Windshield wiper blade, especially for a motor vehicle

Abstract

TITLE: Windshield wiper blade, particularly for a motor vehicle. Windshield wiper blade comprising a wiping blade (16) held between a first elastic rail segment (34) and a second elastic rail segment (36) by a fixing segment (24) and having a practically triangular lip segment (18) and a cavity segment (22) between the fixing segment (24) and the lip segment (18), this cavity segment being provided with a damping segment (52) in particular fixed to it or formed in one piece with it. Figure 3

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 for a motor vehicle comprising a wiping blade held by a fixing segment between a first elastic rail segment and a second elastic rail segment, as well as a lip segment of practically triangular section. STATE OF THE ART

[0002] Such a windshield wiper is already known, notably described in document DE 10 2019 214 976 Al.

[0003] DESCRIPTION AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The present invention relates to a windshield wiper blade, in particular for a motor vehicle comprising a wiping blade held between a first elastic rail segment and a second elastic rail segment by a fixing segment and having a lip segment of practically triangular section, this windshield wiper blade being characterized in that it comprises a cavity segment between the fixing segment and the lip segment, this cavity segment being provided with a damping segment in particular fixed to it or made in one piece with it.

[0005] The wiper blade according to the invention has the advantage of ensuring better wiping without increasing the cost of the wiper blade or cavity segment between the fixing segment and the wiping lip.

[0006] Advantageously, a first tilting spacer is between the wiping lip segment and the cavity segment, so that the wiping lip can slide cleanly on the glass.

[0007] Advantageously, the wiper blade device is presented in a simple embodiment in that the cavity segment is much wider than the lip segment on its side facing the cavity segment, which is particularly advantageous for extruding the wiper blade.

[0008] The cavity segment having a practically rectangular cross-section is a simple and economical embodiment.

[0009] In addition, advantageously, the fixing segment has practically a T-shape which ensures the fixing of the wiping blade.

[0010] According to another advantageous development, the first or second elastic rail segment is provided between the cavity segment and the upper beam of the fixing segment, which ensures the holding of the wiping blade.

[0011] Advantageously, the lip segment is symmetrical and planar, and has exactly two notches on each side. Multiple tests have shown that this results in excellent wiping performance.

[0012] In a particularly advantageous way, by means of the notches, two and preferably exactly two other tilting spacers are made, which improves the wiping accordingly.

[0013] In a particularly advantageous way, the first tilting spacer has a first width and the other or other tilting spacers have a second width, this second width being equal to or less than the first width.

[0014] Most advantageously, the notches have a width of less than 1 mm, in particular less than 0.8 mm and preferably less than 0.5 mm. Brief description of the drawings

[0015] The present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to wiper devices shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

[0016] [Fig-1] Schematic side view of a windshield wiper blade according to the invention,

[0017] [Fig.2] section of a wiper blade of a windshield wiper and,

[0018] [Fig.3] section of a wiper blade of a windshield wiper according to the invention.

[0019] DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0020] Figure 1 shows a wiper blade 10 according to the invention in schematic side view. The wiper blade comprises a flexible rail 12 equipped with a fastening means 14 for attaching it to a wiper arm, which is not shown here for the sake of simplicity in the drawings. On the side not facing the fastening element 14, the flexible rail 12 carries a wiper blade 16, the side of which facing the flexible rail 12 carries a lip segment 18. In operation, this lip segment is intended to wipe the windshield 20 (Fig. 2). The wiper blade 10 has a longitudinal extension, and the fastening element 14 is substantially in the middle of this longitudinal extension. The ends of the longitudinal extension have end caps, which are not detailed.

[0021] Figure 2 is a section of the wiper blade 16 of a windshield wiper 10 according to the invention. The wiper blade 16 is planar symmetrical with respect to the axis of symmetry S, represented by a line that is the intersection of the plane of symmetry and the plane of the figure. In the installed state, the wiper blade 16, more precisely the lip segment 18 of the wiper blade 16, is applied against the windshield 20 to wipe it.

[0022] The wiping blade 16 is practically in three parts. Above the lip segment 18 there is a cavity segment 22. The cavity segment 22 continues as a fixing segment 24. The fixing segment 24 has a T-shape and thus comprises a horizontal upper beam 26 and a vertical arm 28. The Lip segment 18 and cavity segment 22 are connected by a first tilting spacer 30. This first tilting spacer 30 has a first width Bl. The first height of the tilting spacer SK corresponds to the height of the first tilting spacer 30 and is equal to approximately 0.6 mm.

[0023] The spacer 28, which extends the cavity segment 22 and the upper beam 26, thus forms a retaining groove 32 in section on the left and right. The retaining groove 32 receives a first elastic rail segment 34 and the other retaining groove 32, a second elastic rail segment 36. The length of the spacer 28 corresponds substantially to the thickness of the first elastic rail segment 34 and the second elastic rail segment 36, so that the wiping blade 16 is held securely in the vertical direction between the first elastic rail segment 34 and the second elastic rail segment 36.

[0024] The lip segment 18 has in section, on the left and on the right each time two notches 38. Each notch 38 is horizontal and offset from the axis (plane) of symmetry S. Thus, due to the depth of the notches 38 the other tilting ribs 40 have a second width B2.

[0025] The notches 38 thus have a width SB of approximately 0.4 mm. This results in a second tilting spacer height which corresponds to the notch width SB.

[0026] The cavity segment 22 has a practically rectangular shape and is internally hollow. Thus, the cavity segment 22 has an upper wall 42 carrying the spacer 28 in its middle. The cavity segment 22 has a lower wall 44 carrying the first tilting spacer 30, perpendicular to it, substantially in its middle. The lower wall 44 is slightly thinner than the upper wall 42, which gives it greater elasticity. The lower wall 44 here has a wider cross-section than the total width of the lip segment 18. In particular, the width of the lower wall 44 is chosen so that it can bear against the lower wall 44 when the lip segment 18 is tilted around the first tilting strut 30. The side walls 46 between the upper wall 42 and the lower wall 44 are angled so that the lower wall 44 has a narrower cross-section than the upper wall 42.The total width of cavity segment 22 has a cross-section approximately equal to two to four times and preferably two to three times the width of lip segment 18.

[0027] The first width B1 of the first tilting spacer 30 is slightly greater than the second width B2 of the other tilting spacer 40. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, other tilting spacers 40 may also have a different width; in particular, the width of the other tilting spacers 40 may decrease successively from the first tilting spacer 30. According to another embodiment of the invention, the width of the notches 38 may differ and in particular increase successively from the first tilting spacer 30.

[0028] The wiping blade 16 is extruded from EPDM rubber. The co-extrusion process is used for this. Alternatively, only one type of plastic can be used. The lip segment 18 is made of a softer EPDM rubber than the rest of the wiping blade 16. Thus, the cavity segment 22 has greater hardness than the lip segment 16. Furthermore, the cavity segment 22 has greater damping than the lip segment 16. According to another embodiment, the fastening segment 24 is made of a harder plastic, so that the wiping blade is extruded from three different plastics.

[0029] The cavity of the cavity segment 22 can be open on both sides along the longitudinal extension, allowing air to enter it. According to one embodiment, the ends of the longitudinal extension of the cavity segment 22 can also be closed, creating a closed volume filled with gas or compressed air.

[0030] Figure 3 shows a cross-section of a wiper blade 16 of a windshield wiper 10 according to the invention, corresponding to a variant of the invention. To avoid repetition, only the differences compared to Figure 2 will be described, and the explanations already given regarding Figure 2 apply.

[0031] A damping segment 50 between the cavity segment 22 and the fixing segment 24 is provided with damping means 52. The damping means 52 are in the form of fins or tabs which, together with the upper wall 42, extend from the cavity segment 22 from its free end into the retaining grooves 32. The damping means are fins or tabs formed in one piece with the cavity segment 22; however, a damping means may be made separately and fixed to the cavity segment 22, for example, by bonding or by a material connection. The damping means 52 according to a variant of the invention may also consist of a flat layer fixed to the cavity segment 22. By way of example, a layer of felt or polymer foam may be considered.

[0032] The distance between the upper wall 42 of the cavity segment 22 and the upper beam 26 is thus greater than in the previous embodiment, and significantly greater than the thickness of the first elastic rail segment 34 or the second elastic rail segment 36. As shown, the upper wall 42 of the cavity segment 32 has shoulders 54 such that the damping fins 52 are substantially horizontal and are thickened towards their free end, resulting in a greater width or height in cross-section. The vertical distance between the highest end of the damping means 52 and the lower plane of the beam 26, i.e. the gap in which we have the first elastic rail segment 34 and the second elastic rail segment 36 is slightly less than the thickness of the elastic rail segments 34, 36 which are then held without play but elastically in the retaining grooves 32.

[0033] The lip segment 18 has only one notch 38 in section on the left and on the right. Thus, next to the first rocking rib there is only one other rocking rib 40.

[0034] Furthermore, the lower wall 44 of the cavity segment 22 in section, considered on the left and right, has a guiding shoulder 56. This shoulder is in the form of a groove or a hollow which is on the side of the lip segment 18 turned towards the lower wall 44. The guiding shoulder 56 is thus provided at the point where the lip segment 18 arrives during the tilting around the first tilting spacer 30 and where it touches the lower wall 44 of the cavity segment 22. If during wiping the lip segment 18 tilts, the tilting spacer 30 tilts correspondingly. As the lip segment 18 has a substantially triangular section, it has, on each side, an edge 60 which, during the movement of the wiping blade 16, is the rear edge 60 of the lip segment 18 which penetrates the guide shoulder 56 and thus supports the lip segment 18.

[0035] The entire wiping lip 16 is made in one piece from a plastic material, in particular an elastomer, for example, EPDM rubber. The wiping blade 16 is produced by extrusion or injection molding. In particular, several different plastic materials can be used, for example, for multi-component extrusion or multi-component injection molding.

[0036] NOMENCLATURE OF MAIN ELEMENTS

[0037] 10 Windshield wiper blade

[0038] 12 Elastic rail

[0039] 14 Means of attachment

[0040] 16 Wiping blade

[0041] 18 Lip segment

[0042] 20 Glass

[0043] 22 Cavity segment

[0044] 24 Fixing segment

[0045] 26 Top beam

[0046] 28 Tilting spacer

[0047] 30 First tilting spacer

[0048] 32 Retaining groove

[0049] 34 Elastic rail segment

[0050] 36 Elastic rail segment

[0051]

[0052]

[0053]

[0054]

[0055]

[0056]

[0057]

[0058]

[0059]

[0060]

[0061]

[0062]

[0063] 38 Notch 40 Other tilting spacer 42 Upper wall of cavity segment 44 Lower wall of cavity segment 46 Lateral wall of cavity segment 50 Damping segment 52 Damping means 56 Guide shoulder 60 Edge B Second width B1 First width S Axis of symmetry / plane of symmetry SK Height of the first tilting spacer

Claims

Demands

1. Windscreen wiper blade (10), in particular for a motor vehicle comprising a wiper blade (16) held between a first elastic rail segment (34) and a second elastic rail segment (36) by a fixing segment (24) and having a practically triangular lip segment (18), windscreen wiper blade characterized in that it comprises a cavity segment (22) between the fixing segment (24) and the lip segment (18), this cavity segment being provided with a damping means (52) in particular fixed thereto or made in one piece with thereto.

2. Wiper blade (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the damping means (52), the first elastic rail segment (34) and the second elastic rail segment (36) maintain in particular vertically without play, the cavity segment (22) and the fixing segment (24) between them.

3. Wiper blade (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cavity segment (22) is much wider than the lip segment (18) on its side facing the cavity segment (22).

4. Wiper blade (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cavity segment (22) has a practically rectangular cross-section.

5. Wiper blade (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cavity segment (22) forms the fixing segment (24) in a practically T-shaped form.

6. Wiper blade (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first or second elastic rail segment (34, 36) are provided between the cavity segment (22) and the upper beam (26) of the fixing segment (24).

7. Wiper blade (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lip segment (18) has a symmetric-planar section and has exactly two notches (38) on each side.

8. Wiper blade (10) according to claim 7, characterized in that the notches (38) form at least one tilting spacer and in particular two and preferably exactly two other tilting spacers (40).

9. Wiper blade (10) according to claim 8, characterized in that the first tilting spacer (30) has a first width (B1) and at least one of the other tilting spacers (40), in particular all the other tilting spacers (40) have a second width (B2), this second width (B2) being equal to or less than the first width (B1).

10. Wiper blade (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the notches (38) have a width (SB) of less than 1 millimeter, in particular less than 0.8 millimeter and preferably less than 0.5 millimeter.

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