Abstract:
The invention relates to a wiper device for a motor vehicle window, comprising a wiper arm adapter unit ( 10   a  -  10   e ) and a wiper blade adapter unit ( 12   a - 12   e ), which in an installed state create a form fit, and further comprising a longitudinal guide unit ( 20   a - 20   e ) for guiding the wiper arm adapter unit ( 10   a - 10   e ). According to the invention, the wiper device comprises a locking means ( 14   a - 14   e ) which is movably mounted on the wiper blade adapter unit ( 12   a - 12   e ) and is provided so as to limit the freedom of movement of the wiper arm adapter unit ( 10   a - 10   e ) in the installed state at least substantially in a longitudinal direction (16 a -16 e ).

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The invention relates to a wiper device. 
         [0002]    A wiper device for a motor vehicle window is already known, said wiper device comprising a wiper arm adapter unit and a wiper blade adapter unit, which in an installed state create a form fit. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The invention relates to a wiper device for a motor vehicle window, comprising a wiper arm adapter unit and a wiper blade adapter unit, which in an installed state create a form fit, and further comprising a longitudinal guide unit for guiding the wiper arm adapter unit. 
         [0004]    According to the invention, the wiper device comprises a locking means which is movably mounted on the wiper blade adapter unit and is provided so as to limit the freedom of movement of the wiper arm adapter unit in the installed state at least substantially in a longitudinal direction, whereby a particularly simple assembly of the wiper arm adapter unit to the wiper blade adapter unit can be achieved. By the term “wiper blade adapter unit”, particularly an adapter unit is to be understood in this context which comprises a contact region to a wiper blade component and is permanently connected to the wiper blade component. The wiper blade adapter unit is thereby provided to supply a coupling region on the wiper blade component for a coupling and/or a contacting with the wiper arm adapter unit. The wiper blade adapter unit preferably comprises a base body, which provides a coupling surface for the coupling and/or contacting of the wiper arm adapter unit. By the term “wiper arm adapter unit” particularly an adapter unit is to be understood in this context which comprises a contact region to a wiper arm component and is permanently connected to the wiper arm component. The wiper arm adapter unit is thereby provided to supply a contact region on the wiper arm component for a coupling and/or contacting with the wiper blade adapter unit. By the term “provided”, specially equipped and/or designed is to be particularly understood in this context. By the term “installed state”, particularly a state is to be understood in this context in which the wiper blade adapter unit and the wiper arm adapter unit are coupled to one another. By the term “longitudinal direction”, particularly a direction is to be understood in this context which at least substantially extends parallel to a main extension direction of the wiper blade adapter unit. By the term “substantially”, particularly a deviation of less than 10 is to be understood in this context. By the term “longitudinal guide unit”, particularly a unit is to be understood in this context which is provided to guide the wiper arm adapter unit substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction in relation to the wiper blade adapter unit. 
         [0005]    According to a further embodiment of the invention, the locking means is designed as a detent means, whereby a particularly quick installation process can be achieved. By the term “detent means”, particularly a means is understood in this context which undergoes an elastic deformation during an installation process. 
         [0006]    If the detent means is integrally formed with a base body of the wiper blade adapter unit, the wiper blade adapter unit can be particularly cost-effectively manufactured. By the term “integrally”, particularly integrally bonded is to be understood, as, for example, by means of a welding and/or adhesive bonding process etc, and integrally formed in a particularly advantageous manner as by means of manufacture in a single cast and/or manufacture in a single- or multi-component injection molding process. 
         [0007]    The wiper blade adapter unit can absorb particularly large forces if the detent means is intended to be deflected at least substantially parallel with respect to a transverse direction of a base body of the wiper blade adapter unit. By the term “transverse direction”, particularly a direction is to be understood in this context, which is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and perpendicular to a vertical direction and extends parallel to a wiping plane. By the term “wiping plane”, particularly an idealized plane is understood is this context which is wiped in an operating state by a wiper blade attached to the wiper blade adapter unit. By the term “vertical direction”, particularly a direction is thereby to be understood in this context, which is perpendicular to the wiping plane. 
         [0008]    According to a further embodiment of the invention, the detent means is provided so as to be deflected at least substantially parallel to a vertical direction of a base body of the wiper blade adapter unit during installation, whereby said detent means can be particularly easily manipulated. 
         [0009]    If the wiper device comprises a covering, which in at least one operating state at least for the most part is formed from the wiper arm adapter unit, said wiper device can be particularly easily protected from outside influences, such as, for example, water. By the term “covering”, a lateral wall which for the most part surrounds the wiper device and is provided to prevent a penetration by gases and/or liquids is to be understood in this context. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    Further advantages ensue from the following description of the drawings. In the drawings, exemplary embodiments of the invention are depicted. The drawings, the description and the claims contain numerous features in combination. It is useful for the person skilled in the art to also look at the features individually and put them together to form additional practical combinations. 
           [0011]    In the drawings: 
           [0012]      FIGS. 1   a  to  1   c  show a perspective view of a wiper device during an installation operation. 
           [0013]      FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b  show a perspective view of a further exemplary embodiment of a wiper device during an installation operation. 
           [0014]      FIGS. 3   a  and  3   b  show a perspective view of a further exemplary embodiment of a wiper device during an installation operation. 
           [0015]      FIGS. 4   a  and  4   b  show a perspective view of a further exemplary embodiment of a wiper device during an installation operation and 
           [0016]      FIGS. 5   a  and  5   b  show a perspective view of a further exemplary embodiment of a wiper device during an installation operation. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0017]      FIG. 1   a  shows an inventive wiper device comprising a wiper arm adapter unit  10   a  and a wiper blade adapter unit  12   a  in an unassembled state. 
         [0018]    The wiper blade adapter unit  12   a  comprises a base body  22   a,  which is connected to a wiper blade  24   a.  A locking means  14   a,  which is embodied as a detent means  18   a,  is movably mounted on the base body  22   a.  In addition, the base body  22   a  comprises a longitudinal guide unit  20   a,  which has a lateral recess  28   a  that extends in a lateral wall  32   a  of the base body  22   a  substantially parallel to a longitudinal direction  16   a  as viewed in the main extension direction of said recess. A further lateral recess (not depicted) is disposed on another side of the base body  22   a  opposite to the lateral wall  32   a.    
         [0019]    The detent means  18   a  is integrally formed with the base body  22   a  and comprises a fluke  30   a  ( FIG. 1   b ), which slopes in the longitudinal direction  16   a.  When mounting the wiper arm adapter unit  10   a  to the wiper blade adapter  12   a,  the detent means  18   a  is deflected by the wiper arm adapter unit  10   a  substantially parallel with respect to a vertical direction  44   a.    
         [0020]    The wiper arm adapter unit  10   a  is integrally formed with a wiper arm  26   a.  It is however also conceivable in this context for the wiper arm adapter unit  10   a  to be separately configured from the wiper arm  26   a  and to be connected to the same via a suitable connecting element. The wiper arm adapter unit  10   a  comprises a mounting recess  34   a,  in which the detent means  18   a  engages in an installed state ( FIG. 1   c ) and thus prevents a movement of said wiper arm adapter unit  10   a  relative to the wiper blade adapter unit  12   a  in the longitudinal direction  16   a . In an installed state, said wiper arm adapter unit  10   a,  with a visible outer surface  36   a  thereof, furthermore forms a large portion of a covering  38   a  of the wiper device. 
         [0021]    In the installed state, the wiper adapter unit  10   a  engages into the lateral recess  28   a , whereby a movement of said wiper arm adapter unit  10   a  relative to the wiper blade adapter unit  12  parallel to a vertical direction  44   a  is prevented. Said wiper arm adapter unit  10   a  lies partially flush with the base body  22   a,  whereby a movement of said wiper arm adapter unit  10   a  relative to the wiper blade adapter unit  12   a  parallel to a transverse direction  46   a  is prevented. 
         [0022]    Four further exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown in  FIGS. 2 to 5 . The following descriptions are substantially limited to the differences between the exemplary embodiments, wherein reference can be made to the first exemplary embodiment with regard to parts, features and functions which do not change between embodiments. In order to distinguish between the exemplary embodiments, the letter a used with the reference numerals of the exemplary embodiment associated with  FIG. 1  is replaced by the letters b to e used with the references numerals of the exemplary embodiments associated with the  FIGS. 2 to 5 . Reference can basically be made to the drawings and/or the description of the first exemplary embodiment with regard to components having like reference numerals, in particular with regard to components having the same reference numerals. 
         [0023]      FIG. 2   a  shows a further exemplary embodiment of a wiper device comprising a wiper arm adapter unit  10   b  and a wiper blade adapter unit  12   b  in the unassembled state. 
         [0024]    The wiper arm adapter unit  10   b  is integrally formed with a wiper arm  26   b.  In an installed state, the wiper arm adapter unit  10   b,  with a visible outer surface  36   b  thereof, furthermore forms a large portion of a covering  38   b  of the wiper device. 
         [0025]    The wiper blade adapter unit  12   b  comprises a base body  22   b.  A locking means  14   b , which is embodied as a detent means  18   b,  is movably mounted on the base body  22   b.  In addition, the base body  22   b  comprises a longitudinal guide unit  20   b,  which includes a lateral recess  28   b  that extends in a lateral wall  32   b  of the base body  22   b  substantially parallel to a longitudinal direction  16   b  as viewed in the main extension direction of said recess. A further lateral recess (not depicted) is disposed on another side of the base body  22   b  opposite to the lateral wall  32   b.    
         [0026]    The detent means  18   b  is integrally formed with the base body  22   b  and comprises a fluke  30   b.  The fluke  30   b  is of wedge-shaped design and is disposed on one side of the base body  22   b,  which side lies opposite to a wedge tip  40   b.  When mounting the wiper arm adapter unit  10   b  to the wiper blade adapter unit  12   b,  the detent means  18   b  is deflected by the wiper arm adapter unit  10   b  substantially parallel to a transverse direction  46   b.    
         [0027]      FIG. 2   b  shows the wiper device in an installed state. The wiper arm adapter unit  10   b  has been pushed onto the base body  22   b  of the wiper blade adapter unit  12   b.  In so doing, the wiper arm adapter unit  10   b  engages into the lateral recess  28   b  of the base body  22   b  and creates a form fit with said base body. A movement of the wiper arm adapter unit  10   b  relative to the wiper blade adapter unit  12   b  parallel to the transverse direction  46   b  as well as parallel to a vertical direction  44   b  is thereby prevented. 
         [0028]    The detent means  18   b  engages behind a back stop (not depicted) of the wiper arm adapter unit  10   b  and thereby prevents a movement of said wiper arm adapter unit  10   b  relative to the wiper blade adapter unit  12   b  parallel to the longitudinal direction  16   b.    
         [0029]      FIG. 3   a  shows a further exemplary embodiment of a wiper device comprising a wiper arm adapter unit  10   c  and wiper blade adapter unit  12   c  in an unassembled state. 
         [0030]    The wiper arm adapter unit  10   c  is integrally formed with a wiper arm  26   c.  In an installed state, the wiper arm adapter unit  10   c,  with a visible outer surface  36   c  thereof, furthermore forms a large portion of a covering  38   c  of the wiper device. 
         [0031]    The wiper blade adapter unit  12   c  comprises a base body  22   c.  A locking means  14   c , which is embodied as a detent means  18   c,  is movably mounted on the base body  22   c.  In addition, the base body  22   c  comprises a longitudinal guide unit  20   c,  which includes a lateral recess  28   c  that extends in a lateral wall  32   c  of the base body  22   c  substantially parallel to a longitudinal direction  16   c  as viewed in the main extension direction of said recess. A further lateral recess (not depicted) is disposed on another side of the base body  22   c  opposite to the lateral wall  32   c.    
         [0032]    The detent means  18   c  is integrally formed with the base body  22   c  and comprises a fluke  30   c.  The fluke  30   c  is of wedge-shaped design and is disposed on one side of the base body  22   c,  which side lies opposite to a wedge tip  40   c.  When mounting the wiper arm adapter unit  10   c  to the wiper blade adapter unit  12   c,  the detent means  18   c  is deflected by the wiper arm adapter unit  10   c  substantially parallel to a transverse direction  46   c    
         [0033]      FIG. 3   b  shows the wiper device in an installed state. The wiper arm adapter unit  10   c  has been pushed onto the base body  22   c  of the wiper blade adapter unit  12   c.  In so doing, the wiper arm adapter unit  10   c  engages into the lateral recess  28   c  of the base body  22   c  and creates a form fit with said base body. A movement of the wiper arm adapter unit  10   c  relative to the wiper blade adapter unit  12   c  parallel to the transverse direction  46   c  as well as parallel to a vertical direction  44   c  is thereby prevented. 
         [0034]    The detent means  18   c  engages behind a back stop (not depicted) of the wiper arm adapter unit  10   c  and thereby prevents a movement of said wiper arm adapter unit  10   c  relative to the wiper blade adapter unit  12   c  parallel to the longitudinal direction  16   c.    
         [0035]      FIG. 4   a  shows a further exemplary embodiment of a wiper device comprising a wiper arm adapter unit  10   d  and wiper blade adapter unit  12   d  in an unassembled state. 
         [0036]    The wiper arm adapter unit  10   d  is integrally formed with a wiper arm  26   d.  In an installed state, the wiper arm adapter unit  10   d,  with a visible outer surface  36   d  thereof, furthermore forms a large portion of a covering  38   d  of the wiper device. 
         [0037]    The wiper blade adapter unit  12   d  comprises a base body  22   d.  A locking means  14   d , which is embodied as a detent means  18   d,  is movably mounted on the base body  22   d.  The detent means  18   d  is integrally formed with the base body  22   d  and has a deflectable, plate-like detent body  42   d  comprising a fluke  30   d.  The fluke  30   d  is of wedge-shaped design and is integrally formed with the detent body  42   d.  When mounting the wiper arm adapter unit  10   d  to the wiper blade adapter unit  12   d,  the detent means  18   d  is deflected by the wiper arm adapter unit  10   d  substantially in a vertical direction  44   d.    
         [0038]    In addition, the base body  22   d  comprises a longitudinal guide unit  20   d,  which includes a lateral recess  28   d  that extends in a lateral wall  32   d  of the base body  22   d  substantially parallel to a longitudinal direction  16   d  as viewed in the main extension direction of said recess. 
         [0039]      FIG. 4   b  shows the wiper device in an installed state. The wiper arm adapter unit  10   d  has been pushed onto the base body  22   d  of the wiper blade adapter unit  12   d.  In so doing, the wiper arm adapter unit  10   d  engages into the lateral recess  28   d  of the base body  22   d  and creates a form fit with said base body. A movement of the wiper arm adapter unit  10   d  relative to the wiper blade adapter unit  12   d  parallel to a transverse direction  46   d  as well as parallel to the vertical direction  44   d  is thereby prevented. 
         [0040]    The detent means  18   d  engages behind a back stop (not depicted) of the wiper arm adapter unit  10   d  and thereby prevents a movement of said wiper arm adapter unit  10   d  relative to the wiper blade adapter unit  12   d  parallel to the longitudinal direction  16   d.    
         [0041]      FIG. 5   a  shows a further exemplary embodiment of a wiper device comprising a wiper arm adapter unit  10   e  and wiper blade adapter unit  12   e  in an unassembled state. 
         [0042]    The wiper arm adapter unit  10   e  is integrally formed with a wiper arm  26   e.  In an installed state, the wiper arm adapter unit  10   e,  with a visible outer surface  36   e  thereof, furthermore forms a large portion of a covering  38   e  of the wiper device. 
         [0043]    The wiper blade adapter unit  12   e  comprises a base body  22   e.  A locking means  14   e , which is embodied as a detent means  18   e,  is movably mounted on the base body  22   e.  The detent means  18   e  is integrally formed with the base body  22   e  and has a deflectable, plate-like detent body  42   e.  When mounting the wiper arm adapter unit  10   e  to the wiper blade adapter unit  12   e , the detent means  18   e  is deflected by the wiper arm adapter unit  10   e  substantially counter to a vertical direction  44   e.    
         [0044]    In addition, the base body  22   e  comprises a longitudinal guide unit  20   e,  which includes a lateral recess  28   e  that extends in a lateral wall  32   e  of the base body  22   e  substantially parallel to a longitudinal direction  16   e  as viewed in the main extension direction of said recess. 
         [0045]      FIG. 5   b  shows the wiper device in an installed state. The wiper arm adapter unit  10   e  has been pushed onto the base body  22   e  of the wiper blade adapter unit  12   e.  In so doing, the wiper arm adapter unit  10   e  engages into the lateral recess  28   e  of the base body  22   e  and creates a form fit with said base body. A movement of the wiper arm adapter unit  10   e  relative to the wiper blade adapter unit  12   e  parallel to a transverse direction  46   e  as well as parallel to the vertical direction  44   e  is thereby prevented. 
         [0046]    The detent means  18   e  engages behind a back stop (not depicted) of the wiper arm adapter unit  10   e  and thereby prevents a movement of said wiper arm adapter unit  10   e  relative to the wiper blade adapter unit  12   e  parallel to the longitudinal direction  16   e.