DE10349637A1 - Articulated joint for use between wiper arm and blade, has base cap closing window between spoiler parts and closing two parallel side walls of adaptor from outside to provide closed interconnection between cap and adaptor - Google Patents

Abstract

The joint has an adaptor mounted on a wiper blade (10), and a base cap (52) fixed on the adaptor. The adaptor has two parallel side walls, which are fixed into a guide nut located in inner walls of the cap whose height is matched with a spoiler. The cap closes a window between spoiler parts and closes the sidewalls of the adaptor from outside to provide a closed interconnection between the cap and the adaptor.

Description

The Invention is based on a hinge connection according to the preamble of Claim 1 from.

From the DE 199 24 662 A1 a windshield wiper with a joint-free wiper blade is known, which is connected via a so-called "sidelock system" articulated with a wiper arm., A two-piece connector, whose first part has a block-shaped section with a bearing bore and the formed with form-locking elements as the support element The second part is provided at the free end of the wiper arm having a U-shaped profile open to the vehicle window A pin is laterally and transversely to the longitudinal direction of the wiper arm and pointing to the wiper blade in the used in a second embodiment, preferably welded or riveted, and pivotally mounted in the bearing bore of the first part of the connecting piece In another embodiment, the wiper arm is provided with a separate, casting or injection-molded connection piece, the so well the pin and securing elements for the Wischb latt in one piece. The connecting piece is pushed onto the outside of the end of a wiper rod of the wiper arm which is rectangular in cross section and fastened there.

Parallel to the pin is on the second part of the connector in the longitudinal direction to the drive end puts a bridge arranged, the at its free end to the side of the wiper blade out is angled. In a mounting position where the wiper blade transverse to the longitudinal direction the wiper arm is held, the pin in the bearing bore be pushed the connecting part. If the wiper blade then parallel to the longitudinal direction turned the wiper arm, overlaps the bridge the wiper blade and locks it with its angled end, so that lateral guide surfaces of the block-shaped section the first part of the connector in the assembled state between the angled end of the bridge and one opposite area of the second part become. The bridge dives in the operating position of the wiper blade in a corresponding groove of the first part and closes approximately flush with its top off. To disassemble the wiper blade in the be pivoted opposite direction until the angled end except Intervention is brought and the wiper blade are pulled from the pin can. With the known system, the joint-free wiper blade can not at a usual Wiper arm with a hook-shaped end to be assembled.

Advantages of invention

To The invention is an adapter on a joint-free wiper blade mounted and has two from a wiper strip to a wiper arm pointing, parallel side walls and at least one spring catch, Solved by the one base cap which is a bearing bore for a hinge pin and a upwardly open hub for receiving pivot pins of a connection part Has. The articulated wiper blade has a split spoiler, its parts in a middle area a window for a Form adapter. This sits form-fitting on the wiper strip by its bottom profile adapted to the adjacent profile of the wiper strip is and it includes claws with the support element. This results a very stable connection of the adapter to the wiper strip, so that the wiper blade is guided well on the side.

At the Adapter is attached to a base cap, for example, clipped and thus solvable. During assembly, the parallel side walls of the Adapters in a guide groove on the inner walls the base cap, and left and right of the adapter side walls arranged Spring detents engage in corresponding grooves with locking cams, which in engaging holes engage at the free ends of the spring catches. The base cap sits firmly on the adapter, covered him and fill the area between the spoiler parts. Their height is the Spoiler adapted and also it has in the transition area a connection profile, which corresponds to the cross-sectional profile of the spoiler. The base cap includes thus the window between the spoiler parts and covers with its sidewalls the adapter to the outside from. This creates a closed, streamlined connection that both in terms of noise as well as the optical impression is very advantageous.

There the base cap according to the invention both bearing bores for a hinge pin and upwardly open hubs for receiving having joint pin, the joint-free wiper blade on the one hand after the "sidelock system" on a wiper arm with laterally arranged connecting elements or to another after a so-called "Toplock system" at a usual Wiper arm with a hook-shaped Be mounted end. For this purpose, only minor changes are required are provided on a lid or on a connecting part. Of the The lid and the connector are attached to the mounting kit so that the wiper blade with a few different components without much effort can be mounted on the various wiper arms.

If the joint-free wiper blade in the "Sidelock system" is to be mounted in one next assembly step the lid is added to the base cap. It closes the opening of the base cap facing away from the wiper blade, its side walls engaging in the opening and closing its cover side substantially flush with the side walls of the base cap. In addition, the lid closes with laterally projecting closure bodies not needed for this application open hubs. The wiper blade is mounted in a known manner on a wiper arm with lateral hinge pin and bridge by the hinge pin mounted in the bearing bore of the base cap and the hinge connection is secured by the bridge in the direction of the hinge pin. The lid, which is releasably connected to the base cap, has locking springs in the region of its side walls, by means of which it is latched to the base cap. Conveniently, locking lugs may be provided on the open hubs, which interact with the closure bodies. Finally, the lid can additionally secured by who the that he has openings in its side walls, which include the hinge pin in the assembled state more than over half its circumference. If the opening comprises the hinge pin only slightly more than half of its circumference, the connection can serve as clips, so that the cover can be removed even when the hinge pin is mounted. For disassembly of the lid can serve the closure body, which advantageously have on their front side gripping grooves.

at a mounting of a wiper blade to a wiper arm with a hook-shaped end is used instead of the lid, a connection part, the first on hooked End is mounted. For this purpose, the connector has expediently in Area of a front side a roll-shaped receptacle, which in the hooked End of the wiper arm fits and moreover lateral retaining wings, the while the mounting to the outside give it and then hold the connection part firmly on the wiper arm. The mounted on the wiper arm connector is from above and below Adhering to a mounting bracket in the opening of the base cap, taking laterally arranged on the connecting part pivot pin in the open Engage the hubs of the base part and make the hinge connection. During this At the same time, the connection part becomes a kind of bayonet catch locked, over a certain swing angle is effective and the pivoting movement of the wiper blade relative to the wiper arm permits. This purpose is a curved Locking rib, which in the area of the pivot pin on the connection part is provided and during assembly with increasing pivoting movement in the operating position a bolt on the inner wall of the base cap engages behind. The hooked end and the connecting part cover the opening of the base plate, so that even with this connection an aerodynamically favorable shape arises.

Preferably are the adapter, the base cap, the lid and the connector made of a plastic, advantageously during the Injection molding all the form elements with the required accuracy be formed. In addition, plastic usually has good sliding properties, which on the base cap in the open hubs and bearing bores are important, since here the pivot pin or the hinge pin advantageously are mounted rotatably without special bushings.

drawing

Further Advantages are shown in the following description of the drawing. In the drawing are exemplary embodiments represented the invention. The drawing, the description and the claims contain numerous features in combination. The specialist will the features also expediently individually consider and summarize to meaningful further combinations.

It demonstrate:

1 a partial perspective view of a wiper blade during assembly of a base cap,

2 a partial perspective view of a wiper blade with the mounted base cap when mounting a lid,

3 a partial perspective view of a wiper blade with the assembled base cap and the mounted lid when mounted on a wiper arm,

4 3 a perspective partial view of a hook-shaped end of a wiper arm during assembly of a connection part,

5 , a partial perspective view of a wiper blade with the base cap during assembly of the hook-shaped end of the wiper arm with the connector,

6 a perspective view of an adapter,

7 a perspective view of a base cap,

8th a perspective view of a lid and

9 a perspective view of a Connecting part.

description the embodiments

A joint-free wiper blade 10 has a wiper strip 14 which is made of an elastomeric material ( 1 ). A support element 12 , for example in the form of two spring rails, is in the wiper strip 14 embedded. At the top of the wiper strip 14 is a spoiler 16 appropriate. The spoiler 16 is divided. Its parts form in the middle area of the wiper blade 10 a window in which an adapter 34 is mounted. This includes with lateral claws 36 the support element 12 , So between the adapter 34 and the wiper strip 14 Good positive connection is achieved, the adapter has 34 a floor 48 whose profile 50 the adjacent contour of the wiper strip 14 is adjusted.

The adapter 34 serves to accommodate a base cap 52 ( 1 ). To guide the base cap 52 points the adapter 34 ( 6 ) two perpendicular to the top of the wiper strip 14 to ordered, parallel side walls 38 on. Right and left are spring detents 40 arranged as a fastener. The base cap 52 becomes detachable on the adapter 34 pasted, for example, clipped by the spring catches 40 in grooves 56 on the inner walls of the base cap 52 intervention. There arranged locking cams 54 snap into detent holes 42 one at the free ends of the spring catches 40 are arranged. To facilitate assembly, the free ends of the spring catches 40 each at the locking cams 54 facing sides with a slope 44 Mistake.

The floor 78 the base cap 52 has a cross-sectional profile, which is the profile 50 of the adapter base 48 is adjusted so that there is a good positive connection between the two parts. It is also in the ground 78 the base cap 52 at least one drainage opening 76 arranged to drain ingressed water. The base cap 52 closes the window between the spoiler parts 16 ( 2 ), by using frontal connection profiles 62 to the spoiler parts 16 followed. To a flat and aerodynamically favorable form of assembly wiper blade 10 , Adapter 34 and base cap 52 to receive, assigns the base cap 52 a spoiler 16 adjusted height.

In the side walls 38 the base cap 52 is each a bearing bore 66 for receiving a hinge pin 22 that serves together with a bridge 24 via a connecting element 20 with a wiper arm 18 connected is ( 3 ). The side walls 38 of the adapter 34 point in the area of the bearing bores 66 recesses 46 to ensure unobstructed assembly and function of the hinge pin 22 to enable.

Before the pre-assembled wiper blade 10 after the "Sidelock system" is to be mounted further, the wiper blade 10 opposite opening of the base cap 52 from a lid 80 locked 2 , This is the lid 80 from the top into the base cap 52 used, with its sidewalls 84 engage in the opening and its top side 82 to the side walls 58 and the end walls 60 the base cap 52 connects ( 3 ). In addition, on the lid 80 laterally projecting closure body 88 molded, which in upwardly open hubs 64 the base cap 52 fit and close this. The lid 80 is in the base cap 52 by detent springs 86 held in the middle area of the side walls 84 are provided and on inner projections of the base cap 52 lock. An additional hold is created by locking lugs 68 at the hubs 64 are formed and on the closure bodies 88 of the lid 80 engage. To the assembly and disassembly of the lid 80 To facilitate, have the end faces of the closure body 88 grip grooves 90 on. In addition, the lid 80 through two openings 92 in its sidewalls 84 in the area of bearing bores 66 secured. These include the openings 92 the assembled hinge pin 22 more than half of its circumference. The openings 92 can be sized to fit with the hinge pin 22 act as a clip connection or disassembly of the lid 80 with mounted hinge pin 22 prevent.

For mounting the wiper blade 10 to a wiper arm 18 with a connecting element 20 that has a hinge pin 22 and a bridge 24 has, is the pre-assembled wiper blade 10 now turned around its axis of rotation so far that it is approximately perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the wiper arm 18 stands. In this position, the bearing bores can be 66 the base cap 52 on the hinge pin 22 slide. Subsequently, the wiper blade 10 turned back to the starting position and then runs approximately parallel to the longitudinal direction of the wiper arm 18 , where the wiper strip 14 facing a vehicle window, not shown. In this position, the bridge engages 24 over the base cap 52 and dives in one step 94 the cover page 82 of the lid 80 one, leaving the outer surfaces of the bridge 24 and the lid 80 finish flush. At the same time comes an angled end 26 the bridge 24 on a side wall 58 the base cap 52 to the system and thus locks the hinge connection in the axial direction of the hinge pin 22 ,

The wiper blade 10 can with the same adapter 34 and the same base cap 52 also to a wiper arm 28 with a hooked end 30 to be assembled. This is done in place of the lid 80 a connection part 96 used. In a first assembly step, this is in the hook-shaped end 30 assembled ( 4 ), wherein the hook-shaped The End 30 a cylindrical recording 102 in the area of one end face of the connection part 96 includes ( 5 .) and with a detent hole 32 at its lower leg to a corresponding cam of the connection part 96 locks. Laterally the cylindrical recording 102 are parallel guide surfaces 106 arranged on the side surfaces of the hooked end 30 issue. In the area of the front side are in extension of the side walls 108 retaining wings 104 provided, which laterally yield during assembly and then spring back and the connection part 96 in the hooked end 30 hold tight. The connection part 96 is compatible with wiper arms 28 whose hook-shaped ends 30 a size of 9 × 2.5; 9x3; 9 × 3.6 and 9 × 4 have.

The pre-assembled wiper arm 28 is moved from the top into the wiper strip after the "Toplock system" 14 opposite opening of the base cap 52 Inserted and closes these in place of the lid 80 , This is the wiper arm 28 initially at an angle of about 20 ° with respect to the longitudinal direction of the wiper blade 10 in the opening of the base cap 52 pushed, with two on the side walls 108 of the connection part 96 molded hinge pins 98 in the open hubs 64 engage by clicking the latches 68 overcome. Subsequently, the wiper arm 28 in the direction of wiper blade 10 Turned until it is approximately parallel to the longitudinal direction of the wiper blade 10 runs. In this position, two side-molded, approximately concentric with the pivot pin engage 98 curved locking ribs 100 of the connection part 96 behind appropriate bars 70 on the inner wall of the base cap 52 , In the operating position is the wiper blade 10 thus over a limited range of pivoting angle with the wiper arm 28 locked. This lock is dimensioned so that it is active in an angle range of -3 ° to 15 °, which corresponds to the tilt angle of a windshield wiper in wiping operation. To facilitate the dismantling, expediently limits a stop 110 the swivel angle of the connection part 96 so that when attached to the stop 110 the connection part 96 is unlocked.

If the wiper blade 10 on the wiper arm 28 is mounted, which can be the hook-shaped end 30 comprehensive retaining wing 104 no longer give way to the outside, so that this area is locked. Additional hold is through two ribs 72 on the inside of the front end wall 60 given, in which the hook-shaped end 30 supports while the opposite end of the connection part 96 at the rear end wall 60 the base cap 52 is applied. Lateral stability and guidance receives the connection through two parallel guide walls 74 on the insides of the base cap 52 on which the side walls 108 of the connection part 96 issue. Conveniently, the guide walls extend 74 not over the entire length of the insides of the base cap 52 and also have ribs 72 , so that unnecessary tolerance requirements are avoided and nevertheless a defined contact exists in this area.

10

wiper blade

12

supporting member

14

wiper strip

16

spoiler

18

wiper arm

20

connecting element

22

hinge pins

24

bridge

26

The End

28

wiper arm

30

hook-shaped end

32

catch hole

34

adapter

36

claw

38

Side wall

40

spring detent

42

catch hole

44

slope

46

recess

48

ground

50

profile

52

base cap

54

locking cams

56

groove

58

Side wall

60

bulkhead

62

connection profile

64

hub

66

bearing bore

68

locking lug

70

bars

72

rib

74

guide wall

76

drain hole

78

ground

80

cover

82

cover page

84

Side wall

86

detent spring

88

closure body

90

grip groove

92

opening

94

step

96

connector

98

pivot pin

100

locking rib

102

admission

104

retaining wings

106

guide surface

108

Side wall

110

attack

Claims (16)

Articulated connection between a wiper arm ( 18 . 28 ) and a joint-free wiper blade ( 10 ) with a support element ( 12 ), which comprises at least one spring rail, which in a wiper strip ( 14 ) of the wiper blade ( 10 ), characterized in that an adapter ( 34 ) on the wiper blade ( 10 ), by claws ( 36 ) on the support element ( 12 ) and two of the wiper strip ( 14 ) to the wiper arm ( 18 . 28 ) pointing, parallel side walls ( 38 ) and at least one spring catch ( 40 ) through which a base cap ( 52 ) is releasably attached, the one bearing bore ( 66 ) for a hinge pin ( 22 ) and an upwardly open hub ( 64 ) for receiving pivot pins ( 98 ) of a connection part ( 96 ) Has. Articulated connection according to claim 1, characterized in that the spring catch ( 40 ) at its free end a detent hole ( 42 ) into which a locking cam ( 54 ) engages in a groove ( 56 ) on the inner walls of the base cap ( 52 ) is arranged, in which the spring catch ( 40 ) intervenes. Articulated connection according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the side walls ( 38 ) of the adapter ( 34 ) in the area of the bearing bores ( 66 ) Recesses ( 46 ). Hinge connection according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the adapter ( 34 ) a floor ( 48 ) whose cross-sectional profile ( 50 ) of the adjacent contour of the wiper strip ( 14 ) is adjusted. Articulated connection according to claim 4, characterized in that the base cap ( 52 ) a floor ( 78 ), whose cross-sectional profile of the cross-sectional profile ( 50 ) of the soil ( 48 ) of the adapter ( 34 ) is adjusted. Hinge connection according to claim 5, characterized in that the floor ( 78 ) of the base cap ( 52 ) at least one drainage opening ( 76 ) owns. Hinge connection according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cover ( 80 ) from the wiper blade ( 10 ) facing away from the base cap ( 52 ), with its side walls ( 84 ) intervene in the opening and its top side ( 82 ) largely flush with the walls ( 58 . 60 ). Hinge connection according to claim 7, characterized in that on the lid ( 80 ) laterally projecting closure body ( 88 ) are formed in the open hubs ( 64 ) of the base cap ( 52 ) and by locking lugs ( 68 ) at the hubs ( 64 ) being held. Hinge connection according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that on the end faces of the closure body ( 88 ) Grip grooves ( 90 ) are provided. Hinge connection according to one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the lid ( 80 ) in the region of its side walls ( 84 ) Detent springs ( 86 ), through which he has with the base cap ( 52 ) locked. Hinge connection according to one of claims 6 to 9, characterized in that the cover ( 80 ) in its side walls ( 84 ) Openings ( 92 ), which in the assembled state, the hinge pin ( 22 ) more than half of its circumference. Hinge connection according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the connecting part ( 96 ) on its side walls ( 108 ) Pivot pin ( 98 ) in the hubs ( 64 ) of the base cap ( 52 ) fit. Hinge connection according to claim 11, characterized in that in the region of the pivot pin ( 98 ) a concentrically curved locking rib ( 100 ) is provided, which during assembly a bolt ( 70 ) on the inner wall of the base cap ( 52 ) engages behind. Hinge connection according to one of claims 11 or 12, characterized in that the connecting part ( 96 ) in the region of a front side a roller-shaped receptacle ( 102 ) for a hook-shaped end ( 30 ) of a wiper arm ( 28 ), over the longitudinal holding wings ( 104 ) projecting during the assembly of the hook-shaped end ( 30 ) yield laterally and then spring back. Hinge connection according to one of claims 11 to 13, characterized in that the base cap ( 52 ) on the inside of its front end face ( 60 ) in the middle region at least one rib ( 72 ) having. Hinge connection according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the connecting part ( 96 ) at least one stop ( 110 ), which in the assembled state, the pivot angle of the connection part ( 96 ) limited.