Abstract:
The invention relates to a wiping device, in particular a wiping device for a motor vehicle pane, comprising a retaining unit ( 10   a - 10   e ) that has a retaining element ( 12   a - 12   e ) with a longitudinal guide channel (14 a - 14   e ) for guiding a spring element ( 16   a - 16   e ), and comprising a spoiler unit ( 22   a - 22   e ). According to the invention, the retaining element ( 12   a - 12   e ) has at least one fixing means ( 18   a - 18   e,    20   a - 20   e ), the free end (24 a - 24   e,    26   a - 26   e ) of which faces the longitudinal guide channel ( 14   a - 14   e ) and which is provided to interlock with the spoiler unit ( 22   a - 22   e ).

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    A wiping device, in particular a wiping device for a motor vehicle pane, comprising a retaining unit which has a retaining element with a longitudinal guide channel for guiding a spring element, and comprising a spoiler unit is already known. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The invention is based on a wiping device, in particular a wiping device for a motor vehicle pane, comprising a retaining unit which has a retaining element with a longitudinal guide channel for guiding a spring element, and comprising a spoiler unit. 
         [0003]    It is proposed that the retaining element has at least one fastening means which, with a free end, faces the longitudinal guide channel and is provided for forming an interlocking connection with the spoiler unit, as a result of which the wiping device can be formed particularly stably. A “retaining unit” in this context is to be understood as meaning, in particular, a unit which his provided for connecting the spoiler unit to a wiper strip. A “wiper strip” in this context is to be understood as meaning, in particular, a strip which is provided for wiping a vehicle pane. The wiper strip is preferably formed from a rubber material. A “retaining element” in this context is to be understood as meaning, in particular, an element which is provided for connecting a spoiler unit, a spring element and a wiper strip in an interlocking manner. A “longitudinal guide channel” in this context is to be understood as meaning, in particular, a guide channel which extends parallel to a longitudinal direction of the retaining unit. The longitudinal guide channel preferably comprises a clearance and at least one channel wall bounding the clearance. A “longitudinal direction” in this context is to be understood as meaning, in particular, a direction which extends substantially parallel to a longitudinal extent of the retaining element. A “longitudinal extent” in this context is to be understood as meaning, in particular, a greatest possible extent. “Substantially” in this context is to be understood as meaning, in particular, a deviation of less than 10°, preferably less than 5°. An “extent” of an element in this context is to be understood as meaning, in particular, a maximum distance between two points of a perpendicular projection of the element onto a plane. A “spring element” in this context is to be understood as meaning, in particular, a spring-elastic element which has at least one extent which, in a normal operating state, is elastically changeable 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, produces a counterforce which is dependent on a change in the extent and is preferably proportional to the change and opposes the change. A “fastening means” in this context is to be understood as meaning, in particular, a means which is provided for forming an interlocking connection with a corresponding component. “Provided” is to be understood as meaning, in particular, specially designed and/or equipped. 
         [0004]    In a further refinement of the invention, it is proposed that the retaining element has at least one channel wall which is provided for transmitting press-on forces of the spoiler unit to the retaining unit, as a result of which the wiping device can be designed in a particularly stable and load-bearing manner. A “channel wall” in this context is to be understood as meaning, in particular, a wall which borders the longitudinal guide channel. 
         [0005]    Furthermore, it is proposed that the spoiler unit is produced in a coextrusion process, thus enabling the spoiler unit to be produced particularly cost-effectively and the spoiler unit to obtain a high degree of strength. A “coextrusion process” in this context is to be understood as meaning, in particular, the combining of at least two different plastics melts before said melts leave a profiled nozzle. 
         [0006]    Furthermore, it is proposed that the spoiler unit has two spoiler subelements differing in hardness, thus making it advantageously possible for weight to be reduced and strength to be increased. 
         [0007]    Furthermore, it is proposed that the harder spoiler subelement bears in an interlocking manner against the fastening means, thus enabling a particularly stable connection to be achieved between the spoiler subelement and the retaining unit. 
         [0008]    In a further refinement of the invention, it is proposed that the softer spoiler subelement bounds a longitudinal channel which has a pentangular cross section, thus enabling the spoiler subelement to be formed in a particularly torsionproof manner while at the same time having a low weight. “Pentangular” in this context is to be understood as meaning a contour which has five corners. Depending on the application, the corners may also be rounded. 
         [0009]    Furthermore, it is proposed that the softer spoiler subelement has at least one concavely formed spoiler side, thus enabling wind vortices to be avoided and/or press-on forces to be increased. 
         [0010]    If the fastening means enclose an obtuse angle with side walls of the retaining element, air vortices can be avoided in a transition region between the retaining element and the spoiler unit. An angle of smaller than 70° is preferred. It is particularly preferred for the angle to be smaller than 65°. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    Further advantages emerge from the description below of the drawing. The drawing illustrates exemplary embodiments of the invention. The drawings, the description and the claims contain numerous features in combination. A person skilled in the art will expediently also consider the features individually and put them together to form useful further combinations. In the drawings: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  shows a sectional illustration of a wiping device with a retaining unit, 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  shows a sectional illustration of a further exemplary embodiment of a wiping device with a retaining unit, 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  shows a sectional illustration of a further exemplary embodiment of a wiping device with a retaining unit, 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  shows a sectional illustration of a further exemplary embodiment of a wiping device with a retaining unit, and 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  shows a sectional illustration of a further exemplary embodiment of a wiping device with a retaining unit. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0017]      FIG. 1  shows a wiping device according to the invention comprising a retaining unit  10   a  with a retaining element  12   a  which has a longitudinal guide channel  14   a  for guiding a spring element  16   a,  and a spoiler unit  22   a,  in a sectional illustration. The section plane runs perpendicularly to a longitudinal direction of the retaining element  12   a.    
         [0018]    In order to guide the spring element  16   a,  the longitudinal guide channel  14   a  has side walls  52   a,    54   a.  Furthermore, an intermediate wall  56   a  which ends the longitudinal guide channel  14   a  in the direction of a wiper strip  40   a  is arranged on the side walls  52   a,    54   a.  The side walls  52   a,    54   a  extend from the intermediate wall  56   a  in a direction facing away from the wiper strip  40   a.  A respective fastening means  18   a,    20   a  which, with a respective free end  24   a,    26   a,  faces the longitudinal guide channel  14   a  is integrally formed on the side walls  52   a,    54   a.  The fastening means  18   a,    20   a  are of L-shaped design and border the side walls  52   a,    54   a  at an obtuse angle of 60°. 
         [0019]    Two L-shaped guide profiles  58   a,    60   a  of the retaining unit  10   a  are arranged on the intermediate wall  56   a.  The guide profiles  58   a,    60   a  are formed in one piece with the retaining element  12   a.  The guide profiles  58   a,    60   a  each have a side guide  62   a,    64   a  and each have a vertical guide  66   a,    68   a.  The vertical guides  66   a,    68   a  each enclose an angle of 90° with the side guides  62   a,    64   a.  The vertical guides  66   a,    68   a  here point towards each other. The side guides  62   a,    64   a  each enclose an angle of 90° with respect to the intermediate wall  56   a.  The free ends of the guide profiles  58   a,    60   a  point toward the vertical guides  66   a,    68   a  in directions facing each other. The guide profiles  58   a,    60   a  and the intermediate wall  56   a  form a beading rail  70   a  into which the wiper strip  40   a  is inserted. 
         [0020]    The spoiler unit  22   a  is produced from two spoiler subelements  32   a,    34   a  differing in hardness in a coextrusion process. The first spoiler subelement  32   a  has two outwardly concavely formed spoiler sides  76   a,    78   a.  In order to reinforce the spoiler unit  22   a,  the first spoiler subelement  32   a  has a connecting web  80   a  which connects the concave spoiler sides  76   a,    78   a  to each other. The connecting web  80   a  and the spoiler sides  76   a,    78   a  bound a longitudinal channel  82   a  which has a substantially pentangular cross section. 
         [0021]    The first spoiler subelement  32   a  is formed in one piece with the second spoiler subelement  34   a  and is provided for deflecting relative wind. The second spoiler subelement  34   a  has a higher strength and hardness than the first spoiler subelement  32   a.  The first spoiler subelement  32   a  bears against two fastening webs  44   a,    46   a  which are formed in one piece with the connecting web  80   a.  The fastening webs  44   a,    46   a  enclose an angle of 60° with the connecting web  80   a.  The second spoiler subelement  34   a  has two fastening grooves  72   a,    74   a  which form an interlocking connection with the fastening means  18   a,    20   a.    
         [0022]    The retaining element  12   a  is produced in a single piece from polyethylene in an extrusion process. In this context, a person skilled in the art will take various plastics appearing expedient into consideration, such as, in particular, polypropylene, polyamide, polyvinyl chloride and/or polystyrene. 
         [0023]    The free ends  24   a,    26   a  of the fastening means  18   a,    20   a  are enclosed by the second spoiler subelement  34   a.  The harder spoiler subelement  34   a  here bears against the fastening means  18   a,    20   a  in an interlocking manner. The harder spoiler subelement  34   a  has two supporting bodies  48   a,    50   a  which bear against the fastening means  18   a,    20   a  and against the spring element  16   a.  A connecting web  80   a  connects the supporting bodies  48   a,    50   a  to each other. 
         [0024]    The spring element  16   a  is embedded in the longitudinal guide channel  14   a.  The spring element  16   a  is produced from a spring steel and is provided for forming the retaining unit  10   a  in an elastically deflectable manner. 
         [0025]    For assembly, the spring element  16   a  is first of all inserted into the longitudinal guide channel  14   a.  Subsequently, the wiper strip  40   a  is pushed into the beading rail  70   a  and forms an interlocking connection with the retaining element  12   a.  The spoiler unit  22   a  is then pushed into the retaining element  12   a  and is then connected thereto in an interlocking manner. 
         [0026]      FIGS. 2 to 5  show four further exemplary embodiments of the invention. The descriptions below are restricted essentially to the differences between the exemplary embodiments, wherein reference can be made to the description of the first exemplary embodiment with respect to components, features and functions which remain identical. In order to differentiate the exemplary embodiments, the letter a in the reference numbers of the exemplary embodiment in  FIG. 1  is replaced by the letters b to e in the reference numbers of the exemplary embodiment of  FIGS. 2 to 5 . Reference can in principle also be made to the drawings and/or the description of the first exemplary embodiment with respect to identically denoted components, in particular with respect to components having the same reference numbers. 
         [0027]      FIG. 2  shows a further exemplary embodiment of a wiping device according to the invention comprising a retaining unit  10   b  with a retaining element  12   b  which has a longitudinal guide channel  14   b  for guiding a spring element  16   b,  and a spoiler unit  22   b,  in a sectional illustration. The section plane runs perpendicularly to a longitudinal direction of the retaining element  12   b.  The wiping device shown substantially corresponds to the exemplary embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0028]    The retaining element  12   b  has two channel walls  36   b,    38   b  which border the longitudinal guide channel  14   b.  The channel walls  36   b,    38   b  extend parallel to a wiping direction  28   b  and partially end the longitudinal guide channel  14   b  in a direction facing away from a wiper strip  40   b.  Furthermore, the retaining element  12   b  has a longitudinal opening  84   b  which opens the longitudinal guide channel  14   b  toward the spoiler unit  22   b.    
         [0029]    The spoiler unit  22   b  is produced from two spoiler subelements  32   b,    34   b  differing in hardness in a coextrusion process. The first spoiler subelement  32   b  has two outwardly concavely formed spoiler sides  76   b,    78   b.  In order to reinforce the spoiler unit  22   b,  the first spoiler subelement  32   b  has a connecting web  80   b  which connects the concave spoiler sides  76   b,    78   b  to each other. The connecting web  80   b  and the spoiler sides  76   b,    78   b  bound a longitudinal channel  82   b  which has a substantially pentangular cross section. 
         [0030]    The harder spoiler subelement  34   b  has two supporting bodies  48   b,    50   b  which bear against fastening means  18   b,    20   b  and against the channel walls  36   b,    38   b.  A connecting web  80   b  connects the supporting bodies  48   b,    50   b  to each other. The connecting web  80   b  bears against the channel walls  36   b,    38   b.  The first spoiler subelement  32   b  bears against two fastening webs  44   b,    46   b  which are formed in one piece with the connecting web  80   b.  The fastening webs  44   b,    46   b  enclose an angle of 60° with the connecting web  80   b.  A width of the first spoiler subelement  32   b  corresponds to twice the width of the fastening webs  44   b,    46   b.    
         [0031]      FIG. 3  shows a further exemplary embodiment of a wiping device according to the invention comprising a retaining unit  10   c  with a retaining element  12   c  which has a longitudinal guide channel  14   c  for guiding a spring element  16   c,  in a sectional illustration. The section plane runs perpendicularly to a longitudinal direction of the retaining element  12   c.  The wiping device shown corresponds substantially to the exemplary embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 . A width of a first spoiler subelement  32   c  corresponds to the width of fastening webs  44   c,    46   c.  The first spoiler subelement  32   c  converges at a pointed edge in an end region  42   c  facing away from a wiper strip  40   c.    
         [0032]      FIG. 4  shows a further exemplary embodiment of a wiping device according to the invention comprising a retaining unit  10   d  with a retaining element  12   d  which has a longitudinal guide channel  14   d  for guiding a spring element  16   d,  in a sectional illustration. The section plane runs perpendicularly to a longitudinal direction of the retaining element  12   d.  The wiping device shown substantially corresponds to the exemplary embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 . A width of a first spoiler subelement  32   b  corresponds to the width of the fastening webs  44   d,    46   d.  The first spoiler subelement  32   d  converges in a rounded manner in an end region  42   d  facing away from a wiper strip  40   d.    
         [0033]      FIG. 5  shows a wiping device according to the invention comprising a retaining unit  10   e  with a retaining element  12   e  which has a longitudinal guide channel  14   e  for guiding a spring element  16   e,  and a spoiler unit  22   e,  in a sectional illustration. The section plane runs perpendicularly to a longitudinal direction of the retaining element  12   e.    
         [0034]    For the guidance of the spring element  16   e,  the longitudinal guide channel  14   e  has side walls  52   e,    54   e.  Furthermore, an intermediate wall  56   e  which ends the longitudinal guide channel  14   e  in the direction of a wiper strip  40   e  is arranged on the side walls  52   e,    54   e.  The side walls  52   e,    54   e  extend from the intermediate wall  56   e  in a direction facing away from the wiper strip  40   e.  A second intermediate wall  86   e  ends the longitudinal guide channel  14   e  in the direction of the spoiler unit  22   e.  The longitudinal guide channel  14   e  is therefore completely enclosed. A respective fastening means  18   e,    20   e  which, with a respective free end  24   e,    26   e,  faces the longitudinal guide channel  14   e  is integrally formed on the side walls  52   e,    54   e.  The fastening means  18   e,    20   e  are of L-shaped design and border the side walls  52   e,    54   e  at an obtuse angle of 60°. 
         [0035]    Two guide profiles  58   e,    60   e  of the retaining unit  10   e  are arranged on the intermediate wall  56   e.  The guide profiles  58   e,    60   e  are formed in one piece with the retaining element  12   e.  The guide profiles  58   e,    60   e  each have a side guide  62   e,    64   e  and each have a vertical guide  66   e,    68   e.  The vertical guides  66   e,    68   e  each enclose an acute angle of 77° with the side guides  62   e,    64   e.  The vertical guides  66   e,    68   e  here point toward each other. The side guides  62   e,    64   e  each enclose an angle of 90° with respect to the intermediate wall  56   e.  The free ends of the guide profiles  58   e,    60   e  point toward the vertical guides  66   e,    68   e  in directions facing each other. The guide profiles  58   e,    60   e  and the intermediate wall  56   e  form a beading rail  70   e  into which the wiper strip  40   e  is inserted. 
         [0036]    The spoiler unit  22   e  is produced in an extrusion process and has a spoiler subelement  32   e.  The spoiler subelement  32   e  has two outwardly concavely formed spoiler sides  76   e,    78   e.  In order to reinforce the spoiler unit  22   e,  the spoiler subelement  32   e  has a connecting web  80   e  which connects the concave spoiler sides  76   e,    78   e  to each other. The connecting web  80   e  and the spoiler sides  76   e,    78   e  bound a longitudinal channel  82   e  which has a substantially pentangular cross section. 
         [0037]    The spoiler subelement  32   e  is provided for deflecting relative wind. The first spoiler subelement  32   e  has two fastening webs  44   e,    46   e  which are formed in one piece with the connecting web  80   e.  The fastening webs  44   e,    46   e  enclose an angle of 60° with the connecting web  80   e.  The spoiler subelement  32   e  has two fastening grooves  72   e,    74   e  which each form an interlocking connection with the fastening means  18   e,    20   e.    
         [0038]    The retaining element  12   e  is produced in one piece from polyethylene in an extrusion process. In this context, a person skilled in the art will take various plastics appearing expedient into consideration, such as, in particular, polypropylene, polyamide, polyvinyl chloride and/or polystyrene. 
         [0039]    The free ends  24   e,    26   e  of the fastening means  18   e,    20   e  are enclosed by a second spoiler subelement  34   e.  The spoiler subelement  32   e  here bears in an interlocking manner against the fastening means  18   e,    20   e.  The spoiler subelement  32   e  has two supporting bodies  48   e,    50   e  which bear against the fastening means  18   e,    20   e  and against the spring element  16   e.  The connecting web  80   e  connects the supporting bodies  48   e,    50   e  to each other. 
         [0040]    The spring element  16   e  is embedded in the longitudinal guide channel  14   e.  The spring element  16   e  is produced from a spring steel and is provided for forming the retaining unit  10   e  in an elastically deflectable manner. 
         [0041]    For assembly, first of all the spring element  16   e  is inserted into the longitudinal guide channel  14   e.  Subsequently, the wiper strip  40   e  is pushed into the beading rail  70   e  and forms an interlocking connection with the retaining element  12   e.  The spoiler unit  22   e  is then pushed into the retaining element  12   e  and is then connected thereto in an interlocking manner.