Connecting device for connecting a wiper arm to a wiper blade in an articulated manner

The invention relates to a connecting device (10) for connecting a joining element (46, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60, 62, 64, 66) of a wiper arm to a wiper blade (12) in an articulated manner, the supporting element (16) of said wiper blade being rigidly connected to a connecting element (20) of the connecting device (10). The connecting element (20) has at least one mounting web (26) which runs in the longitudinal direction, protrudes into the interior of an adapter (36, 38, 40, 42, 44), and supports a mounting pin (28) that runs transversely to the longitudinal direction. The adapter (36, 38, 40, 42, 44) is pivotably mounted on said mounting pin by mounting means (88), and the adapter (36, 38, 40, 42, 44) is detachably connected to the joining element (46, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60, 62, 64, 66). According to the invention, the mounting web (26) is formed on one longitudinal edge of a base (22) of the connecting element (20) only in a short region on the outer end of the connecting element (20), and the mounting pin (28) is secured on the mounting web (26) in cantilevered manner towards the other longitudinal edge of the base (22), while a lateral web (30) is formed on the other longitudinal edge of the base (22) in an offset manner with respect to the inner end of the connecting element (20).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a connecting device for connecting a wiper arm to a wiper blade in an articulated manner.

The German patent publication DE 20 2005 021 307 U1 discloses a connecting device for the articulated connection of a wiper blade of flat bar construction, said connecting device being suitable for different wiper arms. The connecting device comprises at least one single-part or multi-part connecting element which is fastened rigidly, but releasably, to a supporting element of the wiper blade in the form of spring rails. An adapter is provided between each wiper arm and wiper blade, said adapter having on the one hand connecting options for the connecting element and on the other hand connecting options for one of the wiper arms or for corresponding joining elements, which are rigidly connected to the respective wiper arm or integrally formed with said wiper arm. A joint, the joint axis of which extends transversely with respect to the longitudinal direction, is disposed between one of the joining elements and an adapter, which is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the connecting element or alternatively between a part of the adapter connected in a rotationally fixed manner to said connecting element and a part of the adapter connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the joining element. In so doing, three different adapters result for three different joining elements of the wiper arms.

The connecting device is suitable for a wiper arm with a hook-shaped end or joining element or an end or joining element with a lateral mounting pin and a bridge corresponding to a known sidelock principle, or a wiper arm with an end or joining element, in which the wiper arm runs substantially rectilinearly above the wiper blade and is connected to the connecting element according to the toplock principle.

Another connecting device for the articulated connection of a wiper blade to a wiper arm is known from the German patent publication DE 103 47 637 A1. In this case, a connecting element in the form of a sheet-metal claw has a central longitudinal web which faces away from the supporting element of the wiper blade and into which a transversely running pivot spindle is inserted in a rotationally fixed manner. An adapter with bearing openings which are arranged in lateral spring tongues is mounted pivotably on the pivot spindle, which projects in a floating manner on both sides of the longitudinal web. The adapter, which is manufactured from plastic, surrounds the sheet-metal claw from the outside and is clipped by means of latching elements and retaining elements into a joining element, which is open toward the wiper blade and is connected rigidly to the wiper arm. The adapter is on the one hand guided laterally on the longitudinal web of the sheet-metal claw by means of inner guide webs and is on the other hand inserted at the side walls thereof in a play-free manner in the joining element. For this purpose, a push button is used, which is provided at the end of a spring tongue in a cover wall of the adapter and in the assembled state latches into a matching latching hole in a cover wall of the joining element.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention, the mounting web of the connecting element of the inventive connecting device is integrally formed on one longitudinal edge of a base of the connecting element only in a short region on the outer end of said connecting element, and the mounting pin is secured on the mounting web in a cantilevered manner towards the other edge of the base, while a lateral web is formed in a plane parallel to the mounting web on the other edge of the base in an offset manner with respect to the inner end of the connecting element. The connecting element of the inventive connecting device is advantageously configured such that said connecting element in combination with five adapters facilitates an articulated connection of the wiper blade to ten different joining elements from ten different wiper arms. A wiper blade can thereby cover a wide range of application of different wiper arms with a very small diversity of components.

For this purpose, it is expedient that the lateral web is divided by a gap running perpendicularly to the supporting element. The lateral web has further a recess in the part which is oriented towards the outer end of the wiper blade. These embodiments of the lateral web facilitate an easy fixing and a good lateral guidance of the adapter in relation to the connecting element and therefore to the wiper blade.

The articulated connection of the adapter to the connecting element takes place in the same manner in all of the embodiments, namely by virtue of the fact that a bearing bushing, which can be mounted so as to be rotatable on the mounting pin, is rigidly connected to the end of the adapter oriented towards the outer end of the wiper blade. A flap of angular cross-section, which is connected in an articulated manner to the rest of the adapter via an integral hinge running in the longitudinal direction, covers the bearing bushing and secures the same on the mounting pin in the closed state, e.g., by said flap overlapping the mounting web with the angled end thereof and latching at an edge of the adapter.

The embodiments of the five adapters differ among other things with regard to the flaps, which secure the adapter in the axial direction on the mounting pin of the connecting element. Whereas in the case of the first, fourth and fifth adapter, the flap essentially covers only the region of the mounting web and the bearing bushing; the flap of the second and third adapter extend over the entire length of the adapter.

In order to connect the first adapter to a first joining element, the base element of said adapter, at the transition of the flap to the remaining part of the base element, has an outwardly protruding abutment edge, whereat the one face edge of the first joining element can be supported if the joining element is slid with the face side thereof from the inner end of the first adapter onto the same. That end is denoted as the inside or inner end of the wiper blade or the components thereof which describes an inside pathway on a window pane of a vehicle; whereas the opposite end is denoted as the outer end. The abutment edge at the side walls of the flap advantageously has pockets, which are configured concavely in the longitudinal direction and interact accordingly with correspondingly concavely configured face edges of the first joining element. In order to prevent an undesired disassembly of the first joining element, the base element advantageously has a spring tongue comprising a push button, which protrudes outwardly with respect to the cover wall of the base element and in the assembled state of the first joining element latches into a latching hole of the joining element.

In order to connect a second joining element to the first adapter, a cover cap is placed on the said adapter, which cap has an identical configuration as the front end of the first joining element. The cover cap is fixed in the longitudinal direction between the abutment edge and the push button, which latches into a latching aperture in a cover wall of the cover cap. The cover cap fits flushly to the base element and has a bearing opening at least in one side wall, said bearing opening aligning with a bearing opening in the side wall of the base element in the assembled state of the cover cap. The second joining element is held in the bearing openings of the cover cap and the base element by a mounting pin and is fixed in the axial direction of the mounting pin by a bridge, which overlaps the cover cap in the assembled state and holds the same with an angled end; and therefore the pivoting movement between the wiper blade and the wiper arm is facilitated exclusively by the joint, which is formed by the mounting pin of the connecting element and by the bearing bushing of the first adapter.

The fourth adapter is similarly constructed as the first adapter and serves to connect the wiper blade in an articulated manner to a seventh and eighth joining element, which are similar to the first and second joining element. Whereas the first joining element is cranked so that the wiper arm runs laterally offset with respect to the wiper blade, the wiper arm of the seventh joining element runs above the wiper blade. In relation to the fourth adapter, the seventh joining element is fixed in the longitudinal direction between an abutment edge and a push button, which engages and latches in a latching hole in the cover wall of the seventh joining element. Towards the outer end and behind the push button of the base element, the base element of the fourth adapter has a depression in which a bridge of the eighth joining element engages in the assembled state; thus enabling the outer contour of the bridge to fit to a large extent flushly to the outer contour of a cover cap or the pushbutton in the assembled state, wherein the bridge extends through an opening running transversely in the cover wall of the cover cap into the depression of the base element of the fourth adapter. Said opening extends to some extent beyond the adjoining side walls of the cap so that an angled end of the bridge is stabilized at the base element of the adapter. At least on one side, the cover cap and the base element have bearing openings for a mounting pin of the eighth joining element, which align with each other.

Adapters two and three have a flap which extends across the entire length of the adapter. When the flap is open, the third and fourth joining elements can be connected to the second adapter. For this purpose, the second adapter has a profiled accommodating part which runs in the longitudinal direction and is located on the inside of the side wall thereof connected to the bearing bushing. The third joining element comprising a hook-shaped end can be slid onto the profiled accommodating part in the direction of the bearing bushing from the accessible side. After assembly of said third joining element, the flap is closed; thus enabling the third adapter to be secured on the one hand on the mounting pin and on the other hand on the profiled accommodating part of the second adapter. A holding frame expediently runs spaced apart from the outer contour of the profiled accommodating part, said holding frame being connected to the side wall of the second adapter and limiting the play between the profiled accommodating part and the third joining element. The profiled accommodating part can advantageously be connected to the side wall via a spring tongue so that the third connecting element is fixed to the side wall of the flap in a play-fee manner.

In an advantageous manner, the profiled accommodating part is a hollow profile, one side of which is open and faces the side wall of the flap. A profiled latching part that runs transversely for accommodating a mounting pin of the fourth joining element, which mounting pin runs transversely to the longitudinal direction of the wiper blade, is located at the inner end of the hollow profile. In the closed state of the flap, an opening in the side wall of the flap aligns with the profiled latching part; thus enabling the mounting pin of the fourth connecting element to be inserted through the opening of the side wall into said profiled latching part.

In the case of the third adapter, a guide block instead of the profiled accommodating part is fastened to the side wall which is located opposite to the side wall of the flap. The guide block provides accommodating options for a fifth, sixth and seventh joining element. To this end, holding tongs, which are open towards the cover wall of the flap and the limbs of which form a gap, are disposed on the outer end of said joining element so as to be spaced apart from the guide block in the region of the bearing bushing. A link plate of the fifth and sixth joining element or a cranked end of the seventh joining element is located between the limbs and is held there by detent cams at the ends of said limbs.

In order to axially fix the fifth joining element, abutment flanges are provided on the edges oriented towards the supporting element on the outsides of the side walls of the guide block. The abutment flanges have in each case a recess comprising a detent-and-abutment cam. Projections on the side walls of the fifth and sixth joining element fit into said recesses. The projections of the fifth joining element have undercuts, which abut on chamfers on the detent-and-abutment cams, whereas projections on the side walls of the sixth joining element without cutouts abut on lay-on surfaces of the detent-and-abutment cams. In this case, a detent cam on the cover wall of the guide block engages in a corresponding opening of the sixth joining element.

The seventh connecting element is fixed to the same detent cam, which engages in a latching hole of the seventh connecting element. The seventh connecting element is guided laterally in that the side walls of the guide block form an overhang so that a lateral guide channel develops between said side walls.

The fifth adapter is used for the articulated connection of a ninth and tenth joining element to the wiper blade. It is similar in design to the first and fourth adapter. For this purpose, a base element of the fifth adapter has a guide block running in the longitudinal direction, which has an interstice that runs transversely, tapers toward the base of the connecting element and into which an open hub of a cover cap having a corresponding outer contour can be inserted. In the closed state, a cover wall of a flap of the base element overlaps the interstice and the hub to some extent. In order to mount the ninth joining element, the cover cap is removed and the profile roller of the tenth joining element is immediately inserted into the corresponding interstice of the guide block, wherein lateral guide cheeks of the ninth joining element are guided along the side walls of the guide block.

In order to mount the tenth joining element, the cover cap is inserted into the interstice of the guide block and the mounting pin is inserted into the open hub of the cover cap. For this purpose, the mounting pin has expediently two flat portions opposite to one another; and therefore the mounting pin can be inserted through an opening which is reduced with respect to the diameter of the open hub and is secured by turning into the operating position. The tenth joining element is secured in the axial direction of the mounting pin by a lock plate provided on the free end of said mounting pin.

Not only the connecting device comprising the connecting element and the adapter including where applicable the cover flap is protected by the claims but also a wiper blade, with which the connecting device is used, and the connecting element as well as the adapters comprising where applicable the cover caps thereof as single elements.

Further advantages result from the following description of the drawings. Exemplary embodiments of the invention are depicted in the drawings. The drawings, the description and the claims contain numerous features in combination. The expert in the field will expediently examine the features individually and will put them together in further useful combinations.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A connecting device10according to the invention comprises a connecting element20(FIG. 2), which is rigidly connected to a wiper blade12and is the same for all embodiments, and depending on the embodiment a first adapter36, a second adapter38, a third adapter40, a fourth adapter42or a fifth adapter44. Common to all of the adapters36,38,40,42,44is that said adapters each have a flap76,146or252, which has an angular cross-section and forms a part of a cover wall72,151,246and a side wall70,150,248of the respective adapters36,38,40,42,44. The flaps76,146,252are connected in an articulated manner to the remaining portion of the adapter36,38,40,42,44by means of integral hinges84,148,260that run in the longitudinal direction of the adapter36,38,40,42,44. A bearing bushing88, which can be rotatably mounted on a mounting pin28of the connecting element20, is rigidly connected to the end of the adapter36,38,40,42,44which faces the outer end of the wiper blade12. In the closed state of the flap76,146,252, the bearing bushing88is axially fixed on the mounting pin28by means of said flap76,146,252.

The five adapters36,38,40,42,44differ in the connecting options thereof to eleven different joining elements46,48,50,52,54,56,58(cf.FIG. 1),60,62,64,66(cf.FIG. 13).

The wiper blade12depicted inFIG. 2has a wiper strip14, which is held by a supporting element16in the form of two flat spring rails consisting of metal or plastic that run parallel to one another. Spoiler parts18are mounted on the supporting element16on both sides of the connecting element20, which is fastened by means of claws24to said supporting element16. The connecting element20has a base22that runs in the longitudinal direction. At the end of the base22oriented towards the outer end of the wiper blade12, a mounting web26is angled counter to the claws24on one longitudinal edge and supports a mounting pin28which is oriented to the other longitudinal edge of said base22. A lateral web30which runs parallel to said mounting web26is integrally formed onto the longitudinal edge of said base22opposite to the mounting web26in an offset manner with respect to the outer end of the wiper blade12. Said lateral web is divided by a gap34that runs transversely to said base22, wherein a recess32, which tapers in the direction towards the base22, is provided in the part that is oriented towards the outer end of the wiper blade12.

The first adapter36has a substantially U-shaped cross-sectional profile, which is formed from two side walls70and their connecting cover wall72. The front part74of the first adapter36, which faces the outer end of the wiper blade12, is formed in the region of the cover wall72and a side wall70, which lies on the side of the mounting web26of the connecting element20, by the flap76, the side wall82of which forms a part of the side wall70and the cover wall80of which forms a part of the cover wall72of the adapter36. On the face side, the flap is delimited by an end wall78, the free edge of which is matched to the profile of the spoiler part18and abuts with play on the same so that a pivoting motion of the first adapter36about the mounting pin28of the connecting element20is possible.

The bearing bushing88, which is pushed onto the mounting pin28when the flap76is open, is fastened to the inside of the side wall70on the side of the adapter36opposite to the mounting web26. The flap76is then closed, wherein the side wall82of which engages over the mounting web26and therefore secures the bearing bushing88and the first adapter36in the longitudinal direction of the mounting pin28. The first adapter36can now be pivoted about a predefined angle relative to the wiper blade12around said mounting pin28, the inner surface of the side wall70, to which the bearing bushing88is fastened, being laterally guided at the lateral web30.

The base element68of the adapter36has an abutment edge102, which extends across the side walls70and the cover wall72, at the transition between the flap76and the rest of the adapter36. In the region of the side walls70, the abutment edge102forms pockets86, in which the convex leading edge112of the first joining element46engages and thereby fixes the flap76in the closed state. At the inner end of the wiper blade12, a bearing opening92, which is followed by a clearance space94spaced apart from said opening, is provided at least in one side wall70of the base element68in an offset manner with respect to the abutment edge102. At the inner end of the first adapter36, a spring tongue98is provided in the cover wall72thereof, said spring tongue being formed by two longitudinally directed slots100and supporting a push button96which outwardly protrudes with respect to the cover wall72.

During assembly, the first joining element46is pushed with the front face thereof onto the first adapter36, wherein the two side walls106thereof including their connecting cover wall104encompass the side walls70and the cover wall72of the first adapter36and the cover wall104pushes the push button96back until the latter latches in the end position into a latching hole114in the cover wall of the first joining element46. The joining element46has guide webs108, which engage under the side walls70of the first adapter36, at the longitudinal edge thereof which faces the supporting element16. The side walls106have recesses110at the part of the first joining element46that is directed towards the outer end of the wiper blade12. The recesses110match to the guide webs90, which adjoin the abutment edge102in the longitudinal direction and serve as stops. The first joining element46has in addition a profiled connecting part116for a wiper arm, which is not depicted, said profiled connecting part running laterally offset with respect to the first adapter36. Like all of the other joining elements48to66, the first connecting element46can thus be integrally formed on the wiper arm or be rigidly connected to the same as a separate component.

The application options for the first adapter36can be expanded by a cover cap118. Said cover cap can assume at the base element68the position of the first joining element36by both side walls120thereof and their connecting cover wall122encompassing the side walls70and the cover wall72of the base element68. In so doing, the push button96is pushed back during assembly by the cover wall122until, in the end position of the cover cap118, said push button latches into a latching aperture124in the cover wall122of the cover cap118. In the end position, a face edge130of the cover cap118, which is convexly designed in the region of the side walls120, abuts on the corresponding abutment edge102, whereby the flap76is fixed in the closed position thereof. In this position, the guide webs90of the base element68are situated in recesses128of the cover cap118.

The cover cap118has further a bearing opening126in at least one side wall120, said bearing opening126aligning with the bearing opening92in the side wall70of the base element68. It is thereby possible to mount the second joining element48by a mounting pin138, which is in a position that has been rotated about an angle of approximately 90 degrees with respect to the wiper blade12, being pushed into the bearing openings126,92and subsequently being pivoted back into the operating position. The second joining element48has a profiled connecting part132which has a substantially U-shaped cross-sectional profile at the end thereof, said profile being formed by two side walls134and their connecting cover wall136. The mounting pin138is riveted to the side walls134. A bridge140, the angled end142of which grasps and holds the cover cap118on the outside of the side wall120, is integrally formed in an offset manner with respect to the inner end of the second joining element48.

A flap146of the second adapter38extends across the entire length thereof. The same is true for an integral hinge148, with which the flap146is connected in an articulated manner to the rest of the second adapter38. Said flap146has an angular cross-section, which is formed by a side wall150and at least one part of the cover wall151. On the face side, said flap is delimited by an end wall152which has an edge of the profiled connecting part towards the spoiler part18. The bearing bushing88is integrally formed on the side wall144facing away from the mounting web26. An elongated holding frame156, which serves to accommodate a third joining element50comprising a hook-shaped end, is provided on the same side wall144. The profiled accommodating part154is expediently connected to the side wall144via a spring tongue; thus enabling the hook-shaped end162to abut in a play-free manner on the side walls150and144of the second adapter38. The short limb164of the hook-shaped end162further comprises a latching hole166. Said latching hole can together with a latching pin (not shown) of the profiled accommodating part154serve to secure the third joining element50. In addition, a holding frame156is integrally formed on the inside of the side wall144, the former delimiting a longitudinal displacement of the hook-shaped end162towards the outer end of the wiper blade12. The third joining element50is pushed in the direction of the arrows160onto the profiled accommodating part154and subsequently secured by the flap146, which engages above the mounting web26with the side wall150thereof in the closed state.

In order to accommodate the fourth joining element52, the second adapter36has a profiled latching part158, which interacts with the mounting pin170of the fourth joining element, at the inner end of the profiled accommodating part154that is embodied as a hollow profile. The mounting pin170is disposed on the side of the fourth joining element52facing the second adapter38and is pushed in the direction of the arrow160through an opening168in the side wall150of the flap146into the profiled latching part158. In so doing, an annular groove174latches in the profiled latching part158, wherein a head part172can reach up into the gap34of the lateral web30of the connecting element20.

A third adapter40is of similar construction as the second adapter38. In this case too, a flap146extends across the entire length of the adapter40and is connected to the side wall144of the adapter40via an integral hinge148. Instead of the profiled accommodating part154of the second adapter38, the third adapter40has a guide block176, the side walls178of which are connected to one another by means of a cover wall180, wherein the side walls178form overhangs182with respect to the cover wall180, said overhangs running in the longitudinal direction and forming between themselves a guide channel for the seventh joining element58.

In front of the guide block176spaced apart in the direction towards the outer end of the wiper blade12, holding tongs196, which are open to the cover wall151of the flap146, are provided in the region of the bearing bushing88. The limbs198of said holding tongs form between themselves a longitudinally oriented gap and have latching means on the free ends thereof. The fifth joining element54has a profiled connecting part200, which at the free end thereof has a substantially U-shaped cross-section. Said cross-section is formed by two side walls202and their connecting cover wall204. On the face side, the cover wall204has an integrally formed, cranked link plate210which in the assembled state is fixed between the limbs198of the holding tongs196, wherein the side walls202and the cover wall204encompass the guide block176. In so doing, the edges of the side walls102facing the supporting element16abut on abutment flanges188of the side walls178of the guide block, while projections206on the side walls202of the fifth joining element54engage in recesses190of the abutment flanges188and are held by undercuts208of the projections206on corresponding chamfers194of detent cams192on the abutment flanges188.

The sixth joining element56is similar to the fifth joining element54. Instead of the undercuts208, the projections206of the side walls202have approximately right-angled stop edges212, which interact with stop surfaces218on the detent cams192. In addition, the cover wall204of the sixth joining element56has an opening214comprising a link plate216oriented towards the outer end. The opening214interacts with the latching hole186, wherein the link plate216engages below the edge of the detent cam186facing it.

The seventh joining element58forms the end of a wiper rod. Said joining element has a cranked end220and a latching hole222which is offset with respect to the inner end thereof. In the assembled state, the cranked end220is held by the holding tongs196, while the detent cam185latches in the latching hole222. The detent cam186lies in the region of a projection184of the cover wall180of the guide block176.

The fourth adapter42is similar in design to the first adapter36. Said fourth adapter serves to connect the eighth and ninth joining element60and respectively62. Said joining elements have similarities to the first joining element46and the second joining element48. In contrast to the first joining element46, the profiled connecting part116of which runs to the wiper arm in a laterally offset manner with respect to the wiper blade12, the eighth joining element60runs in the direction of the wiper blade12. In addition, the ninth joining element62is manufactured from a wiper rod, which has a twisted end236, a broadside of the rod thereby facing the fourth adapter42. Said broadside is encompassed by a shoe238, on which a bridge140comprising an angled end142is integrally formed. The shoe238is riveted to the twisted end236by a mounting pin138running substantially parallel to the bridge140, said mounting pin running in an offset manner with respect to the free end of the ninth joining element62.

In order to mount the eighth joining element60, only the base element224of the fourth adapter42is required. The base element224has in contrast to the base element68of the first adapter36a depression228which runs transversely towards the outer end and lies behind the push button96. Said depression first becomes relevant when mounting the ninth joining element62. The eighth joining element60is pushed with the front face thereof onto the base element224until the push button, which initially is pushed back, snaps into the latching hole114of the eighth joining element60. The assembly procedure is otherwise just as in the case of the first joining element46.

When mounting the ninth joining element62, a cover cap226takes the place of the eighth joining element60. Said cover cap has a substantially U-shaped cross-sectional profile, which is formed by two side walls120and their connecting cover wall122. A bearing opening126is situated at least in one side wall120, the former aligning with a bearing opening92in the side walls70of the base element224in the assembled state.

A transversely running opening230, which extends up into the region of the side walls120, is situated in the cover wall122. At the inner end of the fourth adapter42, the opening230enlarges due to an opening part232for the push button96of the base element224. The ninth joining element62is pushed into the bearing openings126,92in a position which is rotated about an angle of approximately 90 degrees in the direction of the mounting pin138and is subsequently rotated back into the operating position. The bridge140dips thereby through the opening230into the depression228of the base element, wherein the angled end142of the bridge140abuts on the outside of the associated side wall70of the base element224so that a pivoting motion takes place exclusively between the bearing bushing88and the mounting pin28.

The fifth adapter44has a base element240comprising a guide block244which extends in the longitudinal direction and has a substantially U-shaped cross-section. This cross-section is formed by two side walls248, which are connected to one another by a cover wall246. In the outer region, the cover wall246and the side wall248are formed by a flap252which comprises a side wall256and a cover wall254as well as an end wall258. The cover wall254is connected to a housing part262of the fifth adapter44via an integral hinge260. An interstice250, the flat walls of which draw nearer to each other in the direction of the supporting element16, is provided in the guide block244opposite to the bearing bushing88in an offset manner with respect to the inner end. A profile roller268fits into said interstice250, the axis266of the former being riveted to guide cheeks264of the ninth joining element62. The guide cheeks264form protruding edges270in the region of the profile roller268. During assembly, said profile roller268is inserted into said interstice250and held there in a rotationally fixed manner. By closing the flap252, the fifth adapter with the bearing bushing thereof is on the one hand axially fixed on the mounting pin28; and on the other hand, the profile roller268is held in said interstice250by means of the cover wall254which extends to the inner end of the wiper blade12.

In order to mount the eleventh joining element66, a cover cap242is inserted into the fifth adapter44. The cover cap242has two side walls272, which are connected to one another by means of a cover wall274and an open hub278. The open hub278lies at the outer end of the cover cap242, whereas the cover wall274has an extension276on the opposite end of said cover cap in order to improve handling.

The open hub278has an outer contour280which corresponds to the interstice250; thus enabling said hub to be mounted in the interstice250of the guide block244in the same manner as the tenth joining element64. The eleventh joining element66is mounted before the flap252is closed. Said eleventh joining element is manufactured from a wiper rod and has a twisted end286, whereat a broadside faces towards the fifth adapter. A mounting pin288is mounted on said broadside of the joining element, which mounting pin has a lock plate292on the free end thereof, said lock plate axially securing the mounting pin288in the open hub278. Said mounting pin288has flat portions290on opposite sides; thus enabling said pin at an appropriate amount of rotation to be pushed through an open gap284in the open hub278, wherein the gap284is narrower than the diameter of the cylindrical part282of the open hub278. By turning the eleventh joining element66into the operating position, the mounting pin288is locked in the open hub278. The flap252is then closed, the cover wall254overlapping the open hub278to some extent.