DE10043427A1 - Windscreen wiper has rubber with longitudinal grooves along each side connected to wiper arm by flexible strips which fit into grooves and whose ends fit into plastic adapter on wiper arm which has catches which fit into apertures in strips - Google Patents

Abstract

The windscreen wiper has a rubber (13) with longitudinal grooves (19) along each side. It is connected to the wiper arm (3) by flexible strips (17) which fit into the grooves and whose ends fit into a plastic adapter (9) on the wiper arm. This has catches which fit into apertures in the strips.

Description

The invention relates to a wiper device, in particular for wiping vehicle windows, with a drivable Wiper arm, with a wiper blade arranged on the wiper arm, which is a squeegee with a wiper lip and two each other opposite longitudinal grooves, as well as a support element in the form of two in the longitudinal grooves, band-like includes elongated spring rails, and with a Adapter element for connecting the wiper blade to the Wiper arm. The invention also relates to a wiper blade also an adapter element of such a wiper device.

With such wiping devices this ensures Support element in the form of the two band-like, elongated spring rails optimal distribution of the wiper blade contact pressure emanating from the wiper arm wiping washer. The two spring rails are in the unloaded condition, so if the wiper blade is not on the Disc rests, pre-bent accordingly and have a defined curvature. The spring rails thus replace an elaborate support and claw bracket construction, like it has become known, for example, from DE 15 05 357 A1.

DE 196 27 114 A1 describes a wiper device became known in the beginning. Such  Wiper device has an adapter element made of sheet metal, the is accordingly folded and has sections that the embrace opposite sides of the spring rails. at such wiping devices has in particular Assembly of the adapter element on the wiper blade as complex and highlighted problematic. It is Bend the adapter element before the assembly process, then difficult to insert the wiper blade into the adapter element is possible. It is also conceivable for the adapter element Bend directly against the wiper blade. For this are however, complex folding devices are necessary.

The present invention is therefore based on the object based on providing a wiper device which the remedied disadvantages of the prior art.

This task is the beginning of a wiper described type according to the invention solved in that the Adapter element is designed as a plastic part and that the adapter element has latching sections which are connected to the the spring recesses can be locked are.

The latching sections advantageously latch with the Locking recesses form-fitting, whereby the spring rails securely held on the adapter element with the squeegee can be. Because of the latching are special Tools or components for connecting the Adapter element with the spring rails and the squeegee  not mandatory. The assembly of the adapter element with the Spring rails and with the squeegee is therefore on simple way.

An advantageous embodiment of the invention features differs in that by moving the adapter element in Wiper blade lengthwise the locking sections with the Snap in the notches. By moving it of the adapter element, the adapter element can be along the Spring rails are guided and a functionally reliable Snap the locking sections into the locking recesses be guaranteed.

Another embodiment of the invention provides that the Locking sections each include a locking lug, each on extending in the wiper blade longitudinal direction, elastic deformable tongue is arranged. Such a tongue can be designed to be suitable elastic Features and a reliable and permanent latching of the locking sections in the Guaranteed recesses.

To protect the tongues from tampering or damage protect, can be provided according to the invention that the Tongues extending in the longitudinal direction of the wiper blade Sidewalls of the adapter element are covered.

Another embodiment of the invention stands out characterized in that the locking recesses on each other  opposite sides of the spring rails are arranged. Such recesses offer a secure connection of the adapter element with the spring rails. Continue to leave such recesses in a simple manner realize.

In addition to the spring rail on the adapter element secure, can be provided according to the invention that the Adapter element a back and arranged on the back, right and left next to the long sides facing away from each other the spring rails comprise receiving sections running that reach behind the spring rails and one Recording area for the sides of the Form spring rails.

Advantageously, can also be provided according to the invention be that the spring rails recording recesses for Have recording of the receiving sections, the Receiving sections can be used in the receiving recesses are. This is an assembly of the spring rails with Wiper rubber on the adapter element in a simple manner possible.

By moving the adapter element in Wiper blade longitudinal direction arrive at another Embodiment of the invention sections of the spring rails into the receiving areas of the receiving sections. hereby we attach the spring rails to the adapter element additionally improved. About those in the reception areas  arranged sections of the spring rails can especially on the wiper blade, vertical and transversely attacking forces are absorbed favorably.

Advantageously, can also be provided according to the invention be that between the two spring rails on the There is a fixing element supporting the adapter element, that the spring rails are positive and / or non-positive fixed. Such a fixing element can primarily serve to make a relative movement between the Adapter element and the spring rails in Exclude wiper blade longitudinal direction.

It has proven particularly advantageous here that the spring rails for the positive reception of the Fixing element formations that the Correspond to the surface contour of the fixing element. at Introducing the fixing element into such formations the spring rails are fixed in the longitudinal direction of the wiper blade.

According to the invention it can be provided that the Fixing element on a crossbar of the adapter element supported. Such a crossbar can, for example, two right and left next to the wiper blade mutually facing sides of the spring rails extending Cheeks of the adapter element or the two tongues connect with each other.  

To enable easy mounting of the fixing element, can also be provided that the fixing element the adapter element or is molded onto the web and in a cavity below the fixing element can be pressed between the two spring rails. The Fixing element is in this way on the adapter element or on molded onto the bridge so that a slight pressure is sufficient to to move it into the cavity. By pressing the Fixing element shears this from the adapter element or the Dock. Due to the molding, the fixing element can be the assembly process is not lost.

To securely insert the fixing element between the To ensure both spring rails can be provided that the squeegee is in the appropriate area beforehand is remove.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, this is Fixing element is a fixing pin that has a circular shape Has cross section.

The task mentioned at the beginning is also achieved by a wiper blade as well as by an adapter element one in the previous described wiping device solved.

Further advantageous refinements and details of Invention can be found in the following description, in of the invention with reference to that shown in the drawing Exemplary embodiments are described and explained in more detail.  

Show it:

Fig. 1 shows a wiper device according to the invention in perspective top view,

Fig. 2, the adapter element of the wiper device shown in FIG. 1 in a perspective view obliquely from below,

Fig. 3, the adapter element of Fig. 2 in bottom view,

Fig. 4, two connectable to the adapter element of Fig. 3 the spring rails in a bottom view,

Fig. 5 shows a longitudinal section through the adapter element including spring rail in a pre-assembly position and

Fig. 6 shows a longitudinal section according to FIG. 5 in the mounting position,

Fig. 7, the adapter element of a second embodiment of the invention in a perspective view;

Fig. 8 spring rails for an adapter element according to Fig. 7 and

FIG. 9 shows a cross section through the adapter element according to FIG. 7 together with the squeegee and two spring rails in a perspective view.

In FIG. 1, a wiper device 1 is shown, having a drivable wiper arm 3 having disposed on the wiper arm the wiper blade 5 3. The free end 7 of the wiper arm 3 can be driven to wipe a window, not shown, about an axis, which is also not shown. The wiper device 1 also has an adapter element 9 , which connects the wiper blade 5 to the wiper arm 3 so that it can pivot at least to a limited extent. The adapter element 9 is molded from plastic.

In Fig. 1, only one half of the wiper blade 5 is shown as the second half of the wiper blade 5 is completely covered by the wiper blade 3.

The wiper arm 3 also has a connecting section 11 facing the wiper blade 5 , which is configured in a fork-like manner and laterally engages around the adapter element 9 .

The wiper blade 5 comprises a wiper rubber 13 with a wiper lip 15 facing the window to be wiped, not shown, as well as two band-like elongated spring rails 17 . The spring rails 17 form the support element of the wiper blade 5 and are located in two mutually opposite longitudinal grooves 19 of the wiper rubber 13 . In the unloaded state, that is, when the wiper blade 5 is not in contact with the window to be wiped, the spring rails 17 have a defined curvature due to their pre-bending.

Fig. 2 shows the adapter element 9 as an individual part. The adapter element 9 has a back 21 , the circumferential edge 23 of which, in the assembled state, as can be seen in FIG. 1, connects flush to the surface of the wiper arm 3 . As a result, in particular at higher vehicle speeds, no disadvantageous inflow surfaces are formed which can lead to increased air resistance or wind noise. The adapter element 9 also has two side cheeks 25 . The side cheeks 25 each have two receiving sections 27 , which form receiving areas 29 for the sides of the spring rails 17 to be connected to the adapter element 9 facing away from one another.

As is clear from FIG. 2, the two side cheeks 25 extend in the form of web-like extensions 31 on one side of the adapter element 9 in the longitudinal direction of the wiper blade 5 . Furthermore, a pivot pin 33 is arranged on the outer sides of the side cheeks 25 , about the axis of which the wiper blade 5 can be pivoted at least to a limited extent over the wiper arm 3 . On the side walls 25 there are also projections 35 which serve as a support for contact surfaces arranged on the inside of the wiper arm 3 .

The adapter element 9 also has latching sections 37 , with latching recesses 39 provided on the spring rails 17 , which are shown in FIG. 4, being latchable. The latching sections 37 each comprise a latching lug 41 , which is arranged on an elastically deformed tongue 43 each extending in the longitudinal direction of the wiper blade. The tongues 43 are covered by the side cheeks 25, which extend in the longitudinal direction of the wiper blade and extend laterally next to the tongues 43 , or by the extensions 31 of the adapter element 9 .

In the view according to Fig. 3 are the receiving portions 27 which protrude in the direction of the central longitudinal axis of the adapter element 9, clearly visible. Furthermore, the two tongues 43 , which extend in the longitudinal direction of the adapter element, are shown in FIG. 3. The detents 41 are arranged at the free ends of the tongues 43 .

Fig. 4 shows a preferred embodiment of two spring rails 17 which can be connected to the adapter element 9 . The spring rails 17 each have a latching recess 39 on the sides facing away from one another, into which the latching sections 37 and the latching lugs 41 can be latched. Furthermore, the spring rails 17 provide for receiving recesses 45 of the adapter member 9 suitable for receiving the receiving portions 27th The receiving recesses 45 are slightly larger than the clear areas of the receiving sections 27 shown in FIG. 3. In addition, the distance of the receiving sections 27 from one another in the longitudinal and transverse directions essentially corresponds to the distance from the receiving recesses 45 to one another, so that the receiving sections 27 can be inserted into the receiving recesses 45 .

The latching recesses 39 and the receiving recesses 45 are rectangular. It would also be conceivable to provide round recesses or recesses with rounded corners.

FIG. 5 shows a longitudinal section through the adapter member 9 along its central longitudinal axis. Furthermore, a spring rail 17 is shown in longitudinal section, the section shown running through the latching recess 39 and the two receiving recesses 45 . In the embodiment shown in Fig. 5 preassembly position the spring rail has been inserted vertically from the bottom 17, which is indicated by the arrow 47 in the adapter member 9. For this purpose, the receiving sections 27 were inserted into the receiving recesses 45 . In the illustration of FIG. 5 are therefore the receiving recesses 45 above the receiving portions 27. Furthermore, it can be clearly seen that the detent 41 , which is arranged on the tongue 43 , is pressed in the preassembled position shown by the spring rail 17 in the direction of the upper side of the adapter element.

In a next assembly step, the spring rail 17 or the two spring rails 17 with the wiper rubber 13 arranged thereon are displaced along the arrow 49 in the longitudinal direction of the wiper blade. In this case, in the assembly position, as shown in FIG. 6, the latch 41 engages in the latch recess 39 . Due to the positive connection between locking lugs 41 and locking recesses 39 , the spring rails 17 are secured in the longitudinal direction of the wiper blade. By moving the spring rails 17 into the mounting position shown in FIG. 6, the sections 51 of the spring rails 17 also get into the receiving areas 29 of the receiving sections 27 .

A compound of the adapter element 9 with the spring rails 17 and arranged on the spring rails 17 squeegee 13 can be simply in the described manner and realized without additional aids. For this purpose, the receiving sections 27 only have to be inserted into the receiving recesses 45 . For this purpose, the adapter element 9 is displaced in the longitudinal direction of the wiper blade until the latching lugs 41 engage in the latching recesses 39 .

The adapter element 109 shown in FIG. 7 essentially corresponds to the adapter element 9 . However, the adapter element 109 provides a web 53 which runs transversely to the longitudinal direction of the wiper blade and connects the two tongues 43 to one another. To the web 53, a fixing member is formed in the shape of a fixing pin 55 on the side remote from the squeegee 13. To additionally secure the axial displaceability of the spring rails 17 and the squeegee 13, it is provided to press the fixing pin 55 along the direction of the arrow 57 between the two spring rails 17 .

The spring rails 17 , as shown in FIG. 8, can have recesses 59 in the form of a circular segment, corresponding to the contour of the fixing pin 55 . The assembled, pressed-in fixing pin 55 is then arranged in a form-fitting manner between the cutouts 59 .

FIG. 9 shows a cross section through the fixing pin 55 of the adapter element 109 and the two associated spring rails 17 and the wiper rubber 13 . It can be clearly seen that below the fixing pin 55 , which has not yet been pressed down, there is a cylindrical cavity 61 which is slightly larger in inside diameter than the outside diameter of the fixing pin 55 . The cavity 61 extends between the recesses 59 of the spring rails 17 and also over a section of the wiper rubber 13 .

As is clear from FIG. 9, the fixing pin 55 is molded onto the cross piece 53 in such a way that it shears off along the edge 63 when pressure is applied in the direction of the arrow 57 and completely fills the cavity 61 . The fixing pin 55 can be molded onto the crossbar 53 in such a way that it can be pressed into the cavity 61 by hand force in the direction of the arrow 57 .

The crossbar 53 lies with its underside on the top of the two spring rails 17 . In this area, the back of the squeegee 13 is removed.

Because the fixing pin 55 completely fills the cavity 61 , it is no longer possible to move the spring rails 17 in the longitudinal direction of the wiper blade. On the spring rails 17 acting longitudinal forces are transferred to the depressed, that are available in the cavity 61 positioning pin 55 which is supported on the crosspiece 53, directed to the connecting element 109th Such an embodiment has the advantage that a displacement of the spring rails 17 in the longitudinal direction is prevented in a simple manner, without the need for further components when installing a wiper device according to the invention.

As an alternative to the embodiment of the invention described in FIGS. 7 to 9, it is also conceivable for cutouts 59 in the spring rails 17 to be omitted. Instead of a described positive connection between the fixing element 55 and the recesses 59 of the spring strips 17 can 17 is a displaceability of the spring rails are suppressed in the wiper blade longitudinal direction 17 via a frictional connection between the fixing element 55 and the spring rails. Such an embodiment has the advantage that the cutouts 59 are omitted.

A combination of a positive and a non-positive arrangement of the fixing element between the two spring rails 17 is also conceivable.

All in the description, the following claims and Features shown in the drawing can be both individually,  as well as in any combination with each other be essential to the invention.

Claims (15)

1. Wiper device ( 1 ), in particular for wiping vehicle windows, with a drivable wiper arm ( 3 ), with a wiper blade ( 5 ) arranged on the wiper arm ( 3 ), which has a wiper rubber ( 13 ) with a wiper lip ( 15 ) and two each other opposite longitudinal grooves ( 19 ), and a support element in the form of two in the longitudinal grooves, band-like elongated spring rails ( 17 ), and with an adapter element ( 9 , 109 ) for connecting the wiper blade ( 5 ) to the wiper arm ( 3 ), thereby characterized in that the adapter element ( 9 , 109 ) is designed as a plastic part and that the adapter element ( 9 , 109 ) has latching sections ( 37 , 41 ) which can be latched with the latching recesses ( 39 ) provided on the spring rails ( 17 ). 2. Wiper device ( 1 ) according to claim 1, characterized in that by moving the adapter element ( 9 , 109 ) in the longitudinal direction of the wiper blade, the latching sections ( 37 , 41 ) latch with the latching recesses ( 39 ). 3. Wiper device ( 1 ) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the latching sections ( 39 ) each comprise a latching lug ( 41 ) which is arranged on an elastically deformable tongue ( 43 ) extending in the longitudinal direction of the wiper blade. 4. Wiper device ( 1 ) according to claim 3, characterized in that the tongues ( 43 ) of side cheeks ( 25 ) of the adapter element ( 9 , 109 ) extending in the longitudinal direction of the wiper blade are covered. 5. Wiper device ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the latching recesses ( 39 ) are arranged on the sides of the spring rails ( 27 ) facing away from one another. 6. Wiper device ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the adapter element ( 9 , 109 ) has a back ( 21 ) and on the back ( 21 ), right and left next to the mutually facing longitudinal sides of the spring rails ( 17 ) extends receiving sections ( 27 ) which engage behind the spring rails ( 17 ) and form a receiving region ( 29 ) for the sides of the spring rails ( 17 ) facing away from one another. 7. wiper device (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that the spring rails have (17) receiving recesses (45) for receiving the receptacle portions (27), wherein the receiving portions (27) are insertable into the receiving recesses (45). 8. wiper device ( 1 ) according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that by moving the adapter element ( 9 , 109 ) in the wiper blade longitudinal direction ( 51 ) sections of the spring rails ( 17 ) get into the receiving areas ( 29 ) of the receiving sections ( 27 ). 9. wiper device ( 1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that between the two spring rails ( 17 ) on the adapter element ( 109 ) supporting fixing element ( 55 ) is present, which the spring rails ( 17 ) form and / or non-positively fixed. 10. Wiper device ( 1 ) according to claim 9, characterized in that the spring rails ( 17 ) for the positive reception of the fixing element ( 55 ) have formations ( 59 ) which correspond to the surface contour of the fixing element ( 55 ). 11. Wiper device ( 1 ) according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the fixing element ( 55 ) is supported on a transverse web ( 53 ) of the adapter element ( 109 ). 12. Wiper device ( 1 ) according to one of claims 9, 10 or 11, characterized in that the fixing element ( 55 ) is integrally formed on the adapter element ( 109 ) or on the web ( 53 ) and by one below the fixing element ( 55 ) existing cavity ( 61 ) of the adapter element ( 109 ) between the two spring rails ( 17 ) can be pressed. 13. Wiper device ( 1 ) according to one of claims 9 to 12, characterized in that the fixing element ( 55 ) is a fixing pin which has a circular cross section. 14. Wiper blade ( 5 ) for a wiper device ( 1 ) according to at least one of the preceding claims. 15. adapter element ( 9 , 109 ) for a wiper device ( 1 ) or for a wiper blade ( 5 ) according to at least one of the preceding claims.