Connecting device for connecting a wiper arm to a wiper blade in an articulated manner

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9333948-B2
Application number	US-201113808086-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 4, 2011
Priority date	Jul 2, 2010
Publication date	May 10, 2016
Grant date	May 10, 2016

Abstract

The invention relates to a connecting device ( 10 ) for connecting a joining element ( 46, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60, 62, 64, 66 ) of a wiper arm to a wiper blade ( 12 ) in an articulated manner, the supporting element ( 16 ) of said wiper blade being rigidly connected to a connecting element ( 20 ) of the connecting device ( 10 ). The connecting element ( 20 ) has at least one mounting web ( 26 ) which runs in the longitudinal direction, protrudes into the interior of an adapter ( 36, 38, 40, 42, 44 ), and supports a mounting pin ( 28 ) that runs transversely to the longitudinal direction. The adapter ( 36, 38, 40, 42, 44 ) is pivotably mounted on said mounting pin by mounting means ( 88 ), and the adapter ( 36, 38, 40, 42, 44 ) is detachably connected to the joining element ( 46, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60, 62, 64, 66 ). According to the invention, the mounting web ( 26 ) is formed on one longitudinal edge of a base ( 22 ) of the connecting element ( 20 ) only in a short region on the outer end of the connecting element ( 20 ), and the mounting pin ( 28 ) is secured on the mounting web ( 26 ) in cantilevered manner towards the other longitudinal edge of the base ( 22 ), while a lateral web ( 30 ) is formed on the other longitudinal edge of the base ( 22 ) in an offset manner with respect to the inner end of the connecting element ( 20 ).

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A connecting device ( 10 ) for connecting a joining element ( 46 , 48 , 50 , 52 , 54 , 56 , 58 , 60 , 62 , 64 , 66 ) of a wiper arm to a wiper blade ( 12 ) in an articulated manner, a supporting element ( 16 ) of said wiper blade being rigidly connected to a connecting element ( 20 ) of the connecting device ( 10 ), wherein the connecting element ( 20 ) has at least one mounting web ( 26 ) which runs in a longitudinal direction, protrudes into an interior of at least one type of adapter ( 36 , 38 , 40 , 42 , 44 ) and supports a mounting pin ( 28 ) that runs transversely to the longitudinal direction, the at least one type of adapter ( 36 , 38 , 40 , 42 , 44 ) being pivotably mounted on said mounting pin by mounting means ( 88 ), wherein the at least one type of adapter ( 36 , 38 , 40 , 42 , 44 ) is detachably connected to the joining element ( 46 , 48 , 50 , 52 , 54 , 56 , 58 , 60 , 62 , 64 , 66 ), characterized in that the mounting web ( 26 ) is integrally formed on one longitudinal edge of a base ( 22 ) of the connecting element ( 20 ) only in a short region on an outer end of the connecting element ( 20 ) and the mounting pin ( 28 ) is secured on the mounting web ( 26 ) in a cantilevered manner towards an other longitudinal edge of the base ( 22 ), while a lateral web ( 30 ) is integrally formed on the other longitudinal edge of the base ( 22 ) in an offset manner with respect to the outer end of the connecting element ( 20 ).

2. The connecting device ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , characterized in that the lateral web ( 30 ) is divided by a gap ( 34 ) which runs perpendicularly to the supporting element ( 16 ).

3. The connecting device ( 10 ) according to claim 2 , characterized in that the lateral web ( 30 ) has a recess ( 32 ) in a part thereof which is oriented towards an outer end of the wiper blade ( 12 ).

4. The connecting device ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , characterized in that the mounting means includes a bearing bushing ( 88 ), which can be rotatably mounted on the mounting pin ( 28 ) and is covered by a flap ( 76 , 146 , 152 ) that is angular in cross-section, and which is rigidly connected to an end of the at least one type of adapter ( 36 , 38 , 40 , 42 , 44 ) which is oriented towards the outer end of the wiper blade, wherein said flap is connected via an integral hinge ( 84 , 148 , 260 ), which runs in the longitudinal direction of said at least one type of adapter ( 36 , 38 , 40 , 42 , 44 ), to the rest of the at least one type of adapter ( 36 , 38 , 40 , 42 , 44 ) in an articulated manner and axially secures the bearing bushing ( 88 ) on the mounting pin ( 28 ) in a closed state.

5. The connecting device ( 10 ) according to claim 4 , characterized in that the flap ( 76 ) only covers a region of the mounting web ( 26 ) and the bearing bushing ( 88 ) and in that an outwardly protruding abutment edge ( 102 ) is provided at a transition of the flap ( 76 ) to a remaining part of a base element ( 68 , 224 ) of at least two types of adapter.

6. The connecting device ( 10 ) according to claim 5 , characterized in that the abutment edge ( 102 ) has pockets ( 86 ) on side walls ( 70 ) thereof.

7. The connecting device ( 10 ) according to claim 5 , characterized in that the base element ( 68 , 224 ) has a spring tongue ( 98 ) comprising a push button ( 96 ) at an inner end thereof in a cover wall ( 72 ) thereof, said push button outwardly protruding with respect to the cover wall ( 72 ).

8. The connecting device ( 10 ) according to claim 5 , characterized in that the base element ( 68 , 224 ) of the at least two types of adapter has guide webs ( 90 ), which run in the longitudinal direction and extend towards the outer end up to the abutment edge ( 102 ), on lower edges of the side walls ( 70 ) thereof.

9. The connecting device ( 10 ) according to claim 5 , characterized in that the base element ( 68 , 224 ) of the at least two types of adapter has a cover cap ( 118 , 226 ), which with side walls ( 120 ) thereof and a cover wall ( 122 ) connecting said side walls encompasses the base element ( 68 ), wherein a latching opening ( 124 ) that matches to a push button ( 96 ) or an opening ( 230 ) that runs transversely is provided in the cover wall ( 122 ), said transversely running opening in addition to the cover wall ( 122 ) partially embracing the side walls ( 120 ) and comprising an opening part ( 232 ), which matches to the push button ( 96 ), in the cover wall ( 122 ) towards an inner end of the wiper blade ( 12 ).

10. The connecting device ( 10 ) according to claim 9 , characterized in that a bearing opening ( 126 ), which aligns with a bearing opening ( 92 ) in a side wall ( 70 ) of the base element ( 68 , 224 ), is provided at least in one side wall ( 120 ) of the cover cap ( 118 , 226 ).

11. The connecting device ( 10 ) according to claim 4 , characterized in that a flap ( 146 ) of at least two types of adapter extends across the entire length of the at least two types of adapter.

12. The connecting device ( 10 ) according to claim 11 , characterized in that an elongate, profiled accommodating part ( 154 ) for accommodating a third hook-shaped joining element ( 50 ) is provided on a side wall ( 144 ) of one of the at least two types of adapter, on which side wall the bearing bushing ( 88 ) is integrally formed.

13. The connecting device ( 10 ) according to claim 12 , characterized in that the profiled accommodating part ( 154 ) has a hollow space which on an inner end thereof comprises a transversely running, profiled latching part ( 158 ) for accommodating a mounting pin ( 170 ) of a fourth joining element ( 52 ).

14. The connecting device ( 10 ) according to claim 12 , characterized in that an opening ( 168 ) is provided in a side wall ( 150 ) of the flap ( 146 ) of the one of the at least two types of adapter, said opening aligning with a profiled latching part ( 158 ) in a closed state of the flap ( 146 ).

15. The connecting device ( 10 ) according to claim 12 , characterized in that the profiled accommodating part ( 154 ) is connected to the side wall ( 144 ) via a spring tongue.

16. The connecting device ( 10 ) according to claim 15 , characterized in that a holding frame ( 156 ), which is connected to the side wall ( 144 ) of the one of the at least two types of adapter, runs spaced apart from an outer contour of the profiled accommodating part ( 154 ).

17. The connecting device ( 10 ) according to claim 11 , characterized in that a guide block ( 176 ) is connected to an inside of a side wall ( 144 ) of one of the at least two types of adapter, said guide block forming a substantially U-shaped cross-sectional profile with two side walls ( 178 ) thereof and a connecting cover wall ( 180 ), wherein holding tongs ( 196 ) comprising two limbs ( 198 ) are provided at a slight distance to the guide block ( 176 ) in a region of the bearing bushing ( 88 ), said limbs forming between themselves a gap ( 199 ) that runs longitudinally and is oriented towards the cover wall ( 151 ) of the flap ( 146 ).

18. The connecting device ( 10 ) according to claim 17 , characterized in that abutment flanges ( 188 ) are provided on outsides of the side walls ( 178 ) of the guide block ( 176 ) on edges oriented towards the connecting element ( 20 ), said abutment flanges having in each case a recess ( 190 ) comprising a detent-and- abutment cam ( 192 ) in a region of an end thereof that is oriented towards an inner end of the wiper blade ( 12 ).

19. The connecting device ( 10 ) accor

Assignees

• Depondt Helmut
• Bosch Gmbh Robert

Inventors

• Depondt Helmut

Classifications

• B60S2001/4061

  covered by a removable cover mounted on the blade · CPC title

• B60S1/4083

  for arms provided with a flat end · CPC title

• B60S1/3865

  Connectors having an integral pivot pin for connection with the wiper arm · CPC title

• B60S1/4048

  the element being provided with retention means co-operating with the channel-shaped end of the arm · CPC title

• B60S1/387

  the connector being suitable for receiving different types of adapter · CPC title