WO2003029057A1

WO2003029057A1 - Assembly produced between an arm and a blade of a windscreen wiper and wiper comprising same

Info

Publication number: WO2003029057A1
Application number: PCT/EP2002/010066
Authority: WO
Inventors: Martin Szeibert
Original assignee: Valeo Systemes D'essuyage
Priority date: 2001-09-22
Filing date: 2002-09-09
Publication date: 2003-04-10
Also published as: DE10146774A1

Abstract

The invention concerns an assembly produced between an arm and a blade of a vehicle windscreen wiper. Said assembly comprises an assembling element including a coupling bolt which, when the blade and arm are assembled, passes through bearing bores provided in one of the vertical members of the wiper arm and at least one bearing bore of a bearing element provided on the wiper blade and located between the vertical members. Said bearing element is maintained by being removably interlocked on the wiper arm.

Description

Connection between a wiper arm and a wiper blade of a windshield wiper and windshield wipers with at least one such connection

The invention relates to a connection between a wiper arm and a wiper blade of a windshield wiper for cleaning windows on vehicles, in particular motor vehicles, as well as to a windshield wiper with such a connection according to the preamble of claim 23.

Vehicle windows in the sense of the invention are, in particular, viewing windows in vehicles, such as vehicle front windows, but also cover windows for vehicle lights.

For example, the connection between a wiper arm and a wiper blade of a windshield wiper (DE 100 00 374 AI) is known, the wiper blade designed as a flat wiper blade essentially consisting of a wiper strip made of a rubber-elastic material and two flat spring rails, each of which extends over the entire length extend of the wiper blade and are accommodated with a part of their width in a groove on each longitudinal side of the wiper strip. A bearing element designed as a rider is fastened to the wiper blade, for example in the area of the middle of the wiper blade, and is held in a form-fitting manner on the spring rails protruding over the long sides of the wiper strip. On the wiper arm is another bearing element with a bearing or Connecting bolt or pin provided, which is anchored at one end in this further bearing element and engages in a bearing bore of the rider on the wiper blade when the wiper blade is connected to the wiper arm. To secure the connection between the wiper arm and the wiper blade, a resilient catch is used, which is either provided on the further bearing element and engages in a counter-catch of the rider or is provided on the rider and engages in a counter-catch of the connecting bolt formed by a groove.

A disadvantage of this known connection is, inter alia, that a bearing element is provided on the wiper arm, which not only means higher production costs, but also increases the mass of the wiper arm. Another disadvantage of the known connection is that if the bearing element on the wiper arm is damaged, for example if the connecting bolt, which is only anchored on one side, breaks out, the complete wiper arm must be replaced.

The object of the present invention is to show a connection between a wiper arm and a wiper blade which, compared to the prior art, has a considerably simplified and reliable design. To solve this problem, a connection is formed according to claim 1. A wiper is designed according to claim 23.

With the connection according to the invention in turn a releasable attachment of the wiper blade to the wiper arm is possible. The wiper blade can be easily and quickly mounted on the wiper arm and, if necessary, can also be replaced easily and quickly, the connection of the wiper blade to the wiper arm by axially inserting the connecting bolt of the connecting element into the holding and bearing holes on the wiper arm and on the bearing element of the Wiper blade and the loosening of the connection by axially removing the connecting bolt from the wiper arm and bearing element in the holding and bearing holes on the wiper arm and on the bearing element of the. In the connecting position, the connecting element is detachably fixed to the wiper arm, for example by snapping it in or by a swivel lock.

In the connected state, the connecting bolt of the connecting element is held at both ends in the wiper arm or in the legs of this wiper arm. The bearing element provided on the wiper blade and designed, for example, as a rider is then accommodated at least with a partial area having the bearing bore between these legs.

The connection according to the invention has considerable advantages over the prior art, namely an improved stability, which leads to a substantial improvement in the wiping pattern when cleaning or wiping the vehicle window, a simple and also visible to the user or assembly and disassembly of the wiper blade on the wiper arm or of the wiper arm, a substantial reduction in mass or weight by eliminating the additional bearing element on the wiper arm. Further advantages are that the number of parts required for the connection is reduced, which among other things. also significantly simplifies production.

An important advantage of the invention is that the shape of the bearing element (rider) provided on the wiper blade can be made very simple. This bearing element only requires a bearing bore for the connecting bolt of the connecting element and no further recesses for locking elements which secure the connection between the wiper arm and the wiper blade, as is necessary in the prior art. Developments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims. The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the figures using exemplary embodiments. Show it:

Fig. 1 in a simplified representation

Cross section through a wiper arm and a wiper blade of a windshield wiper in the area of the connection between the wiper arm and the wiper blade;

Fig. 2 is a partial plan view of the

Wiper arm in the area of the connection with the wiper blade;

3 shows a connection element for connecting the wiper blade to the wiper arm in an individual representation and in a side view;

4 shows a cross section through the wiper arm corresponding to FIG. 1 in individual representation;

Fig. 5 is a partial plan view of the

Wiper arm according to Figure 5;

6 and 7 in individual representation, partly in section and in side view, a bearing element of the wiper blade designed as a rider for connection to the wiper arm;

Fig. 8 is a partial plan view of the

Wiper arm of a further possible embodiment of the invention;

9 shows a section along the line I - I of FIG. 8;

10 and 11 in partial representation and different

Side views of the wiper arm of Figure 8 together with the tab of the wiper blade provided on this wiper arm.

1 to 7, 1 generally denotes a wiper arm, which is made of sheet steel, for example, as a U-shaped profile - b -

or plastic is manufactured and has two legs 2 ′ and 2 ″ arranged parallel to one another and at a distance from one another and a yoke section 3 connecting these legs to one another. The legs 2 ′ and 2 ″ and the yoke section 3 each extend, for example, over the entire or essentially the entire length of the wiper arm 1.

With one end, not shown in the figures, the wiper arm 1 is articulated, for example, on a bearing or arm of a windshield wiper drive. At the other end 1 'shown in the figures, a wiper blade, generally designated 4 in the figures, is detachably attached to the wiper arm, and also about an axis A which is perpendicular to the longitudinal extension of the wiper arm and perpendicular to the planes of the legs 2' and 2 '' is pivotable by a limited angular amount.

In the embodiment shown, the wiper blade 4 is designed as a flat wiper blade and essentially consists of a wiper strip 5 made of a rubber-elastic material, which has the usual wiper lip 7 on an underside via a molded-on web 6, and two of a resilient flat material, for example Spring steel manufactured band or strip-shaped spring rails 8, which are oriented with their surface sides parallel to the axis A and perpendicular to the plane of the legs 2 'and 2' ', each with a part of their width extending in the direction of the axis A in on the long sides engage the grooves provided on the wiper strip and protrude with a part of their width over the respective long side of the wiper strip 5.

To connect the wiper blade 4 to the end 1 'of the wiper arm 1, a rider 9 is on the wiper blade 4 on the upper side of the wiper strip 5 facing away from the wiper lip 7 - b -

placed, which is made in the illustrated embodiment as a molded part from a suitable material, for example plastic and corresponding to Figures 6 and

9 essentially an upper block-like bearing section

10 and a lower holding section 11 forms.

In the block-like bearing section 10, a bearing bore 12 is provided, which is arranged with its axis coaxially with the axis A when the wiper blade 4 is attached to the wiper arm 1. In the sectional view in FIG. 6, in which the axis of the bearing bore 12 lies in the plane of this figure, the bearing section 10 has a square or slightly rectangular cross section with two side surfaces 13 arranged parallel to one another and at a distance from one another, the planes of which are perpendicular to the axis of the bearing bore 12 lie. In the side view of FIG. 7 with a view of a side 13, the bearing section 10 has a trapezoidal cross section which widens towards the underside.

The rider 9 is formed symmetrically to a central plane M, which is oriented perpendicular to the axis of the bearing bore 12 and parallel to the planes of the side surfaces 13.

The holding section 11 forms a groove 14, the longitudinal extent of which is oriented perpendicular to the axis of the bearing bore 12 and which lies in the plane M. The groove 14 is open at both ends and to the underside of the tab 9 facing away from the bearing section 10 and forms undercuts 15 on the sides extending in the longitudinal direction of the groove 14, each of which under the tab 9 placed on the wiper blade 4 projects over a longitudinal side of the wiper strip 5 Take up the spring rail 8, so that in this way on the one hand the spring rails 8 are held in the associated grooves of the wiper strip 5 by the holding section 11 which overlaps them and on the other hand also the rider 9 is positively attached to the spring rails 8 and thus to the wiper strip 5. As FIG. 6 shows, the recess 14 on its bottom facing the bearing section 10 has a recess 16 which is rectangular in the cross-sectional representation of FIG. 6 and which has a reduced width in comparison to the rest of the recess 14. In the recess 16, when the rider 9 is attached to the wiper blade 4, the part of the wiper strip 5 located above the spring rails 8 is received, so that it is also exactly aligned with the rider 9 in the transverse direction of the wiper blade, ie in the direction of the axis A. Otherwise, the design is such that the rider 9 with its holding section 11 is pushed onto the wiper blade 4 with elastic deformation of the material of the wiper strip 5 from * one end of this wiper blade and is held on the wiper blade 4 by a clamp fit.

When the wiper blade 4 is attached to the wiper arm 1, the rider 9 is received with its bearing section 10 at the end 1 ′ between the legs 2. A connecting element 17 is used for the detachable attachment of the rider 9 and thus of the wiper blade 4 to the wiper arm 1. As is shown in particular in FIG. 3, this connecting element 17 essentially consists of a bolt 18 and an angled piece attached to one end of the bolt 18 resilient bracket 19, which has a bracket section 19 'radially projecting from the pin 18 and an adjoining bracket section 19' 'running parallel to the axis of the pin 18. When the wiper blade 4 is attached to the wiper arm 1, this, or at least the web 6 with the wiper lip 7, is located below the open side of the U-shaped wiper arm 1.

At its free end, the bracket section 19 ″ forms a locking lug 20 which projects beyond the side of the bracket section 19 ″ facing away from the bolt 18 and which on its side End portion 19 'facing away from the end is provided with an inclined surface 21. This lies in a plane that forms an angle of less than 90 ° with the axis of the bolt 18, which opens towards the end of the bolt 18 provided with the bracket 19. The locking lug 20 is located approximately in the middle of the pin 18.

The wider surface sides of the flat bracket 19 lie in the area of the bracket section 19 'in planes perpendicular to the axis of the bolt 18 and in the area of the bracket section 19' 'in planes parallel to the axis of the bolt 18 in such a way. The connecting elements 17 formed by the bolt 18 and the flat bracket 19 with latch 20 is preferably made in one piece from a suitable material, for example from plastic.

When the wiper blade 4 is connected to the wiper arm 1, the bolt 18 is held at both ends in a respective bearing bore 22 in the legs 2 'and 2''of the wiper arm 1 and passes through the bearing bore 12 of the rider 9. The bearing bores 22 are bearing bushes in the embodiment shown 23 formed, which at the same time also form end-face bearing or contact surfaces for the two side surfaces 13 of the rider 9 or of the bearing section 10 of the rider 9 received between the legs 2 'and 2''. The bracket portion 19 'is located on the outside of the leg 2', which has an indentation 2 '''there in such a way that the bracket portion 19' which bears against the outer surface of the leg 2 'with its surface side facing the bolt 18' does not extend beyond the plane of the remaining outer surface of this leg protrudes. With the bracket section 19 ″, the bracket 19 is passed through an opening 24 of the leg 2 ′, in such a way that the bracket section 19 ″ runs at a distance from the upper side of the bearing section 10 of the rider 9 along the inner surface of the yoke section 3, so that the latch 20 from below engages in a counter-latching and in the embodiment shown square opening 25 in the yoke section 9. As a result, the connecting element 17 is held by snapping onto the wiper arm 1 and the connection between the wiper arm 1 and the wiper blade 4 is thereby established. To release this connection, ie to remove the wiper blade 4, for example to replace this wiper blade, it can be brought out of engagement with the opening 25 by pressing the locking lug 20 in accordance with the arrow B, so that the bolt 18 then comes out of the bearing bores 12 and 23 can be pulled out. The inclined surface 21 facilitates the insertion of the bracket portion 19 'into the opening 24 when the wiper arm 1 is connected to the wiper blade 4. In particular when the rider 9 is made of plastic, the bearing bore 12 is formed, for example, by the bore of a bearing bush 12 '.

FIGS. 8-11 show as a further possible embodiment a wiper arm la, at the end la 'of which the tab 9 of the wiper blade 4 is in turn detachably fastened, with the aid of the fastening element 17a. The wiper arm la is again designed as a U-profile with the two legs 2a 'and 2a' 'and with the yoke section 3a connecting these legs.

The fastening element 17a is designed like a hood, with two legs 27 arranged parallel to one another and at a distance from one another and with a yoke section 28 connecting these legs to one another, which at one end of the hood-like connecting element 17a closes this end and the legs 26 and 27 also there connecting wall section 29 passes. On the side of the connecting element 17a opposite the wall section 29, the leg 26 forms an extension 26 'with which this leg projects beyond the leg 27 and also the yoke section 28 in the longitudinal direction of the hood-like connecting element 17a. On the extension 26 ', which ends in an arcuate edge 30, a bolt 31 is fastened with one end, which corresponds in function to the bolt 18 and projects beyond the inside of the extension 26' facing the leg 27.

When the rider 9 or wiper blade 4 connected to the wiper arm la, the bolt 31 in turn passes through the bearing bore 12 of the rider 9 and the bearing bores 22 formed by the bearing bushes 23 in the legs 2a 'or 2a''at the end la' of the wiper arm la , In order to secure the connection between the wiper arm la and the rider 9 via the bolt 31, the hood-like connecting element 17a is arranged on the wiper arm la by pivoting about the axis of the bolt 31 in such a way that it is formed on the underside of the yoke section 26 with support or Locking ribs 32 are supported flatly against the mutually facing inner surfaces of the legs 2a 'and 2a'', specifically in the region of the end la at which the yoke section 3a is missing or is recessed. By a locking lug 33 formed on the inner surface of the yoke section 28 at the transition to the wall section 29, which interacts with counter-latches 34 at the ends of the legs 2a 'and 2a'', the locking element 17a is in this locked position against undesired pivoting back (about the axis of the Bolt 31) secured in the unlocked position. The shorter leg 27 is designed such that it forms the continuation of the leg 2a ″ at least on the visible outside when the locking element 17a is locked. For the leg 26 and its extension 26 ', the wiper arm la or its leg 2a' forms an indentation 2a '''in such a way that the one facing away from the bolt 31 The outer surface of the leg 26 and the extension 26 'is flush or approximately flush with the outer surface of the leg 2a'.

To release the connection between the wiper arm la, the connecting element 17a is pivoted about the axis of the bolt 31 from the position shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 in the direction of the arrow C, so that the support or locking ribs 32 disengage from the legs 2a '. or 2a '' and the connecting element 17 with its bolt 31 can be pulled out of the bearing bores 12 and 23.

The connecting element 17a is in turn preferably made in one piece as a molded part from a suitable material, for example from plastic or metal. As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, this extends

Connecting element 17a in its locked state on the wiper arm la in the longitudinal axis of the wiper arm from the connecting bolt 31 in the direction of the end la 'and beyond this end, so that the connecting element 17a in particular with the wall section 29 also covers the wiper arm la at this end la' ,

The invention has been described above using exemplary embodiments. It goes without saying that numerous changes and modifications are possible without thereby departing from the inventive idea on which the invention is based.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1, la wiper arm

1 ', l' wiper arm end

2 'ι -i _/ Λ cL _/ cL' legs

2 '' ', 2a' '' indentation

3, 3a yoke section

4 wiper blade

5 wiper strip

6 bridge

7 wiper lip

8 spring rail

9 riders

10 storage section

11 holding section

12 bearing bore

12 'bearing bush

13 side surface

14 groove

15 undercut

16 deepening

17, 17a connecting element

18 bearing or connecting bolts

19 bracket

19 ', 19' 'bracket section

20 latch

21 sloping surface

22 bearing bore 3 bearing bush 4 opening 5 latching opening 6, 27 leg 6 'extension 8 yoke section 9 wall section 11 edge 31 connecting bolts

32 locking or support rib

33 rest

34 counter detent

A axis

B axis direction

C Swivel direction to unlock the

Connecting element 17a

Claims

claims

1. Connection between a wiper arm (1, la) of a windshield wiper for cleaning windows on vehicles, in particular motor vehicles, and a wiper blade (4) with at least one connecting element (17, 17a) having a connecting bolt (18, 31), which

When the wiper blade (4) is connected to the wiper arm (1, la), a connecting hole (12) of a bearing element (9) provided on the wiper blade (4) passes through, the connection between the wiper arm

(1, la) and the wiper blade (4) is designed to be detachable, characterized in that the wiper arm (1, la) at least in the area of the connection with two legs (2 ', 2' '; 2a') which are offset with respect to one another transversely to the longitudinal direction of the wiper arm. , 2a ''), between which the bearing element (9) is received at least with a partial area (10) which has at least one bearing bore (12), that when the wiper arm (1, la) and wiper blade (4) are connected, the connecting bolts ( 18, 31) also extends through bearing bores in the legs (2 ', 2' '; 2a', 2a ''), and that the connecting element (17, 17a) in which the wiper arm (1, la) and the wiper blade (4) connecting condition on the wiper arm

(1, la) lockable and for separating the wiper blade

(4) can be removed from the wiper arm (1, la) by axially pulling the connecting bolt (18, 31) out of the bearing bores (12, 22) from the wiper arm (1, la).

2. Connection according to claim 1, characterized in that the connecting element (17) by snapping onto the wiper arm

(1) can be locked in its connecting state.

3. Connection according to claim 2, characterized in that the connecting element (17) on the connecting bolt (18) has a resilient catch (19, 20) which in locked state of the connecting element (17) engages in a counter detent (25) of the wiper arm (1) preferably in a counter detent on a yoke section (3) of the wiper arm (1) connecting the legs (2 ', 2'').

4. Connection according to claim 3, characterized in that the counter detent is formed by an opening (25) in the wiper arm (1).

5. Connection according to one of claims 2-4, characterized in that a resilient bracket (19) is provided on the connecting bolt (18), which has at least one detent (20) at a free end.

6. Connection according to one of claims 2-5, characterized in that the latch (20) is provided on a parallel or approximately parallel to the axis of the connecting bolt (18) and spaced from the connecting bolt bracket portion (19 '') is provided.

7. Connection according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bearing bores for the connecting bolt (18, 31) in the legs (2 ', 2' '; 2a', 2a '') of the wiper arm (1, la) of bearing bushes (23) are formed.

8. Connection according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fastening element

(17a) by swiveling around the axis of the

Connecting bolt (31) on the wiper arm (la) can be locked and unlocked.

9. Connection according to claim 8, characterized in that the connecting element (17a) at least one section

(26, 26 '), on which the connecting bolt (31) is held at one end, and at least one Has locking section (32) which, when the connecting element (17a) is locked, engages behind a locking surface formed on the wiper arm in such a way that the connecting bolt (31) is secured against axial removal.

10. The connection according to claim 9, characterized in that the locking section (32) in the locked state, a surface of a leg (2a ', 2a' ') of the wiper arm

(la) engages behind the (surface) of the other leg

(2a '', 2a ') is facing.

11. Connection according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the connecting bolt (31) having the portion of the connecting element (17) is formed by a leg or wall portion (26, 26 ') which is connected to the wiper arm and wiper blade on one side of the wiper arm (la).

12. Connection according to claim 11, characterized in that at the section (26) carrying the connecting bolt (26, 26 ') is connected a further section (28) which has the at least one locking section (32).

13. Connection according to claim 12, characterized in that the further section is a wall section which forms an angle with the section (26, 26 ') carrying the connecting bolt (31) and from this the connecting bolt (31) carrying section (26 , 26 ') in the axial direction of the connecting bolt (31).

14. Connection according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one locking section of a nose or rib (32) is formed.

15. Connection according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by at least one resilient catch (33) on the connecting element (17a) which, in order to secure the locked position of the connecting element (17a), engages in at least one counter-catch (34) of the wiper arm (la).

16. Connection according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connecting element (17a) is formed hood-like at least in a partial area, with a first leg (26) having the connecting pin (31), with one of these first leg in Second leg spaced in the direction of the axis of the connecting bolt (31)

(27), with an upper and front wall section (28, 29) connecting the legs.

17. A connection according to claim 16, characterized in that the first leg (26) has an extension (26 ') carrying the connecting bolt (31), which projects beyond the wall section (28) connecting the legs.

18. Connection according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bearing element is a on the wiper blade (4) attached tab (9), the wiper blade (4) preferably from a wiper strip (5) made of an elastic material and at least one with the wiper strip (5) connected spring rail (8).

19. Connection according to claim 18, characterized in that the rider (9) has a bearing section (10) with the bearing bore (12) and a holding section (11) with an undercut (15) forming groove-shaped recess (14) in which the Wiper strip (5) is at least partially received, in such a way that sections of the at least one spring rail (8) projecting over two longitudinal sides of the wiper strip (5) engage in an undercut (15).

20. Connection according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connecting element is made in one piece from a suitable material, for example from metal or plastic.

21. Connection according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the wiper arm (1, la) is made of metal or plastic.

22. Connection according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bearing element (9) is made of metal or plastic.

23. Wiper for cleaning windows on vehicles, in particular motor vehicles with a wiper arm (1, la) and with at least one wiper blade (4) detachably connected to the wiper arm via at least one connection, characterized in that the connection according to one of the preceding claims is trained.