Wiper blade, especially for a motor vehicle

Abstract

A wiper blade (10), particularly for a motor vehicle, is proposed, comprising at least a support structure (16) and a replaceable wiper lip (18). According to the invention, the wiper lip (18) is replaceably attached to the support structure (16) by a detachable hinge connection.

Description

State of the art

[0001] The invention relates to a wiper blade, in particular for a motor vehicle, according to the preamble of the independent claim.

[0002] Several wiper blades with a supporting structure and a replaceable wiping lip are already known.

[0003] For example, DE 10 2004 051 467 A1 shows a wiper blade in which the wiping lip is replaceable by means of a complicated and elaborate folding mechanism in an end cap, which makes the wiper blade expensive. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Advantages of the invention

[0004] The wiper blade according to the invention, with the features of the main claim, has the advantage that the wiping lip is attached to the support structure in a replaceable manner by means of a detachable hinge connection. This allows for quick and easy replacement of the wiping lip, for example, after wear. Furthermore, such a wiper blade is cost-effective to manufacture, and the wiping lip is securely held to the support structure.

[0005] The measures listed in the dependent claims result in further advantageous developments and improvements of the features specified in the main claim.

[0006] It is advantageous if the folding connection runs in a longitudinal direction, as this makes assembly particularly easy.

[0007] An advantageously simple design results when the folding connection is created by a folding element attached to the wiper lip and extending along a longitudinal direction.

[0008] Advantageously, the folding element at least partially surrounds the supporting structure, resulting in a particularly secure hold for the wiper lip.

[0009] Furthermore, it is advantageous if the folding connection is created by a folding element attached to the supporting structure and extending along a longitudinal direction. This makes the replaceable wiper blade particularly simple and cost-effective.

[0010] It is particularly advantageous if the folding element at least partially surrounds the wiper lip, especially laterally.

[0011] Good wiping results are advantageously achieved by including a spring rail in the support structure.

[0012] The wiping result is also improved by a wind deflector strip on the supporting structure.

[0013] It is particularly advantageous if the wiper lip includes a wind deflector strip that forms the folding element.

[0014] Simple, cost-effective and therefore advantageous, the wiper lip, especially together with the folding element, is injection-molded from a multi-component plastic.

[0015] In a further advantageous embodiment, the wiper blade has a hinged element at each end of its longitudinal extent, the length of which is less than half the longitudinal extent of the wiper blade. This allows the wiper blade to be attached from both sides with respect to its longitudinal extent. Description of the drawings

[0016] An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawings and explained in more detail in the following description. The drawings show: Fig. 1 a wiper blade according to the invention in a schematic representation, Fig. 2 a schematic representation of one end of a wiper blade according to the invention before assembly and Fig. 3 the end of the wiper blade according to the invention Fig. 2 after assembly in schematic representation. Description of the exemplary implementations

[0017] In Fig. Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of a wiper blade 10 according to the invention.

[0018] The wiper blade 10 includes a retaining element 12, which serves to attach the wiper blade 10 to a wiper arm of a motor vehicle. For clarity, the wiper arm is not shown here. The retaining element 12 carries a spring rail 14, which serves to stabilize the wiper blade 10, particularly in its longitudinal direction.

[0019] The spring rail 14 is designed as an elongated strip of steel and has a width between 5 mm and 15 mm, preferably about 10 mm. The spring rail 14 has a thickness between 0.5 mm and 2 mm, preferably about 1 mm. The length of the spring rail 14 corresponds essentially to the length of the wiper blade 10. The spring rail 14 thus stabilizes the wiper blade 10 essentially along its entire longitudinal extent L. The longitudinal extent L of the wiper blade 10 is bounded by two ends E.

[0020] The retaining element 12 is essentially made of plastic and welded to the spring rail 14.

[0021] Spring rail 14 and retaining element 12 together form the supporting structure 16.

[0022] A wiper lip 18 is attached to the supporting structure 16.

[0023] In Fig. Figure 2 shows a schematic representation of one end of a wiper blade 10 according to the invention before assembly.

[0024] The support structure 16 comprises a support section 20 and a hinged section 22. The support section 20 is hingedly connected to the hinged section 22 by a film hinge 24. Both the support section 20 and the hinged section 22 are made of plastic in one piece. The hinged section 22 is hairpin-shaped and therefore comprises two essentially parallel hinged arms 26, which, in the assembled position, enclose the wiper blade 18. The hinged section 22 is connected to the support section 20 at its free end, which is not shown here. This connection can be, for example, a snap-fit, a latching, or a hook-and-loop joint.

[0025] In a variation of the invention, a self-tensioning connection, similar to a torsion spring, can be provided between the support section 20 and the folding section 22.

[0026] For this purpose, a snap or hairpin connection is provided instead of the film hinge 24, so that the folding section 22 can be folded down against a preload force. If the preload force, which is normally applied manually to change the wiper lip 18, is released again, the folding section 22 folds back towards the support section 20, so that a connection between the free end of the folding section 22 and the support section 20 is not necessary.

[0027] The wiper lip 18 is inserted into the support structure 16. For assembly, after inserting the wiper lip 18 into the support structure 16, the hinged section 22 is folded in the direction of arrow P, creating a hinged connection.

[0028] The two folding legs 26 then laterally encircle an upper section of the wiper lip 18 in cross-section and thereby hold the wiper lip 18 to the supporting structure 16.

[0029] The supporting structure 16, or more precisely the supporting section 20 of the supporting structure 16, includes a wind deflector strip 28 which has a spoiler-like design.

[0030] In Fig. 3 is the end of the wiper blade 10 according to the invention. Fig. 2 shown schematically after assembly.

[0031] The wiper blade 18 is attached to the support structure 16 by a hinged connection. For this purpose, the wiper blade 18 is inserted into the support section 20 and fixed to it by the hinged section 22 of the support structure 16. The hinged legs 26 laterally encircle a mounting section of the wiper blade 18 in cross-section. The hinged section 22 and the support section 20 are articulated to each other via the film hinge 24, so that the hinged section 22 can be folded down to release the connection, i.e., to replace the wiper blade 18, thus allowing the wiper blade 18 to be detached from the support structure 16.

[0032] In a variation of the invention, the folding section 22 is pivotally connected to the wiping lip 18, such that the wiping lip 18 comprises a wiping area and the folding section 22, which are pivotally connected to each other, for example via a film hinge 24.

[0033] In this design, the wiping area of ​​the wiper lip 18 is inserted into the support structure 16 and then fixed to the support structure 16 by the hinged section 22, thus creating a hinged connection. The hinged section 22 of the wiper lip 18 hugs the spring rail 14.

[0034] The free end of the hinged section 22 is then attached to the other end with respect to the longitudinal extent L of the wiper lip 18. In a variation, a hinged section 22 can also be provided at both ends with respect to the longitudinal extent L of the wiping area of ​​the wiper lip 18, so that two hinged sections 22 are provided. In this embodiment, one or both of the hinged sections 22 can also be attached to the retaining element 12 of the support structure 16. Likewise, the free ends of the two hinged sections 22 can be connected to each other. As in the preceding embodiment, snap-fit ​​connections, latching connections, or hook-and-loop connections are also possible here.

[0035] The wind deflector strip 28 can be designed either as part of the folding section 22 or as part of the supporting structure 16.

[0036] If the wind deflector strip 28 is formed as part of the supporting structure 16, for example attached to the spring rail 14, then, as in the preceding embodiment, the folding section 22 can have two substantially parallel folding legs 26 which, in the mounted position, hug the wind deflector strip 28 and are thus guided laterally in cross-section on the wind deflector strip 28.

[0037] In this example, too, the wiping area of ​​the wiper lip 18 and the folding section 22 of the wiper lip 18 can be connected to each other in a tensioned manner, like a leg spring.

[0038] When changing the wiper lip 18, the hinged section 22 is opened against a preload, the support structure 16 is inserted, so that when the hinged section 22 is released, it is pressed in the direction of the wiping area and thus fixes the wiping area to the support structure 16.

[0039] The wiper lip 18, with its wiping area and its folding section 22, is injection-molded in one piece from plastic, particularly using a multi-component process. A stabilizing element, such as a metal spring, can also be inserted and overmolded here. QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] DE 10 2004 051 467 A1

[0003]

Claims

[1] Wiper blade (10), in particular for a motor vehicle, comprising at least a support structure (16) and a replaceable wiper lip (18), characterized by , that the wiper lip (18) is attached to the support structure (16) in a replaceable manner by means of a detachable hinge connection. [2] Wiper blade (10) according to claim 1, characterized by that the hinged joint runs in a longitudinal direction (L). [3] Wiper blade (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the folding connection is created by a folding section (22) attached to the wiper lip (18) and extending along a longitudinal direction (L). [4] Wiper blade (10) according to claim 3, characterized by , that the folding section (22) at least partially surrounds the supporting structure (16). [5] Wiper blade (10), according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 2, characterized by, that the folding connection is created by a folding section (22) attached to the supporting structure (16) and extending along a longitudinal direction (L). [6] Wiper blade (10), according to claim 5, characterized by , that the folding section (22) at least partially surrounds the wiper lip (18), especially laterally. [7] Wiper blade (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the supporting structure (16) includes a spring rail (14). [8] Wiper blade (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the supporting structure (16) includes a wind deflector strip (28). [9] Wiper blade (10) according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 5, characterized by , that the wiper lip (18) includes a wind deflector strip (28) which forms the folding section (22). [10] Wiper blade (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by, that the wiper lip (18) has a longitudinal extent (L) between two ends (E) and at each of the ends (E) a hinged section (22) is arranged, the length of which is in particular less than half the longitudinal extent (L) of the wiper lip (18). [11] Wiper blade (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the wiper lip (18), in particular together with the folding section (22), is injection molded from a multi-component plastic.

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