby characterized in that the distance (99) in the axial direction of the wiper strip (12) between the first and second adapter holder (52, 58) substantially corresponds to a longitudinal extent (88) of the connection element (55).

5. A wiper blade according to claim 1, thereby characterized in that the first and second adapter holder (52, 58) each include a longitudinal groove (42, 48) for receiving a respective one of end regions (14, 16) of the spoiler (20) provided on the wiper strip (12).

6. A wiper blade according to claim 1, thereby characterized in that the connection element (55) comprises a bearing element (79), on which a connecting member (90) associated with the wiper arm (18) can be supported.

7. A wiper blade according to claim 1, wherein the first and second adapter holders and the connection element are mounted end-to-end on the base connection device and a length in the axial direction of the first and second adapter holders and the connection element while mounted on the base connection device is substantially equal to a length in the axial direction of the base connection device.

8. A wiper blade (10) for a windshield wiper, the wiper blade comprising a wiper strip (12) having an axial direction, a base connection device (60) mounted on the wiper strip, a spoiler (20) mounted on the wiper strip, and an adapter unit (50) for attaching the wiper strip (12) to a wiper arm (18), wherein the spoiler includes first and second spoiler sections that are spaced apart in the axial direction, wherein the base connection device is located between the spoiler sections, wherein the adapter unit (50) is mounted on the base connection device (60), wherein the adapter unit (50) comprises a first adapter holder (52), a second adapter holder (58) and a connection element (55) each formed separately from the base connection device (60), each formed separately from each other and each mounted on the base connection device (60), wherein the first adapter holder (52) and the second adapter holder (58) are mounted on the base connection device independently of the connection element at a distance from each other in the axial direction of the wiper strip and have respective catch elements (51, 59) facing each other, wherein the connection element (55) is mounted on the base connection device between the first adapter holder (52) and the second adapter holder (58) and engages the catch elements (51, 59) of the first and second adapter holders, wherein the connection element (55) is configured to connect with the wiper arm (18), wherein the first adapter holder is separate from and overlaps the first spoiler section, wherein the second adapter holder is separate from and overlaps the second spoiler section, wherein the connection element (55) comprises counter catch elements (54, 56) which are engaged with the catch elements (51, 59) of the adapter holders (52, 58), and wherein the catch elements (51, 59) comprise projections (41, 49) facing the connection element (55) and the counter catch elements (54, 56) comprise resilient detent tongues (53, 57) which are engaged on the projections (41, 49).

9. A wiper blade according to claim 8, wherein the first and second adapter holder (52, 58) are permanently engaged at the base connection device (60) and the connection element (55) is detachably engaged at the first and second adapter holder (52, 58).

10. A wiper blade according to claim 8, wherein the counter catch elements (54, 56) can be actuated in order to enable a release of a present engagement between said counter catch elements (54, 56) and the catch elements (51, 59).

11. A wiper blade according to claim 8, wherein the distance (99) in the axial direction of the wiper strip (12) between the first and second adapter holder (52, 58) substantially corresponds to a longitudinal extent (88) of the connection element (55).

12. A wiper blade according to claim 8, wherein the first and second adapter holders and the connection element are mounted end-to-end on the base connection device and a length in the axial direction of the first and second adapter holders and the connection element while mounted on the base connection device is substantially equal to a length in the axial direction of the base connection device.

13. A wiper blade (10) for a windshield wiper, the wiper blade comprising a wiper strip (12) having an axial direction, a base connection device (60) mounted on the wiper strip, a spoiler (20) mounted on the wiper strip, and an adapter unit (50) for attaching the wiper strip (12) to a wiper arm (18), wherein the spoiler includes first and second spoiler sections that are spaced apart in the axial direction, wherein the base connection device is located between the spoiler sections, wherein the adapter unit (50) is mounted on the base connection device (60), wherein the adapter unit (50) comprises a first adapter holder (52), a second adapter holder (58) and a connection element (55) each formed separately from the base connection device (60), each formed separately from each other and each mounted on the base connection device (60), wherein the first adapter holder (52) and the second adapter holder (58) are permanently engaged on the base connection device independently of the connection element at a distance from each other in the axial direction of the wiper strip and have respective catch elements (51, 59) facing each other, wherein the connection element (55) is detachably engaged on the base connection device between the first adapter holder (52) and the second adapter holder (58) and detachably engages the catch elements (51, 59) of the first and second adapter holders, wherein the connection element (55) is configured to connect with the wiper arm (18), wherein the first adapter holder is separate from the first spoiler section, wherein the second adapter holder is separate from the second spoiler section, wherein the connection element is engageable with the base connection device by pushing the connection element between the adapter holders and is disengageable from the base connection device by pulling the connection element from between the adapter holders, wherein the connection element (55) comprises counter catch elements (54, 56) which engage the catch elements (51, 59) of the adapter holders (52, 58) when the connection element is pushed between the adapter holders, and wherein the counter catch elements (54, 56) are compressible in the axial direction to release engagement between said counter catch elements (54, 56) and the catch elements (51, 59).

14. A wiper blade according to claim 13 wherein the catch elements (51, 59) comprise projections (41, 49) facing the connection element (55) and the counter catch elements (54, 56) comprise resilient detent tongues (53, 57) which are engageable with the projections (41, 49).

15. A wiper blade according to claim 13, wherein the distance (99) in the axial direction of the wiper strip (12) between the first and second adapter holder (52, 58) substantially corresponds to a longitudinal extent (88) of the connection element (55).

16. A wiper blade according to claim 13, wherein the first and second adapter holder (52, 58) each include a longitudinal groove (42, 48) for receiving a respective one of end regions (14, 16) of the spoiler (25) provided on the wiper strip (12).

17. A wiper blade according to claim 13, wherein the first and second adapter holders and the connection element are mounted end-to-end on the base connection device and a length in the axial direction of the first and second adapter holders and the connection element while mounted on the base connection device is substantially equal to a length in the axial direction of the base connection device.