Fin ray wiper having a clamping device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10688967-B2
Application number	US-201515501900-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 29, 2015
Priority date	Aug 7, 2014
Publication date	Jun 23, 2020
Grant date	Jun 23, 2020

Abstract

The invention relates to a windshield wiper device for a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, having a fastening element fastened to a drive shaft. The windshield wiper device comprises a wiper blade having an elongate upper part, which is at least partially flexible, an elongated lower part, which is at least partially flexible, and a plurality of connecting elements for connecting the upper part and the lower part. Along a longitudinal extension of the wiper blade, the connecting elements are spaced apart from one another, wherein the connecting elements are designed to allow a movement of the upper part and the lower part relative to one another, by means of a movement component, along a longitudinal extension of the wiper blade. The windshield wiper device further comprises a fastening part on the wiper blade side, wherein the fastening part on the wiper blade side comprises a clamping device such that the fastening part on the wiper blade side can be adjusted to the dimension of at least part of the drive shaft.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A windshield wiper device ( 100 ) for a vehicle, the windshield wiper device comprising a drive shaft having a groove, the windshield wiper device further comprising a wiper blade ( 2 ) with
an elongate upper part ( 10 ), which is configured to be at least partially bendable,
an elongate lower part ( 12 ), which is configured to be at least partially bendable,
a plurality of connecting elements ( 18 ) for connecting the upper part ( 10 ) and the lower part ( 12 ), wherein the connecting elements ( 18 ) are spaced apart from one another along a longitudinal extent ( 8 ) of the wiper blade ( 2 ), and wherein the connecting elements ( 18 ) are designed in order to permit a movement of the upper part ( 10 ) and of the lower part relative to each other with a movement component along the longitudinal extent ( 8 ) of the wiper blade ( 2 ), and
a wiper-blade-side fastening part ( 30 ), wherein the wiper-blade-side fastening part includes a clamping device ( 140 ) configured to secure the wiper blade-side fastening part ( 30 ) to the drive shaft, wherein the wiper-blade-side fastening part ( 30 ) further includes a bulge ( 133 ) that is separate from the clamping device and is engaged in the groove of the drive shaft, wherein the clamping device includes a lever that is configured to rotate from a first position out of the groove and into a second position into the groove.

2. The windshield wiper device ( 100 ) as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the wiper-blade-side fastening part comprises a cavity which, in a first position of the clamping device, has a larger cavity size than the at least one part of the drive shaft.

3. The windshield wiper device as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the clamping device is movable into a second position in which a force-fitting connection and/or form-fitting connection can be releasably produced with the drive shaft.

4. The windshield wiper device as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the cavity has a cylindrical portion which has a larger inside diameter than a corresponding outside diameter of the at least one part of the drive shaft.

5. The windshield wiper device ( 100 ) as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the clamping device has a lever.

6. The windshield wiper device ( 100 ) as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the clamping device is configured such that the wiper blade provides a lever action for the clamping device.

7. The windshield wiper device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the wiper-blade-side fastening part is formed in one piece or with components fastened to the head end of the wiper blade.

8. The windshield wiper device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the wiper-blade-side fastening part is injection molded.

9. The windshield wiper device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the clamping device is connected to the wiper blade with a connecting joint.

10. The windshield wiper device ( 100 ) as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the plurality of connecting elements are connected at a plurality of upper connecting positions to the upper part and at a plurality of lower corresponding connecting positions to the lower part, and wherein, when the upper part and the lower part move relative to each other, the distance between an upper connecting position and a corresponding lower connecting position is substantially constant.

11. A method ( 200 ) for mounting a windshield wiper device, comprising:
providing ( 201 ) a windshield wiper device ( 100 ) as claimed in claim 1 ,
pushing the wiper-blade-side fastening part ( 30 ) onto the drive shaft, wherein a gap is provided between the wiper-blade-side fastening part and the drive shaft;
inserting the bulge ( 133 ) into the groove of the drive shaft; and
clamping the wiper-blade-side fastening part to the drive shaft with the clamping device in order to form a force-fitting connection and/or form-fitting connection between the wiper-blade-side fastening part and the drive shaft.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising rotating a portion of a lever of the clamping device into the groove of the drive shaft.

13. The windshield wiper device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the wiper blade-side fastening part is injected molded in an injection molding process comprising one step.

14. The windshield wiper device ( 100 ) as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the plurality of connecting elements are connected at a plurality of upper connecting positions to the upper part and at a plurality of lower corresponding connecting positions to the lower part, and wherein, when the upper part and the lower part move relative to each other, the distance between an upper connecting position and a corresponding lower connecting position is constant with a deviation of ±1 mm.

15. The windshield wiper device ( 100 ) as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the wiper-blade-side fastening part ( 30 ) includes a main body having a first elongate cavity sized and shaped to receive the drive shaft, and wherein the main body further includes a second elongate cavity, wherein the lever is partially disposed within the second cavity.

16. The windshield wiper device ( 100 ) as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the first elongate cavity and the second elongate cavity are angled relative to one another at an oblique angle.

17. The windshield wiper device ( 100 ) as claimed in claim 16 , wherein the wiper blade ( 2 ) defines an opening, and wherein the lever extends through both the opening of the wiper blade ( 2 ) as well as the second elongate cavity of the main body.

18. The windshield wiper device ( 100 ) as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the lever is configured to rotate about an axis ( 142 ) that is disposed adjacent the groove.

19. The windshield wiper device ( 100 ) as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the lever is an elongate member having a first end and a second, opposite end, wherein the lever is configured to pivot about the second end, and wherein the first end is disposed within an interior cavity of the wiper blade ( 2 ).

Assignees

• Bosch Gmbh Robert

Inventors

• Weiler Michael
• Deak Peter
• Mayer Stephan
• Metz Ulrich
• Hackl Viktor

Classifications

• B60S1/3459 Primary

  the element being a mounting head and a shaft · CPC title

• B60S1/04 Primary

  Wipers or the like, e.g. scrapers · CPC title

• B60S1/3427

  Arm piece, link piece and mounting head formed as one element · CPC title

• B60S1/345

  the elements being a link piece and a mounting head · CPC title

• B60S2001/3812

  Means of supporting or holding the squeegee or blade rubber · CPC title