Wiper blade and wiper assembly thus equipped

Abstract

Title: Wiper blade and wiper assembly thus equipped. Wiper blade for a wiper assembly comprising: - a base body (2) extending along a longitudinal direction (25), - a heating element (3) for heating the wiper blade (1), * the base body (2) having a mounting rail with a mounting groove into which the heating element (3) is fixed, * the mounting groove being open on one side in the direction of opening orthogonal to the longitudinal direction (25), and * the mounting rail having mounting arms for holding the heating element (3) in the mounting groove. Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: Windshield wiper blade and windshield wiper device equipped therewith FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a windshield wiper blade and windshield wiper device equipped with it. STATE OF THE ART

[0002] Windscreen wiper devices equipped with heating devices are known. These heating devices make it possible to heat, for example, the windscreen wiper blades and the pipes which supply the washing nozzles with cleaning liquid or windscreen washer liquid, so as to prevent the liquid from freezing in the pipes. The known devices therefore have a complex and very bulky geometry; they are complicated to manufacture and install.

[0003] DISCLOSURE AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The present invention aims to overcome the drawbacks of the known solutions and for this purpose relates to a windscreen wiper blade for a windscreen wiper device comprising: a base body extending in a longitudinal direction, a heating element for heating the windscreen wiper blade, the base body having a fixing rail with a fixing groove in which the heating element is fixed, the fixing groove being open on one side in the opening direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction and, the fixing rail comprising fixing arms for holding the heating element in the fixing groove.

[0005] The wiper blade according to the invention has a simple and economical compact structure which makes it possible, with a particularly small number of components, to heat the wiper blade. This results from the fact that the wiper blade for a wiper device, in particular for a motor vehicle, comprises a base body extending in a longitudinal direction and a heating element for heating the wiper blade. The base body has a fastening rail with a fastening groove. The fastening groove is open in the opening direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction. The heating element is fixed in the fastening groove. The fastening rail has, for this purpose, fastening arms for holding the heating element in particular along the opening direction inside the fastening groove.

[0006] The heating element is preferably an electric heating element that gives off heat when energized with electric current.

[0007] In particular, the fixing rail is oriented in the longitudinal direction occupying the entire length of the wiper blade. Alternatively, the fixing rail may occupy only part of the length of the wiper blade in the longitudinal direction.

[0008] In particular, the heating element extends over the entire length of the wiper blade or, alternatively, preferably, it occupies part of the length of the wiper blade.

[0009] In other words, the invention relates to a wiper blade which has a fixing rail as an integral component in the base body. This fixing rail has a fixing groove in which the heating element is fixed. The fixing rail is designed to hold the heating element with the fixing arms of the fixing rail in the opening direction through which the fixing groove opens. The wiper blade has the advantage of a particularly simple and economical construction. The base body and the heating element, which are separate components, can thus be connected to each other without requiring any additional element. This results in a wiper blade of particularly simple, economical and lightweight construction.

[0010] Preferably, the fixing arms of the fixing rail exert a clamping force on the heating element when the latter is in the fixed state in the fixing groove. In other words, the holding element is in form-fitting contact with the fixing rail by the fixing arms. The holding element is thus clamped by the clamping force between the two opposing fixing arms. This constitutes a particularly simple and reliable fixing of the heating element which allows for mounting without flapping and also allows tolerances to be compensated.

[0011] According to another preferred feature, the heating element comprises a support element and a heating wire. In other words, the heating element is at least in two parts. The support element is in particular designed to hold the heating wire in place. Preferably, the support element is held by the fixing arms. The heating wire is supplied with electric current to generate heat directly. The heating wire can be integrated into the support element or alternatively be fixed thereto. This allows a particularly simple, economical and flexible construction of the heating element. The support element allows the heating wire to be flexibly positioned and held for optimal efficiency.

[0012] Particularly preferably, the support element has a support groove in which the heating wire is fixed. The heating wire is thus clamped by the clamping connection in the support groove, which allows a particularly simple and economical production and mounting of the heating element.

[0013] Preferably, the support element has exactly two opposite support grooves which open in opposite directions. The heating wire is thus installed in the support grooves and follows the periphery of the support element. In a manner preferably, the support element is substantially rod-shaped and the support grooves are on the opposite long sides, respectively open to the outside. In particular, the heating wire surrounds, for example, only once, the periphery of the support element, passing through the support grooves. This allows a simple and economical production of the heating element with simple and reliable mounting and holding of the heating wire to achieve efficient heating.

[0014] Preferably, the heating element has a flat rod geometry. In particular, the holding element preferably has an oval section in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. The flat rod-shaped geometry is in particular a geometry which extends longitudinally in the longitudinal direction and has a thickness and thus an orthogonal width in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction; the width corresponds to a multiple of the thickness. Thus, in the thickness direction, there will be a reduced dimension with a large surface supply of heat to the wiper blade, which results in particularly efficient heating of the wiper blade for a very compact geometry.

[0015] According to another advantageous characteristic, the heating element is at least partly made of an electrically conductive material having an electrical resistance with a positive temperature coefficient. In particular, the heating element is made of a material with a PTC effect (PTC = positive temperature coefficient). This means that the heating element has a heating function whereby the supply of current to the heating element produces a temperature rise by the PTC effect. Since the electrical resistance of the heating element depends, in a predetermined manner, on the temperature, the passage of current in the heating element results in a heat loss therein and thus the heating of the heating element. In particular, due to the positive temperature coefficient of the heating element, the electrical resistance of the heating element increases significantly with temperature.Thanks to the PTC effect, the heating element has a self-regulating heating function because the electrical resistance increases due to the increase in temperature until the current can no longer pass through the electrical resistance of the heating element or the current intensity becomes very low. This means that the heating element limits the maximum temperature it can reach. This allows for a particularly simple and reliable heating function.

[0016] Preferably, the fixing arms are elastically flexible, in particular so that the heating element can be removed practically in the opening direction from the fixing groove or placed in the fixing groove by the elastic deformation of the fixing arms. In particular, there is thus in the groove fixing, in the installed state, an undercut relative to the opening direction of the holding elements and the fixing arms. The heating element is held by the fixing arms in a manner analogous to a clip-on connection. This provides a reliable hold with particularly simple assembly or disassembly.

[0017] Preferably, the base body is produced with the fixing rail and the fixing arms in common, as a single component in one piece. The base body can be produced as an injection-molded component. This results in a particularly simple, economical and lightweight manufacturing and construction.

[0018] According to another preferred feature, the base body comprises a vertebral element in the vicinity of the fixing rail with a vertebral zone. The vertebral element is designed to stiffen and / or give shape to the wiper blade. In particular, the vertebral element ensures the prestressing of the wiper blade to follow the surface of a curved windshield. Preferably, the vertebral element is in the form of a flat rod which extends in the longitudinal direction of the wiper blade. Preferably, exactly two parallel vertebral elements are provided.

[0019] Particularly preferably, the wiper blade further has a wiping lip in the longitudinal direction. The wiping lip is in particular designed to bear against the windshield. The wiping lip is preferably made of an elastic material, for example, rubber.

[0020] Preferably, the wiper blade has at least one fluid channel in the base body for supplying fluid (liquid supply) to a windscreen washer system. In particular, the fluid channel extends in the longitudinal direction. The windscreen wiper system has at least one washing nozzle on the wiper blade. In particular, the fluid channel is in the vicinity of the fastening groove and, preferably, exactly two fluid channels are provided between which there is the fastening groove.

[0021] The invention also relates to a windshield wiper device equipped with a windshield wiper arm and a windshield wiper blade like that described above. The windshield wiper blade is in particular fixed by a connecting zone in the longitudinal direction in the middle of the windshield wiper blade to be connected to the windshield wiper arm.

[0022] Preferably, the windscreen wiper device further has a windscreen washer installation with at least one washer nozzle on the windscreen wiper blade. In particular, the fluid supply to the windscreen washer nozzle is via at least one fluid channel inside the base body of the windscreen wiper blade. Brief description of the drawings

[0023] The present invention will be described hereinafter in more detail with the aid of embodiments of the wiper blade shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

[0024] [Fig-1] Simplified perspective view of a windshield wiper device with a blade windshield wiper according to a first embodiment of the invention,

[0025] [Fig.2] Detailed sectional view of the wiper blade of [Fig. 1],

[0026] [Fig.3] perspective view of a detail of the wiper blade of [Fig.l],

[0027] [Fig.4] perspective view of another detail of the wiper blade of [Fig.l], and

[0028] [Fig.5] detailed sectional view of a windscreen wiper blade according to a second method of realization of the invention.

[0029] DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0030] [Fig. 1] is a simplified perspective view of a windshield wiper device 10 equipped with a wiper blade 1 corresponding to a first embodiment of the invention. [Fig. 2] shows a sectional view of the wiper blade 1.

[0031] The windscreen wiper device 10 comprises a windscreen wiper arm 14 provided with a connecting area 104 for movably fixing the windscreen wiper blade 1. The connecting area 104 is thus in the middle area 15 of the windscreen wiper blade 1.

[0032] The wiper blade 1 comprises a base body 2 oriented in the longitudinal direction 25.

[0033] The wiper blade 1 has a wiping lip 7, preferably a rubber lip, and which is provided for wiping the wiper blade installation 11 comprises several nozzles 11a for applying washer fluid to the windshield, for example, in the form of a spray. The nozzles 11a may be integrated in the wiper blade 1; they are distributed along the length of the wiper blade 1. The nozzles 11a are preferably designed to distribute washer fluid from one side of the wiper blade 1 onto the windshield. Thus, for both directions of movement of the wiper blade 1, washer fluid will be applied to the windshield upstream of the wiping lip 7, which allows efficient cleaning of the windshield.

[0034] The windshield wiper device 10 further comprises a windshield washer installation 11 for applying a windshield washer fluid to the windshield of the vehicle. For example, water can be applied as windshield washer fluid to the windshield of the vehicle.

[0035] The windshield washer system 11 may comprise several nozzles 11a for applying the windshield washer fluid to the windshield, for example in the form of a spray. The nozzles 11a may be integrated into the windshield wiper blade 1 and be distributed along the windshield wiper blade 1. The nozzles 11a are further designed to apply the windshield washer fluid respectively to one side of the windshield wiper blade 1 on the windshield. This allows for both directions of movement of the wiper blade 1 to apply washer fluid upstream of the wiping lip 7 to the windshield each time, which results in effective cleaning of the windshield.

[0036] The washer fluid is supplied to the nozzles 11a via a pipe which runs, for example, along the wiper arm 14. The pipe is connected to a fluid channel 8 formed in the base body 2 of the wiper blade 1 (see [Fig. 2]). The channel 8 transmits the washer fluid to the nozzles 11a.

[0037] The wiper blade 1 further comprises a vertebral zone 6 with two vertebral elements 61 for stiffening and shaping the wiper blade 1 (see [Fig.2]). For example, the vertebral elements 1 are provided (see [Fig.2]). The vertebral elements 61 may, for example, be curved in shape or be prestressed to have a wiper blade 1 whose shape is adapted to the curvature of the windshield.

[0038] The vertebral elements 61 are made in the form of flat rods of rectangular section (see [Fig.2]) extending parallel to each other and parallel to the longitudinal direction 25.

[0039] The vertebral elements 61 are made of metal, preferably steel.

[0040] The vertebral elements 61 are thus integrated into the base body 2 of the broom wiper 1. In particular, the vertebral elements 61 are held in the grooves 62 of the base body 2.

[0041] The wiping lip 7 is made and installed so that the lip 7 is held between and by the vertebral elements 61.

[0042] The wiper blade 1 has a heating element 3 for heating the wiper blade 1. The heating prevents freezing or ensures thawing. In addition, the heating prevents the washer fluid from freezing in the channel 8. In addition, this heats the wiping lip 7, which results in particularly good wiping, including reduced noise when wiping and optimal wiping performance.

[0043] To hold and position the heating element 3, the wiper blade 1 has a fixing rail 4 in the form of a base body 2. The fixing rail 4 has a fixing groove 5 in which the heating element 3 is fixed.

[0044] [Fig. 2] is a section of the wiper blade 1 showing the geometry of the base body 2 with the fixing rail 4 and the fixing groove 5.

[0045] Preferably, the base body has practically the same cross-section over its entire length. This means, in particular, that the fixing rail 4 with the fixing groove 5 extends over the entire length of the base body 2.

[0046] The fixing rail 5 is open on one side in an opening direction 26 orthogonal to the longitudinal direction 25. This opening direction is oriented in direction of the backing element 61 and the wiping lip 7. On the side opposite that of the wiping lip 7, the fixing groove 5 is closed.

[0047] The fixing rail 4 has a fixing arm 41 on both sides of the fixing groove 5. The two fixing arms 41 extend in particular over the entire length of the base body 2. The fixing arms 41 thus hold the heating element 3 in the fixing groove 5.

[0048] The fixing arms 41 project, in particular in the transverse direction 27 which is orthogonal to the opening direction 26, facing each other in the fixing groove 5.

[0049] The fixing arms 41 are elastically deformable and are made with the heating element 3 to exert a clamping force 49, in particular in the transverse direction 27 on the heating element 3 and hold the latter.

[0050] The heating element 3 of the first embodiment is in two parts; it comprises a support element 31 and a heating wire 32 (see Figures 2 and 3). The support element 31a thus has a practically flat rod geometry; in the transverse direction 27 opposite the sides there is each time a groove 31a, open upwards.

[0051] The heating wire 32 is fixed in the support grooves 31a in particular by a pinched connection. In detail, the heating wire 32 lies in a transverse plane corresponding to the transverse version 27 by completely surrounding the outer periphery of the support element 31 exactly once. The two ends of the heating wire 32 are connected to a connector 16 in the middle region 15 (see [Fig. 4]).

[0052] The connector 16 is electrically connected to the power supply installation 114 by an electrical line 115 which passes along the wiper arm 14 and is supplied with electrical current by the power supply installation 114 to heat the wiper blade 1. The power supply installation 114 is, for example, external to the wiper arm 14 and the wiper blade 1, for example, in the vehicle.

[0053] The wiper blade 1 is thus characterized by a particularly advantageous construction allowing efficient heating by the heating element 3. The base body 2 is made in one piece with the fixing rail 4 and the fixing groove 5 as well as the fixing arms 31. This allows reliable and precise fixing as well as the positioning of the heating element 3 for its optimum operation with at the same time a particularly simple and economical construction of the wiper blade 1 comprising few components. This allows a wiper blade geometry with a particularly space-saving geometry.

[0054] [Fig. 5] is a detailed sectional view of a windshield wiper blade 1 according to a third embodiment of the invention. The second embodiment corresponds, in essence, to the first embodiment according to figures 1 to 4 with the difference of an alternative embodiment of the heating element 1. In the second embodiment example according to [Fig.2], the heating element 3 is a single component which has a flat geometry. In more detail, the heating element 3 has, in section orthogonal to the longitudinal direction 25, an oval cross-sectional surface. The heating element 3 is made of an electrically conductive material having an electrical resistance with a positive temperature coefficient. In other words, the heating element 3 is made of a material which exhibits the PTC effect (PTC: positive temperature coefficient). The electrical supply via the supply wires 33 is done with the PTC effect to heat the heating element 3 and thus heat the wiper blade 1. The heating element 3 in one piece according to the second example, is clamped directly between the fixing arms 4L

[0055] NOMENCLATURE OF MAIN ELEMENTS

[0056] 1 Windshield wiper blade

[0057] 2 Basic body

[0058] 6 Vertebral zone

[0059] 7 Wiper lip

[0060] 8 Fluid channel in the base body

[0061] 10 Windshield wiper device

[0062] 11 Windshield washer installation

[0063] lia Buse

[0064] 14 Windshield wiper arm

[0065] 15 Middle area of ​​the wiper blade

[0066] 16 Connector

[0067] 25 Longitudinal direction of the base body

[0068] 26 Opening direction

[0069] 27 Transverse direction

[0070] 31 Support element [0071 ] 31a Support groove

[0072] 32 Heating wire

[0073] 41 Fixing arm

[0074] 49 Clamping force

[0075] 61 Vertebral element

[0076] 62 Base body groove

[0077] 104 Connection zone

[0078] 114 Electrical supply installation

[0079] 115 Power line

Claims

Claims

1. A wiper blade for a wiper device (10) comprising: - a base body (2) extending in a longitudinal direction (25), - a heating element (3) for heating the wiper blade (1), * the base body (2) having a fixing rail (4) with a fixing groove (5) in which the heating element (3) is fixed, * the fixing groove (5) being open on one side in the opening direction (26) orthogonal to the longitudinal direction (25), and * the fixing rail (4) having fixing arms (41) for holding the heating element (3) in the fixing groove (5).

2. A wiper blade according to claim 1, wherein the fixing arms (41) of the fixing rail (4) exert a clamping force (44) on the heating element (3) in the fixed state in the fixing groove (5).

3. A wiper blade according to any preceding claim, wherein the heating element (3) comprises a support member (31) and a heating wire (32).

4. A wiper blade according to claim 3, wherein the support member (31) has a support groove (31a) in which the heating wire (32) is fixed, in particular by means of a clamping connection.

5. A wiper blade according to claim 4, wherein the support member (31) has support grooves (31a) open in opposite directions, and the heating wire (32) passes in the support grooves (31a) on the periphery of the support member (31).

6. Windscreen wiper blade according to one of claims 1 or 2, in which the heating element (3) has a geometry in the form of a flat rod, in particular with an oval section.

7. Windscreen wiper blade according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the heating element (3) is made at least partly of an electrically conductive material with an electrical resistance having a positive temperature coefficient.

8. A wiper blade according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the fixing arms (41) are flexible elastic so that the heating element (3) can be removed from the fixing groove (5) in the opening direction (26) by the elastic deformation of the fixing arms (41) and can be placed in the fixing groove (5).

9. Windscreen wiper blade according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the base body (3) is designed as a single component in one piece with the fastening rail (4) and the fastening arms (41).

10. Windscreen wiper blade according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the base body (2) has in the opening direction (26) in the vicinity of the fixing rail (4), a vertebral zone (6) with at least one vertebral element (61).

11. A wiper blade according to any preceding claim, further comprising: a wiping lip (7) extending in the longitudinal direction (26).

12. Windscreen wiper blade according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising: at least one fluid channel (8) in the base body (2) for supplying fluid to a windscreen washer system (11).

13. A windshield wiper device comprising a windshield wiper arm (14) and a wiper blade (1) according to one of the preceding claims, the wiper blade (1) being attached to the windshield wiper arm (14).

14. A windshield wiper device according to claim 13, further comprising: a windshield washer installation (11) having at least one windshield washer nozzle (11a) on the windshield wiper blade (1).

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