Abstract
The present disclosure provides a windscreen wiper for a vehicle, the windscreen wiper having a wiper arm, a wiper blade, and a cover attached to the wiper arm. The windscreen wiper comprises at least one nozzle for windscreen washing fluid that forms part of the cover or is fastened to the cover. The-present disclosure also provides a vehicle comprising the windscreen wiper, a method of fastening the windscreen wiper to the vehicle, and a method of cleaning a windscreen of a vehicle.
Claims
1. A windscreen wiper for a vehicle, the windscreen wiper comprising a wiper arm, a wiper blade, and a cover fastened to the wiper arm, wherein the cover covers at least one region of the wiper arm and/or at least one region of the wiper blade, and wherein at least one nozzle for windscreen washing fluid forms part of the cover or is fastened to the cover.
2. The windscreen wiper of claim 1, wherein the cover comprises an integrated supply of wiping fluid to the at least one nozzle.
3. The windscreen wiper of claim 1, wherein a hose for windscreen washer fluid fastened to the cover, and wherein the wiper arm and/or the wiper blade are arranged on the backside of the cover.
4. The windscreen wiper of claim 1, further comprising a heating element for heating a windscreen washer fluid-carrying component.
5. The windscreen wiper of claim 1, wherein: (i) the wiper blade is detachable from the wiper arm; (ii) the cover is detachable from the wiper arm; or (iii) both (i) and (ii).
6. The windscreen wiper of claim 1, wherein the cover has a fold along which the cover can be folded from a flat state to a compact, space-saving state.
7. The windscreen wiper of claim 1, wherein the cover comprises a substantially transparent material.
8. The windscreen wiper of claim 1, wherein the wiper arm comprises a linearly extending region that extends in the direction of a longitudinal axis of the wiper arm; wherein the maximum longitudinal extension of the wiper blade is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the wiper arm; and wherein the cover covers at least the linearly extending region of the wiper arm.
9. A vehicle comprising: a windscreen; a further component; a trough between the further component and the windscreen, wherein the trough comprises an upper opening that is delimited on one side by an edge of the further component at an end of the further component facing the windscreen and is delimited on an opposite side by a portion of the windscreen or a portion of a frame that holds the windscreen; and a windscreen wiper for the windscreen comprising a wiper arm, a wiper blade, and a cover fastened to the wiper arm; wherein the wiper arm and the wiper blade are arranged in the trough in an operating state of the windscreen wiper; and wherein in the operating state of the windscreen wiper at least a part of the upper opening of the trough is closed by the cover or the wiper arm such that a part of the cover or the wiper arm touches the end of the further component facing the windscreen and an opposite part of the cover contacts the windscreen or the frame that holds the windscreen.
10. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the windscreen wiper is the windscreen wiper of claim 1.
11. The vehicle of claim 9, further comprising an axle and a drive capable of rotating the axle, wherein the wiper arm is mounted at one end of the axle, and wherein the end of the axle is arranged in the trough in the operating state of the windscreen wiper.
12. A method of using a windscreen wiper on a vehicle, said method comprising: providing a vehicle, wherein the vehicle is the vehicle of claim 9; and cleaning the windscreen of the vehicle with the windscreen wiper.
13. A method comprising fastening a windscreen wiper to a vehicle, wherein the windscreen wiper is the windscreen wiper of claim 1.
14. A method for cleaning a windscreen of a vehicle, said method comprising: providing a vehicle, wherein the vehicle is the vehicle of claim 9; providing the windscreen wiper in the operating state, in which the wiper arm and the wiper blade are arranged within the trough; raising the cover from the upper opening of the trough; and moving the wiper arm and the wiper blade out of the trough and at least partially over the windscreen.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0059] The invention is described in greater detail below with reference to the accompanying figure, in which:
[0060] FIG. 1 shows a section through the front region of a vehicle with a front hood, a windscreen wiper according to the invention in a trough, and a windscreen;
[0061] FIG. 2 shows perspective front views, obliquely, from above on the front region of a vehicle, showing different operating situations of the windscreen wiper of the vehicle;
[0062] FIG. 3 shows a plan view of a windscreen wiper according to the invention with a wiper arm, a wiper blade and a cover;
[0063] FIG. 4 shows a side view of a windscreen wiper according to the invention with a wiper arm, a hose, nozzles and a cover;
[0064] FIG. 5 shows a side view of a windscreen wiper according to the invention with a wiper arm, a wiper blade and a folded cover;
[0065] FIG. 6 shows a plan view of a windscreen wiper according to the invention with two folds in the cover;
[0066] FIG. 7 shows a plan view of a windscreen wiper according to the invention with two hoses for nozzles on the backside of the cover;
[0067] FIG. 8 shows sections through a windscreen wiper according to the invention with two folds in the cover, showing different operating situations of the windscreen wiper;
[0068] FIG. 9 shows sections through a windscreen wiper according to the invention with two hinges in the cover, showing the different operating situations of the windscreen wiper; and
[0069] FIG. 10 shows a section and perspective view of a nozzle for fastening to a fluid channel.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0070] Referring to FIGS. 1-10, wherein like numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views, a windscreen wiper is illustrated and generally designated 1. In particular, in accordance with certain embodiments, a section through a front region of a vehicle 2 is shown in FIG. 1. The vehicle 2 comprises a front hood 7 made of metal or plastic, the windscreen wiper 1 in a trough 8, and a windscreen 3. The front hood 7 may terminate flush with the trough 8. Both components can be fastened to each other in particular by clamping or latching. The trough 8 is fixedly connected with a further component of the vehicle 2 to the opposite side of the front hood 7 in particular with the frame or the windscreen 3 itself. The connection may be adhesive, wherein latching and/or clamping may also be utilized. The trough 8 and the gap between the windscreen 3 and front hood 7 is at least substantially covered and filled by the windscreen wiper 1 and, in particular, a cover 6 of the of the windscreen wiper 1. The cover 6 may terminate flush with both outer edges of the trough 8, such that a predominantly smooth transition from the front hood 7 to the windscreen 3 is provided (e.g. to offer increased aerodynamics and/or minimize risk of injury to pedestrians). Optionally, the cover 6 of the windscreen wiper 1 closes the trough 8 tight to ensure maximum protection against contamination or driving noise.
[0071] As shown in FIG. 2, in accordance with particular embodiments, the vehicle 2 may comprise windscreen 3, front hood 7, and two adjacent windscreen wipers 1, in two configurations (at left and at right). The left configuration of FIG. 2 shows the windscreen wipers 1 not in operation, and therefore in an idle position. It can be seen that the associated covers 6 of the windscreen wipers 1 at least partially cover the region between the front hood 7 and the windscreen 3. Furthermore, mutually complementary edges on the joint of the two covers 6 can be seen in plan view. The right configuration of FIG. 2 shows the windscreen wipers 1 in an operating state and rotated about 90, leaving open the trough 8. The visual obstruction during the wiping process is reduced in particular by the foldable covers 6 of the windscreen wiper 1, which may be made of and/or comprise partially transparent materials.
[0072] As shown in the FIG. 3, in accordance with some embodiments, the windscreen wiper 1 comprises a wiper arm 4 and a wiper blade 5 in addition to the cover 6. The cover 6 may be wide relative to the wiper arm 4, and is typically mounted over the wiper blade 5 and wiper arm 4. Typically, the cover 6 is connected to the wiper arm 4 via a reversible fastener, such as a clamp, screw or a quick-release fastener. The outer contour of the cover 6 may be formed slightly sickle-shaped on the side facing away from the wiper arm 4, e.g. to allow a smooth insertion of the windscreen wiper 1 into the idle position. The tip of the cover 6 may cover a part of the adjacent windscreen wiper 1. In the viewing direction of FIG. 3, the cover 6 may cover at least 70% of the maximum cross section of the wiper blade 5 in this direction of the view and/or at least 70% of the maximum cross section of the wiper arm 4 in this direction of the view.
[0073] As shown in FIG. 4, in accordance with some embodiments, the windscreen wiper 1 may comprise, e.g. in addition to wiper arm 4 and the cover 6, hoses 10 (or fluid channels) for supplying windscreen washer fluid, and nozzles 13. The cover 6, which may be designed to be largely planar, may hold the hoses 10 on an underside. The hoses 10 are typically adapted to guide windscreen wiper water to the nozzles 13, which can be located along the entire windscreen wiper
[0074] As shown in FIG. 5, in accordance with certain embodiments, the cover 6 has a fold or kink 11, which is typically at least substantially parallel to the wiper arm 4 and is more or less centered in the transverse direction. The material composing the cover 6 may comprise metal and/or plastic, e.g. a transparent plastic. In certain embodiments, the cover 6 comprises a shape memory material, which folds up for operation (e.g. via fold 11) and is unfolded in the idle position. Such folding of the cover 6 can be carried out electrically and/or electromechanically, e.g. via pneumatic drives or the like. In some embodiments, the folding mechanism can be purely mechanical, for example via spring-loaded, preloaded hinges 9, which are triggered or adjusted particularly via a positive mechanism, and are generally shown in FIG. 3. In certain embodiments, an elastic material is utilized to provide a required restoring force for the cover 6. In general, the cover 6 comprises a sufficient dimensional stability to resist strong wind. Accordingly, the folded state of the cover 6 is typically as compact as possible/practical and comprises a low air resistance coefficient (CW value), which can be taken into account in particular by rounded edges.
[0075] In certain embodiments, as shown in FIG. 6, the windscreen wiper 1 may comprise two of more folds 11 in the cover 6, e.g. to achieve a particularly compact folded state in the operating state. In addition, the two or more folds 11 or kinks allow for increased adaptability for closing the trough 8 in the idle position, particularly when the cover 6 comprises rigid materials such as metal in conjunction with hinges 12 in the folds 11, as shown in FIG. 9 and described below.
[0076] As shown in FIG. 7, in accordance with particular embodiments, the windscreen wiper 1 may comprise two of the hoses 10 attached to the underside of the cover 6 for supplying washer fluid to the nozzles 13, which may also be located protected on a rear side of the cover 6. In these exemplary embodiments shown, the hoses 10 are provided to give a fluid channel on both sides of the wiper blade 5, which may be supported at three locations, e.g. via a clamping or latching connection. The nozzles 13 may optionally be located on a bracket. In certain embodiments, the nozzles 13 may be distributed along one or more of the hoses 10.
[0077] In general, the components of the windscreen wiper 1 for cleaning the windscreen are well protected against damage, even during operation by a rear-sided mounting of the windscreen wiper 1, and allow a uniform and economical distribution of the washer fluid. In addition, the rubber-like lamella of the wiper blade 5 is spared, since the wiper blade 5 is typically wetted by water/fluid when operating the windscreen wiper system 1.
[0078] In certain embodiments, as shown in FIG. 8 and as introduced above, the windscreen wiper 1 may comprise the folds 11 in the cover 6 as linear kinks, which allow the cover 6 to bend during operation in that direction, which is advantageous in particular for reasons of space and aerodynamics. In FIG. 8, an unfolded state is shown on the left, while conceivable position states during operation of the windscreen wiper 1 on a mostly oblique implementation of the windscreen 3 are illustrated on the right.
[0079] As shown in FIG. 9, in accordance with some embodiments, the one or two kinks 11 for folding the cover bare realized via rotatably mounted elements such as hinges 12. The hinges 12 allow for a folding up of both lateral elements of the cover 6 in the operating state.
[0080] In certain embodiments, as illustrated at the bottom right in FIG. 9, alignment of a bore in the nozzles 13 from which the washer fluid emerges (collectively, the bores) in a direction in which the washer fluid exits can be influenced within the lateral elements of the cover 6 (e.g. downward for a left-hand channel and diagonally downward to the right for the right-hand channel shown at the bottom right in FIG. 9). The windscreen wiper 1 may comprise the cover 6 with variable lateral elements, which can also be used to change the orientation of the washer fluid jet (e.g. from the nozzles 13).
[0081] Based on the particular orientation of the bore in the left channel in the embodiments exemplified by the configuration shown at the bottom right in FIG. 9, the bore can be protected from dirt if the lateral element of the cover 6 in which a corresponding one of the nozzles 13 is located is pivoted from a vertical position shown (e.g. as in the configuration shown at the bottom right in FIG. 9) into a position in which the left side element is horizontal.
[0082] As shown in FIG. 10, in accordance with certain embodiments, the nozzle 13 may comprise a nozzle outlet 14 for connection to the hose 10, as may typically be used underneath the cover 6. The nozzle 13 may comprise an end cap or connecting element 15 for fluid channels, e.g. which can be installed via adhesive, hot-glue, and/or clamp/fastener. The fluid, which is typically supplied by the washer fluid/water, may be pressurized by an associated pump as described above. As such depending on the arrangement of the components described above, the windscreen wiper may provide the washer fluid to cover an angle range of almost 360, e.g. when nozzle-like outlets (e.g. nozzle outlets 14) are aligned in the rearward direction.
