Patent Abstract:
The invention is based on a wiper blade adaptor device, in particular for a wiper blade ( 14 ), with a wiper blade adaptor ( 10 ) and a coupling element ( 12 ) for coupling the wiper blade adaptor ( 10 ) to a wiper blade ( 14 ). It is proposed that the wiper blade adaptor ( 10 ) be releasably connected to the coupling element ( 12 ).

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    Document DE 10 2007 058 091 A1 has already disclosed a wiper blade adaptor device, in particular for a wiper blade of a motor vehicle, comprising a wiper blade adaptor and a coupling element for coupling the wiper blade adaptor to a wiper blade. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The invention is based on a wiper blade adaptor device, in particular for a wiper blade of a motor vehicle, comprising a wiper blade adaptor and a coupling element for coupling the wiper blade adaptor to a wiper blade. 
         [0003]    It is proposed that the wiper blade adaptor is connected releasably to the coupling element, as a result of which the wiper blade adaptor device can be designed to be fitted and/or to be interchangeable in a particularly simple manner. In this context, a “wiper blade adaptor” is intended to be understood in particular as meaning an adaptor which is provided so as to provide a coupling region of the wiper blade adaptor device for coupling to a wiper arm. In this context, a “coupling element” is intended in particular as meaning an element which is provided to couple the wiper blade adaptor to a component of a wiper blade, such as, in particular, to a strip-shaped carrier element. In this context, “releasably” is intended to be understood in particular as meaning “non-destructively separable”. Particularly advantageously, the wiper blade adaptor is releasable and/or fastenable without a tool. In this context, “provided” is intended to be understood in particular as meaning specially configured and/or equipped. 
         [0004]    If the coupling element has at least one latching means which is provided so as, in a fitted state, to form a form-fitting connection to the wiper blade adaptor, a low-wearing connection which is simple to release can be produced between the wiper blade adaptor and the coupling element. In this context, a “latching means” is intended to be understood in particular as meaning a means which is provided to produce a latching connection by means of a spring-elastic component which is elastically deflected for installation. 
         [0005]    If the latching means is arranged at a free end of the coupling element, the coupling element can be formed particularly stably. In this context, a “free end” is intended in particular as meaning one end of a main longitudinal extent of an element. A “main longitudinal extent” in this context is intended to be understood in particular as meaning as large an extent as possible. In this context, an “extent” of an element is intended to be understood in particular as meaning a maximum distance between two points of a vertical projection of the element onto a plane. 
         [0006]    The wiper blade adapator can be fitted particularly simply and securely if the coupling element has a longitudinal guide unit which is provided to guide the wiper blade adaptor upon a pushing-on movement during installation. In this context, a “longitudinal guide unit” is intended to be understood in particular as meaning a unit which is provided so as to provide guidance of a carrier element in a longitudinal direction. In this context, a “longitudinal direction” is intended to be understood in particular as meaning a direction which extends at least substantially parallel to a main longitudinal extent of the carrier element. In this context, “substantially” is intended as meaning in particular a deviation of less than 10°, preferably of less than 5°. In a further refinement of the invention, it is proposed that the longitudinal guide unit has at least one longitudinal guide element which is formed in one piece with a basic body of the coupling element, as a result of which the wiper blade adaptor can be stably fixed. In this context, a “longitudinal guide element” is intended to be understood in particular as meaning a guide element which extends at least substantially parallel to a longitudinal direction of the coupling element. “In one piece” is intended to be understood in particular as meaning integrally bonded, for example by a welding process and/or adhesive bonding process, etc., and particularly advantageously as meaning integrally formed, such as through production by casting and/or production in a single- or multi-component injection molding process. 
         [0007]    Furthermore, it is proposed that the latching means is deflectable substantially perpendicularly to a supporting surface of the coupling element, thus enabling a secure configuration to be achieved. 
         [0008]    In a further refinement of the invention, it is proposed that the latching means has at least one spring means which closes off the coupling element in a longitudinal direction, as a result of which the coupling element can be formed particularly stably. 
         [0009]    Furthermore, it is proposed that the wiper blade adaptor has an extension which, in a fitted state, forms a form-fitting connection to the latching means. As a result, the latching means can bear against a particularly large contact surface. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    Further advantages emerge from the description below of the drawing. The drawing illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the invention. The drawing, the description and the claims contain numerous features in combination. A person skilled in the art will expediently also consider the features individually and put them together to form meaningful further combinations. 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a wiper blade adapator device according to the invention in a fitted state, 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of a coupling element of the wiper blade adaptor device according to  FIG. 1 , 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  shows a perspective view of a wiper blade adaptor of the wiper blade adaptor device according to  FIG. 1 , 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  shows a further perspective view of the wiper blade adaptor according to  FIG. 3 , and 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  shows a perspective view of the wiper blade adaptor device according to  FIG. 1  in an installation step. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0016]      FIG. 1  shows a wiper blade adaptor device according to the invention comprising a wiper blade adaptor  10 , a coupling element  12  for coupling the wiper blade adaptor  10  to a wiper blade  14 , and a wiper arm  16  in a fitted state. The wiper arm  16  is coupled to the wiper blade adaptor  10  in a manner customary to a person skilled in the art. 
         [0017]    The wiper blade adaptor  10  is connected releasably to the coupling element  12 . Non-destructive separating of the wiper blade adaptor  10  from the coupling element  12  is therefore possible. The coupling element  12  is fixedly arranged on the wiper blade  14  in a manner known to a person skilled in the art. 
         [0018]    As  FIG. 2  shows, the coupling element  12  has a basic body  28  with a supporting surface  32 . In an end region  20  of the basic body  28 , the coupling element  12  has a latching means  18  at a free end. The latching means  18  is formed in one piece with the coupling element  12 . A spring means  38  of the latching means  18  closes off the coupling element  12  in a longitudinal direction  22 . 
         [0019]    The spring means  38  is formed in one piece with the latching means  18  and the coupling element  12  and has a rounded portion  50  at which particularly high elastic deformation by the latching means  18  is made possible. 
         [0020]    The rounded portion  50  rotates the spring means  38  in an unloaded state through 170°. If the latching means  18  is pressed toward the spring means  38 , the rotation of the spring means  38  is increased. As a result, the latching means  18  can be elastically deflected perpendicularly to the supporting surface  32  from a starting position. 
         [0021]    Furthermore, the coupling element  12  has a longitudinal guide unit  24 . The longitudinal guide unit  24  comprises two longitudinal guide elements  26  which are formed in one piece with the basic body  28 . In this case, the longitudinal guide elements  26  form a part of opposite side walls  30  of the basic body  28 . The longitudinal guide elements  26  form a lower edge  40  of the basic body  28  which serves as a bearing for the wiper blade adaptor  10 . The supporting surface  32  closes off the coupling element  12  upward. Upon installation with the wiper blade adaptor  10 , the latter rests on the supporting surface  32 . 
         [0022]    The wiper blade adaptor  10  has skirt-shaped side guide means  48  laterally. A guide means  36  extends on each of the side guide means  48 , for the most part in the longitudinal direction  22 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . The guide means  36  ends at one end with a locking cam  42 . The locking cam  42  serves as a stop for the coupling element  12  during installation. Furthermore, an extension  34  which has a curved contour is integrally formed on each side guide means  48 . 
         [0023]    In a fitted state, each extension  34  forms a form-fitting connection to the latching means  18 . As furthermore shown in  FIG. 4 , a latching stop  46  which forms a stop for the latching means  18  is integrally formed on a base plate  44  of the wiper blade adaptor  10 . The base plate  44  is adjacent in a flush manner to the side guide means  48 . In a fitted state, the base plate  44  rests on the supporting surface  32  of the coupling element  12 . 
         [0024]    In order to couple the wiper blade adaptor  10  to the coupling element  12 , the wiper blade adaptor  10  is received by the longitudinal guide unit  24  of the coupling element  12  in a pushing-on movement, as shown in  FIG. 5 . In this case, the guide means  36  adjoin the longitudinal guide element  26  of the coupling element  12  in a flush manner. The side guide means  48  surround the basic body  28  and reach under the lower edge  40 . 
         [0025]    During the pushing-on movement, the latching means  18  is elastically deflected out of a starting position perpendicular to the supporting surface  32  of the coupling element  12  by the base plate  44  of the wiper blade adaptor  10 . After the base plate  44  has been pushed over the latching means  18 , the latching means  18  automatically moves back into the starting position thereof. In the process, it forms a form-fitting connection to the extension  34  of the wiper blade adaptor  10 . Furthermore, the latching means  18  bears flush against the latching stop  46 . 
         [0026]    In a fitted state, the basic body  28  bears against the locking cam  42 . This avoids the wiper blade adaptor  10  being pushed too far onto the coupling element  12 . The wiper blade adaptor  10  is now fixedly connected to the coupling element  12 . 
         [0027]    In order to release the wiper blade adaptor  10  from the coupling element  12  again, the latching element  18  has to be pressed downward, i.e. perpendicularly to the supporting surface  32 . For as long as the latching element  18  is deflected, the wiper blade adaptor  10  can be pushed out of the fitted state and removed in an analogous manner to installation.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1