Abstract:
The windshield wiper includes a wiper blade ( 20 ), a holding clip ( 22 ) for holding the wiper blade ( 20 ) and an intermediate piece ( 28 ) for pivotally connecting the holding clip ( 22 ) together with the wiper blade ( 22 ) with different-sized wiper arms ( 12 ). The intermediate piece ( 28 ) is provided with a receiving area ( 42 ) for each different wiper arm. The receiving area ( 42 ) has different-sized receiving portions for the different wiper arms. The intermediate piece ( 28 ) includes two housing halves ( 32,34 ) connected in one piece with each other by an elastic member ( 36 ). This elastic member ( 36 ) consists of a tubular spring ( 38 ) extending around the intermediate piece and connecting the two housing halves, so that the two housing halves may be squeezed together or move apart.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention is directed to a windshield wiper with a wiper arm, and, more particularly, to a windshield wiper comprising a wiper arm, which is supported in a drivable manner and which carries a wiper blade at its free end, a holding clip for connecting the wiper blade with the wiper arm in a detachable and articulated manner as well as an intermediate piece for adapting different wiper arms and holding clips for connection with the wiper arm. 
     2. Prior Art 
     Windshield wipers of the type mentioned above are known. These windshield wipers are commonly used to wipe windshields of motor vehicles so as to ensure good visibility for the driver of the vehicle. For this purpose, the windshield wipers have a wiper arm which is displaceable via a wiper drive in a swinging or pendular motion. The wiper arm is connected by one end with a wiper shaft which is fixed with respect to the body of the vehicle, while the other free end of the wiper arm carries a wiper blade. A holding clip which is arranged at the free end of the wiper arm in a detachable and articulated manner is provided for connecting the wiper blade with the wiper arm. The detachable arrangement makes it possible to exchange worn wiper blades, while the articulated arrangement permits the wiping movement to be adapted to curved windshields. It is known to connect the wiper arm with the holding clip by an intermediate piece which permits the wiper arm to be adapted to the holding clip. A disadvantage in this respect consists in that this intermediate piece is tailored to a wiper arm or to a holding clip, necessitating a corresponding quantity of different intermediate pieces which are usually delivered along with the wiper blades and from which the appropriate intermediate piece is to be chosen. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a windshield wiper with a wiper arm which does not have the above-described disadvantage and is adapted to receive and hold a number of different sized wiper blades. 
     According to the invention a windshield wiper comprising a wiper blade, a holding clip engaging and holding the wiper blade and an intermediate piece for connecting the holding clip together with the wiper blade in a detachable and articulated manner with any one of a number of different wiper arms of different dimensions, wherein the intermediate piece is provided with a receiving area for insertion of each different-sized wiper arm. The receiving area is provided with a plurality of respectively different-sized receiving portions for the different-sized wiper arms which are inserted through a pocket opening provided in one end of the intermediate piece. The respectively different-sized receiving portions have correspondingly different transverse cross-sections decreasing in a stepped manner in an insertion direction for the wiper arms. The intermediate piece advantageously comprises two housing halves connected in one piece with each other by an elastic member, which is a tubular spring extending around the intermediate piece between the two housing halves and connecting the two housing halves, so that the two housing halves may be squeezed together for connection of the intermediate piece with the holding clip and the wiper blade and so that the two housing halves can move apart when one of the different wiper arms is inserted in the intermediate piece. 
     The windshield wiper according to the invention has the advantage over the prior art that it is possible to adapt the detachable, articulated connection between the wiper arm and holding clip by means of an individual intermediate piece. Due to the fact that the intermediate piece forms a receiving area which is adapted for receiving wiper arms of various dimensions in a positive and frictional engagement, it is possible to insert the wiper arm into the receiving area of the intermediate piece in a simple manner, wherein, in accordance with the dimensioning of the wiper arm, an automatic positive and frictional engagement is carried out in a portion of the receiving area which corresponds to this dimensioning of the wiper arm. Therefore, for example, it is possible when delivering the wiper blade to supply only one intermediate piece which can be fastened to different wiper arms without additional tools and without extra assembly. 
     Advantageous developments of the invention follow from the rest of the features mentioned in the subclaims. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     The invention is explained more fully hereinafter in embodiment examples with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 shows a schematic overall view of a windshield wiper; 
     FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of a connection point between a wiper arm and a holding clip; 
     FIG. 3 shows a sectional view of an intermediate piece; and 
     FIGS. 4 to  6  show perspective views of an intermediate piece mounted on different wiper arms. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     FIG. 1 shows a windshield wiper  10 . The windshield wiper  10  has a wiper arm  12 , one end  14  of which is arranged on the wiper shaft  16  so as to be fixed with respect to rotation relative to it. The other, free end  18  of the wiper arm  12  carries a wiper blade  20 . The wiper blade  20  is held by a holding clip  22  which can be connected, via a fastening part  24 , with the end  18  of the wiper arm  12  in a detachable and articulated manner. The articulated connection is carried out about an axis of rotation  26  which extends roughly perpendicular to the wiper shaft  16 . 
     FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of the connection area between the fastening part  24  of the holding clip  22  and the end  18  of the wiper arm  12 . The fastening is carried out by means of an intermediate piece  28 . The intermediate piece  28  is formed by a housing  30  having two housing halves  32  and  34  which are connected with one another. The housing halves  32  and  34  are connected by a flexible member  36 . The flexible member  36  is formed by a tube-like spring  38  engaging around the housing  30 , wherein the longitudinal edges of the spring  38  which are open along a slit  40  are connected integral with the housing halves  32  and  34 , respectively. The housing  30  is open on one side so as to form a receiving area  42  whose construction will be described in more detail with reference to the following Figures. The housing  30  has, on its outer surfaces  44 , a pin  46  which can be introduced into corresponding openings  48  of the holding clip  22 . 
     The holding clip  22  has a U-shaped profile as seen in cross section, the legs  50  and  52  of this U-shaped profile have the aligned openings  48 . A recess  54  whose longitudinal extension is greater than a longitudinal extension of the intermediate piece  28  is provided in the area of the openings  48 . In order to assemble the intermediate piece  28 , the housing halves  32  and  34  are moved toward one another against the force of the spring  38 , so that the pins  46  at the outer surfaces  44  approximate one another with respect to their axial extension. This makes it possible to introduce the intermediate piece  28  into the recess  54  of the holding clip  22 . After adjusting the pins  46  with the openings  48 , the housing halves  32  and  34  are forced apart by the force of the spring  38 , so that the pins  46  lock in the openings  48 . The pins  46  and the openings  48  are circular, wherein their respective outer diameter and inner diameter are adapted to one another, so that the intermediate piece  28  is supported essentially without play. The pins  46  engaging in the openings  48  form the axis of rotation  26  (FIG. 1) about which an articulated support of the wiper blade  20  at the wiper arm  12  is effected. 
     In order to produce a positive and frictional engagement between the holding clip  22  and the wiper arm  12 , this wiper arm  12  is pushed into the receiving area of the intermediate piece  28  up to a stop—described hereinafter—by its end  18  which forms a hook  56 . 
     FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of an intermediate piece  28  in section along the slit  40 , so that the receiving area  42  is clearly visible. The receiving area  42  is substantially formed by a pocket hole  58  whose free cross-sectional surface is reduced in a stepped manner. A first portion  60  of the receiving area  42  is defined by the inner walls  63  of the housing halves  32  and  34  and by a step  64 . The step  64  has an outer surface  66  extending at a radius adapted to a radius of an outer surface  68  of the hook  56  of the wiper arm  12 . 
     A second portion  62  of the receiving area  42  is likewise defined by the inner walls  63  of the housing halves  32  and  34  and, in the axial direction, by a compensation part  70 . The compensation part  70  is formed by a thickened portion  72  of the wall of the housing halves  34  and  32 . An end face  73  of the compensation part  70  extends at a radius which corresponds to a radius of a surface  68  of the hook  56  of the wiper arm  12 . 
     Finally, the compensation part  70  forms a third portion  74  at which the surfaces  76  extending parallel to the inner wall  63  form a narrowing of the receiving area  42 . The portion  74  is defined axially by an inner surface  78  of the housing parts  32  and  34  which again extends at a radius corresponding to a radius of the surface  68  of the hook  56  of the wiper arm  12 . 
     Catch projections  80  projecting transversely into the pocket opening  58  are associated with portions  60 ,  62  and  74 . The catch projections  80  are formed at the inner wall  63  and at the surface  76  of the housing halves  32  and  34 . 
     The positive and frictional engagement between the intermediate piece  28  and the wiper arm  12  is shown in different embodiment examples in FIGS. 4 to  6 . Parts identical to those in the preceding Figures are provided with identical reference numbers and are not described again. The housing  30  is shown in section for a better view. 
     According to FIG. 4, the hook  56  of the wiper arm  12  is pushed in up to portion  74  of the receiving area  42 . In accordance with the dimensioning of portion  74 , wiper arms  12  with a small width and a small radius of the hook  56  can be inserted. A positive engagement is effected between the surface  68  of the hook  56  and the outer surface  78  of the portion  74 , while the catch projection  80  associated with portion  74  engages behind by means of the hook  56  to form a frictional engagement. 
     FIG. 5 shows a positive engagement and frictional engagement between the intermediate piece  28  and the wiper arm  12  in which the hook  56  has the same radius as that in FIG. 4, but the wiper arm  12  has a greater width. Therefore, the wiper arm  12  is pushed in up to portion  62  of the receiving area  42 . The positive engagement is carried out between the surface  68  and the stop face  73  of the compensation part  70 , while the frictional engagement  73  is carried out in that the catch projection  80  associated with area  62  engages behind by means of the hook  56 . 
     Finally, FIG. 6 shows another embodiment example in which the hook  56  of the wiper arm  12  has a large radius in relation to the embodiment examples in FIGS. 4 and 5 and, according to the embodiment example in FIG. 4, a large width of the wiper arm  12 . The wiper arm  12  is pushed into portion  60  of the receiving area  42 , wherein a positive engagement is produced between the surface  68  of the hook  56  and the step  64  between portions  60  and  62  of the receiving area  42 . The frictional engagement is effected in that the catch projection  80  associated with portion  60  engages behind by means of the hook  56 . 
     With reference to the three possibilities shown in FIGS. 4 to  6 , it is clear that a positive and frictional engagement with different constructions, especially different dimensions, of wiper arms  12  is possible by means of a simple construction of the intermediate piece  28 , especially its receiving area  42 . At the same time, the wiper arm  12  introduced in the receiving area  42  prevents the housing halves  32  and  34  from being pressed together against the force of the spring  38 , so that the rotatable support of the intermediate piece  28  at the holding clip  22  via the pins  46  cannot be canceled when the wiper arm  12  is inserted.