End cap arrangement

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10486650-B2
Application number	US-201415034203-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 27, 2014
Priority date	Nov 5, 2013
Publication date	Nov 26, 2019
Grant date	Nov 26, 2019

Abstract

The invention relates to an end cap arrangement, more particularly for a wiper blade ( 12 a; 12 b ), comprising an end cap main part ( 14 a; 14 b ) that can be fixedly connected to a main component ( 10 a; 10 b ) of a wiper blade ( 12 a; 12 b ). It is proposed that the end cap arrangement comprise at least an end cap spoiler element ( 16 a; 16 b ) which is designed so that in an installed condition an installation opening ( 18 a; 18 b ) is left free for a wiper rubber ( 20 a; 20 b ).

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An end cap device for a wiper blade ( 12 a ; 12 b ), the end cap device having an end cap base member ( 14 a ; 14 b ) which is configured to be securely connected to a main component ( 10 a ; 10 b ) of the wiper blade ( 12 a ; 12 b ) along a lower region of the end cap base member, wherein the end cap base member ( 14 a ; 14 b ) extends along a longitudinal direction ( 38 a ; 38 b ) and includes a first concave wind flow face ( 44 a ) along an upper region of the end cap base member, wherein the end cap device is configured to close the wiper blade ( 12 a , 12 b ) in the longitudinal direction, wherein the end cap device further includes at least one end cap spoiler element ( 16 a ; 16 b ) coupled to the end cap base member ( 14 a ; 14 b ) and configured to slide linearly relative to the end cap base member ( 14 a ; 14 b ) along a wiping direction ( 22 a , 22 b ) that is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction so as to provide an assembly opening ( 18 a ; 18 b ) between the end cap base member and the end cap spoiler element ( 16 a ; 16 b ) for insertion of a wiper arm ( 20 a ; 20 b ) linearly along the longitudinal direction ( 38 a ; 38 b ) through the assembly opening, wherein the end cap spoiler element ( 16 a ; 16 b ) includes a second concave wind flow face ( 54 ) along an upper region of the end cap spoiler element ( 16 a ; 16 b ) that is flush with the first concave wind flow face ( 44 ) in an assembled state of the end cap device.

2. The end cap device as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the at least one end cap spoiler element ( 16 a ; 16 b ) is movably supported on the end cap base member ( 14 a ; 14 b ).

3. The end cap device as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the at least one end cap spoiler element ( 16 a ; 16 b ) is displaceably supported on the end cap base member ( 14 a ; 14 b ).

4. The end cap device as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the at least one end cap spoiler element ( 16 a ) has an opening direction ( 34 a ) which is directed from the end cap base member ( 14 a ) toward a leeward side of the end cap device and perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, wherein the leeward side is a side configured to face away from travel wind during movement of the wiper blade ( 12 a ; 12 b ).

5. The end cap device as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the at least one end cap spoiler element ( 16 b ) has an opening direction ( 34 b ) which is directed from the end cap base member ( 14 b ) at least partially toward a windward side.

6. The end cap device as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a catch unit ( 24 a ; 24 b ) configured to engage the at least one end cap spoiler element ( 16 a ; 16 b ) on the end cap base member ( 14 a ; 14 b ) in an operating configuration.

7. The end cap device as claimed in claim 6 , characterized in that the catch unit ( 24 a ; 24 b ) comprises at least one catch hook ( 26 a ; 26 b ) which is constructed integrally with the at least one end cap spoiler element ( 16 a ; 16 b ).

8. The end cap device as claimed in claim 6 , characterized by an operating unit ( 28 a ; 28 b ) configured to move the catch unit ( 24 a ; 24 b ) into a release configuration.

9. The end cap device as claimed in claim 8 , characterized in that the operating unit ( 28 a ; 28 b ) comprises at least one operating element ( 30 a ; 30 b ) which is constructed integrally with the at least one end cap spoiler element ( 16 a ; 16 b ).

10. The end cap device as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a limitation unit ( 32 a ; 32 b ) configured to limit a movement freedom of the end cap spoiler element ( 16 a ; 16 b ) in an assembly configuration in an opening direction ( 34 a ; 34 b ).

11. The end cap device as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the at least one end cap spoiler element ( 16 a ; 16 b ) has at least partially a flush surface extent with respect to the end cap base member ( 14 a ; 14 b ).

12. A system comprising the wiper blade ( 12 a ; 12 b ), and the end cap device as claimed in claim 1 .

13. The system as claimed in claim 12 , characterized in that the at least one end cap spoiler element ( 16 a ; 16 b ) is movably supported on the end cap base member ( 14 a ; 14 b ).

14. The system as claimed in claim 12 , characterized in that the at least one end cap spoiler element ( 16 a ; 16 b ) is displaceably supported on the end cap base member ( 14 a ; 14 b ).

15. The system as claimed in claim 12 , characterized in that the at least one end cap spoiler element ( 16 a ) has an opening direction ( 34 a ) which is directed from the end cap base member ( 14 a ) at least partially toward a leeward side.

16. The system as claimed in claim 12 , characterized in that the at least one end cap spoiler element ( 16 b ) has an opening direction ( 34 b ) which is directed from the end cap base member ( 14 b ) at least partially toward a windward side.

17. The system as claimed in claim 12 , further comprising a catch unit ( 24 a ; 24 b ) configured to engage the at least one end cap spoiler element ( 16 a ; 16 b ) on the end cap base member ( 14 a ; 14 b ) in an operating configuration.

18. A method for releasing the assembly opening ( 18 a ; 18 b ) of the end cap base member ( 14 a ; 14 b ) of claim 1 , wherein the at least one end cap spoiler element ( 16 a ; 16 b ) is moved relative to the end cap base member ( 14 a ; 14 b ).

19. The end cap device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the end cap base member includes a first guiding rail ( 46 a ) and a second guiding rail ( 48 a ) that each extend along the wiping direction and are configured to guide the end cap spoiler element ( 16 a , 16 b ).

20. The end cap device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the end cap spoiler unit ( 16 a ; 16 b ) includes a generally L-shaped catch hook ( 26 a ) and the end cap base member ( 14 a ; 14 b ) includes a barb ( 52 a ), wherein the catch hook 26 ( a ) is configured to engage and capture the barb ( 52 a ).

21. The end cap device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the end cap spoiler unit ( 16 a ; 16 b ) includes a closure wall ( 56 ) configured to close off the opening ( 18 a ; 18 b ), wherein the closure wall ( 56 ) extends perpendicular to the longitudinal direction ( 38 a ; 38 b ).

22. An end cap device for a wiper blade ( 12 a ; 12 b ), the end cap device having an end cap base member ( 14 a ; 14 b ) which is configured to be securely connected to a main component ( 10 a ; 10 b ) of the wiper blade ( 12 a ; 12 b ) along a lower region of the end cap base member, wherein the end cap base member ( 14 a ; 14 b ) extends along a longitudinal direction ( 38 a ; 38 b ) and includes a first concave wind flow face ( 44 a ) along an upper region of the end cap base member, wherein the end cap device further includes at least one end cap spoiler element ( 16 a ; 16 b ) coupled to the end cap base member ( 14 a ; 14 b ) and configured to slide relative to the end cap base member ( 14 a ; 14 b ) so as to provide an assembly opening ( 18 a ; 18 b ) between the end cap base member and the end cap spoiler element ( 16 a ; 16 b ) for insertion of a wiper arm ( 20 a ; 20 b ) alo

Assignees

• Bosch Gmbh Robert

Inventors

• Bonroy Jan
• Truyens Stijn
• Beelen Hans
• Verelst Hubert

Classifications

• B60S1/3889

  cooperating with holes in the vertebra · CPC title

• B60S1/3891 Primary

  with locking device · CPC title

• B60S1/0408 Primary

  Means for influencing the aerodynamic quality of wipers, e.g. clip-on wind deflectors (B60S1/32 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B60S1/3896 Primary

  with openings at the longitudinal extremities · CPC title