WIPER BLADE, PARTICULARLY FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE WINDOW

Description

State of the art

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

[0002] Numerous wiper blades for motor vehicles are already known that feature a spring rail on which a retaining means for attachment to a wiper arm is arranged. These wiper blades also include a wiper strip and a tilting bar element.

[0003] However, such wiper blades are complex to manufacture and relatively expensive. The object of the invention is therefore to produce a simpler and more cost-effective wiper blade.

[0004] Further prior art is known from US 5,568,670 and WO 2013 / 087289 A1. Disclosure of the invention Advantages of the invention

[0005] The wiper blade according to the invention with the features of the main claim has the advantage that the tilting web element is positively attached to the wiper strip and to the spring rail and thereby connects the spring rail to the wiper strip.

[0006] This results in a simple and cost-effective wiper blade that also produces an even and optimal wiping pattern at a wide range of temperatures.

[0007] The measures listed in the subclaims result in advantageous further developments and improvements of the features specified in the main claim.

[0008] According to the invention, the wiper strip has a first wiping edge and a second wiping edge and, during operation, only the first wiping edge or the second wiping edge rests on the windscreen due to deformation of the tilting web element.

[0009] Furthermore, it is advantageous if the tilting bar element has a form-locking element that interacts with a mating locking element of the wiper strip for fastening. This ensures a simple design of the wiper blade.

[0010] According to the invention, the wiper strip and the tilting bar element are connected to each other in an articulated manner. This is particularly advantageous because the first and second wiping edges rest reliably on the windshield.

[0011] It is particularly advantageous if the positive locking element of the tilting bar element and the counter-locking element of the wiper strip form an articulated connection.

[0012] A particularly simple and cost-effective and therefore advantageous design results from the fact that the tilting bar element is attached to the spring rail in a form-fitting and / or material-fitting manner.

[0013] A particularly good wiping pattern is achieved when the tilting bar element and the wiper strip are made of different materials. This allows for the optimal material to be selected for each of the respective functions—reliable tilting on the one hand and clean wiping on the other.

[0014] According to the invention, the tilting bar element encloses the spring rail, resulting in a simple and cost-effective design.

[0015] Ideally, the tilting bar element is made of a thermoplastic polymer. This ensures optimal wiping results across the entire operating temperature range of the wiper blade.

[0016] According to the invention, the tilting web element is formed in one piece with a wind deflector element. Description of the drawings

[0017] Various embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings and explained in more detail in the following description. They show: Figure 1 a wiper blade according to the invention in a schematic side view. Figures 2 to 7 Cross sections through wiper blades according to the invention, as well as Figures 8 and 9 a side view through a tilting web element of a wiper blade according to the invention. Description of the embodiments

[0018] In Figure 1 a wiper blade 10 according to the invention is shown in a schematic side view.

[0019] The wiper blade 10 comprises a spring rail 12, which has a retaining means 14 for attachment to a wiper arm, which is not shown here for reasons of clarity. The retaining means 14 is arranged approximately centrally along the longitudinal extent of the wiper blade 10. On the side of the spring rail 12 facing away from the retaining means 14, a tilting web element 16 is arranged, which extends essentially over the entire length of the wiper blade 10, or rather the spring rail 12.

[0020] On the side of the tilting bar element 16 facing away from the spring rail 12, a wiper strip 18 is positively connected to the tilting bar element 16, which, after assembly on a motor vehicle, on a windscreen 30 ( Figure 3 ) of the motor vehicle, in particular the windscreen.

[0021] The spring rail 12 is made from an elongated steel strip and pre-bent so that it is convexly curved in its relaxed state. The pre-bend is such that when the wiper blade 10 is pressed onto the windshield 30 by the wiper arm attached to the holding means 14, the wiper strip 16 rests evenly on the windshield 30 over its entire length. This is achieved by the pre-bend of the spring rail 12 being greater than the curvature of the windshield 30 of the motor vehicle. As a result, when the wiper blade 10 is pressed onto the windshield 30 by the wiper arm, the spring rail 12 is pre-tensioned, which presses the wiper strip 18 evenly onto the windshield 30 along its longitudinal extent.

[0022] In Figure 2 a schematic cross-sectional view of a wiper blade 10 according to the invention is shown.

[0023] The wiper strip 18 is made of rubber, in particular EDPM or natural rubber, and is essentially triangular in shape. On its side facing away from the spring rail 12, which forms one tip of the triangular shape, wiping edges are formed, namely a first wiping edge 20 and a second wiping edge 22, which, during operation, rest on the pane 30 (not shown here) due to the deformation of the tilting web element 16. For this purpose, the lower corner of the triangle is cut off when viewed in cross-section, so that the essentially triangular shape has two closely adjacent corners in the area of ​​this corner instead of one corner, forming the first wiping edge 20 and the second wiping edge 22.

[0024] The wiper strip 18 is attached to the spring rail 12 by the tilting web element 16. To attach the wiper strip 18 to the spring rail 12, the tilting web element 16 has a positive-locking element 24 and a web 25. The positive-locking element 24 interacts with a counter-locking element 26 in the wiper strip 18 and forms a positive-locking connection with it. The tilting web element 16 has an elongated cross-section and extends from the spring rail 12 in the direction of the wiper strip 18 and penetrates the wiper strip 18. In particular, the web 25 of the tilting web element 16, viewed in cross-section, is attached to the spring rail 12 at one end, and the positive-locking element 24, which has a substantially triangular shape in cross-section, is arranged at the other, free end of the web 25. One of the pointed ends of the form-locking element 24, which has a triangular cross-section, faces the wiper strip 18.

[0025] As a counter-locking element 26, a recess corresponding to the shape of the form-locking element 24 is provided in the wiper strip 18, forming the counter-locking element 26. The essentially triangular design of the form-locking element 24 allows the wiper strip to be easily plugged onto the tilting web element 16 during assembly, thus creating a secure connection between the tilting web element 16 and the wiper strip 18 that can only be released with considerable force. This is achieved by connecting the wide side of the triangular form-locking element 24 to the web 25, which also penetrates the wiper strip 18. This creates an undercut connection between the wiper strip 18 and the tilting web element 16.

[0026] In Figure 3 the wiper blade 10 according to the invention is made of Figure 2shown in an operating position. The wiper blade 10, which is pressed onto the windshield 30 by the moving wiper arm, is dragged by its spring rail 12 over the windshield 30 in the direction of the directional arrow 28. Due to the adhesion or friction between the windshield 30 and the wiper strip 18, the latter tilts by an angle α, so that only the second wiping edge 22 rests on the windshield 30. The tilting web element 16, in particular the web 25 of the tilting web element 16, is now slightly elastically deformed.

[0027] As in Figure 2 As can be seen, the wiper strip is essentially triangular in shape. Opposite, i.e., on the side of the wiper strip 18 that is adjacent to the spring rail 12, are the two other corners of the essentially triangular wiper strip 18, forming a first stop 32 and a second stop 34.

[0028] The elastic deformation of the tilting web element 16 now goes so far that the second stop 34 strikes the spring rail 12 and thus prevents further tilting of the wiper strip 18.

[0029] If the wiping direction is opposite to the direction arrow 28, the tilting bar element 16, and thus the bar 25, will tilt in the opposite direction. The wiper strip 18 will then slide over the window 30 at its first wiping edge 22, and the first stop 32 will limit the tilting of the wiper strip 18 by striking the spring rail 12.

[0030] The tilting web element 16 is in the designs according to Figure 2 and Figure 3 formed integrally with the spring rail 12. In this design, the spring rail 12 can also be made of plastic, in particular as an injection-molded or extruded part.

[0031] In Figure 4 The wiper blade 10 according to the invention is shown in a further variation in the Figures 2 and 3In contrast to Figure 2 and Figure 3 The tilting web element 16, in particular its web 25, is separately attached to a casing 36 that surrounds the spring rail 12, which is made of metal here. This casing 36 can be made of plastic, for example, and essentially enclose the spring rail 12, which is made of steel here. The tilting web element 16 is welded to the casing 36 using an ultrasonic welding process.

[0032] In a variation, however, the tilting web element 16 can also be glued or attached to the casing 36 by another material-locking method.

[0033] In another variation, a direct connection to the spring rail 12 is also possible. The tilting bar element 16 can also be glued, welded, riveted, or screwed directly to the spring rail 12. A plug-in or rail connection is also possible.

[0034] To improve the fastening of the tilting bar element 16 to the spring rail 12 or its casing 36, the tilting bar element 16 has Figure 4 a surface element 38 that enlarges the contact surface between the tilting web element 16 and the casing 36 or spring rail 12. This is particularly advantageous in the case of an adhesive connection or a welded connection between the web 25 and the spring rail 12.

[0035] In Figure 5 A further variation of the invention is shown. The tilting web element 16 is formed integrally with the casing 36, which essentially completely encloses the spring rail 12. The tilting web element 16 is typically made of plastic and is manufactured, for example, by extrusion or injection molding. As in the previous embodiments, the spring rail 12 can also be provided with a plastic layer that essentially completely coats it.

[0036] In the following, only the differences to Figures 2 and 3 described, so that the explanations from Figures 2 and 3 continue to apply to the following statements.

[0037] In Figure 6 A further variation of a wiper blade 10 according to the invention is described. As in Figures 2 and 3 Here too, the tilting bar element 16 is formed in one piece with the spring rail 12. In a variation, however, even with a design according to Figure 6 the tilting bar element as shown in the Figures 4 and 5 shown, trained.

[0038] In the embodiment from Figure 6 only the design of the form-locking element 24 and the counter-locking element 26 is different from the previous Figures 2 to 5In this embodiment, the positive locking element 24 and the counter-locking element 26 are designed in such a way that they form a joint, so that an articulated connection is formed between the tilting web element 16, at the end of which the positive locking element 24 is arranged, and the wiper strip 18, which has the counter-locking element 26 designed as a recess. The tilting web element 16 is only slightly elastic to rigid here, since the mobility of the wiper strip 18 is realized by the articulated connection between the positive locking element 24 and the counter-locking element 26. For this purpose, the positive locking element 24 has a round cross-section and, accordingly, the counter-locking element 26 is designed as a round recess which has approximately the same diameter as the positive locking element 24. The positive locking element 24 is fastened to the end of the web 25, as in the previous exemplary embodiments.The counter-locking element 26 forms the tip of a V-shaped cutout formed by a first stop wall 40 and a second stop wall 42, specifically in such a way that a keyhole-like cross-section with an undercut connection is created. In this way, the form-locking element 24, which is round in cross-section, can be easily inserted into the wiper strip 18. The first stop wall 40 and the second stop wall 42 simultaneously form stops for limiting the angle α (. Figure 3 ). The exact function of these limits or stops is explained in Figure 7 described.

[0039] The form-locking element 24, as already described above, has a round cross-section. Correspondingly, the mating locking element 26, and thus the recess in the wiper strip 18, is also designed as a round recess, which is located approximately centrally in the wiper strip 18 in cross-section. The V-shaped notch is provided for inserting the form-locking element 24, so that the form-locking element 24 arranged at the free end of the web 25 can be inserted into the wiper strip 18, in particular the mating locking element 26. The V-shaped notch is formed by the first stop wall 40 and the second stop wall 42. The distance between the first stop wall 40 and the second stop wall 42 in the area of ​​the mating locking element 26 is smaller than the diameter of the round mating locking element 26, creating an undercut and securely holding the wiper strip 18 on the tilting web element 16.

[0040] In Figure 7The design of the wiper blade 10 is Figure 6 shown in operation. As in the previous drawings, only the differences from the other embodiments are explained. The statements regarding the other embodiments therefore also apply to this one.

[0041] The wiper strip 18 is tilted sideways in the direction of the arrow 28 due to the drag of the wiper blade 10 or the spring rail 12 of the wiper blade 10. The second wiping edge 22 now rests on the windshield 30. Since the positive locking element 24 together with the counter-locking element 26 form an articulated connection, the tilting web element 16, or the web 25 of the tilting web element 16, is only slightly tilted. Due to the articulated connection between the tilting web element 16 and the wiper strip 18, the second stop wall 42 now touches the web 25 of the tilting web element 16 and thus limits the angle α between the tilting web element 16 and the wiper strip 18. The slight tilting or elastic bending of the web 25 of the tilting web element 16 means that the angle α is still limited by the second stop 34, which strikes the spring rail 12.

[0042] When the direction of movement changes, opposite to the direction arrow 28, the positive locking element 24 and the counter-locking element 26 interact in a hinge-like manner, so that the first wiping edge 20 rests on the pane 30 and the web 25 of the tilting web element 16 touches the first stop wall 40. Further deflection is limited by the tilting web element 16 or by elastic deformation of the web 25 of the tilting web element 16 to the extent that the first stop 32 strikes the spring rail 12.

[0043] According to the invention, the training of Figures 6 and 7 with the statements of Figures 4 or 5 combined so that the tilting bar element 16 is arranged on the casing 36 of the spring rail 12. The first stop 32 and the second stop 24 then do not touch the spring element itself but the casing 36. To avoid repetition, we refer to the previous Figures 4 and 5 whose training focuses on the training of Figures 6 and 7can be transferred.

[0044] In Figure 8 and Figure 9 the tilting web element 16 of a wiper blade according to the invention is shown in a schematic side view.

[0045] The tilting web element 16 is of essentially elongated shape and has essentially the length of the spring rail 12 ( Figure 1). Since the wiper blade has to adapt to the windshield surface of the windshield 30 along its longitudinal extent, mobility along the longitudinal extent of the tilting web element is required. To improve this mobility, incisions 44 are provided which extend transversely to the longitudinal extent, starting from the form-fitting element 24 in the direction of the webs 25. The incisions 44 are regularly spaced apart, but in one variation they can also be spaced differently, in particular reduced at the ends of the wiper blade 10, thus providing fewer incisions or more widely spaced incisions in the region of the ends of the wiper blade 10.

[0046] In a variation, it is also possible to provide the incisions starting from the surface element 38 in the direction of the form-locking element 24. This is particularly useful if the tilting web element 16 is movably attached to the spring rail 12, for example, by a piping rail. Figure 9 shows the tilting bar element 16 from Figure 8 in a curved shape, thus adapted to the relaxed shape of the spring rail 12.

[0047] The tilting bar element 16 is generally formed as a plastic part made of a thermoplastic polymer. Additionally, the tilting bar element 16 may have a wind deflector element on the side facing away from the wiper strip 18. In such a configuration, the wind deflector element may be arranged above the spring rail 12, but also below the spring rail 12, or directly in front of the spring rail 12. Such a tilting bar element 16 may, for example, enclose the spring rail 12, as shown, for example, in Figure 5shown, and in addition to the casing 36, the web 25, and the form-fitting element 24, comprise the wind deflector element in one piece. Such a tilting web element 16 can be easily manufactured using an extrusion process. However, the wind deflector element can also be attached as a separate part to the tilting web element 16 or to the spring rail 12, for example, glued or welded.

Claims

1. Wiper blade (10), in particular for a window (30) of a motor vehicle, comprising a spring bar (12), on which a holding means (14) for fastening to a wiper arm is arranged, a wiper strip (18) and a tilting web element (16), wherein the tilting web element (16) is fastened to the wiper strip (18) in a form-fitting manner, and is fastened to the spring bar (12) and, as a result, connects the spring bar (12) to the wiper strip (18), wherein the wiper strip (18) and the tilting web element (16) are connected in an articulated manner, wherein the wiper strip (18) has a first wiper edge (20) and a second wiper edge (22) and, during operation, only the first wiper edge (20) or the second wiper edge (22) in each case rests on the window (30) by deformation of the tilt web element (16), characterized in that the tilt web element (16) encases the spring bar (12) at least partially, in particular completely, and the tilting web element (16) is formed in one piece with a wind deflection element.

2. Wiper blade (10) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the tilting web element (16) has a form-fitting element (24) which interacts with a mating connection element (26) of the wiper strip (18) for fastening purposes.

3. Wiper blade (10) according to Claim 2, characterized in that the form-fitting element (24) and the mating connection element (26) form an articulated connection.

4. Wiper blade (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tilting web element (16) is fastened to the spring bar (12) in a form-fitting or integrally joined manner.

5. Wiper blade (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tilting web element (16) and the wiper strip (18) are formed from different materials.

6. Wiper blade (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tilting web element (16) is formed from thermoplastic polymer.