DE10305322B4 - wiper blade - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention is based on a wiper blade (10) with at least one first connection part (30) which is fastened on a support element (16) and has at its end, which points to the outer end of the wiper blade (10), a transverse direction to the wiper blade (10 ) and parallel to a vehicle window extending hinge axis (36) which in a longitudinal direction of the wiper blade (10) open hub (64) of a second, on a wiper arm (52, 66, 78) attached to the connecting part (50, 92) is mounted when the wiper blade (10) on the wiper arm (52, 66, 78) is mounted, wherein the first connection part (30) in the second connection part (50, 92) guided laterally and through the hub (64) and opposite to the opening of the Hub (64) directed abutment (42, 43) about the hinge axis (36) limited pivotally. It is proposed that the hub (64, 70) to the drive side of the wiper arm is open and the second connection part (50, 68, 92) covers a guide block (34) of the first connection part (30) from above and laterally, wherein the to the drive side facing end side of the guide block (34) is provided a bearing surface (42) of the thrust bearing, which is supported on a wischarmseitigen bearing surface (43) of the thrust bearing.

Description

State of the art

The invention is based on a wiper blade according to the preamble of claim 1.

Known windshield wipers have a wiper arm, usually consisting of a fastening part which sits on a wiper shaft, and a joint part with a wiper rod which is pivotally connected via a hinged joint with the fastening part. There are also joint-free wiper arms are known in which the hinged joint is eliminated and its function is replaced by the elasticity of the wiper arm. A wiper motor drives the wiper shaft. A wiper blade is hinged to the free end of the wiper arm. It usually has a multi-member suspension system with a center bracket. At this subordinate bracket are hinged, of which at least some hold with claws at their ends a wiper strip.

There are also joint-free wiper blades are known, which have a perpendicular to the vehicle window resilient, elastic support member instead of the support bracket system, which is usually made of plastic. To improve the spring characteristic, it may have at least one spring rail of spring steel. The support member has in the unloaded state a greater curvature than the vehicle window, so that the wiper strip rests under the contact pressure of the wiper arm with a suitable pressure distribution to the vehicle window. Articulated wiper blades build very low, which is very favorable in terms of their fluidic behavior and the noise in the wind. In addition, they can be stored conveniently behind the body parts in the breaks, z. B. in a hood column between a hood and a windshield or behind a suitably shaped A-pillar on the side edge of the windshield. A wiper arm with a wiper blade is also referred to as a wiper lever.

From the DE 199 14 413 A1 a windshield wiper is known, the wiper arm is articulated releasably at its free end via a connecting device to a joint-free wiper blade. The connecting device has a first connection part, which is fastened on a support element of the wiper blade and has on its front side a hinge axis in the form of two laterally arranged bearing journals. At its opposite end of the hinge axis, the first connection part has bearing surfaces which point to the hinge axis and form an abutment with bearing surfaces on a second connection part. The second connection part has on its front side an open hub, which is provided in lateral guide walls, and in which the bearing journals of the first connection part are mounted in the mounted state. The second connector is attached laterally to the open hub on a wiper arm. The open hub has parallel offset to the wiper arm in the direction of its free end, so that the attached to the wiper blade first connector can be pushed parallel to the wiper arm between the lateral guide walls of the second connector until the lateral bearing pins come to the bearing surfaces of the open hub to the plant , During assembly, the abutment bearing surfaces, which are laterally resiliently arranged on spring tongues of the first connection part, pressed inward and are again elastically outwardly back to the old position as soon as they have passed the corresponding bearing surfaces on the second connection part. The bearing surfaces of the hinge axis or the open hub and the bearing surfaces of the corresponding abutment are arranged on the longitudinal sides of the connecting parts and narrow. Further, the wiper blade can rotate in a Abklappstellung of the wiper arm about the hinge axis, so that the bearing surfaces of the abutment disengage and the hinge pin can slide out of the open hub. Further, the hub is open to the front of the hinge device, so that the hinge axis and the corresponding bearing surfaces are unprotected against the weather.

From the DE 199 35 860 A1 a windshield wiper is known, the wiper arm is articulated releasably at its free end via a connecting device to a joint-free wiper blade. The connecting device has a first connecting part made of plastic, which is fastened on a support element of the wiper blade and has a hinge axis in the form of two laterally arranged bearing journals. The bearing journals are flattened transversely to the wiper blade and mounted in an open hub of a second connecting part, which is fastened to the wiper arm. The opening of the hub faces the outer end of the wiper blade and is narrower than the largest diameter of the bearing journals. However, these can be pushed into the hub due to their flattening through the opening when the wiper blade assumes a position rotated by about 90 degrees to the wiper arm. If the wiper blade is pivoted to its operating position, the journals are locked in the open hub.

The first connecting element has at its end facing the bearing pin a latching hook, the hook surface cooperates in the assembled state with the outside of the wischarmseitigen connection part, so that it can perform only a limited pivotal movement about the hinge axis and can not leave the locked position. In a pivoting movement of the connecting parts within the given limits, the hook surface lifts more or less from the Outside of the second connection part from and the latching hook projects beyond the contour of the second connection part. Therefore, the connection device is indeed well suited for a so-called sidelock connection between a wiper blade and a wiper arm, in which the wiper arm extends laterally of the wiper blade and firmly connected to the second connector part, but not for a so-called toplock connection, in which Wiper arm in the direction of the wiper blade and partially disposed above this.

It is an object of the invention to provide a comparison with the prior art improved wiper blade. This object is achieved by a wiper blade according to the main claim.

Advantages of the invention

According to the invention, the hub is open to the drive side of the wiper arm and the second connection part covers a guide block of the first connection part from above and laterally, wherein on the side facing the drive side end face of the guide block, a bearing surface of the abutment is provided, which is located on a wischarmseitige bearing surface of the Abutment supports.

The hinge axis and the bearing surfaces of the thrust bearing are well shielded by the second connection part against contamination and unfavorable weather conditions, since the required movement gaps from the second connection part have covered to the vehicle window. Further, the wiper blade can be easily mounted on the wiper arm, because it does not need to be rotated 90 degrees, since the opening of the hub can be chosen larger than the largest diameter of the appropriately designed as a bearing roller hinge axis because of the anvil, which causes the lock , The bearing surfaces on the bearing roller, which can extend over the entire width of the first connecting part, and the corresponding bearing surfaces on the open hub are large and therefore specifically low load, so that there is a low wear and a long life. Similar conditions can be achieved in the region of the anvil at the other end of the connecting device.

In order to prevent inadvertent release of the wiper blade in the Abklappstellung the wiper arm, it is expedient that relative to the bearing surface on the guide block at least one latching hook is arranged, the locking lug extends to an upper boundary of the guide block and in the mounted position of the wiper blade with a wiper arm-side locking element cooperates, which may extend to a lower boundary of the guide block and thereby allows a limited pivotal movement of the connecting part about the hinge axis. The achievable swivel angle is determined by the provided at the end of the latching hook locking lug and a stop on the wiper arm-side locking element, the z. B. can be advantageously formed by a limitation of a slot or by a transverse web of a T-shaped tab or a connecting web between two side walls. The latching hook can be easily unlocked by an over the contour of the second connector outward leading button.

The first connection part can be attached directly to the support element, for. B. be clipped. Then only the two connecting parts are required for the articulated connection of the wiper blade to the wiper arm. However, it is also possible to releasably connect the first connection part with a fastening element which is fastened on the support element. For this purpose, the first connection part engage with detents on its inner sides in the manner of a clip connection in recesses or openings of the fastening element, which is advantageously placed as a sheet metal claw on the support element. Thus, the first connection element is also suitable for wiper blades, in which a sheet metal claw is already provided for other applications.

The solution according to the invention is also suitable for joint-free wiper blades, in which a spoiler is provided on the support element in the longitudinal direction on both sides of the first connection part in order to increase the contact pressure on the wiper blade at high speeds of travel. In this case, the first connector on a guide block, which is arranged on the upstream side of the spoiler. Further, corresponding to the adjacent areas of the spoiler corresponding connection profiles of the first connection part, so that there is a closed, aerodynamic spoiler surface.

The second connection part can advantageously be configured both for a so-called toplock connection and for a sidelock connection between wiper blade and wiper arm. In this case, it is possible to design the second connecting part in two parts, wherein expediently one part comprises the important functional parts for the joint, namely the open hub and the abutment surface, while the other part has the connecting elements for the wiper arm. Both parts are firmly connected to each other after their manufacture, z. B. by riveting, gluing, welding, crimping, casting.

In the case of a toplock connection, the functional elements, the hub and / or the abutment surfaces, can be formed directly on the wiper arm. If the second connection part and / or the wiper arm produced in sheet metal bending, the open hub can be formed by a corresponding punched and bent tab of a sheet metal bracket, which at its other end z. B. by crimping is attached to the wiper arm. In this case, a bearing surface can be provided on an angled to a tab end of the wiper arm, which must have a defined distance to the bearing surface of the hub.

The tab with the abutment surface, regardless of whether it is integrated in the second connection part provided on a separately manufactured part of the second connection part or formed by the end of the wiper arm, expediently have the latching elements for the latching hook of the first connection part, namely a slot or a T-shaped end. This results in a very compact design. If the wiper arm itself is produced in a sheet metal bending punching process, it is possible to integrate the second connection part with its functional parts completely into the wiper arm.

drawing

Further advantages emerge from the following description of the drawing. In the drawings, embodiments of the invention are shown. The drawing, the description and the claims contain numerous features in combination. The person skilled in the art will expediently also consider the features individually and combine them into meaningful further combinations.

Show it:

1 a perspective view of a wiper blade with a mounted metal claw,

2 a perspective view of a cap,

3 a perspective view of a sheet metal bracket,

4 a partial longitudinal section through a wiper rod with a sheet metal bracket and mounted on a sheet metal claw cap,

5 a variant too 4 .

6 a section corresponding to the line VI-VI in 4 , but without sheet metal bracket,

7 a variant too 3 .

8th a cap suitable for execution 7 and

9 another variant too 3 ,

Description of the embodiments

A wiper blade 10 has a wiper strip 14 with a wiper lip 12 attached to a support element 16 is attached. This includes two spring strips, which are in the wiper strip 14 are admitted and in an unloaded state have a greater curvature than a vehicle window, not shown, for which they are designed and at the wiper lip 12 glides along during operation. On the support element 16 is immediately a spoiler 18 on both sides of a fastener 20 attached. The fastener 20 is designed as a metal claw. It has upstanding side walls 22 and claws 24 with which it is on the support element 16 is attached. openings 26 and 28 in the sidewalls 22 serve to fasten a first connection part 30 ( 2 ) by locking lugs 76 ( 6 ) on the insides of the first connector 30 in the openings 26 . 28 intervention. For other applications, the openings may 26 also serve for the storage of a joint axis.

The first connection part 30 , the alternative also directly as the spoiler 18 on the support element 16 can be attached to the fastener 20 put on, with the locking lugs 76 in the appropriate openings 26 . 28 engage. This is followed by connection profiles 32 of the first connection part 30 harmonious with the profile of the spoiler 18 on, so that there is a streamlined, continuous Spoilerfläche.

On the upstream side of the spoiler 18 owns the first connection part 30 a leader block 34 , On its side walls 38 are guide ribs 40 provided by the guide block 34 just in the space between side walls 60 . 62 a second connection part 50 ( 3 ) can be fitted and is guided almost free of play. The second connection part 50 in the form of a sheet metal bracket is on a wiper rod designed as a wiper arm end 52 fastened by its end 54 the wiper arm 52 includes and is crimped with this. For this purpose, has the wiper arm 52 in the area of the end 54 Wells. The second connection part 50 covers the leader block 34 from above and from the side, thus protecting the joint against harmful external influences. Furthermore, this results in a visually and fluidically good, closed design.

The second connection part 50 has at its outer end a hub 64 to the wiper arm 52 is open and in the mounted position ( 4 ) formed as a bearing roller hinge axis 36 at the front of the guide block 34 includes. So that the hinge axis 36 not unintentionally from the open hub 64 can slip, owns the guide block 34 at its the hinge axis 36 facing away from a storage area 42 that are on a storage area 43 at one with the wiper arm 52 firmly connected part supports. The storage areas 42 . 43 form an abutment, which is the bearing function of the open hub 64 in the region of their opening, so that the opening can be larger than the largest bearing diameter of the joint axis 36 , The counter bearing 42 . 43 is from the sidewalls 60 . 62 laterally covered and protected.

In the support position, the second connection part 50 by a latching hook 46 locked, the opposite of the storage area 42 at the guide block 34 is formed. The latching hook 46 ranges from the lower limit of the guide block 34 up to the area of the upper limit and has at this end a detent 47 , with locking elements in the form of a tab 56 with a long hole 58 works together. The tab 56 is directly or indirectly on the wiper arm 52 attached. In the embodiment according to 3 will be the tab 56 through an angled end of the wiper arm 52 educated. During assembly, the joint axis 36 into the open hub 64 introduced and the tab 56 when swiveling the wiper blade 10 around the hinge axis 36 in the space between the storage area 42 and the latching hook 46 pressed so that the latching hook 46 with his catch 47 in the slot 58 locks. In the assembled state, the pivoting movement of the wiper blade 10 through the outer boundary 59 the long hole 58 limited, in which in an outer extreme position, the locking lug 47 applies, while in an inner extreme position, the second connection part 50 at the back of the guide block 34 is applied. The tab 56 is by margins 44 at the guide block 34 laterally covered and guided. For disassembly of the latch hook 46 by means of a button 48 be unlocked, the latching hook 46 is molded and laterally over the contour of the second connection part 50 leads to the outside.

In the execution after 3 and 4 becomes the open hub 64 from a tab of the sheet metal bracket 50 formed, which is angled inward and bent accordingly, while the other tab 56 at the storage area 43 is arranged for the anvil, by an angled end of the wiper arm 52 is formed. This is different from the execution 5 in that the hub 70 and the tab 72 together on a sheet metal bracket 68 are provided by the fastening means 74 with the wiper arm 66 connected is. After a variant not shown, the hub 70 and the tab 72 form a component that with a component of the second connection part 50 that the side walls 60 . 62 includes, to a sheet metal bracket 50 or 68 is connected. In principle, the components made of sheet metal can also be replaced by plastic injection molded parts.

In the execution after 7 and 8th owns this as a tab 80 bent end of the wiper arm 78 a T-shaped figure with a central bar 84 and a crossbar 82 , The crossbar 82 is used during assembly of the first connection part 30 in the second connection part 50 between the storage area 42 and the mutually parallel latching hooks 86 and 88 pushed so that the latching hook 86 and 88 on both sides of the central pier 84 with their catch noses 47 in an outer extreme position on the crosspiece 82 abut and so the rotational movement of the second connection part 50 around the hinge axis 36 limit. The locking hooks 86 . 88 can by means of a button 90 be unlocked.

In the execution of the second connection part in the form of a sheet metal bracket 92 to 9 is at the wischarmseitigen end of the sheet metal bracket 92 between the side walls 94 . 96 a connecting bridge 98 provided, on which the storage area 42 of the first connection part 30 supported, and on which the latch hook 46 respectively. 86 and 88 with their catch noses 47 engage.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

wiper blade

12

wiper lip

14

wiper strip

16

supporting member

18

spoiler

20

fastener

22

side cheek

24

claw

26

opening

28

opening

30

first connection part

32

connection profile

34

guide block

36

joint axis

38

Side wall

40

guide rib

42

storage area

43

storage area

44

margin

46

latch hook

47

locking lug

48

button

50

sheet metal bracket

52

wiper arm

54

The End

56

flap

58

Long hole

59

attack

60

Side wall

62

Side wall

64

hub

66

wiper arm

68

sheet metal bracket

70

hub

72

flap

74

fastener

76

locking lug

78

wiper arm

80

flap

82

crosspiece

84

center web

86

latch hook

88

latch hook

90

button

92

sheet metal bracket

94

Side wall

96

Side wall

98

connecting web

Claims (15)

Wiper blade ( 10 ) with at least one first connection part ( 30 ) mounted on a support element ( 16 ) and at its end that to the outer end of the wiper blade ( 10 ), one transverse to the wiper blade ( 10 ) and parallel to a vehicle window extending hinge axis ( 36 ) in a longitudinal direction of the wiper blade ( 10 ) open hub ( 64 . 70 ) of a second, on a wiper arm ( 52 . 66 . 78 ) fastened connection part ( 50 . 60 . 92 ) is stored when the wiper blade ( 10 ) on the wiper arm ( 52 . 66 . 78 ), wherein the first connection part ( 30 ) in the second connection part ( 50 . 60 . 92 ) guided laterally and through the hub ( 64 . 70 ) and one opposite the opening of the hub ( 64 . 70 ) directed abutment about the hinge axis ( 36 ) Limits is pivotally supported, characterized in that the hub ( 64 . 70 ) to the drive side of the wiper arm ( 52 . 66 . 78 ) is open and the second connection part ( 50 . 68 . 92 ) a guide block ( 34 ) of the first connection part ( 30 ) is covered from above and laterally, wherein on the drive side facing end face of the guide block ( 34 ) a storage area ( 42 ) of the abutment, which is located on a wischarmseitigen bearing surface ( 43 ) of the abutment is supported. Wiper blade ( 10 ) According to claim 1, characterized in that the guide block ( 34 ) on its front side as a joint axis ( 36 ) has a molded-on bearing roller. Wiper blade ( 10 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that opposite the storage area ( 42 ) on the guide block ( 34 ) at least one latching hook ( 46 . 86 . 88 ) is arranged, the locking lug ( 47 ) up to an upper limit of the guide block ( 34 ) and in the mounted position of the wiper blade ( 10 ) with a wiper arm-side locking element ( 58 . 80 ), whose attack ( 59 . 82 ) to a lower boundary of the guide block ( 34 ) and thereby a limited pivoting movement of the second connecting part ( 50 . 92 ) about the hinge axis ( 36 ) allows. Wiper blade ( 10 ) according to claim 3, characterized in that the latching hook ( 46 . 86 . 88 ) with a button ( 48 . 90 ) connected via the contour of the second connection part ( 50 . 92 ) protrudes outwards. Wiper blade ( 10 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the guide block ( 34 ) on its side walls ( 38 ) Guide ribs ( 40 ) owns. Wiper blade ( 10 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first connection part ( 30 ) on one on the support element ( 16 ) seated fastener ( 20 ) is releasably attached. Wiper blade ( 10 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the longitudinal direction on both sides of the fastening element ( 20 ) a spoiler ( 18 ) on the support element ( 16 ) is mounted, to which the cap formed as the first connection part ( 30 ) with connection profiles ( 32 ), whereby the guide block ( 34 ) on the upstream side of the spoiler ( 18 ) runs. Wiper blade ( 10 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second connection part ( 50 . 68 . 92 ) is a sheet metal bracket, the side walls ( 60 . 62 . 94 . 96 ) for guiding the guide block ( 34 ) and on its front an open hub ( 64 . 70 ) in the form of a bent tab. Wiper blade ( 10 ) according to claim 8, characterized in that the sheet metal bracket ( 50 ) a tab ( 56 . 80 ) with a storage area ( 43 ), at which the storage area ( 42 ) of the first connection part ( 30 ) is supported. Wiper blade ( 10 ) according to claim 8, characterized in that the tab ( 56 ) a slot ( 58 ), in which the latch hook ( 46 ) with its catch ( 47 ) intervenes. Wiper blade ( 10 ) According to claim 8, characterized in that the tab ( 80 ) is designed T-shaped at its free end, wherein the latching hooks ( 86 . 88 ) on a crosspiece ( 82 ) on both sides of a central pier ( 84 ) the tab ( 80 ). Wiper blade ( 10 ) according to one of claims 8 to 11, characterized in that at least one tab ( 50 . 80 ) is formed on a separate component which is fixed to the sheet metal bracket ( 50 ) connected is. Wiper blade ( 10 ) according to one of claims 8 to 12, characterized in that a angled end of the wiper arm ( 52 . 78 ) the tab ( 50 . 80 ). Wiper blade ( 10 ) according to one of claims 8 to 12, characterized in that the sheet metal bracket ( 50 ) in one piece on the wiper arm ( 52 . 66 . 78 ) is formed. Wiper blade ( 10 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the wiper arm ( 52 . 66 . 78 ) in extension of the guide block ( 34 ) runs.

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