ADAPTER UNIT

Abstract

The invention relates to an adapter unit which is provided for coupling, in particular releasably coupling, a wiper blade to a wiper arm, having a wind deflecting surface which is designed to deflect inflowing air and press the wiper blade against a vehicle windshield. According to the invention, the wind deflecting surface has at least one first sub-surface and a second sub-surface, wherein the first sub-surface has a different orientation than the second sub-surface and/or the first sub-surface has a different geometry than the second sub-surface.

Claims

1. An adapter unit configured to connect a wiper blade to a wiper arm, the adapter unit comprising a wind deflector face which is configured to deflect an incoming flow of air and to press the wiper blade against a vehicle window, characterized in that the wind deflector face has at least a first part-face and a second part-face, wherein the first part-face has a different orientation from the second part-face and/or wherein the first part-face has a different geometry from the second part-face.

2. An adapter unit as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the wind deflector face encloses a main angle between 25° and 75° with a wind flow direction.

3. An adapter unit as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the first part-face and/or the second part-face is orientated at least in regions parallel and/or substantially parallel with a wiper arm direction.

4. An adapter unit as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that a separation line is orientated between the first part-face and the second part-face at least in regions perpendicularly and/or substantially perpendicularly relative to the wiper arm direction.

5. An adapter unit as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the first part-face is arranged at a first angle between 0° and 45° relative to the second part-face, wherein the first angle is the angle between a surface normal of the first part-face and a surface normal of the second part-face.

6. An adapter unit as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the first part-face and the second part-face coincide at least partially in the separation line and define a second angle at the separation line, wherein the second angle is located at an outer side of the wind deflector face or at a wind-facing side of the wind deflector face and the second angle is between 180° and 270°.

7. An adapter unit as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the first part-face and the second part-face coincide at least partially in the separation line and define a third angle at the separation line, wherein the third angle is located at an outer side of the wind deflector face or at a wind-facing side of the wind deflector face and the third angle is between 90° and 180°.

8. An adapter unit as claimed in claim 1, characterized by an upper face which is arranged at a downwind side of the wind deflector face and which is orientated parallel or substantially parallel with the wiper arm direction and wherein the upper face encloses an upper angle between 10° and 25° with the wind flow direction so that the upper face is configured to deflect an incoming flow of air and to press the wiper blade against a vehicle window.

9. An adapter unit as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the upper face is constructed to be convex at least in regions.

10. An adapter unit as claimed in claim 1, characterized by a rear side which is arranged at a side of the adapter unit opposite the wind deflector face and which is arranged at a downwind side of the adapter unit, wherein the rear side is tilted by a rear angle between 10° and 40°, relative to a surface normal of an adapter unit base face, so that the rear side projects beyond the adapter unit base face in the wind flow direction.

11. An adapter unit as claimed in claim 1, characterized by a wiper-arm-facing surface which is configured to introduce and/or receive the wiper arm for connection to the adapter unit, wherein the wiper-arm-facing surface is tilted by a right-handed angle between 10° and 40° relative to a surface normal of an adapter unit base face.

12. An adapter unit as claimed in claim 11, characterized in that the wiper-arm-facing surface is constructed to be concave at least in regions.

13. An adapter unit as claimed in claim 1, characterized by a wiper-arm-remote surface which is arranged opposite a side of the adapter unit which is provided so that the wiper arm is connected to the adapter unit at that side, wherein the wiper-arm-remote surface is tilted by a left-handed angle between 10° and 40° relative to a surface normal of an adapter unit base face.

14. An adapter unit as claimed in claim 13, characterized in that the wiper-arm-remote surface is constructed to be convex at least in regions.

15. An adapter unit as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the adapter unit is configured to connect the wiper arm to the wiper blade so as to be pivotable about a bearing axis.

16. An adapter unit assembly configured to connect a wiper blade to a wiper arm, the adapter unit assembly comprising a wind deflector face which is configured to deflect an incoming flow of air and to press the wiper blade against a vehicle window, characterized in that the wind deflector face has at least a first part-face and a second part-face, wherein the first part-face has a different orientation from the second part-face and/or wherein the first part-face has a different geometry from the second part-face, the adapter unit assembly also comprising a wiper arm adapter unit and a wiper blade adapter unit, wherein the wiper arm adapter unit is provided for connecting to the wiper arm and the wiper blade adapter unit is provided for receiving the wiper blade, wherein the wiper blade adapter unit has a wiper blade adapter unit receiving member which is provided to receive the wiper blade adapter unit so as to be pivotable about the bearing axis.

17. An adapter unit as claimed in claim 1, comprising a base element, a covering element and a wiper arm receiving member which is provided to receive the wiper arm so as to be pivotable about the bearing axis, wherein the covering element is constructed so as to be connectable to the base element and substantially covers the wiper arm receiving member, and wherein the covering element has the wind deflector face, and wherein the base element is configured to receive the wiper blade.

18. An adapter unit as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the first part-face and/or the second part-face is constructed at least in regions to be planar or substantially planar.

19. An adapter unit as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the adapter unit is configured to releasably connect the wiper blade to the wiper arm.

20. An adapter unit as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the wind deflector face encloses a main angle between 40° and 60° with a wind flow direction.

21. An adapter unit as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the first part-face is arranged at a first angle between 5° and 30° relative to the second part-face, wherein the first angle is the angle between a surface normal of the first part-face and a surface normal of the second part-face.

22. An adapter unit as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the first part-face is arranged at a first angle between 10° and 20° relative to the second part-face, wherein the first angle is the angle between a surface normal of the first part-face and a surface normal of the second part-face.

23. An adapter unit as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the first part-face and the second part-face coincide at least partially in the separation line and define a second angle at the separation line, wherein the second angle is located at an outer side of the wind deflector face or at a wind-facing side of the wind deflector face and the second angle is between 190° and 235°.

24. An adapter unit as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the first part-face and the second part-face coincide at least partially in the separation line and define a second angle at the separation line, wherein the second angle is located at an outer side of the wind deflector face or at a wind-facing side of the wind deflector face and the second angle is between 200° and 220°.

25. An adapter unit as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the first part-face and the second part-face coincide at least partially in the separation line and define a third angle at the separation line, wherein the third angle is located at an outer side of the wind deflector face or at a wind-facing side of the wind deflector face and the third angle is between 135° and 170°.

26. An adapter unit as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the first part-face and the second part-face coincide at least partially in the separation line and define a third angle at the separation line, wherein the third angle is located at an outer side of the wind deflector face or at a wind-facing side of the wind deflector face and the third angle is between 150° and 160°.

27. An adapter unit as claimed in claim 1, characterized by an upper face which is arranged at a downwind side of the wind deflector face and which is orientated parallel or substantially parallel with the wiper arm direction and wherein the upper face encloses an upper angle between 15° and 20° with the wind flow direction so that the upper face is configured to deflect an incoming flow of air and to press the wiper blade against a vehicle window.

28. An adapter unit as claimed in claim 1, characterized by a rear side which is arranged at a side of the adapter unit opposite the wind deflector face and which is arranged at a downwind side of the adapter unit, wherein the rear side is tilted by a rear angle between 20° and 30° relative to a surface normal of an adapter unit base face, so that the rear side projects beyond the adapter unit base face in the wind flow direction.

29. An adapter unit as claimed in claim 1, characterized by a wiper-arm-facing surface which is configured to introduce and/or receive the wiper arm for connection to the adapter unit, wherein the wiper-arm-facing surface is tilted by a right-handed angle between 20° and 30° relative to a surface normal of an adapter unit base face.

30. An adapter unit as claimed in claim 1, characterized by a wiper-arm-remote surface which is arranged opposite a side of the adapter unit which is provided so that the wiper arm is connected to the adapter unit at that side, wherein the wiper-arm-remote surface is tilted by a left-handed angle between 20° and 30° relative to a surface normal of an adapter unit base face.

31. An adapter unit as claimed in claim 1, comprising a base element, a covering element and a wiper arm receiving member which is provided to receive the wiper arm so as to be pivotable about the bearing axis, wherein the covering element is constructed so as to be connectable to the base element and substantially covers the wiper arm receiving member, and wherein the covering element has the wind deflector face, and wherein the base element is configured to receive the wiper blade, and wherein the covering element is constructed to be securely connectable to the base element so that the covering element connected to the base element is substantially non-movable relative to the base element.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0037] Embodiments of the adapter unit according to the present invention are illustrated in the drawings and explained in greater detail in the following description. In the drawings:

[0038] FIG. 1 shows a wiper device with an adapter unit,

[0039] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the adapter unit,

[0040] FIGS. 3 to 11 are perspective views of different variants of the adapter unit,

[0041] FIG. 12 is a side view of a variant of the adapter unit,

[0042] FIGS. 13 to 19 are perspective views of different variants of the adapter unit, and

[0043] FIG. 20 is a side view of a variant of the adapter unit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0044] In the different construction variants, the same members are indicated with the same reference numerals.

[0045] FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a wiper device 10 having an adapter unit 12, a wiper arm 14 and a wiper blade 16. The wiper blade 16 is constructed as a flat wiper blade. The wiper blade 16 is provided to clean a vehicle window 18. The adapter unit 12 has a covering element 20. The adapter unit has a base element 22. The wiper arm 14 has a wiper rod 24. In the embodiment, a main longitudinal extent direction of the wiper arm adapter unit is arranged parallel with a wiper arm direction 26. A main longitudinal extent direction of the wiper blade is arranged parallel with the wiper arm direction. In advantageous variants, the main longitudinal extent direction of the wiper arm adapter unit is arranged at least substantially parallel with a wiper arm direction 26. In advantageous variants, the main longitudinal extent direction of the wiper blade is arranged at least substantially parallel with the wiper arm direction. The covering element has a wind deflector face 28. The wind deflector face has a first part-face 30 and a second part-face 32. The first part-face and the second part-face are separated by a separation line 34.

[0046] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the adapter unit 12. The first part-face 30 has a different orientation from the second part-face 32. In particular, the first part-face 30 has a different orientation with respect to a wind flow direction 36 from the second part-face 32.

[0047] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a variant of the adapter unit 12, in which the wind deflector face 28 encloses a main angle 38 of 50° with the wind flow direction 36.

[0048] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a variant of the adapter unit 12, in which the first part-face is orientated parallel with the wiper arm direction. In this variant, the first part-face further has a different geometry from the second part-face. The first part-face has a smaller surface-area than the second part-face.

[0049] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another variant of the adapter unit 12, in which the second part-face is orientated parallel with the wiper arm direction. In this variant, the first part-face also further has a different geometry from the second part-face. The first part-face has a smaller surface-area than the second part-face.

[0050] In the embodiment, the separation line 34 extends perpendicularly to the wiper arm direction 26 (see FIG. 2). In alternative embodiments, the separation line 34 may have a different orientation relative to the wiper arm direction. FIG. 6 shows a variant, in which the separation line 34 extends substantially parallel with the wiper arm direction 26. FIG. 7 illustrates a variant, in which the separation line is arranged at an angle of 45° relative to the wiper arm direction. The separation line extends substantially diagonally over the wind deflector face. FIG. 8 shows a variant, in which the separation line has a repeatedly curved extent. The separation line is partially S-shaped. This allows a particularly precise adaption of a desired pressing force, in particular a pressing force direction at any point of the adapter unit.

[0051] In the embodiment, the first part-face is arranged at a first angle 40 of 35° relative to the second part-face (see FIG. 2). The first angle 40 is enclosed between a first normal vector 42 of the first part-face and a second normal vector 44 of the second part-face.

[0052] In the embodiment, the first part-face and the second part-face define a second angle 46 of 215° at the separation line. The second angle 46 is defined by a first beam 48 of the first part-face and a second beam 50 of the second part-face.

[0053] FIG. 9 shows a variant, in which the first part-face and the second part-face define a second angle 46 of 155° at the separation line. The second angle 46 is defined by a first beam 48 of the first part-face and a second beam 50 of the second part-face.

[0054] FIG. 10 shows a variant of the adapter unit in which an upper face 52 encloses an upper angle 54 with the wind flow direction 36. FIG. 11 shows an additional variant, in which the upper face 52 is constructed to be convex.

[0055] FIG. 12 is a cross-section through the adapter unit of the embodiment (see FIG. 2) along the separation line and perpendicularly to the wiper arm direction 26. A rear side 56 of the adapter unit is tilted about a rear angle 58 of 15° relative to a surface normal 60 of an adapter base face 62. In the mounted state of the adapter unit, the adapter base face is preferably orientated parallel or substantially parallel with the vehicle window.

[0056] FIG. 13 shows a variant, in which a wiper-arm-facing surface 64 is tilted relative to the surface normal 60 about a right-handed angle 66 of 10° in the wiper arm direction 26. FIG. 14 shows a variant, in which a wiper-arm-facing surface 64 is tilted relative to the surface normal 60 about a right-handed angle 66 of 15° relative to the wiper arm direction 26.

[0057] FIG. 15 shows a variant, in which the wiper-arm-facing surface 64 is constructed to be concave. FIG. 16 shows a variant, in which the wiper-arm-facing surface 64 is constructed to be convex. FIG. 17 shows a variant, in which the wiper-arm-facing surface 64 is constructed to be concave in regions. The wiper-arm-facing surface 64 in the variant depicted in FIG. 17 is constructed to be convex in regions.

[0058] FIG. 18 shows a variant, in which a wiper-arm-remote surface 68 is tilted relative to the surface normal 60 about a left-handed angle 70 of 15° counter to the wiper arm direction 26. FIG. 19 shows a variant, in which a wiper-arm-remote surface 68 is tilted relative to the surface normal 60 about a left-handed angle 70 of 10° in the wiper arm direction 26.

[0059] In the variants of the adapter unit shown in FIGS. 15 to 17, the wiper-arm-remote surface 68 is constructed to be convex.

[0060] In the variant depicted in FIG. 12, the covering element 20 can be securely connected to the base element 22 via a locking connection which is not shown. The base element 22 has a wiper arm receiving member 72. The wiper arm receiving member 72 is configured to be connected to the wiper arm so that the wiper arm can be pivoted or rotated about a bearing axis 74. The base element 22 is configured to receive the wiper blade via a plug type connection which is not shown.

[0061] FIG. 20 is a cross-section through an alternative embodiment of the adapter unit along the separation line and perpendicularly to the wiper arm direction 26. The adapter unit 12 has a wiper arm adapter unit 76. The wiper arm adapter unit has the wind deflector face 28. The wiper arm adapter unit has a wiper arm opening 78 which is configured to receive the wiper arm. The wiper arm opening is an opening for a receiving channel, in which the wiper arm can be introduced. The receiving channel extends substantially parallel with the wiper arm direction. The wiper arm adapter unit has in the embodiment a fixing means which is not depicted and which is provided for releasably connecting the wiper arm to the wiper arm adapter unit. The wiper arm adapter unit 76 has a wiper blade adapter unit receiving member 80 which is provided to pivotably receive a wiper blade adapter unit 82 about a bearing axis 74. The wiper blade adapter unit 82 is configured to receive the wiper blade 16.

[0062] In advantageous embodiments, the wind deflector face 28 has a changed or particular surface structure. The surface may be roughened at least in regions and/or have a sharkskin-like structure and/or have a golf-ball-like structure. Such a surface structure influences the air stream which flows over it. In this manner, the aerodynamic properties of the wind deflector face can be improved. It is particularly possible to adjust pressing forces which act via the wind deflector face by selecting the type and arrangement of the changed surface structure in a precise manner.