Windshield wiper blade, especially for a motor vehicle

Abstract

TITLE: Windscreen wiper blade, particularly for a motor vehicle. Windscreen wiper blade (10) comprising a wiping blade (12), a fluid channel (28) for a cleaning fluid, having a locking plug (30) whose locking diameter (DB) is smaller than the diameter (DK) of the channel. Figure 4

Description

Title of the invention: Windshield wiper blade, particularly for a motor vehicle FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a windshield wiper blade comprising a wiping blade, a channel for cleaning fluid or liquid and an end cap. STATE OF THE ART

[0002] A windshield wiper blade of the type defined above is already known.

[0003] DISCLOSURE AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The present invention relates to a windscreen wiper blade, in particular for a motor vehicle, comprising a wiping blade, a fluid channel for the passage of fluid or cleaning liquid which has a certain diameter, as well as an end cap, this windscreen wiper blade being characterized in that the end cap comprises a locking plug having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the channel.

[0005] The windscreen wiper blade according to the invention has the advantage of having greater reliability and durability than known windscreen wiper blades.

[0006] Particularly advantageously, the fluid channel comprises a closure element which is thus protected.

[0007] It is particularly advantageous if the closure element has a diameter larger than the diameter of the channel, which ensures that the closure element is securely held in the fluid channel.

[0008] Particularly advantageously, the closing element is a ball, in particular a steel ball because this ball is easily introduced into the fluid channel and the steel ball is resistant to the action of the liquid contained in the channel.

[0009] It is further advantageous if the wiper blade comprises a wiping lip and a deflector blade in which the fluid channel is formed. This results in simple and economical manufacturing.

[0010] According to a simple, economical and therefore advantageous embodiment, the wiper blade comprises an elastic rail and the end cap is fixed to the elastic rail, in particular by a hooking connection. In the same way, the locking cap is made in one piece with the end cap, which constitutes a simple and economical solution.

[0011] Particularly advantageously, the end cap does not have a nozzle, which simplifies its manufacture and makes it more economical. Brief description of the drawings

[0012] The present invention will be described below in more detail with the aid of an exemplary embodiment of a windscreen wiper blade shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

[0013] [Fig-1] schematic perspective view of a windscreen wiper blade according to the invention,

[0014] [Fig.2] exploded view of a windscreen wiper blade according to the invention,

[0015] [Fig.3] view of the end of a windscreen wiper blade according to the invention before its final assembly, and

[0016] [Fig.4] Partial sectional view of one end of a windshield wiper blade according to the invention.

[0017] DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0018] [Fig.l] shows a schematic perspective view of a windshield wiper blade 10 according to the invention. The windshield wiper blade comprises a wiping blade 10 fixed by a fixing means 14 to a windshield wiper arm 16. The fixing means 14 comprises a fluid connection means for supplying cleaning liquid to the wiping blade 12 from the windshield wiper arm 16.

[0019] The wiper blade 10 has a longitudinal extension L indicated by the double arrow. The ends of the wiper blade 10 along its longitudinal extension L, each have an end cap 18. The wiping blade 12 comprises a wiping lip 20 and a deflector blade 22. An elastic rail 24 ([Fig.2]) is inside the wiping blade 12; this elastic rail is an elongated, curved steel strip. The curvature of this steel strip is chosen so that the wiper blade 10 is applied securely along its entire longitudinal extension L in the mounted state, against the window (not shown) of a motor vehicle, so that the wiping lip 20 can slide on the window and remove moisture therefrom.

[0020] [Fig. 2] shows a windscreen wiper blade 10 according to the invention in an exploded, schematic view. The wiping lip 20 is an elongated rubber element held between two parts of the elastic rail 24. The deflector blade 22 is fixed to the side of the elastic rail 24 not facing the wiping lip 20. Substantially in the middle along the longitudinal extension L, the elastic rail 24 carries the fixing element 14 used to fix the wiper blade 10 to the wiper arm 16. The ends along the longitudinal extension L are each provided with an end cap 18. A closing element 26 is further provided at the end caps 18. Thus, at each end along the longitudinal extension there is a closing element 26, that is to say there are two closing elements 26. The closing element 26 is in the form of a steel ball.

[0021] [Fig.3] shows a detailed representation of the end of a deflector blade 22 as well as an end cap 18. The deflector blade 22 has a fluid channel 28 extending in its longitudinal direction L. In operation, the cleaning fluid or liquid is transported through the fluid channel 28. The fluid channel 28 has a diameter DK which is of the order of 3 mm. The closure element 26 is engaged in the fluid channel 28; this closure element has a diameter DE slightly larger than the diameter DK of the channel, which makes it possible to securely hold the closure element 26 in the channel 28.

[0022] The end cap 18 has a needle- or cylinder-shaped locking plug 30 and its locking diameter DB smaller than the channel diameter DK. The closure element 26 is thus engaged in the fluid channel 28 sufficiently so as not to hinder the insertion of the blocking plug 30 into the fluid channel 28. In this way, the end cap 18 is easily mounted. In the event of an excessively high level pressure of the cleaning liquid in the fluid channel 28, the closure element 26 can move in the fluid channel 28 towards the end cap 18. In this case, the blocking plug 30 of the end cap 18 prevents the closure element 26 from exiting the fluid channel 28. To fix the end cap 18, the elastic rail 24 has at least one hooking hole 32 ([Fig. 2]).Hooking beaks provided on the end cap 18 engage in this hooking hole 32; these hooking beaks are not shown here for reasons of clarity of the drawing. This provides a hooking connection.

[0023] [Fig.4] shows a partial sectional view of the end of a deflector blade 22 and of an end cap 18. The deflector blade 22 longitudinally comprises the fluid channel 28. The closure element 26 is engaged in the fluid channel 28, its diameter DE is slightly larger than the diameter DK of the channel. The locking plug 30 of the end cap 18 is engaged in the fluid channel 28 at the end of the longitudinal extension of the deflector blade 22. The locking diameter DB, i.e. the diameter of the locking plug 30 is slightly smaller than the diameter DK of the channel.

[0024] The end cap 18 is made in a single piece of plastic by an injection process; however, it is possible to provide a production in several parts. Thus, for example, the locking plug 30 can be a separate part, engaged in the end cap 18. The locking plug 30 can, in this case, also be made of another material, for example, metal.

[0025] The end cap 18 does not have a nozzle; thus it does not have any nozzle for dispensing cleaning liquid. The end cap 18 partially surrounds the deflector blade 22 and its outer contour is adapted to the deflector blade 22 in a deflector shape. The fluid channel 28 comprises, for example, several orifices through which the cleaning liquid or fluid is emitted towards the wiping lip 20, i.e. the window to be wiped. The deflector blade 22 is produced by a multi-component extrusion process from plastic, in particular EPDM; it has clamp-shaped segments 34 ([Fig. 3]) which partially surround the elastic rail 24. In addition, the deflector blade 22 and / or the wiping lip 20 comprise a heating element for heating the wiping blade 12.

[0026] The closure element 26 as already described is here in the form of a steel ball. According to a variant of the invention, it is produced in the form of a cylindrical stud or a cone or a truncated cone, which has advantages depending on the manufacturing method. Instead of metal, the closure element 26 can also be made of plastic, for example polyethylene or polypropylene.

[0027] NOMENCLATURE OF MAIN ELEMENTS

[0028] 10 Windshield wiper blade

[0029] 12 Wiper blade

[0030] 14 Fixing means

[0031] 16 Windshield wiper arm

[0032] 18 End cap

[0033] 20 Wiper lip

[0034] 22 Deflector blade

[0035] 24 Elastic rail

[0036] 26 Sealing element

[0037] 28 Fluid channel

[0038] 30 Locking plug

[0039] 32 Elastic rail attachment hole

[0040] 34 Clamp-shaped segment

[0041] DB Diameter of the locking plug

[0042] DE Diameter of the sealing element

[0043] DK Channel Diameter

[0044] L Longitudinal extension of the wiper blade

Claims

Claims

1. Windscreen wiper blade (10) in particular for a motor vehicle comprising a wiping blade (12), a fluid channel (28) for a cleaning liquid, the channel and an end cap (18), windscreen wiper blade characterized in that the end cap (18) comprises a locking plug (30) having a locking diameter (DB) smaller than the diameter (DK) of the channel (28).

2. Windscreen wiper blade (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that a closing element (26) is provided in the fluid channel (28).

3. Windscreen wiper blade (10) according to claim 2, characterized in that the closing element (26) has a diameter (DE) larger than the diameter (DK) of the channel.

4. Windscreen wiper blade (10) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the closing element (26) is in the form of a ball, in particular a steel ball.

5. Windscreen wiper blade (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the wiping blade (12) comprises a wiping lip (20) and a deflector blade (22) and in which a fluid channel (28) is formed.

6. Windscreen wiper blade (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the wiping blade (12) comprises an elastic rail (24) and the end cap (18) is fixed to the elastic rail (24) in particular by a hooking connection.

7. Windscreen wiper blade (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the locking cap (30) is made in one piece with the end cap (18).

8. Windscreen wiper blade (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the end cap (18) is designed without a nozzle.

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