Wiper blade and wiper device for cleaning a vehicle windshield and method of mounting a wiper blade

Abstract

The invention relates to a wiper blade (10) for cleaning a vehicle windshield (FS), having a wiper blade body (12) which extends along a longitudinal axis (22), having a wiper blade adapter (15) which is connected to the wiper blade body (12), the wiper blade adapter having a first adapter element (16) which is connected to the wiper blade body (12) and a second adapter element (18) which is connectable to a wiper arm (1), wherein the two adapter elements (16, 18) are arranged such that they can be pivoted relative to one another in a rotational axis (20) in a direction which extends perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (22), and wherein the wiper blade (10) has a flat configuration.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a wiper blade and wiper assembly for cleaning vehicle windshields, and the mounting of the wiper blade on a wiper arm. The distinguishing feature of the wiper blade lies particularly in its advantageous embodiment for use with a wiper blade adapter mounted on the wiper arm. Background Technology

[0002] A wiper blade for cleaning a vehicle windshield, having the features of the preamble of claim 1, is known from the applicant's document DE 10 2014 114 688 A1. The known wiper blade has a wiper blade adapter consisting of two adapter elements that are hinged together and generally cannot be disassembled by the user. In this regard, the two adapter elements are pre-installed on the wiper blade body, thereby securing the wiper blade to the wiper arm by connecting the wiper arm to the adapter elements of the wiper blade adapter that are assigned to and / or facing the wiper arm. Furthermore, the wiper arm of the wiper assembly has a U-shaped cross-section in the connection area with the wiper blade adapter, such that the wiper arm covers and / or accommodates the adapter elements assigned to the wiper arm. 。 Summary of the Invention

[0003] The wiper blade for cleaning a vehicle windshield according to claim 1, based on the present invention, allows the adapter element of the wiper blade adapter facing the wiper arm to be connected to the wiper arm, without requiring or being independent of the adapter element of the wiper blade adapter assigned to the wiper blade. Therefore, compared to the prior art, the present invention provides an alternative embodiment for the installation operation of replacing the wiper blade on the wiper arm, and an embodiment of two adapter elements of the wiper blade adapter that can be connected to each other. In particular, the wiper blade according to the present invention, due to its specially designed wiper blade adapter, also allows for a particularly simple structural design of the wiper arm at the end of the wiper arm that can be connected to the wiper blade adapter.

[0004] In light of the background stated above, the present invention therefore proposes a wiper blade for cleaning vehicle windshields, such that a second adapter element assigned to a wiper arm has a receiving portion designed to accommodate an end of the wiper arm, the cross-section of which is, in particular, rectangular, and at least substantially flat; such that, in the operating position of the wiper blade adapter, the second adapter element is arranged in a recess having a U-shaped cross-section in a first adapter element assigned to the wiper blade body; and such that, in the sidewall region facing the second adapter element, the first adapter element has a groove-shaped guide for accommodating an extension arranged in... The second adapter element preferably has a circular cross-section and is arranged aligned with the axis of rotation in the working position of the wiper blade adapter; wherein, the guide in the first adapter element forms a first limiting stop, which extends in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the wiper blade body and serves the extension in the working position of the wiper blade adapter; and wherein, a second limiting stop for the second adapter element is formed by the transverse wall of the first adapter element (the front side of the second adapter element abuts against the transverse wall), which is formed opposite to the first limiting stop in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the wiper blade body.

[0005] Advantageous developments of a wiper blade for cleaning vehicle windshields according to the invention are set forth in the dependent claims.

[0006] On the one hand, in order to allow the second adapter element to be installed on the first adapter element as easily as possible without deforming the components of the first adapter element, and on the other hand, in order to enable the formation of a second limiting stop on the first adapter element in the working position of the wiper adapter, in a preferred design embodiment of the wiper blade, a guide on the sidewall facing away from the wiper blade body has an opening for inserting an extension of the second adapter element, and the opening has a first distance in the longitudinal direction from the transverse wall, the first distance being less than a second distance between the first limiting stop and the transverse wall.

[0007] It is also particularly advantageous if the front region of the second adapter element or at least some regions of the transverse wall are convex. This minimizes the spacing between the adapter elements in the transverse wall region when the two adapter elements pivot relative to each other, and thus allows for a small rotation angle between the two adapter elements without creating a longitudinal gap between them. This pivot angle between the two adapter elements is necessary to ensure that the wiper blade or its wiper flange always rests against the vehicle windshield as it moves along the vehicle windshield.

[0008] Considering the form-fitting arrangement of the wiper arm end on the second adapter element, a receiving portion on the second adapter element is also provided: the receiving portion has a particularly rectangular internal cross-section, which is designed to receive the end of the wiper arm in a form-fitting manner. In the installed state of the wiper assembly, this form-fitting receiving portion forms a non-inclined or rigid arrangement between the second adapter element and the end of the wiper arm.

[0009] In order to reliably lock the wiper arm to the adapter element in the longitudinal direction at the end of the wiper arm, a latching element is also provided, formed on the second adapter element, for locking the end of the wiper arm in the direction of the longitudinal axis.

[0010] In an advantageous embodiment of this type of latching element, an extension on the latching element and the second adapter element is provided, which is arranged in the region of the elastically deformable area of ​​the sidewall, wherein the extension and the latching element are arranged on opposite sides of each other.

[0011] Because these two adapter elements are made of plastic and are injection molded parts, it is possible to produce wiper blade adapters in a cost-effective and efficient manner.

[0012] Furthermore, the present invention also includes a wiper device for cleaning a vehicle windshield, having the wiper blade described above according to the invention. A distinguishing feature of the wiper device is the wiper arm having an end that interacts with a receiving portion of a second adapter element, wherein this end transitions into an S-shaped portion outside the receiving portion and near the adapter element. This embodiment of the wiper device allows for the realization of a particularly compactly constructed wiper arm or a wiper device with a particularly small overall height.

[0013] In this improvement to the wiper assembly, the end of the wiper arm is provided to have a recess in the region of the receiving portion of the second adapter element, the recess interacting with the latching element of the second adapter element for positioning the end in the direction of the longitudinal axis in a form-fitting manner.

[0014] Finally, the present invention also includes a method for mounting a wiper blade on a wiper arm in the case of the aforementioned wiper assembly. The distinguishing feature of this mounting method is that, firstly, the end of the wiper arm is inserted into a receiving portion of a second adapter element, and the end of the wiper arm is fixed in the receiving portion along its longitudinal direction. Then, the extension of the second adapter element is aligned relative to a guide of a first adapter element, wherein the second adapter element is arranged at an angle relative to the first adapter element such that the distance between the front side of the second adapter element and the first adapter element is greater than the distance between the back side of the second adapter element and the first adapter element. Then, the extension of the second adapter element is inserted into an opening in the first adapter element, and the extension is moved along the guide, wherein the angle of inclination between the adapter elements may decrease until the extension abuts against a first limiting stop of the guide. Finally, the two adapter elements are pivoted by decreasing the angle of inclination until the front side of the second adapter element forms an operable connection with a transverse wall in the first adapter element, thereby longitudinally fixing the wiper blade to the wiper arm.

[0015] Other advantages, features, and details of the invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention, taken with reference to the accompanying drawings. 。 Attached Figure Description

[0016] Figure 1 A wiper device for cleaning a vehicle windshield is shown, wherein a wiper arm is mounted on a wiper blade.

[0017] Figure 2 It shows that according to Figure 1 A top view of the end of the wiper arm, wherein the adapter element of the wiper blade adapter is connected to this end.

[0018] Figure 3 The perspective view shows the results based on Figure 2 The adapter components themselves and the wiper arm itself, and

[0019] Figures 4 to 7 The installation of the wiper blades on the wiper arm of the wiper unit is shown in partial sectional side views at different stages of installation. Detailed Implementation

[0020] In the accompanying drawings, the same elements or elements having the same function are indicated by the same reference numerals.

[0021] The wiper unit 100 shown in the figure is used to clean the windshield FS of a vehicle. Figure 1 Only certain areas are shown. The wiper assembly 100 includes a wiper arm 1, which has a first wiper arm portion 2 on the side opposite to the wiper blade 10, which in Figure 1The diagram is shown in a simplified manner. The first wiper arm portion 2 transitions to the end portion 4 via an S-shaped or inclined connecting portion 3. At least the end portion 4, preferably the entire wiper arm 1, has a rectangular cross-section, and the end portion 4 extends parallel to the first wiper arm portion 2. The end portion 4, which is in the form of a flat end portion 4, also has corresponding recesses on its two opposite longitudinal sides, which extend along the entire height of the end portion 4 in the form of transverse grooves 5, 6. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the two transverse grooves 5, 6 are arranged approximately at the center of the end portion 4 relative to its axial extent.

[0022] Wiper blade 10 has a wiper blade body 12 (only in Figure 1 As shown in the diagram, the wiper blade body is made of an elastic material and has a wiping flange abutting against the windshield FS for cleaning the vehicle. As is known from the prior art, the wiper blade 10 has a so-called flat construction. The connection between the wiper blade body 12 and the wiper arm 1 is achieved by a wiper blade adapter 15. The wiper blade adapter 15, made of plastic and manufactured by injection molding, has a first adapter element 16 connected to the wiper blade body 12. The first adapter element 16 can be connected to a second adapter element 18, which can be connected to the end 4 of the wiper arm 1, wherein, in the operating position of the wiper device 100, the two adapter elements 16, 18 are arranged such that they can rotate along a rotation axis 20 extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 22 of the wiper blade body 12. Figure 7 The two adapter elements 16 and 18 are pivotally arranged relative to each other within their respective regions. This pivotable arrangement is necessary to ensure optimal support of the wiper body 12 on the windshield FS, especially in the case of a curved windshield FS, so as to achieve good wiping performance when the wiper body 12 or wiper 10 moves along the windshield FS.

[0023] On the side facing the wiper blade body 12, the first adapter element 16 has a longitudinal groove 23 that extends parallel to the longitudinal axis 22 of the wiper blade body 12, and the wiper blade body 12 is held in the region of the longitudinal groove by the first adapter element 16 by a spring strip (not shown) arranged in the wiper blade body 12.

[0024] The first adapter element 16 has a U-shaped recess 26 on the side facing the second adapter element 18. The recess 26 is defined by two sidewalls 28, 30 and a transverse wall 32, which defines the recess 26 longitudinally on one side. The two sidewalls 28, 30 each have a grooved guide 34 on their mutually facing inner sides, which opens in an opening 36 on the top side of the sidewalls 28, 30 facing away from the wiper blade body 12. The two guides 34, symmetrically arranged with respect to the center plane (not shown) of the first adapter element 16, have a generally sickle-shaped shape and a first distance a1 from the transverse wall 32 when viewed in the direction of the longitudinal axis 22. The ends of the guides 34 facing away from the opening 36 form a first stop 38, which extends in the direction of the longitudinal axis 22 and has a distance a2 from the transverse wall 32, wherein the second distance a2 is greater than the first distance a1. Figure 7 As shown.

[0025] The second adapter element 18 has a sleeve-like form and an internal cross-section for forming the receiving portion 40, the cross-section of the receiving portion 40 matching the (external) cross-section of the end portion 4, such that the end portion 4 can be received in the area of ​​the receiving portion 40 in a form-fitting manner.

[0026] For example, a longitudinally extending, elastically deformable web 44 extends from the sidewall 42 of the second adapter element 18, the web 44 having an extension 46 integrally molded at its end region with a circular outer cross-section. Specifically, see... Figure 2 It can be seen that the extension 46 is arranged not only on the outer side of the corresponding web 44, but also on the inner side of the web 44 facing the end 4 or the receiving portion 40, where the extension 46 takes the form of a latching element 48. With the second adapter element 18 mounted on the end 4, the latching element 48 engages with the transverse grooves 5, 6 to longitudinally fix the second adapter element 18 relative to the end 4 of the wiper arm 1. In contrast, the extension 46 interacts with the guide 34 of the first adapter element 16 and forms the axis of rotation 20 of the wiper blade 10 in the working position. For this purpose, the extension 46, arranged aligned with the axis of rotation 20, has an outer cross-section that allows the extension 46 to be received without gaps in the region of the guide 34 in the working position of the wiper blade 10. Furthermore, the second adapter element 18 is defined, for example, by a convex web 52 on its front side 50 away from the end 4. Figure 4 As shown, in the working position of the wiper blade 10, the web 52 preferably abuts against the transverse wall 32 of the first adapter element 16 with at least almost no gap.

[0027] The wiper assembly 100 or wiper blade 10 is installed on the wiper arm 1 in several steps. For this, first refer to... Figure 3 It can be seen that the relative movement between the second adapter element 18 and the wiper arm 1 allows the second adapter element 18 to be mounted on the end 4 of the wiper arm 1. During this process, the end 4 is inserted into the region of the receiving portion 40 of the second adapter element 18. When the end 4 is inserted into the receiving portion 40, the latching element 48, having a bevel 54, elastically bends outward until the latching element 48 enters the region of the transverse grooves 5, 6, and therein, the second adapter element 18 is longitudinally fixed relative to the end 4. This state is as follows... Figure 2 As shown.

[0028] Then, according to Figures 4 to 7 The diagram illustrates how the wiper assembly 100 is further mounted by connecting the second adapter element 18 to the first adapter element 16. Firstly, according to... Figure 4 An inclination angle α is set between the end 4 or the second adapter element 18 and the first adapter element 16, with the two extensions 46 located above the opening 36 of the guide 34. During this process, the distance between the front side 50 of the second adapter element 18 and the first adapter element 16 is greater than the distance between the back side 56 of the second adapter element 18 and the first adapter element 16. Then, according to... Figure 5 As illustrated in the diagram, the extension 46 is inserted into the opening 36 of the guide 34, and the extension 46 slides within the guide 34. During this process, the angle α remains constant or may decrease. Figure 6 This shows the state where the extension 46 has reached its final position within the guide 34, abutting against the first limiting stop 38. Then, according to Figure 7 As illustrated in the diagram, angle α decreases, typically to approximately 0°. During this process, the front side 50 of the second adapter element 18 forms an operable connection with the transverse wall 32, on the side of the transverse wall 32 facing the web 52, forming a second limiting stop 55 for the second adapter element 18. The force direction of this second limiting stop 55 is opposite to that of the first limiting stop 38. Furthermore, from... Figure 7 As can be seen, when the wiper blade 10 is in its working position, viewed from the direction of the longitudinal axis 22, the second adapter element 18 is accommodated essentially (except for its top side) without gap within the recess 26 of the first adapter element 16.

[0029] Without departing from the concept of the present invention, the wiper blade 10 or wiper device 100 described above can be changed or modified in various ways.

[0030] Reference symbol

[0031] 1. Wiper arm

[0032] 2. Wiper arm section

[0033] 3. Connection part

[0034] 4 ends

[0035] 5. Horizontal grooves

[0036] 6. Horizontal groove

[0037] 10 wiper blades

[0038] 12 Wiper blade body

[0039] 15 Wiper Blade Adapter

[0040] 16 First adapter element

[0041] 18 Second adapter element

[0042] 20 Rotation axis

[0043] 22 Longitudinal axis

[0044] 23. Longitudinal groove

[0045] 26 recess

[0046] 28 Sidewalls

[0047] 30 sidewalls

[0048] 32 Transverse wall

[0049] 34. Channel-shaped guide component

[0050] 36 Opening

[0051] 38 First limit stop

[0052] 40. Reception area

[0053] 42 Sidewall

[0054] 44. Web

[0055] 46 Extension

[0056] 48. Latch element

[0057] 50 front side

[0058] 52 Web

[0059] 54 bevel

[0060] 55 Second limit stop

[0061] 56. Dorsal side

[0062] a1 spacing

[0063] a2 spacing

[0064] FS vehicle windshield

[0065] 100 wiper assembly

[0066] α angle

Claims

1. A wiper blade (10) for cleaning a vehicle's windshield (FS), having a wiper blade body (12) extending along a longitudinal axis (22), having a wiper blade adapter (15) connected to the wiper blade body (12) and having a first adapter element (16) connected to the wiper blade body (12) and a second adapter element (18) connectable to a wiper arm (1), wherein The two adapter elements (16, 18) are arranged such that they can be pivoted relative to one another about a rotational axis (20) in a direction extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (22), and wherein the wiper blade (10) has a flat configuration, characterized in that the second adapter element (18) has a receptacle (40) which is designed to accommodate an end portion (4) of the wiper arm (1), which end portion has a rectangular cross section and is at least substantially flat, wherein in the operating position of the wiper blade adapter (15) the second adapter element (18) is arranged in a U-shaped recess (26) of the first adapter element (16), and wherein in the region of the side wall of the recess (26) facing the second adapter element (18) the first adapter element (16) has a slot-shaped guide (34) for accommodating an extension (46) arranged on the second adapter element (18), which extension has a circular cross section and is arranged in alignment with the rotational axis (20) in the operating position of the wiper blade adapter (15), wherein the guide (34) forms a first limit stop (38) for the extension (46) in the operating position of the wiper blade adapter (15), which extends in the direction of the longitudinal axis (22), and wherein a second limit stop (55) for the second adapter element (18) is formed by a transverse wall (32) which delimits the recess (26) in the longitudinal direction and against which the second adapter element (18) bears in the region of a front side (50).

2. Wiper blade according to Claim 1, characterized in that the guide (34) on the side wall has an opening (36) for inserting the extension (46) on the side facing away from the wiper blade body (12), and the first spacing (al) of the opening (36) from the transverse wall (32) is smaller than the second spacing (a2) between the first limit stop (38) and the transverse wall (32).

3. Wiper blade according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the second adapter element (18) is convex in the region of the front side (50) or the transverse wall (32) is convex at least in some regions.

4. Wiper blade according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the receptacle (40) in the second adapter element (18) has a rectangular inner cross section which is designed to accommodate the end portion (4) of the wiper arm (1) in a form-fitting manner.

5. Wiper blade according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that On the second adapter element (18) a latching element (48) is formed, which is used to lock the end portion (4) of the wiper arm (1) in the direction of the longitudinal axis (22).

6. Wiper blade according to claim 5, characterized in that The latching element (48) and the extension (46) are arranged in the region of an elastically deformable region of a side wall (42) of the second adapter element (18), wherein the extension (46) and the latching element (48) are arranged on sides facing away from one another.

7. Wiper blade according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The first adapter element (16) and the second adapter element (18) consist of plastic and are in the form of injection-molded parts.

8. A wiper device (100) for cleaning a vehicle's windshield (FS), having a wiper arm (1) with an end portion (4) that interacts with a receptacle (40) of a second adapter element (18) designed according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the end portion (4) transitions outside the receptacle (40) into an S-shaped connecting portion (3) near the wiper blade adapter (15).

9. Wiper device according to claim 8, characterized in that The end portion (4) in the region of the receptacle (40) of the second adapter element (18) has recesses (5, 6) that interact with a latching element (48) of the second adapter element (18) for positioning the end portion (4) in the direction of the longitudinal axis (22) in a form-fit manner.

10. A method for mounting a wiper blade (10) on a wiper arm (1) in the case of a wiper device (100) designed according to claim 8 or 9, the method comprising at least the following steps: Inserting the end portion (4) of the wiper arm (1) into the receptacle (40) of the second adapter element (18) and fixing the end portion (4) in the receptacle (40) in the longitudinal direction of the receptacle (40), Aligning the extension (46) of the second adapter element (18) relative to the guide (34) of the first adapter element (16), wherein the second adapter element (18) is arranged at an inclination angle (a) relative to the first adapter element (16) such that the front side (50) of the second adapter element (18) is spaced further from the first adapter element (16) than the rear side (56) of the second adapter element (18), Inserting the extension (46) of the second adapter element (18) into the opening (36) of the first adapter element (16) and moving the extension (46) along the guide (34) while maintaining or reducing the inclination angle (a) between the adapter elements (16, 18) until the extension (46) abuts against the first limit stop (38) of the guide (34), The two adapter elements (16, 18) are pivoted by reducing the inclination angle (a) until the front side (50) of the second adapter element (18) forms an operable connection with the transverse wall (32) in the first adapter element (16).

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