Abstract:
The invention relates to an adapter ( 22 ) for the articulated connection of a connecting element ( 86, 102, 120 ) at the end of a wiper arm to a connector element ( 18 ) of a wiper blade ( 10 ), in particular in the flat bar method of construction, wherein the adapter ( 22 ) has a base element ( 24 ). According to the invention, the base element ( 24 ) has two lateral walls ( 30 ) which, at the end faces thereof facing away from the wiper arm, are connected by an end cap ( 26 ), and in the region of the upper edges ( 64 ) thereof are connected to each other by a crosspiece ( 32 ) and also by a hub ( 34 ). A resilient tongue ( 38 ) extends from the crosspiece ( 32 ) to the end face on the wiper arm side, and has at the free end thereof an outwardly protruding button ( 40 ). Furthermore, guide profiles ( 50 ) are provided on the longitudinal edges of the lateral walls ( 30 ) facing towards the wiper strip ( 16 ).

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The invention relates to an adapter for the connection of a connecting element at the end of a wiper arm to a connector element of a wiper blade. 
         [0002]    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, which connecting device is suitable for different wiper arms. The connecting device comprises at least one single-part or multi-part connector element which is fastened fixedly, but releasably, to a supporting element in the form of spring rails. An adapter is provided between each wiper arm and the wiper blade, said adapter having on the one hand connecting options for the connector element and on the other hand connecting options for one of the wiper arms or for connecting elements, which are fixedly connected to the respective wiper arm or are integrally formed with the same. A joint, the joint axis of which extends transversely to the longitudinal direction of the wiper blade, is disposed between one of the connecting elements and an adapter, which is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the connector element or is connected between a part of the adapter connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the connector element and a part of the adapter connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the connecting element. As a result, there are three different adapters for three different connecting elements of the wiper arms. 
         [0003]    The connecting device is suitable for a wiper arm with a hook-shaped end or connecting element or an end or connecting element having a lateral bearing pin and a bridge corresponding to a known sidelock principle, or a wiper arm with an end or connecting element, in which the wiper arm runs substantially rectilinearly above the wiper blade and is connected to the connector element according to the toplock principle. 
         [0004]    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 connector 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 connecting element which is open toward the wiper blade and is fixedly connected to the wiper arm. The adapter is on the one hand guided laterally on the sheet-metal claw by means of inner guide webs and on the other hand is inserted at the side walls thereof in a play-free manner in the connecting element. For this purpose, use is made of a button which is provided at the end of a spring tongue in a cover wall of the adapter and, in the fitted state, latches into a matching latching hole in a cover wall of the connecting element. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    According to the invention, the base element of the adapter has two lateral walls which, at the end faces thereof facing away from the wiper arm, are connected by an end cap, and in the regions of the upper edges thereof are connected to each other by a crosspiece. In addition, a hub is disposed between the lateral walls, said hub likewise connecting the lateral walls to each other. A resilient tongue extends from the crosspiece to the end face of the base element on the wiper arm side, and has at the free end thereof an outwardly protruding button. Furthermore, guide profiles are provided on the longitudinal edges of the lateral walls facing towards the wiper strip. 
         [0006]    A cover cap or two different connecting elements can be fixedly but releasably connected to the base element which is pivotably connected to a connector element of the wiper blade. For this purpose, the guide profiles have advantageously in each case guide grooves which run in the longitudinal direction and are open to the end face on the wiper arm side, as well as guide ribs which run below the guide grooves likewise in the longitudinal direction and protrude toward the wiper strip. Guide surfaces, which run parallel to the upper edges of the lateral walls, adjoin the guide ribs towards the outer sides thereof. 
         [0007]    With the cover cap, a first connecting element can be mounted according to the sidelock principle. The lateral walls of the cover cap, which are connected to each other on the side facing away from the wiper strip by means of a cover wall, encompass the lateral walls of the base element. Bearing opening are provided in the lateral walls of the cover cap, which align in the assembled state with the hub of the base element. A beading for a bridge of the first connecting element, which beading runs transversely to the longitudinal direction, is provided offset to the end face of the cover cap on the wiper arm side. The cover cap is fixed to the base element in the longitudinal direction by the button in the end position thereof being latched in a recess in the cover wall. The cover cap is held in the direction of a vertical axis by guide ribs, which protrude inwards at the edges of the lateral walls oriented toward the wiper strip and engage in the guide grooves. When fitting the first connecting element, the base element with the cover cap is rotated about an angle of 90 degrees relative to the first connecting element and a bearing pin is pushed through a bearing opening of the cover cap into the hub of the base element. When turning back to the initial position, a bridge of the first connecting element overlaps the cover cap and secures the position of the adapter with an angled end of the bridge and thereby the position of the wiper blade in the direction of the bearing pin. 
         [0008]    Similar to the cover cap, the second and third connecting element are directly connected to the base element of the adapter. They are likewise secured by the button of the base element, which in the end position latches into latching holes in the cover walls of the connecting elements thereof. The second connecting element can differ in the width and/or the height thereof from the third connecting element depending on whether it is guided by guide ribs in the guide grooves or on the upper edges of the side walls and guide surfaces beneath the guide grooves. In the case of different widths, the wider connecting element is guided on the flanks of the guide grooves which protrude over the side walls of the base element. 
         [0009]    According to a further embodiment of the invention, the button actuates a blocking element during assembly such that an improper assembly of the connecting elements or the cover cap is prevented. The blocking element is advantageously designed as a slider, which is disposed on the end face of the button on the wiper arm side, protrudes laterally over said button ( 40 ) and is guided along the front edges ( 44 ) of the lateral walls ( 30 ) in an elastically pliable manner. 
     
    
     
       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. The specialist in the field will also advantageously examine the features individually and put them together to form further useful combinations. 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective partial view of three connecting elements in an arrangement and a wiper blade comprising an adapter according to the invention, 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  shows a perspective partial view of a wiper blade comprising the adapter during the assembly of a cover cap, 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  shows a perspective partial view of a wiper blade comprising the adapter during the assembly of a first connecting element, 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  shows a perspective partial view of a wiper blade comprising a base element of the adapter during the assembly of a second connecting element, 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  shows a perspective partial longitudinal cross section through the second connecting element together with the base element of the adapter, 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  shows a perspective partial view of a wiper blade comprising the base element of the adapter during the assembly of a third connecting element and 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  shows a perspective partial longitudinal cross section through the third connecting element together with the base element of the adapter. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0018]    A wiper blade  10  has a wiper strip  16 , which is held by a supporting element in the form of spring rails. A connector element  18  in the form of a sheet-metal claw is fastened to the supporting element  20  in the central region of the wiper blade  10  ( FIG. 4 ). Spoilers  12  are clipped onto the supporting element  20  in the longitudinal direction  36  on both sides of the connector element  18 , or said spoilers are pushed onto said supporting element  20  in the longitudinal direction. Said spoilers  12  are closed on the free ends thereof by end caps  14 . 
         [0019]    An adapter  22  is pivotably connected to a connector element  18  about an axis running transversely to the longitudinal direction. The adapter  22  has a base element  24 , the lateral walls  30  of which are connected to each other by an end cap  26 , a crosspiece  32  and a hub  34 . The end cap  26  faces the outer end of the wiper blade  10  and has a connector profile  28  for the spoiler  12 . The hub  34  is provided offset in the longitudinal direction  36  with respect to the inner end of the wiper blade  10 , whereas the crosspiece  32  connects the lateral walls  30  to each other in the central region of the upper edges  64 . A resilient tongue  38  runs between the lateral walls in the longitudinal direction  36  from the crosspiece  32  to the inner end of the wiper blade  10 , said resilient tongue having an outwardly protruding button  40  on the free end thereof. A fillet  48  is provided on the transition between the button  40  and the spring tongue  38 . A slider  42 , which laterally protrudes and is guided on front edges  44  of the lateral walls  30 , is integrally formed on the opposite side of the button  40  as a blocking element. In the initial position of the button  40 , the lower edge of the slider  42  rests against latching steps  46  of the front edges  44  so that the button  40  can only be moved out of the initial position thereof with an increased amount of force. 
         [0020]    A guide profile  50  is provided in each case on the lateral walls  30  on the side facing the wiper strip  16 . Said guide profile comprises a guide groove  52  which runs in the longitudinal direction  36  and is open toward the outer longitudinal side as well as to the slider  42 , whereas a stop  58  is provided on the other end which protrudes laterally over the lateral wall  30 . The lower flank  140  of the guide groove  52  protrudes in the same proportion with respect to the upper flank and the lateral wall  30 , and therefore the outside of the lower flank  140  forms a level plane with the outer side of the stop  58 . 
         [0021]    A guide rib  56  runs below the guide groove  52  in the longitudinal direction  36 . Said guide rib delimits a guide surface  54  towards the inside, which extends from the outside edge of the lower flank  140  of the guide groove  52  up to the guide rib  56 . A further stop  60 , which delimits the guide surface  54  in the longitudinal direction  36 , is situated in the region of the stop  58  of the guide groove  52 . The stop  60  protrudes with respect to the outside edge of the lower flank  140  in the same proportion as the stop  58  with respect to the lateral wall  30  so that two lateral steps result, which adjoin an end face  66  of the lateral walls  68  of the end cap  26 . An intermediate space  62  for a longitudinal crosspiece (not depicted) of the connector element  18  is situated between the guide grooves  52 . 
         [0022]    The cover cap  72  has a substantially U-shaped cross-sectional profile, which is open towards the wiper strip  16  and comprises two lateral walls  74 , which are connected to each other by a cover wall  76 . A transversely running beading  78  is provided in the cover wall  76 . Said beading is offset in the longitudinal direction  36  relative to the bearing opening  80  in the lateral walls  74  towards the inner end of the wiper blade  10 . The bearing openings align with the hub  34  of the base element  24  when the cover cap  72  is assembled on the base element  24 . In the assembled position, the button  40  latches into a recess  82  of the cover wall  76  of the cover cap  72  so that the button  40  rests with the fillet  48  thereof against an opposing stop edge  84  of the recess  82 . 
         [0023]    The side walls of the cover cap  72  comprise inwardly protruding guide ribs  142  on the lower edges thereof, said guide ribs being pushed during assembly along the dashed lines in  FIG. 2  into the guide grooves  52 . On the side facing the end cap  26 , recesses are situated in the region of the guide ribs  142 ; and therefore the end faces of the guide ribs  142  abut on stops  58  in the assembled state, whereas the lateral walls  74  overlap the steps adjoining the stops  58  and are flush with the outer contour of said steps. During assembly, the button  40  is pushed back from the cover wall  76  until it latches into the recess  82  in said cover wall  76 . The cover cap  72  is therefore held in the guide grooves  52  by the guide ribs  142  in the direction of a vertical axis  70  and is secured in the longitudinal direction between the stops  58  and the button  40 . 
         [0024]    The adapter  22  comprising the base element  24  and the cover cap  72  serves to connect a first connecting element  86  of a wiper arm to the wiper blade  10  according to the sidelock principle ( FIG. 3 ). The first connecting element  86  is fastened with the end  100  on the wiper arm side to the wiper arm, which is not depicted in any detail, e.g. by means of crimping or by said connecting element being integrally formed with the wiper arm. On the opposite end, the first connecting element  86  has a substantially U-shaped cross-sectional profile  88  which is open towards the wiper strip  16  and is formed by two lateral walls  90  and a cover wall  92 . A bearing pin  94  running transversely to the longitudinal direction  36  is riveted to the lateral walls  90  in the region of the free end of the first connecting element  86 . Offset in the longitudinal direction  36  toward the end  100  on the wiper arm side, a bridge  96  is integrally formed on the cover wall  92  toward the wiper blade side. On the free end thereof, said bridge has an end  98  angled toward the wiper blade side. During assembly, the wiper blade  10  with the adapter  22  is rotated clockwise about an angle of approximately 90E relative to the first connecting element  86  so that the bearing pin  94  can be inserted through one of the bearing openings  80  into the hub  34  of the base element  24 . After that, the wiper blade  10  is rotated back into the initial position thereof, wherein the bridge  96  overlaps the cover cap  72  and is accommodated in the fillet  78 . The angled end  98  of the bridge  96  secures the wiper blade  10  with respect to the first connecting element  86  in the direction of the bearing pin  94 . 
         [0025]    In order to assemble a second connecting element  102  and a third connecting element  120 , the cover cap  72  is removed from the base element  24  of the adapter  22 . The second connecting element  102  is fixedly connected on the end  104  thereof on the wiper arm side to the wiper arm thereof, which is not depicted, or is integrally formed with said wiper arm. Said second connecting element has a substantially U-shaped cross-sectional profile  106 , which is formed by two lateral walls  108  and a cover wall  110 , on the end thereof facing in the opposite direction. A latching hole  112  is located in the cover wall  110 , in which latching hole the button  40  of the base element  24  fits and latches in the end position of the wiper blade  10 . The lateral walls  108  have inwardly projecting guide ribs  116  and a tab  118  on the edges thereof oriented toward the wiper strip  16 . The second connecting element  102  is pushed in the longitudinal direction  36  onto the base element  24  of the adapter  22 , wherein the tabs  118  and the guide ribs  116  engage into the guide grooves  52  while the cover wall  110  pushes the button  40  downward in the actuating direction  138 . In so doing, the slider  42  slides over the latching steps  46  in the direction of the guide grooves  52 . In the course of assembly, the tabs  118  and the guide ribs  116  slide further into the guide grooves  52  until the tabs  118  rest against the stops  58  and the button  40  latches into the latching hole  112  by said button returning to the initial position thereof, in which the slider  42  rests with the lower edge thereof against the latching steps  46 . In this position, the front abutting faces  114  of the lateral walls  108  of the second connecting element  102  extend right up to the end face  66  of the end cap  26 . 
         [0026]    In the case of the third connecting element  120 , the end  122  on the wiper arm side runs laterally offset to the U-shaped cross-sectional profile  124  which is open to the wiper strip  16  and is formed by the two lateral walls  126  and a cover wall  128 . A latching hole  130  for the button  40  of the base element  24  is situated in the cover wall  128 . Guide ribs  134  which project inwards and have projections  136  on the ends thereof pointing toward the end cap  26  are provided on the edges of the side walls  126  that are oriented toward the wiper strip  16 . The third connecting element  120  is set on the base element  24  with the part thereof protruding over the guide ribs  134  with the projections  136  in the direction of a vertical axis so that the cover wall  128  rests on the upper edges  64  of the lateral walls  30  of the base element  24  while the button  40  is pushed downward in the actuating direction  138 . In so doing, the slider  42  leaves the latching steps  46  and covers the end walls of the guide grooves  52 , whereby an improper assembly is prevented. During a further relative movement of the base element  24  in the direction of the third connecting element  120 , the projections  136  and the guide ribs  134  slide under the guide surfaces  54  so that the base element  24  with the guide surfaces  54  thereof and the upper edges  64  are held between the guide ribs  134  and the cover wall  128 . In the end position, the projections  60  abut on the stops  60  of the base element  24  while the button  40  latches into the latching hole  130  and therefore the base element  24  is fixed in the longitudinal direction  36 . The base element  24  is guided transversely to the longitudinal direction  36  and to the vertical axis  70  along the lateral walls  126  of the second connecting element  102  by the protruding lower flanks  140  of the guide grooves  52 . In the assembled state, the front abutting faces  132  of the lateral walls  126  extend right up to the opposing end faces  66  of the end cap  26 , and therefore a closed design results. 
         [0027]    Beside the variety of variations, the adapter  22  according to the invention provides a good lateral guidance of the wiper blade  10  as well as a secure fixation in both the longitudinal direction  36  and the direction of the vertical axis  70 .