WINDSCREEN WIPER DEVICE

Abstract

A windscreen wiper device includes a connecting device (1) for an oscillating arm. The oscillating arm can he pivotally connected to the connecting device (1) about a pivot axis near a free end of the oscillating arm, with the interposition of a joint part (2), wherein the joint part (2) is detachably connected to the connecting device (1) by engaging protrusions (10, 11) of the connecting device (1), at the location of the pivot axis (10, 11), in recesses (12, 13) provided in the joint part (2). The connecting device (1) and the joint part (2) are arranged to enable its connection to an oscillating arm of at least three types.

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 includes at least one longitudinal groove, in which groove a longitudinal strip of the carrier element is disposed, which windscreen wiper device comprises a connecting device for an oscillating arm; a joint part is detachably connected to said connecting device by engaging protrusions of said connecting device, at the location of a pivot axis, in recesses provided in said joint part, wherein said protrusions of said connecting device are provided with co-axial through holes, wherein an upper surface of said joint part comprises a recess arranged to accommodate a L-shaped shoulder provided near said free end of an oscillating arm of a first type, wherein said co-axial through holes are arranged to receive a transverse pivot pin provided near a free end of an oscillating arm of the first type, and wherein a side of said joint part is arranged to abut a leg of said L-shaped shoulder disposed at an end thereof and facing a windscreen to be wiped; said joint part comprises at least one resilient tongue arranged to engage into a correspondingly shaped hole provided in a base of a U-shaped cross-section of an oscillating arm of a second type, wherein said resilient tongue is hingeable about a hinge axis between a inward position, wherein said wiper blade can be released from the oscillating arm of the second type, and an outward position, wherein said wiper blade can be retained on the oscillating arm of the second type; said joint part is provided with a free end having a recess arranged to accommodate a free end of an oscillating arm of a third type, wherein said joint part comprises at least one protrusion extending laterally from a longitudinal side of said joint part, said protrusion being arranged to hook behind a correspondingly shaped protrusion on the oscillating arm of the third type for blocking a longitudinal movement of said wiper blade with respect to the oscillating arm of the third type.

2. The windscreen wiper device according to claim 1, wherein said joint part has an at least substantially U-shaped cross-section at the location of its connection to said connection device, wherein said joint part in each leg of said U-shaped cross-section is provided with said recess provided co-axially with said pivot axis, and wherein said co-axial recesses of said legs of said U-shaped cross-section and said co-axial through holes of said protrusions of said connecting device are arranged to receive the pivot pin of the oscillating arm of the first type.

3. The windscreen wiper device according to claim 1, wherein said joint part has an at least substantially U-shaped cross-section at the location of its connection to said connection device, and wherein a base of said U-shaped cross-section of said joint part comprises said resilient tongue extending outwardly.

4. The windscreen wiper device according to claim 1, wherein said hinge axis is located near an inner edge of said joint part.

5. The windscreen wiper device according to claim 1, wherein said hinge axis is located near an outer edge of said joint part.

6. The windscreen wiper device according to claim 1, wherein said joint part has an at least substantially U-shaped cross-section at the location of its connection to said connection device, and wherein a base of said U-shaped cross-section of said joint part comprises said recess arranged to accommodate the free end of the oscillating arm of the third type.

7. The windscreen wiper device according to claim 6, wherein said free end of said joint part is resilient and can pivot about a hinge axis between a first position for mounting or dismounting the free end of the oscillating arm of the third type into or from said recess in the base of the U-shaped cross-section of said joint part, and a second position for connecting the free end of the oscillating arm of the third type to said joint part.

8. The windscreen wiper device according claim 1, wherein said connecting device comprises a longitudinal channel arranged to receive an oscillating arm of a fourth type comprising two longitudinal arm sections connected to each other by scans of a curved intermediate section.

9. The windscreen wiper device according to claim 8, wherein said joint part has an at least substantially U-shaped cross-section at the location of its connection to said connection device, and wherein said longitudinal channel, a base and legs of the U-shaped cross-section of said joint part are arranged to receive a longitudinal arm section of the oscillating arm of the fourth type that in use is facing towards a windscreen to be wiped.

10. The windscreen wiper device according to claim 8, wherein said free end of said joint part is movable between an open position, wherein said wiper blade can be released from the oscillating arm of the fourth type, and a closed position, wherein said wiper blade can be retained on the oscillating arm of the fourth type.

11. The windscreen wiper device according to claim 10, wherein said free end of said joint part is hingeable between said open and closed positions about a longitudinal axis of the windscreen wiper device.

12. The windscreen wiper device according to claim 1, wherein a cover is detachably connected to said joint part.

13. The windscreen wiper device according to claim 12, wherein said cover is detachably connected to said joint part by engaging protrusions of said connecting device, at the location of said pivot axis, in recesses provided in said cover.

14. The windscreen wiper device according to claim 12, wherein an upper surface of said cover comprises a recess arranged to accommodate a rod-shaped oscillating arm of a fifth type; a L-shaped shoulder near the free end of the oscillating arm of the first type.

15. The windscreen wiper device according to claim 12, wherein said cover comprises a cap provided with a protrusion in use extending in downward direction towards a windscreen to be wiped, and wherein said downwardly extending protrusion is adapted to engage in a correspondingly shaped hole provided in the oscillating arm of the fifth type for retaining said wiper blade onto the oscillating arm of the fifth type.

16. The windscreen wiper device according to claim 15, wherein said cap is hingeably connected to said cover between a closed position, wherein said wiper blade is retained onto the oscillating arm of the fifth type, and an open position, wherein said wiper blade can be released from the oscillating arm of the fifth type.

17. The windscreen wiper device according to claim 14, wherein said cover has an at least substantially U-shaped cross-section at the location of its connection to said joint part, and wherein said recess is provided in a base of the U-shaped cross-section.

18. The windscreen wiper device according to claim 14, wherein said cover comprises two spaced-apart guiding protrusions extending upwardly from an upper surface of said cover, and wherein said guiding protrusions are adapted to receive the oscillating arm of the fifth type between them.

19. The windscreen wiper device according to claim 14, wherein said cover is detachably connected to said joint part through a snapping/clipping operation.

20. A method for manufacturing 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 groove, in which groove a longitudinal strip of the carrier element is disposed, which windscreen wiper device comprises a connecting device for an oscillating arm, a joint part is detachably connected to said connecting device by engaging protrusions of said connecting device, at the location of a pivot axis, in recesses provided in said joint part, wherein said protrusions of said connecting device are provided with co-axial through holes , wherein an upper surface of said joint part comprises a recess arranged to accommodate a L-shaped shoulder provided near a free end of the oscillating arm of a first type, wherein said co-axial through holes are arranged to receive a transverse pivot pin provided near the free end of the oscillating arm of the first type, and wherein a side of said joint part is arranged to abut a leg of said L-shaped shoulder disposed at an end thereof and facing a windscreen to he wiped; said joint part comprises at least one resilient tongue arranged to engage into a correspondingly shaped hole provided in a base of a U-shaped cross-section of an oscillating arm of a second type, wherein said resilient tongue is hingeable about a hinge axis between a inward position, wherein said wiper blade can he released from the oscillating arm of the second type, and an outward position, wherein said wiper blade can be retained on the oscillating arm of the second type; said joint part is provided with a free end having a recess arranged to accommodate a free end of an oscillating arm of a third type, wherein said joint part comprises at least one protrusion extending laterally from a longitudinal side of said joint part, said protrusion being arranged to hook behind a correspondingly shaped protrusion on the oscillating arm of the third type for blocking a longitudinal movement of said wiper blade with respect to the oscillating arm of the third type.

Description

THE DRAWINGS

[0034] The invention will now he explained more in detail with reference to figures illustrated in a drawing, wherein

[0035] FIGS. 1 and 2 are a schematic and perspective views of a connecting device, a joint part and a cover of a windscreen wiper device in a preferred embodiment of the invention in exploded position (FIG. 1) and in assembled position with and without the cover (FIG. 2);

[0036] FIG. 3 corresponds with FIG. 2, but shows a perspective view of several types of oscillating arms to be attached;

[0037] FIGS. 4 and 5 reveal several steps of mounting a unit consisting of the connecting device, the joint part and the cover of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 to a hook-shaped oscillating arm;

[0038] FIG. 6 shows a perspective view, a side view and a top view of the connecting device of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3;

[0039] FIGS. 7 and 8 correspond to FIG. 6, but show an interconnecting of a hook-shaped oscillating arm and the connecting device of FIG. 6;

[0040] FIGS. 9 and 10 correspond to FIG. 6, but show an interconnecting of an oscillating arm of another type and the connecting device of FIG. 6 and the joint part of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3; and

[0041] FIGS. 11 and 12 correspond to FIG. 6, but show a perspective view of the connecting device and the joint part of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 in exploded view and in assembled position (FIG. 12).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0042] FIG. 1 shows a schematic and perspective view of a connecting device 1, a joint part 2 and a cover 3 in a preferred embodiment of the invention in exploded position to he used in a windscreen wiper device of the flat blade type. Such a windscreen wiper device of the flat blade type is typically built up of an elastomeric (rubber) wiper blade comprising a central longitudinal groove, wherein a longitudinal strip made of spring band steel is fitted in the longitudinal groove. The strip forms 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). Usually an end of the strip and/or an end of the wiper blade is connected on either side of the windscreen wiper device to respective connecting pieces or end caps. The connecting pieces may be formed as separate constructional elements, which may be form-locked as well as force-locked to both ends of the strip and/or ends of the wiper blade, In the alternative, the connecting pieces may he in one piece with the strip made of spring band steel. The windscreen wiper device is furthermore built up of a connecting device of metal for connecting an oscillating arm thereto, with the interposition of a joint part. The oscillating arm is pivotally connected to the connecting device about a pivot axis near one end.

[0043] In the present case the connecting device 1 is particularly welded, soldered, glued or clamped onto two spaced-apart longitudinal strips disposed on opposite sides in longitudinal grooves of the wiper blade. In the alternative or in addition thereto, the connecting device 1 is connected to the elastomeric (rubber) material of the wiper blade, for example glued or clamped.

[0044] Although not shown in the figures, but fully understood by a skilled person, the oscillating arm is connected to a mounting head fixed for rotation to a shaft driven by a small motor. In use, the shaft rotates alternately in a clockwise and in a counter-clockwise sense carrying the mounting head into rotation also, which in turn draws the oscillating arm into rotation and by means of the connecting device moves the wiper blade.

[0045] In FIG. 1 the connecting device 1 is made in one piece of plastic and comprises an elongated flat base part 4, as well as a top part 5 having a U-shaped cross-section, wherein a base 6 and legs 7,8 of the U-shaped cross-section define a channel 9 between them arranged to accommodate a hook-shaped oscillating arm, as will be explained hereunder. The legs 7,8 comprise cylindrical protrusions 10,11 extending laterally outwardly for snappingly and pivotally engaging into identically shaped recesses 12,13 in legs 14,15 of a U-shaped cross-section of the joint part 2. The protrusions 10,11 of the connecting device 1 and the recesses 12,13 of the joint part 2 are co-axial with the pivot axis. As shown, the protrusions 12,13 are equipped with through holes 16 also co-axial with the pivot axis. The protrusions 10,11 function as bearing surfaces at the location of the pivot axis in order to pivot the joint part 2 (and the oscillating arm attached thereto) about the pivot axis near one end of the oscillating arm. The protrusions 10,11 are preferably in one piece with the connecting device 1. In the alternative the protrusions 10,11 are part of a separate hollow pin to be inserted into opposite holes in the legs 7,8 of the connecting device 1 (not shown).

[0046] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the connecting device 1 and the joint part 2 in assembled position (top of FIG. 2), whereas at the bottom of FIG. 2 a perspective view of the connecting device 1, the joint part 2, as well as the cover 3 in assembled position is shown. As depicted, in the latter position the cover 3 almost entirely surrounds the joint part 2.

[0047] With reference to FIG. 3 on the left side, a unit consisting of the connecting device 1 and the joint part 2 is arranged to he connected to different types of oscillating arms, namely an oscillating arm 17 of a first type, an oscillating arm 18 of a second type, an oscillating arm 19 of a third type, as well as an oscillating arm 20 of another type being a combination of the second and third type oscillating arms 18,19. Again referring to FIG. 3 but now on the right side, a unit consisting of the connecting device 1, the joint part 2 and the cover 3 is arranged to be connected to other different types of oscillating arms, namely an oscillating arm 21 of a fourth type, an oscillating arm 22 of a fifth type, as well as an oscillating arm 23 of another type. The oscillating arms 17,23 mutually differ in a distance between legs of an U-shaped cross-section of the oscillating arms 17,23. The distance in the oscillating arm 17 of the first type is 19 mm, while the distance in the oscillating arm 23 of the other type is 22 mm.

[0048] As can be seen in FIG. 3, the joint part 2 comprises a resilient tongue 24 extending outwardly, while the oscillating arm 18,20 each have a U-shaped cross-section at the location of their connection to the joint part 2, so that the tongue 24 engages in an identically shaped hole 25 provided in a base of the U-shaped cross-section. The connecting device 1 with the wiper blade is mounted onto the oscillating arm 18,23 as follows. The joint part 2 being already clipped onto the connecting device 1 is pivoted relative to the connecting device 1, so that the joint part 2 can be easily slid on a free end of the oscillating arm 18,20. During this sliding movement the resilient tongue 24 is initially pushed in against a spring force and then allowed to spring back into the hole 25, thus snapping, that is clipping the resilient tongue 24 into the hole 25. This is a so-called bayonet connection. The oscillating arm 18,20 together with the joint part 2 may then he pivoted back in a position parallel to the wiper blade in order to be ready for use. By subsequently pushing in again the resilient tongue 24 against the spring force (as if it were a push button), the connecting device 1 and the joint part 2 together with the wiper blade may be released from the oscillating arm 18,20. Dismounting the connecting device 1 with the wiper blade from the oscillating arm 18,20 is thus realized by sliding the connecting device 1 and the joint part 2 together with the wiper blade in a direction away from the oscillating arm 18,20.

[0049] Again with reference to FIG. 3 on the left, the oscillating arm 17 of the first type is provided with an extension comprising a L-shape shoulder 26 and a transverse pivot pin 27, wherein the shoulder 26 projects out in the direction of the pivot pin 27 and across the wiper blade and at the end of which is disposed a leg 29 facing the windscreen to be wiped. An upper surface of the joint part 2 comprises a recess 28 arranged to accommodate the L-shaped shoulder 26, wherein the co-axial through holes 10 are arranged to receive the transverse pivot pin 27. In assembled position a side of the joint part 2 facing away from the oscillating arm 17 of the first type cooperates with a stop being formed by an inner wall of a leg 29 of the U-shaped shoulder 26, while securing of the wiper blade on the pivot pin 27 toward the other side is taken over by the oscillating arm 17 of the first type itself.

[0050] For connecting the oscillating arm 19 of the third type to the joint part 2 the oscillating arm 19 is pivoted relative to the joint part 2 in an inclined position with respect to the wiper blade, so that resilient protrusions 30 extending laterally outwardly on either side of the joint part 2 are hooking behind correspondingly shaped protrusions 31 on legs 32 of a U-shaped cross-section of the oscillating arm 19, the oscillating arm 19 is pivoted back relative to the joint part 2 in a parallel position with respect to the wiper blade, so that a free end of the oscillating arm 2 is snapped in a recess 33 at the free end of the joint part 2. Connecting the arm 20 of another type is carried out accordingly, with the difference that in addition the resilient tongue 24 of the joint part 2 is clipped inside the hole 25 of the oscillating arm 20.

[0051] As can be seen in FIG. 3 on the right, the cover 3 is snapped or clipped onto the protrusions 10,11 of the connecting device 1 on top of the joint part 2. The cover 3 comprises on its upper surface a recess 48 arranged to accommodate an L-shaped shoulder 26 of the oscillating arm 23, wherein the co-axial through holes 10 are arranged to receive an transverse pivot pin 27 of the oscillating arm 23. In assembled position a side of the cover 3 facing away from the oscillating arm 23 cooperates with a stop being formed by an inner wall of a leg 29 of the L-shaped shoulder 26, while securing of the wiper blade on the pivot pin 27 toward the other side is taken over by the oscillating arm 23 itself.

[0052] As depicted in FIG. 3 on the right, the cover 3 comprises a cap 34 on an upper surface thereof provided with an in use downwardly extending protrusion 35, wherein the downwardly extending protrusion 35 is adapted to engage in a correspondingly shaped hole 36 provided in the oscillating arm 22 of the fifth type for retaining the wiper blade onto the oscillating arm 22. The cap 34 has a U-shaped cross-section, wherein the protrusion 35 extends from a base of the U-shaped cross-section of the cap 34 in downward direction in use. The cap 34 near an edge of the upper surface is hingeably connected to the cover 3 between a closed position (seen in FIGS. 3 and 5), wherein the wiper blade can be retained onto the oscillating arm 22, and an open position (seen in FIGS. 4 and 5), wherein the wiper blade can be released from the oscillating arm 22. The recess 33 in a base of a U-shaped cross-section of the cover is arranged for receiving a free end 37 of the oscillating arm 7 (FIG. 3). As shown in FIG. 4, the cover 3 further comprises two spaced-apart guiding protrusions 38 extending upwardly from an upper surface of the cover 3, wherein the guiding protrusions 38 are adapted to receive the free end 37 of the oscillating arm 22 between them.

[0053] FIGS. 4 and 5 reveal several steps of mounting a unit consisting of the connecting device 1, the joint part 2 and the cover 3 to the oscillating arm 21 of the fourth type comprising two longitudinal arm sections 39,40 connected to each other by means of a curved intermediate section 41. As shown, a free end 42 of the joint part 2 is hingeable about a longitudinal axis of the windscreen wiper device between an open position, wherein the wiper blade can be released from the oscillating arm 21 of the fourth type, and a closed position, wherein the wiper blade can be retained on the oscillating arm 21. In the open position the longitudinal arm section 40 in use facing towards a windscreen to be wiped is introduced in the longitudinal channel 9 of the connecting device 1 and between a base and legs 14,15 of a U-shaped cross-section of the joint part 2.

[0054] The free end 42 is subsequently closed, wherein finally, also the cap 34 is closed, while the longitudinal arm section 39 in use facing away from a windscreen to be wiped is kept between the guiding protrusions 38.

[0055] In FIGS. 6 through 12 corresponding parts have been designated with the same reference numerals. The connecting device 1 comprises two spaced-apart guiding protuberances 38 extending upwardly from an upper surface of flat base part 4 in order to guide the longitudinal arm section 40 of the oscillating arm 21 of the fourth type. In the embodiment of FIG. 6 the connecting device I further comprises a second top part 44 also in one piece therewith and having a U-shaped cross-section, wherein a base 45 and legs 46,47 of the U-shaped cross-section further define the channel 9 between them arranged to accommodate the longitudinal arm section 40 of the oscillating arm 21 of the fourth type.

[0056] The invention is not restricted to the variants shown in the drawing, but it also extends to other embodiments that fall within the scope of the appended claims.