Abstract:
The invention relates to a wiper blade device comprising a wiper strip unit ( 10 ) which has a longitudinal guide channel ( 14 ) for accommodating a support element ( 16 ). According to the invention, the longitudinal guide channel ( 14 ) has at least one lateral opening ( 12 ).

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The invention relates to a wiper blade device. 
         [0002]    A wiper blade device comprising a wiper strip unit which has a longitudinal guide channel for accommodating a support element is already known from prior art. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The invention relates to a wiper blade device comprising a wiper strip unit which has a longitudinal guide channel for accommodating a support element. 
         [0004]    According to the invention, the longitudinal guide channel has at least one lateral opening, whereby material can be advantageously saved during manufacture. By the term “wiper strip unit”, particularly a unit is to be understood in this context, which is provided for the purpose of connecting a wiper blade adapter to a wiper lip. By the term “longitudinal guide channel”, particularly a guide channel is to be understood in this context, which in the assembled state extends in a longitudinal extension of the wiper strip unit. By the term “longitudinal extension”, particularly an extension that is as large as possible is to be understood in this context. By the term “extension” of an element, particularly a maximum distance between two points of a vertical projection of the element onto a plane is to be understood. By the term “lateral opening”, particularly a recess is to be understood in this context, which is arranged in a lateral wall of the wiper strip unit and forms a passage into the longitudinal channel. The lateral opening is preferably delimited by a closed contour. In a particularly preferred manner, a main extension of the lateral opening extends parallel to the longitudinal extension of the wiper strip unit. By the term “support element”, particularly a resilient element is to be understood in this context, which has at least one extension that can be resiliently varied by at least 10%, particularly by at least 20%, preferably by at least 30% and particularly advantageously by at least 50% in a normal operating state and which generates a counter force acting against a variance of the extension, which is a function of the variance and is preferably proportional to said variance. By the term “provided”, in particular specially designed and/or equipped is to be understood. By the term “wiper blade adapter”, particularly an adapter is to be understood in this context, which is intended for the purpose of providing a coupling region of the wiper blade device for a coupling to a wiper arm. 
         [0005]    If the at least one lateral opening adjoins intermediate elements of the wiper strip unit, the wiper blade device can be embodied in a particularly stable manner. By the term “intermediate element”, particularly an element is to be understood in this context, which is arranged between two components of the wiper strip unit and connects the same to one another. 
         [0006]    The invention further proposes that the intermediate elements are integrally designed with a further component of the wiper strip unit, whereby a particularly stable connection is achieved which at the same time is cost effective. In this case, a further component can relate to a wiper lip; however, said component preferably relates to a wind deflector. By the term “wind deflector”, particularly an element is to be understood, which is provided for the purpose of deflecting an airstream acting on the wiper blade device and/or is used for pressing the wiper lip against a vehicle&#39;s window pane. The wind deflector preferably has at least one concave surface. By the term “integral(ly)”, in particular joined by material engagement, as for example by a welding process and/or an adhesive bonding process etc., and in a particularly advantageous manner “molded” are to be understood, molded thereby referring to manufacture by casting in one piece and/or in a single-component or multi-component injection molding process. 
         [0007]    In a further embodiment of the invention, it is proposed that the intermediate elements are disposed in two longitudinal rows, whereby a particularly stable embodiment of the wiper blade device can be achieved. By the term “longitudinal row”, particularly a row of intermediate elements is to be understood in this context, which extends parallel to the longitudinal extension of the wiper strip unit. 
         [0008]    If the intermediate elements of a longitudinal row are arranged offset as seen in a longitudinal direction to the intermediate elements of the other longitudinal row, forces acting on the wiper strip unit can be especially evenly distributed. By the term “longitudinal direction”, particularly a direction is to be understood in this context, which substantially extends parallel to a longitudinal extension of the wiper strip unit. By the term “substantially”, particularly a deviation of less than 10° and preferably less than 5° is to be understood. By the term “offset”, it should be particularly understood in this context that a plane which extends perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction and moves in said longitudinal direction simultaneously intersects only one intermediate element across the majority of the longitudinal extension thereof. In a preferred manner, the plane simultaneously intersects a maximum of one intermediate element across the entire longitudinal extension thereof. By the term “majority”, particularly more than 50%, preferably more than 80%, particularly preferably more than 95% is to be understood. 
         [0009]    If the support element has a protective coating, which is provided for the purpose of protecting said support element from damage and/or corrosion, wear to the wiper blade device can be advantageously slowed down. With regard to a “protective coating”, particularly a coating is to be understood in this context, which is harder and/or more resistant to corrosion than the support element. 
         [0010]    A wiper blade adapter can be mounted very quickly on the wind deflector element if the wiper strip unit has at least one fastening recess, which is provided for the purpose of forming a form closure with a wiper blade adapter. 
         [0011]    If the wiper blade device comprises a wiper blade adapter, which has at least one fastening means, which forms a form closure with a wind deflector of the wiper strip unit and is provided for the purpose of preventing a movement of the wiper strip unit relative to the wiper blade adapter in a longitudinal direction, said wiper blade adapter can be very cost effectively and stably mounted to the wiper strip unit. 
         [0012]    If the wiper blade adapter forms a form closure with the support element and prevents a movement of said support element relative to said wiper blade adapter in the longitudinal direction, the wiper device can be designed in a particularly compact manner. 
         [0013]    If the wiper blade adapter is placed onto the wiper strip unit, wherein at least one fastening means engages in a form-fitting manner into the fastening recess, a quick and secure assembly can result. 
         [0014]    If after fitting the wiper blade adapter to the wiper strip unit, a support element is inserted into the wiper strip unit and into a longitudinal guide unit, the wiper blade device can be embodied in a particularly stable manner. With regard to a “longitudinal guide unit”, particularly a unit is understood in this context, which is provided for the purpose of providing a guidance of a support element in the longitudinal direction. The longitudinal guide unit preferably comprises at least one guide groove extending in the longitudinal direction, which is provided for the purpose of forming a form closure with the support unit. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]    Further advantages ensue from the following description of the drawings. An exemplary embodiment of the inventions is depicted in the drawings. The drawings, the description and the claims contain numerous features in combination. The person skilled in the art will for reasons of expedience also consider the features individually and put said features together into further useful combinations. 
           [0016]    In the drawings: 
           [0017]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a wiper blade device according to the invention in an assembled state, 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of an end region of a wiper strip unit of the wiper blade device pursuant to  FIG. 1 , 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  shows a perspective view of a further end region of the wiper strip unit pursuant to  FIG. 2 , 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  shows a perspective view of the wiper blade adapter receiving region of the wiper strip unit pursuant to  FIG. 2 , 
           [0021]      FIG. 5  shows a perspective view of a wind deflector of a wiper strip unit pursuant to  FIG. 2 , 
           [0022]      FIG. 6  shows a perspective view of a support element of the wiper blade device pursuant to  FIG. 1 , 
           [0023]      FIG. 7  shows a top view of a section of the support element pursuant to  FIG. 6 , 
           [0024]      FIG. 8  shows a perspective view of a wiper blade adapter of a wiper blade device pursuant to  FIG. 1 , 
           [0025]      FIG. 9  shows a perspective view of the wiper blade device pursuant to  FIG. 1  in a first step of assembly, 
           [0026]      FIG. 10  shows a perspective view of the wiper blade device pursuant to  FIG. 1  in a second step of assembly, 
           [0027]      FIG. 11  shows a perspective view of the wiper blade device pursuant to  FIG. 1  in a third step of assembly. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0028]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of an inventive wiper device comprising a wiper strip unit  10  and a wiper blade adapter  18  in an assembled state. The wiper strip unit  10  comprises a wind deflector  20  and a wiper lip  22 . The wiper strip unit  10  includes a longitudinal guide channel  14 , which has a plurality of lateral openings  12 , which are distributed across the wiper strip unit  10  at regular intervals. The lateral openings  12  adjoin a plurality of intermediate elements  28  of the wiper strip unit  10 . In addition, said lateral openings  12  adjoin the longitudinal guide channel  14  and laterally open the same. Said lateral openings  12  are delimited by a closed contour. 
         [0029]    The intermediate elements  28  are in each case disposed between two lateral openings  12 . Said intermediate elements  28  are furthermore integrally formed with the wind deflector  20 . In this connection, it is however likewise conceivable to integrally form said intermediate elements  28  with the wiper lip  22 . 
         [0030]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , the longitudinal guide channel  14  has a longitudinal guide channel opening  26 , which opens said longitudinal guide channel  14  on one side in a longitudinal direction  24 . The longitudinal direction  24  extends parallel to a longitudinal extension of the wiper strip unit  10 . The lateral openings  12  extend transversely to the longitudinal direction  24 . A main extension of the lateral opening  12  extends however parallel to the longitudinal direction  24 . Said longitudinal guide channel  14  is closed ( FIG. 3 ) in the longitudinal direction  24  on one side opposite the longitudinal guide channel opening  26 . 
         [0031]      FIG. 4  shows a wiper blade adapter receiving region  50  of the wiper strip unit  10  in a perspective view. A fastening recess  52  of the wiper strip unit  10  adjoins two lateral walls  54  of the wind deflector  20  and has a supporting surface  56 . The lateral walls  54  enclose an angle of 45° with respect to the longitudinal direction. The supporting surface  56  is situated on a supporting body  58 , which extends continuously in the fastening recess  14 , i.e. adjoins the wind deflector  20  on both sides. 
         [0032]    The longitudinal guide channel  26  of the wiper strip unit  12  is open at the lateral walls  54 . The supporting body  58  continues the longitudinal guide channel  26  within the wiper blade adapter receiving region  50 . 
         [0033]      FIG. 5  shows a perspective view of a wiper deflector  20  without the wiper lip  22 . The intermediate elements  28  are disposed in a first and a second longitudinal row  30 ,  32 , which extend parallel to the longitudinal direction  24 . The intermediate elements  28  of the first longitudinal row  30  are thereby disposed offset to the intermediate elements  28  of the second longitudinal row  32  when viewed in the longitudinal direction  24 . During assembly, the wiper lip  22  is adhesively bonded to the wind deflector  20  and therefore joined by material engagement. 
         [0034]      FIG. 6  shows a resilient support element  16  in a perspective view. The support element  16  consists of spring steel and comprises a centrally disposed detent means  34  which clasps two detent recesses  36 . The support element  16  has a protective coating, which protects the same from damage and corrosion. 
         [0035]    The detent recesses  36  are stamped from spring steel and have a rectangular profile, as can be seen in a top view in  FIG. 7 . In addition, the detent recesses  36  are disposed at the same height when viewed in the longitudinal direction  24 . A cross-section of the support element  16  corresponds to cross-section of the longitudinal guide channel  14  which extends perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction  24 . 
         [0036]    The wiper blade adapter  18  is shown in a perspective view in  FIG. 8  and comprises a base body  38 , on which two fastening means  40  are integrally formed. The fastening means  40  adjoin a central recess  42  of the base body  38 . In addition, two detent hooks  44 , which can deflect, are disposed on the base body  38 . 
         [0037]    In addition, the wiper blade adapter  10  has a longitudinal guide unit  46 , which comprises four guide grooves  48 . The guide grooves  48  extend parallel with respect to the longitudinal direction  24  and are open towards each other. Furthermore, said guide grooves  48  adjoin the central recess  42 . A width of said guide grooves  48  corresponds to a thickness of the support element  16 . 
         [0038]    A first assembly step of the wiper blade device is depicted in  FIG. 9 . The wiper blade adapter  18  is disposed above the wiper blade adapter receiving region  50  of the wiper strip unit  10 . If the wiper blade adapter  18  is placed onto the wiper strip unit  10 , the fastening means  40  of said wiper blade adapter  18  engages in a form-fitting manner into the fastening recess  52  of said wiper strip unit  10 . Said wiper blade adapter  18  forms a form closure with said wiper strip unit  10 . A movement of said wiper strip unit  10  relative to said wiper blade adapter  18  is prevented in the longitudinal direction. 
         [0039]    In a second assembly step, the support element  16  is inserted into the longitudinal guide channel  14  of the wiper strip unit  10 . In the wiper blade adapter receiving region  50 , said support element  16  departs from the longitudinal guide channel  14  into the supporting body  58  and is subsequently guided into the guide grooves  48  of the longitudinal guide unit  46  of the wiper blade adapter  18 . 
         [0040]      FIG. 10  shows the support element  16 , which has been completely pushed through the longitudinal guide unit  46 . Said support element  16  forms a form closure with the wiper blade adapter  18 . The wiper blade adapter  18  can therefore no longer be released from the wiper strip unit  10 , but is rigidly connected to the same. 
         [0041]    The support element  16  is pushed further in a third assembly step until the detent hooks of the wiper blade adapter  18  engage into the detent recesses  36  of the support element  16  and form a snap-lock connection, as depicted in  FIG. 11 . 
         [0042]    The detent hooks  44  are thereby initially deflected out of a starting position transversely with respect to the longitudinal direction  24  and move then resiliently back into the starting position. In so doing, a form closure is formed with the detent recesses  36  and a movement of the support element  46  relative to the wiper blade adapter  18  in the longitudinal direction  24  is prevented. 
         [0043]    By pushing the support element  16  further along, said support element enters again into the longitudinal guide channel  14  of the wiper strip unit  10  and forms a form closure with the former. A movement of the support element  16  within the longitudinal guide channel  14  is prevented in any direction.