DE2701350A1 - CONNECTOR DEVICE - Google Patents

Description

27 624

PATENT LAWYERS

or. ing. II. NEGENDANK (-iO73> · dipl-ing. II. IIAUCK · dii ^ -phys. W. SCHMITZ NCLKGRAALrS · dipl-ino. W. WEHNERT · dipl-jhys. W. CARSTENS

UAMBUHG-MUNICH 27013 50

ADDRESS FOR SERVICE: 200O NAMBURG 3β NEUKK WALL 41 TKtBFON (010) 30 7128 AND 30 41 18

C. TBLXOR. NKGBDAPATBNT HAMIIUKO

Monroe Belgium NV βοοο Munich 2 mozartstr. 23

TBLKFON (Ο8Θ) 3 38 0.1 SO SchUUrhOVenveld tblbor. vbobdapatbnt mCnchbn

Sint-Truiden, BELGIUM Hamburg. January 13, 1977

Connector device

The invention relates generally to connector devices for effectively connecting windshield wiper assemblies to the associated windshield wiper arms. More particularly, the invention is directed to a new and improved connector device by which a number of different kinds can be attached by hook-shaped Wischerarmendabschnitten to an associated wiper blade, so that such wiper blades at each of these wiper arms are generally usable and useful.

It is accordingly the object of the invention to provide a new and improved connector device which can be universally used with various types of hooked wiper arm ends.

A special feature of the invention is that this universally usable wiper blade connector according to the above description can be used together with hook-shaped wiper arms which are provided with notches or slots.

809809/0627 -2-

BABK AO. UIHU (al * aOOTOOOU) im. 00/28407 - DIOD (IIH BAU * AO. IfAMBDBO (BU 20080000t BB. 9330033 rO * TM. * KCK MWB. M42-20

■ t /.

The invention has the further advantage that the improved Wischerarmverbindervorrichtung of the above type can be made from a one-piece Kunststoffgußkonstruktion and easily assembled in the associated wiper blade bridge structure.

Another special feature of the invention is that the connector means comprises Wischerarmhalteeinrichtungen, which may be either deformable or rigid, in order to allow the various types of installation and disassembly.

The new and improved connector apparatus according to the invention is also of simple construction, which can be produced economically, and has a long life in operation.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings:

Show it:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective illustration of a typical section of a wiper blade bridge construction with an associated hook-shaped wiper arm end section according to the prior art;

809809/0627

- J!

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of three different types of wiper arms, with to which the present invention can be effectively associated;

PIG. Figure 3 is an enlarged side view of the connector device according to the invention;

PIG. Figure 4 is a plan view of the device shown in Figure 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view similar to that of FIG. 1, but showing the connector device according to the invention when effectively arranged on the wiper blade structure;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the FIG. shown construction when showing various Components of the same in fully assembled condition, and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the construction shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, which however shows a different way of assembling and disassembling the components thereof.

Reference will now be made in detail to the drawings taken.

809809/0627

• jf-

1 shows part of a typical bridge construction 10 of a windshield wiper blade of generally inverted U-shaped cross section with spaced parallel side sections 12 and 14 which form an opening 16 between them. As is well known in the art, the opening is generally equidistant from the opposite ends of the blade insert and capable of _; cooperate with the outer or terminal end portion 18 of a typical pivoting or reciprocating wiper arm, indicated generally by the reference numeral 20. The wiper arm end portion 18 is generally referred to as a "hook shape" and includes an inverted shaped portion 22 having a leg portion 24 spaced parallel to the arm and forming a recess 26 therewith. The leg portion 24 is provided with a slot 26, the function of which is described below. The end section 18 is able to receive a transverse cross pin or rivet 30 in a nest-like manner in its recess 26, on which a fork-shaped spring clip 32 is arranged. The clamp 32 includes leg portions 34, 36, one or both of which have a spring lip 38 that can cooperate with the wiper arm slot 26 to releasably retain the end portion 18 which attaches to the bridge structure 10 and thus to the entire wiper blade assembly (not shown) is. When it is desired to detach the arm 20 from the wiper blade, the spring leg portions

809809/0627

-5-

V-

34, 36 acted upon together, whereby the spring lip 38 be withdrawn via the spring lips from the slot 28 to the end portion 18 and the wiper blade a To allow movement relative to one another and to remove the cross pin 30 from the wiper arm recess 26 to obtain.

Together with the type of wiper arm end according to the above description, which is denoted by 40 in FIG. 2 and has an inverted leg 46 and a retaining slot 52, the prior art also includes hook-shaped Wiper arms 42 and 44 with inversely shaped legs 48 and 50, respectively, as can be seen from FIG. The arm 42 is with two lateral notches 54, while the arm 44 is provided with two arcuate fingers 56, 58 which Form a central retaining notch 60 between them.

It should of course be noted that the aforementioned spring clip 32 shown in Figure 1, while working satisfactorily for securing arms 20 and 40 to bridge structure 10, is not suitable for wiper arms 42 and 44 and is therefore required makes that the associated wiper blades must be provided with entirely different types of brackets when they are used with the arms 42, 44 together. As a result, there is a considerable doubling in the production of numbered spare parts, in warehousing , etc. , if different types of hook-shaped wiper arm are used.

809809/0627

borrowed connector assemblies are required.

Generally speaking, the present invention is directed to a new and improved connector device which is intended to be used when attaching not just a single type of wiper arm 20, 40, 42 or 44 to the bridge structure 10 exercise their function, but with each and every one of these arms. Thus this is the only device universally applicable to the above-mentioned objectionable features of the duplication in the known connector assemblies to avoid, which were only designed for a single arm type.

Reference will now be made in detail to FIGS. 3-7, in which a wiper arm tie-up device 62 according to FIG a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown; this is preferably, but not necessarily, of one integrally molded plastic material such as made of glass fiber reinforced plastic. The device 62 generally includes two spaced apart in parallel Side sections 64 bounded by lower edges 66 and arcuate upper edges 68, the edges 66, generally correspond to the shape of the side sections 12, 14, when the device 62 according to the invention is arranged in its working position inside the same, i.e. a Forms lining for the associated bridge construction 10, as can best be seen from FIGS. 3 and 4. at this arrangement within the structure 10 are the

809809/0627 -7-

Side portions 64 of the device or liner 62 adjacent thereto with the insides of the bridge side portions 12, 14 in engagement, in such a position that they are in the middle with the bridge opening 16 align as shown in the drawing. The side sections 64 are through at their opposite ends transverse end portions 70, 72 integrally connected, whereby the device 62 is generally cuboid Get construction that is recessed or grooved at each of its four upper corners.

The left end of the chuck 62 (as shown in Figures 3 and 4) is arranged with a transverse direction Shoulder 76 is provided, which is suitable for cooperation with one end of the opening 16. The opposite (Right) end of the chuck 62 is provided with a deformable or elastic retaining lug 78, which can is to lock the chuck 62 in place within the opening 16 when the device 62 is inserted into the opening 16 from the underside of the bridge construction 10 in an upward direction.

Between the side sections 64 there extends in the transverse direction a single element 80 for interaction with the end of the viper arm, which has the same function as the above-mentioned cross pin 30 and is suitable for being received in a nest-like manner in the recess of the associated wiper arm end section, as can best be seen in FIG. 3. The element 80 is preferably oval-shaped in cross section and unid

809809/0627

-8th-

can be provided with a central hole as shown be. Adjacent to the element 80 is a transverse rod 82 which is arranged parallel to the element 80 and similar to the element 80, with the inner sides of the sections 64 is integrally connected. The rod 82 is in able to limit the relative pivoting movement between the wiper blade and the wiper arm and therefore opposite accidental release of the sheet from the arm to back up.

In accordance with the principles of the invention, at least one of the side portions 64 is provided with means that a associated wiper arm end, such as the arm end 18, for example, necessarily keep in engagement with the element 80. One Such a device is given in the form of a retaining pin 84, which is mounted like a cantilever on a side section 64, such as at 86 by being formed integrally therewith and through a generally U-shaped slot in the Side section 64 is limited. The boom end of the body 84 is for reasons to be described hereinafter are, elastic or deformable, extend within the liner 64 and have an inclined face 90 on. It should be noted that the longitudinal distance between the surface 90 and the element 80 for engaging the arm is less than the length of the leg 24 of the wiper arm end section 18, whereby the pin body 84 the wiper arm end section 18 inevitably holds in engagement with the chuck 62 and thus a safeguard against unintentional release

809809/0627 -9-

of the entire wiper blade installation from the wiper arm 20 forms.

In order to assemble the wiper blade installation including the bridge structure 10 on the wiper arm 20 to carry out, the bridge structure 10 and the wiper arm 20 are each in the positions shown in FIG arranged. Then the bridge is built 10 in Moved in the direction of arrow 1, so that the wiper arm end portion 18 moves within the chuck 62. the Bridge construction 10 is then pivoted or generally rotated in the direction of arrow 2 in Fig. 4, and finally the bridge structure 10 is in the longitudinal direction of the wiper arm 20, i.e. in the direction of arrow 3 in Fig. 4, whereupon the element 80 moves into the recess 26 of the end portion 18 is moved in and the attachment body or tab 84 is deflected outward and then due to the elasticity of the material from which the lining is made, moves inwards and therefore inevitably holds the wiper arm 20 in the correct working position in which it cooperates with the bridge structure 10. Around to achieve an expansion of the bridge structure 10 and thus the entire wiper blade installation of the wiper arm, the procedure described above is merely reversed, with the operator manually opening the body or Tab 84 depressed to release the wiper arm end portion 18 of the element 80 to enable.

-10- 809809/0627

- ψ-

Fig. 7 shows an optional way of assembling and disassembling the bridge structure 10 from the wiper arm 20 which eliminates the need to depress the tab 84 either during installation or removal. In particular, the bridge structure 10 and D & R wiper arm 20 are initially aligned with the solid lines, and the bridge construction 10 is moved in the direction of arrow 1 in Fig. 7 in the position shown. The bridge structure 10 is then pivoted in the direction of arrow 2, after which the bridge structure 10 is moved in the direction of arrow 3 in the longitudinal direction. The bridge construction 10 is then moved in the direction of the arrow 4 relative to the wiper arm 20 and finally in the direction of the wedge 5, causing the recess 26 of the end section 18 to interact with the element 80, as described above. This procedure can only be reversed to effect removal.

It should be noted that when installing or removing the tab 64 in accordance with the method shown in FIG to its elastic or deformable nature can be rigidly formed in the lining 62, since it is not needs to be pressed down by hand. Alternatively, the body 84 could also directly in the known Brückenkonstrukticη be formed, and in this case all of the lining 62 did not need to be used.

809809/0627 -11-

Accordingly, the scope of the invention is not necessarily limited to the use of the feed per se, nor to the use of an attachment body or flap in connection with the element 80 for detecting the wiper arm, the flap being elastic in nature.

From the above it will be seen that the present invention provides a novel arrangement by which various Types of hook-shaped wiper arm ends can be used in a single wiper blade installation. This is achieved due to the fact that the known teder-like hooks, as shown at 32 in Fig. 1, by the creation of the Body 84 come to an end. The invention accordingly provides an apparatus by which a number of different Types of hook-shaped wiper arms can be used in a single wiper blade installation, thereby reducing the manufacturing, Warehousing and similar costs are minimized.

Although the preferred embodiment of the invention disclosed herein fully meets the features and advantages mentioned above, it is apparent that the invention can be modified and changed without departing from the actual The scope or meaning of the appended claims.

-12- 809809/062?

Claims (13)

2 7 01 3 S C) CLAIMS 1.) Connector device for the releasable connection of a Windshield wiper blade installation with an associated wiper arm, which has a hook-shaped Having end portion, characterized in that the device is a pair spaced apart from one another Contains held side sections on the opposite longitudinal sides of the wiper mounting bridge structure are arranged, an element for cooperation with a hook that extends in the transverse direction extends between the side portions and nests in the hook-shaped end portion of the arm can be received, as well as holding devices on one of the side sections that are within the device in the areas of the element for detecting the hook protrude to prevent an undesired release of the Prevent end portion of the device. 2. Connector device according to claim 1, characterized in that that the holding device has a tab body which is integral with one of the side sections is trained. 3 · Connector device according to claim 2, characterized in that the tab body is deformable around the Insert arm end section between the side sections. 809809/0627 -13- 270135Ü 4. Connector device according to claim 2, characterized in that the tab body is rigid. 5. Connector device according to claim 2, characterized in that the tab body is like a cantilever the one side portion is mounted and protrudes in the direction of the element for detecting the hook. 6. Connector device according to claim 5 »characterized in that the end portion of the wiper arm has a Has recess which is partially formed by a leg portion, and the cantilever end of the flap body by a distance from the element for detecting the hook at a distance that is less than the length of the leg portion of the wiper arm. 7. The connector device of claim 1 made from a one-piece cast construction made of polymer »material, characterized in that the side sections, the sections for detecting the hook and the holding devices are all designed in one piece and are suitable are to be used in a recessed area of the assigned wiper mounting bridge construction. 8. Connector device for releasably connecting a hook-shaped wiper arm end section to the bridge structure an associated wiper blade installation, characterized in that this device has a 809809/0627 -14- one-piece molded plastic chuck body, which can be placed directly in the bridge structure, this chuck body being two of each other contains spaced-apart side sections, which extend in the longitudinal direction on the opposite longitudinal sides extending along the bridge structure, an element for engaging a hook extending in the transverse direction extends between the side portions and is integrally connected to these to nest in the hook-shaped end section of the arm to be received, as well as holding devices on one of the side sections, which protrude in the area of the element for detecting the hook into the interior of the device to a to prevent undesired detachment of the arm from the device. 9 «Connector device according to claim 8, characterized in that that the holding device includes a tab which is integrally formed from the one side portion. 10. Connector device according to claim 9 »characterized in that the tab body is deformable in order to insert the arm end section between the side sections. 11. The connecting body of claim 9 »characterized in characterized in that the flap body is rigid. 12. Connector body according to claim 9, characterized in that the tab body is mounted like a cantilever on one side portion and in the direction of the element for 809809/0627 Capturing the hook protrudes. 13. Connector body according to claim 12, characterized in that that the end portion of the wiper arm is provided with a recess partially delimited by a leg portion and the cantilever-like end of the tab body from the element for engaging the hook by a distance is kept at a distance which is less than the length of the leg portion of the wiper arm. 809809/0627