GB1586402A

GB1586402A - Wiper assembly for wiping the windscreens of motor vehicles

Info

Publication number: GB1586402A
Application number: GB16863/78A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
Current assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
Priority date: 1977-12-15
Filing date: 1978-04-28
Publication date: 1981-03-18
Also published as: IT7830589A0; DE2755895A1; BE872745A; FR2411736B3; DE2755895C2; IT1101375B; FR2411736A1; JPS5483236A

Description

(54) A WIPER ASSEMBLY FOR WIPING THE WINDSCREENS OF MOTOR VEHICLES (71) We, ROBERT BOSCH GMBH, a German company of Postfach 50, 7 Stuttgart 1, Federal Republic of Germany do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: The present invention relates to a motor vehicle windscreen wiper assembly.

A wiper assembly is known where on a wiper arm support part, a joint pin projecting laterally from the same is arranged, on which the wiper blade hinges. In this arrangement, the joint pin acts as a onearmed lever upon the side plate of the support part during operation of the wiper device, so that the continuous alternating loads that occur have to be absorbed by appropriate dimensioning of the side plate and of the pin.

There is provided by the present invention a wiper assembly for the windscreen of a motor vehicle, comprising a wiper arm and a wiper blade arranged laterally of it and joined to it by a connecting element, the wiper blade comprising a support part having spaced apart lateral walls, and the connecting element comprising a joint part to engage with the wiper blade support part, a wiper arm connecting part to engage with the wiper arm, and a bridge part connecting the joint part and connecting part and traversing the plane of lateral wall of the wiper blade support part adjacent the wiper arm; said joint part engaging with the wiper blade support part between the two lateral walls thereof: wherein said joint part is supported on a joint pin of the wiper blade support part. arranged between said two lateral walls, and passing transversely thereof.

The wiper assembly in accordance with the invention has the advantage over the known screen wiper that the pin being supported in both side walls of the wiper blade support part, makes possible a less costly manufacture of the wiper blade support part.

Embodiments of the invention are represented in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 shows, in respect of an embodiment of a screen wiper assembly according to the invention, a plan view of the end section of a wiper arm and of a wiper blade arranged beside it and including a connecting element indicated by dash-dotted lines; Figure 2 shows the connecting element in perspective representation Figure 3 is a section through the joint part of the connecting element along the line III-III in Figure 2; Figure 4 is a section along the line IV-IV through a connector present between the joint part and a connecting part; Figure 5 is a section along the line V-V through the connecting part; Figure 6 is a plan view of the connecting element; Figure 7 is a plan view of the middle region of a wiper blade support part; Figure 8 is a section along the line VIII-VIII in Figure 7; Figure 9 is a section along the line IX-IX in Figure 7; Figure 10 is a similar section to that of Figure 5 through a differently designed connecting part: Figure 11 is a partial side view of a wiper blade support part of a different construction, and Figure 12 is a section through the wiper blade support part and the connecting element along the line XII-XII in Figure 11.

Referring to Figures 1 to 9, the screen wiper comprises a wiper arm 10 and a wiper blade 12 which during operation of the wiper device is arranged laterally of the wiper arm 10. The wiper blade 12 is con nected to the wiper arm via a connecting element 14 which is shown in Figure 1 in dash-dotted lines. Of the wiper blade 12 in Figure 1, only a middle section of a wiper blade support part 16 is shown, which has a U-shaped cross-section. In its middle region, the wiper blade support part 16 is provided with an opening 18 so that merely the two lateral parts 20,22 of the U remain as side plates 20,22 located spaced from one another. In the region of the opening 18 a pin joint 24 is retained in the two side plates 20,22. The wiper arm 10 on its end section 26 represented in Figure 5 is bent in the form of a hook, so that it comprises two legs 28 and 30 which are joined together via a curved section 32. The connecting element 14, shown in particular in Figure 2, comprises a joint part 34, a wiper arm connecting part 36 and a bridge part 38 by means of which the joint part and the wiper arm connecting part are attached to one another.

As can be seen in particular from Figure 2, the joint part 34 has a U-shaped crosssection; and in each of the side plates 40 and 42 of the joint part 34, a notch cutout 44 (Figures 3 and 4) with an open edge is provided which gives way to a bearing recess 46, the cross-section of which is adapted to the cross-section of the joint pin 24. In order to render a narrow passage 48, present between notch cutout 44 and bearing recess 46. resilient, elongated openings 50 are provided laterally to this narrow passage in the side plates 40 and 42. As the whole connecting element 14 is made of an elastic plastics material, the joint part 34 of the connecting element 14 can be placed onto the joint pin 24 with its notch cutouts 44, and. by way of a temporary expansion of the narrow passages 48, snapped onto the joint pin 24, so that the joint pin 24 sits in the bearing recesses 46. When this happens. the side plates 40 and 42 of the joint part 34 will be situated inside the two U-limbs 20 and 22 of the wiper blade 12. The seat of the joint pin 24 in the bearing recesses 46 is such that the joint part 34 can swivel on the joint pin 24. The wiper arm connecting part 36 (Figures 2, 5 and 6) is in the form of a substantially U or hairpin shaped body, the base part 52 of which is shaped on its outside in accordance with the inner curvature of the hooklike end section 26 of the wiper arm 1(1. The U-shaped limbs 54 and 56 rest against the faces of the hook limbs 28 and 30 respectively when the wiper arm l() is connected with its hook end 26. in its operating position as shown in Figure 5. to the connecting pnrt 36 of the connecting element 14. Whilst the limb 54 is firmly attached to the lateral walls 58 and 6() of the connecting part 36. the other hairpin limb 56 is cut frce from the walls 58 and 6() by slots 62 (Figure 6) so that it forms an elastically movable tongue. The tongue is arranged so that in the operating position of the wiper device as shown in Figure 5 it rests under an initial tension against the inner surface of the hook limb 30. The limb 56 projects with a grip 64 beyond the contour of the connecting part 36. Furthermore, the limb 56 is provided on the side facing the hook limb 30 with a detent 66 to engage a corresponding recess 68 in the hook limb 30 of the arm 10.

For the purpose of detaching the wiper arm 10 from the connecting part 36, the limb 56 is deflected by means of its grip 64 in the direction of the arrow 70 so that the detent 66 clears its recess 68. Then the connecting part 36 can be withdrawn from the wiper arm hook 26. The joint part 34 and the connecting part 36 are attached to one another by the bridge part 38 which is provided with a reinforcement 72 (Figures 3 and 4) for the purpose of improving its strength. The reinforcement 72 extends from the bridge region of the joint part 34 up to the wall 58 of the connecting part 36.

To assist the bridge part 38 to take the stress imposed upon it in use, the side plate 22 is provided with a recess 74 (Figure 9) which allows the bridge part 38 to be made of thicker section than would otherwise be the case.

To make is possible also for wiper arms with straight wiper arm ends to be connected, instead of the hooklike curved wiper arm ends, the wiper arm connecting part 80, in accordance with another embodiment shown in Figure 10, is provided with an insertion channel 82 into which the wiper arm end 84 can be inserted. In this cas,e, the wall 86 of the insertion channel 82 is made resilient, so that a detent 88 of the wall 86 can co-operate with a recess 90 of the wiper arm indicated in this instance at 84. For the purpose of detaching of the wiper arm 84 from the connecting part 80, the wall 86 is deflected with the help of a grip 94 in the direction of the arrow 92 so that the detent 88 clears the recess 90 and releases the wiper arm.

In the embodiment represented in Figures It and 12, which also serves for the attachment of a hooklike curved wiper arm 100, and which is generally similar to the embodiment according to Figures 1 to 9. instead of the joint pill 24. in each of the U-limbs 20 and 22 of the wiper blade support part 16, a bearing recess 102 is present in which pivots 1()4 are accommodated which are moulded onto elastically deflectable attachments 106 of the joint part 134. As shown in Figure 12, the joint part 134 and the wiper arm connecting part 136 are joined to one another by a connector 138 which close to the free ends of the limbs 2() and 22 transverses the plane in which the limb 22 is situated. In this arrangement the opening 18 provided in the embodiments described earlier can be omitted. For the detachment of the connecting element 114 from the wiper blade support 16, the two attachments 106 have to be pressed towards one another so that the pivots 104 are freed from their bearing recesses 102.

All the embodiments described have in common that the joint parts 34 and 134 respectively of the connecting elements 14 and 114 are situated on the one side of the side plate 22, that the wiper arm connecting parts 36 and 136 respectively are arranged on the other side of the side plate 22 and that the joint parts 34 and 134 respectively and the connecting parts 36 and 136 respectively are joined to one another by connectors 38 and 138 respectively which transverse the plane wherein the side plate 22 is situated.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A wiper assembly for the windscreen of a motor vehicle, comprising a wiper arm and a wiper blade arranged laterally of it and joined to it by a connecting element, the wiper blade comprising a support part having spaced apart lateral walls, and the connecting element comprising a joint part to engage with the wiper blade support part, a wiper arm connecting part to engage with the wiper arm, and a bridge part connecting the joint part and connecting part and traversing the plane of the lateral wall of the wiper blade support part adjacent the wiper arm, said joint part engaging with the wiper blade support part between the two lateral walls thereof, wherein said joint part is supported on a joint pin of the wiper blade support part, arranged between said two lateral walls and passing transversely thereof.

2. A wiper assembly in accordance with claim 1. wherein the joint part is such as to snap onto the joint pin.

3. A wiper assembly in accordance with claim l, wherein the joint part is provided with two attachments each of which has a pivot, and the wiper blade support part comprises for each of said attachments a bearing recess.

4. A wiper assembly in accordance with claim 3, wherein at least one of the attach ments is elastically deflectable.

5. A wiper assembly in accordance with any of the claims l to 4. wherein the wiper arm has a hook shaped termination. and the connecting part has a substantially U shaped body with at least one elastically deflectable limb: the termination of the wiper arm engaging with the U-shaped body of the connecting part.

6. A wiper assembly in accordance with any of the claims I to 4. wherein the wiper arm has a straight termination, and the connecting part is provided with an insertion channel for the wiper arm end termination; at least one wall of the insertion channel being in the form of an elastically deflectable tongue.

7. A wiper assembly in accordance with any of the claims 1 to 6, wherein the lateral wall of the wiper blade support part adjacent the connecting part of the connecting element is provided with a recess to admit the adjacent portion of the bridge part.

8. A wiper assembly in accordance with any of the claims 1 to 7, wherein the bridge part is provided with a reinforcement.

9. A wiper assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 9, or to Figure 10 or to Figures 11 and 12 of the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. provided in the embodiments described earlier can be omitted. For the detachment of the connecting element 114 from the wiper blade support 16, the two attachments 106 have to be pressed towards one another so that the pivots 104 are freed from their bearing recesses 102. All the embodiments described have in common that the joint parts 34 and 134 respectively of the connecting elements 14 and 114 are situated on the one side of the side plate 22, that the wiper arm connecting parts 36 and 136 respectively are arranged on the other side of the side plate 22 and that the joint parts 34 and 134 respectively and the connecting parts 36 and 136 respectively are joined to one another by connectors 38 and 138 respectively which transverse the plane wherein the side plate 22 is situated. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A wiper assembly for the windscreen of a motor vehicle, comprising a wiper arm and a wiper blade arranged laterally of it and joined to it by a connecting element, the wiper blade comprising a support part having spaced apart lateral walls, and the connecting element comprising a joint part to engage with the wiper blade support part, a wiper arm connecting part to engage with the wiper arm, and a bridge part connecting the joint part and connecting part and traversing the plane of the lateral wall of the wiper blade support part adjacent the wiper arm, said joint part engaging with the wiper blade support part between the two lateral walls thereof, wherein said joint part is supported on a joint pin of the wiper blade support part, arranged between said two lateral walls and passing transversely thereof.