KR100616259B1 - wiper blade - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a wiper blade (10) for cleaning the vehicle glass surface (26). The wiper blade 10 includes a rubber-elastic wiper strip 14 that can be applied to the glass surface 26 to be wiped, the wiper strip extending longitudinally generally parallel to the longitudinal axis. A connecting device is arranged in the bearing arrangement, which is fixed to and which can be applied to the glass surface 26 in the central section opposite the glass 26 of the support. When the connecting device 16 is formed as a separate component and fixed to the support 12 by welding, a safe and inexpensive arrangement of the connecting device 16 is made to the support 12.

Description

wiper blade

In the wiper blades of the manner mentioned in the preamble of claim 1, the support ensures that the wiper blade pressing force coming from the wiper arm is distributed as uniformly as possible to the glass for the entire wiping area swept by the wiper blade. Should be. With the proper curvature of the unloaded support-ie the wiper blade does not stick to the glass-the wiper strip is fully applied to the glass surface at the start of the wiper blade even if the radius of curvature of the spherically curved car glass at each wiper blade position changes. The end of is loaded on the glass by the tensioned support. The curvature of the wiper blades must be greater than the largest curvature measured in the wiping area of the wiped glass. The support replaces an expensive support bracket structure with two spring rails mounted on the wiper strip, as used in conventional wiper blades.

The present invention relates to a wiper blade according to the preamble of claim 1. In this type of known wiperblade (German Patent No. 26 14 457) a connecting device is integrally connected to the support. Therefore, it is composed of the same material as the support. This may not be so important as long as the support is made of synthetic resin and therefore the support is made in exactly the same form. However, the two conditions contradict each other when the support is to be made of metal. In other words, the support must have good elasticity on the one hand, and on the other hand, the attachment of the connecting device must be fixed in this position by bending it about 90 ^o from the plane of the support, thereby providing the load generated during operation between the wiper blade and the wiper arm. May be accommodated in the stop face of the attachment. It is practically impossible for these two conditions to meet both in terms of material selection.

In another known wiper blade (German Patent No. 12 47 161), the support has a connecting device which is formed as a separate component. The connecting device is rigidly coupled to the support by rivets. Thus, the necessary holes inside the support are uncontrollable, which leads to undesirable support tension change, thus resulting in unsatisfactory window wiping results.

1 is a side view of a wiper blade according to the present invention.

2 shows a projection of the wiper blade according to FIG. 1;

3 is an enlarged view from below of a support belonging to a wiper blade and comprising a first embodiment of a connecting device;

4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV of the device according to FIG. 3;

5 is an enlarged view from below of a support belonging to a wiper blade and comprising a second embodiment of a connecting device;

6 shows a section along the VI-VI line of the device according to FIG. 5;

7 is an enlarged view from below of a support belonging to a wiper blade and comprising a third embodiment of a connecting device;

8 is a cross-sectional view of the device according to FIG. 7 taken along the line VII-VII.

On the contrary, in the wiper blade formed according to the features of claim 1, a material suitable for the conditions of each component can be selected for the support and the connecting device. The connection of both parts is made inexpensively without problems by at least one welding joint. This allows for an additional assembly step to be omitted. Weld joints do not adversely affect the contact pressure distribution and wiping through the support or cause only minor damage.

In the case where the connecting device and the support of the wiper blade are made of metal, it is preferable when the welding joint is resistance welding.

Especially in wiper blades, when the support and the connecting device are made of synthetic resin, the safe and inexpensive fixing of the connecting device to the support is achieved by ultrasonic welding.

The welding itself may be implemented by several spot welding, especially in resistance welding as well as ultrasonic welding.

In wiper blades, which are strictly required in relation to the load, the welded joint can be realized by a number of pre-welds, transverse to the longitudinal direction or longitudinal to the band-like support, taking into account the support associated with pressure distribution. Can be extended.

If the connecting device has a generally U-shaped cross section and is applied parallel to the side of the band-shaped support, opposite the glass surface, through a U-shaped base which engages the two U-shaped legs of the connecting device. In connection with the wiper arm there is provided a connection that can be retrofitted without problems.

As an assembly means the U-shaped base of the connecting device can have protrusions on the side opposite the U-shaped legs, the protrusions being spaced apart from each other across the longitudinal direction of the support, the gap being matched to the width of the support.

When the protrusions are formed of strips extending in the longitudinal direction of the support, particularly good side guides and holders of both parts connected to each other are achieved.

If the annularly facing attachments are arranged at the free ends of the strip opposite the U-shaped base and the spacing between the annular attachment and the outside of the U-shaped base opposite the leg is matched to the thickness of the support, the connecting device is supported. Is supported more stably.

In order to position the connecting device on the support, the connecting device has at least one shoulder in the longitudinal direction of the support, on which the support corresponding shoulder is arranged. Thus, a positive positioning takes place before the welding process.

If the connecting device has at least two shoulders facing at least in opposite directions, and corresponding shoulders of the support are respectively arranged on the shoulders, a firm assembly position of the connecting device is obtained on the support.

Preferably the shoulder of the connecting device is formed in the protrusion of the connecting device, and the corresponding shoulder is formed in the recess disposed in the protrusion of the support.

Further preferred refinements and formations of the invention are set forth in the following detailed description of the embodiments shown in the drawings.

The wiper blade 10 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 has an elastic support 12 extending vertically, and a wiper strip 14 of rubber elastic material extending vertically below the support is fixed in parallel to the longitudinal axis. In addition, the connecting device 16 is mounted to the center of the support on the upper surface of the support, which is represented by a spring rail, by which the wiper blade can be detachably coupled to the drive wiper arm. The free end 20 of the wiper arm 18 is provided with a hook for use as a corresponding shoulder means, which hook secures the joint bolt 22 belonging to the connecting device 16 of the wiper blade. The fastening between the wiper arm 18 and the wiper blade 10 is made by fastening means formed as adapters, which are known and not shown in detail. The hooks of the wiper arm 18 and the end 20 are applied to the glass surface to be wiped in the direction of the arrow 24, and the upper surface 26 to be wiped of the glass surface is shown in dashed lines in FIG. 1. Since the dashed-dotted line shows the largest curvature of the glass upper surface 26, the wiper blade curvature applied to the glass by both ends is larger than the maximum glass surface curvature. The wiper blade with the wiper rib 28 is placed under the close pressure (arrow 24) over the entire length of the glass top surface 26. At this time, a stress is formed in the support 12 of the spring elastic material, and the stress provides a suitable contact of the wiper strip 14 or the wiper rib 28 to the glass surface over its entire length. The connection between the support 12 and the connecting device 16 is detailed by FIGS. 3 and 4, 5 and 6, and 7 and 8.

In the first embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the connecting device 16, which is substantially U-shaped in cross section, is provided on the upper surface of the band-like support 12 opposite the glass surface to be wiped. It is applied flatly by the U-shaped base 30. The connecting device 16 and the U-shaped legs 32, 34 extend on the side of the U-shaped base 30 away from the support 12. The articulation bolt 22 is supported by the U-shaped legs 32 and 34. The fixing of the support 12 connecting device 16 is made by a welded joint which will be discussed in more detail below.

By means of positioning, the U-shaped base 30 of the connecting device has a projection 38 extending from the side of the connecting device opposite the U-shaped legs 32, 34, the projection extending in the longitudinal direction of the support 12. Shoulders 40, 42 facing in opposite directions. The corresponding shoulders 44 and 46 of the support are respectively disposed on the shoulders 40 and 42, and the corresponding shoulders are formed in the recesses 48 of the support 12. Since the shoulders are directed in the axial direction of the support, a positive coupling is made between the support 12 and the connecting device 16 in the longitudinal direction of the support. This positive coupling is used as the positioning means when the welded joint is performed.

In the embodiment according to FIGS. 5 and 6, which show an improvement of the device according to FIGS. 3 and 4, two strip-shaped strips are arranged spaced apart from each other on the sides of the U-shaped legs 32, 34 and the opposite U-shaped base. Projections 60, 62 are arranged, the spacing of which is matched to the width 64 of the support 12. The longitudinally extending strip-shaped protrusions 60, 62 of the support 12 form side guides, which guide the position of the connecting device 16 transversely to the longitudinal extension on the support 12. Fix it.

The embodiment according to FIGS. 7 and 8 is based on the embodiment according to FIGS. 5 and 6. Unlike the above embodiment, to simplify preassembly, the strip-shaped protrusions 160, 162 are provided with ring-shaped oppositely facing attachments 166, 168 at the free ends opposite the U-shaped base 30. The distance between the outer surface of the U-shaped base 30 opposite the U-shaped legs 32 and 34 and the side of the side attachments 166 and 168 facing the base of the attachment is matched to the thickness 170 of the support 12. . This matching allows for an easy, but generally free, relative movement between the two parts 12, 16 as in the embodiment according to FIGS. 5 and 6.

In the embodiment according to FIGS. 3 and 4, the welded joint consists of a number of spot welds 36. In the embodiment according to FIGS. 5 and 6, the weld seam has a plurality of pre-welded portions 136 lying transverse to the longitudinal direction of the support 12. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the weld 236 is formed linearly. Unlike the device according to FIGS. 5 and 6, in the embodiment of the present invention a linear weld 236 is arranged in the longitudinal direction of the support 12.

In practice, several welds 36 or 136 or 236 indicate that a drive-safe connection is made between the support 12 and the connecting device 116. Damage to the elastic capacity of the support is very limited so that it can be substantially ignored in view of the desired wiping result. Therefore, the support body 12 and the connection device 16 may be respectively comprised with metal or synthetic resin. It is found that in this case it can be combined with different synthetic resins. In the case of metal, resistance welding is preferable, and in the case of synthetic resin, ultrasonic welding may be preferable.

The positive coupling shown in the embodiment according to FIGS. 3 and 4 also comprises:-shoulders 40 and 42 and projections 38 and recesses 48 and their corresponding shoulders 44 and 46-5 and 6 or It may also be used in the embodiment according to FIGS. 7 and 8. Obviously, the band-like support 12 may be formed in two parts, and they may also be composed of a plurality of parts without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Also, the placement of welds 36, 136, 236 need not necessarily be selected as shown in FIGS. 3, 5, 7. Rather, it may be contemplated that they may be placed in the protrusions 60, 62 or 160, 162 or attachments 166, 168.

Finally, the shape of the welds 36, 136, 236 depends on how the connecting device 16 is formed. The placement and formation of the weld is shown only as an example in FIGS. 3, 5 and 7.

Unlike the illustrated embodiment, the corresponding shoulders 44 and 46 need not necessarily be formed in the edge open recess of the support. In view of the actuation tension towards the glass surface 26, which is present in the support 12, the corresponding shoulder is arranged in the region of the support 12, which may have the advantage of not being damaged in this regard. This can also be done for example in the support region facing the central region of the U-shaped base. Corresponding shoulders are then formed in the four closed openings. Thus the shoulder interacting with the shoulder is located in the connecting device.

In addition, the arrangement of the positioning means described above may be applied depending on how the connection device and the support are connected.

Claims (15)

A rubber-elastic wiper strip 14, which can be applied to the glass surface 26 to be wiped, which is fixed to a spring-elastic support 12 extending longitudinally generally parallel to the longitudinal axis; In a vehicle window wiper blade (10) in which a connecting device (16) for a drive wiper arm that can be applied toward the glass surface is fixed to a central section opposite the glass surface of the support, The connecting device (16) is formed in a detachable structure, characterized in that the wiper blade is mounted to the support (12) by a welding joint (36, 136, 236). 2. The wiper blade according to claim 1, wherein the support and the connecting device are made of metal, and the welding joint (36, 136, 236) is resistance welding. 2. The wiper blade according to claim 1, wherein the welding joint (36, 136, 236) is ultrasonic welding. The wiper blade according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the welded joint has a plurality of spot welding portions (36). 4. The wiper blade according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the welded joint has a plurality of pre-welded portions (136, 236). 6. The wiper blade according to claim 5, wherein the line welding portion (136) extends in the longitudinal direction of the support (12). 6. The wiper blade according to claim 5, wherein the pre-welded portion (236) extends in the longitudinal direction of the support (12). The support 12 according to claim 1, wherein the connecting device 16 has a generally U-shaped cross section and is formed in a band shape by a U-shaped base 30 that engages with the U-shaped legs 32 and 34 of the connecting device. Wiper blades, characterized in that the flat application on the side opposite the glass surface. 9. The U-shaped base (30) of the connecting device (16) has projections (60, 62) on opposite sides of the U-shaped legs (32, 34), and the projections are transverse to the longitudinal direction of the support. The wiper blades are placed at mutually spaced intervals (64), said intervals matching the width of the support. 10. The wiper blade according to claim 9, wherein the protrusions (60, 62) are formed of strips extending in the longitudinal direction of the support (12). The ring-shaped fittings 166 and 168 are disposed at free ends opposite to the U-shaped bases of the frames 160 and 162, and the ring-shaped fittings are arranged. And the gap between the (166, 168) and the outer surface opposite the legs (32, 34) of the U-shaped base (30) matches the thickness (170) of the support (12). 11. The support device according to any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein longitudinally facing shoulders (40, 42) of at least one support (12) are arranged on the connecting device (16), and the support (12) on the shoulder is arranged. The wiper blades, characterized in that the corresponding shoulders (44, 46) are arranged. 13. The connecting device (16) according to claim 12, characterized in that the connecting device (16) has at least two oppositely facing shoulders (40, 42), with corresponding shoulders (44, 46) of the support (12) arranged at the shoulder. Wiper blade. 14. The support body (12) according to claim 13, wherein the shoulders (40, 42) of the connecting device (16) are formed in the protrusions of the connecting device (16), and the corresponding shoulders (44, 46) are arranged in the protrusions (38). The wiper blades, characterized in that formed in the recess 48. 11. Wiper blade according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the welds (36, 136, 236) are arranged on the projections (60, 62, 160, 162, 166, 168).