Wiper blade device

The invention relates to a wiper blade device comprising a wiper strip unit (12) which has a wind-deflector element (16), a wiper lip (18) and a wiper strip element (14) which comprises a longitudinal guide channel (24) for a support element (20). According to the invention, the wiper strip element (14), in a mounted state, forms an interlocking connection with the wind-deflector element (16).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a wiper blade device.

A wiper blade device comprising a wiper strip unit is already known from the prior art, the latter including a wind-deflector element, a wiper lip and a wiper strip element which comprises a longitudinal guide channel for a support element.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a wiper blade device comprising a wiper strip unit which has a wind-deflector element, a wiper lip and a wiper strip element which comprises a longitudinal guide channel for a support element.

According to the invention, the wiper strip element, in a mounted state, forms an interlocking connection with the wind-deflector element, whereby a particularly quick mounting of the wiper blade device can be achieved. By the term “wiper strip unit”, a unit is to be particularly understood in this context which is provided to connect a wiper blade adapter to a wiper lip. By the term “provided”, particularly designed and/or equipped should especially be understood. By the term “wiper blade adapter”, in particular an adapter is to be understood in this context which is provided to make a coupling region of the wiper blade device available for coupling to a wiper arm. By the term “wind-deflector element”, an element is to be particularly understood in this context which is provided to deflect an air stream acting on the wiper blade device and/or to use said air stream to press the wiper lip against a window pane of the vehicle. The wind-deflector element preferably has at least one concave surface. By the term “wiper strip element”, an element is thereby to be particularly understood in this context which is provided to connect the wind-deflector element, the support element and the wiper lip in an interlocking manner. By the term “longitudinal guide channel”, a guide channel is to be particularly understood in this context which, in the mounted state, extends in a main extension direction parallel to a longitudinal direction of the wiper strip unit. By the term “longitudinal direction”, a direction is to be particularly understood in this context which extends substantially parallel to a longitudinal extension of the support element. By the term “longitudinal extension”, a greatest possible extension is to be particularly understood in this context. By the term “substantially” a deviation of less than 10°, preferably less than 5°, is to be particularly understood in this context. By the term “extension” of an element, a maximum distance between two points of a perpendicular projection of the element onto a plane is to be particularly understood in this context. By the term “support element”, a resilient element is to be particularly understood in this context which has at least one extension that, in a normal operating state, can be elastically changed by at least 10%, in particular by at least 20%, preferably by at least 30% and particularly advantageously by at least 50%, and which support element particularly generates a counter force acting opposite to a change in the at least one extension, said counter force being a function of said change of the extension and being preferably proportional to said change.

In a further embodiment of the invention, it is proposed that the wiper strip element, in a mounted state, forms an interlocking connection with the wind-deflector element. In so doing, the wiper blade device can be particularly easily assembled.

If the wiper strip unit comprises a resilient support element that, in a mounted state, forms an interlocking connection with the wiper strip element, the support element can be securely held in the wiper strip unit.

If the wiper blade device comprises a wiper blade adapter, which, in a mounted state, forms an interlocking connection with the wiper strip unit, a particularly simple and secure coupling to a further component, such as a wiper arm, can be produced.

According to the invention, the wiper blade adapter can furthermore comprise a longitudinal guide unit, which is provided to receive the support element in an interlocking manner, whereby a particularly secure accommodation of the support element can be achieved. By the term “longitudinal guide unit”, a unit is to be particularly understood in this context which is provided to guide 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 to form an interlocking connection with the support element.

A secure connection of the wind-deflector element to the wiper strip element can be achieved if said wind-deflector element comprises at least one terminator element which, in a mounted state, forms an interlocking connection and prevents a movement of said wind-deflector element relative to the wiper strip element in a longitudinal direction. By the term “terminator element”, an element is to be particularly understood in this context which is disposed at a free end of said wind-deflector element and is provided to engage in the longitudinal guide channel.

A particularly easy mounting of the wiper blade device can be achieved if the support element has at least one detent means which, in a mounted state, forms a detent connection with a wiper blade adapter. By the term “detent means”, a means is to be particularly understood in this context which is provided to produce a detent connection to a resilient component which is deflected during mounting. The detent means is preferably embodied as a detent recess.

If the wind-deflector element is connected to the wiper strip element in an interlocking manner, the wiper blade device can be particularly quickly mounted.

A mounting of the wiper blade device can be further expedited if, after the wiper lip and the wiper strip element have been connected in an interlocking manner, a support element is inserted into the wiper strip element and forms an interlocking connection with a wiper blade adapter.

The wiper blade device can be particularly solidly embodied if, after the support element has been inserted into the wiper strip element, the longitudinal channel is closed in a materially bonded manner in at least one end region. By the term “end region”, a region is to be particularly understood in this context which originates at a free end of the longitudinal channel, within the first and/or last 20%, preferably within the first and/or last 10%, of a longitudinal extension of the longitudinal channel.

A mounting of the wiper blade device can further be expedited if, after the wind-deflector element has been connected to the wiper strip element in an interlocking manner, at least one terminator element of the wind-deflector element is inserted into the wiper strip element and a movement of said wind-deflector element relative to said wiper strip element in a longitudinal direction is prevented.

The wiper blade device can be particularly solidly embodied if, after the wiper blade adapter has been placed on the wiper strip unit, a support element is inserted into the wiper strip unit and into a longitudinal guide unit of the wiper blade adapter, said support element preventing a movement of the wiper blade adapter relative to the wiper strip unit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1shows a perspective view of an inventive wiper blade device comprising a wiper strip unit12, which has a wind-deflector element16, a wiper lip18and a wiper strip element14. The wind-deflector element16is connected to the wiper strip element14in an interlocking manner. The wiper lip18is likewise connected to said wiper strip element14in an interlocking manner.

A wiper blade adapter10is attached to the wiper strip unit12. The wiper blade adapter10has a coupling region for coupling to a wiper arm of a motor vehicle (not depicted).

FIG. 2shows a perspective view of the wiper blade adapter10, which has a base body26, on which two fastening means28,30are integrally formed. The fastening means28,30adjoin a central recess32of the base body. In addition, two deflectable detent hooks56are disposed on the base body26. The detent hooks56can deflect transversely to a main longitudinal extension of the wiper blade adapter10, which, in a mounted state, runs parallel to a longitudinal direction22of the wiper strip unit12. The longitudinal direction22extends parallel to a longitudinal extension of the wiper strip unit12. In addition, four guide grooves36adjoin the central recess32.

The wiper blade adapter10includes a longitudinal guide unit34, which comprises four guide grooves36. The guide grooves36are open towards one another and extend parallel to the main longitudinal extension of the wiper blade adapter10.

The wiper strip element14is depicted inFIG. 3. Said wiper strip element14has a wiper blade adapter receiving area38which, when viewed in the longitudinal direction, extends from 45% to 55% of a longitudinal extension of the wiper strip element14.

As is shown in more detail inFIG. 4, the wiper strip element14has four fastening recesses40in the wiper blade adapter receiving area38thereof. The fastening recesses40adjoin a support surface46. The support surface46is located on a support body48, which is centrally arranged in the wiper blade adapter receiving area38.

A longitudinal guide channel24for receiving a resilient support element20runs in the longitudinal direction22in the wiper strip element14, as is depicted inFIG. 5in an end region of said wiper strip element14. The longitudinal guide channel24has the same cross-section as the support element20. When inserting the support element20into said longitudinal guide channel24, an interlocking connection is formed. Within the support body48, said longitudinal guide channel24is carried forward in the wiper blade adapter receiving area38.

In order to fasten the wind-deflector element16, a guide unit42, which has a profile rail44, is disposed on one side of the wiper strip element14. The profile rail44extends in the main extension thereof parallel to the longitudinal direction22.

A wiper lip guide unit50of the wiper strip element14, which has two L-shaped guide profiles52, is disposed on a side opposite to the guide unit42. In a mounted state, a coupling component of the wiper lip18is disposed within the wiper lip guide unit50and forms an interlocking connection with the guide profiles52.

FIG. 6shows a resilient support element20of the wiper strip unit12. The support element20consists of spring steel and has a detent means58which is disposed in the center thereof and comprises two detent recesses60. The detent recesses60are stamped out of the spring steel and have a rectangular profile, as is depicted in a top view inFIG. 7. When viewed in the longitudinal direction22, the detent recesses60are arranged at the same height. In addition, the support element20has a thickness which corresponds to a width of the guide grooves36.

The wind-deflector element16, as depicted inFIG. 8, has two terminator elements62,64, which are disposed in end regions66,68of said wind-deflector element16. Starting at a free end of said wind-deflector element16, the end regions66,68are located within the first and last 10% of a longitudinal extension of said wind-deflector element16. The terminator elements62,64have the same cross-section as the longitudinal guide channel24of the wiper strip element14. In a mounted state, the terminator elements engage in the longitudinal guide channel24.

A first assembly step of the wiper blade device is depicted inFIG. 9. The wind-deflector element16is inserted into the profile rails44of the wiper strip element14. In so doing, the profile rails44grip a longitudinal extension70of the wind-deflector element16. Said wind-deflector element16is thereby connected to the wiper strip element14in an interlocking manner. The terminator element62is subsequently inserted into the guide profile52and thus prevents a movement of said wind-deflector element16relative to the wiper strip element14in the longitudinal direction22. The other terminator element64remains for the time being outside of the guide profile52.

In a second assembly step, as depicted inFIG. 10, the wiper blade adapter10is placed on the wiper strip element14. The fastening means28,30of the wiper blade adapter10thereby engage in an interlocking manner in the fastening recesses40of the of the wiper strip element14. In a mounted state, the wiper blade adapter10rests on the support surface46. The wiper blade adapter10forms an interlocking connection with the wiper strip unit12. A movement of the wiper strip element14relative to the wiper blade adapter10is prevented in the longitudinal direction22.

In a third assembly step, the wiper lip18is inserted into the wiper lip guide unit50and forms an interlocking connection with the same. As a result, the wiper strip element14, in a mounted state, forms an interlocking connection with the wiper lip18. In addition, the support element20is inserted into the longitudinal guide channel24of the wiper strip element14. As a result, the support element20, in a mounted state, forms an interlocking connection with the wiper strip element14. The support element20leaves the longitudinal guide channel24in the wiper blade adapter receiving area38and is subsequently guided in the longitudinal guide unit34of the wiper blade adapter10.

FIG. 11shows the support element20, which has been completely pushed through the longitudinal guide unit34. The support element20forms an interlocking connection with the wiper blade adapter10. Said wiper blade adapter10can thus no longer be detached from the wiper strip unit12but is fixedly connected to the same.

The support element20is pushed further in a fourth assembly step until said element is completely situated in the wiper strip unit12. In order to prevent a movement of the support element20relative to the wiper strip unit12, the other terminator element64of the wind-deflector element16is inserted into the longitudinal guide channel24of the wiper strip element14. The longitudinal guide channel24and the wiper lip guide unit50are thereby closed in their two end regions54. A movement of the support element20within the longitudinal guide channel24is prevented in any direction.

The support element20is furthermore secured by means of the detent hooks56of the wiper blade adapter10, which engage in detent recesses60of the support element20and form a detent connection.

The detent hooks56are thereby initially deflected out of a starting position transversely to the longitudinal direction22and then move resiliently back into the starting position. In so doing, an interlocking connection with the detent recesses60is formed and a movement of the support element20relative to the wiper blade adapter10is prevented in the longitudinal direction22.