Apparatus for a motor vehicle window wiper system

Abstract

To provide a device for connecting a wiper arm and a wiper blade, which is easy to operate and prevents damage to a locking means or an unlocking means when overloaded. [Solution] An apparatus 10 for connecting a wiper arm 50 and a wiper blade includes an adapter 20 connectable to the wiper blade, and an accommodating element 30 connectable to the wiper arm 50 and having an adapter opening 32 for accommodating the adapter 20, the adapter 20 having two deformable locking areas 22, 24 configured to lock the adapter 20 with the accommodating element 30, and an operating means 40 for unlocking the locking areas 22, 24, whereby at the unlocking point, the operating means 40 engages with an engagement opening 34 of the accommodating element 30, and the operating means 40 deforms the locking areas 22, 24 towards each other so that the adapter 20 can be removed through the adapter opening 32.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for connecting a wiper arm and a wiper blade for a windscreen wiper system of a motor vehicle. [Background technology]

[0002] A conventional windshield wiper system for a motor vehicle typically comprises a wiper arm fixed to the motor vehicle, to which an exchangeable wiper blade is likewise fixed by means of an adapter. In known embodiments, the wiper blade and the adapter can form an assembly. For this purpose, the wiper blade is coupled with the adapter, which can be removably fixed to the wiper arm in an adapter receptacle.

[0003] A known fastening for such standard wiper systems is the top-lock locking, in which the adapter receptacle is also often called a "slider". In order to unlock the wiper blade fastened by means of the adapter from the wiper arm, the adapter of the wiper blade here has a press button on its upper side facing away from the window.

[0004] In addition, in recent years, wiper arms have been further developed into wet arm systems for direct wet cleaning of the window pane, where the wiper arm is arranged with, for example, a hose for supplying the cleaning fluid and an integrated cleaning nozzle.

[0005] However, for functional reasons, the washer nozzle and the hose should preferably be covered by a cover cap, which then extends over the entire wiper arm, thereby preventing access to the top lock unlocking button. In addition, the cover cap is fixed via an engagement means on the underside of the adapter receptacle facing downwards towards the window pane, which makes handling when changing the wiper blades significantly more difficult. For this reason, in wet arm wiper systems, a different concept is needed for unlocking the wiper blades.

[0006] For the above-mentioned standard wiper systems without wet arms, a lock between the wiper arm and the wiper blade by means of an adapter is known from DE 10 200 03 133 A1, which comprises a resilient locking arm with a push button arranged outside the adapter receptacle. However, resilient locking arms as locking or unlocking means have the disadvantage that they can break easily under heavy loads. In addition, the locking or unlocking means comprises a large number of components, which result in higher costs and more difficult handling.

[0007] A similar locking mechanism for a standard wiper system is known from US Pat. No. 5,399,633.

[0008] For wet arm wiper systems, a wide variety of locking mechanisms are known from US Pat. No. 5,399,633. In particular, FIG. 1 of US Pat. No. 5,399,633 lists various embodiments with hooks, arms with lateral pins, arms with push buttons / sliders and arms with clamping tabs. However, said locking mechanisms prevent the use of the preferred cover caps, since the cover caps should extend over the entire wiper arm as mentioned above. In addition, the locking or unlocking means also suffer from the problem that they rely on small hooks, pins, arms and clamping tabs, which make handling difficult and are easily broken under excessive load. Here too, the locking or unlocking means comprise a large number of components, which result in higher costs and difficult operation.

[0009] Likewise, locking by means of a slider is also known from DE 10 200 03 133 A1 for wet arm wiper systems. Said slider also prevents the use of the preferred cover cap. In addition, the set insertion of the locking projection into the corresponding recess makes handling difficult, since the locking projection is covered by the slider and therefore not visible to the user. Similarly, many components of the locking or unlocking means are required, which leads to higher costs and difficult handling.

[0010] In summary, in the known devices for connecting wiper arms and wiper blades, the engaging or disengaging means can easily break when overloaded, and the use of small locking or disengaging means makes handling difficult. At the same time, the large number of components of the known locking or disengaging means also leads to increased product and manufacturing costs. In addition, the known devices are not suitable for use in standard wiper systems without wet arms, nor in wet arm systems with cover caps. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0011] [Patent Document 1] US Patent Application Publication No. 2019 / 0031151 [Patent Document 2] French Patent Application Publication No. 3091237 [Patent Document 3] US Patent Application Publication No. 2015 / 0013095 [Patent Document 4] DE 102010052314 A1 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0012] The problem underlying the present invention is therefore to provide an inexpensive and reliable device for connecting a wiper arm and a wiper blade for a windshield wiper system of a motor vehicle, which is easy to operate and which prevents destruction of the locking or unlocking means in the event of overload. [Means for solving the problem]

[0013] The solution according to the invention to this problem is achieved by means of the features of the independent claims. Advantageous developments of the invention are evident from the dependent claims.

[0014] The object is achieved according to the invention by a device for connecting a wiper arm and a wiper blade for a windshield wiper system of a motor vehicle, comprising an adapter adapted to be connectable to the wiper blade and a receiving element adapted to be connectable to the wiper arm and having an adapter opening for receiving the adapter, the adapter having at least two locking areas deformable towards one another, the locking areas being adapted to lock the adapter with the receiving element at a locking point and comprising operating means for unlocking the locking areas, at which point the operating means engage into an engagement opening of the receiving element, whereby the two locking areas are deformed towards one another by the operating means in such a way that the adapter can be removed through the adapter opening.

[0015] Due to the engagement of the operating means in the engagement openings, the two locking areas which are deformable towards one another can be simultaneously deformed towards one another by the user's operation alone, which makes handling significantly easier. In addition, the forces required for locking and unlocking are distributed over at least two locking areas, which increases the durability of the device as a whole. Furthermore, in the device according to the invention, the adapter is locked in the adapter receiving part twice over the locking areas, which significantly improves the security of locking. Furthermore, the device can be manufactured inexpensively, since it only comprises a few components.

[0016] In a particularly preferred configuration, the operating means is operable along the operating direction, and the distance between the locking areas perpendicular to the operating direction is greater at the locking point than at the unlocking point, so that the distance between the locking areas can be reduced in an easy manner by only moving the operating means along the operating direction, such that the adapter can be removed through the adapter opening.

[0017] In another particularly preferred embodiment, the engagement opening is arranged on the end side of the device according to the invention. This arrangement allows the use in standard wiper systems without a wet arm as well as in wet arm systems with a cover cap. This arrangement of the engagement opening on the end side allows the cover cap to start at the engagement opening and extend over the remaining wiper arm. In this case, it is possible to cover areas that cannot be covered by known top locking. Preferably, in this embodiment, the device is made elongate. Here, it is further preferred that the engagement opening is arranged opposite the connection side of the receiving element, on which the receiving element is connected to the wiper arm.

[0018] In one embodiment, at least one of the locking regions has a wedge-shaped cross section, which makes the device particularly resistant to the forces acting during operation, with the tapered end of the locking region being connected to the operating means, the wedge shape increasing the locking region's resistance to breakage.

[0019] In another embodiment, the adapter opening corresponds to the mating opening, which makes the device easier to manufacture and easier to handle since only one opening is required.

[0020] In a preferred embodiment, the locking regions each have an engagement nose which engages in an engagement opening of the receiving element at the locking point. The engagement of the locking regions with the engagement opening of the receiving element ensures a reliable and good releasable connection between the adapter and the receiving element.

[0021] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the actuating means comprises a press button, on which at least two release regions with an enlarged contour each are arranged, which are suitable for deforming the locking regions towards each other at the release point, the enlarged contour being shaped in such a way that the locking regions are deformed towards each other by actuating or moving the press button, thus ensuring a particularly efficient release.

[0022] In a further embodiment, the locking regions each have an end part, with the widened profile coming into contact with the end part upon engagement of the operating means in the engagement opening, which makes it particularly easy to transmit forces from the operating means to the locking regions in order to deform them towards each other.

[0023] Particularly preferably, the widening profile is then formed in such a way that, upon displacement of the operating means in the operating direction towards the unlocking point, the end parts move along the widening profile, so that the locking regions can be particularly easily deformed towards one another due to the unlocking point.

[0024] In another embodiment, the actuation means are formed in such a way that when engaging the engagement opening, the widening profile is inclined at least in a partial area relative to the actuation direction, so that the respective end parts can be displaced along the corresponding widening profile, whereby the locking regions are deformed towards each other and towards the actuation direction, thereby ensuring a well-controllable deformation of the locking regions.

[0025] The receiving element can then be connected integrally with the wiper arm in all embodiments of the invention. By being formed or connected integrally, it is possible to provide an inexpensive windscreen wiper system. Alternatively, the receiving element and the wiper arm can be formed in two parts, which are then preferably connected to one another in a detachable manner. The modular construction then simplifies the use of the device according to the invention for various wiper arms.

[0026] The object is likewise achieved by a motor vehicle equipped with at least one of the devices disclosed above. The advantages mentioned above apply fully.

[0027] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0028] [Figure 1] 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the device according to the invention at a locking point. [Diagram 2] 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the device according to the invention at the unlocking point. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the device according to the invention at an unlocking point similar to FIG. 2. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0029] In Fig. 1, a device 10 according to the invention for connecting a wiper arm and a wiper blade for a windscreen wiper system of a motor vehicle is shown, which comprises an adapter 20, a receiving element 30 and an operating means 40. Here, Fig. 1 shows the fastening point of the device 10, where the adapter 20 is fastened to the receiving element 30. A wiper blade for windscreen washing can be fastened to the adapter 20, which is not shown in Fig. 1 for the sake of simplicity.

[0030] As shown diagrammatically in Fig. 1, the receiving element 30 can be connected to the wiper arm 50 so as to be integrally formed therewith. The receiving element 30 thus forms one component of the wiper arm 50. However, it is also conceivable that the receiving element 30 and the wiper arm 50 are formed in two parts, which are then preferably removably connected to one another. The wiper arm 50 is fixed to an end of the motor vehicle and is driven in a wiping action for windshield cleaning by known drive means (not shown).

[0031] Preferably, in order for a user to find the correct locking point of the adapter 20 in the receiving element 30 more easily, the receiving element 30 is provided with a stop 30.1 for limiting the movement of the adapter 20 in said receiving element 30.

[0032] As can be seen in Fig. 1, the receiving element 30 is preferably hollow and is adapted to receive the adapter 20, which can then be pushed into the receiving element 30 through an adapter opening 32. Fig. 1 shows an embodiment in which the adapter opening 32 is arranged, for example, on one end side 12 of the device 10, which is elongated. The end side 12 is preferably opposite to a wiper arm side 14, on which the receiving element 30 of the device 10 is connected to a wiper arm 50.

[0033] In another embodiment, it is contemplated that the adapter opening 32 may be located on the underside 16 of the device 10, with the underside 16 facing the vehicle windshield of the motor vehicle when the device 10 is installed in the vehicle, and the wiper arm 50 must be lifted away from the windshield to insert or remove the adapter 20.

[0034] It is particularly important in connection with the adapter 20 that both locking areas 22, 24 are deformable towards each other under the action of a force. Preferably, the locking areas 22, 24 face each other, which facilitates this type of deformation. Preferably, the locking areas 22, 24 are elastically deformable in all embodiments.

[0035] It can further be seen in FIG. 1 that the adapter 20 comprises at least one first locking region 22 with a first engagement nose 22.1 and a first end 22.2, and a second locking region 24 with a second engagement nose 24.1 and a second end 24.2, where the end 22.2, 24.2 faces towards the end side 12 of the device 10. At the engagement point shown in FIG. 1, the first engagement nose 22.1 engages in the first engagement opening 36. Correspondingly, the second engagement nose 24.1 engages in the second engagement opening 38. At least by this engagement, the adapter 20 is locked with the receiving element 30. It is then conceivable that there are additional locking regions engaged with the receiving element 30 as described above.

[0036] 1, the two locking areas 22, 24 are not deformed towards each other and have a locking distance d1 relative to each other, which then extends perpendicularly to the operating direction R of the operating means 40 between the two locking areas 22, 24.

[0037] 1 that the locking regions 22, 24 have a wedge-shaped cross section, at the base of which the adapter body 20.1 is arranged and which tapers towards the end parts 22.2, 22.4, which allows a particularly durable deformation of the locking regions 22, 24 towards each other.

[0038] Preferably, the adapter 20 is formed as one piece. However, it is contemplated that the above-described elements of the adapter may be constructed from separate components and assembled together.

[0039] In all embodiments, the adapter 20 can furthermore be formed in such a way that the locking regions 22, 24 are circumferentially connected to one another at the end portions 22.2, 24.2, such that the locking regions 22 or 24 are defined by their engagement noses 22.1 or 24.1. When viewed along the unlocking direction R in Fig. 1, a circumferential border appears (not shown). However, it is also conceivable that the locking regions 22, 24 are separated from one another by means of recesses in the adapter 20.

[0040] For unlocking the adapter 20, the receiving element 30 is provided with an engagement opening 34. The engagement opening 34 is preferably arranged on the end side 12 of the receiving element 30. The engagement opening 34 is configured such that at the locking location, the operating means 40 is engaged with the receiving element 30 at a first operating location, as shown in FIG. 1. At the first operating location, the operating means is arranged in engagement with the receiving element 30, and the locking areas 22, 24 have not yet been deformed towards each other by the operating means 40. The operating means 40 can be releasably locked, for example, to the receiving element 30 at the first operating location.

[0041] As can be seen in FIG. 1, the operating means 40 comprises a push button 42 as a main body element, in which a first unlocking region 44 having a first enlarged contour 44.1 and a second unlocking region 46 having a second enlarged contour 46.1 are arranged.

[0042] In Fig. 2 an unlocking point of the device 10 is shown. For this purpose, the operating means 40 is moved further into the receiving element 30 along the operating direction R. At the unlocking point, the operating means 40 with the unlocking areas 44, 46 engages in the engagement opening 34 of the receiving element 30 at a second operating point as shown in Fig. 2. At this second operating point of the operating means 40, in which the unlocking point has been reached, the locking areas 22, 24 have been deformed towards each other by the operating means 40.

[0043] As can be seen in Fig. 1, the widening profile 44.1 already comes into contact with the corresponding end part 22.2 before the arrival of the second operating point, and likewise the widening profile 46.1 also comes into contact with the corresponding end part 24.2. Due to the displacement of the operating means 40 from the first operating point towards the second operating point along the operating direction R, the end part 22.2 moves along the widening profile 44.1. Similarly, the end part 24.2 also moves along the widening profile 46.1. Thus, the locking regions 22, 24 are simultaneously and only deformed towards each other by the sole displacement of the operating means 40.

[0044] Preferably, the operating means 40 is designed in such a way that, when engaging in the engagement opening 34, the widening contours 44.1, 46.1 are inclined at least in partial areas relative to the operating direction R, which allows for an easier deformation or a predefined deformation of the engagement areas 22, 24 towards one another.

[0045] As can be seen in Fig. 2, it is also conceivable that at the second actuation or release point, the end portion 22.2, 24.2 comes into contact with another partial area of ​​the respective expansion profile 44.1 or 46.1 than the inclined partial area. Here, the end portion 22.2, 24.2 can, for example, be removably connected to the actuation means 40. For this purpose, an engagement is conceivable. In the said other partial area, the expansion profile 44.1 or 46.1 can, for example, be oriented perpendicular to the actuation direction.

[0046] It is also conceivable that at the release point the engagement noses 22.1, 24.1 come into contact with inclined partial regions of the widening profile 44.1 or 46.1, thereby making it possible to better ensure a deformation of the two engagement areas 22, 24 towards each other at the release point.

[0047] At the disengagement point, the two locking areas 22, 24 are deformed towards each other so that they have a disengagement distance d2 relative to each other that is smaller than the locking distance d1, the disengagement distance d2 then extending perpendicularly to the operating direction R of the operating means 40 between the two locking areas 22, 24.

[0048] As a result, on the one hand, the two engagement noses 22.1, 24.1 are released from the respective engagement openings 36, 38 at the unlocking point, and on the other hand, the adapter 20 is deformed at the unlocking point so that it can be removed from the receiving element 30.

[0049] Said removal is shown, for example, in Fig. 3. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 3, the adapter opening 32 corresponds to the engagement opening 34. The unlocking distance d2 is then selected in such a way that the adapter 20 can be removed at its unlocking point through the adapter opening 32 or through the engagement opening 34 at the end side 12 of the device 10. The operating means 40 then remains in its second operating point in which the locking areas 22, 24 are deformed towards each other.

[0050] Conversely, it is also conceivable that the adapter 20 can be pushed through the adapter opening 32 into the receiving element 30 for installation at the unlocking point. Here, preferably, the adapter 20 is pushed in at its second actuation point by the actuation means 40. However, it is also conceivable that the locking areas 20, 24 are only deformed towards each other by the adapter opening 32, such that the adapter 20 is pushed into the receiving element 30 at the locking point and the adapter 20 can be completely received in the receiving element 30.

[0051] However, it is also conceivable that the adapter opening 32 is different to the engagement opening 34, for example if the adapter opening 32 is arranged on the underside 16 of the device 10 and the engagement opening is arranged on the end side 12 of the device 10. In this case, the adapter 20 can be removed at its unlocking point through the adapter opening 32 on the underside 16 of the device 10.

[0052] Basically, in all embodiments, the device 10 can be optionally provided with a spring element 60 in order to provide a restoring force between the locking regions 22, 24. The optional spring element is preferably arranged between the locking regions 22, 24, as shown in Figs. 1 to 3. The restoring force contributes on the one hand to increasing the strength of the engagement between the engagement nose 20 and the receiving element 30, so that the adapter 20 is better fixed in the receiving element 30. On the other hand, the locking regions 22, 24 can reliably return to the locking point if they have previously been deformed towards each other to the unlocking point as described above.

[0053] The adapter 10, the receiving element 30, the operating means 40 and the optional spring element 60 are preferably made of synthetic resin and / or metal allowing the above mentioned locking, deformation and / or spring action. [Explanation of symbols]

[0054] 10 equipment 12 End side 14 Wiper arm side 16 Lower side 20 Adapter 20.1 Adapter body 22 First locking area 22.1 First Engagement Nose 22.2 First End 24 Second locking area 24.1 Second Engagement Nose 24.2 Second End 30 Storage elements 30.1 Stopper 32 Adapter opening 34 Engagement opening 36 First engagement opening 38 Second engagement opening 40 Operating means 42 Push button 44 First unlocking region 44.1 First expansion profile 46 Second unlocking region 46.1 Second expansion profile 50 Wiper arm 60 Spring elements R Operation direction d1 locking interval d2 Unlocking interval

Claims

1. A device (10) for connecting a wiper arm (50) and a wiper blade for a windshield wiper system of a motor vehicle, comprising: an adapter (20) configured to be connectable to a wiper blade; a receiving element (30) configured to be connectable to the wiper arm (50) and having an adapter opening (32) for receiving the adapter (20); the adapter (20) comprises at least two locking regions (22, 24) deformable towards each other, the locking regions being configured to lock the adapter (20) with the receiving element (30) at a locking point; The device comprises an operating means (40) for unlocking the locking regions (22, 24), wherein at the unlocking point, the operating means (40) engages with an engagement opening (34) of the receiving element (30), and at this time, the operating means (40) deforms the two locking regions (22, 24) toward each other so that the adapter (20) can be removed through the adapter opening (32).

2. 2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the operating means (40) is operable along an operating direction (R), and the distance between the two locking areas (22, 24) perpendicular to the operating direction (R) is greater at the locking point than at the unlocking point.

3. 3. The device (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the engagement opening (34) is arranged on an end face side (12) of the device (10).

4. 3. The device (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that at least one of the locking regions (22, 24) has a wedge-shaped cross section.

5. 3. The device (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the adapter opening (32) corresponds to the engagement opening (34).

6. 3. The device (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the locking areas (22, 24) each have an engagement nose (22.1, 24.1), which engages in an engagement opening (36, 38) of the receiving element (30) at the locking point.

7. 3. The device (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the operating means (40) comprises a push button (42), on which at least two release areas (44, 46) are arranged, each having an enlarged diameter contour (44.1, 46.1), which release areas are suitable for deforming the locking areas (22, 24) towards each other at the unlocking point.

8. 8. The device (10) according to claim 7, characterized in that the locking regions (22, 24) each have one end portion (22.2, 24.2), and when the operating means (40) engages in the engagement opening (34), the enlarged diameter contour portion (44.1, 46.1) comes into contact with the end portion (22.2, 24.2).

9. 9. The device (10) according to claim 8, characterized in that the enlarged diameter contours (44.1, 46.1) are formed in such a way that, upon displacement of the operating means (40) in the operating direction (R) towards the unlocking point, the end portions (22.2, 24.2) move along the enlarged diameter contours (44.1, 46.1).

10. 10. The device according to claim 9, wherein the actuating means (40) is configured in such a way that, when engaging in the engagement opening (34), the enlarged contour (44.1, 46.1) is inclined at least in a partial area relative to the actuating direction (R).

11. A motor vehicle comprising at least one device (10) according to claim 1 or 2.

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