WO2013045396A1

WO2013045396A1 - Wiper blade for a wiper device of a motor vehicle

Info

Publication number: WO2013045396A1
Application number: PCT/EP2012/068771
Authority: WO
Inventors: Michael Schaeuble; Bruno Egner-Walter
Original assignee: Valeo Systèmes d'Essuyage
Priority date: 2011-09-29
Filing date: 2012-09-24
Publication date: 2013-04-04
Also published as: EP2760711A1; DE102011054065A1; MX2014003875A; BR112014007455A2; CN103958299A; CN103958299B; DE102011054065B4

Abstract

The invention relates to a wiper blade (10; 50; 60; 70; 80; 90) for a wiper device (100) of a motor vehicle, with an elongate wiper blade body (12), which is able to be fastened on a wiper arm (2) of the wiper device (100) via a wiper blade adapter (11), wherein the wiper blade body (12) has a wiper rubber (15), which forms a wiper lip (16) and which has at least one longitudinal groove (27, 28) to receive a spring rail (25; 51, 52; 61 to 63; 71 to 74; 91, 92), and with at least one washing fluid strip (23, 24; 83, 84), which is separate from the wiper rubber (15), has at least one washing fluid duct (29) and extends parallel to the wiper rubber (15). According to the invention, provision is made that the at least one washing fluid strip (23, 24; 83, 84) has, on each of its two longitudinal sides, a longitudinal groove (34, 35) to receive a spring rail (25; 51, 52; 61 to 63; 71 to 74; 91, 92).

Description

Wiper blade for a wiper device of a motor vehicle

Prior art The invention relates to a wiper blade for a wiper device of a motor vehicle, in accordance with the preamble of the two independent claims.

A wiper blade of this kind is known from DE 10 2009 017 990 Al belonging to the Applicant. The known wiper blade has a wiper blade body comprising a wiper rubber, which forms a wiper lip on the side facing towards the vehicle window. Moreover, the wiper rubber has, on each of its two opposite longitudinal sides, a groove-shaped longitudinal slot, each of which receives a spring rail that serves to stiffen the wiper blade and to generate a uniform pressing force on the vehicle window. The two spring rails are in turn connected to the wiper rubber by means of a clip-like connecting element. The known wiper blade additionally has a washing fluid strip, in which longitudinal bores are formed through which washing fluid can be sprayed onto the vehicle window. It is essential that, in the prior art, the washing fluid strip is fastened on the wiper rubber by the clip-like connecting element pressing the spring rails into the longitudinal slots. The washing fluid duct, which is designed as a separate component, therefore requires additional fastening means, since otherwise the washing fluid duct cannot be fixed on the wiper rubber and/or on the wiper blade body.

Furthermore, it is likewise known from EP 1 846 275 Bl (Fig. 20) belonging to the Applicant to provide a spoiler-like element which, on the one hand, receives the two spring rails in recesses on the side directed away from the wiper rubber and which, on the other hand, at the same time has washing fluid ducts. Disclosure of the invention

Proceeding from the stated prior art, the object of the invention is to develop a wiper blade for a wiper device of a motor vehicle according to the preamble of the two independent claims in such a way that a particularly secure and exactly positioned connection of the washing fluid strip on the wiper blade body is achieved. According to the invention, in a wiper blade having the features of the two independent claims, this object is achieved either by the fact that the at least one washing fluid strip has, on each of its two longitudinal sides, a slot-shaped recess to receive a spring rail, or by the fact that the washing fluid strip is connected to the underside of the spring rail, facing towards the wiper lip, by an integrally bonded connection, in particular by an adhesive connection. Therefore, both solutions according to the invention provide particularly good longitudinal guiding of the washing fluid duct and/or of the washing fluid strip on the wiper blade body.

Advantageous developments of the wiper blade according to the invention, for a wiper device of a motor vehicle, are set forth in the claims that are dependent respectively on the two independent claims. The scope of the invention covers all combinations of at least two of the features disclosed in the claims, in the description and/or in the figures.

In a preferred embodiment of the spring rail, which permits relatively simple assembly of the wiper rubber and of the at least one washing fluid strip, it is proposed that a one-piece spring rail is provided, which has spring rail elements arranged parallel to one another and cooperating with the longitudinal grooves of the wiper rubber and with the at least one washing fluid strip, and that the spring rail elements are connected to one another at at least one of the end regions of the spring rail. The connection of the spring rail elements means that they are aligned relative to one another, such that insertion of the wiper rubber and/or of the washing fluid strip is made easier .

In a very particularly preferred variant of the variant claimed above, provision is made that the spring rail elements are connected to one another at both end regions of the spring rail, and that the spring rail has longitudinal slots and insertion regions to receive and insert the wiper rubber and the at least one washing fluid strip into the spring rail. In this way, the spring rail elements are positioned relative to one another and/or arranged rigidly relative to one another along their entire length, such that the wiper rubber and the washing fluid strip are held particularly securely along the length of the spring rail elements, the insertion areas also ensuring that assembly can be carried out relatively simply.

However, it is also possible that several separate spring rails are provided, and that the spring rails are coupled to one another at their end regions by means of separate fastening elements. In this case, it is conceivable, for example, to provide spring rail elements of different thickness which, in the desired manner, stiffen either the wiper rubber or else the washing fluid strips in a plane transverse to the longitudinal extent thereof.

Simple assembly of the wiper blade can also be achieved if a washing fluid strip is arranged on each of the two longitudinal sides of the wiper rubber, and if the two washing fluid strips are connected in one piece to each other via a connecting region that covers the wiper rubber on the side facing away from the wiper lip. In this way, despite the use of two washing fluid strips, only a single component is needed, which can therefore be assembled relatively easily and quickly. In the last-mentioned variant, it is very particularly preferable if the connecting region forms a spoiler. The spoiler improves the contact of the wiper blade at high vehicle speeds. In the alternative embodiment of the invention in which the washing fluid strip is connected to the underside of the spring rail, facing towards the wiper lip, by an integrally bonded connection, in particular by an adhesive connection, it is possible to provide two spring rails which are connected to each other at their end regions by separate connecting elements. This permits a modular construction of the wiper blade where, in an alternative configuration, different wiper blades (with one or two washing fluid strips) can be designed, where in each case the same spring rail can be used.

Further advantages, features and details of the invention will become clear from the following description of preferred illustrative embodiments and from the drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a wiper blade according to the invention fastened to a wiper arm in order to clean a vehicle window of a motor vehicle,

Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of parts of a first wiper blade according to the invention,

Fig. 3 a side view of a wiper blade assembled the parts according to Fig. 2, Fig. 4 shows a section in the plane IV-IV of Fig. 3,

Figs. 5

to 7 show, in each case in a perspective view, the individual parts of modified wiper blades using a different number of spring rails,

Fig. 8 shows a perspective view of the individual parts of another wiper blade according to the invention, in which the washing fluid strips form a spoiler,

Fig. 9 shows a section through a wiper blade assembled from the individual parts according to Fig. 8,

Fig. 10 shows a perspective view of a partially assembled wiper blade using bridging elements that connect the spring rails to each other in the end regions thereof,

Fig. 11 shows a perspective view of parts of a wiper blade according to the invention in which the washing fluid strips are adhesively bonded to the spring rails,

Fig. 12 shows a side view of a wiper blade assembled from the individual parts according to Fig. 11,

Fig. 13 shows a section in the plane XIII-XIII of

Fig. 12,

Fig. 14 shows a perspective view of the individual parts of a wiper blade that has been modified in relation to Figures 11-13, and Fig. 15 shows a section through a wiper blade assembled from the parts according to Fig. 14. Identical components, or components having an identical function, are designated in the figures by the same reference numbers.

Fig. 1 shows parts of a wiper device 100 for cleaning a vehicle window (not shown) of a motor vehicle. The wiper device 100 comprises a wiper arm joint 1, which is connected at least indirectly to a drive, in particular to a windscreen wiper motor, and on which a wiper arm 2 is fastened so as to pivot between a washing position and an assembly position. The wiper arm 2 has a connecting region 3, which has in particular a U-shaped cross section and via which the wiper arm 2 is connected to a wiper blade 10 according to the invention.

For connection to the connecting region 3 of the wiper arm 2, the wiper blade 10 has a wiper blade adapter 11, which is not shown in detail since it is known per se from the prior art and is not essential to the invention. In addition to the wiper blade adapter 11, the wiper blade 10 comprises an elongate wiper blade body 12, wherein the wiper blade adapter 11 is arranged approximately at the centre of the wiper blade body 12. The wiper blade body 12 has a wiper rubber 15 which, on the side facing towards the vehicle window, forms a wiper lip 16. The wiper blade body 12 is assembled from several elements and is limited at both of its ends by an end cap 17, 18, which end caps at the same time serve to hold the individual elements together. The upper face of the wiper blade body 12 directed away from the wiper lip 16 also forms a spoiler 19, which positively influences the contact of the wiper blade 10 or of the wiper rubber 15 on the vehicle window at high speeds .

In addition, the wiper blade 10 has spray openings 21, which are arranged in the longitudinal direction of the wiper blade body 12 and are preferably arranged on both long sides of the wiper blade body 12. Washing fluid can be sprayed through the spray openings 21 onto the vehicle window in direct proximity to the wiper blade 10. The wiper blade 10 is supplied with washing fluid via a vehicle-side supply line 22, which is preferably routed inside or under the wiper arm 2, and which ends in the area of the connecting region 3, where the supply line 22 is connected to the wiper blade 10.

In the first embodiment of the wiper blade 10 according to the invention shown in Figures 2 to 4, it will be seen that the wiper blade 10 consists principally of the already mentioned wiper rubber 15, two washing fluid strips 23, 24 each transversely divided in the longitudinal direction, and a (single) spring rail 25. As can be seen in particular from Fig. 4, the wiper lip 16 is joined to the wiper rubber 15 via a tilting web 26 that extends in the longitudinal direction. In an upper end region of the wiper rubber 15 directed away from the vehicle window, recesses in the form of longitudinal grooves 27, 28 with a substantially U- shaped cross section are formed in the longitudinal direction on the two opposite sides of the wiper rubber 15. The longitudinal grooves 27 , 28 serve to receive the spring rail 25.

As will also be seen, in particular from Fig. 2, the washing fluid strips 23, 24, and their continuous longitudinal ducts 29, are interconnected via adapter elements 31, 32 of T-shaped cross section. The adapter elements 31, 32 are coupled hydraul ical ly to the at least one supply line 22. The ends of the washing fluid strips 23, 24 remote from the adapter elements 31, 32 are closed tightly by means of sealing stoppers 33. It will be seen from Fig. 4 that a recess having a substantially U-shaped cross section and in the form of a longitudinal groove 34, 35 is formed in each of the two opposite long sides of the washing fluid strips 23, 24, which longitudinal groove 34, 35 serves to hold the washing fluid strip 23, 24 in the spring rail 25. The illustrative embodiment in Fig. 4 also shows bores 36, which are directed vertically downwards and which, in the washing fluid strips 23, 24, form said spray openings 21 and are connected to the longitudinal ducts 29. The one-piece spring rail 25 in the wiper blade 10 according to the invention has four spring rail elements 37 to 40 arranged parallel to one another. The spring rail elements 37 to 40 of the spring rail 25 form longitudinal slots 42 to 44, of which the two longitudinal slots 42 and 44 serve to receive the two washing fluid strips 23 and 24. The longitudinal slot 43 serves to receive the wiper rubber 15.

The width of the longitudinal slots 42 and 44 is increased at the two end regions, where recesses 45, 46 serving as insertion regions are formed. The width of the recesses 45, 46 is in each case at least as great as the width of the washing fluid strips 23, 24, such that the latter can be inserted or engaged through the recesses 45, 46 with their longitudinal grooves 34, 35 in the longitudinal slots 42, 44. At one end, the central longitudinal slot 43 likewise has a recess 47 of increased cross section or width, which recess 47 likewise serves as an insertion region and is wider than the width of the wiper rubber 15, such that the wiper rubber 15 can be inserted or engaged through the recess 47 with its longitudinal grooves 27, 28 in the longitudinal slot 43. The spring rail elements 37 to 40 are rigidly connected to one another by connecting regions 48, 49 at the opposite end regions of the spring rail 25.

The wiper blade 50 according to Fig. 5 differs from the wiper blade 10 in the use of two spring rails 51, 52, which are designed as separate components and are both identical. In the longitudinal direction in each of the two spring rails 51, 52, a longitudinal slot 53 is provided, having recesses 54 of increased width at opposite ends. The longitudinal slots 53 serve to receive the washing fluid strips 23, 24. The wiper rubber 15 is received with its longitudinal grooves 27, 28 between the two spring rails 51, 52. The two spring rails 51, 52 are positioned relative to each other and/or mechanically connected to each other, for example, by means of the end caps 17, 18 shown in Fig. 1.

In contrast to the wiper blade 50, the wiper blade 60 shown in Fig. 6 has three spring rails 61 to 63 arranged parallel to one another. The (central) spring rail 62 has a longitudinal slot 64 extending in the longitudinal direction, with a recess 65 for facilitating the insertion of the wiper rubber 15. The two other strip-shaped spring rails 61 and 63 serve for the positioning of the washing fluid strips 23, 24 in the (outer) longitudinal grooves 35. In the wiper blade 60, provision can also be made that the spring rails 61 to 63 are interconnected via the end caps 17, 18 shown in Fig. 1 and/or are positioned parallel to one another by the end caps 17, 18. The wiper blade 70 according to Fig. 7 has four strip- shaped spring rails 71 to 74 arranged parallel to one another and each of identical design. Whereas the two spring rails 72, 73 arranged to the inside in Fig. 7 are arranged in the longitudinal grooves 27, 28 of the wiper rubber 15, the two outer spring rails 71 and 74 engage the washing fluid strips 23, 24 from the outside. In the wiper blade 70, provision can also be made that the spring rails 71 to 74 are interconnected and/or positioned relative to one another via the end caps 17, 18.

The wiper blade 80 according to Figures 8 and 9 is substantially similar to the wiper blade 10. However, in contrast to the latter, the two washing fluid strips 83, 84 are integrally connected to each other on their upper face by a shaped body 85 that forms a connecting region, wherein the shaped body 85 has a substantially triangular cross section and can form the spoiler 19 shown in Fig . 1.

The wiper blade 90 shown in Figures 10 and 11 is similar to the wiper blade 50, i.e. the wiper blade 90 also has two spring rails 91 and 92. However, the two spring rails 91, 92 are interconnected by means of separate strip-shaped connecting bridges 93, 94 which, on the upper face of the spring rails 91, 92, are arranged on and connected to the end regions of the latter.

In analogy to the wiper blade 90 of Fig. 10, the wiper blade 95 with the wiper blade body 12 according to Figures 12 and 13 is provided with two spring rails 101, 102 whose end regions are connected to each other via connecting bridges 103, 104. However, it is essential to the invention that the two washing fluid strips 105, 106 do not have longitudinal grooves, and instead their upper faces 107, 108 directed towards the spring rails 101, 102 are connected, preferably across the whole surface, to the underside of the spring rails 101, 102 by an integrally bonded connection, in particular by an adhesively bonded connection. Thus, apart from securing the washing fluid strips 105, 106, the two spring rails 101, 102 merely serve to stiffen the wiper rubber 15.

In the wiper blade 110 with the wiper blade body 12 according to Fig. 14, the wiper rubber 15a, as compared to the wiper rubber 15, also has an upper widening 111 which is triangular in cross section and which can form the spoiler 19 according to Fig. 1. As will be seen from Fig. 15, the undersides 112, 113 of the widening 111 that face towards the wiper lip 16 serve at the same time for bearing on the two spring rails 114, 115.

The above-described wiper blades 10, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 95 and 110 can be modified in many different ways without departing from the inventive concept. In particular, provision can also be made that the washing fluid strips 23, 24, 83, 84 and 105, 106 are heatable.

List of reference signs

1 wiper arm joint

2 wiper arm

3 connecting region

10 wiper blade

11 wiper blade adapter

12 wiper blade body

15, 15a wiper rubber

16 wiper lip

17, 18 end cap

19 spoiler

21 spray opening

22 supply line

23, 24 washing fluid strip

25 spring rail

26 tilting web

27, 28 longitudinal groove

29 longitudinal duct

31, 32 adapter element

33 sealing stopper

34, 35 longitudinal groove

36 bore

37 - 40 spring rail element

42 - 44 longitudinal slot

45 - 47 recess

48, 49 connecting portion

50 wiper blade

51, 52 spring rail

53 longitudinal slot

54 recess

60 wiper blade

61 - 63 spring rail

64 longitudinal slot

65 recess

70 wiper blade

71 - 74 spring rail 80 wiper blade

83, 84 washing fluid strip

85 shaped body

90 wiper blade

91, 92 spring rail

93, 94 connecting bridge

95 wiper blade

100 wiper device

101, 102 spring rail

103, 104 connecting bridge

105, 106 washing fluid strip

107, 108 upper face

110 wiper blade

111 widening

112, 113 underside

114, 115 spring rail

Claims

1. Wiper blade (10; 50; 60; 70; 80; 90) for a wiper device (100) of a motor vehicle, with an elongate wiper blade body (12), which is able to be fastened on a wiper arm (2) of the wiper device

(100) via a wiper blade adapter (11), wherein the wiper blade body (12) has a wiper rubber (15), which forms a wiper lip (16) and which has at least one longitudinal groove (27, 28) to receive a spring rail (25; 51, 52; 61 to 63; 71 to 74; 91, 92), and with at least one washing fluid strip

(23, 24; 83, 84), which is separate from the wiper rubber (15), has at least one washing fluid duct

(29) and extends parallel to the wiper rubber

(15) , characterized in that the at least one washing fluid strip (23, 24; 83, 84) has, on each of its two longitudinal sides, a longitudinal groove (34, 35) to receive a spring rail (25; 51, 52; 61 to 63; 71 to 74; 91, 92) .

Wiper blade according to Claim 1,

characterized in that

a one-piece spring rail (25) is provided, which has spring rail elements (37 to 40) arranged parallel to one another and cooperating with the longitudinal grooves (27, 28) of the wiper rubber (15) and with the at least one washing fluid strip (23, 24; 83, 84), and in that the spring rail elements (37 to 40) are connected to one another at at least one of the end regions (48, 49) of the spring rail (25) .

3. Wiper blade according to Claim 2, characterized in that

the spring rail elements (37 to 40) are connected to one another at both end regions (48, 49) of the spring rail (25), and in that the spring rail (25) has longitudinal slots (42 to 44) and insertion regions (45 to 47) to receive and insert the wiper rubber (15) and the at least one washing fluid strip (23, 24) into the spring rail (25) .

Wiper blade according to Claim 1,

characterized in that

several separate spring rails (51, 52; 61 to 63; 71 to 74; 91, 92) are provided, and in that the spring rails (51, 52; 61 to 63; 71 to 74; 91, 92) are coupled to one another at their end regions by means of separate fastening elements (17, 18; 93, 94) .

Wiper blade according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that

a washing fluid strip (83, 84) is arranged on each of the two longitudinal sides of the wiper rubber (15), and in that the two washing fluid strips (83, 84) are connected in one piece to each other via a connecting region (85) that covers the wiper rubber (15) on the side facing away from the wiper lip (16) .

Wiper blade according to Claim 5,

characterized in that

the connecting region (85) forms a spoiler (19) .

Wiper blade (95; 110) for a wiper device (100) of a motor vehicle, with an elongate wiper blade body (12), which is able to be fastened on a wiper arm (2) of the wiper device (100) via a wiper blade adapter (11), wherein the wiper blade body (12) has a wiper rubber (15a), which forms a wiper lip

(16) and which has at least one longitudinal groove to receive a spring rail (101, 102; 114, 116), and with at least one washing fluid strip

(105, 106), which is separate from the wiper rubber (15a), has at least one washing fluid duct

(29) and extends parallel to the wiper rubber

(15a) , characterized in that the washing fluid strip (105, 106) is connected to the underside (112, 113) of the spring rail (101, 102; 114, 116), facing towards the wiper lip (16), by an integrally bonded connection, in particular by an adhesive connection.

Wiper blade according to Claim 7,

characterized in that

two spring rails (101, 102; 114, 116) are provided, which are connected to each other at their end regions by separate connecting elements (103, 104) .

Wiper blade according to Claim 7 or 8,

characterized in that

the wiper rubber (15a) forms a spoiler on the side facing away from the wiper lip (16) .

Wiper blade according to one of Claims 1 to 9, characterized in that

the washing fluid strip (23, 24; 83, 84; 105, 106) is divided transversely in the central region of the wiper blade body (12), wherein its partial regions are connected to an adapter element (31, 32) for the conveying of washing fluid.