DRAWINGS
Additional advantages are yielded from the following description of the drawings. Exemplary embodiments of the invention are depicted in the drawings. The drawings, the description and the claims contain numerous features in combination. The person skilled in the art will also observe individual features expediently and combine them into additional, meaningful combinations.
The drawings show:
FIG. 1 A view from below before a bending process of a wiper lever with a bearing force initiation point on an outer wiper blade end.
FIG. 2 The wiper lever from FIG. 1 after a first bending process.
FIG. 3 A side view of the wiper lever from FIG. 1 after a second bending process.
FIG. 4 A view from below before a bending process of a wiper lever that is an alternative to FIG. 1 with a bearing force initiation point on an inner wiper blade end.
FIG. 5 A side view of the wiper lever from FIG. 4 after the bending process.
FIG. 6 A view from below of a wiper lever that is an alternative to FIG. 4 with a connecting piece formed from a transverse piece.
FIG. 7 A side view of the wiper lever from FIG. 6.
FIG. 8 A view in direction VIII in FIG. 7.
FIG. 9 A wiper lever that is an alternative to FIG. 6 shown from below before a bending process to form a 180° deviation.
FIG. 10 The wiper lever from FIG. 9 after the bending process.
FIG. 11 A side view of the wiper lever from FIG. 10.
FIG. 12 A view in direction XII in FIG. 11.
FIG. 13 A view from below of a wiper lever that is an alternative to FIG. 1 with a bearing force initiation point on a longitudinal center section of a wiper blade.
FIG. 14 A side view of the wiper lever from FIG. 13.
FIG. 15 A view from below of a wiper level that is an alternative to FIG. 13 with a single transverse piece.
FIG. 16 A side view of the wiper lever from FIG. 15.
FIG. 17 A wiper lever that is an alternative to FIG. 15 before a bending process to form a 180° deviation.
FIG. 18 The wiper lever from FIG. 17 after the bending process.
FIG. 19 A side view of the wiper lever from FIG. 18.
FIG. 20 A view in direction XX in FIG. 19.
FIG. 21 A wiper lever that is an alternative to FIG. 13 before a connection of a wiper arm and wiper blade.
FIG. 22 The wiper lever from FIG. 21 after the connection of the wiper arm and the wiper blade
FIG. 23 A side view of the wiper lever from FIG. 22.
DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
FIGS. 1 through 3 depict a wiper lever with a wiper arm 10a and a wiper blade 12a in various manufacturing stages, wherein the wiper arm 10a and the wiper blade 12a in accordance with the invention are connected in a non-articulated manner by an elastic connecting piece 16a. The wiper arm 10a, the connecting piece 16a and the wiper blade 12a are executed as a single piece and are formed of a common, long-stretched-out, punched bent component made of an elastic steel sheet. Instead of a single-piece design, a multi-piece design would also be conceivable, wherein the components can be connected in a finished state via different integral, positively engaged and/or frictional connections that appear to be meaningful to the person skilled in the art, e.g., via a riveted connection, a clamped connection, a screwed connection, a welded connection, and/or an adhesive connection, etc. In the case of a single-piece design, the area in which a wiper strip extends in an assembled state is viewed as the wiper blade 12a.
The wiper blade 12a features an elastic, curved wiper strip supporting element 18a connected to the wiper arm 10a in a non-articulated manner, on whose on whose concave side a wiper lip of a wiper strip extends in an assembled state (FIG. 3). The wiper strip supporting element 18a features a slot-shaped recess 14a extending in the longitudinal direction to accommodate the wiper strip. The recess 14a is executed to be to be open towards one free end of the wiper strip supporting element 18a. The wiper strip can thereby be inserted advantageously via the free end of the wiper strip supporting element 18a. However, the recess 14a, could also be executed to be closed towards the free end. The wiper arm 10a features an elastic supporting element 20a, which features a recess 24a on its free end for coupling to a drive shaft. Before a bending process that follows a punching process, the wiper lever is essentially executed to be flat and features two brackets 26a, 28a formed on the wiper arm 10a as a single piece that extend transverse to the longitudinal direction starting from the recess 24a shortly after said recess in the direction of the wiper blade 12a (FIG. 1).
In the bending process, the brackets 26a, 28a are bent 90° in the direction of one underside of the wiper lever (FIG. 2). In addition, the free end of the wiper blade 12a is bent in the direction of the free end of the wiper arm 10a, and namely by approx. 180° around a bending axis 30a, which runs perpendicular to the longitudinal extension and parallel to one underside of the wiper lever, in the area of the connecting piece 16a, which, when observed in the bent open state, is arranged starting from the recess 24a in the direction of the wiper blade 12a shortly after a longitudinal center.
Essentially a 180° deviation 22a is created in the area of the connecting piece 16a via which the wiper arm 10a and the wiper blade 12a are connected to each other (FIG. 3). In addition, slight longitudinal curvatures are formed on the wiper arm 10a and the wiper blade 12a. In addition to or as an alternative to the wiper blade 12a, the wiper arm 10a could also be bent around the bending axis 30a. The free end of the wiper blade 12a comes to lie in the area of the brackets 26a, 28a, which form a wiper blade guidance. Without additional components, vibrations of the wiper lever and in particular of the wiper blade can at least be reduced via the brackets 26a, 28a forming the wiper blade guidance.
The wiper blade 12a is connected to the wiper arm 10a via its outer wiper blade end and via the connecting piece 16a. A bearing force is transferred during operation to the wiper blade 12a in the area of an outer circle of the wiper blade 12a or from the wiper arm 10a via the connecting piece 16a and via the outer wiper blade end.
FIGS. 4 and 5 depict an alternative wiper lever. In terms of the exemplary embodiments, as a rule, essentially the same components and features are labeled in the description with the same reference numbers, whereby the letters “a” through “h” have been added for the purpose of differentiating between the exemplary embodiments. Moreover, reference can be made to the description of the exemplary embodiment in FIGS. 1 through 3 with respect to features and functions that do not change. The following description is restricted essentially to the differences from the exemplary embodiment in FIGS. 1 through 3.
The wiper lever includes a wiper arm 10b and a wiper blade 12b, which are connected in a non-articulated manner via an elastic connecting piece 16b. The wiper arm 10b, the connecting piece 16b and the wiper blade 12b are executed as a single piece and are formed of a common, long-stretched-out, punched bent component made of an elastic steel sheet.
Before a bending process that follows a punching process, the wiper lever is essentially executed to be flat (FIG. 4). In a first step in the bending process, the free end of the wiper blade 12b is bent in the direction of the free end of the wiper arm 10b, and namely by approx. 180° around a first bending axis 30b, which runs perpendicular to the longitudinal extension and parallel to one underside of the wiper lever, in the area of the connecting piece 16b. In a second step, the free end of the wiper blade 12b is bent opposite to the first bending direction by approx 180° around a second bending axis 30b′ in the area of the connecting piece 16b, which is aligned parallel to the first bending axis 30b and, when observed in the bent open state, is arranged starting from a recess 24b in the wiper arm 10b for coupling said wiper arm to a drive shaft, in the direction of the wiper blade 12b after the first bending axis 30b. An essentially S-shaped embodiment with two essentially 180° deviations 22b, 22b′ is created in the area of the connecting piece 16b, via which the wiper arm 10b and the wiper blade 12b are connected to each other (FIG. 5). Due to the S-shaped embodiment, an advantageous area is created via which a relative movement between the wiper arm 10b and the wiper blade 10b can be equalized. In addition to or as an alternative to the wiper blade 12b, the wiper arm 10b could also be bent around the bending axis 30b, 30b′.
The wiper blade 12b is connected to the wiper arm 10b via its inner wiper blade end and via the connecting piece 16b. A bearing force is transferred during operation to the wiper blade 12b in the area of an inner circle of the wiper blade 12b or from the wiper arm 10b via the connecting piece 16b and via the inner wiper blade end. In order to fasten a wiper strip to the wiper blade 12b, a slot-shaped recess 14b is introduced into an elastic, curved wiper strip supporting element 18b of the wiper blade 12b and the recess is executed to be closed in the area of the free end of the wiper blade 12b.
FIGS. 6 through 8 depict a wiper lever that is an alternative to that in FIGS. 4 and 5. The wiper lever features a connecting piece 16c formed by a transverse piece, which is aligned transverse to the longitudinal extension of the wiper lever, and via which a wiper arm 10c and a wiper blade 12c of the wiper lever are connected in a non-articulated manner. The wiper arm 10c, the connecting piece 16c and the wiper blade 12c are executed as a single piece and are formed of a common, long-stretched-out, punched bent component made of an elastic steel sheet.
The wiper blade 12c is connected to the wiper arm 10c via its inner wiper blade end and via the connecting piece 16c. In order to achieve a height offset between the wiper arm 10c and the wiper blade 12c perpendicular to a to-be-wiped windshield, the connecting piece 16c is executed in an angled manner (FIGS. 7 and 8).
A wiper strip that is executed as a hollow profile can be slid onto the wiper blade's 12c wiper strip supporting element 18c that is executed as a whole surface or without a recess, or a wiper strip can be adhered to it.
FIGS. 9 through 12 depict a wiper lever that is an alternative to that in FIGS. 6 through 8. The wiper lever features a connecting piece 16d formed by a transverse piece, which is aligned transverse to the longitudinal extension of the wiper lever, and via which a wiper arm 10d and a wiper blade 12d of the wiper lever are connected in a non-articulated manner. The wiper arm 10d, the connecting piece 16d and the wiper blade 12d are executed as a single piece and are formed of a common, long-stretched-out, punched bent component made of an elastic steel sheet.
Before a bending process that follows a punching process, the wiper lever is essentially executed to be flat (FIG. 9). In the bending process, the wiper blade 12d is bent in the direction of the wiper arm 10d, and namely by approx. 180° around a bending axis 30d, which runs parallel to the longitudinal extension of the wiper blade 12d, in the area of the connecting piece 16d so that the wiper arm 10d and the wiper blade 12d align.
Essentially a 180° deviation 22d is created in the area of the connecting piece 16d via which the wiper arm 10d and the wiper blade 12d are connected to each other (FIGS. 10, 11 and 12).
In addition to or as an alternative to the wiper blade 12d, the wiper arm 10d could also be bent around the bending axis 30d.
The wiper blade 12d is connected to the wiper arm 10d via its inner wiper blade end and via the connecting piece 16d.
A bearing force is transferred during operation to the wiper blade 12d in the area of an inner circle of the wiper blade 12d or from the wiper arm 10d via the connecting piece 16d and via the outer wiper blade end.
In order to fasten a wiper strip to the wiper blade 12d, a slot-shaped recess 14d is introduced into an elastic, curved wiper strip supporting element 18d of the wiper blade 12d and the recess is executed to be open in the area of the free end of the wiper blade 12d.
FIGS. 13 and 14 depict a wiper lever that is an alternative to that in FIGS. 1 through 3. The wiper lever features connecting pieces 16e, 16e′ formed by transverse pieces, which are aligned transverse to the longitudinal extension of the wiper lever, and via which a wiper arm 10e and a wiper blade 12e of the wiper lever are connected in a non-articulated manner. The wiper arm 10e, the connecting pieces 16e, 16e′ and the wiper blade 12e are executed as a single piece and are formed of a common, long-stretched-out, punched bent component made of an elastic steel sheet. When observed in the unbent state, the wiper arm 10e and the wiper blade 12e feature a common longitudinal axis, whereby a wiper blade part is formed of a free-punched part of a sheet metal section that also forms the wiper arm 10e.
The wiper blade 12e is connected to the wiper arm 10e via its longitudinal center section and via the connecting pieces 16e, 16e′. A bearing force is transferred during operation to the wiper blade 12e in the area of a center circle of the wiper blade 12e or from the wiper arm 10e via the connecting pieces 16e, 16e′ and via the longitudinal center section of the wiper blade 12e.
A wiper strip that is executed as a hollow profile can be slid onto the wiper blade's 12e wiper strip supporting element 18e that is executed as a whole surface or without a recess, or a wiper strip can be adhered to it. However, the wiper strip supporting element 18e could also be executed with a slot-shaped recess extending over its length and open towards one end or both ends, into which a wiper strip can be inserted.
FIGS. 15 and 16 depict a wiper lever that is an alternative to that in FIGS. 13 through 14, which, instead of two connecting pieces 16e, 16e′, only features one connecting piece 16f formed by one transverse piece, via which a wiper arm 10f and a wiper blade 12f are connected in a non-articulated manner.
FIGS. 17 through 20 depict a wiper lever that is an alternative to that in FIGS. 15 through 16. The wiper lever features a connecting piece 16g formed by a transverse piece, which is aligned transverse to the longitudinal extension of the wiper lever, and via which a wiper arm 10g and a wiper blade 12g of the wiper lever are connected in a non-articulated manner. The wiper arm 10g, the connecting piece 16g and the wiper blade 12g are executed as a single piece and are formed of a common, long-stretched-out, punched bent component made of an elastic steel sheet.
Before a bending process that follows a punching process, the wiper lever is essentially executed to be flat (FIG. 17). In the bending process, the wiper blade 12g is bent in the direction of the wiper arm 10g, and namely by approx. 180° around a bending axis 30g, which runs parallel to the longitudinal extension of the wiper blade 12g, in the area of the connecting piece 16g so that the wiper blade 12g and the wiper arm 10g essentially align.
Essentially a 180° deviation 22g is created in the area of the connecting piece 16g via which the wiper arm 10g and the wiper blade 12g are connected to each other (FIGS. 18, 19 and 20). In addition to or as an alternative to the wiper blade 12g, the wiper arm 10g could also be bent around the bending axis 30g.
The wiper blade 12g is connected to the wiper arm 10g via its longitudinal center section and via the connecting piece 16g. A bearing force is transferred during operation to the wiper blade 12g in the area of a center circle of the wiper blade 12g or from the wiper arm 10g via the connecting piece 16g and via the longitudinal center section of the wiper blade 12g.
A wiper strip that is executed as a hollow profile can be slid onto the wiper blade's 12g wiper strip supporting element 18g that is executed as a whole surface or without a recess, or a wiper strip can be adhered to it. However, the wiper strip supporting element 18g could also be executed with a slot-shaped recess extending over its length and closed towards one end or both ends, into which a wiper strip can be inserted.
FIGS. 21 through 23 depict an alternative wiper lever with a wiper arm 10h and a wiper blade 12h in various manufacturing stages, wherein the wiper arm 10h and the wiper blade 12h, as finished in accordance with the invention, are connected in a non-articulated manner by an elastic connecting piece 16h (FIG. 23). The wiper arm 10h and the connecting piece 16h are executed as a single piece and are formed of a common, long-stretched-out, punched bent component made of an elastic steel sheet. The wiper arm 10h features a recess 24h on one end for coupling to a drive shaft, while the connecting piece 16g is arranged on a second end of the wiper arm 10h. The wiper blade 12h is formed of a punched bent component, embodied separate from the wiper arm 10h and the connecting piece 16h, and features a lower material strength than the wiper arm 10h and the connecting piece 16h.
The longitudinal center section of the wiper blade 12h is welded to the connecting piece 16h in a manufacturing step (FIGS. 22 and 23). In addition, in a bending process, brackets 26h, 28h that are formed on the wiper arm 10h are bent 90° in the direction of one underside of the wiper lever and the brackets form a wiper blade guidance on the inner circle of the wiper blade 12h.
The wiper blade 12h is connected to the wiper arm 10h via its longitudinal center section and via the connecting piece 16h. A bearing force is transferred during operation to the wiper blade 12h in the area of a center circle of the wiper blade 12h or from the wiper arm 10h via the connecting piece 16h and via the longitudinal center section of the wiper blade 12h.
A wiper strip that is executed as a hollow profile can be slid onto the wiper blade's 12h wiper strip supporting element 18h that is executed as a whole surface or without a recess, or a wiper strip can be adhered to it.
However, the wiper strip supporting element 18h could also be executed with a slot-shaped recess extending over its length and closed towards one end or both ends, into which a wiper strip can be inserted.
Patent Application
20080052864
