Abstract:
The invention relates to a wiper blade device comprising a wiper blade adapter ( 10 ) and a wiper strip unit ( 12 ). According to the invention, said wiper strip unit ( 12 ) has at least one securing recess ( 14 ) which, in at least one operating state, forms an interlocking connection with the wiper blade adapter ( 10 ).

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The invention relates to a wiper blade device. 
         [0002]    A wiper blade device having a wiper blade adapter and having a wiper strip unit is already known. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The invention relates to a wiper blade device having a wiper blade adapter and a wiper strip unit. 
         [0004]    It is proposed that the wiper strip unit has at least one fastening recess which, in at least one operating state, forms a positive fit with the wiper blade adapter, whereby the wiper blade adapter can be assembled particularly rapidly with the wind deflector element. In this connection, a “wiper blade adapter” should be understood to mean in particular an adapter which is provided for providing a coupling region of the wiper blade device for coupling to a wiper arm. Here, in this context, a “wiper strip unit” should be understood to mean in particular a unit which is provided for connecting a wiper blade adapter to a wiper lip. “Provided” should be understood to mean in particular specially configured and/or equipped. In this way, the wiper blade adapter can be assembled on the wiper strip unit in a particularly inexpensive and stable manner. 
         [0005]    It is also proposed that the wiper blade adapter have at least one fastening means which, in at least one operating state, forms a positive fit with a wind deflector element of the wiper strip unit and prevents a movement of the wiper strip unit relative to the wiper blade adapter in a longitudinal direction, whereby particularly secure assembly of the wiper blade device can be attained. In this context, a “wind deflector element” should be understood to mean in particular an element which is provided for deflecting a relative wind acting on the wiper blade device and/or for pressing the wiper lip against a vehicle window. The wind deflector element preferably has at least one concave surface. In this context, a “longitudinal direction” should be understood to mean in particular a direction which extends substantially parallel to a longitudinal extent of the carrier element. In this context, a “longitudinal extent” should be understood in particular to mean a maximum possible extent. In this context, “substantially” should be understood to mean in particular a deviation of less than 10°, preferably of less than 5°. In this context, an “extent” of an element should be understood to mean in particular a maximum spacing between two points of a perpendicular projection of the element onto a plane. 
         [0006]    The wiper blade adapter can be held securely on the wiper strip unit if the wiper strip unit has at least one resiliently elastic carrier element which, in at least one operating state, forms a positive fit with the wiper blade adapter. In this context, a “resiliently elastic carrier element” should be understood to mean in particular an element which has at least an extent which, in a normal operating state, can vary elastically by at least 10%, in particular by at least 20%, preferably by at least 30% and particularly advantageously by at least 50%, and which in particular generates a counteracting force, which counteracting force is dependent on the variation of the extent and is preferably proportional to the variation and counteracts the variation. 
         [0007]    The wiper blade adapter can be held particularly securely on the wiper strip unit if the positive fit between the carrier element and the wiper blade adapter prevents a movement of the carrier element relative to the wiper blade adapter in a longitudinal direction. 
         [0008]    Particularly simple assembly of the wiper blade device can be attained if the carrier element has at least one detent means which, in at least one operating state, forms a detent connection with the wiper blade adapter. In this context, a “detent means” should be understood to mean in particular a means which is provided for producing a detent connection with a resiliently elastic component which, for assembly, is deflected. The detent means is preferably in the form of a detent recess. 
         [0009]    If the wiper strip unit has a wind deflector element and a wiper lip which are formed in one piece, a particularly durable and inexpensive connection can be produced between the wiper lip and the wind deflector element. “In one piece” should be understood to mean in particular cohesively connected, such as for example by means of a welding process and/or adhesive bonding process etc., and particularly advantageously integrally formed, such as by means of production by casting and/or by a single-component or multi-component injection molding process. 
         [0010]    It is also proposed that the wiper blade adapter have a longitudinal guide unit which is provided for receiving a carrier element with a positive fit, whereby it can be achieved that the carrier element is received in a particularly secure manner. In this context, a “longitudinal guide unit” should be understood to mean in particular a unit which is provided for providing a guide for a carrier element in a longitudinal direction. The longitudinal guide unit preferably has at least one guide channel which extends in the longitudinal direction and which is provided for forming a positive fit with the carrier unit. 
         [0011]    It is also proposed that the wiper strip unit have a longitudinal guide channel which is provided for receiving a carrier element with a positive fit, whereby particularly space-saving and secure assembly of the wiper blade device can be attained. In this context, a “longitudinal guide channel” should be understood to mean in particular a guide channel which, in an assembled state, extends in a main direction of extent parallel to the longitudinal direction. 
         [0012]    If the wiper blade adapter is mounted onto the wiper strip unit, wherein at least one fastening means engages into the fastening recess with a positive fit, assembly can take place particularly rapidly. 
         [0013]    If, after the wiper blade adapter is mounted onto the wiper strip unit, a carrier element is inserted into the wiper strip unit and into a longitudinal guide unit of the wiper blade adapter, particularly high stability of the wiper blade adapter can be attained. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]    Further advantages will emerge from the following description of the drawing. The drawing illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the invention. The drawing, the description and claims contain numerous features in combination. A person skilled in the art will expediently also consider the features individually and combine them to form further meaningful combinations. 
           [0015]    In the drawing: 
           [0016]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a wiper blade device according to the invention in an assembled state, 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a wiper strip unit of the wiper blade device as per  FIG. 1 , 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is a sectional illustration through the wiper strip unit as per  FIG. 2 , 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a wiper blade adapter receiving region of the wiper strip unit as per  FIG. 2 , 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a wiper blade adapter of the wiper blade device as per  FIG. 1 , 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a carrier element of the wiper blade device as per  FIG. 1 , 
           [0022]      FIG. 7  is a plan view of a detail of the carrier element as per  FIG. 6 , 
           [0023]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the wiper blade device as per  FIG. 1  in a first assembly step, 
           [0024]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the wiper blade device as per  FIG. 1  in a second assembly step, and 
           [0025]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the wiper blade device as per  FIG. 1  in a third assembly step. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0026]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a wiper blade device according to the invention having a wiper blade adapter  10  and having a wiper strip unit  12  in an assembled state. The wiper strip unit  12  has a wind deflector element  20  and a wiper lip  22 , which are formed in one piece. A longitudinal guide channel  26  extends within the wiper strip unit  12  along a longitudinal direction  18  which is arranged parallel to a longitudinal extent of the wiper strip unit  12 . The longitudinal guide channel  26  is open in the longitudinal direction  18  at both sides. 
         [0027]      FIG. 2  illustrates a wiper strip unit  12  according to the invention. In a wiper blade adapter receiving region  28 , which extends from 45% to 55% of the longitudinal extent of the wiper strip unit  12  as viewed in the longitudinal direction  18 , the wind deflector element  20  has a fastening recess  14 . It is however also conceivable in this context for the fastening recess  14  to be arranged outside the wiper blade adapter receiving region  28 , and thus asymmetrically on the wiper strip unit  12  as viewed in the longitudinal direction  18 . At each free end, the wind deflector element  20  is rounded in the direction of the wiper lip  22  by means of a cut. The use of additional end caps for improving the visual appearance can thereby be avoided. 
         [0028]    The wind deflector element  20  which is shown and the wiper lip  22  are produced in a multi-component injection molding process. In this context, other manufacturing methods that would appear expedient to a person skilled in the art are also conceivable, such as in particular other injection molding processes, adhesive bonding processes and/or welding processes which at least lead to an adhesive connection between the wind deflector element  20  and the wiper lip  22 . 
         [0029]    A section through the wiper strip unit  12  is illustrated in  FIG. 3 , and shows the wind deflector element  20 , the wiper lip  22  and the longitudinal guide channel  26 . The wiper strip unit  12  has a plane of symmetry  30  which extends along the longitudinal direction  18 . The wind deflector element  20  has laterally arranged convex wind deflecting surfaces  52  which deflect a relative wind and ensure that the wiper lip  22  bears against a windshield (not illustrated) at high speeds. 
         [0030]      FIG. 4  shows the wiper blade adapter receiving region  28  of the wiper strip unit  12  in a perspective view. The fastening recess  14  adjoins two side walls  32  of the wind deflector element  20  and has a rest surface  34 . The side walls  32  enclose an angle of 45° with respect to the longitudinal direction  18 . In this context, it is however also conceivable to use other angle values between the side walls  32  and the longitudinal direction  18  that would appear expedient to a person skilled in the art, such as for example 60°. The side walls  32  therefore enclose an angle of 90° with respect to one another. The rest surface  34  is situated on a rest body  42  which is arranged centrally in the fastening recess  14 . 
         [0031]    The longitudinal guide channel  26  of the wiper strip unit  12  is open at the side walls  32 . The rest body  42  forms a continuation of the longitudinal guide channel  26  within the wiper blade adapter receiving region  28 . The longitudinal guide channel  26  is therefore split into two regions  54 ,  56  as viewed in the longitudinal direction  18 . 
         [0032]    The wiper blade adapter  10  is shown in a perspective view in  FIG. 5 . The wiper blade adapter  10  has a main body  36  on which two fastening means  16  are integrally formed. The fastening means  16  adjoin a central recess  40  of the main body  36 . Furthermore, two deflectable detent hooks  38  are arranged on the main body  36 . The detent hooks  38  can be deflected transversely with respect to the longitudinal direction  18 . In an assembled state, the central recess  40  forms a positive fit with the rest body  42 . The wiper blade adapter  10  also has a longitudinal guide unit  24  which comprises four guide grooves  44 . The guide grooves  44  extend parallel to the longitudinal direction  18  and are open toward one another. Furthermore, the guide grooves  44  adjoin the central recess  40 . 
         [0033]      FIG. 6  shows a resiliently elastic carrier element  46  of the wiper strip unit  12 . The carrier element  46  is composed of a spring steel and has a centrally arranged detent means  48  which comprises two detent recesses  50 . The detent recesses  50  are punched out of the spring steel and have a rectangular profile, as illustrated in  FIG. 7  in a plan view. The detent recesses  50  are arranged at the same position as viewed in the longitudinal direction  18 . Furthermore, the carrier element  46  has a thickness which corresponds to a width of the guide grooves  44 . 
         [0034]      FIG. 8  illustrates a first assembly step of the wiper blade device. The wiper blade adapter  10  is arranged above the wiper blade adapter receiving region  28  of the wiper strip unit  12 . If the wiper blade adapter  10  is placed onto the wiper strip unit  12 , the fastening means  16  of the wiper blade adapter  10  engages into the fastening recess  14  of the wiper strip unit  12  with a positive fit. The longitudinal guide unit  24  is now arranged in the regions  54 ,  56  of the wiper strip unit  12 . The wiper blade adapter  10  forms a positive fit with the wiper strip unit  12 . A movement of the wiper strip unit  12  relative to the wiper blade adapter  10  is prevented in the longitudinal direction  18 . 
         [0035]    In a second assembly step, the carrier element  46  is inserted into the longitudinal guide channel  26  of the wiper strip unit  12 . In the wiper blade adapter receiving region  28 , the carrier element  46  passes out of the longitudinal guide channel  26  into the region  54 , and is subsequently guided into the guide groove  44  of the longitudinal guide unit  24  of the wiper blade adapter  10 . 
         [0036]      FIG. 9  shows the carrier element  46  which has been pushed all the way through the longitudinal guide unit  24 . The carrier element  46  forms a positive fit with the wiper blade adapter  10 . The wiper blade adapter  10  can thus no longer be detached from the wiper strip unit  12 , but rather is fixedly connected thereto. 
         [0037]    In a third assembly step, the carrier element  46  is pushed further until the detent hooks  38  of the wiper blade adapter  10  engage into the detent recesses  50  of the carrier element  46  and enter into a detent connection, as illustrated in  FIG. 10 . 
         [0038]    Here, the detent hooks  38  are firstly deflected out of an initial position transversely with respect to the longitudinal direction  18 , and then move elastically back into the initial position. A positive fit with the detent recesses  50  is thus formed, and a movement of the carrier element  46  relative to the wiper blade adapter  10  in the longitudinal direction  18  is prevented. 
         [0039]    By virtue of the carrier element  46  being pushed further, said carrier element passes into the longitudinal guide channel  26  of the wiper strip unit  12  again and forms a positive fit therewith. A movement of the carrier element  46  within the longitudinal guide channel  26  is prevented in all directions.