Wiper blade device for a windshield wiper with spray function

Abstract

The invention relates to a wiper blade device (14) for a windshield wiper of a vehicle, wherein the wiper blade device (14) can be fastened to a wiper arm (12) of the windshield wiper, wherein the wiper blade device (14) comprises a wiper blade (22) and a holder (24) and, if necessary, a wind deflector, wherein the wiper blade device (14) has a liquid discharge system (26) comprising at least one liquid discharge channel, wherein the liquid discharge channel has a discharge opening for discharging cleaning liquid from the liquid discharge channel onto the windshield of the vehicle, wherein At least one adapter (28) is fixed to the support (24) for hydraulically connecting a liquid conveying part (30) to the liquid discharge system (26), wherein each of the one or more adapters (28) arranged on the support (24) is designed to connect the liquid conveying part (30) only to one or more liquid discharge channels of the liquid discharge system (26), through which cleaning liquid can be discharged unilaterally and on the same side of the wiper blade (22).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a wiper blade device for a windshield wiper having a spray function. In particular, the present invention relates to a wiper blade device having a particularly adaptable and cost-effective connection and fastening of a liquid reservoir. Background Art

[0002] Windshield wipers for vehicles are known in a variety of embodiments. It is also known to equip these windshield wipers with a spray function, so that cleaning fluid can be sprayed directly onto the vehicle windshield to be cleaned via the windshield wiper. The cleaning fluid can be discharged, for example, on one side or on both sides relative to the wiper blade of the windshield wiper.

[0003] DE 10 2008 049 269 A1 describes a connection between a wiper blade and a wiper arm for a windshield wiper system of a vehicle, the connection comprising: a wiper blade adapter arranged on the wiper blade for releasably fastening the wiper blade to the wiper arm, wherein the wiper blade is designed as a flat wiper blade and consists essentially of a profiled rail-shaped wiper blade body, at least one spring rail, and a wiper rubber strip forming at least one wiper lip, and the wiper blade comprises, on at least one longitudinal side of the wiper blade, at least one spray or distribution channel with a nozzle opening for discharging cleaning or washing fluid onto the vehicle windshield; and at least one fluid connection located on the wiper blade adapter for releasably connecting the at least one spray and distribution channel to at least one external fluid line arranged at least over a portion of its length on the wiper arm, specifically via a coupling unit connected to the at least one fluid line, wherein the external fluid line is used to supply washing or cleaning fluid to the at least one spray or distribution channel. Summary of the Invention

[0004] A wiper blade device for a windshield wiper of a vehicle is described, wherein the wiper blade device can be fastened to a wiper arm of the windshield wiper, wherein the wiper blade device comprises a wiper blade and a holder and, if necessary, a wind deflector, wherein the wiper blade device has a liquid discharge system, wherein the liquid discharge system comprises at least one liquid discharge channel, wherein the liquid discharge channel has a discharge opening for discharging cleaning fluid from the liquid discharge channel onto the windshield of the vehicle, wherein at least one adapter is fastened to the holder for hydraulically connecting a liquid supply to the liquid discharge system, wherein each of the one or more adapters arranged on the holder is designed to connect the liquid supply only to one or more such liquid discharge channels of the liquid discharge system, through which cleaning fluid can be discharged unilaterally and on the same side of the wiper blade.

[0005] Such a wiper blade device allows a cost-effective and application-adaptable design of a windshield wiper for a vehicle.

[0006] The wiper blade device is used, in particular, as part of a windshield wiper system for a vehicle, such as, in particular, a motor vehicle. For this purpose, the wiper blade device can be fixed or secured to a wiper arm of the windshield wiper system. The wiper arm can therefore be used, in particular, to mechanically connect the wiper blade device to the motor vehicle and, for this purpose, is particularly designed to be pivotably secured adjacent to the vehicle's windshield. Furthermore, the wiper arm can be driven in a manner known per se by a windshield wiper motor. The wiper blade device is then guided by the wiper arm and slides along the vehicle's windshield.

[0007] To this end, in one embodiment, the wiper blade device can include a wiper strip, a wind deflector that can be fastened to the wiper strip, and a wiper blade that can be fastened to the wiper strip or wind deflector. The wiper strip can be made of metal, for example, and imparts mechanical stability to the wiper blade device. Furthermore, the wiper strip can serve to hold the wind deflector and, if necessary, the wiper blade. The wind deflector is used in a manner known per se to press the windshield wiper against the windshield at high speeds, thereby achieving a good wiping result.

[0008] The wiper blade comprises, in particular, a rubber lip which slides directly along the windshield and thereby removes liquid and dirt from the windshield and thus cleans it.

[0009] In terms of operating the windshield wiper or wiper blade device, it can be advantageous to design the device so that a cleaning fluid, such as water mixed with detergent and / or antifreeze, is sprayed onto the windshield. This ensures that dirt is removed from the windshield particularly effectively and quickly. This is because spraying the cleaning fluid onto the windshield by means of the wiper blade device, in particular by means of a wiper blade or wind deflector, allows the cleaning fluid to be sprayed precisely and comprehensively at the desired location where the windshield wiper cleans the windshield. Therefore, the application of the cleaning fluid to the windshield by means of the wiper blade device allows for improved reliability. Furthermore, cleaning fluid can be conserved during operation of the windshield wiper.

[0010] To this end, the wiper blade device, as described above, comprises a wiper blade and a support and, if necessary, a wind deflector. As described above, the wiper blade is intended to come into direct contact with the vehicle's windshield and thereby clean it. In order to be able to spray cleaning fluid from the wiper blade device, such as the wiper blade or the wind deflector, onto the windshield, the wiper blade device has a liquid discharge system comprising at least one liquid discharge channel, one or more of which can be arranged in the wiper blade and / or the wind deflector. The one or more liquid discharge channels include discharge openings for discharging cleaning fluid from the liquid discharge channel onto the vehicle's windshield. The discharge openings, also referred to as nozzle openings, can be distributed over the length of the wiper blade or the wind deflector and thus ensure that cleaning fluid is sprayed alongside the wiper blade over the entire length of the wiper blade. In particular, the cleaning fluid can then be sprayed at least in front of the wiper blade along the direction of movement of the windshield wiper.

[0011] The support can be, for example, the wiper strip described above or another support that can be attached to the wiper strip. It is important for the support to be able to carry at least one adapter or to be able to be attached to it. The wiper blade device described here provides for at least one adapter to be attached to the support for hydraulically connecting a liquid supply to the liquid drainage system. The adapter is therefore particularly useful for connecting to a liquid supply, which can be, for example, a hose connected to a reservoir for cleaning fluid. This can be achieved, for example, by having the adapter have a connector as a liquid inlet, which can be designed as a male connector, onto which the hose can be pushed, for example. Furthermore, the adapter has, for example, exactly one liquid outlet, which can also be, for example, a male connector and can be connected to the liquid drainage system, for example, using a hose or other liquid-conducting element. In particular, each provided adapter can have exactly one liquid inlet and one liquid outlet.

[0012] Therefore, a channel geometry is provided within the adapter piece, via which the cleaning liquid can be conducted from the liquid inlet to the liquid outlet.

[0013] Furthermore, each of the one or more adapters arranged on the support is designed to connect the liquid supply to one or more liquid outlet channels of a liquid outlet system, through which the cleaning liquid can be discharged unilaterally and on the same side of the wiper blade. In this context, the term "the same side of the wiper blade" means, in particular, that the cleaning liquid is discharged on the side in front of or behind the wiper blade when the wiper blade moves in a predetermined direction of movement.

[0014] Therefore, an adapter or a plurality of adapters are provided on the support, which are designed and connected in such a way as to enable connectivity with the liquid drainage system so that each adapter itself only allows for one-sided drainage of the cleaning liquid. Therefore, provision is not made for two-sided drainage of the cleaning liquid via one adapter, but rather each adapter guides the cleaning liquid into the liquid drainage system or into such a liquid drainage channel in such a way that the cleaning liquid from the adapter is sprayed onto the windshield only from one side relative to the wiper blade.

[0015] Such a design offers significant advantages over prior art solutions.

[0016] In particular, this design allows for the configuration of one or more adapters to be tailored to the specific design of the cleaning mechanism. For example, a cleaning mechanism with a single-sided spray of cleaning liquid may require only one adapter. Conversely, a cleaning mechanism with a dual-sided spray of cleaning liquid may require two adapters.

[0017] This allows for a particularly cost-effective solution. Since the corresponding adapter can be adapted to the single-sided injection, it can be manufactured smaller and with less material consumption. This makes it possible to provide a cost-effective solution, for example, when single-sided injection is used and a smaller adapter is used.

[0018] Furthermore, it is possible to prevent the use of an adapter in a one-sided spray mechanism in which two liquid outlets are provided, but one of the two liquid outlets is not used. In this case, either one liquid outlet would have to be closed, or there is a risk of dirt entering the open connection, which could impair the cleaning result or even block the adapter.

[0019] Unused, non-functional connections of the adapter can also complicate handling, for example when replacing windshield wipers, since users usually skip over or do not want such non-functional connections.

[0020] However, if the liquid discharge system is designed for the two-sided discharge of cleaning liquid, two adapter pieces can be used in a simple manner in order to guide the cleaning liquid into the corresponding liquid discharge channels.

[0021] This makes it possible to realize a modular system in which a highly adaptable design can be realized in a simple and cost-effective manner without affecting the functionality.

[0022] It may be preferred that the wiper blade device is designed for unilateral discharge of cleaning liquid and has one, in particular precisely one, adapter having precisely one liquid outlet for connecting the adapter to one or more liquid outlet channels, through which cleaning liquid can be discharged unilaterally and on the same side of the wiper blade, thereby enabling only unilateral discharge of cleaning liquid. In such a design for only unilateral discharge of cleaning liquid, cleaning liquid consumption can be further reduced, which can allow particularly cost-effective operation. Furthermore, in such a design, the adapter can be designed particularly simply, which can further simplify its manufacture and reduce costs. Consequently, only one, possibly compact, adapter is required to manufacture the wiper blade device, which simplifies manufacture and saves costs.

[0023] In particular, the washer fluid can be sprayed unilaterally so that when the windshield wiper is moving, the washer fluid is sprayed in front of the moving wiper blade, but due to the unilateral spray functionality, the spraying can only take place in the intended direction of movement of the windshield wiper or wiper blade.

[0024] Alternatively, it can be preferred that the wiper blade device is designed for bilateral discharge of the cleaning fluid and has two adapters, in particular exactly two adapters, each of which has exactly one liquid outlet for connecting the adapter to one or more liquid outlet channels, through which the cleaning fluid can be discharged unilaterally and on the same side of the wiper blade, that is, only one-sided discharge of the cleaning fluid is possible, wherein the liquid outlet channels fed by different adapters are designed to discharge the cleaning fluid at different sides of the wiper blade relative to one another. In this embodiment, the cleaning result can be particularly advantageous because cleaning fluid is sprayed in front of the windshield wiper during each movement of the windshield wiper, that is, in both directions of movement of the windshield wiper.

[0025] The adapters used can be identically designed, so that only one type of adapter needs to be used, regardless of whether a single-sided or double-sided spray of the cleaning fluid is to be implemented. This shows that a very high functional adaptability can be achieved through the modular design of the wiper blade device.

[0026] Furthermore, it can be preferred that at least one of the provided adapter parts is indirectly or directly fastened to the support via a snap-on connection. This snap-on connection, which can also be referred to as a clip-on connection, can further simplify production, since the adapter part or parts can be fastened to the support without tools. Furthermore, the snap-on connection, i.e., in particular the snap-on lugs and the corresponding undercuts, can be easily designed and arranged so that the adapter part or parts can be fixed in the corresponding position in a simple manner, if desired. This design can thus further enhance the modularity of the wiper blade device, as described herein.

[0027] In this case, the adapter can be fixed directly to the support, ie without any other component interposed between the support and the adapter, or indirectly, ie with at least one component between the adapter and the support.

[0028] Furthermore, it can be preferred that a housing is fixed to the support, to which at least one adapter is fixed. This embodiment thus describes an indirect fastening of the adapter or adapters to the support. In this embodiment, the adapter and its connection can be protected from negative external influences, such as mechanical influences. This ensures reliable and long-term stable operation of the wiper blade device.

[0029] It can also be advantageous for the housing to be fastened to the support by means of a latching connection. This in turn provides the advantage of simple and reliable modular fastening and adaptation of the wiper blade device. In principle, one housing can be provided for all adapters, or one housing can be provided for each adapter.

[0030] Furthermore, it can be preferred that the liquid drainage system, in particular one or more liquid drainage channels of the wiper blade or wind deflector, are heatable. Therefore, in this embodiment, the wiper blade device can include a heating device, by means of which the cleaning liquid in the liquid drainage system can be heated. In this embodiment, reliable operation of the wiper blade device can be ensured even at temperatures significantly below freezing. Preferably, an electrical connection is provided on the support for electrically connecting an electrical heating device for heating the liquid drainage system.

[0031] With regard to further advantages and technical features of the wiper blade device, reference may be made to the description of the windshield wiper assembly, the drawings and the description of the drawings.

[0032] Furthermore, a windshield wiper assembly is specified, comprising a windshield wiper arm and a wiper blade arrangement, wherein the wiper blade arrangement is designed as described in detail above.

[0033] As described in detail above, such a windshield wiper assembly allows a cost-effective and highly adaptable solution for the wiper blade device and therefore for the windshield wiper assembly described here.

[0034] The windshield wiper arm can preferably carry a heatable liquid supply. The liquid supply arranged on the windshield wiper arm can be, for example, a hose that is connected to a reservoir for cleaning fluid and, moreover, to an adapter of the wiper blade device. By heating the liquid supply, i.e., the hose, for example, reliable operation of the wiper blade device can be ensured even at temperatures significantly below freezing.

[0035] With regard to further advantages and technical features of the windshield wiper assembly, reference may be made to the description of the wiper blade device, the drawings and the description of the drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0036] Further advantages and advantageous embodiments of the subject matter of the present invention are illustrated by the drawings and explained in the following description, wherein the described features may form the subject matter of the present invention individually or in any combination, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It should be noted that the drawings have a merely descriptive character and are not to be construed as limiting the invention in any way. Among them:

[0037] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a windshield wiper assembly according to a design solution of the present invention is shown;

[0038] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of a wiper blade device according to a design solution of the present invention is shown;

[0039] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of a wiper blade device according to another embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0040] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of a wiper blade device according to another embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0041] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of a wiper blade device according to another embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0042] Figure 6 A schematic diagram of a wiper blade device according to another embodiment of the present invention is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0043] exist Figure 1, a windshield wiper assembly 10 is shown, which is provided for a vehicle, for example, a motor vehicle. The windshield wiper assembly 10 comprises a wiper arm 12 and a wiper blade device 14. The wiper arm 12 can be pivotally fastened to the motor vehicle at a first end 16. Furthermore, an electrical connection 18 is shown at the first end 16, via which the wiper arm 12 or the wiper blade device 14 can be heated, for example. Furthermore, the wiper blade device 14 is shown fastened to a second end 20 of the wiper arm 12.

[0044] The wiper blade device 14 is shown in greater detail and in different embodiments in the further figures.

[0045] For example, Figure 2 , the wiper blade device 14 comprises a wiper blade 22 and a support 24. The wiper blade 22 is fastened to the support 24. The support 24 can also be used to mechanically connect the wiper blade device 14 at its support 24 to the wiper arm 12.

[0046] In order to be able to spray the washer fluid onto the windshield of the vehicle, the wiper blade device 14 has a liquid discharge system 26, which comprises at least one liquid discharge channel (not shown in detail), wherein the liquid discharge channel also has a discharge opening (not shown in detail) for discharging the washer fluid from the liquid discharge channel onto the windshield of the vehicle.

[0047] Furthermore, at least one adapter 28 is fixed to the support 24, which serves to hydraulically connect the liquid conveying part 30 to the liquid discharge system. Figure 2 The figure shows two adapters 28 in detail, which are connected to the liquid conveying part 30. The adapters 28 each have a fluid inlet 32, which is configured as a male connector. In addition, the liquid conveying part 30 includes a hose 34, a Figure 2 In the embodiment of FIG, there are two hoses 34 which are connected to a reservoir for the cleaning fluid, such as a tank, for example.

[0048] The adapter 28 is connected to the housing 36 via a latching connection via latching means 37, wherein the housing 36 is in turn connected to the support 24 via a latching connection via latching means 39. It can be seen that a common housing 36 is provided for the two adapters 28. The area of ​​the adapter 28 and the housing 36 can be covered by the housing cover 23, as shown in FIG. Figure 1 As shown in .

[0049] In addition, according to Figure 2In the embodiment of the wiper blade device 14, it is provided that the wiper blade device 14 is designed for discharging cleaning fluid on both sides and has two adapters 28, each of which has exactly one liquid outlet 38 for connecting the adapter 28 and thus the liquid supply 30 to one or more liquid outlet channels, through which cleaning fluid can be discharged unilaterally and on the same side of the wiper blade 22. The adapters 28 are therefore separate components and are separate from one another, but can in principle be designed to correspond to one another, to be mirror-symmetrical or to be different from one another.

[0050] Therefore, it is provided in principle that each of the one or more adapters 28 arranged on the support 24 is designed to connect the liquid conveying part 30 only to one or more liquid discharge channels of the liquid discharge system 26, through which the cleaning liquid can be discharged unilaterally and on the same side of the wiper blade 22.

[0051] This is also Figure 5 , which shows a wiper blade device 14 that is designed for unilateral discharge of cleaning fluid. In this embodiment, the wiper blade device 14 has exactly one adapter 28 with exactly one liquid outlet 38 for connecting the adapter 28 and thus the liquid supply 30 to one or more liquid outlet channels, through which the cleaning fluid can be discharged unilaterally and on the same side of the wiper blade 22.

[0052] It can be seen that according to Figure 5 In the design scheme, Figure 2 Compared to the embodiment of , an adapter piece 28 can be omitted due to the only one-sided injection functionality.

[0053] In addition, Figure 2 and 5 , which can be connected, for example, to the electrical connections 18 on the wiper arm 12. These electrical connections allow a heating device (not shown in detail) to be actuated via electrical lines 42, thereby heating the wiper arm 12 and / or, if appropriate, the liquid supply 30 and also the liquid drainage system 26, for example, the channels in the wiper blade 12.

[0054] As explained below, the further figures show further, but corresponding, embodiments of wiper blade devices, wherein in particular the differences are discussed.

[0055] exist Figure 3A design is shown in Figure 1 , wherein the wiper blade device 14 is provided for spraying cleaning fluid on both sides. It is provided here by corresponding electrical wires 42 that only the liquid discharge system 26 can be heated, but the wiper arm 12 cannot be heated.

[0056] Figure 4 and 6 A design without a heating device is shown, wherein Figure 4 The wiper blade device 14 is configured to spray cleaning fluid on both sides, and wherein Figure 6 The wiper blade device 14 is provided for spraying cleaning fluid on one side. Accordingly, electrical connections can be omitted.

[0057] However, in principle Figure 2 and 5 as well as Figure 4 and 6 It can be shown in the corresponding embodiments of that the modular design of the wiper blade device 14 according to the invention provides a cost-effective and adaptable solution which permits unlimited functionality.

Claims

1. A wiper blade device (14) for a windshield wiper of a vehicle, wherein the wiper blade device (14) can be fastened to a wiper arm (12) of the windshield wiper, wherein the wiper blade device (14) comprises a wiper blade (22) and a holder (24) and comprises a wind deflector, wherein the wiper blade device (14) comprises a liquid discharge system (26) comprising at least one liquid discharge channel, wherein the liquid discharge channel comprises a discharge opening for discharging cleaning liquid from the liquid discharge channel onto the windshield of the vehicle, characterized in that At least one adapter (28) is fixed to the support (24) for hydraulically connecting a liquid conveying part (30) to the liquid discharge system (26), wherein each of the one or more adapters (28) arranged on the support (24) is designed to connect the liquid conveying part (30) only to one or more liquid discharge channels of the liquid discharge system (26), through which cleaning liquid can be discharged unilaterally and on the same side of the wiper blade (22), and the adapter (28) is connected to the housing (36) via a latching connection via a latching device (37), wherein the housing (36) is in turn connected to the housing (36) via a latching connection via a latching device (39). The wiper blade device (14) is connected to a support (24), the wiper blade device (14) being designed for discharging cleaning liquid on both sides and having two adapters (28), each of the adapters (28) having exactly one liquid outlet (38) for connecting the adapter (28) to one or more liquid outlet channels, through which cleaning liquid can be discharged unilaterally and only on the same side of the wiper blade (22), wherein the liquid outlet channels fed by different adapters (28) are designed for discharging cleaning liquid on mutually different sides of the wiper blade (22), and a housing (36) is fixed to the support (24), to which at least one adapter (28) is fixed.

2. The wiper blade device (14) according to claim 1, characterized in that The wiper blade device (14) is designed for unilateral discharge of cleaning fluid and comprises an adapter (28) having precisely one liquid outlet (38) for connecting the adapter (28) to one or more liquid discharge channels, through which cleaning fluid can be discharged unilaterally and only on the same side of the wiper blade (22).

3. The wiper blade device (14) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that At least one of the provided adapter parts (28) is indirectly fixed to the support (24) via a latching connection.

4. The wiper blade device (14) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The liquid removal system (26) is heatable.

5. The wiper blade device (14) according to claim 1, characterized in that An electrical connector (40) is provided on the support (24), and the electrical connector is used for electrically connecting to an electric heating device for heating the liquid output system (26).

6. A windshield wiper assembly (10) comprising a wiper arm (12) and a wiper blade assembly (14), characterized in that: The wiper blade device (14) is designed according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. The windshield wiper assembly (10) according to claim 6, characterized in that: The wiper arm (12) carries a heatable liquid supply (30).

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