Especially for motor vehicle wiper blades

Abstract

A wiper blade (10) is proposed, particularly for use in motor vehicles. The wiper blade includes a wiper strip (12), a support element (14), a fluid channel (26), and a windshield strip (18). According to the invention, a sealing plug (36) closes the fluid channel (26) at at least one end (34) of the channel in the region of an end cap (22) without contacting the end cap.

Description

Background Technology

[0001] The present invention relates to a wiper blade, particularly for motor vehicles, as described in the preamble of the independent claim.

[0002] Numerous wiper blades are known, each comprising a wiper strip, a support element, a liquid channel, a sealing plug, and a windshield. This type of wiper blade allows liquid to be applied directly to the windshield glass as it is wiped, resulting in a high cleaning efficiency. The distribution of the support force, which presses the wiper strip against the windshield glass, is crucial to the cleaning effect.

[0003] The disclosure of this invention

[0004] Advantages of the present invention

[0005] The wiper blade according to the invention, having the features of the independent claim, has the advantage that the sealing plug closes the liquid channel at at least one end of the channel, in the region of the end cap, without contacting the end cap. In this way, the support force distribution is not affected in any way, and yet a reliable closure of the liquid channel is achieved.

[0006] Advantageous extensions and improvements to the features described in the independent claims are further generated by the measures enumerated in the dependent claims.

[0007] If the end cap is fixed to the support element and extends longitudinally to lock the support element, then the distribution of the support force is advantageously unaffected.

[0008] The liquid channel is arranged in the windshield in a simple, cost-effective, and therefore advantageous manner.

[0009] In a simple and therefore advantageous embodiment, the sealing plug is completely introduced into the liquid channel. This, in particular, ensures that the sealing plug does not come into contact with the end cap.

[0010] In a particularly cost-effective and therefore advantageous embodiment, the sealing plug is spherically shaped, especially as a steel ball. Such a ball can be easily introduced into the liquid channel for sealing during installation, without having to consider preferred orientation.

[0011] To ensure contactless sealing and reliable sealing, the distance between the end of the plug on the end side of the sealing plug and the end of the liquid channel is at least 1 mm, especially at least 3 mm, and preferably at least 5 mm.

[0012] It can also be seen as advantageous that the distance between the end of the plug and the end cap on the end side of the sealing plug is at least 1 mm, especially at least 3 mm, and preferably at least 5 mm. In this way, the contactless closure is ensured.

[0013] If the liquid channel is configured to be sized, it will advantageously produce the best cleaning results on the vehicle window glass. Attached Figure Description

[0014] An embodiment of the present invention is shown in the accompanying drawings and explained in detail in the following description. Wherein:

[0015] Figure 1 The wiper blade according to the invention is shown in a schematic side view;

[0016] Figure 2 The end of the wiper blade according to the invention is shown in partial cross-sectional view;

[0017] Figure 3 A longitudinal section is shown in the region at one end of the windshield strip; and

[0018] Figure 4 As shown in Figure 3 It has the longitudinal section shown in the image, but with end caps. Detailed Implementation

[0019] exist Figure 1 A schematic side view of a wiper blade 10 according to the invention is shown in the figure. The wiper blade includes a wiper strip 12, which is fixed to a support element 14. The wiper strip 12 is made of rubber material and, during operation, rests on the windshield of a motor vehicle, such as a windshield, with a wiping edge 16. The support element 14 is made of flexible steel strip and is pre-bent such that the wiper strip 12, when placed on the curved windshield, is pressed against the windshield with a supporting force along its entire longitudinal extension L. A wind deflector 18 is arranged on the side of the support element 14 opposite to the wiper strip 12, extending substantially over the entire longitudinal extension L. The wind deflector 18 is here form-fitted to the support element 14. Furthermore, the wiper strip 18 is made of at least partially elastic plastic and is manufactured, for example, by a multi-component extrusion process. Approximately at the center of the longitudinal extension L, a fixing adapter 20 is fixed to the support element 14 for securing the wiper blade 10 to the wiper arm of the windshield wiper unit. End caps 22 are provided at the ends relative to the longitudinal extension L, respectively, which lock the wiper blade 10 along the longitudinal extension L. The end caps 22 are fixed to the support element 14 in a form-locking manner, for example, by a snap-lock connection.

[0020] exist Figure 2 The partial cross-sectional view in the middle shows the end of the wiper blade 10 according to the invention, and thus shows an area of ​​one of the end caps 22. The wiper blade 12 is secured to the support element 14 by a retaining clip 24. The wind deflector 18 is form-locked around the retaining clip 24 and thus around the support element 14. The retaining clip 24 is configured in a double-clamping manner such that one clip is away from the support element 14 and clamps the wiper blade 12, while the other clip is towards the support element 14 and clamps the support element abuttingly.

[0021] The windshield 18 extends longitudinally L along the liquid channel 26, having a hollow channel serving as the liquid channel. During operation, this liquid channel 26 transports cleaning fluid from the fixed adapter 20 toward the end cap 22. The end cap 22 surrounds the support element 14 and the end of the windshield 18. Therefore, the outer ends of the windshield 18 and the outer ends of the support element 14 are arranged inside the end cap 22 and are thus received within it. Consequently, the outer ends of the liquid channel 26 are also arranged in the area of ​​the end cap 22. Furthermore, the liquid channel 26 has a nozzle through which, when pressure is applied to the cleaning fluid in the liquid channel 26, for example by a pump, the cleaning fluid can be discharged toward the windshield or wiper blade 12, thereby actively wetting the windshield, i.e., applying liquid to it.

[0022] The wind deflector 18 has a generally U-shaped shape and therefore has a base 28 and a first fixed leg 30 and a second fixed leg 32. The liquid channel 26 is arranged in the region of the second fixed leg 32, but in a variant, it can also be arranged in the region of the first fixed leg 30 or extend in the region of the base 28.

[0023] exist Figure 3 The figure shows a longitudinal section in the region at the end of the longitudinally extending L of the baffle 18 having the liquid channel 26, parallel to the plane opened by the strip-shaped support element 14. The end of the baffle 18 is shown on the left side of the figure, and thus also the end of the liquid channel 26 forming the channel end 34. In this region of the open end of the liquid channel 26, a sealing plug 34 is inserted into the liquid channel 26 to close it. The sealing plug 36 thus closes the liquid channel 26 in the region of the outer end, that is, in the region of the end cap 22 near the channel end 34.

[0024] The sealing plug 34 is constructed as a steel ball and is inserted approximately 8 mm into the liquid channel 26 when viewed from the end. The sealing plug 34 has an outer diameter slightly larger than the inner diameter of the liquid channel 26. The sealing plug 34 is completely inserted into the liquid channel 26 and therefore only contacts the wall of the liquid channel 26, and has no contact in other respects, especially the sealing plug 24 does not contact the end cap 22. Figure 2 The sealing plug 36 forms a plug end 38 on the side facing the channel end 34, which is spaced a few millimeters, preferably at least 5 mm, and here 7 mm, from the channel end 34.

[0025] exist Figure 4 The text shows the relationship with... Figure 3 The same longitudinal section is shown, but the end cap 22 is additionally shown. Regarding Figure 3 The explanation thus applies unchanged. Figure 4 .

[0026] The end cap 22 abuts against the end of the baffle 18 having a channel end 34. However, the baffle 18 is movable relative to the end cap 22, particularly along the longitudinal direction L, to allow for undisturbed bending of the support element 14. Therefore, the channel end 34 is open and not connected to the end cap 22. The sealing plug 36 closes the liquid channel 26 in the region of the end cap 22, but is not connected to the end cap 22 and should therefore be characterized as not contacting the end cap. The distance between the sealing plug 36 and the end cap 22 is approximately 10 mm here, but smaller or larger distances are also possible.

[0027] In one variation of the invention, the liquid channel 26 can also be configured separately from the baffle 18. The sealing plug 36 can also be formed, for example, in a conical or frustoconical shape. Similarly, the sealing plug 36 can also be made of plastic or ceramic. A sealing plug 36 made of wood is also possible. In another variation, the sealing plug 36 can also have an auxiliary element for introduction into the liquid channel 26. The auxiliary element can, for example, be configured as a rod-shaped protrusion. In one variation, the auxiliary element has a predetermined break point, such that the auxiliary element can be easily removed, at least partially, after introduction into the sealing plug 36.

Claims

1. Wiper blade (10), comprising at least a wiper strip (12), a support element (14), a sealing plug (36), and a baffle strip (18) having a liquid passage (26). The wiper blade (12) and the windshield strip (18) are fixed to a support element (14) opposite to each other, wherein the support element (14) is pre-bent such that when the wiper blade (12) is placed on the curved window glass, it is pressed against the window glass with a supporting force along the entire longitudinal extension (L) of the support element, wherein an end cap (22) locks the wiper blade (10) at the end of the wiper blade (10) along the longitudinal extension (L), wherein the end cap (22) surrounds the end of the support element (14) and the end of the windshield strip (18), wherein the end of the liquid channel (26) at the end of the windshield strip (18) forms a channel end (34). Its features are, The sealing plug (36) closes the liquid channel (26) in the region of the end cap (22) near the end of the channel (34), but does not contact the end cap.

2. The wiper blade (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The end cap (22) is fixed to the support element (14) and locks the support element along the longitudinal direction (L).

3. The wiper blade (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The sealing plug (36) is completely introduced into the liquid channel (26).

4. The wiper blade (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The sealing plug (36) is spherically shaped.

5. The wiper blade (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The longitudinally extending (L) distance between the end of the plug (38) on the end side of the sealing plug (36) and the end of the channel (34) of the liquid channel (26) is at least 1 mm.

6. The wiper blade (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The distance between the end of the plug (38) on the end side of the closure plug (36) and the end cap (22) is at least 1 mm.

7. The wiper blade (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The liquid channel (26) is configured for active wetting.

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