Patent Publication Number: US-10328903-B2

Title: Windscreen wiper device

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO PRIOR APPLICATIONS 
     This U.S. Continuation Patent Application claims the benefit of U.S. National Stage patent application Ser. No. 14/111,637 filed Dec. 9, 2013 which claims the benefit from PCT International Patent Application Serial No. PCT/EP2011/055841 filed Apr. 13, 2011, the entire disclosures of the applications being considered part of the disclosure of this application and hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Technical Field 
     The invention relates to a windscreen wiper device comprising an elastic, elongated carrier element, as well as an elongated wiper blade of a flexible material, which can be placed in abutment with a windscreen to be wiped, which wiper blade includes opposing longitudinal grooves on its longitudinal sides, in which grooves spaced-apart longitudinal strips of the carrier element are disposed, wherein neighbouring ends of the longitudinal strips are interconnected by a respective connecting piece, which windscreen wiper device comprises a connecting device for an oscillating wiper arm, wherein at least one connecting piece comprises engaging members engaging around the longitudinal strips so that the strips are mounted in grooves formed by the engaging members, wherein the strips and the connecting piece are slidably connected by means of a snap connection. 
     2. Related Art 
     Such a windscreen wiper device is known from European patent publication no. 1 491 416 of the same Applicant. The prior art windscreen wiper device, like the windshield wiper device of the invention, is designed as a “flat blade” or “yokeless blade”, wherein use is no longer made of several yokes pivotally connected to each other, but wherein the wiper blade is biassed by the carrier element, as a result of which it exhibits a specific curvature. In practice it is felt that, although the neighbouring ends of the longitudinal strips and the connecting pieces (in practice also called “end caps”) of the prior art windscreen wiper device are connected in a durable, solid manner, the position of the wiper blade between the end caps thereof could be better controlled. Indeed, the tolerance of the rubber material of the wiper blade is a few millimeters and the design of the end caps leaves a space of also a few millimeters. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The object of the invention is to improve the prior art as indicated above, in particular to provide a windscreen wiper device, wherein the longitudinal strips and the connecting pieces (“end caps”) are interconnected in a durable, solid manner, and wherein the position of the wiper blade is better defined. 
     In order to accomplish that objective, a windscreen wiper device of the kind referred to in the introduction is characterized according to the invention in that at least one pin extending in a direction perpendicular to the windscreen to be wiped engages the wiper blade at a location of a hole in one of the longitudinal strips wherein the pin is arranged to block a longitudinal movement of the wiper blade relative to the strip in a longitudinal direction thereof away from the connecting piece. Accordingly, the wiper blade is not allowed to move in at least one longitudinal direction with respect to the strip. 
     Particularly, both a moulding operation or an extrusion operation would ensure that the wiper blade can be formed in a reliable and controllable manner, without high costs as far as additional tools and equipment are concerned. 
     Preferably, the hole has a closed circumference. In the alternative, the hole has an open circumference. In the latter case, the hole forms a recess. In particular, the snap connection comprises laterally extending means on the strips, wherein the laterally extending means comprise at least one protrusion extending laterally from an interior edge of each strip, the protrusion being located within the outer contour of each strip and between stops on the connecting piece, wherein the recess is formed within the outer contour of the strip by the protrusion and the interior edge of the strip. 
     In one preferred embodiment of a windscreen wiper device in accordance with the invention the hole has an at least substantially U-shaped cross-section, wherein the pin is arranged to block a longitudinal movement of the wiper blade relative to the strip in a longitudinal direction thereof towards the connecting piece and away from the connecting piece. Hence, opposite longitudinal movements of the wiper blade vis-a-vis the strip are blocked. In another preferred embodiment of a windscreen wiper device according to the invention the pin engages into the wiper blade at a location of a bottom of the groove accommodating the strip. Preferably, the pin is a separate constructional element. 
     In another preferred embodiment of a windscreen wiper device in accordance with the invention at least two pins are provided, wherein the pins are arranged to block a longitudinal movement of the wiper blade to the strips. In other words, a first pin is arranged to block a longitudinal movement of the wiper blade relative to one strip (away from the connecting piece or away from the connecting piece and towards the connecting piece), whereas the second pin is arranged to block a longitudinal movement of the wiper blade relative to the other strip (again away from the connecting piece or away from the connecting piece and towards the connecting piece). 
     In another preferred embodiment of a windscreen wiper device according to the invention the pins are separate constructional elements. In another preferred embodiment of a windscreen wiper device in accordance with the invention the pins forming one separate constructional element are interconnected by a transverse bridge. Particularly, the pins and the transverse bridge are in one piece. More in particular, the one separate constructional element is U-shaped (i.e., in the form of a staple), wherein the separate constructional element having the U-shape is held by the connecting piece. In other words, the connecting piece keeps the U-shaped separate constructional element in place and thus secures it. 
     The invention furthermore relates to a method for manufacturing a windscreen wiper device in accordance with the invention, wherein opposing longitudinal grooves are formed in the longitudinal sides of an elongate wiper blade of a flexible material, which can be placed in abutment with a windscreen to be wiped, in which grooves longitudinal strips of a carrier element are subsequently fitted in spaced-apart relationship, wherein neighbouring ends of the longitudinal strips are interconnected by a respective connecting piece, wherein a connecting device is provided for an oscillating wiper arm, wherein the strips at least one connecting piece are slidably connected by means of a snap connection, wherein engaging members of the connecting piece engage around the longitudinal strips, so that the strips are mounted in grooves formed by the engaging members, characterized in that use is made of at least one pin extending in a direction perpendicular to the windscreen to be wiped, the pin engaging the wiper blade at a location of a hole in one of the longitudinal strips formed, wherein the pin is arranged to block a longitudinal movement of the wiper blade relative to the strip in a longitudinal direction thereof away from the connecting piece. 
    
    
     
       THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to figures illustrated in a drawing, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective, schematic view of a preferred embodiment of a windscreen wiper device according to the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an enlarged, fragmentary perspective view of an end portion of the wiper blade; 
         FIGS. 3A and 3B  are enlarged, fragmentary perspective views of alternative embodiments of longitudinal strips; 
         FIGS. 4A and 4B  are enlarged, fragmentary top perspective views showing alternative embodiments of connecting pieces assembled with the wiper blade end strips; 
         FIGS. 5A and 5B  are bottom views corresponding to those of  FIGS. 4A and 4B , respectively; 
         FIGS. 6A and 6B  are enlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional bottom views of alternative embodiments of wiper devices; 
         FIG. 7  is an exploded view of parts of the windscreen wiper device of  FIG. 1 , including a staple-like constructional element of the invention; 
         FIGS. 8A and 8B  show a free end of the windscreen wiper device of  FIG. 1  according to preferred embodiments, with the connecting piece taken away, elucidating the function of the staple-like constructional element of  FIG. 7 ; and 
         FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view of  FIG. 8 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  shows a preferred variant of a windscreen wiper device  1  according to the invention, the windscreen wiper device is built up of an elastomeric wiper blade  2  ( FIG. 2 ), in the longitudinal sides of which opposing longitudinal grooves  3  are formed, and of longitudinal strips  4  made of spring band steel ( FIG. 3 ), which are fitted in the longitudinal grooves  3 . The strips  4  form a flexible carrier element for the rubber wiper blade  2 , as it were, which is thus biassed in a curved position (the curvature in operative position being that of a windscreen to be wiped). Neighbouring ends  5  of strips  4  are interconnected on either side of the windscreen wiper device by means of plastic connecting pieces  6  being separate constructional elements. The windscreen wiper device  1  is further equipped with a connecting device  7  for an oscillating arm  8 , and a spoiler  9 .  FIG. 4A  shows a free end of the windscreen wiper device  1  of  FIG. 1 , whereas  FIG. 5A  reveals a bottom view of the free end with the wiper blade  2  being present.  FIGS. 4A and 5A  show only one free end of the windscreen wiper device ( 1 )  1 , as the rubber retention is only on one end of the windscreen wiper device  1 , so that the rubber on the other end thereof can slide freely.  FIG. 4B  and  FIG. 5B  correspond to  FIGS. 4A and 5A , respectively, but now relating to a preferred embodiment, wherein the wiper blade  2  permanently extends beyond the connecting piece  6 , i.e., sticks out through an opening in an end wall thereof in order to avoid contact between the connecting piece  6  and an A-pillar of a car, for example. Corresponding parts have been designated with the same reference numerals. 
     With reference to  FIG. 3A  relating to atop view of the strips  4  as such, the strips  4  are each provided with a protrusion  10  extending laterally from a longitudinal interior edge  11  of the strips  4 . When a connecting piece  6  is slidably mounted onto the neighbouring ends  5  of the strips  4 , a snap or clicking connection is realized, wherein the protrusions  10  are snapped or clicked between stops  12  (“notches  12 ”) inside the connecting piece  6 . Each protrusion  10  rests in a small groove between these opposing stops  12 . Accordingly, the strips  4  are blocked against any movement in longitudinal direction with respect to the connecting pieces  6 . Each connecting piece  6  is also provided with two engaging members  13  made integral therewith, wherein the engaging members  13  engage around the strips  4  so as to form a groove  14  for sliding the strips  4  therein. The engaging members  13  ensure that the strips  4  are blocked against any movement in transversal direction with respect to the connecting pieces  6 . Each connecting piece  6  has a cavity to accommodate the free end of the spoiler  9 . The stop  12  facing away from the free end of the connecting piece  6  is equipped with an inclined upper surface, so that sliding the connecting piece  6  onto the strips  4  does not take too much force, whereas once the protrusion  10  rests inside the groove dismounting the connecting piece  6  from the strips  4  cannot take place easily. The stop  12  facing towards the free end of the connecting piece  6  also ensures that the strips  4  are kept at a mutual constant distance, as the upper end of each strip  4  is located between the stop  12  and a (side) wall of the connecting piece  6 . Still referring to  FIG. 3A , the protrusion  10  and the interior edge  11  of each strip  4  define a first recess  15  at the outer end thereof, as well as a second recess  16 . In case a separate constructional element  17  according to the invention, as shown in  FIG. 7 , having a U-shape with legs or pins  18  and a base or transverse bridge  19  is mounted inside the connecting piece  6 , such that each pin  18  reaches through the first recess  15  of a respective strip  4  inside a bottom of a respective groove  3  of the wiper blade  2 , then the wiper blade  2  would be blocked relative to the strips  4  against a longitudinal movement away from (the end wall  20  of) the connecting piece  6 . Any longitudinal movement of the wiper blade  2  vis-a-vis the strips  4  in a direction towards the end wall is then blocked by the end wall  20 . In other words, the extremity of the wiper blade  2  comes in contact with the end wall  20  of connecting piece  6 . Alternatively, in case a separate constructional element  17  according to the invention, as shown in  FIG. 7 , having a U-shape with the legs or pins  18  and the base or transverse bridge  19  is mounted inside the connecting piece  6 , such that each pin  18  reaches through the second recess  16  of a respective strip  4  inside a bottom of a respective groove  3  of the wiper blade  2 , then the wiper blade  2  would be blocked relative to the strips  4  against a longitudinal movement both away from (the end wall  20 ) a towards (the end wall  20 ) of the connecting piece  6 . In case of recess  16  or hole  16  both embodiments of  FIG. 4A  and  FIG. 4B  can be used.  FIG. 3B  corresponds to  FIG. 3A , but now relating to a preferred embodiment, wherein a hole  16  with a closed circumference is present in both strips  4 . Corresponding parts have been designated with the same reference numerals. 
     As can be seen from  FIGS. 6 a  and 6 b   , the recesses/holes  16  of the strips  4  each comprise a pin  18  of the U-shaped constructional element  17  for blocking relative longitudinal movements of the wiper blade ( 2 ) vis-a-vis the strips  4  in the direction of the arrows  21  and  22 .  FIG. 7  is an exploded view of a free end of the windscreen wiper device  1  showing the wiper blade  2 , the longitudinal strips  4 , the staple-like constructional element  17  having two pins  18  and a base  19  all in one piece, as well as a connecting piece  6  or “end cap”.  FIG. 7  shows two types of end caps, as the present invention can be used for these two types of end caps, namely an end cap with an end wall  20  (also called a closed end cap of  FIG. 4A ) designated with reference numeral  6 , and an end cap with an opening  23  (also called an open end cap of  FIG. 4B ) designated with reference numeral  6 ′, so that the wiper blade  2  may stick out beyond the end cap  6 ′, through the opening  23 , whether or not permanently. 
       FIG. 8  shows more in detail how the constructional element  17  is mounted, namely that the base  19  thereof is located on top of the wiper blade  2 , while the pins  18  thereof are stamped through the flexible material of the wiper blade  2  into the recesses  16 , as shown in  FIG. 6 . In both embodiments of  FIGS. 8A and 8B  corresponding with  FIGS. 4A, 5A and 4B, 5B , respectively, the connecting pieces  6 ,  6  are depicted in dashed lines.  FIG. 9  shows a cross-sectional view of  FIG. 8 , wherein corresponding parts have been designated with the same reference numerals. 
     The present invention is not limited to the embodiment shown, but extends also to other embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.