Device for packaging a wiper blade

Abstract

A device for packaging a wiper blade for a windshield wiping system of a motor vehicle including a flexurally stiff container as well as at least one insert, which is able to be inserted into the container together with the wiper blade. The device includes at least two inserts, developed essentially having mirror symmetry, for accommodating each of an end section of the wiper blade, each insert having at least one accommodation region for accommodating a spring-elastic carrier element and/or a wiper lip of the wiper blade, an accommodation region provided for accommodating the wiper lip being oversized compared to the dimensions of the wiper lip, so that the wiper lip is able to be accommodated in such a way that a sensitive wiping edge of the wiper lip has no contact with the insert.

Claims

1. A device for packaging a wiper blade for a windshield wiping system of a motor vehicle, comprising: a flexurally stiff container; at least two inserts able to be inserted into the container together with the wiper blade, the at least two inserts having mirror symmetry and for accommodating in each case an end section of the wiper blade, each insert having at least one accommodation region for accommodating a wiper lip of the wiper blade, wherein: the accommodation region provided for accommodating the wiper lip is oversized compared to dimensions of the wiper lip, so that the wiper lip is able to be accommodated in such a way that a sensitive wiping edge of the wiper lip has no contact with the insert, and the inserts each include an upper part and a lower part, wherein, with respect to each of the inserts, the upper part of a respective insert is connectable to the lower part of the respective insert in at least one of a force-locking manner and a form-locking manner, wherein the upper part and the lower part are connected in a hinged manner.

2. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein each insert has at least one further accommodation region for accommodating a spring-elastic carrier element.

3. The device as recited in claim 2, wherein the further accommodation region, provided for accommodating the spring-elastic carrier element, of an insert in the form of the spring-elastic carrier element is adapted, in the region of the end section of the wiper blade that is to be accommodated, so that by inserting the wiper blade, form-locking is able to be effected in at least one direction.

4. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the upper part and the lower part each has at least one connecting arrangement for the at least one of the force-locking connection and the form-locking connection.

5. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the inserts are at least one of made of a plastic and produced by a deep drawing method.

6. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the container is developed as one or more pieces and is made of at least one of a plastic and a cardboard.

7. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the container is one of open and able to be opened at at least one of an end face and a longitudinal side for inserting the wiper blade inclusive of the inserts.

8. A device for packaging a wiper blade for a windshield wiping system of a motor vehicle, comprising: a flexurally stiff container; at least two inserts able to be inserted into the container together with the wiper blade, the at least two inserts having mirror symmetry and for accommodating in each case an end section of the wiper blade, each insert having at least one accommodation region for accommodating a wiper lip of the wiper blade, wherein: the accommodation region provided for accommodating the wiper lip is oversized compared to dimensions of the wiper lip, so that the wiper lip is able to be accommodated in such a way that a sensitive wiping edge of the wiper lip has no contact with the insert, and the inserts each include an upper part and a lower part, wherein, with respect to each of the inserts, the upper part of a respective insert is connectable to the lower part of the respective insert in at least one of a force-locking manner and a form-locking manner, wherein the upper part and the lower part are developed as one piece.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 shows a side view of a wiper blade.

(2) FIG. 2 shows a cross-section through a wiper blade.

(3) FIG. 3 shows a side view of an insert.

(4) FIG. 4 shows a top view of an insert.

(5) FIG. 5 shows a side view of a flexurally stiff container.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(6) In the simplified illustration of FIG. 1, one may see a wiper blade 1 which is to be packaged in the device according to the present invention. In the unstressed state, wiper blade 1 has a curvature that is supposed to ensure the secure engagement of wiper blade 1 on a vehicle pane 13, when wiper blade 1 is pressed against pane 13. For this purpose, wiper blade 1 is able to be connected via an adapter 14 to a windshield wiper arm of a windshield wiper system of the vehicle. In the present instance, adapter 14 is situated centrically with respect to the length of wiper blade 1, so that the distance to the two end sections 4 of wiper blade 1 is the same.

(7) The cross section of wiper blade 1 shown in FIG. 1 could approximate that of FIG. 2. However, other cross sections are also possible, which cannot all be drawn up in this instance. Wiper blade 1 of FIG. 2 has a flat, prebent spring-elastic carrier element 6, which in the present case is connected with form-locking to a wiper lip 8, and, in this manner, effects the curvature of wiper blade 1 (see FIG. 1). Instead of a form-locking connection, the connection of carrier element 6 to wiper lip 8 may also be produced in another manner, Wiper lip 8 is profiled and tapers in the direction of a wiping edge 9, using which wiper lip 8 lies against pane 13. The profiling is intended to ensure the flexibility of wiper lip 8. Furthermore, a wind strip in the form of a spoiler 15 may be situated on wiper lip 8 or on spring-elastic carrier element 6.

(8) In order to protect sensitive wiper lip 8 of a comparable wiper blade 1 before its being mounted on the vehicle, the packaging device according to the present invention is provided, which includes a flexurally stiff container 2 (see FIG. 5) and at least two inserts 3 (see FIGS. 3 and 4). Flexurally stiff container 2 is presently executed in two parts, a first part 2.1, that is open on one side, being made of a transparent plastic, and a second part 2.2 made of cardboard being provided for closing the opening of first part 2.1. In order to connect the two parts 2.1, 2.2, the opening of first part 2.1 is bordered by an encircling flange 16, on which the second part made of cardboard is applied in laminated fashion after the insertion of wiper blade 1.

(9) The dimensions of flexurally stiff container 2 are selected so that wiper blade 1 is stretched when it is inserted. In this context, in the regions of its two end sections 4 as well as in the region of the summit of its curvature, wiper blade 1 is supported on container 2. In the region of end section 4, since wiper lip 8 is situated lying outwards, there is the danger, when wiper blade 1 stretches, that wiper lip 8 may be damaged. In the area of the summit of the curvature, the supporting is able to take place, for example, via adapter 14, i.e. via wiper blade 1 itself. To avoid damage to wiper lip 8, however, at least the two end sections 4 of wiper blade 1 are each connected to an insert 3 before insertion. Each insert 3 has a plurality of accommodation regions 5, 7, 17. A first accommodation region 5 is adapted to the shape of elastic carrier element 6, so that after the insertion of wiper blade 1, form-locking and, at the same time position fixing of wiper blade 1 are effected. A second accommodation region 7, that is adjacent to first accommodation region 5, is used to accommodate wiper lip 8, and is oversized compared to the dimensions of wiper lip 8, so that the latter is able to be accommodated freely and unstressed. On the side lying opposite second accommodation region 7, an additional accommodation region 17 is adjacent to first accommodation region 5, in the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. This accommodation region 17 may be used, for example, for accommodating a spoiler 15 or another additional element of wiper blade 1. In order to simplify the development of the various accommodation regions 5, 7, 17, the production of the insert from plastic by deep drawing is provided.

(10) As may be seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, the insert shown has an upper part 3.1 and a lower part 3.2, which are connected in one piece via a film hinge 12. Film hinge 12 makes possible bringing together the two parts 3.1, 3.2, in order to connect these to each other after the insertion of wiper blade 1 into one of parts 3.1, 3.2. To produce the connection, the two parts 3.1, 3.2 have connecting arrangements 10, 11. Connecting arrangement 10 of upper part 3.1 is developed in this instance as a latch, and connecting arrangement 11 of lower part 3.2 is developed in this instance as a recess, latch and recess cooperating in a latching manner. When a deep drawing method is used, connecting arrangements 10, 11 are able to be produced at the same time with insert 3.

(11) In the exemplary embodiment of an insert 3, shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, overall length L=110 mm, width B=40 mm and height H=10 mm. In each case, the dimensions have to be adjusted to the dimensions of wiper blade 1. Furthermore, in such an insert, a plurality of wiper blades may also be accommodated. In this case, the overall length L is to be selected correspondingly longer.

(12) According to one modification of the present invention that is not shown, inserts 3 may also be developed in such a way that they do not completely encompass the respective end section 4 of a wiper blade 1 that is to be accommodated. For example, inserts 3 may be developed in the type of a shoe, which is pushed onto the end section 4 of wiper blade 1 starting from the end face. For the protection of sensitive wiping edge 9, it is sufficient that insert 3 at least partially encompasses wiper lip 8. In order to effect form-locking in the direction of curvature of wiper blade 1 for the purpose of position fixing, an insert 3 only partially encompassing wiper lip 8 has at least two crosspiece-like elements which are developed on two opposite sides of insert 3, and which, during the pushing on of insert 3 to wiper blade 1, each engage in a profiling groove of wiper lip 8 or wiper blade 1, respectively. At the same time, the insert has an accommodation region 7, for accommodating wiper lip 8, which is dimensioned so that at least sensitive wiper edge 9 of wiper lip 8 lies exposed.