Aftermarket wiper blade system

Abstract

TITLE: Aftermarket Wiper Blade System Aftermarket wiper system (10) for a motor vehicle comprising a fastening element (14) for securing a wiper blade (20) to a wiper arm and a power element (16) and fastening hardware (18). Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: Aftermarket wiper blade system FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a second-fit wiper blade system for a motor vehicle comprising an element for attaching the wiper blade to the wiper arm. STATE OF THE ART

[0002] Numerous windshield wiper or wiping systems are already known in which water is sprayed onto the vehicle window from a windshield wiper arm or a windshield wiper blade.

[0003] For example, DE19815171 A1 presents a windscreen wiper arm with a nozzle bar, clipped onto the attachment nozzles of the windscreen wiper arm.

[0004] DISCLOSURE AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The present invention relates to a retrofit windshield wiper system for a motor vehicle comprising a fixing element for fixing a windshield wiper blade to a windshield wiper arm as well as at least one power element and fixing material.

[0006] The retrofit wiper blade system according to the invention has the advantage that the element for fastening the wiper blade to the wiper arm and thus at least one supply element of the fastening material realize a simple retrofit wiper system and allow for improved cleaning of the wiper system.

[0007] Advantageously, the aftermarket wiper blade system includes attachment hardware for securing the power element to a wiper arm, providing protection to the power element.

[0008] In a particularly economical and thus advantageous manner, the fixing element comprises liquid receiving elements, in particular nozzles, also improving the cleaning efficiency.

[0009] In a simple, advantageous and economical manner, the fastening element comprises a connecting element for connecting the power supply element. This makes it possible in particular to use different power supply elements for the same fastening element, which reduces the number of variants.

[0010] The feed element comprises a particularly elastic pipe, which constitutes a simple and economical solution.

[0011] Advantageously, the cleaning effect is particularly good because the wiper blade has liquid outlet elements, in particular nozzles.

[0012] A particularly simple, economical and therefore advantageous embodiment of the fixing element is a construction essentially made of plastic.

[0013] Very advantageously, the fixing element is at least in two parts connected to each other by a material connection, which is particularly simple to manufacture.

[0014] Advantageously, the wiping result is particularly good because the wiper blade is without articulation. Brief description of the drawings

[0015] The present invention will be described below in more detail with the aid of an embodiment presented in the accompanying drawings in which:

[0016] [Fig-1] Aftermarket windshield wiper system according to the invention installed on a wiper arm,

[0017] [Fig.2] fixing element of a second-fit windshield wiper system, according to the invention.

[0018] DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT

[0019] [Fig.l] shows a second-hand windshield wiper system 10 according to the invention, as well as a windshield wiper arm 12, in schematic representation.

[0020] The aftermarket wiper system 10 includes a fastener 14, a power element 16, and fastener hardware 18.

[0021] The fastening element 14 is designed to be fastened to the wiper arm 12. The fastening element 14 is connected to a wiper blade 20 so that the wiper blade 20 is fastened to the wiper arm 12 by the fastening element 14. The fastening of the wiper blade 20 with the fastening element 14 on the wiper arm 12 is thus stable so that the wiper blade 20 will be guided in a known manner on the window of a vehicle by the wiper arm 12. The fastening element 14 is thus designed to carry the wiper blade 20.

[0022] Since the connection between the wiper arm 12 and the wiper blade 20 must be articulated due to the usual curvature of the windshield of a vehicle, the fixing element 14 has an articulation or at least one articulation element cooperating with another articulation element of the wiper blade 20. For example, the fixing element 14 has a recess receiving an articulation stud secured to the wiper blade 20.

[0023] The fixing element 14 of the liquid outlet elements 22 in the form of nozzles ([Fig.2]). These liquid outlet elements 22 are supplied by a connecting element 24. The connecting element 24 is here in the form of a pipe nozzle.

[0024] The feed element 16 is in the form of an elastic hose connected by the connecting element 24 to the fixing element 14 so that the liquid can pass from the feed element 16 to the liquid outlet elements 22.

[0025] The fixing material 18 is a C-shaped clip which fixes to the wiper arm 12 the supply element 16 which is the pipe.

[0026] Conventional vehicles have a pump that supplies cleaning fluid (windshield washer fluid) from a fluid reservoir through a line to the vehicle's nozzles. The nozzles are usually installed on the vehicle's engine hood, or under the hood in the region of the lower edge of the windshield.

[0027] The supply element 16 is sufficiently long to connect the liquid pump which usually equips the vehicle for the windshield washer fluid.

[0028] According to a variant of the invention, the supply element 16 is also connected to the usual pipe existing in the region of the vehicle nozzles. The fixing element 14 can thus be at the opposite end of the supply element 16 as well as another pipe end piece for connecting the supply element 16 to the vehicle pipe.

[0029] According to another variant, it is also possible to have a Y-shaped pipe connector which is a part of the aftermarket wiper system 10 installed in the existing pipe between the liquid pump and the vehicle nozzles. In this case, the pipe is cut for example with a knife or scissors and the base of the Y-shaped pipe connector is connected to the part of the pipe lines which arrive at the pump. One branch of the Y-shaped connector is connected to the pipe towards the vehicle nozzles; the other branch of this Y-shaped connector is connected to the supply element 16.

[0030] [Fig.2] shows the fixing element 14 according to a schematic representation. The The wiper blade attachment elements and the elements on the wiper arm for attachment to the attachment element 14 have not been shown so as not to clutter the drawing.

[0031] The fastening element 14 has a bottom body 26 to which the nozzles, i.e. the liquid outlet elements 22 and the connecting element 24 are attached. Alternatively or in addition to the liquid outlet elements 22 to the fastening element 14, also one or more connecting tips 28 which correspond to the liquid lines installed in the wiper blade 20 themselves have liquid outlet elements 22. In this embodiment, the wiper blade 20 may itself be part of the aftermarket wiper blade system 10.

[0032] The wiper blade 10 is a tool-free wiper blade which does not have a support frame with hingedly connected brackets, but a pre-bent elastic rail, to which the wiper blade is fixed. The wiper blade 20 of this embodiment variant itself has liquid outlet elements 22 characteristically designed as a large number of nozzle orifices on the longitudinal extension of the wiper blade 20. For example, the wiper blade 20 has a deflector blade with a channel equipped with liquid distribution elements 22. The channel is, in this case, connected to the connection 28 of the fixing element 14.

[0033] The base body 26 of the fastening element 14 has internal channels for conducting the liquid from the connecting element 24 to the liquid outlet elements 22 or to the connecting tips 28. The base body is at least in two parts made of plastic, in particular produced by injection; the two parts are connected to each other by a material bond, for example, by ultrasonic welding, which allows simple manufacture of the fastening elements 14.

[0034] The nozzles as liquid outlet elements 22 can be made in one piece with the base body 26. According to a variant, however, separate nozzles, in particular adjustable nozzles, can be used, for example metal nozzles integrated directly into the injection of the base body 26.

[0035] In addition to the invention, the supply element 16 and / or the fixing element 14 are equipped with a heating installation, in particular a heating wire. Accordingly, the operation of the aftermarket wiper system or the aftermarket operation will be briefly described.

[0036] First, the wiper blade 20 is removed from the wiper arm 12. Then, the fastening element 14 of the wiper blade 20 is replaced by the fastening element 14 of the wiper system 10. If the aftermarket wiper system 10 already has a wiper blade 20, this can be attached directly to the wiper blade 20 with the fastening element 14 on the fastening arm 12. Then, the supply element 16 is connected to the vehicle hose, i.e. to its liquid pump, if it is not pre-assembled. Then, with the fastening material 18, the supply element 16 is attached to the wiper arm 12 so that it does not come into contact with the window to be wiped.

[0037] NOMENCLATURE OF MAIN ELEMENTS

[0038] 10 Aftermarket windshield wiper system

[0039] 12 Windshield wiper arm

[0040] 14 Fastening element

[0041] 16 Power supply element

[0042] 18 Fixing material

[0043] 20 Windshield wiper blade

[0044]

[0045]

[0046]

[0047] 22 Liquid outlet element 24 Connection element 26 Base body of the fixing element 28 One or more connection tips

Claims

Claims

1. Aftermarket windshield wiper system (10) in particular for a motor vehicle comprising a fastening element (14) for fastening a windshield wiper blade (20) to a windshield wiper arm as well as at least one power element (16) and fastening material (18).

2. An aftermarket wiper system (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the fastening material (18) is provided for fastening the power element (16) to the wiper arm (12).

3. Aftermarket windshield wiper system (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fixing element (14) comprises fluid outlet elements (22), in particular nozzles.

4. Aftermarket wiper system (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a connecting element (24) on the fixing element (14) for connecting the supply element (16).

5. Aftermarket wiper system (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the supply element (16) essentially comprises a pipe.

6. Aftermarket windscreen wiper system (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the windscreen wiper blade (20) comprises fluid outlet elements (22), in particular nozzles.

7. Aftermarket windshield wiper system (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fastening element (14) is substantially made of plastic.

8. Aftermarket windshield wiper system (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that

9. the fixing element (14) is made of at least two parts connected to each other by a material connection. Aftermarket windscreen wiper system (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the wiper blade (20) is without joints.

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