WO2014180824A1

WO2014180824A1 - Wiper blade adapter element for a wiper blade, arrangement having a wiper blade adapter element, and wiper device

Info

Publication number: WO2014180824A1
Application number: PCT/EP2014/059203
Authority: WO
Inventors: Michael Buss; Jürgen BOMMER; Lisa GERLACH
Original assignee: Valeo Systèmes d'Essuyage
Priority date: 2013-05-08
Filing date: 2014-05-06
Publication date: 2014-11-13
Also published as: DE102013104775A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a wiper blade adapter (10) for a wiper blade (1), having a first adapter element (15) for fastening the wiper blade adapter (10) in a receiving region (22) of a wiper arm (5) and a second adapter element (11) for connecting the wiper blade adapter (10) to a wiper blade body (2), the two adapter elements (11, 15) being arranged such that they can be pivoted with respect to one another in an axis (14), having a first securing device in the form of a latching connection (20) for fixing the first adapter element (15) on the wiper arm (5) in an operating position of the wiper blade (1), and a second securing device for securing the wiper blade adapter (10) on the wiper arm (5) in the dismantling direction in the case of a deactivated first securing device, the second securing device comprising a projection (30) which is arranged on the first adapter element (15) and protrudes from a side wall (28) of the first adapter element (15), and which projection (30) is configured for interaction with a stop face (24) of the wiper arm (5), and the projection (30) being arranged at a spacing (A) spaced apart from an insertion bevel (26) for the receiving region (22) on the wiper arm (5), which insertion bevel (26) is arranged on the first adapter element (15).

Description

Wiper blade adapter element for a wiper blade, arrangement having a wiper blade adapter element, and wiper device

Prior Art

The invention relates to a wiper blade adapter element for a wiper blade in accordance with the precharacterizing clause of the two independent claims. Furthermore, the invention relates to an arrangement having a wiper blade adapter element according to the invention, and to a wiper device.

A wiper blade adapter element for a wiper blade in accordance with the precharacterizing clause of the independent claims, called an adapter element in the following text, is known from WO 2013/013835 Al . The known wiper blade adapter consists of two adapter elements which are arranged such that they can be pivoted with respect to one another in an axis. The first adapter element which is provided for fastening the wiper blade adapter in a receiving region of the wiper arm can be fixed on the wiper arm by means of a latching connection. The latching connection forms a first securing device which comprises a spring tongue which is formed integrally on the upper side of the first adapter element and has a latching button which engages in a positively locking manner into a corresponding cut-out of the wiper arm. In order to avoid the wiper blade being detached from the receptacle of the wiper arm in the case of a failure of the first securing device, for example unintentional actuation of the latching element or in the case of damage of the first securing device, the known wiper blade adapter has, moreover, a second securing device which comprises a projection which protrudes away from a side face of the first adapter element. Here, on that side of the first adapter element which faces the wiper arm, the projection is arranged spaced apart axially from an insertion bevel on the first adapter element, via which insertion bevel the wiper blade adapter is introduced into the receiving region of the wiper arm. If failure of the first securing device occurs, the wiper blade or the wiper blade adapter can be pulled by a defined distance in the dismantling or release direction out of the wiper arm when the wiper blade is bearing against the vehicle window, until the projection comes into contact with an end face of an inwardly bent holding section which delimits the receiving region of the wiper arm. In this position, it is avoided that the wiper blade is released (completely) from the wiper arm, with the result that no safety-critical situations can occur, in particular, during driving operation. Complete dismantling or complete release of the wiper blade from the wiper arm is not possible until the wiper arm is pivoted away from its operating position, in which the wiper blade bears against the vehicle window, and the wiper blade adapter is brought out of contact in the region of the projection with the abovementioned end face of the receiving region on the wiper arm. The known projection has a relatively low height or connecting area on the wiper blade adapter, with the result that its mechanical strength is limited.

Disclosure of the Invention

Proceeding from the prior art which is shown, the invention is based on the object of developing a wiper blade adapter element for a wiper blade in accordance with the precharacterizing clause of the two independent claims, in such a way that a particularly robust second securing device is achieved. Moreover, the second securing device is to be configured in such a way that, during pivoting away of the wiper arm from an operating position, it cannot occur solely on account of the movement or the acceleration during pivoting away of the wiper arm that the projection passes out of an operative connection with the end face on the receiving region. Rather, it should be required, in order to release the wiper blade from the wiper arm, for it to be necessary to perform a targeted movement of the wiper blade, which movement does not take place solely during pivoting away of the wiper arm, in order to make dismantling of the wiper blade from the wiper arm possible.

According to the invention, this object is achieved in a wiper blade adapter element for a wiper blade having the features of the first independent claim by virtue of the fact that the projection is configured in such a way that the wiper blade adapter element can be rotated about its longitudinal axis in relation to the wiper arm in order to deactivate the second securing device.

In other words, the wiper blade adapter element or the wiper blade therefore has to be rotated about the wiper blade longitudinal axis, in order that the projection passes out of an operative connection with its stop face on the wiper arm. A movement of this type is not achieved during pivoting away of the wiper arm from the vehicle window without a targeted movement of the wiper blade or the wiper blade adapter element, with the result that unintentional release of the wiper blade from the wiper arm during pivoting away of the wiper arm is avoided reliably.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, it is proposed that the projection extends along the second boundary wall and is aligned at least approximately with an end on the second boundary wall.

Advantageous developments of the wiper blade adapter element according to the invention for a wiper blade are specified in the respective subclaims. It is proposed in a very particularly preferred structural refinement of the projection that the projection has a height which preferably corresponds to from 60% to 80% of the height of the wiper blade adapter element. A configuration of this type makes it possible that the projection can be formed on the first adapter element over a relatively large area, with the result that the projection is suitable for absorbing particularly high forces in the wiper blade longitudinal direction. Failure of the second securing device on account of relatively great forces which act on the wiper blade adapter in the dismantling direction is avoided reliably as a result.

In one geometrically preferred refinement of the projection, it is provided, moreover, that the projection has an at least virtually constant width, apart from the region of an upper bevel. Here, the bevel serves to make it possible to introduce the projection into the receiving region of the wiper arm during rotation of the wiper blade adapter element or the wiper blade along its longitudinal axis, in order that the wiper blade can be dismantled.

The pivoting of the wiper blade adapter element or the wiper arm for dismantling requires, moreover, that that side of the wiper blade adapter element which lies opposite the projection is provided with a corresponding clearance or a corresponding flattened portion, in order that this region is not an obstacle during pivoting of the wiper blade adapter element during pulling of the wiper blade out of the wiper arm. It is very particularly preferred, moreover, if the latching connection of the first securing device comprises a latching button which is arranged on a spring tongue and protrudes from the upper side of the wiper blade adapter element. An arrangement of this type firstly has the advantage that an operator can visually recognize the first securing device very easily and operation therefore takes place intuitively. Secondly, the advantage is achieved as a result of this that, as soon as the latching button is pressed in and the wiper blade has moved a short distance in the dismantling direction, a release force which acts in the dismantling direction is generated on the wiper blade adapter element or the wiper blade as a result of the pressed-down latching button or the prestress of the spring tongue in conjunction with the insertion bevels on the first adapter element. The invention also comprises an arrangement having a wiper blade adapter element according to the invention and a further wiper blade adapter element which connects the wiper blade adapter element to a wiper blade body, the two wiper blade adapter elements being arranged such that they can be pivoted with respect to one another in an axis.

Finally, the invention also comprises a wiper device using an arrangement according to the invention and a wiper arm.

Further advantages, features and details of the invention result from the following description of preferred exemplary embodiments and using the drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a wiper blade of a wiper device, which wiper blade is connected to a wiper arm,

Fig. 2 shows a perspective illustration of an adapter element of a wiper blade adapter according to the invention, which adapter element is connected to a wiper blade body,

Fig. 3 shows a perspective illustration of a wiper blade body which is connected to a wiper blade adapter according to the invention,

Fig. 4 shows a part region of Fig. 1 in an enlarged, perspective illustration,

Fig. 5 shows a perspective individual illustration of an adapter element,

Fig. 6 shows the illustration of the adapter element according to Fig. 5 from a different perspective,

Fig. 7 shows a perspective illustration of a view from below of the fastening region between the wiper blade adapter and the wiper arm,

Fig. 8 shows a partially sectioned side view of the fastening region between the wiper blade and the wiper arm in a locked position, and

Fig. 9 shows a sectioned illustration of the fastening region between the wiper blade and the wiper arm in a position for dismantling the wiper blade from the wiper arm.

Identical elements or elements with an identical function are provided with the same reference numerals in the figures. The wiper device 100 which is shown in Fig. 1 for cleaning a vehicle window (not shown) comprises an elongate wiper blade 1 which is fastened exchangeably to a wiper arm 5. The wiper blade 1 has a wiper blade body 2 which is covered by in each case one protective cap 3, 4 at its two end regions which lie opposite one another. The wiper blade 1 is configured, in particular, as what is known as a flat windscreen wiper.

As can be seen, in particular, using Fig. 2, the wiper blade body 2 is connected in a middle region to a first wiper blade adapter element of a wiper blade adapter 10 according to the invention, the first wiper blade adapter element being called an adapter element 11 in the following text. The first, wiper blade-side adapter element 11 has two connecting regions 12 which are arranged on opposite sides, in each case have a U- shaped cross section, and at which the first adapter element 11 engages around the wiper blade body 2 in a straddling manner. Moreover, the first adapter element 11 which is configured, in particular, as an injection moulded part has an axis 14 which serves to mount a second, wiper arm-side wiper blade adapter element which is arranged such that it can be pivoted with respect to the first adapter element 11 in the axis 14 and forms the wiper blade adapter 10 together with the adapter element 11. In the following text, the second wiper blade adapter element is called a second adapter element 15.

On the side which faces away from the wiper arm 5, the second adapter element 15 which is likewise configured as an injection moulded part and is composed of plastic has an end region 17 of enlarged cross section which, in accordance with Fig. 4, when the wiper blade 1 is mounted on the wiper arm 5 in the operating position, terminates flush with the outer contour of the wiper arm 5 on that end side of the wiper arm 5 which faces the end region 17. A spring tongue 18 with a latching button 19 which protrudes out beyond the upper side 16 is arranged on the upper side 16 of the second adapter element 15. The latching button 19 which has a square base area in the exemplary embodiment is a constituent part of a latching connection 20 between the wiper blade 1 and the wiper arm 5, which latching connection 20 acts as a first securing device. In the installed state of the wiper blade 1 on the wiper arm 5, the latching button 19 interacts with an aperture 6 which is formed on the upper side of the wiper arm 5, likewise has a square area, and into which the latching button 19 engages in a positively locking manner in order to hold the wiper blade 1 in the wiper blade longitudinal direction (Fig. 4) .

The second adapter element 15 is arranged on the wiper arm 5 within a receiving region 22. In accordance with Fig. 4, the receiving region 22 has a first part region 21a which is aligned with the wiper blade body 2 or runs above the latter, and a second part region 21b which is arranged laterally offset with respect to the part region 21a. The wiper blade adapter 10 is arranged substantially within the first part region 21a of the receiving region 22. To this end, the wiper arm 5 has a substantially U-shaped cross section in the receiving region 22, two inwardly bent-over holding sections 23 being provided on that underside of the wiper arm 5 which faces the wiper blade 1, as can be seen, in particular, using Fig. 7. On the side which faces the wiper arm 5, one of the holding sections 23 has an end face 24 which acts as a stop face (Fig. 7) .

For introducing or for mounting and for dismantling the wiper blade 1 on/from the wiper arm 5, the two holding sections 23 interact in each case with an insertion bevel 26 which is formed on the second adapter element 15 and with holding regions 27 which are arranged parallel to the upper side 16 on the second adapter element 15, the respective holding region 27 merging into the insertion bevel 26 (Fig. 5) . The insertion bevel 26 which emanates from a first boundary wall, configured as a side wall 28, of the second adapter element 15 from a lower edge 25 of the first side wall 28 and at a spacing from the axis 14 on the side which faces away from the end region 17 extends in the direction of the longitudinal axis 29 of the second adapter element 15 as far as a boundary edge 34 which is aligned at least approximately with the end of the latching button 19 on the side which faces away from the spring tongue 18. In the region of the boundary edge 34, the first side wall 28 merges via a transverse wall 36 into a second side wall 38 which is set back from the first side wall 28 and is configured as a boundary wall.

Spaced apart in the longitudinal direction at a spacing A from the insertion bevel 26 and from the transverse wall 36, a projection 30 according to the invention is formed integrally via a connecting region 40 on the second adapter element 15 at that end of the second adapter element 15 which lies opposite the end region 17, the connecting region 40 reaching as far as the upper side 16. On the side which lies opposite the end region 17, the projection 30 is aligned with the end region 41 of the adapter element 15. The projection 30 is arranged so as to lie opposite and at least substantially parallel to the transverse wall 36.

The projection 30 is of rib-like or web-like configuration and extends perpendicularly with respect to the longitudinal axis 29 of the second adapter element 15, its side which faces away from the end region 17 terminating flush with the end side of the second adapter element 15 or forming part of the (rear) end wall 42 of the adapter element 15 (Fig. 6) . The projection 30 has a height H which is merely somewhat lower than the height of the second adapter element 15 in the connecting region of the projection 30 on the second adapter element 15 if the height of the latching button 19 is not taken into consideration. The height H is typically preferably from 60% to 80% of the height of the adapter element 15. On the side which faces the upper side 16, the projection 30 has a bevel 31 which is inclined with respect to the upper side 16 and is adapted to the cross section of the receiving region 22. The projection 30 has a constant width B apart from the region of the bevel 31. The position of a lower boundary face 32 of the projection 30 is adapted to the receiving region 22 of the wiper arm 5 in such a way that, as will be explained further later, the projection 30 acts as a second securing device for the wiper blade 1, by the front end face 33 of the projection 30, which end face 33 faces the end region 17, bearing against the end face 24 of the holding section 23 in the locked position which is shown in Fig. 7.

It is also essential that the second adapter element 15 has merely one projection 30 on a side of the second adapter element 15. As can be seen from a combination, in particular, of Figs 5 and 6, the second adapter element 15 has a clearance 35 with an obliquely arranged flattened portion 37 on the side which lies opposite the projection 30 (Fig. 6) . The flattened portion 37 connects, moreover, the (rear) end wall 42 to a rear wall 43 which runs parallel to the second side wall 38, from which the projection 30 also extends . In order to mount the wiper blade 1 in the receiving region 22 of the wiper arm 5, according to Fig. 9 the second adapter element 15 is brought with its two insertion bevels 26 on the side which faces the projection 30 into an operative connection with the two holding sections 27 in such a way that, during a movement of the wiper blade 1 or the wiper blade adapter 10 in the direction of the arrow 39 (mounting direction) , the second adapter element 15 slides along the insertion bevels 26 and in the process is moved gradually in the direction of the upper side of the wiper arm 5. In the end position (operating position) shown in Fig. 4 of the wiper blade 1 on the wiper arm 5, the latching button 19 of the latching connection 20 is latched into the through opening 6 of the wiper arm 5, with the result that the wiper blade 1 is positioned and/or secured axially on the wiper arm 5 in the wiper blade longitudinal direction. Furthermore, the projection 30 is situated in the second part region 21b of the receptacle 22 in this position.

If the wiper blade 1 is to be removed from the wiper blade 5, or if pressing in of the latching button 19 into the through opening 16 occurs unintentionally, for example, the second adapter element 15 or the wiper blade 1 can be pulled out of the wiper arm 5 counter to the direction of the arrow 38. However, as can be seen using Figs 7 and 8, in the case of a purely linear movement, the projection 30 passes with its front end face 33 into bearing contact with the one end face 24 of the holding section 23, with the result that further pulling or moving of the wiper blade 1 out of the wiper arm 5 is prevented. Dismantling or release of the wiper blade 1 from the wiper arm 5 is possible only when the wiper blade 1 or the second adapter element 15 is rotated slightly, that is to say by a small rotational angle of, for example, from 10° to 20°, about the longitudinal axis 29 of the second adapter element 15 of the wiper blade adapter 10 or about the longitudinal axis of the wiper blade 1 in the rotational direction which is identified by the arrow 39 in Fig. 7. As a result of this rotational movement, the front end face 33 of the projection 30 passes out of contact with the one end face 24 of the holding section 23, with the result that a further linear movement counter to the direction of the arrow 38 is made possible.

By virtue of the fact that, on the side which faces the upper side 16, the projection 30 has a bevel 31 which is adapted to the cross section of the first part region 21a of the receptacle 22 and, moreover, on that side of the second adapter element 15 which lies opposite the projection 30, the clearance 36 and the flattened portion 37 are formed, it is made possible that a rotation of the second adapter element 15 or the wiper blade 1 is made possible, without the second adapter element 15 being impeded during a corresponding rotation by way of bearing contact on the opening cross section of the receiving region 22. It is also essential here that the second adapter element 15 is already situated in the region of the insertion bevel 26 in the position, in which, according to Fig. 7, the projection 30 is in an operative connection with the end face 24 of the holding section 23 of the wiper arm 5, with the result that the second adapter element 15 is arranged within the receiving region 22 with a movement play which is oriented perpendicularly with respect to the wiper blade longitudinal direction.

The wiper blade adapter 10 according to the invention which has been described thus far can be altered or modified in a wide variety of ways, without departing from the concept of the invention. It is thus conceivable, for example, to provide two latching buttons 19, for example, which are arranged on the lateral regions of the second adapter element 15 and interact with corresponding cut-outs or through openings 6 on the wiper arm 5, instead of a single latching button 19 which is arranged on the upper side of the second adapter element 15. List of Reference Numerals

1 Wiper blade

2 Wiper blade body

3 Protective cap

4 Protective cap

5 Wiper arm

6 Aperture

10 Wiper blade adapter

11 Adapter element

12 Connecting region

14 Axis

15 Adapter element

16 Upper side

17 End region

18 Spring tongue

19 Latching button

20 Latching connection 21a Part region

21b Part region

22 Receiving region

23 Holding section

24 End face

25 Lower edge

26 Insertion bevel

27 Holding region

28 Side wall

29 Longitudinal axis

30 Projection

31 Bevel

32 Boundary face

33 End face

34 Delimiting edge

35 Clearance

36 Transverse wall

37 Flattened portion

38 Side wall 39 Arrow

40 Connecting region

41 End region

42 End wall

43 Rear wall

100 Wiper device

A Spacing

B Width

H Height

Claims

1. Wiper blade adapter element (15) for fastening a wiper blade (1) to a wiper arm (5), having a first securing device for fixing the wiper blade adapter element (15) on the wiper arm (5) in an operating position of the wiper blade (1), the wiper blade adapter element (15) having a second securing device for securing the wiper blade adapter element (15) on the wiper arm (5) in a dismantling direction in the case of a deactivated first securing device, the wiper blade adapter element (15) having at least one first boundary wall (28) which is configured to guide the wiper blade adapter element (15) in the direction of the mounting or dismantling direction, and a second boundary wall (38) which is set back in relation to the first boundary wall (28), the second securing device having a projection (30) which extends from the second boundary wall (38), the wiper blade adapter element (15) having an insertion bevel (26) for mounting or dismantling the wiper blade adapter element (15) on/from the wiper arm (5), the insertion bevel (26) extending from a lower edge (25) of the first boundary wall (28) as far as an end (34) in the region of the second boundary wall (38), and the projection (30) being spaced apart from the insertion bevel (26) at a spacing (A) in the longitudinal direction of the wiper blade adapter element (15), characterized in that the projection (30) is configured in such a way that the wiper blade adapter element (15) can be rotated about its longitudinal axis (29) in relation to the wiper arm (5) in order to deactivate the second securing device.

2. Wiper blade adapter element according to Claim 1, characterized in that the projection (30) has a height

(H) which preferably corresponds to from 60% to 80% of the height of the wiper blade adapter element (15) .

3. Wiper blade adapter element according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the projection (30) has an at least virtually constant width (B) , apart from the region of an upper bevel (31) .

4. Wiper blade adapter according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the wiper blade adapter element (15) is provided with a clearance (35) and/or a flattened portion (37) on the side which lies opposite the projection (30) .

5. Wiper blade adapter according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the first securing device comprises a latching button (19) which is arranged on a spring tongue (18) and protrudes from the upper side (16) of the wiper blade adapter element (15) .

6. Wiper blade adapter according to Claim 5, characterized in that the latching button (19) terminates approximately with the end of the insertion bevel (26) in the axial direction of the wiper blade adapter element (15) .

7. Wiper blade adapter element (15) for fastening a wiper blade (1) to a wiper arm (5), having a first securing device for fixing the wiper blade adapter element (15) on the wiper arm (5) in an operating position of the wiper blade (1), the wiper blade adapter element (15) having a second securing device for securing the wiper blade adapter element (15) on the wiper arm (5) in a dismantling direction in the case of a deactivated first securing device, the wiper blade adapter element (15) having at least one first boundary wall (28) which is configured to guide the wiper blade adapter element (15) in the direction of the mounting or dismantling direction, and a second boundary wall (38) which is set back in relation to the first boundary wall (28), the second securing device having a projection (30) which extends from the second boundary wall (38), the wiper blade adapter element (15) having an insertion bevel (26) for mounting or dismantling the wiper blade adapter element (15) on/from the wiper arm (5), the insertion bevel (26) extending from a lower edge (25) of the first boundary wall (28) as far as an end (34) in the region of the second boundary wall (38), and the projection (30) being spaced apart from the insertion bevel (26) at a spacing (A) in the longitudinal direction of the wiper blade adapter element (15), characterized in that the projection (30) extends along the second boundary wall (38) and is aligned at least approximately with an end region (41) in the region of the end (34) .

8. Wiper blade adapter according to Claim 7, characterized in that the first securing device is configured in the form of a latching connection (20) .

9. Wiper blade adapter according to Claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the projection (30) is connected to the second boundary wall (38) via a connecting region (40) which reaches as far as an upper side (16) of the wiper blade adapter element (15) .

10. Wiper blade adapter element according to one of Claims 7 to 9, characterized in that at least one part region of the projection (30) is arranged opposite at least one part region of a transverse wall (36) of the wiper blade adapter element (15), the transverse wall (36) being arranged between the first boundary wall (28) and the projection (30) .

11. Wiper blade adapter element according to one of Claims 7 to 10, characterized in that the projection

(30) has an upper bevel (31) which is inclined in the direction of the upper side (16) of the wiper blade adapter element (15) .

12. Wiper blade adapter element according to one of Claims 7 to 11, characterized in that the projection (30) forms at least one part region of a rear-side end wall (42) of the wiper blade adapter element (15) .

13. Wiper blade adapter element according to one of Claims 7 to 12, characterized in that the wiper blade adapter element (15) has a flattened portion (37) which connects a rear-side end wall (42) to a rear wall (43) which is arranged parallel to the second boundary wall (38), from which the projection (30) emanates.

14. Arrangement having a wiper blade adapter element (15) according to one of Claims 1 to 13 and a further wiper blade adapter element (11) which connects the wiper blade adapter element (15) to a wiper blade body (2), the two wiper blade adapter elements (11, 15) being arranged such that they can be pivoted with respect to one another in an axis (14) .

15. Wiper device (100) for cleaning a vehicle window, consisting of a wiper blade (1), an arrangement according to Claim 14 and a wiper arm (5) .