A WINDSCREEN WIPER DEVICE OF THE FLAT BLADE TYPE

Abstract

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 be wiped, which wiper blade includes at least one longitudinal slit, in which slit at least one longitudinal strip of the carrier element is disposed, which windscreen wiper device comprises a connecting device for a rod-like extension of an oscillating arm, wherein said rod-like extension can be pivotally connected to said connecting device about a pivot axis near a free end thereof, with the special feature that said connecting device comprises a channel arranged to receive said free end of said rod-like extension, wherein said windscreen wiper device comprises a nozzle for spraying a washing liquid onto said windscreen to be wiped, wherein said nozzle being mounted onto said rod-like extension, and wherein said rod-like extension at a side facing towards said connecting device extends in longitudinal direction beyond said nozzle.

Claims

1. 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 be wiped, which wiper blade is connected to at least one longitudinal strip of the carrier element, which windscreen wiper device comprises a connecting device for a rod-like extension of an oscillating arm, wherein said rod-like extension can be pivotally connected to said connecting device about a pivot axis near a free end thereof, said connecting device comprises a channel arranged to receive said free end of said rod-like extension, wherein said windscreen wiper device comprises a nozzle for spraying a washing liquid onto said windscreen to be wiped, said nozzle being mounted onto said rod-like extension, and wherein said rod-like extension at a side facing towards said connecting device extends in longitudinal direction beyond said nozzle.

2. A windscreen wiper device according to claim 1, wherein said rod-like extension extends in longitudinal direction beyond said nozzle in such a way that, in a wiping position of said oscillating arm and in dismounted position of said wiper blade, said rod-like extension is in contact with a windscreen to be wiped and said nozzle is free from a windscreen to be wiped.

3. A windscreen wiper device according to claim 1, wherein said rod-like extension extends in longitudinal direction beyond said nozzle in such a way that, upon insertion of said free end of said rod-like extension inside said channel of said connecting device, said nozzle is guided by said connecting device towards its assembled position.

4. A windscreen wiper device according to claim 1, wherein in mounted position said nozzle is located at a larger distance from a windscreen to be wiped than said rod-like extension.

5. A windscreen wiper device according to claim 1, wherein said channel includes a first chamber facing towards an entrance of said channel, as well as a second chamber facing away from said entrance, said first chamber having a larger width than said second chamber, wherein said first chamber is arranged to receive a first part of said free end of said rod-like extension, and wherein said second chamber is arranged to receive a second part of said rod-like extension, said first part of said rod-like extension having a larger width than said second part of said rod-like extension.

6. A windscreen wiper device according to claim 5, wherein said channel is arranged to receive two types of said rod-like extension, said types mutually differing in width of said first and second parts thereof, said first and second parts are each made in one piece of plastic material.

7. A windscreen wiper device according to claim 5, wherein said connecting device comprises a sidewardly and inwardly extending protrusion arranged to engage into a first recess provided on a longitudinal exterior side of said rod-like extension, wherein said connecting device comprises a resilient tongue arranged to engage into a second recess provided on said longitudinal exterior side of said rod-like extension, and wherein said resilient tongue is hingeable along a hinge axis between an inward position retaining said wiper blade onto said rod-like extension and an outward position releasing said wiper blade from said rod-like extension.

8. A windscreen wiper device according to claim 7, wherein said protrusion is dimensioned such that in a working position of said wiper blade pivoted relative to said rod-like extension, said protrusion engages into said first recess thus retaining said wiper blade onto said rod-like extension; in a service position of said wiper blade pivoted relative to said rod-like extension, said protrusion disengages from said first recess thus releasing said wiper blade from said rod-like extension.

9. A windscreen wiper device according to claim 7, wherein said first and second recesses have an open circumference and are spaced-apart in longitudinal direction.

10. A windscreen wiper device according to claim 7, wherein said resilient tongue is hingeable from said inward position into said outward position by a push button, wherein said push button forms a part of an outer wall of said connecting device.

11. A windscreen wiper device according to claim 10, wherein said push button is located near a free end of said connecting device facing towards said rod-like extension.

12. A windscreen wiper device according to claim 1, wherein said channel has a length and a width, and wherein a plane extending in a direction of the width of said channel and a plane extending through said longitudinal strip along a width thereof at the location of the connecting device enclose an angle α, wherein preferably 15°<α<60°.

13. A windscreen wiper device according to claim 1, wherein said connecting device comprises a first part and a second part, wherein said rod-like extension of said oscillating arm can be pivotally connected to said first part about said pivot axis, with the interposition of said second part, wherein said second part comprises said channel, and wherein said first part is connected to said wiper blade and said second part is detachably connected to said first part.

14. A windscreen wiper device according to claim 13, wherein said first part and said second part are provided with mutually cooperating pivot means for pivotally connecting said second part to said first part.

15. A windscreen wiper device according to claim 14, wherein said second part is connected to said first part by pivotally engaging protuberances of said first part, at the location of said pivot axis, in recesses provided in said second part.

16. A windscreen wiper device according to claim 13, wherein said second part is detachably connected to said first part through a snapping/clipping operation, said windscreen wiper device further including a connecting device and an oscillating arm with a rod-like extension.

17. A windscreen wiper device according to claim 13, wherein said first part comprises a flat base having legs integral therewith engaging around longitudinal sides of the wiper blade, at the location of a longitudinal slit for said longitudinal strip of said carrier element.

18. A windscreen wiper device according to claim 17, wherein said first part comprises two opposite side walls extending in upright direction from said base, and wherein one of said side walls comprises said sidewardly and inwardly extending protrusion.

19. A windscreen wiper device according to claim 18, wherein said pivotally engaging protuberances of said first part are provided outwardly on said opposite side walls, and wherein said recesses are provided inwardly in opposite walls of said second part.

20. A windscreen wiper device according to claim 18, wherein said side walls of said first part are entirely located inside said second part in a working position of said wiper blade.

21-23. (canceled)

Description

[0029] The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to figures illustrated in a drawing, wherein:

[0030] FIG. 1 shows in perspective details of a windscreen wiper device of the flat blade type according to the invention, wherein successive steps are shown for fitting an windscreen wiper arm with a nozzle to a connecting device of a wiper blade; and

[0031] FIG. 2 shows in perspective the windscreen wiper arm and the nozzle of FIG. 1 in several positions relative to a windscreen to be wiped.

[0032] FIG. 1 refers a windscreen wiper device of the flat blade type built up of a wiper blade, in the longitudinal sides of which opposing longitudinal groove are formed, and of longitudinal strips (“flexors”) made of spring band steel, which are fitted in said longitudinal grooves. Said strips form a flexible carrier element for the rubber wiper blade, as it were, which is thus biased in a curved position (the curvature in operative position being that of a windscreen to be wiped). As shown in FIG. 1, the windscreen wiper device is furthermore built up of a connecting device 1 of plastic material for a rod-like extension 2 of a windscreen wiper arm. Said connecting device 1 comprises a first part 3 and a second part 4 acting as a joint part, wherein said rod-like extension 2 arm can be pivotally connected to said first part 3 about said pivot axis, with the interposition of said second part 4. Said first part 3 comprises a flat base 5 having inwardly extending legs 6 integral therewith engaging around longitudinal sides of the wiper blade, at the location of said grooves, as a result of which the first part 1 is firmly attached to the unit consisting of the wiper blade and the strips. Said first part 3 comprises two opposite side walls 7,8 extending in upright direction from said flat base 5. On said opposite side walls 7,8 are formed cylindrical protuberances 9,10 extending outwardly. These protuberances 9,10 pivotally engage, at the location of said pivot axis, in identically shaped recesses provided in opposite walls of the second part 4. Hence, said second part 4 is detachably connected to said first part 3 through a snapping/clipping operation. As shown in FIG. 2 above, said side walls 7,8 of said first part 3 are entirely located inside said second part 4 in a working position of said wiper blade.

[0033] With reference to FIG. 1 said second part 4 comprises a channel 11 arranged to receive (in a linear movement) said rod-like extension 2 of said oscillating arm. As shown, said channel 11 has a length and a width, and wherein a plane extending in a direction of the width of said channel and a plane extending through said longitudinal strip along a width thereof at the location of the connecting device enclose an angle α=30°.

[0034] One of said side walls 8 of said first part 3 comprises a protrusion 12 extending sidewards and inwards and arranged to engage into a first recess 13 having an open circumference and provided on a longitudinal exterior side 14 of said rod-like extension 2. For mounting or dismounting the connecting device 1 from the rod-like extension the second part 4 (and thus the free end of the rod-like extension 2 connected thereto), is pivoted relative to the first part 3, wherein reference is made to FIG. 1 middle and bottom. As far as dismounting is concerned, while carrying out the pivot movement, the protrusion or cam 12 is no longer in line with the first recess 13, so that the second part 4 and the first part 3 attached thereto can be released from the rod-like extension 2. As far as mounting is concerned, while carrying out the pivot movement, the protrusion or cam 12 becomes in line with the first recess 13, so that the second part 4 and the first part 3 attached thereto is retained onto the rod-like extension 2. The mutually cooperating protrusion 12 and recess 13 act as second retention means in case first retention means, as explained below, would inadvertently fail.

[0035] The rod-like extension 2 is also provided with a second recess 15 also having an open circumference and also provided on the same longitudinal exterior side 14 of said rod-like extension 2. As shown, said first and second recesses 13,15 have an open circumference and are spaced-apart in longitudinal direction. Said second recess 15 cooperates with a resilient tongue 16 on the second part 4 arranged to engage into a second recess 15, together acting as first retention means in this case. Said resilient tongue 16 is hingeable along a hinge axis between an inward position retaining said second part 4 (together with the first part 3 and the wiper blade attached thereon) onto said rod-like extension 2 and an outward position releasing second part 4 (together with the first part 3 and the wiper blade attached thereon) from said rod-like extension 2. Said resilient tongue is hingeable (i.e. activated and deactivated) from said inward position into said outward position by a push button 17. Said push button 17 forms a part of an outer wall 18 of said second part 4 and is located near a free end of said second part 4 facing towards said rod-like extension 2.

[0036] As depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2, said windscreen wiper device comprises a nozzle 19 for spraying a washing liquid onto a windscreen to be wiped. Said nozzle 19 is connected onto said rod-like extension 2 with the help of a clamp 20. Not shown, said channel 11 includes a first chamber facing towards an entrance of said channel 11, as well as a second chamber facing away from said entrance, said first chamber having a larger width than said second chamber. Said first chamber is arranged to receive a first part 21 of said rod-like extension 2, wherein said second chamber is arranged to receive a second part 22 of said rod-like extension 2, said first part 21 of said rod-like extension 2 having a larger width than said second part 22 of said rod-like extension 2. The nozzle 19 is connected to a liquid pipe 23. As shown, said rod-like extension 2 at a side facing towards said connecting device 1 extends in longitudinal direction beyond said nozzle 19, in such a way that, in a wiping position of said oscillating arm and in dismounted position of said wiper blade, said rod-like extension 2 is in contact with a windscreen 24 to be wiped and said nozzle 19 is free from a windscreen 24 to be wiped (FIG. 2 below). Hence, said nozzle 19 does not make contact with the windscreen 24 to be wiped (i.e. its free end facing the windscreen 24 to be wiped is located at a distance therefrom) in the event that the rod-like extension 2 rests against the windscreen 24 to be wiped (and the wiper blade is already removed in order to be replaced/repaired). Also, upon insertion of said free end of said rod-like extension 2 inside said channel 11 of said connecting device 1, said nozzle 19 is free from said connecting device 1 (FIG. 2 above). Hence, said nozzle 19 is located at a distance from (i.e. is separated from) said connecting device 1 (i.e. its fee end facing towards said connecting device 1 does not make contact with the connecting device 1) in the event that the rod-like extension 2 is about to be introduced inside the channel 11 of said part 4 of said of said connecting device 1. Particularly, said nozzle 19 is located at a larger distance from a windscreen 24 to be wiped than said rod-like extension 2.

[0037] The invention is not restricted to the preferred embodiments shown in the figures, but extends also to other preferred variants within the scope of the appended claims.