AN ELONGATED PACKAGE FOR A WINDSCREEN WIPER DEVICE OF THE FLAT BLADE TYPE

Abstract

An elongated package for a windscreen wiper device of the flat blade type two sleeves being interconnected along their length, wherein each sleeve is arranged to hold a windscreen wiper device of the flat blade type, wherein walls of each sleeve enclose an acute angle.

Claims

1. An elongated package for a windscreen wiper device of the flat blade type, comprising two sleeves being interconnected along their length, wherein each sleeve is arranged to hold a windscreen wiper device of the flat blade type, wherein walls of each sleeve enclose an acute angle a.

2. The elongated package according to claim 1, wherein said walls enclosing said acute angle are facing towards the interconnection of said sleeves.

3. The elongated package according to claim 1, wherein said walls enclosing said acute angle are facing away from the interconnection of said sleeves.

4. The elongated package according to claim 1, wherein said package is mirror symmetrical relative to a vertical median plane thereof.

5. The elongated package according to claim 1, wherein said package is non-mirror symmetrical relative to a vertical median plane thereof.

6. The elongated package according to claim 1, wherein said walls enclose an acute angle smaller than or equal to 45.

7. The elongated package according to claim 6, wherein said walls enclose an acute angle a smaller than 35.

8. The elongated package according to claim 6, wherein said walls enclose an acute angle a smaller than 30.

9. The elongated package according to claim 1, wherein said package is made from one blank.

10. The elongated package according to claim 1, wherein said package comprises a weakening line at the location of the interconnection

11. The elongated package according to claim 1, wherein said sleeves are bend towards each other, and wherein said sleeves arc interconnected along walls thereof.

12. The elongated package according to claim 1, wherein said package comprises a suspension hole in order to allow storage of said package in suspended, vertical position.

13. A system comprising a package according to claim 1, as well as two windscreen wiper devices of the flat blade type, wherein one windscreen wiper device thereof is held by one of said sleeves, and wherein the other windscreen wiper device thereof is held by the other of said sleeves.

14. A system according to claim 13, wherein a wiping lip of each windscreen wiper device of the flat blade type is facing towards said acute angle a.

15. The elongated package according to claim 6, wherein the acute angle is less than 40.

Description

[0020] The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to Figures illustrated in a drawing, wherein:

[0021] FIG. 1 is a total perspective, schematic view of a windscreen wiper device of the flat blade type to be packaged in a package according to the invention;

[0022] FIG. 2 is a perspective, schematic view of a preferred embodiment of a sleeves-like package in accordance with the invention, together with two windscreen wiper devices of the flat blade type ready to be packaged;

[0023] FIG. 3 corresponds to FIG. 2, but now sliding the windscreen wiper devices inside the package

[0024] FIG. 4 corresponds to FIG. 3, but now the windscreen wiper devices being packaged;

[0025] FIG. 5 corresponds to FIG. 4, on the understanding that the sleeves are bend towards each other and interconnected; and

[0026] FIG. 6 is a schematic side view of the package of FIG. 4 showing that the packaged windscreen wiper devices are straightened inside the package.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] FIG. 1 shows a preferred variant of a windscreen wiper device 1 of the flat blade type. The windscreen wiper device is built up of an elastomeric wiper blade 2, in the longitudinal sides of which opposing longitudinal grooves 3 are formed, and of longitudinal Strips 4 made of spring band steel, which are fitted in the longitudinal grooves 3, the strips 4 firm a flexible carrier element for the rubber wiper blade 2, as it were, which is thus biased in a curved position (the curvature in operative position being that of a windscreen to be wiped). Neighbouring ends 5 of strips 4 are interconnected on either side of the windscreen wiper device I by means of connecting pieces 6 or end caps functioning as clamping members. In this embodiment, the connecting pieces 6 are separate constructional elements, which may be form-locked as well as force-locked to the strips 4 made of spring band steel, in the latter case the connecting pieces form transverse bridges for the strips 4, as it were. The windscreen wiper device 1 is furthermore built up of a connecting device 7 of plastic or metallic material for an oscillating wiper arm 8. Connecting device 7 comprises clamping members 9 that are integral therewith, which engage round longitudinal sides of the strips 4 that face away from each other, as a result of which the connecting device 7 is firmly attached to the unit consisting or wiper blade 2 and strips 4. The oscillating wiper arm 8 is pivotally connected to the connecting device 7 about a pivot axis near one end. A spoiler or air deflector 10 is included and comprises two separate sub-spoilers 11. Each sub-spoiler is detachably connected in its entirety to the wiper blade 2 on opposite sides of the connecting device 7.

[0028] In FIG. 2 an elongated package 12 in the form of two interconnected sleeves 13, 14 is depicted. Each sleeve 13, 14 is arranged to receive and accommodate a windscreen wiper device 15, 16 of the flat blade type. This is shown in FIG. 3, wherein these windscreen wiper devices 1 5, 16 are slid in longitudinal direction inside their corresponding sleeves 3, 14. In FIG. 3 the wiper blades are represented with their wiping lips directed towards the center of the package 12, but in another preferred embodiment their wiping lips are directed away from the center, i.e. to the outside of the package. The package 12 is made from one blank and is made entirely of cardboard. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the package 12 is manufactured by interconnecting an upper surface and a bottom surface of one bigger sleeve together along their length and along a portion of their width, for example by local hot melting or gluing, so that an interconnection region 17 is formed. The interconnecting region 17 may he provided by a weakening line, particularly a perforation line 18, to easily separate the sleeves 13, 14 by hand through a tearing operation.

[0029] With reference to FIG. 4, walls 19, 20 of each sleeve 13, 14 that face towards the interconnection region 17 of the sleeves 13, 14 enclose an acute angle a smaller than 45.

[0030] Hence, the windscreen wiper devices 15,16 are supported inside their corresponding sleeves 13,14 at the location of its connecting device 7 and/or its connecting pieces 6, and so that a wiping lip 21 of the wiper blade 2 thereof is not engaged at all. The wiping lip 21 rests thus free inside the sleeves 13, 14 and cannot he damaged during transport, for example. As shown, the package 12 is mirror symmetrical relative to a vertical median plane perpendicular to the interconnection region 17 thereof. This is also the case in another preferred embodiment (not shown), wherein the walls 19,20 enclosing the acute angle a face away from the interconnection region 17 of the sleeves 13,14, i.e. at the location 22, the package 12 is non-mirror symmetrical relative to the vertical median plane thereof in case one of the sleeves 13 has the acute angle towards the interconnection region 17 and the other of the sleeves 14 has the acute angle away from the interconnection region 17, that is at the location 22.

[0031] In FIG. 5 the sleeves 13, 14 are bend towards each other and are subsequently connected together, for example glued.

[0032] As shown in FIG. 6, the windscreen wiper devices 15,16 are stretched, i.e. straightened inside their corresponding sleeves 13,14, seen relative to their curved position prior to insertion in the package in FIG. 2 (shown in dotted lined in FIG. 6).

[0033] The present invention is not restricted to the embodiment shown, but also covers other preferred embodiments falling under the scope of the appended claims.