GB2047079A

GB2047079A - Windscreen wiper blade assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2047079A
Application number: GB7935677A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1979-04-24
Filing date: 1979-10-15
Publication date: 1980-11-26

Abstract

A windscreen wiper blade assembly (1) comprises a holder (4) which is mounted on a wiper arm (3) and which is adapted to receive at least two wiper blades (10) extending alongside one another. Spray nozzles (20,22) are provided for spraying or wetting the intermediate space between the wiper blades. One spray nozzle (22) is adjustably secured to the wiper arm (3) by means of a screw fastening (16). The other spray nozzle (20) is fixedly mounted on a clamping member (14) of the holder (4) for the wiper blades (10). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Windscreen wiper for windscreens of vehicles This invention relates to windscreen wipers for windscreens of vehicles, comprising a holder which is mounted on a wiper arm and which is adapted to receive at last two wiper blades extending substantially next to one another and at least one spray nozzle having a delivery line for a washing liquid.

Known windscreen wipers of this type (Swiss Patent Specification No. 514,365) have proved successful, but it is desirable to improve their mode of action. It has often not been possible to provide sufficient washing liquid with a spray nozzle which is arranged on the holder for the wiper blades. Particularly with long wiper blades it has been possible for the lower intermediate space between the wiper blades not to be supplied with sufficient liquid.

Moreover, with many models it has been necessary to allow for the fact that the liquid emerges from the upper region of the intermediate space between the wiper blades.

The object of the present invention is to improve the cleaning power of a double screen wiper as well as the water supply.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a windscreen wiper for windscreens of vehicles, comprising a holder which is mounted on a wiper arm and which is adapted to receive at least two wiper blades extending alongside one another and at least one spray nozzle for spraying or wetting the intermediate space betwen the wiper blades, the or each spray nozzle having a delivery line for a washing liquid, and at least one of the spray nozzles being adjustably secured to the wiper arm.

The wiper arm can thus be combined with wiper blades of different lengths and the position of the spray nozzle can be adjusted simply along the wiper arm for adaptation to these different models.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a windscreen wiper for windscreens of vehicles, comprising a holder which is mounted on a wiper arm and which is adapted to receive at least two wiper blades extending alongside one another and at least one spray nozzle for spraying or wetting the intermediate space between the wiper blades, the the or each spray nozzle having a delivery line for a washing liquid, and at least one of the spray nozzles being mounted on a clamping member of the holder for the wiper blades.

The spray nozzle is thus fastened to the part of the holder, namely the clamping member, which is directed structurally towards the windscreen. In comparison with the known construction a simpler manufacture and combination of a spray nozzle with the holder thereby results.

According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a windscreen wiperforwindscreens of vehicles, comprising a holder which is mounted on a wiper arm and which is adapted to receive at least two wiper blades extending alongside one another and at least one spray nozzle for spraying or wetting the intermediate space between the wiper blades, the or each spray nozzle having a delivery line for a washing liquid, one of the nozzles being adjustably secured to the wiper arm and one of the nozzles being mounted fixedly on a clamping member of the holder for the wiper blades.

Such an arrangement is particularly suitable for long wiper blades which may reach, for example, a length of about 65 cm. The normal length of the wiper blades is 40 to 50 cm.

In one preferred embodiment of the invention holder for the two wiper blades which is suitable both for a hook fastening and for a plug fastening is clampable to the wiper arm with the clamping member carrying the fixed spray nozzle.

An especially preferred construction results if the or each spray nozzle comprises a cylindrical or hemispherical hollow body which is mounted on an adjustable fastening orthe clamping member and in the wall of which is provided a hose connection and in the region of which in use points towards the windscreen at least one spray opening is provided.

This type of spray nozzle and their mounting to the screw fastening and the clamping member is especially simple to manufacture.

In preferred exemplary embodiments a plurality, preferably at most six, spray openings with different spray directions are provided in the region of the spray nozzles which points towards the windscreen in use. Owing to the arrangement and the number of spray openings practically every region in the intermediate space between the wiper blades can be sprayed. It is thereby possible to wet uniformly with water the complete intermediate space between the two wiper blades at any wiping speed.

Substantial advantages occur in comparison with conventional spraying and wetting devices for the windscreen. The nozzle is only about 1 to 2 cm from the windscreen.

A further disadvantage results with previous spray nozzles from the fact that the water is often wiped away by the screen wiper to the side or the lower region of the windscreen without the water being able to exert a cleaning effect.

In contrast thereto, any dry running of the screen wipers is prevented with the present invention.

Since the distance between the spray nozzle and the screen is only about 1 cm, the water or other cleaning liquid can arrive with a much high impact pressure precisely at the point where it is required.

The consequence thereof is that with the noval device substantially less cleaning liquid and consequently less anti-freeze agent is used up. In a preferred examplary embodiment of the invention each spray opening is provided in a spray element which is adjustable rotatably or pivotably in a spray nozzle.

The spray nozzles, the hose connections and/or the spray elements may be made of plastic or sheet metal.

The adjustable nozzle is preferably secured to the wiper arm by means of a screw fastening.

A moderately priced and advantageous form of the invention results if the screw fastening comprises a plate on the side of the wiper arm adjacent to the windscreen in use having mounted thereon the spray nozzle and a counterplate which is arranged on the other side of the wiper arm, the plate and counterplate being clampable together by means of screws arranged one on each side of the wiper arm.

Due to this simple solution the nozzle can be attached without difficulty to the wiper arm by any motorist in a do-it-yourself procedure. It is of advantage if the counterplate is provided with a wind baffle plate to press the screen wiper onto the windscreen. The counterplate itself may be designed as a wind baffle plate.

The cleaning water comes from the existing washing system of the motor vehicle. Upon the conversion of an existing wiper system to the wiper system of the present invention, the spray nozzles arranged in the vehicle bonnet are, for example, removed and used to carry through the delivery lines of the cleaning agent for the spray nozzles on the wipers.

In other models of motor vehicles the leads to the spray nozzles may be passed through air vents in the bodywork under the windscreen.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure I is a side view of a first embodiment of a windscreen wiper according to the invention; Figure 2 is a plan view of the windscreen wiper of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a sectional view of the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2; Figure 4 is a sectional view of a second embodiment of a windscreen wiper according to the invention; Figure 5 is a sectional view of a third embodiment of a windscreen wiper according to the invention; Figure 6 is a cross-section of a spray nozzle forming part of a windscreen wiper according to the invention; and Figure 7 is a side and front view of an alternative form of a spray nozzle.

A windscreen wiper 1 illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 has two wiper blades 10 which are arranged next to one another and between which an intermediate space 1 0a is formed. The wiper blades sweep in a conventional way across a windscreen 2 merely suggested.

A holder 4 for so-called hook fastening can be fitted onto a conventional wiper arm 3 which has, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, a U-shaped resilient end part 3'. The holder 4 has a central resilient U-shaped leg 5 which is fitted over the U-shaped resilient end part 3'. Furthermore, there are provided on the holder two lateral U-shaped legs 6 and 7 which are fastened the holding members 8 together with the mountings 9 to receive the wiper blades 10.

The U-shaped resilient end part 3' engages into the central leg 5 of the holder 4 and is held therein free of vibration by the spring pressure of the part 3' and secured against falling out by a stop 11 as well as by a clamping member 14 by means of screws 15.

All three U-shaped legs 5, 6 and 7 of the holder 4 possess inherent resilience and guarantee a secure and intimate contact of the wiper blades on the windscreen 2.

The holder 4 may, of course, have also any other suitable construction which is adapted to the respective construction and type of fastening of the various wiper arms. Thus, Figure 4 in particular shows in cross-section a holder 12 for the plug fastening of the wiper blades. A stop nipple 13 is provided to support this fastening. The holder 12 is fastened to the wiper arm 3 by means of a clamping member 14 and screws 15.

Figures 1 and 2 show a spray nozzle 22 secured adjustably on the wiper arm by means of a screw fastening 16. The screw fastening comprises a plate 17 on which the spray nozzle 22 is mounted and a counterplate 18 which is clampable adjustably to the wiper arm 3 by means of screws 15 shown in Figure 21. When the position of the screw fastening 16 along the wiper arm 3 is to be varied, the screws 15 are slackened and the screw fastening 16 together with the spray nozzle 22 displaced to the desired point. A new clamping is thereupon effected by tightening of the screws 15. In a simple exemplary embodiment the screw holes in the plate 17 are threaded. The spray nozzle 22 is a hemispherical hollow body 23. Spray openings 30 are provided in the region 23a pointing towards the windscreen 2.

Depending on the exemplary embodiment, one or up to six spray openings spraying in different directions may be provided.

Another form of spray nozzle 20 is provided on the clamping member 14 of the holder 4. This spray nozzle 20 consists of a cylindrical hollow body 21 and of a region 21a which points towards the windscreen 2 and in which one or up to six spray openings 30 may likewise be provided.

Both spray nozzle 20 and 22 have a hose connection 29 to which, as can be seen in Figure 3, a delivery line 31 for water or other washing liquid may be connected.

Figure 3 shows in section a form of construction in which only one spray nozzle 20 is provided on the clamping member 14, shown in section, of a holder 4. The central resilient U-shaped leg 5 of the holder 4 surrounds the U-shaped resilient end part 3' of the wiper arm 3. The holder 4 is connected firmly to the wiper arm 3 by means of the screws 15 and the clamping collar 14.

The spray nozzle 20 comprises a cylindrical hollow body 21 in the region 21a of which, pointing towards the windscreen 2, spray openings 30 are provided.

The holder4shown in Figure3servesforthe so-called hook fastening of the wiper blades.

Figure 4 shows an exemplary embodiment of the invention with a spray nozzle 22 which is arranged adjustably on the wiper arm 3. The screw fastening 16 includes a counterplate 18 and the plate 17 provided with the spray nozzle 22, the plate 17 and counterplate 18 being clamped to one another by means of two screws 15 one on each side of the wiper arm 3.

Spray openings 30 are provided in the curved region 23a pointing towards the windscreen 2. The water supply is effected via a hose connection 29.

To fasten the wiper blades, a holder 12 with stop nipple 13 is provided for the plug fastening of the wiper blades. The holder 12 is clamped to the wiper arm 3 by means of a clamping member 14 and screws 15. According to Figure 5, a preferred form of screw fastening 16 is used for the adjustable fasten ing of a spray nozzle 22. The plate 17 with the spray nozzle 22 is clamped by means of the screws 15 together with a wind baffle plate 19 which also assumes the function of the counterplate 18 shown in Figure 4. The wind baffle plate 19 ensures in a way known per se that the wiper blades are pressed sufficiently onto the windscreen in use.

Figure 6 illustrates a spray nozzle 27 in section. Let into the spray nozzle 27 is a spray element 28 which is provided with a continuous spray opening 30. The inner end of this spray opening 30 terminates in a channel which is connected to the hose connection 29. The spray element 28 is rotatably adjustable in its direction.

The spray nozzle 27 may be made of metal or alternatively of plastic. It has a lower face with which it may be glued either to a plate 17 orto a clamping member 14.

The nozzles shown hitherto may be made either of plastic or of sheet metal. They consist substantially of a hollow body which is either cylindrical or hemispherical.

Figure 7 illustrates a spray nozzle 20a made preferably of plastic. It consists substantially of a block-shaped hollow body 210 which is shown in Figure 7 on the left in a longitudinal view and on the right in a front view. A hose connection 29, preferably likewise of plastic, is connected to the blockshaped hollow body 210.

The region 21 Oa pointing in use towards the windscreen 2 has in the exemplary embodiment shown two projections 21 orb through which spray openings 30 are guided.

The spray nozzle 20a terminates upwardly in a roof 210e which has a relatively large adhesive face 210d with which the spray nozzle 20a may be glued either to the plate 17 orto the clamping member 14.

Claims

1. A windscreen wiper for windscreens of vehicles, comprising a holder which is mounted on a wiper arm and which is adapted to receive at least two wiper blades extending alongside one another and at least one spray nozzle for spraying or wetting the intermediate space between the wiper blades, the or each spray nozzle having a delivery line for a washing liquid, and at least one of the spray nozzles being adjustably secured to the wiper arm.

2. A windscreen wiper for windscreens of vehicles, comprising a holder which is mounted on a wiper arm and which is adapted to receive at least two wiper blades extending alongside one another and at least one spray nozzle for spraying or wetting the intermediate space between the wiper blades, the or each spray nozzle having a delivery line for a washing liquid, and at least one of the spray nozzles being mounted on a clamping member of the holder for the wiper blades.

3. A windscreen wiper for windscreens of vehicles, comprising a holder which is mounted on a wiper arm and which is adapted to receive at last two wiper blades extending alongside one another and at least one spray nozzle for spraying or setting the intermediate space between the wiper blades, the or each spray nozzle having a delivery line for a washing liquid, one of the nozzles being adjustably secured to the wiper arm and one of the nozzles being mounted fixedly on a clamping member of the holder for the wiper blades.

4. A windscreen wiper according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the holder for the two wiper blades is clampable on the wiper arm by means of the clamping member mounting the spray nozzle.

5. A windscreen wiper according to any preceding claim, wherein the or each spray nozzle comprises a cylindrical or hemispherical hollow body which.

is mounted on an adjustable fastening orthe clamping member and in the wall of which is provided a hose connection and in the region of which in use points towards the windscreen at least one spray opening is provided.

6. A windscreen wiper according to any preceding claims wherein a plurality, preferably up to six, spray openings with different spray directions are provided in the region of the spray nozzles which in use points towards the windscreen.

7. A windscreen wiper according to any preceding claim wherein the or each spray nozzle comprises a rotatable or pivotable spray element having at least one spray opening therein.

8. A windscreen wiper according to any preceding claim wherein the spray nozzles, the hose connections and/or the spray elements are made of plastic.

9. A windscreen wiper according to any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the spray nozzles, the hose connections and/or the spray elements are made of sheet metal.

10. A windscreen wiper according to any of claims 1 or 3 to 9, wherein the adjustable spray nozzle is secured to the wiper arm by means of a screw fastening.

11. Awindscreen wiper according to claim 10, wherein the screw fastening comprises a plate on the side of the wiper arm adjacent to the windscreen in use having mounted thereon the spray nozzle and a counterplate which is arranged on the other side of the wiper arm, the plate and counterplate being clampable together by means of screws arranged one on each side of the wiper arm.

12. Awindscreen wiper according to claim 11, wherein the counterplate is provided with a wind baffle plate to press the windscreen wiper onto the windscreen in use.

13. A windscreen wiper substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.