Abstract:
The invention relates to a wiping device, in particular a wiping device for a motor vehicle pane, comprising a wiper blade adapter ( 12   a - 12   c ) that has at least one detent element ( 40   a - 40   c,    42   a - 42   c ), said element being designed, when mounted, to prevent a movement of the wiper blade adapter ( 12   a - 12   c ) relative to a retaining element ( 10   a - 10   c ) in a longitudinal direction ( 22   a - 22   c ). According to the invention, the wiping device has at least one securing means ( 30   a - 30   c,    32   a - 32   c ) that is provided in order to secure the at least one detent element ( 40   a -40 c,    42   a - 42   c ) when mounted.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    There is already known a wiping device, in particular a motor vehicle pane wiping device, having a wiper blade adapter which has at least one catch element, which is provided to prevent a movement of the wiper blade adapter relative to a retention element in a longitudinal direction in an assembled state. 
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
       [0002]    The invention is based on a wiping device, in particular a motor vehicle pane wiping device, having a wiper blade adapter which has at least one catch element which is provided to prevent a movement of the wiper blade adapter relative to a retention element in a longitudinal direction in an assembled state. 
         [0003]    It is proposed that the wiping device have at least one securing means, which is provided to secure the at least one catch element in an assembled state, whereby operational reliability can advantageously be increased. The term “wiper blade adapter” is intended in this context to refer in particular to an adapter which has a contact region with respect to a wiper blade component and which is connected to the wiper blade component in a non-releasable manner and is provided to provide a coupling region of the wiper blade component for coupling and/or contacting with a wiper arm adapter. The term “catch element” is intended in this context to refer in particular to a resilient element which is for producing a catch connection and which is provided to be resiliently redirected in the event of assembly. The term “retention element” in this context is intended in particular to refer to an element which is provided to connect a wind deflection element, a resilient element and a wiper strip in a positive-locking manner. The term “wind deflection element” is intended in this context to refer in particular to an element which is provided to deflect a relative wind acting on the wiping device, and/or to use it for pressing a wiper strip onto a vehicle pane. The term “wiper strip” in this context is intended in particular to refer to a strip which is provided to wipe a vehicle pane. The term “resilient element” in this context is intended in particular to refer to a resilient element which has at least an extent which in a normal operating state can be resiliently changed by at least 10%, in particular by at least 20%, preferably by at least 30% and in a particularly advantageous manner by at least 50%, and which produces in particular a counter-force which is dependent on a change of the extent, is preferably proportional to the change and counteracts the change. A “longitudinal direction” in this context is intended in particular to refer to a direction which extends substantially parallel with a longitudinal extent of the retention element. A “longitudinal extent” in this context is intended in particular to refer to the greatest extent possible. The term “substantially” in this context is intended in particular to refer to a deviation of less than 10°, preferably less than 5°. The term “extent” of an element in this context is intended in particular to refer to a maximum spacing of two locations of a perpendicular projection of the element onto a plane. The term “to secure” in this context is intended in particular to be understood to mean retain and/or lock in a fixed position. The term “provided” in this context is in particular intended to be understood to mean specifically configured and/or equipped. 
         [0004]    In another embodiment of the invention, it is proposed that the at least one catch element be in lateral abutment with at least one resilient element in an assembled state, whereby a particularly compact structure of the wiping device can be achieved. The term “laterally” in this context is intended to be understood to be viewed particularly in a wiping direction. The term “wiping direction” in this context is intended in particular to refer to a direction in which the wiping device moves in an operating state relative to a surface to be wiped. The wiping direction preferably extends parallel with a surface to be wiped and/or perpendicularly relative to a main orientation of the wiper strip. 
         [0005]    It is further proposed that at least one catch element be provided to be redirected at least substantially in a wiping direction during an assembly operation, whereby a particularly compact structural shape can be achieved with at the same time a high level of operational reliability. 
         [0006]    In another embodiment of the invention, it is proposed that the at least one catch element have at least two catch arms, which are connected to the wiper blade adapter and which are provided to be resiliently redirected, whereby the catch element can absorb particularly high forces and transmit them to the wiper blade adapter. 
         [0007]    It is further proposed that the at least one securing means be constructed in a barb-like manner, whereby particularly rapid assembly of the wiping device can be achieved. 
         [0008]    It is further proposed that the at least one securing means be coupled to the catch element so that, when the catch element is redirected, the catch element moves into abutment with the at least one securing means and resiliently redirects it. An advantageously simple and rapid assembly of the wiping device can thereby be achieved. 
         [0009]    In another embodiment of the invention, it is proposed that the wiping device have a retention element which is provided to couple the wiper blade adapter to a wiper strip and/or a resilient element, whereby the wiping device can be constructed in a particularly stable manner. 
         [0010]    If the retention element has at least one securing recess, in which the at least one catch element engages in a positive-locking manner in an assembled state, a particularly simple assembly of the wiping device can be achieved. 
         [0011]    It is further proposed that the securing recesses be at least partially arranged in a side wall which laterally delimits a longitudinal guiding channel, whereby a particularly compact structure of the wiping device can be achieved. The term “longitudinal guiding channel” in this context is intended in particular to refer to a guiding channel which extends parallel with a longitudinal direction of the retention element. The longitudinal guiding channel preferably comprises a free space and at least one channel wall which delimits the free space. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    Further advantages will be appreciated from the following description of the drawings. Three embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings. The drawings, the description and the claims contain numerous features in combination. The person skilled in the art will advantageously also consider the features individually and combine them to form additional advantageous combinations. 
           [0013]    In the drawings: 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a wiping device according to the invention having a wiper blade adapter and a retention element, 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a sectioned illustration of the retention element according to  FIG. 1 , 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a detailed perspective view of the wiper blade adapter and the retention element according to  FIG. 1 , 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is a plan view of another embodiment of a retention element of a wiping device according to the invention, 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  is a plan view of the retention element according to  FIG. 4  having a wiper blade adapter, 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  is a plan view of another embodiment of a retention element of a wiping device according to the invention, 
           [0020]      FIG. 7  is a part-section of a wiper blade adapter having the retention element of the wiping device according to  FIG. 6 , 
           [0021]      FIG. 8  is a schematic illustration of catch elements of the wiper blade adapter according to  FIG. 6  in an open state, and 
           [0022]      FIG. 9  is a schematic illustration of catch elements of the wiper blade adapter according to  FIG. 6  in a locked state. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0023]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a wiping device according to the invention having a retention element  10   a,  a wiper blade adapter  12   a,  a wind deflection element  14   a  and a wiper strip  16   a  in an assembled state. The wiper blade adapter  12   a,  the wind deflection element  14   a  and the wiper strip  16   a  are secured to the retention element  10   a.  The wiper blade adapter  12   a  is provided to be coupled to a wiper arm (not illustrated). By means of the retention element  10   a,  the wiper strip  16   a  is moved in an operating state, that is to say, when the wiper arm carries out a wiping movement, over a surface to be wiped (not illustrated). When relative wind is applied, the wind deflection element  14   a  deflects it and presses the wiping device onto the surface to be wiped. 
         [0024]      FIG. 2  is a sectioned illustration of the retention element  10   a,  which has a longitudinal guiding channel  18   a  for guiding a resilient element  20   a.  The plane of section extends perpendicularly relative to a longitudinal direction  22   a  of the retention element  10   a.  The retention element  10   a  has two wind deflector securing elements  50   a,    52   a.  The wind deflector securing elements  50   a,    52   a  are constructed integrally with the retention element  10   a.  The term “integrally” is intended to be understood to mean in particular connected in a materially integral manner such as, for example, by means of a welding process and/or adhesive-bonding process, etc., and in a particularly advantageous manner formed on, as by means of production from a cast and/or production in a single or multi-component injection-molding method. The wind deflector securing elements  50   a,    52   a  are orientated at the free ends  54   a,    56   a  thereof in directions which face away from each other. Furthermore, the wind deflector securing elements  50   a,    52   a  form two channel walls  58   a,    60   a  which adjoin the longitudinal guiding channel  18   a  at a side remote from the wiper strip. The wind deflector securing elements  50   a,    52   a  are constructed in a barb-like manner in the region of the free ends  54   a,    56   a  thereof. The ends  54   a,    56   a  are surrounded by the wind deflector element  14   a  in an assembled state. 
         [0025]    In order to guide the resilient element  20   a,  side walls  66   a,    68   a  of the longitudinal guiding channel  18   c  adjoin the channel walls  58   a,    60   a.  The channel walls  58   a,    60   a  in this instance form a right angle with the side walls  66   a,    68   a.  On the side walls  66   a,    68   a,  there is further arranged an intermediate wall  70   a  which terminates the longitudinal guiding channel  18   a  in the direction of the wiper strip  16   a.  The side walls  66   a,    68   a  extend from the intermediate wall  70   a  in a direction which faces away from the wiper strip  16   a.  The retention element  10   a  has a longitudinal opening  72   a  which opens the longitudinal guiding channel  16   a  in the direction towards the wind deflector element  14   a.    
         [0026]    Two L-shaped guiding profiles  74   a,    76   a  of the retention element  10   a  are arranged on the intermediate wall  70   a.  The guiding profiles  74   a,    76   a  are constructed integrally with the retention element  10   a.  The guiding profiles  74   a,    76   a  each have a lateral guide  78   a,    80   a  and each have a vertical guide  82   a,    84   a.  The vertical guides  82   a,    84   a  form an angle of 90° with the lateral guides  78   a,    80   a,  respectively. The lateral guides  78   a,    80   a  each form an angle of 90° with respect to the intermediate wall  70   a.  The guiding profiles  74   a,    76   a  are orientated at their free ends of the vertical guides  82   a,    84   a  in directions which face each other. The guiding profiles  74   a,    76   a  and the intermediate wall  70   a  form a sealing strip  86   a,  into which the wiper strip  16   a  is introduced in an assembled state. 
         [0027]    The retention element  10   a  is integrally produced in an extrusion method from polypropylene. A person skilled in the art will in this context consider various plastics materials which appear to be advantageous, such as in particular polyethylene, polyamide, polyvinyl chloride, polycarbonate and/or polystyrene. 
         [0028]    The retention element  10   a  has two securing recesses  26   a,    28   a,  which are provided to form a positive-locking connection with a wiper blade adapter  12   a  ( FIG. 3 ). The securing recesses  26   a,    28   a  are arranged in the side walls  66   a,    68   a  which laterally delimit the longitudinal guiding channel  18   a.    
         [0029]    As  FIG. 3  further shows, the wiper blade adapter  12   a  has two catch elements  40   a,    42   a,  which in the assembled state prevent a movement of the wiper blade adapter  12   a  relative to the retention element  10   a  in the longitudinal direction  22   a.  The catch elements  40   a,    42   a  can each be resiliently redirected about a vertical axis which extends parallel with a vertical direction  44   a.  The catch elements  40   a,    42   a  laterally abut the resilient element  20   a.  In this instance, the catch elements  40   a,    42   a  engage in catch recesses (not illustrated) of the resilient element  20   a  and thus prevent a movement of the wiper blade adapter  12   a  relative to the resilient element  20   a  in the longitudinal direction  22   a.    
         [0030]    The wiping device comprises two securing means  30   a,    32   a  which secure the catch elements  40   a,    42   a  in the assembled state. The securing means  30   a,    32   a  are constructed integrally with the wiper blade adapter  12   a.  During assembly, the catch elements  40   a,    42   a  are firstly redirected in a wiper direction  24   a.  The retention element  10   a  is pushed by the wiper blade adapter  12   a  in the longitudinal direction  22   a.  As soon as the securing recesses  26   a,    28   a  are located at the height of the catch elements  40   a,    42   a,  they engage in the securing recesses  26   a,    28   a  and form a positive-locking connection with the retention element  10   a  in the longitudinal direction  22   a.  The securing means  30   a,    32   a  can each be pivoted about a vertical axis which extends parallel with the vertical direction  44   a.  The vertical direction  44   a  extends perpendicularly relative to the longitudinal direction  22   a  and perpendicularly relative to the wiping direction  24   a.  Consequently, the vertical direction  44   a  in an operating state is at least substantially perpendicular relative to a surface to be wiped (not illustrated). 
         [0031]    During a securing operation, the securing means  30   a,    32   a  are pivoted about the vertical axes and engage with the free ends thereof in a securing groove  34   a,    36   a,  respectively. The securing means  30   a,    32   a  are thereby prevented from pivoting back. The securing means  30   a,    32   a  are orientated with the free ends thereof in directions which face each other. 
         [0032]    Two further embodiments of the invention are shown in  FIGS. 4 to 9 . The following descriptions are limited substantially to the differences between the embodiments, reference being able to be made to the description of the first embodiment with regard to components, features and functions which remain the same. In order to distinguish between the embodiments, the letter a in the reference numerals of the embodiment in  FIGS. 1 to 3  is replaced with the letters b and c in the reference numerals of the embodiments of  FIGS. 4 to 9 . With regard to components having the same designation, in particular with regard to components having the same reference numerals, reference may also be made in principle to the drawings and/or the description of the first embodiment. 
         [0033]      FIG. 4  is a plan view of a retention element  10   b  of another embodiment of the wiping device. The retention element  10   b  has a cross-section as shown in  FIG. 2 . The retention element  10   b  has two securing recesses  26   b,    28   b  which, when viewed in a longitudinal direction  22   b,  are arranged at the same height. The securing recesses  26   b,    28   b  each have a t-shaped contour  38   b.  A lateral opening of the respective securing recess  26   b,    28   b  in this instance has a smaller longitudinal extension than an inner wall  46   b,    48   b  which is arranged in the securing recess  26   b,    28   b.  The securing recesses  26   b,    28   b  are arranged in side walls  66   b,    68   b  which laterally delimit a longitudinal guiding channel  18   b.    
         [0034]    A wiper blade adapter  12   b  has two catch elements  40   b,    42   b  which in an assembled state are in lateral abutment with the resilient element  20   b  and prevent a movement of the wiper blade adapter  12   b  relative to the resilient element  20   b  in the longitudinal direction  22   b  ( FIG. 5 ). The catch elements  40   b,    42   b  engage in catch recesses which are arranged laterally in the resilient element  20   b  (not illustrated). The two catch elements  40   b,    42   b  each have two catch arms  88   b,    90   b,  which are each connected to the wiper blade adapter  12   b.  The catch arms  88   b,    90   b  extend in their main extent direction parallel with the longitudinal direction  22   b.  The catch arms  88   b,    90   b  are constructed integrally with the retention element  10   b.    
         [0035]    The wiping device comprises two securing means  30   b,    32   b,  which secure the catch elements  40   b,    42   b  in the assembled state. The securing means  30   b,    32   b  are each constructed integrally with the catch elements  40   b,    42   b.  During an assembly operation, the retention element  10   b  is inserted into the wiper blade adapter  12   b  in the longitudinal direction  22   b.  As soon as the retention element  10   b  is located in an assembly position, the catch elements  40   b,    42   b  are moved in a wiping direction  24   b  into the securing recesses  26   b,    28   b.  In this instance, the catch elements  40   b,    42   b  are moved counter to a resilient force. The catch elements  40   b,    42   b  engage in the securing recesses  26   b,    28   b  and form a positive-locking connection with the retention element  10   b  in the longitudinal direction  22   b.    
         [0036]    The securing means  30   b,    32   b  can each be resiliently redirected about a vertical axis which extends parallel with a vertical direction  44   b.  The vertical direction  44   b  extends perpendicularly relative to the longitudinal direction  22   b  and perpendicularly relative to the wiping direction  24   b.  Consequently, the vertical direction  44   b  is located in an operating state at least substantially perpendicularly relative to a surface to be wiped (not illustrated). The securing means  30   b,    32   b  are constructed in a barb-like manner. If the catch elements  40   b,    42   b  are introduced completely into the securing recesses  26   b,    28   b,  the securing means  30   b,    32   b  engage in the securing recesses  26   b,    28   b  and are in abutment with rear walls  62   b,    64   b  of the securing recesses  26   b,    28   b.  The catch elements  40   b,    42   b  are consequently prevented from moving out of the securing recesses  26   b,    28   b.    
         [0037]      FIG. 6  is a plan view of a retention element  10   c  of another embodiment of the wiping device. The retention element  10   c  has a cross-section as shown in  FIG. 2 . The retention element  10   c  has two securing recesses  26   c,    28   c  which, when viewed in a longitudinal direction  22   c,  are arranged at the same height. The securing recesses  26   c,    28   c  each have a rectangular contour  38   c.  The securing recesses  26   c,    28   c  are arranged in side walls  66   c,    68   c  which laterally delimit a longitudinal guiding channel  18   c.    
         [0038]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the retention element  10   c,  which is inserted into a wiper blade adapter  12   c.  The wiper blade adapter  12   c  is illustrated as a part-section. 
         [0039]    The wiper blade adapter  12   c  has two catch elements  40   c,    42   c,  which in an assembled state are in lateral abutment with a resilient element  20   c  and prevent a movement of the wiper blade adapter  12   c  relative to the resilient element  20   c  in the longitudinal direction  22   c.  In this instance, the catch elements  40   c,    42   c  engage in catch recesses which are laterally arranged in the resilient element  20   c.  The catch elements  40   c,    42   c  are integrally constructed with the wiper blade adapter  12   c.    
         [0040]    The wiping device comprises securing means  30   c,    32   c  which each secure a catch element  40   c,    42   c  in the assembled state. The securing means  30   c,    32   c  are coupled to the catch element  40   c,    42   c.  When the catch elements  40   c,    42   c  are redirected, the catch elements  40   c,    42   c  move into abutment with the securing means  30   c,    32   c  and resiliently redirect them.  FIGS. 8 and 9  schematically illustrate the operating method of the catch element  40   c  and a securing means  30   c  during an assembly operation. 
         [0041]    During an assembly operation, the retention element  10   c  is inserted into the wiper blade adapter  12   c  in a longitudinal direction  22   c.  As soon as the retention element  10   c  is located in an assembly position, the catch elements  40   c,    42   c  are moved in a wiping direction  24   c  into the securing recesses  26   c,    28   c.  In this instance, the securing means  30   c,    32   c  are first redirected counter to a resilient force. The catch elements  40   c,    42   c  engage in the securing recesses  26   c,    28   c  and form a positive-locking connection with the retention element  10   c  in the longitudinal direction  22   c.  The securing means  30   c,    32   c  move resiliently into a securing position in which a movement of the catch elements  40   c,    42   c  out of the securing recesses  26   c,    28   c  is prevented. 
         [0042]    The securing means  30   c,    32   c  can each be resiliently redirected about a vertical axis, which extends parallel with the vertical direction  44   c.  The vertical direction  44   c  extends perpendicularly relative to the longitudinal direction  22   c  and perpendicularly relative to the wiping direction  24   c.  Consequently, the vertical direction  44   c  is located in an operating state at least substantially perpendicularly relative to a surface to be wiped (not illustrated).