Wiper rubber profile

Abstract

Wiper rubber profile, in particular for windscreen wipers of motor vehicles, with a head part for a mechanical mounting of the wiper rubber profile on the wiping strip of a windscreen wiper, with a wiper lip for cleaning a surface to be cleaned and with a tilting web connecting the wiper lip to the head part for the flexible connection of the wiper lip to the head part of the wiper rubber profile, characterized in that on the head part (12) two first rubber longitudinal strips (22) are provided, which are shaped in the direction of the wiper lip (14) and positioned symmetrically to the tilting web (16) connecting the wiper lip (14) to the head part (12), and in that on the wiper lip (14) two second rubber longitudinal strips (20) are provided, which are shaped in the direction of the head part (12) and also positioned symmetrically to the tilting web (16) connecting the wiper lip (14) to the head part (12), wherein the wiper rubber profile (10) has a longitudinal extension,shows an essentially constant cross-sectional profile.,

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a wiper rubber profile and to its use according to the preamble of the independent patent claims. State of the art

[0002] In particular, wiper blade rubber profiles for automotive windshield wiper blades generate loud, twitching noises, especially when changing direction while cleaning a glass surface. This is caused by a pulsating impact of a wedge shoulder, which limits the wiper lip toward the head of the wiper blade rubber profile, against a wiping strip attached to the head when the wiper blade rubber profile is folded. This twitching noise is often perceived as annoying.

[0003] In this regard, it is known from EP 0 743 231 A1 to provide elastically yielding lips, knobs or notches on the head part or in the area of ​​the wiper lip, which reduce a possible contact surface between a wedge-shaped widening of the wiper lip and the wiping strips provided on the head part of the wiper rubber profile, so that a possible contact noise is dampened.

[0004] Furthermore, from DE 102005055343 A1 a wiper rubber is known in which the wedge-shaped widening of the wiper lip in the direction of the head part is provided with elevations or recesses at regular intervals and thus also serves to reduce a possible tipping noise.

[0005] US Pat. No. 5,044,042 A discloses an improved windshield wiper blade with two rubber elements forming parallel wiping edges. The elements are mounted in a rigid flexor that extends the length of the wiper blade. Each element has a hinge that allows the element to fold over with the wiping edge when the wiping direction is reversed. Each element also has dampers above and below the hinge, only on the side facing the other element. As the wiper blade moves, the dampers abut each other only at the front element to determine the angle of the front wiping edge to the windshield. The exposed side of each element is smooth, and the dampers are provided to prevent the accumulation of ice, snow, or mud on the wiper blade.

[0006] Furthermore, from DE 10 2005 009 205 A1 a bracket-free wiper blade for a windscreen wiper is known, with a spring-elastic support element and an elongated rubber-elastic wiper strip connected to the latter and resting against a vehicle windscreen, which consists of an upper part provided with a wind deflector profile for connection to the support element and a lower part with a wiper lip connected to the upper part via at least one tilting web. Disclosure of the inventionAdvantages of the invention

[0007] In contrast, the invention provides a wiper rubber profile and its use with the characterizing features of the independent claims.

[0008] This is based on the fact that according to the invention a wiper rubber profile is provided which is used, for example, for cleaning windows on motor vehicles and which comprises a head part and a wiper lip, wherein the wiper rubber lip is connected to the head part via a tilting web. The head part serves to mechanically fasten the wiper rubber profile to a corresponding holder of a wiper strip of a windshield wiper and the wiper rubber lip, in particular in the area facing away from the head part, serves to clean a glass surface to be cleaned. The wiper rubber lip is connected to the head part via a flexible tilting web such that the wiper rubber lip encloses an angle with respect to the head part which depends on the contact pressure of the wiper rubber profile on the glass surface to be cleaned.

[0009] The head section has a first longitudinal rubber strip formed in the direction of the wiper rubber lip, and the wiper rubber lip has a second longitudinal rubber strip facing the head section. These strips are designed such that the wiper rubber profile has a substantially identical cross-section or a substantially identical cross-sectional contour along its longitudinal extent. This means that a cross-section of the wiper rubber profile at a first position of the wiper rubber profile is congruent with a cross-section of the wiper rubber profile at any other position of the wiper rubber profile.

[0010] The particular advantage of this measure is that, in the wiper rubber profile according to the invention, compared to wiper rubber profiles according to the prior art, regardless of the exact course of the folding process of the wiper rubber profile during a change in the wiping direction during operation of the wiper rubber profile, the first longitudinal rubber strip attached to the head part comes into contact, for example, with a surface area of ​​the wiper rubber lip at a very early point in time, or conversely the second longitudinal rubber strip located on the wiper lip area comes into contact with a surface area of ​​the head part. In this way, a relatively early, dampened braking of the otherwise sudden folding process of the wiper rubber profile occurs when the direction of movement of the wiper rubber profile changes. The wiper rubber profile designed according to the invention therefore exhibits a significantly reduced folding noise during operation.

[0011] Further advantageous embodiments of the present invention are the subject of the subclaims.

[0012] It is advantageous if the first longitudinal rubber strip and the second longitudinal rubber strip are each arranged equidistant from a cutting plane running vertically in the longitudinal direction of the wiper rubber profile. In this context, a vertical mirror plane is considered the vertical cutting plane in the longitudinal direction of the wiper rubber profile. The first longitudinal rubber strip and the second longitudinal rubber strip are thus provided at the same distance from this cutting plane in the longitudinal direction of the wiper rubber profile on the head part and on the wiper lip, respectively.

[0013] The advantage of this measure is that during a tilting process of the wiper rubber profile, in which the angle between the wiper rubber lip and the head part of the wiper rubber profile changes, in particular decreases, the first rubber longitudinal strip and the second rubber longitudinal strip come into contact in their end area and lead to effective noise dampening by early deceleration of the folding process.

[0014] It is also advantageous if the first longitudinal rubber strip is made of the same material as the head section of the wiper blade profile. It is also advantageous if the second longitudinal rubber strip is made of the same material as the wiper lip of the wiper blade profile. This allows for particularly simple production of the wiper blade profile, since the provision of a first longitudinal rubber strip or the second longitudinal rubber strip does not require any additional material selection and, for example, does not require coextrusion or multi-component injection molding for the production of the wiper blade profile.

[0015] According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the first rubber longitudinal strip and the second rubber longitudinal strip are connected to one another in a materially bonded manner, in particular in their raised region, so that the first rubber longitudinal strip and the second rubber longitudinal strip together serve as a boundary of a longitudinal cavity within the wiper rubber profile.Due to this embodiment, the first and second longitudinal rubber strips not only dampen the impact of surface areas of the head part of the wiper rubber profile on surface areas of the wiper lip of the wiper rubber profile, but in the same context, the first and second longitudinal rubber strips also further slow down the otherwise sudden folding movement of the wiper lip relative to the head part of the wiper rubber profile on the opposite side of the wiper rubber profile due to the stretching of the first and second longitudinal rubber strips that are integrally connected to one another.

[0016] Thus, a first combination of a first and a second longitudinal rubber strip slows down the collision of surface areas of the head section with surface areas of the wiper lip on one side of the wiper rubber profile, whereas a second combination of a second first longitudinal rubber strip and a second longitudinal rubber strip on the opposite side of the wiper rubber lip simultaneously prevents the head section and wiper rubber lip of the wiper rubber profile from rapidly drifting apart. Both measures together lead to a very effective suppression of any potential tipping noise from the wiper rubber profile.

[0017] The wiper rubber strip according to the invention can be used advantageously in windscreen wipers, in particular for motor vehicles, rail vehicles or aircraft, in the cleaning of stationary building glazing and as a sealing element, for example in the motor vehicle or building sector. Brief description of the implementation examples

[0018] Advantageous embodiments of the present invention are shown in the drawing and explained in more detail in the following description of the figures. It shows: Fig. 1: the schematic representation of a wiper rubber profile according to a first embodiment of the present invention and Fig. 2 shows a schematic representation of a wiper rubber profile according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] In Fig. 1 shows a wiper rubber profile according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The wiper rubber profile 10 comprises a head part 12, which serves, for example, to mechanically fix the wiper rubber profile 10 in a holder (not shown), for example, a windshield wiper for motor vehicles. The wiper rubber profile 10 further comprises a wiper lip 14, which, in particular with its side facing away from the head part 12, serves to clean a surface to be cleaned. The wiper lip 14 is connected to the head part 12, for example, via a flexible tilting web 16, which allows an angular arrangement of the wiper lip 14 relative to the head part 12 of the wiper rubber profile 10.

[0020] Such an angular arrangement occurs, for example, during a wiping movement of the wiper rubber profile 10 during operation. At the reversal point of the wiper rubber profile 10, the wiper lip 14 then folds over relative to the head part 12 of the wiper rubber profile 10. Without further measures, such a folding over may lead to an annoying banging noise. To avoid such a folding noise, the wiper rubber profile 10 comprises, for example, a first longitudinal rubber strip 20 and a second longitudinal rubber strip 22. The first and second longitudinal rubber strips 20, 22 are preferably provided in pairs. The first longitudinal rubber strip 20 is arranged, for example, on a wedge-shaped widening of the wiper lip 14 in such a way that it is positioned on a large surface of the wiper lip 14 facing the head part 12 of the wiper rubber profile 10.Furthermore, the second longitudinal rubber strip 22 is arranged, for example, on a large surface of the head part 12 facing the wiper lip 14. This large surface of the head part 12 can, for example, be a wiper strip 18.

[0021] Preferably, the first and second longitudinal rubber strips 20, 22 are provided on the wiper rubber profile 10 such that, when the wiper rubber lip 14 is arranged at an angle relative to the head part 12, their raised ends meet and thus resiliently or elastically limit the angle between the wiper rubber lip 14 and the head part 12. This meeting of the first and second longitudinal rubber strips results in an early deceleration of the angular movement of the wiper rubber lip 14 relative to the head part 12 of the wiper rubber profile 10 and thus in a significant reduction of an otherwise possible tipping noise at the reversal point of the wiper rubber profile 10 during its operation. Typically, in this arrangement, the first and second longitudinal rubber strips 20, 22 are arranged equidistant, i.e., at the same distance, from a vertical longitudinal plane of symmetry of the wiper rubber profile 10.

[0022] Preferably, the first and / or second longitudinal rubber strip 20, 22 comprises a comparable elastomeric material to the wiper rubber profile 10. Alternatively, the first and / or second longitudinal rubber strip 20, 22 can also be made of a softer or more elastic material than the rubber base body of the wiper rubber profile 10. Elastomeric materials such as natural rubber, chloroprene, EPDM, or other synthetic elastomers are generally suitable. Furthermore, the first and second longitudinal rubber strips 20, 22 are preferably designed in a continuously constant shape over the longitudinal extent of the wiper rubber profile 10. This means that the wiper rubber profile 10 has a substantially comparable cross-sectional profile at any point along its entire longitudinal extent.

[0023] In Fig. 2 shows a wiper rubber profile 10 according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The same reference numerals denote the same components as in Fig. 1. In the Fig. In the wiper rubber profile 10 shown in Figure 2, the first longitudinal rubber strip 20 and the second longitudinal rubber strip 22 are integrally connected to one another. The first and second longitudinal rubber strips 20, 22 can also be formed as a single piece. In this way, the first and second longitudinal rubber strips 20, 22, respectively, define an inner longitudinal cavity 24 of the wiper rubber profile 10.

[0024] This embodiment offers the advantage that the first and second longitudinal rubber strips 20, 22 are protected against possible bending during operation. Furthermore, the first or second longitudinal rubber strip 20, 22 limits a tilting movement of the wiper rubber lip 14 relative to the head part 12 by deforming the first or second longitudinal rubber strip 20, 22, and additionally, on the opposite side, an expansion of the first and second longitudinal rubber strips 20, 22 located on this side, which are materially connected to one another, is limited. Overall, this results in a particularly effective limitation or dampening of the folding movement of the wiper rubber lip 14 relative to the head part 12 of the wiper rubber profile 10. Furthermore, this embodiment offers the possibility of filling the longitudinal cavity 24 thus formed, for example, with another elastomer material such as, for example,Open- or closed-cell foam rubber made of natural rubber, polychloroprene, or EPDM, or a gel-like material such as polyacrylate gel or polyurethane gel, can be at least partially filled. Such an embodiment further enhances the damping behavior of the wiper rubber profile 10 when the wiper rubber lip 14 folds over relative to the head part 12.

[0025] The wiper rubber profile 10 according to the invention is suitable, for example, for use in wiper devices for motor vehicles, rail vehicles or aircraft, in cleaning devices for stationary building glazing and in sealing elements, for example in the building or motor vehicle sector.

Claims

[1] Wiper rubber profile, in particular for windscreen wipers of motor vehicles, with a head part for a mechanical mounting of the wiper rubber profile on the wiper strip of a windscreen wiper, with a wiper lip for cleaning a surface to be cleaned and with a tilting web connecting the wiper lip to the head part for the flexible connection of the wiper lip to the head part of the wiper rubber profile, characterized bythat two first longitudinal rubber strips (22) are provided on the head part (12), which are shaped in the direction of the wiper lip (14) and positioned symmetrically to the tilting web (16) connecting the wiper lip (14) to the head part (12), and that two second longitudinal rubber strips (20) are provided on the wiper lip (14), which are shaped in the direction of the head part (12) and are also positioned symmetrically to the tilting web (16) connecting the wiper lip (14) to the head part (12), wherein the wiper rubber profile (10) has a cross-sectional profile which is essentially constant over its longitudinal extent. [2] Wiper rubber profile according to claim 1, characterized by that the first rubber longitudinal strip (22) and the second rubber longitudinal strip (20) are provided equidistant from a vertical cutting plane in the longitudinal direction of the wiper rubber profile (10). [3] Wiper rubber profile according to claim 1 or 2 characterized bythat the first rubber longitudinal strip (22) corresponds in its material to the material of the head part (12) of the wiper rubber profile (10). [4] Wiper rubber profile according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by that the second rubber longitudinal strip (20) corresponds in its material to the material of the wiper lip (14) of the wiper rubber profile (10). [5] Wiper rubber profile according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the first rubber longitudinal strip (22) and / or the second rubber longitudinal strip (20) has a width of 0.1 mm to 1.5 mm and a height in the range of 0.1 mm to 0.4 mm. [6] Wiper rubber profile according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the first longitudinal rubber strip (22) and the second longitudinal rubber strip (20) are materially connected to one another in such a way that the first longitudinal rubber strip (22) and the second longitudinal rubber strip (20) together delimit a longitudinal cavity (24) of the wiper rubber profile. [7] Wiper rubber profile according to claim 6, characterized by that the first longitudinal rubber strip (22) and the second longitudinal rubber strip (20) are integrally connected to one another. [8] Use of a wiper rubber profile according to one of the preceding claims in windscreen wipers for motor vehicles, rail vehicles or aircraft as well as in cleaning devices for stationary building glazing and in sealing elements.

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