Windscreen wiper device, in particular for a motor vehicle

• US 8,196,253 B2
• Filed: 07/31/2006
• Issued: 06/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Barlas, Burak
• Primary Examiner(s): Graham, Gary
• Assistant Examiner(s): JENNINGS, MICHAEL DEANGILO
• Application Number:
  US11/997,803
• Publication Number:
  US 20080222828A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,143 Days
• Field of Search: 152/503, 152/503.1, 152/503.4, 296/96.15
• US Class Current: 15/250.31
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0444 comprising vibration or noise absorbing means
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0488 Wiper arrangement for crash protection or impact absorption
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/3493 Means for mounting the wiper shaft in the wiper bearing

Abstract

A windscreen wiper device (10), in particular for a motor vehicle, comprises at least one wiper bearing (14) provided with a bearing housing (24). The wiper shaft (22) mounted in the bearing housing (24) can move a wiper arm to a first end (26). The inventive device also comprises an element (40) which axially supports the wiper shaft (22). According to said invention, the element (40) is embodied in the form of a bridging element.

Claims

1. Windshield wiper device (10), comprising at least one wiper bearing (14) including a bearing housing (24);

a wiper shaft (22) that is mounted in the bearing housing (24) and can bear a wiper arm on a first end (26); and

an element (40) that axially supports the wiper shaft (22), characterized in that the element (40) is embodied as a bridging element including first, second and third planar components (42, 44, 46) spaced along an axis of the wiper shaft (22), a first plurality of connecting pieces (48) extending between the first planar component (42) and the second planar component (44), and a second plurality of connecting pieces (48) extending between the second planar component (44) and the third planar component (46), wherein the second plurality of connecting pieces (48) are offset from the first plurality of connecting pieces (48), characterized in that the bridging element (40) has at least one predetermined breaking point (52), and characterized in that at least one predetermined breaking point (52) is provided in at least one planar component (42, 44, 46), and wherein the at least one predetermined breaking point (52) comprises a reduction in a resistance cross-section of the at least one planar component (42, 44, 46).

2. Windshield wiper device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the wiper shaft (22) has a shoulder (34) and the bridging element (40) is arranged between the bearing housing (24) and the shoulder (34).

3. Windshield wiper device (10) according to claim 2, characterized in that the shoulder (34) is essentially disk-shaped and essentially surrounds the wiper shaft.

4. Windshield wiper device (10) according to claim 2, characterized in that the shoulder (34) is embodied as a single piece with the wiper shaft (22).

5. Windshield wiper device (10) according to claim 2, characterized in that the wiper shaft (22) can be driven by a drive crank (32), which is embodied as a single piece with the shoulder (34) or that serves as a shoulder itself (34).

6. Windshield wiper device (10) according to claim 2, characterized in that the bearing housing (24), the wiper shaft (22) or the shoulder (34) have securing agents (37) to prevent twisting and/or displacement of the bridging element (40).

7. Windshield wiper device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the connecting pieces (48) run diagonal to the wiper shaft (22).

8. Windshield wiper device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the connecting pieces (48) are arranged parallel to the wiper shaft (22).

9. Windshield wiper device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the bridging element (40) is protected from corrosion.

10. Windshield wiper device (10) according to claim 9 wherein the bridging element (40) is made of plastic.

11. Windshield wiper device (10), comprising at least one wiper bearing (14) including a bearing housing (24);

a wiper shaft (22) that is mounted in the bearing housing (24) and can bear a wiper arm on a first end (26); and

an element (40) that axially supports the wiper shaft (22), characterized in that the element (40) is embodied as a bridging element including first, second and third planar components (42, 44, 46) spaced along an axis of the wiper shaft (22), a first plurality of connecting pieces (48) extending between the first planar component (42) and the second planar component (44), and a second plurality of connecting pieces (48) extending between the second planar component (44) and the third planar component (46), wherein the second plurality of connecting pieces (48) are offset from the first plurality of connecting pieces (48), characterized in that the first, second and third planar components (42, 44, 46) are essentially ring-shaped and are coaxial to the wiper shaft, and characterized in that the first plurality of connecting pieces (48) are circumferentially offset from the second plurality of connecting pieces (48), such that the first plurality of connecting pieces (48) do not overlap with the second plurality of connecting pieces.

12. Windshield wiper device (10) according to claim 11, characterized in that the first plurality of connecting pieces comprises at least three connecting pieces (48), and the second plurality of connecting pieces comprises at least three connecting pieces (48), and at least one predetermined breaking point (52) is provided in the second planar component (44) for each of the first and second pluralities of connecting piece (48).

13. Windshield wiper device (10) according to claim 11, characterized in that the bridging element (40) is embodied as a single piece with the bearing housing (24).

14. Windshield wiper device (10) according to claim 11, wherein the first plurality of connecting pieces (48) includes four connecting pieces (48) and the second plurality of connecting pieces (48) includes four connecting pieces (48), such that each of the plurality of connecting pieces (48) is circumferentially offset from adjacent connecting pieces (48) by about 45 degrees.

15. Windshield wiper device (10) according to claim 14, wherein the first plurality of connecting pieces (48) and the second plurality of connecting pieces (48) alternate circumferentially around the second planar component (44), such that the first plurality of connecting pieces (48) are spaced about 90 degrees apart around the wiper shaft, and the second plurality of pieces (48) are spaced about 90 degrees apart around the wiper shaft.