Wiper blade mounting system

Abstract

TITLE: Wiper Blade Mounting System A wiper blade mounting system (1) for a wiper blade (2) comprising a wiping element (3) with a wiping lip (4), a support element (5) in the form of two elastic rails (5A, 5B) that hold the wiping element (3), a deflector (6) mounted on the support element (5) and carrying an adapter (7), and a retaining assembly (8) for two wiper arms of different widths. The retaining assembly (8) is mounted on the adapter (7) by a connecting piece (9), and the retaining piece (8) has a sliding element (10) movable in two retaining positions (PA1, P2) on the connecting piece (9) to adapt the connecting width to the different widths (A, B) of the wiper arm. Figure 2

Description

Title of the invention: Wiper blade fastening system. SCOPE OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a system for fixing a windshield wiper blade as well as a windshield wiper blade with such a fixing system. STATE OF THE ART

[0002] Document DE 20 2010 003 269 Al describes an adapter for making an articulated connection of a linking element at the end of a wiper arm with a connection of a wiper blade; the adapter comprises a base element.

[0003] Furthermore, according to the prior art, it is known that wiper arms can have different widths so that, until now, it is necessary to provide support installations adapted to the different widths of wiper arms and by which the respective wiper arm with its own arm width is connected to the wiping element.

[0004] DESCRIPTION AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION

[0005] To this end, the invention relates to a wiper blade fixing system comprising: a wiping element with a wiping lip, a support element in the form of two elastic rails which hold the wiping element, a deflector installed on the support element and on which an adapter, preferably central, is provided, and a holding installation for, preferably, at least two wiper arms of different widths, the holding installation being mounted on the adapter by a connecting piece and the holding piece having a sliding element, movable in two holding positions on the connecting piece to adapt the connecting width to the different widths of the wiper arm.

[0006] The wiper blade fixing system according to the invention has the advantage over the prior art that the retaining installation which can be provided on the wiper blade adapter by means of a connecting piece, includes a sliding element which can slide and arrive in two retaining positions on the connecting piece; this sliding movement of the sliding element in two predetermined retaining positions allows the width of the connecting piece to be adapted to the respective width of the wiper arm; thus, advantageously, the multiplication of connecting pieces for each respective wiper arm having its own width is avoided.

[0007] In order for the installation for retaining the fastening system according to the invention to be simple in construction and use, it is preferably provided that the mounting is installed the sliding element on the connecting piece by simply fitting the sliding element onto the connecting piece.

[0008] To easily adjust the holding positions of the sliding element, according to a particularly preferred embodiment, a stop tab is provided on one side of the sliding element and a stop recess on the opposite side. This allows the stop tab to bear against a corresponding complementary surface of the connecting piece, while the stop recess, in its second position, to accommodate a different wiper arm width, can, for example, be connected to the stop block. The sliding element simply needs to move from one holding position to the other.

[0009] To guarantee the wiper arm in the respective position, the stop or stop block of the connecting element can be made to cooperate with a stop recess in the stop arm, which means that the stop enters the stop recess when the wiper arm has been put in the respective position it is required to take.

[0010] According to another embodiment, the sliding element has, on both sides, at least two ridges formed on the median area of ​​the sliding part. If, for example, it is desired to fix two wiper arms of different widths on a single mounting bracket, when the narrower wiper arm is inserted, the ridges are pushed inwards by the wiper arm towards the body of the connecting part so that the wiper arm can easily assume the appropriate position corresponding to its narrower width.

[0011] The wide wiper arm will not, however, be able to push into the ridges, which is further provided for by the guide surfaces near the ridges on the connecting piece.

[0012] To guarantee the positions taken respectively by the sliding element, it is provided, according to another preferred development, that the sliding element includes a position holding device.

[0013] Preferably, for such a position-holding device, this takes the form of a snap-fit ​​connection comprising a hook on the sliding element which, in the locked position, engages behind the associated stops. Adjusting the respective positions of the sliding element requires applying force, which can be done by a person by sliding the element into its possible end-of-travel positions. Alternatively, the hook can also be provided on the connecting piece to attach the sliding element.

[0014] The invention also relates to a windshield wiper blade, particularly for a vehicle equipped with such a fastening system according to the invention. The wiper blade The glass is preferably intended for a windshield or rear window wiper. The vehicle is preferably a motor vehicle. Brief description of the drawings

[0015] The present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to embodiments of wiper blade fastening systems shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0016] [Fig-1] Simplified schematic exploded view of a mounting system for wiper arms of different widths,

[0017] [Fig.2] exploded view representation corresponding to [Fig.1] of the various components not visible in [Fig.1] of the fastening system according to the invention,

[0018] [Fig.3] Open perspective view of components of a wiper arm support installation,

[0019] [Fig.4] representation of an example of two possible embodiments of wiper arms having different arm widths,

[0020] [Fig.5] Perspective view of the retaining installation during the insertion movement of a wiper arm,

[0021] [Fig.6] Perspective view of the end of the wiper arm's attachment movement,

[0022] [Fig.7] Perspective view of the holding installation in the two different possible holding positions,

[0023] [Fig.8] Perspective view of the holding installation in the two different possible holding positions,

[0024] [Fig.9a] representation of the mounting installation for the fastening system according to the invention, taking into account different wiper arm widths, and

[0025] [Fig.9b] representation of the mounting installation for the fastening system according to the invention, taking into account different wiper arm widths, and

[0026] [Fig. 10] Perspective representations of the components of the fastening system according to the invention to describe the assembly and operation of the position holding installation.

[0027] DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0028] According to figures 1 to 3, a fastening system 1 for a wiper blade 2 corresponding to a first preferred embodiment of the invention will be described in detail below.

[0029] The wiper blade 2 fixing system 1 includes a wiping element 3 shown in [Fig.2] and having a wiping lip 4.

[0030] According to [Fig.1], the fixing system 1, i.e. its wiper blade 4 has a deflector 6, elongated and installed on an adapter 7. A retaining installation 8 can be put in place on the adapter 7 by a connecting piece 9 which fixes it, the latter having a sliding element 10.

[0031] Fig. 1 shows, moreover, by way of example, two wiper arms 11 and 12 whose arm widths are different, which will be described in detail below.

[0032] Figure 2 explains further details of the fastening system 1 according to the invention. The deflector 6 is, as described above, an elongated part that can be fixed to a support element 5 of the wiping element 3. The support element 5 according to the particularly preferred embodiment shown in Figure 2 comprises two elastic rails 5A, 5B allowing the wiping element to be slightly bent in the final assembled state so that it rests over its entire surface, with its wiping lip 4, on the windshield of a motor vehicle.

[0033] As already described above with reference to [Fig.1], an adapter, preferably central 7, is provided on the deflector 6 and on this adapter the retaining installation 8 can be fixed.

[0034] As shown in [Fig.3], the retaining installation 8 comprises the connecting piece 9 already described above and a sliding element 10 which fits onto the connecting piece 9; the direction of fitting is represented by the arrow PF1.

[0035] Fig. 4 shows the wiper arms 11 and 12 which also appear in Fig. 1. The two wiper arms 11, 12 each have a gripping area 11A, 12A respectively; the gripping area 12A corresponds to a width A less than that of the gripping area 1IA with its greater width B. The gripping areas 1IA, 1IB continue respectively into an end area 1IB, 12B which forms an angle.

[0036] Figures 5 and 6 explain how to connect the wiper arms 11, 12 to the retaining installation 8.

[0037] Fig. 5 shows how the sliding element 10 fits onto the connecting piece 9. The sliding element 10 has a stop tab 10A and a stop recess 10C opposite it, as well as a median area 10B against the stop tab 10A and the stop recess 10C.

[0038] In the example shown, to connect the wiper arm 12 to the retaining assembly 8, the gripping area 12A is fitted onto the connecting piece 9 in the direction of arrow PF2 shown in [Fig. 5]. This connecting piece 9 has, relative to the stop tab 10A, a stop or stop block 13 which, in its final mounting position according to [Fig. 6], fits into the stop recess 14 of the gripping area 12A as shown in [Fig. 6]. According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the stop 13 is held in its locking position by a suitable spring according to [Fig. 6] when fitted in the direction of arrow PF2. on the entry area 12A, the stop 13 can be slightly pushed in, which then enters the stop recess 14 in the final mounting position according to [Fig.6].

[0039] Figures 7 and 8 illustrate, by way of perspective, once again the retaining assembly 8 and its connecting piece 9, as well as the sliding element 10. Figure 7 shows the sliding of the sliding element 10 along arrow PF3, in the left-hand direction as shown in Figure 7. Figure 7 shows the final position of the sliding element 10 in which the stop tab 10A rests against a housing area adjacent to the connecting piece 9, while the stop recess 10C is not engaged with the stop 13 of the connecting piece 9. This position of the sliding element 10 is intended for mounting a wiper arm 12 with a narrow arm width A.

[0040] Figure 8 shows the position of the sliding element 10 for connection with the wiper arm 12, the gripping area of ​​which 1IA has the large width of the wiper arm B. Thus, the sliding element 10 is fitted along the arrow PF4 of Figure 8 to the right in the direction of the stop 13. In the final representation of Figure 8, the stop 13 comes into the stop recess 10C and the stop tab 10A is released from its grip with the housing area adjacent to the connecting piece 9.

[0041] Figure 9a shows the sliding element 10 in the particularly preferred embodiment shown, comprising four reliefs 17, 18 and 19, 20. Reliefs 17 and 19 are on one side of the sliding element 10, while reliefs 18 and 20 are on the opposite side. As further explained in Figure 9a, in this state, the position of the sliding element 10 corresponds to that of Figure 8, i.e., to that of the mounting of the wiper arm 11 having the greatest width B. The representation of the sliding element 10 in Figure 9a further explains the presence of two surfaces 15 and 16 on the connecting piece 9 in the vicinity of the reliefs 18 and 20. Corresponding surfaces are also provided on the side of the connecting piece 9 that does not appear in Figure 9a.When the gripping area 1 IA is engaged, these surfaces prevent the ridges 18 and 20, as well as the ridges 17 and 19 on the opposite sides, from being pushed in, when the wiper arm 8 is engaged by its gripping area 1 IA on the connecting piece 9, as described with the help of figures 5 and 6.

[0042] On the other hand, [Fig.9b] shows, by the arrows PF5-PF8, how the reliefs 17-20 are deformed inwards, that is to say in the direction of the connecting piece 19 for the fitting of the wiper arm 12 with its reduced arm width A, because the wiper arm 12 has an arm width A less than that of the wiper arm 11.

[0043] Fig. 10 shows on the left side the retaining installation 8 in a position of the sliding element 10 according to Fig. 7, while the retaining installation 8 is shown on the right side in a position which corresponds to that of Fig. 8.

[0044] The unfolded representation of the connecting piece 9 and the sliding piece 10 shows, for the connecting piece 9, the existence of a catch recess in the position-holding device 21; in the case of the example, this corresponds to a type of snap-lock. This is indicated by arrows PF9 and PF10 as well as arrows PF11 and PF12. The left-hand representation thus shows the representation of the sliding element 10 according to the representation in [Fig. 7] in which the snap-lock 21 engages in a relief 23 of the connecting piece 9.

[0045] The representation on the right shows the engagement of the clip-on latch 21 in the recess 22, in which the clip-on latch 21 comes to take behind a stop which corresponds to the stop 23 for the position of the sliding part 10 according to [Fig.7].

[0046] For the sliding part 10, the unfolded representation further shows that the sliding part 10 has a U-shaped median area 10B, the right end of which has an arch 10D that surrounds the adjacent housing area of ​​the connecting part 9, as best shown in the representation of figures 9a and 9b.

[0047] NOMENCLATURE OF MAIN ELEMENTS

[0048] 1 Wiper blade fastening system

[0049] 2 Windshield wiper blade

[0050] 3 Wiping element

[0051] 4 Wiping lip

[0052] 6 Extended deflector

[0053] 7 Adapter

[0054] 8 Maintenance Installation

[0055] 9 Connecting piece

[0056] 10 Sliding element

[0057] 10A Stop tab

[0058] 10B Median Zone

[0059] 10C Stop recess

[0060] 10D Roll Bar

[0061] 11 Windshield wiper arm

[0062] 11A Socket area

[0063] 1 IB End zone

[0064] 12 Windshield wiper arm

[0065] 12A Socket Area

[0066] 12B End zone

[0067] 13 Stop / stop block

[0068] 14 Stop recess

[0069] 17 Relief

[0070] 18 Relief

[0071] 19 Relief

[0072] 20 Snap-on latch

[0073] 21 Position-holding device

[0074] 22 Obviously

[0075] 23 Stop

[0076] A Reduced width

[0077] B Large width

[0078] PF1 Direction

[0079] PF2 Direction

[0080] PF3 Direction

[0081] PF4 Direction

[0082] PF5 Direction

[0083] PF6 Direction

[0084] PF7 Direction

[0085] PF8 Direction

[0086] PF9 Direction

Claims

Demands

1. A windshield wiper blade (2) fastening system (1) comprising: - a wiping element (3) with a wiping lip (4), - a support element (5) in the form of two elastic rails (5A, 5B) that hold the wiping element (3), - a deflector (6) mounted on the support element (5) and carrying an adapter (7), preferably central, and - a retaining device (8), preferably for at least two wiper arms (11, 12) of different widths (A, B), the retaining device (8) being mounted on the adapter (7) by a connecting piece (9), the retaining device (8) comprising a sliding element (10), movable in two retaining positions (PA1, P2) on the connecting piece (9) to adapt the connecting width to the different widths (A, B) of the wiper arm, on On one side, the sliding element (10) has a stop tab (10A) and on the opposite side, a stop recess (10C),and the connecting piece (9) has a stop (13) close to the stop recess (10C).

2. A fastening system (1) according to claim 1, wherein the sliding element (10) fits onto the connecting piece (9).

3. Fixing system (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the stop (13) cooperates with a stop recess (14) of the wiper arm (11-12).

4. Fixing system (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein on both sides the sliding element (10) has at least two reliefs (17, 18) formed on the median area (10B) of the sliding element (10).

5. Fixing system (1) according to claim 4, wherein on both sides the sliding element (10) each time has two raised (17, 18, 19, 20) spaced apart.

6. A fastening system (1) according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the reliefs (17, 18, 19, 20) are deformable by the action of the force exerted by the wiper arm (12).

7. A fastening system (1) according to any one of claims 4 or 5, wherein the connecting piece (9) is provided with adjacent reliefs (17, 18, 19, 20) installed on the partial connecting surfaces (15, 16).

8. Fixing system (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the sliding element (10) is provided with a position-holding device (21).

9. Fixing system (1) according to claim 8, wherein the position-holding device (21) is in the form of a snap-on attachment.

10. Windscreen wiper blade (2), in particular vehicle wiper blade for a fastening system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims.

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