Abstract:
The invention relates to a connecting apparatus ( 24 ) for hinging a joining element ( 100, 102, 104, 142, 152, 162, 122 166 ), which is rigidly connected to a wiper arm, by way of an adapter ( 62 ), which is held non-rotatably by the joining element ( 100, 102, 104, 142, 152, 162, 166 ), to a connecting element ( 26 ) fastened to a wiper blade ( 10 ), wherein between the connecting element ( 26 ) and the adapter ( 62 ) a joint ( 52, 82 ) running transversely to the longitudinal direction of the wiper blade ( 10 ) is provided, and the adapter ( 62 ) forms a frame of two side walls ( 64 ) of a front end wall ( 66 ) and a rear end wall ( 70 ), the frame being partially covered toward the top in the region of the front end wall ( 66 ) by a cover wall ( 68 ) such that an opening ( 74 ) remains toward the rear end wall ( 70 ). It is proposed that the adapter ( 62 ) has means ( 76, 78, 80, 86 ) which are suited for mounting and fixing three different joining elements ( 100, 102, 104 ).

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a 371 of PCT/EP2010/053002, filed Mar. 10, 2010, which claims the priority of German Application No. 10 2009 002 764.5, filed Apr. 30, 2009, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a connecting apparatus for hinging a joining element, which is rigidly connected to a wiper arm. 
     A connecting apparatus for the articulated connection of a wiper blade of flat beam design, which is suitable for different wiper arms, is known from the German patent publication DE 20 2005 021 307 U1. The connecting apparatus comprises at least one one-piece or multi-piece connecting element which is rigidly but detachably fastened to a carrier element in the form of spring rails. According to the invention, an adapter is located between each wiper arm and the wiper blade, said adapter comprising on the one hand connection options for the connecting element and on the other hand connection options for one of the wiper arms or joining elements, which are rigidly connected to the respective wiper arm or are integrally formed on said wiper arm. A joint, the joint axis of which extends transversely to the longitudinal direction of the wiper blade, is disposed between one of the joining elements and an adapter, which is connected to the connecting element in a rotationally fixed manner or between a part of the adapter connected to said connecting element in a rotationally fixed manner and a part of said adapter connected to the joining element in a rotationally fixed manner. Thus, three different adapters for three different joining elements of the wiper arms ensue. 
     The connecting apparatus is suited to a wiper arm having a hook-shaped end or joining element or an end, respectively joining element, having a lateral bearing pin and a bridge which correspond to a known side-lock principle. Said connecting apparatus is also suited to a wiper arm having an end or joining element, wherein the wiper arm extends substantially in a straight line above the wiper blade and is connected to the connecting element according to the top-lock principle. Another connecting apparatus 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 comprises a central longitudinal web, which faces away from the carrier element of the wiper blade and into which a pivot spindle, which runs transversely, is inserted in a rotationally fixed manner. An adapter with bearing openings, which are arranged in lateral spring tongues, is pivotably mounted on the pivot spindle which protrudes in a floating manner on both sides of the longitudinal web. The adapter, which is manufactured from plastic, encircles the metal claw from the outside and is clipped into a joining element, which is open towards the wiper blade and fixedly connected to the wiper arm, by means of detent elements and retaining elements. Said adapter is firstly guided laterally by means of inner guide webs on the sheet metal claw and is secondly inserted at the sidewalls thereof in the joining element in a manner free from play. A push button, which is provided in a cover wall of the adapter at the end of a spring tongue and, in the fitted state, latches into a matching detent hole in a cover wall of the joining element, serves to fix said adapter in said joining element. 
     A wiper blade for glass panes of motor vehicles is known from the German patent publication DE 10 2006 031 514 A1, which has a connecting element in the central region for the articulated connection to a wiper arm. The connecting element comprises a base element, which is composed of two side parts having open longitudinal grooves facing one another. Said side parts sit with said grooves on spring rails serving as the carrier element. Said spring rails are partially embedded in lateral longitudinal grooves of a wiper strip and protrude to a certain extent laterally beyond said longitudinal grooves of the wiper strip at least in the region of the connecting element. The longitudinal grooves of the base element are bounded at the bottom by a lower leg and at the top by an upper leg. A projection is disposed in an end region on the upper leg and a recess is disposed in the other end region, which in each case are directed towards the opposite side part. The projection of the one side part fits into the recess of the other side part and vice versa. In the assembled state, the projections fix the side parts longitudinally relative to one another in the recesses and define the distance of said longitudinal grooves transversely to the wiper blade. Two contact surfaces, which run inclined to the longitudinal direction, are situated in each case on one side of each projection or recess, wherein the contact surfaces form a convex roof area at the projection which fits into a concave roof area, which is formed by the contact surfaces at the recesses. Thus, the side parts are locked in the direction of the vertical axis. 
     A detent hook is provided on the sides of the recess opposite to the contact surfaces, which engages in a detent depression on the projection of the respective other side part. The projections and the associated recesses comprising the associated contact surfaces and detent hooks form a guide block, which engages in a recess in a base of a sheet metal claw. The sheet metal claw, which forms the actual connecting part, encompasses the side parts from the outside with feet, which project in an angled manner from the base. At the ends of said metal claw, longitudinally oriented lugs, which are bent into corresponding recesses of the base element during assembly, are integrally formed on the feet thereof. Starting from the base of said sheet metal claw, side walls are bent in opposite directions at approximately 90 degrees between said feet. The side walls carry a bearing pin as the joint part, which is riveted to said side walls. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to the invention, the adapter comprises means, which are suited for mounting and fixing of three different joining elements. A plurality of different applications can thereby be covered by the same adapter. The joining elements can be integrally formed on the end of the wiper arm facing towards the wiper blade or can be manufactured as separate components and are rigidly connected to the wiper arms. 
     According to one embodiment of the invention, the means for mounting and fixing the different joining elements on the adapter consist of an end edge of the cover wall facing toward the rear end wall, two rearwardly facing holding cams in the region of the end edge, two steps situated laterally in the region of said end edge, which are integrally formed on the side walls so as to be concave toward the rear end wall, and two locking mechanisms distributed in each case on the two side walls in the vicinity of the rear end wall. In so doing, the locking mechanisms advantageously comprise contact surfaces and in each case a chamfer, which face the front end wall. Hence a first joining element comprising a u-shaped cross-section can, for example, partially encompass the side walls of the adapter with the side walls thereof and rest with an edge of the cover wall thereof against the end edge of the cover wall of said adapter, which faces the rear end wall, and in the process engage with said cover wall thereof under holding cams on the cover wall of said adapter. In the assembled position, the end edges of the side walls of the joining element can furthermore rest on the steps of said adapter. Said steps are integrally formed on the side walls of said adapter so as to be concave toward the rear end wall. Furthermore, the end faces of two guide flanges running in the longitudinal direction, which face the rear end wall of said adapter, are fixed to the contact surfaces of the locking mechanism of said adapter. 
     Whereas a laterally cranked connecting profile with respect to the wiper arm is provided in the case of the first joining element, so that the wiper arm runs laterally to the wiper blade in the assembled position, the connecting profile of a second joining element is disposed in the longitudinal direction of the joining element; thus enabling the wiper arm to run above the wiper blade. The second joining element has a lug on the front side thereof, which is cranked toward the wiper blade and is pushed under the cover wall of the adapter during assembly. In the end position, the lug abuts with the end face thereof against a stop below the cover wall of the adapter. The second joining element is affixed in the adapter by a projection which rests with an undercut on a chamfer of the locking mechanism of the adapter. A third locking mechanism, which is similar to the second one, comprises a stop which runs in a straight line practically vertically in relation to the lower edge in the direction of the wiper blade. The stop is supported on a matching contact surface of the locking mechanism. 
     The connecting apparatus according to the invention opens further options for connecting different wiper arm ends or joining elements to the connecting element of the wiper blade by the adapter comprising means, which are suited to mounting and fixing an insert, which comprises two double walls having respectively an interstice. Said double walls are connected to one another by means of a middle part and are at least partially covered on both sides by side walls of the adapter. The middle part is set back with respect to the upper boundary of the double walls so that said double walls form in each case an overhang with respect to said middle part. Wiper rods of different wiper arms can be guided between said overhangs. In addition, the middle part has a longitudinal channel, which is open to the front end wall, wherein said middle part is set back to a certain extent from the front side of the insert in the longitudinal direction. It is possible by means of this configuration to mount a wiper rod having a hook-shaped end and a small bent part by a lower leg of the hook-shaped end engaging through the end-face opening in the guide channel. In a similar manner, a wiper rod having a larger bent part on the hooked-shaped end thereof can be mounted by the bent part overlapping the opening of the guide channel and the lower leg resting on the lower side of the insert. 
     In the case of a sixth type of a wiper arm, the joining element is formed by a cranked end of a wiper rod. The wiper rod comprising the cranked end is laid between the overhangs of the insert and inserted into the opening of the adapter. Said wiper rod is thereby pushed in the direction of the front end wall of the adapter to the extent that the end face of said wiper rod rests on the inner side of the front end wall and engages with a detent hole on a detent hook on the rear end wall of the adapter. 
     Finally the connecting options of the connecting apparatus according to the invention can be supplemented by a further modification, which allows for a connection according to the side-lock principle. Thus, in a further embodiment of the invention, the insert comprises a bearing hole running in a transverse direction for receiving a bearing pin of a joining element. The bearing hole aligns with bearing holes in the side walls of the adapter. The connection between the adapter and the joining element occurs in accordance with the side-lock principle, wherein a bridge comprising an angled end overlaps the insert and consequently fixes said adapter with said insert in the longitudinal direction of the bearing pin. Because said adapter is pivotally connected to the joining element, the angled end of the bridge is bent toward the insert to such an extent that an oscillating motion in the bearing journals of said joining element is avoided. In so doing, the angled end of the bridge advantageously engages in a recess, which is disposed on the outer side of the associated double wall of the insert and is offset with respect to the bearing hole toward the rear end wall of said adapter. In principle, bearing holes can be provided in both double walls and recesses can be provided on both outer sides of the double walls, whereby further applications ensue. If, however, only one recess is provided, it is advantageous for the bearing hole to be closed on the side of the recess for optical and air-flow reasons. 
     In order to obtain a connecting apparatus of flat beam design despite the numerous connecting options, it is advantageous for the connecting element and the adapter to be manufactured from plastic, said adapter comprising a web extending along a longitudinal center plane, which carries bearing journals running transversely to the longitudinal direction in the central region thereof. The longitudinal web as well as the bearing journals protrude to a certain extent beyond the side walls of said adapter, wherein the protruding part of said longitudinal web is guided between two contact surfaces, which run in the longitudinal direction and are offset in relation to one another so that in the assembled position each longitudinal side of said longitudinal web rests against an associated contact surface and said longitudinal web can be rotated through an angle of approximately 45° about a vertical axis between the contact surfaces. Furthermore, the length of the bearing journals is dimensioned so that in the assembled position, the free ends of said journals engage in bearing holes in the side walls of the connecting element. In order to facilitate the mounting and centering of the adapter, said longitudinal web is guided radially at the end faces thereof on guide surfaces of the connecting element. 
     Moreover, it is advantageous for the connecting element to comprise a connecting part and a base element, which is divided into two side parts in the longitudinal direction and has mutually facing, open longitudinal grooves, which encompass a carrier element. The mutually facing sides of the base element are also connected to one another by detent connections. In addition to the detent connections, the side parts are laterally held together by the connecting part by means of the side walls of said connecting part engaging via detent cams situated on the inner sides thereof in recesses on the outer sides of the side parts. 
     Additional advantages ensue from the following descriptions of the drawings. Exemplary embodiments of the invention are depicted in said drawings. The drawings, the description and the claims contain numerous features in combination. The specialist in the field will both advantageously consider the features individually and combine them to form useful additional embodiments. 
    
    
     
       The following are shown: 
         FIG. 1  an assembly drawing in perspective view of a connecting apparatus according to the invention comprising three different joining elements, 
         FIG. 2  a perspective view of a connecting apparatus according to the invention during assembly of a first joining element, 
         FIG. 3  a perspective view of the first joining element during assembly with an adapter, 
         FIG. 4  a perspective side view of the first joining element mounted on an adapter, 
         FIG. 5  a perspective view of a connecting apparatus according to the invention during the assembly of a second joining element, 
         FIG. 6  a perspective view of the second joining element mounted on an adapter, 
         FIG. 7  a sectional view corresponding to the line VII-VII in  FIG. 6 , 
         FIG. 8  a perspective view of a connecting apparatus according to the invention during the assembly of a third joining element, 
         FIG. 9  a perspective view of the third joining element mounted on an adapter, 
         FIG. 10  a sectional view corresponding to the line X-X in  FIG. 9 , 
         FIG. 11  an assembly drawing in perspective view of a connecting apparatus according to the invention comprising an insert and four additional different joining elements, 
         FIG. 12  a perspective view of a connecting apparatus according to the invention during the assembly of a fourth joining element, 
         FIG. 13  a perspective view of the fourth joining element mounted on an adapter comprising an insert, 
         FIG. 14  a perspective view according to  FIG. 13  of an opposing side of the adapter, 
         FIG. 15  a perspective view of a fifth joining element in the form of a wiper rod having a hook-shaped end during assembly on an insert, 
         FIG. 16  a longitudinal cut through the insert, 
         FIG. 17  a modification to  FIG. 16  comprising a sixth joining element having a larger, hook-shaped end, 
         FIG. 18  the insert during the assembly of a seventh joining element in the form of a cranked end of a wiper rod, 
         FIG. 19  a longitudinal cut through the adapter during the assembly of the insert comprising the wiper rod, 
         FIG. 20  a longitudinal cut through the adapter comprising the mounted insert and the mounted wiper rod and 
         FIG. 21  a perspective view of an arrangement of several parts of the connecting apparatus according to the invention during assembly. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Only so much is shown from a wiper blade  10  depicted in  FIG. 1  as well as from the associated wiper arms as is necessary for understanding the invention. The wiper blade  10  as depicted in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 21  comprises a wiper strip  12  having a wiper lip  14 , which typically is connected to a head strip  16  by means of a tilting web that is not visible. Said head strip is held by a carrier element  18  in the form of two flat, pre-bent spring rails, which are inserted into longitudinal grooves of the head strip  16  and protrude to a certain extent out of the same. The protruding parts of the carrier element  18  engage in longitudinal grooves  32  of a base element  28  belonging to the connecting element  26  of a connecting apparatus  24  according to the invention. Spoilers  20 , which are closed on the ends thereof with end caps  22 , are attached on said carrier element  18  to both sides of said connecting element  26 . 
     The base element  28  is divided in the longitudinal direction into two side parts  30 . On the mutually facing sides of the side parts  30 , said side parts comprise respectively a detent hook  34  on the ends thereof, which interacts with a detent depression  36  of the respective other side part  30 . Said side parts  30  are held together by the detent connection  34 ,  36 . In addition, the cohesion of said side parts  30  is supported by a connecting part  44 , which is placed during assembly onto the base element  28  in the direction of a vertical axis and laterally encompasses said side parts  30  of said base element  28  with the side walls  46  thereof. In the process, unspecified detent cams engage in recesses  40  below reinforcements  38  of said side parts  30  of said base element  28 . Said side parts  30  comprise centering bosses  42  in the central region thereof, which ensure the relative position of said base element  28  to the connecting part  44 . 
     Whereas the base element  28  serves to connect the connecting element  26  to the carrier element  18 , the connecting part  44  is provided for the articulated connection of said connecting element  26  to an adapter  62 . Both side walls  46  of said connecting part  44  are connected to one another by a cover wall  50 , toward the ends of which connecting profiles  48  for the spoilers  20  of the wiper blade  10  can connect. The side walls  46  comprise super-elevated parts  54 , in which bearing holes  52  are provided, in the central region thereof. 
     The side walls  64 , which are connected to one another by a front end wall  66  and a rear face wall  70 , form a frame, which is closed in the region of the front end wall  66  by a cover wall  68 . Said cover wall projects to a certain extent toward the central region of the adapter  62  and ends with a straight end edge  76 , on which holding cams  78  are provided, which face the rear end wall  70 . The adapter  62  has an opening  74  between the end edge  76  and the rear end wall  70 . 
     The adapter  62  additionally has a longitudinal web  94  comprising bearing journals  82 , which align with one another and engage during assembly in bearing holes  52  of the connecting part  44 , in the longitudinal center plane of said adapter. The longitudinal web  94  and the bearing journals  82  protrude to a certain extent beyond the side walls  64  of the adapter  62  toward the connecting element  26 . 
     During assembly, the adapter  62  is rotated through an angle of approximately 45° to the longitudinal direction of the wiper blade  10  and placed onto the connecting element  26  in the direction of a vertical axis. The adapter  62  is subsequently rotated back again until the longitudinal web  94  thereof points in the longitudinal direction and rests in each case with a side surface against the contact surfaces  58  of the connecting part  44 , which likewise run in the longitudinal direction and are offset with respect to one another in the longitudinal direction. In this position the bearing journals  82  engage into the bearing holes  52 . In order to facilitate the engagement, guide tracks  60  are advantageously disposed in front of the bearing holes  52 , along which the end faces of the bearing journals  82  slide until they engage into said bearings holes  52 . When the adapter  62  is rotated into the end position, said adapter  62  is guided at the end faces of the longitudinal web along guide surfaces  56  of the connecting part  44 .  FIG. 2  shows an adapter  62  pre-mounted on the wiper blade  10 . It can be clearly seen that said adapter  62  is situated toward both ends at an adequate distance from the spoilers  20  and the connecting profiles  48 ; thus enabling said adapter  62  to be provided with an adequate pivot angle. 
     The adapter  62  has means for mounting and fixing three conventional joining elements  100 ,  102  and  104 , which are fixedly connected to a wiper arm by being integrally formed on said wiper arm or fastened to said wiper arm as a separate component. A first joining element  100  comprises a u-shaped cross-sectional profile having side walls  106  and a cover wall  108 . A connecting profile  114  for an unspecified wiper arm attaches to a side wall  106 . The joining element  100  further comprises guide flanges  112 , which project to the inside, on the free edges of the side walls  106  thereof, said flanges having end faces  116  on the ends thereof. The end edges  110  of the side walls  106  facing the front end wall  66  of the adapter  62  are designed convexly and match with concavely shaped steps  80  of the side walls  64  of said adapter  62 . 
     During assembly, the joining element  100  is pushed with the side walls  106  thereof over the side walls  64  of the adapter  62  until the end edges  110  thereof rest against the steps  80  and the cover wall  108  of said joining element  100  is adjoined by the end edge  76  of the cover wall  68  of the adapter  62 , wherein holding cams  78  on said cover wall  68  of said adapter  62  overlap to some extent the cover wall  108  of said joining element  100 . If said joining element  100  is pivoted in the direction of the arrow  118 , the end faces  116  of the guide flanges  112 , which face the rear end wall  70 , engage on contact surfaces  88  of the locking mechanisms  86 , which are disposed on the side walls  64  in the region of the rear end wall  70 . Thus, said joining element  100  is secured in the longitudinal direction of said adapter  62 , whereas said element is secured in the direction of a vertical axis by the concave steps  80  in conjunction with the convex end edges  110  and the holding cams  78 . 
     The second joining element  102  has a similar design. It is rigidly connected to a wiper rod  120  via a connecting profile  122 , wherein the connecting profile  122  extends in the extension of the joining element  102  so that the wiper rod  120  runs above the wiper blade  10 . A lug  124 , which is perforated and cranked towards the connecting element  26 , is integrally formed on the front end face of said joining element  102 . During assembly, the lug  124  is pushed in the direction of the arrow  128  under the cover wall  68  of the adapter  62  until the end face of said lug  124  abuts against a stop  98  of said adapter  62  and is supported there. If said joining element  102  is pivoted into the operating position, projections  130  on the side walls  126  engage on chamfers  92  in the region of the locking mechanisms  86 . The chamfers  92  face the front end wall  66  and secure said joining element  102  additionally in the direction of a vertical axis by fitting into undercuts of the projections  130 . 
     The third joining element  104  is integrally formed on the wiper arm. In contrast to the second joining element  102 , it has projections  132  including stops  134 , which run approximately vertically to the lower edge of the side walls of the joining element  104  and are supported on contact surfaces  90  of the locking mechanisms  86 . It is otherwise mounted like the second joining element  102  by a lug  136  being pushed under the cover wall  68  of the adapter  62 . 
     By means of an insert  180 , the connecting options of the adapter  62  can be expanded by four modifications. The insert  180  comprises two side walls, which run parallel to one another and are in the form of double walls  182 , which form an interstice  184  for receiving the side walls  64  of said adapter  62 . A middle part  192  joins the inner walls of the double walls  182  to one another, wherein said middle part recoils to some extent with respect to the upper edge of said double walls  182 . Overhangs  186  are thereby formed on both sides of said middle part  192 , between which wiper rods  140 ,  150  and  160  can be guided. In addition, said middle part  192  has a longitudinal channel  194  including at least one opening  196  oriented towards the front end wall  66  of the adapter  62 . The front side of said middle part  192  is set back to some extent with respect to said double walls  182 ; thus enabling adequate space to remain for joining elements of the wiper rods  140 ,  150 ,  160  in the form of hook-shaped ends  142 ,  152  or a cranked end  162 . 
     The hook-shaped end  142  of the wiper rod  140  comprises a smaller bent part  144  than the hooked-shaped end  152  of the wiper rod  150 ; thus enabling the lower leg  146  thereof, which has a detent hole  148 , to be threaded into the opening  196  of the longitudinal channel  194  in the direction of the arrows  200 . In contrast the hook-shaped end  152  has a larger bent part  154 ; and as a result, the lower leg  156  thereof rests against the bottom side of the insert  180 . The lower leg  156  has a detent hole  158 . 
     The wiper rod  160  including the cranked end  162  thereof has a detent hole  164 . Said rod is pushed with the cranked end  162  under the cover wall  68  of the adapter  62  until the end edge thereof rests on the inner side of the front end wall  66  below the stop  98 . When said rod is pivoted in the direction of the arrows  202  during assembly, the detent hole engages on a detent hook  72  on the rear end wall  70  of the adapter  62 , so that said wiper rod  160  is secured with the cranked end  162  thereof in the longitudinal direction as well as in the direction of a vertical axis. 
     Finally a wiper arm can be connected to the adapter  62  via a joining element  166  of the side-lock connection type. In this case, the insert  180  has a bearing hole  190  in the double walls  182  and the middle part  192  thereof, which runs in the transverse direction and which aligns with bearing holes  191  in the side walls  64  of the adapter  62 . The bearing holes  190 ,  191  serve to receive a bearing pin  172 , which is mounted in a cantilevered manner in the legs  170  of a u-shaped profile of the joining element  166 . The legs  170  are connected to one another by a cover wall  174 , on which a bridge  176  running parallel to the bearing pin  172  is integrally formed, said bridge being offset with respect to the rear end wall  70  of the adapter  62 . On the same side, as seen in the longitudinal direction, the joining element  166  has a connecting profile  168  for connecting to an unspecified wiper arm. 
     The bridge  176  overlaps the insert  180  with an angulated end  178 , said bridge engaging in depressions  188  of the double walls  182 . The angulated end  178  rests against the outer side of said insert  180 . Said end is pressed against the outer wall and grips into a recess  198  on the associated double wall  182 . In so doing, the adapter  62  is prevented from pivoting about the bearing pin  172 . The pivoting of the wiper blade  10  relative to the wiper arm or the joining elements thereof occurs exclusively via the bearing holes  52  of the connecting element  26  and the bearing journals  82  of the adapter  62 . 
     In total, seven different joining options can thus be implemented by means of the inventive adapter including the insert thereof, wherein a very flat construction as well as an appealing design is achieved.