WIPER BLADE, IN PARTICULAR FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE

Abstract

A wiper blade (10), in particular for a motor vehicle, includes a wiper strip (16) that is held between a first spring rail portion (34) and a second spring rail portion (36) by a fastening portion (24), and includes a substantially triangular lip portion (18). A cavity portion (22) is provided between the fastening portion (24) and the lip portion (18), at the lower wall (44) of which cavity portion, on the side facing the lip portion (18), at least one guide shoulder (56) for guiding the lip portion (18) is arranged.

Claims

1. A wiper blade (10), comprising a wiper strip (16) that is held by a fastening portion (24) and comprising a substantially triangular lip portion (18), wherein a cavity portion (22) is provided between the fastening portion (24) and the lip portion (18), at the lower wall (44) of which cavity portion is arranged, on the side facing the lip portion (18), at least one guide shoulder (56) for guiding the lip portion (18).

2. The wiper blade (10) according to claim 1, wherein the guide shoulder (56) is designed as a groove or indentation.

3. The wiper blade (10) according to claim 1, wherein the lip portion (18) is approximately triangular in cross-section and has an edge (60) on each side, the edge (60) of the lip portion (18) that is in each case at the rear in the direction of movement of the wiper strip (16) during operation engaging in the guide shoulder (56).

4. The wiper blade (10) according to claim 1, wherein the cavity portion (22) is substantially rectangular in cross-section.

5. The wiper blade (10) according to claim 1, wherein the fastening portion (24) is substantially T-shaped.

6. The wiper blade (10) according to claim 1, wherein the first and/or the second spring rail portion (34, 36) is/are arranged between the cavity portion (22) and an upper beam (26) of the fastening portion (24).

7. The wiper blade (10) according to claim 1, wherein the lip portion (18) is mirror-symmetrical in cross-section and has exactly two incisions (38) on each side.

8. The wiper blade (10) according to claim 7, wherein at least one further tilting connecting piece (40) is formed by the incisions (38).

9. The wiper blade (10) according to claim 8, wherein exactly two further tilting connecting pieces (40) are formed by the incisions (38).

10. The wiper blade (10) according to claim 9, wherein a first tilting connecting piece (30) has a first width (B1) and at least one of the two further tilting connecting pieces (40), has a second width (B2), and the second width (B2) is equal to or smaller than the first width (B1).

11. The wiper blade (10) according to claim 10, wherein each of the two further connecting pieces (40) has the second width (B2).

12. The wiper blade (10) according to claim 1, wherein the incisions (38) have a cut width (SB) of less than 1 millimeter.

13. The wiper blade (10) according to claim 12, wherein the incisions (38) have a cut width (SB) of less than 0.5 millimeter.

14. The wiper blade (10) according to claim 1, wherein the wiper blade (10) is a motor vehicle wiper blade (10).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] An exemplary embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawings and is explained in more detail in the following description. In the drawings:

[0015] FIG. 1 shows a wiper blade according to the invention in a schematic side view.

[0016] FIG. 2 shows a cross-section through a wiper strip of a wiper blade.

[0017] FIG. 3 shows a cross-section through a wiper strip of a wiper blade according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a wiper blade 10 according to the invention. This blade comprises a spring rail 12 on which a fastening means 14 for fastening to a wiper arm, which is not shown here for reasons of clarity, is fastened. A wiper strip 16 is arranged on the spring rail 12 on the side facing away from the fastening element 14 and carries a lip portion 18 on its side facing away from the spring rail 12, which lip portion is capable of removing moisture from a screen 20 (FIG. 2) during operation. The wiper blade 10 has a longitudinal extension, the fastening element 14 being arranged approximately in the center of the longitudinal extension. End caps, not specifically designated, are arranged at the ends of the longitudinal extension.

[0019] FIG. 2 shows a cross-section through the wiper strip 16 of a wiper blade 10 according to the invention. The wiper strip 16 is designed so as to be mirror-symmetrical about an imaginary axis of symmetry S. In the mounted position, the wiper strip 16, more precisely the lip portion 18 of the wiper strip 16, rests on the screen 20 in order to wipe moisture from said screen.

[0020] The wiper strip 16 is constructed substantially in three parts. A cavity portion 22 is provided above the lip portion 18. A fastening portion 24 adjoins the cavity portion 22. The fastening portion 24 is T-shaped and therefore comprises a horizontal upper beam 26 and a vertical connecting piece 28. The lip portion 18 and the cavity portion 22 are connected via a first tilting connecting piece 30. This first tilting connecting piece 30 has a first width B1. The first tilting connecting piece height SK corresponds to the height of the first tilting connecting piece 30 and is approximately 0.6 mm.

[0021] A retaining groove 32 is thereby formed at the left and right in cross-section in each case by the connecting piece 28 which adjoins the cavity portion 22 and the upper beam 26. A first spring rail portion 34 is seated in the one retaining groove 32 and a second spring rail portion 36 is seated in the other retaining groove 32. The length of the connecting piece 28 corresponds approximately to the thickness of the first spring rail portion 34 or of the second spring rail portion 36, so that the wiper strip 16 is securely held in the vertical direction between the first spring rail portion 34 and the second spring rail portion 36.

[0022] The lip portion 18 has two incisions 38 at the left and right in cross-section in each case. Each incision 38 extends horizontally and is spaced apart from the axis of symmetry S. This results, due to the depth of incisions 38, in further tilting connecting pieces 40, which have a second width B2.

[0023] The incisions 38 have a cut width SB of approximately 0.4 mm. This results in a second tilting connecting piece height that corresponds to the cut width SB.

[0024] The cavity portion 22 is substantially rectangular in shape and can be hollow in its interior. However, the cavity portion 22 does not have to be hollow. Depending on the choice of material, the cavity portion 22 can be made of solid material. The cavity portion 22 comprises an upper wall 42 on which the connecting piece 28 is arranged approximately centrally. Furthermore, the cavity portion 22 comprises a lower wall 44 on which the first tilting connecting piece 30 is arranged perpendicularly, approximately centrally. If the cavity portion 22 is hollow inside, the lower wall 44 is somewhat thinner than the upper wall 42, so that it has a higher elasticity. The lower wall 44 is wider in cross-section than the total width of the lip portion 18. In particular, the width of the lower wall 44 is selected in such a way that when the lip portion 18 is tilted about the first tilting connecting piece 30, the lip portion 18 is able to be supported on the lower wall 44. The side walls 46 arranged between the upper wall 42 and the lower wall 44 are angled, so that the lower wall 44 is somewhat narrower in cross-section than the upper wall 42. The total width of the cavity portion 22 is, in cross-section, approximately two to four times, preferably two to three times, the largest width of the lip portion 18.

[0025] The first width B1 of the first tilting connecting piece 30 is somewhat larger than the second width B2 of the further tilting connecting pieces 40. In a variation of the invention, the further tilting connecting pieces 40 can also have a different width; in particular, the width of the further tilting connecting pieces 40 can successively decrease starting from the first tilting connecting piece 30. In a further variation of the invention, the cut width SB of the incisions 38 can also be different, in particular increasing successively starting from the first tilting connecting piece 30.

[0026] The wiper strip 16 is extruded from EPDM. A co-extrusion process is used here, but alternatively only a single plastics material can also be used. The region of the lip portion 18 is made of somewhat softer EPDM than the remaining region of the wiper strip 16. Thus, the cavity portion 22 has a greater hardness than lip portion 16. Furthermore, the cavity portion 22 has a higher damping than the lip portion 16. In a further variation, the fastening portion 24 can also be made of a stronger plastics material, so that the wiper strip is extruded from three different plastics materials.

[0027] The cavity of the cavity portion 22 can be open on both sides with respect to the longitudinal extension, so that air is located therein. In a variation, the ends of the longitudinal extension of the cavity portion 22 can also be closed and the cavity can be filled in particular with gas or compressed air.

[0028] FIG. 3 shows a cross-section through a wiper strip 16 of a wiper blade 10 according to the invention, in a variation of the invention. To avoid repetition, only the differences from FIG. 2 are explained. To this extent, the statements regarding FIG. 2 also apply here.

[0029] Between the cavity portion 22 and the fastening portion 24, a damping portion 50 is provided in which damping means 52 are arranged. The damping means 52 are designed as wings or tabs which extend from the upper wall 42 of the cavity portion 22 with their free end into the retaining grooves 32. The damping means 52, thus the wings or tabs, are integral with the cavity portion 22, but the damping means can also be formed separately and fastened to the cavity portion 22, for example by gluing or integral bonding. In a variation of the invention, the damping means 52 can also be formed as an in particular planar layer that is fastened to the cavity portion 22. For example, a layer of felt or a polymer foam is possible here.

[0030] The distance between the upper wall 42 of the cavity portion 22 and the upper beam 26 is therefore somewhat greater than in the previous exemplary embodiment, and significantly greater than the thickness of the first spring rail portion 34 or the second spring rail portion 36. As shown here, the upper wall 42 of the cavity portion 22 can also have shoulders 54, so that the wings extend approximately horizontally as damping means 52 and are thickened in the direction of their free end, i.e. have a greater width or height in cross-section. The perpendicular distance between the uppermost end of the damping means 52 and the lower plane of the beam 26, i.e. the distance in which the first spring rail portion 34 or the second spring rail portion 36 is inserted, is somewhat smaller than the thickness of the spring rail portions 34, 36, so that said spring rail portions are mounted without play, but resiliently, in the holding grooves 32.

[0031] The lip portion 18 has a single incision 38 only at the left and right, as seen in cross section. As a result, only a single further tilting connecting piece 40 is formed in addition to the first tilting connecting piece 30.

[0032] Furthermore, in the lower wall 44 of the cavity portion 22, a guide shoulder 56 is arranged at the left and right in each case, viewed in cross-section. This guide shoulder is designed as a groove or indentation which is located on the side of the lower wall 44 facing the lip portion 18, so that the guide shoulder 56 is formed due to the indentation. The guide shoulder 56 is arranged at the location at which the lip portion 18 touches the lower wall 44 of the cavity portion 22 when tilted about the first tilting connecting piece 30. If the lip portion 18 is tilted during a wiping operation, the tilting connecting piece 30 tilts accordingly. Since the lip portion 18 that is approximately triangular in cross-section has an edge 60 on each side, the edge 60 of the lip portion 18 that is in each case at the rear in the direction of movement of the wiper strip 16 engages in the guide shoulder 56 and supports the lip portion 18 as a result, so that the lip portion 18, or more precisely, the rear edge 60 of the lip portion 18, is secured against sliding off on the cavity portion 22.

[0033] The entire wiper strip 16 is produced integrally from plastics material, in particular an elastomer, for example EPDM. The wiper strip 16 can be produced for example by extrusion or injection molding. In particular, a plurality of different plastics materials can be used here, for example by a multicomponent extrusion or injection molding process.