1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a windscreen wiper device of the flat blade type comprising an elastic, elongated carrier element, as well as an elongated wiper blade of a flexible material, which can be placed in abutment with a windscreen to he wiped, which wiper blade includes at least one longitudinal groove, in which groove a longitudinal strip of the carrier element is disposed, which windscreen wiper device comprises a connecting device for an oscillating arm, wherein the oscillating arm can be pivotally connected to the connecting device about a pivot axis near a free end of the oscillating arm, with the interposition of a joint part, wherein the joint part is detachably connected to the connecting device by engaging protrusions of the connecting device, at the location of the pivot axis, in recesses provided in the joint part
2. Related Art
In use, the oscillating arm is connected to a mounting head mounted on a drive shaft, wherein the oscillating arm at one end thereof is pivotally connected to the mounting head by means of a pivot pin and at another end thereof is connected to the wiper blade placed in abutment with the windscreen to be wiped. In use, the shaft rotates alternately in a clockwise and in a counter-clockwise sense carrying the mounting head into rotation also, which in turn draws the oscillating arm into rotation and by means of the connecting device moves the wiper blade. The oscillating arm can thus oscillate to-and-from between a first reversal position and a second reversal position. The first reversal position may be identified as a position, wherein the arm members extend parallel to a windscreen to be wiped and are located near a lower edge of the windscreen to be wiped. Also, the second reversal position may be formulated as a position, wherein the arm members extend also parallel to a windscreen to be wiped and are located in a central region or near a side edge of the windscreen to be wiped.
The present invention also relates to a method for manufacturing such a windscreen wiper device.
It is noted that the present invention is not restricted to automobiles, but also refers to rail coaches and other (fast) vehicles.
Such a windscreen wiper device is generally known from European patent publication no. 1 403 156 of the same Applicant. This prior art windscreen wiper device is designed as a “yokeless” wiper device or “flat blade”, wherein no use is made of several yokes pivotally connected to each other, but wherein the wiper blade is biased by the carrier element, as a result of which it exhibits a specific curvature. In this prior art windscreen wiper device the joint part comprises at least one resilient tongue engaging in a correspondingly shaped hole provided in the oscillating arm, wherein the resilient tongue is rotatable along an hinge axis between an outward position retaining the wiper blade onto the oscillating arm and an inward position releasing the wiper blade from the oscillating arm. In order to connect the wiper blade onto the oscillating arm, the resilient tongue is initially pushed in against a spring force—as if it were a push button—and then allowed to spring back into the hole provided in the oscillating arm, thus snapping, that is clipping the resilient tongue into the hole. By subsequently pushing in again the resilient tongue against the spring force, the wiper blade may be released from the oscillating arm.
The object of the invention is to provide an improved windscreen wiper device at minimum costs—without using complex machinery and additional tools—while the connecting device and the oscillating arm can be interconnected in a reliable and secure manner.
In order to accomplish that objective, a windscreen wiper device of the type referred to in the introduction is characterized according to the invention the protrusions of the connecting device are provided with coaxial through holes, wherein
an upper surface of the joint part comprises a recess arranged to accommodate a L-shaped shoulder provided near the free end of an oscillating arm of a first type, wherein the co-axial through holes are arranged to receive a transverse pivot pin provided near the free end of the oscillating arm of the first type, and wherein a side of the joint part is arranged to abut a leg of the L-shaped shoulder disposed at an end thereof and facing a windscreen to be wiped;
the joint part comprises at least one resilient tongue arranged to engage into a correspondingly shaped hole provided in a base of a U-shaped cross-section of an oscillating arm of a second type, wherein the resilient tongue is hingeable about a hinge axis between a inward position, wherein the wiper blade can be released from the oscillating arm of the second type, and an outward position, wherein the wiper blade can he retained on the oscillating arm of the second type;
the joint part is provided with a free end having a recess arranged to accommodate the free end of an oscillating arm of a third type, wherein the joint part comprises at least one protrusion extending laterally from a longitudinal side of the joint part, the protrusion being arranged to hook behind a correspondingly shaped protrusion on the oscillating arm of the third type for blocking a longitudinal movement of the wiper blade with respect to the oscillating arm of the third type.
Preferably, the connecting device is made in one piece of plastic and comprises an elongated flat base part, as well as a top part having a U-shaped cross-section, wherein a base and legs of the U-shaped cross-section define a channel between them arranged to accommodate a hook-shaped oscillating aim, as will be explained hereunder.
Preferably, the joint part is detachably connected to the connecting device particularly through a snapping/clipping operation, Further, the protrusions that function as bearing surfaces are spaced far apart, so that the forces exerted thereon will be relatively low. The protrusions extend outwards on either side of the connecting device, wherein the protrusions and their co-axial through holes are at least substantially cylindrical. Preferably, the protrusion on the joint part is resilient in order to snappingly connect the oscillating arm of the third type onto the joint part.
The joint part is arranged to be connected to the connecting device for different types of interconnection between the wiper blade and the oscillating arm, wherein the joint part is subsequently, connected to the connecting device by pivotally engaging protrusions of the connecting device, at the location of the pivot axis, in recesses provided in the joint part, and wherein the oscillating arm can be subsequently connected to the joint part. The essence of the present invention is that the connecting device and the joint part each are a universal connection for each type of interconnection between the wiper blade and the oscillating arm. A same type of the joint part to be connected to a same type of the connecting device may be used for each different type of interconnection between the wiper blade and the oscillating arm. The advantage achieved by the invention is that a unit consisting of the wiper blade, the connecting device and the joint part connected to the connecting device can he manufactured for each and every type of interconnection between the wiper blade and the oscillating arm. Thus, a universal connection between the wiper blade and the oscillating am is obtained, so that car drivers are given the possibility to buy also non-original cheap wiper blades fitting the original oscillating arms on their cars.
The present invention thus provides a universal connecting unit (consisting of the connecting device and the joint part) that is firmly attached to the oscillating arm of at least three types, i.e. a so-called “sidelock” connection, “bayonet” connection and “toplock” connection.
In a preferred embodiment of a windscreen wiper device in accordance with the invention the joint part has an at least substantially U-shaped cross-section at the location of its connection to the connection device, wherein the joint part in each leg of the U-shaped cross-section is provided with the recess provided co axially with the pivot axis, and wherein the co-axial recesses of the legs of the U-shaped cross-section and the co-axial through holes of the protrusions of the connecting device are arranged to receive the pivot pin of the oscillating arm of the first type. In other words, the diameter of the pivot pin is adapted to the diameter of the bearing holes or the co-axial through holes of the protrusions of the connecting device and to the diameter of the recesses provided in legs of the U-shaped cross-section of the joint part. Thus, the oscillating arm of the first type is provided with an extension comprising the pivot pin and the L-shape shoulder projecting out in the direction of the pivot pin and across the wiper blade and at the end of which is disposed the leg facing the windscreen to be wiped. Particularly, the joint part has a width of approximately 22 mm at the location of the L-shaped shoulder.
A side of the joint part facing away from the oscillating arm of the first type cooperates with a stop being formed by an inner wall of the leg, while securing of the wiper blade on the pivot pin toward the other side is taken over by the oscillating arm of the first type itself, as the pivot pin is fastened thereto.
In a further preferred embodiment of a windscreen wiper device according to the invention the joint part has an at least substantially U-shaped cross-section at the location of its connection to the connection device, wherein a base of the U-shaped cross-section of the joint part comprises the resilient tongue extending outwardly. Although the hinge axis could very well be located near an inner edge of the joint part, the hinge axis is preferably located near an outer edge of the joint part in order to avoid unintentional separation of the wiper blade from the oscillating arm of the second type.
In a further preferred embodiment of a windscreen wiper device in accordance with the invention wherein the joint part has an at least substantially U-shaped cross-section at the location of its connection to the connection device, wherein a base of the U-shaped cross-section of the joint part comprises the recess arranged to accommodate the free end of the oscillating arm of a third type. Particularly, the free end of the joint part is resilient and can pivot about a hinge axis between a first position for mounting or dismounting the free end of the oscillating arm of the third type into or from the recess in the base of the U-shaped cross-section of the joint part, and a second position for connecting the free end of the oscillating arm of the third type to the joint part. In the alternative (instead of the free end being resilient and pivotable) the protrusion(s) on the joint part is/are resilient. For connecting the oscillating arm of the third tape to the joint part the oscillating arm of the third type is pivoted relative to the joint part in an inclined position with respect to the wiper blade, so that the protrusion on the joint part is hooking behind the correspondingly shaped protrusion on the oscillating arm of the third type, wherein the oscillating arm is pivoted back relative to the joint part in a parallel position with respect to the wiper blade, so that a free end of the oscillating arm is snapped in the recess at the free end of the joint part.
In a further preferred embodiment of a windscreen wiper device according to the invention the connecting device comprises a longitudinal channel arranged to receive an oscillating arm of the fourth type comprising two longitudinal arm sections connected to each other by means of a curved intermediate section. Particularly, the joint part has an at least substantially U-shaped cross-section at the location of its connection to the connection device, wherein the longitudinal channel, a base and legs of the U-shaped cross-section of the joint part are arranged to receive a longitudinal arm section of the oscillating arm of the fourth type that in use is facing towards a windscreen to he wiped. In other words, the longitudinal arm section in use facing towards a windscreen to be wiped is introduced inside the channel and between the base and the legs of the U-shaped cross-section of the joint part. The channel preferably has a closed circumference.
In a further preferred embodiment of a windscreen wiper device in accordance with the invention the free end of the joint part is movable between an open position, wherein the wiper blade can be released from the oscillating arm of the fourth type, and an closed position, wherein the wiper blade can be retained on the oscillating arm of the fourth type. Particularly, the free end of the joint part is hingeable between the open and closed positions about a longitudinal axis of the windscreen wiper device. More in particular, the joint part comprises a cylindrical protrusion extending in longitudinal direction from one end thereof, while the free end thereof comprises a cylindrical recess extending in longitudinal direction as well for receiving the protrusion, such that the free end can be hingeably mounted onto the joint part.
In a further preferred embodiment of a windscreen wiper device according to the invention a cover is detachably connected to the joint part, preferably, by engaging protrusions of the connecting device, at the location of the pivot axis, in recesses provided in the cover. In particular, an upper surface of the cover comprises a recess arranged to accommodate
a rod-shaped oscillating arm of a fifth type;
a L-shaped shoulder near the free end of an oscillating arm of the first type.
Preferably, the cover is detachably connected to the joint part through a snapping clipping operation, the oscillating arm of the first type without a cover and with a cover used mutually differ in a distance between legs of the U-shaped cross-section of the oscillating arms, namely 19 mm and 22 mm, respectively.
In another preferred embodiment of a windscreen wiper device in accordance with the invention the cover comprises a cap provided with a protrusion in use extending in downward direction towards a windscreen to be wiped, and wherein the downwardly extending protrusion is adapted to engage in a correspondingly shaped hole provided in the oscillating arm of the fifth type for retaining the wiper blade onto the oscillating arm, the cap is preferably hingeably connected to the cover between a closed position, wherein the wiper blade is retained onto the oscillating arm of the fifth type, and an open position, wherein the wiper blade can be released from the oscillating arm of the fifth type.
In a further preferred embodiment of a windscreen wiper device according to the invention the cover has an at least substantially U-shaped cross-section at the location of its connection to the joint part, wherein the recess is provided in a base of the U-shaped cross-section.
In a further preferred embodiment of a windscreen wiper device in accordance with the invention the cover comprises two spaced-apart guiding protrusions extending upwardly from an upper surface of the cover, wherein the guiding protrusions are adapted to receive the oscillating arm of the fifth type between them.
As indicated, the present invention also relates to a method for manufacturing a windscreen wiper device of the flat blade type comprising an elastic, elongated carrier element, as well as an elongated wiper blade of a flexible material, which can be placed in abutment with a windscreen to he wiped, which wiper blade includes at least one longitudinal groove, in which groove a longitudinal strip of the carrier element is disposed, which windscreen wiper device comprises a connecting device for an oscillating arm, wherein the oscillating arm can be pivotally connected to the connecting device about a pivot axis near a free end of the oscillating arm, with the interposition of a joint part, wherein the joint part is detachably connected to the connecting device by engaging protrusions of the connecting device, at the location of the pivot axis, in recesses provided in the joint part, characterized in that the protrusions of the connecting device are provided with coaxial through holes, wherein
an upper surface of the joint part comprises a recess arranged to accommodate a L-shaped shoulder provided near the free end of an oscillating arm of a first type, wherein the co-axial through holes are arranged to receive a transverse pivot pin provided near the free end of the oscillating arm of the first type, and wherein a side of the joint part is arranged to abut a leg of the L-shaped shoulder disposed at an end thereof and facing a windscreen to be wiped;
the joint part comprises at least one resilient tongue arranged to engage into a correspondingly shaped hole provided in a base of a U-shaped cross-section of an oscillating arm of a second type, wherein the resilient tongue is hingeable about a hinge axis between a inward position, wherein the wiper blade can be released from the oscillating arm of the second type, and an outward position, wherein the wiper blade can be retained on the oscillating arm of the second type;
the joint part is provided with a free end having a recess arranged to accommodate the free end of an oscillating arm of a third type, wherein the joint part comprises at least one protrusion extending laterally from a longitudinal side of the joint part, the protrusion being arranged to hook behind a correspondingly shaped protrusion on the oscillating arm of the third type for blocking a longitudinal movement of the wiper blade with respect to the oscillating arm of the third type.
The invention will now he explained more in detail with reference to figures illustrated in a drawing, wherein
In the present case the connecting device 1 is particularly welded, soldered, glued or clamped onto two spaced-apart longitudinal strips disposed on opposite sides in longitudinal grooves of the wiper blade. In the alternative or in addition thereto, the connecting device 1 is connected to the elastomeric (rubber) material of the wiper blade, for example glued or clamped.
Although not shown in the figures, but fully understood by a skilled person, the oscillating arm is connected to a mounting head fixed for rotation to a shaft driven by a small motor. In use, the shaft rotates alternately in a clockwise and in a counter-clockwise sense carrying the mounting head into rotation also, which in turn draws the oscillating arm into rotation and by means of the connecting device moves the wiper blade.
In
With reference to
As can be seen in
Again with reference to
For connecting the oscillating arm 19 of the third type to the joint part 2 the oscillating arm 19 is pivoted relative to the joint part 2 in an inclined position with respect to the wiper blade, so that resilient protrusions 30 extending laterally outwardly on either side of the joint part 2 are hooking behind correspondingly shaped protrusions 31 on legs 32 of a U-shaped cross-section of the oscillating arm 19, the oscillating arm 19 is pivoted back relative to the joint part 2 in a parallel position with respect to the wiper blade, so that a free end of the oscillating arm 2 is snapped in a recess 33 at the free end of the joint part 2. Connecting the arm 20 of another type is carried out accordingly, with the difference that in addition the resilient tongue 24 of the joint part 2 is clipped inside the hole 25 of the oscillating arm 20.
As can be seen in
As depicted in
The free end 42 is subsequently closed, wherein finally, also the cap 34 is closed, while the longitudinal arm section 39 in use facing away from a windscreen to be wiped is kept between the guiding protrusions 38.
In
The invention is not restricted to the variants shown in the drawing, but it also extends to other embodiments that fall within the scope of the appended claims.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/EP2014/065270 | 7/16/2014 | WO | 00 |