Windscreen wiper for a motor vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a windscreen wiper (10) for a motor vehicle, the windscreen wiper comprising: a wiper blade (20); a wiper arm (30) for pressing the wiper blade (20) against a windscreen of the motor vehicle, the wiper arm (30) being formed separately from the wiper blade (20), the wiper blade (20) being movably connected to the wiper arm (30) via a joint (40), and both ends of the wiper blade (20) being free of any connection to the wiper arm (30) in the longitudinal extent of the wiper blade (20); and a fastening device (50), mounted on the wiper arm (30), for fastening the wiper arm (30) to a wiper shaft (60) of the motor vehicle. According to the invention, in order to simplify and improve assembly, the fastening device (50) can be operated without tools for mounting and dismounting the windscreen wiper (10) to / from the wiper shaft (60), and the wiper blade (20) is irreversibly connected to the wiper arm (30) via the joint (40).

Description

[0001] WINDSCREEN WIPER FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE

[0002] Field of the invention

[0003] The present invention relates to a windscreen wiper for a motor vehicle having the features of the preamble of patent claim 1.

[0004] Background of the invention

[0005] A known windshield wiper for a motor vehicle comprises a wiper blade and a wiper arm for pressing the wiper blade against a windshield of the motor vehicle. The wiper arm typically has a leaf spring made of a metal or a coil spring made of a metal to press the wiper blade against the windshield of the motor vehicle. The wiper blade is typically movably connected to the wiper arm via a joint. In this joint connection, the wiper blade is movable, for example, towards the windshield in order to optimally follow the curvature of the windshield when the wiper arm moves. Furthermore, in a longitudinal extension of the wiper blade, both ends of the wiper blade are free of any connection to the wiper arm. The wiper blade is therefore connected to the wiper arm via the joint in an intermediate connecting section.

[0006] In this windshield wiper, the wiper arm is separate from the wiper blade. This means that the wiper blade is not integrated into the wiper arm. In other words, the wiper arm and wiper blade are two separate components. For example, the wiper blade can be unclipped from the wiper arm. However, this is only possible if the wiper arm is lifted from the windshield with one hand. The wiper blade then has to be laboriously unclipped with the other hand.

[0007] In addition, a fastening device for attaching the wiper arm to a wiper shaft of the motor vehicle is provided on the wiper arm; rotation of the wiper shaft causes the wiper arm to rotate.

[0008] Known fastening devices comprise a knurl and a nut, as well as a cover cap to cover the nut and / or the leaf spring or coil spring: When the wiper arm is placed on the wiper spindle and tightened by the nut on a screw, the knurl made of the harder material on the wiper spindle presses against the softer material on the wiper arm. This creates a frictional connection, which is necessary to ensure that the connection does not come loose again during wiping due to the counter-torque generated on the windshield. The separate design of wiper arm and wiper blade described above, as well as the joint between these two separate parts, is preferable due to the particularly good wiping result. In particular, the separate wiper arm generates a particularly high compressive force or contact force to press the wiper blade against the windshield even when the windshield curvature is different.

[0009] The disadvantages of this windshield wiper, however, are the high cost and increased effort required for assembly and disassembly: The knurled knob, screw, nut, and cover cap, as well as the wiper arm and wiper blade, are separate parts and require their own part numbers, as well as increased administrative effort in the spare parts department. Furthermore, complicated joints with adapters between the wiper arm and wiper blade are required. Furthermore, additional assembly tools are required to attach the wiper arm to the wiper spindle, which further complicates and increases the cost of vehicle assembly. The vehicle user also requires the assembly tools to disassemble and reassemble the entire windshield wiper, especially the wiper arm.

[0010] The present invention is therefore based on the object of providing a simplified windshield wiper for a motor vehicle which enables improved assembly and lower costs in production, assembly and spare parts service.

[0011] Summary of the invention

[0012] The object is achieved according to the invention by the features of patent claim 1. Advantageous further developments of the invention emerge from the subclaims.

[0013] The invention relates to a windscreen wiper for a motor vehicle, comprising a wiper blade, a wiper arm for pressing the wiper blade against a windscreen of the motor vehicle, wherein the wiper arm is designed separately from the wiper blade and wherein the wiper blade is movably connected to the wiper arm via a joint and, in the longitudinal extension of the wiper blade, both ends of the wiper blade are free of any connection to the wiper arm, and a fastening device arranged on the wiper arm for fastening the wiper arm to a wiper axis of the motor vehicle, characterized in that the fastening device can be operated without tools for mounting and dismounting the windscreen wiper on the wiper axis, and the wiper blade is irreversibly connected to the wiper arm via the joint.

[0014] Because the fastening device can be operated without tools, no additional assembly tools are required. Furthermore, the irreversible articulated connection between the wiper blade and wiper arm means that the windshield wiper can be viewed as a single component that can be mounted and removed from the wiper axis particularly quickly and easily without tools. Consequently, the windshield wiper in this case is designed as a wiper lever. This makes vehicle assembly or the complete disassembly of the windshield wiper before or after the car wash easier for the vehicle user. This prevents damage to the windshield wiper caused by the car wash. Spare parts service is also simplified because the wiper blade and wiper arm now represent a single component, which saves part numbers (for the wiper blade or wiper arm) and reduces administrative costs.Furthermore, further costs can be saved by eliminating nuts, screws, and knurls, as well as complicated detachable joints with adapters between the wiper blade and wiper arm. The design of this windshield wiper and its attachment to the wiper axis are thus fundamentally simplified.

[0015] "Irreversibly connected" means a permanent, non-separable connection between the wiper arm and wiper blade via the joint. This prevents the wiper arm and wiper blade from separating without destroying the joint.

[0016] "Tool-free operation" is understood as a purely manual operation that requires no additional tools to achieve the required attachment of the windshield wiper to the wiper spindle and to release it again. The mounting device is thus designed for tool-free handling during assembly and disassembly.

[0017] Particularly preferably, the fastening device for tool-free operation is designed as part of a bayonet lock. A bayonet lock enables a particularly quick and secure connection between the windshield wiper and the wiper shaft. The basic functionality of a bayonet lock is well known.

[0018] Particularly preferably, the fastening device comprises a recess for receiving a bolt attached to the wiper axis and a spring for generating preload for the bayonet lock. Accordingly, in this case, the wiper axis does not comprise a knurl, but rather a bolt is preferably inserted through it transversely to the wiper axis. The fastening device of the wiper arm can then be plugged onto the wiper axis with the bolt and rotated, for example, by 45°. This makes it possible for the bolt to lock into the recess. Finally, the spring ensures that the bolt cannot be levered out of the lock or recess again. Consequently, a frictional connection and / or positive connection is created in the recess, which prevents unintentional release of the bayonet lock, for example due to the counter-torque generated on the windshield when wiping.In a preferred embodiment, the joint for irreversibly connecting the wiper blade and wiper arm is formed by a film hinge. This allows the wiper blade and wiper arm to be connected particularly easily and permanently; complicated joints with adapters are eliminated.

[0019] In a preferred embodiment, the wiper arm comprises a leaf spring, preferably made of metal, for pressing the wiper blade against the windshield. This allows the wiper blade to be easily pressed against the windshield.

[0020] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the wiper arm is formed by a leaf spring, preferably made of metal, for pressing the wiper blade. The joint and the fastening device are attached to the leaf spring. The wiper arm is free of a housing and / or a cover. This fundamentally simplifies the design of the windshield wiper. A preferred leaf spring made of metal enables the wiper blade to be pressed particularly well against the windshield. The windshield wiper is particularly preferably designed as a rear windshield wiper. The use of a leaf spring is particularly advantageous if the windshield wiper is intended for attachment to a rear windshield.

[0021] Alternatively or additionally, the wiper arm comprises a coil spring, preferably made of metal, for pressing the wiper blade against the windshield. This particularly facilitates the attachment of the present windshield wiper to a windshield. A preferred coil spring made of metal allows the wiper blade to be pressed particularly firmly against the windshield.

[0022] Finally, a motor vehicle is provided that includes the windshield wiper just described. In a preferred embodiment, the motor vehicle comprises a wiper shaft with a bolt for forming a bayonet lock. This forms a counterpart for the bayonet lock described above.

[0023] Character description

[0024] Embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the figures. In the figures:

[0025] Figure 1 is a schematic side view of a preferred embodiment of a windscreen wiper according to the invention, and

[0026] Figure 2 is a schematic side view of a preferred embodiment of a joint between the wiper arm and wiper blade. Detailed description

[0027] Figure 1 shows a schematic side view of a preferred embodiment of a windshield wiper 10 according to the invention.

[0028] The windshield wiper 10 initially comprises a wiper blade 20. The wiper blade 20 preferably has an upper part 22. In addition, the wiper blade 20 comprises a known wiper lip for wiping a vehicle windshield, which is not shown for the sake of simplicity. The curvature of the wiper blade 20 or the upper part 22 in Figure 1 is purely exemplary. In all embodiments, the wiper blade or the upper part 22 is preferably curved, whereby a curved vehicle windshield can be wiped particularly well with the windshield wiper 10. Furthermore, the upper part 22 is particularly preferably flexible in order to be able to adapt particularly well to a changing curvature of the windshield depending on the wiping angle. Alternatively or additionally, the upper part 22 can preferably also be rigid.

[0029] Furthermore, the windshield wiper 10 comprises a wiper arm 30 for pressing the wiper blade 20 against a windshield of the motor vehicle, wherein the wiper arm 30 is formed separately from the wiper blade 20. This means that the wiper arm 30 and the wiper blade 20 can initially be manufactured separately from one another and then connected to one another via a joint 40 during the manufacture of the windshield wiper 10. Alternatively or additionally, the wiper blade 20 and the wiper arm 30 can be manufactured together. In summary, however, the wiper blade 20 is not integrated into the wiper arm 30.

[0030] The wiper blade 20 is movably connected to the wiper arm 30 via the joint 40. This allows the wiper blade 20 limited rotational freedom of movement relative to the wiper arm 30 through the joint 40. Preferably, the wiper blade 20 is movable in this joint connection 40, for example, in the direction of the windshield. This allows the wiper blade 20 to follow the curvature of the windshield particularly well when the wiper arm 30 moves. A preferred movement of the wiper blade 20 is symbolized in Figures 1 and 2 by the double arrow. The double arrow is intended to represent a preferred pivoting movement of the wiper blade toward and away from the vehicle windshield.

[0031] Furthermore, in a longitudinal extension 24 of the wiper blade 20, both ends of the wiper blade 20 are free of any connection to the wiper arm 30. As can be seen in Figures 1 and 2, the wiper blade 20 comprises two ends 26 and a connecting section 28 located therebetween. In the connecting section 28, the wiper blade 20 is connected to the wiper arm 30 via the joint 40. Furthermore, the windshield wiper 10 comprises a fastening device 50 arranged on the wiper arm 30 for fastening the wiper arm 30 to a wiper axis 60 of the motor vehicle. As can be seen in Figure 1, the fastening device 50 is preferably arranged at one end of the wiper arm 30, while the joint 40 is arranged at the other end of the wiper arm 30. The fastening device 50 can be operated without tools for mounting and dismounting the windshield wiper 10 on the wiper axis 60. Furthermore, the wiper blade 20 is irreversibly connected to the wiper arm 30 via the joint 40.

[0032] In summary, in contrast to a conventional fastening using a knurl and nut, no tools are required to connect the windshield wiper 10 to the wiper axis 60. Due to the tool-free fastening to the wiper axis 60 and the irreversible connection between the wiper blade 20 and the wiper arm 30, the windshield wiper 10 is consequently designed as a component in the form of a wiper lever, which fundamentally simplifies vehicle assembly, spare parts service, and / or disassembly or assembly by the vehicle user, for example, when washing in a car wash.

[0033] Particularly preferably, the fastening device 50 is designed as part of a bayonet lock 70 for tool-free operation: for example, the fastening device 50 can comprise a recess 52 for receiving a bolt 62 attached to the wiper axis 60 and a spring 54 for generating a preload for the bayonet lock 70. The wiper axis 60 with the bolt 62 thus form the other part of the bayonet lock 70. The mode of operation of a bayonet lock 70 is known to those skilled in the art.

[0034] As can be seen in Figure 1, the fastening device 50 of the wiper arm 30 is preferably plugged onto the wiper axis 60 with the bolt 62 in the assembled state and can then be rotated, for example, by 45°. This allows the bolt 62 to lock into the recess 52 (not shown). Finally, the spring 54 ensures that the bolt 62 cannot be levered out again in the closure 70 or the recess 52. Consequently, a force-locking and / or positive locking connection is created in the recess, which prevents the bayonet closure 70 from being accidentally released, for example due to the counter-torque generated on the windshield when wiping.

[0035] Alternatively or additionally, fastening devices 50 are also conceivable, which, for example, via a snap-in and / or clip connection, enable tool-free operation for fastening to the wiper axis 60. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the joint 40 for irreversibly connecting the wiper blade 20 and wiper arm 30 is formed by a film hinge. The film hinge 40 is shown as an example in Figure 2. The film hinge 40 can be irreversibly connected to the wiper arm 30 and the wiper blade 20, for example by means of gluing, welding, riveting, etc. Alternatively or additionally, it is also conceivable for the joint 40 to be formed, preferably, by a hinge with a bolt that is inserted through holes in the wiper arm 30 and wiper blade 20 located on one axis.

[0036] In all embodiments, it is further conceivable for the wiper arm 30 to comprise a leaf spring 32, preferably made of metal, for pressing the wiper blade 20 against it. Particularly preferably, the wiper arm 30 is formed by a leaf spring 32, preferably made of metal, for pressing the wiper blade 20 against it. In other words, the wiper arm 30 is formed solely by the leaf spring 32. This can be understood to mean that the wiper arm 30 preferably consists solely of the leaf spring 32. For example, the joint 40 and the fastening device 50 are attached to the leaf spring 32. Alternatively or additionally, it is also conceivable for the joint 40 and a hinge for folding the wiper arm 30 away from a vehicle window to be attached to the leaf spring 32 (not shown). Preferably, the wiper arm 30 is free of a housing and / or cover for covering the leaf spring 32.This provides a particularly simple and aerodynamic wiper arm 30.

[0037] In summary, this enables a more delicate and aerodynamic design of the windscreen wiper 10, since the leaf spring 32 is directly visible and does not have to be covered by a wide and high cover cap.

[0038] It is particularly conceivable for the windshield wiper 10 to be designed as a rear windshield wiper. For a rear windshield, the use of a leaf spring 32 is particularly advantageous due to its curvature and dimensions.

[0039] Alternatively or additionally, it is also conceivable for the wiper arm 30 to comprise a coil spring, preferably made of metal, for pressing the wiper blade 20 (not shown). A wiper arm 30 with a coil spring is known and particularly suitable for a windshield in view of its curvature and dimensions. In this case, it is particularly conceivable for the windshield wiper 10 to be designed as a front windshield wiper. In this case, the wiper arm 30 can typically comprise a housing in which the coil spring is arranged, as well as other exemplary components such as fastening elements for the coil spring, a hinge between the wiper arm and an axle for generating a preload, etc. In all embodiments, it is finally conceivable for the windshield wiper 10 to be designed as a rear windshield wiper and / or as a front windshield wiper.Likewise, in all embodiments, it is conceivable for the windshield wiper 10 to include a hinge for folding away from a vehicle window (not shown). For example, the hinge could be arranged between the wiper arm 30 and the fastening device 50. Alternatively or additionally, the hinge could also be arranged in or on the fastening device 50.

[0040] Furthermore, Figure 1 shows that the joint 40 is preferably attached to one end of the wiper arm 30. Particularly preferably, only a single joint 40 is provided. Likewise, it is preferred that the wiper arm 30 and wiper blade 20 only partially oppose each other. Preferably, at least a portion of the wiper blade 20 is free from coverage by the wiper arm 30, as can be seen in Figures 1 and 2. In other words, at least in one section, the wiper blade 20 and the wiper arm 30 do not oppose each other. In summary, this allows a larger area on the windshield to be covered by the windshield wiper 10 with particularly good wiping performance, and the windshield wiper 10 can be manufactured particularly easily.

[0041] Further preferably, the wiper blade 20 is attached to the windshield wiper 10 only via the joint 40, particularly preferably only via a single joint 40. Particularly preferably, further attachment, for example, to an additional fastening part between the wiper blade 20 and the wiper arm 30, is not provided. This enables a particularly simple construction of the windshield wiper 10 and, at the same time, particularly good wiping performance.

[0042] Further preferably, no joints are provided distributed along the longitudinal extent of the wiper arm 30 and / or the wiper blade 20. All of this fundamentally simplifies the structure of the windshield wiper 10 and enables particularly good wiping performance.

[0043] List of reference symbols

[0044] 10 windshield wipers

[0045] 20 wiper blades

[0046] 22 Top

[0047] 24 Longitudinal extension

[0048] 26 End of wiper blade

[0049] 28 Connecting section of the wiper blade

[0050] 30 wiper arm

[0051] 32 leaf spring

[0052] 40 Joint Fastening device Recess Spring Wiper axis Bayonet lock

Claims

Claims 1. A windscreen wiper (10) for a motor vehicle, comprising a wiper blade (20), a wiper arm (30) for pressing the wiper blade (20) against a windscreen of the motor vehicle, wherein the wiper arm (30) is formed separately from the wiper blade (20) and wherein the wiper blade (20) is movably connected to the wiper arm (30) via a joint (40) and, in a longitudinal extension (24) of the wiper blade (20), both ends (26) of the wiper blade (20) are free from a connection to the wiper arm (30), and a fastening device (50) arranged on the wiper arm (30) for fastening the wiper arm (30) to a wiper axis (60) of the motor vehicle, characterized in that the fastening device (50) can be operated without tools for mounting and dismounting the windscreen wiper (10) on the wiper axis (60), and the wiper blade (20) is irreversibly connected to the wiper arm (30) via the joint (40).

2. Windscreen wiper (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the fastening device (50) is designed as part of a bayonet closure (70) for tool-free operation.

3. Windscreen wiper (10) according to claim 2, characterized in that the fastening device (50) comprises a recess (52) for receiving a bolt (62) attached to the wiper axis (60) and a spring (54) for generating a preload for the bayonet closure (70).

4. Windscreen wiper (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the joint (40) for irreversibly connecting the wiper blade (20) and wiper arm (30) is formed by a film hinge.

5. Windscreen wiper (10) according to one of the preceding claims, the wiper arm (30) comprises a leaf spring (32), preferably made of a metal, for pressing the wiper blade (20).

6. Windscreen wiper (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the wiper arm (30) is supported by a leaf spring (32), preferably made of a metal, for pressing the wiper blade (20), wherein the joint (40) and the fastening device (50) are fastened to the leaf spring (32).

7. Windscreen wiper (10) according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the windscreen wiper (10) is designed as a rear windscreen wiper.

8. Windscreen wiper (10) according to one of the preceding claims, the wiper arm (30) comprises a spiral spring, preferably made of a metal, for pressing the wiper blade (20).

9. Motor vehicle comprising a windscreen wiper (10) according to one of the preceding claims.

10. Motor vehicle according to claim 9, characterized in that the motor vehicle comprises a wiper axis (60) with a bolt (62) for forming a bayonet closure (70).

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