Abstract:
The invention starts with a windshield wiper device ( 10 ), in particular for a motor vehicle, with at least one drive element ( 16 ) that can be fastened to the vehicle body ( 26 ) and that has a driven shaft ( 28 ) and at least two axially rigid fastening elements ( 22 ), which engage in receiving openings ( 24 ) on the vehicle body ( 26 ) and are provided with at least one damping element ( 76, 90, 96 ) for damping mechanical vibrations. It is proposed that the damping elements ( 76, 90, 96 ) are fastening blocks made of a rubber-elastic material and are fastened to the drive element ( 16 ), that said damping elements are provided with slots ( 78 ) and are arranged in such a manner that they can be inserted in a first assembly direction ( 64 ) in the receiving openings ( 24 ) and prompted by a movement in a second assembly direction ( 32 ) transverse to the first direction the damping elements reach across the first edge ( 88 ) of the receiving opening ( 24 ) with a slot ( 78 ), and that a locking element ( 30, 52, 66, 80, 92, 98 ) secures the final position in the second assembly direction ( 32 ).

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention starts with a windshield wiper device, in particular for a motor vehicle. 
   Numerous windshield wiper devices for motor vehicles that have a drive element, which is fastened to the vehicle body, are already known. Typically, these types of drive element are permanently screwed onto the vehicle body, which, however, is very expensive and requires a lot of parts like screws, screw nuts and washers, etc. This is logistically expensive as well as complex in terms of installation. In addition, a windshield wiper device is known from DE 100 62 617 A 1, which is glued in place in the motor vehicle, wherein the adhesive features damping properties. 
   A windshield wiper system for vehicles, in particular motor vehicles, is known from DE 198 33 404 A1, which makes screw-free and thus simple and quick assembly possible. For this purpose, the windshield wiper device has a support construction for a drive device. Provided on the supporting structure is a number of first fastening elements, which project out from the supporting structure in a first direction. Projecting in a second direction, which runs at an angle between 45 and 135° to the first angle, preferably at an angle of 90°, are a number of second fastening elements. The fastening elements are embodied as cylindrical plug pins, which are connected to the supporting structure with one end and with their free end are inserted into a receiving opening of a rubber-elastic damping element. This damping element is inserted into an assembly opening of the vehicle body. The assembly opening can be situated in an angled or deep-drawn bracket, which is welded onto the vehicle body. The free end of the plug pin can preferably have a conical thickening in order to fix said plug pin in the damping element by locking. Since the assembly directions of the first and second fastening elements run under one angle, this does not preclude the supporting structure from being under tension after assembly, which is transferred to adjacent parts of the vehicle body. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   According to the invention, the damping elements are dampening blocks made of a rubber-elastic material. They are fastened on the drive element and are arranged in such a manner that they can be inserted in a first assembly direction in the receiving openings and prompted by a movement in a second assembly direction transverse to the first direction the damping elements reach across the first edge of the receiving opening with slots. The slots of all fastening blocks and the receiving openings lie in a plane or in planes, which are offset parallel to one another in the first assembly direction. The fastening blocks with their slots hold the drive element securely in the receiving openings, while a locking element secures the final position of the fastening blocks in the second assembly direction and thereby prevents the fastening blocks from being able to move back after assembly in the second assembly direction and disengaging. The receiving opening can be formed directly by an opening in the body panel or in a holder, which is mounted on the body panel, e.g., welded. 
   The second assembly movement runs in a plane transverse to the first assembly direction. So that the driven shaft of the drive element essentially remains in its position during this movement, it is expedient if it also runs in the first assembly direction and the fastening elements are arranged essentially on tangents of a circle or concentric circles around the driven shaft or an axis essentially parallel to this. The movement in the second assembly direction is then a rotational movement around the driven shaft or the parallel axis. 
   The locking element is a longish bolt in cross section, which has a damping layer on its circumference. In ari assembled state it is inserted into an elongated hole in the drive element and in an assembly opening of the vehicle body. The elongated hole and the assembly opening extend transverse to the second assembly direction, i.e., essentially radially to the driven shaft if the movement in the second assembly direction is a rotational movement around the driven shaft. The damping layer in the second assembly direction is adjacent to the edges of the elongated hole or the assembly opening so that in an assembled state the drive element is vibrationally isolated from the vehicle body and fixed in this position. Play can be provided for tolerance compensation in the direction transverse to the second assembly direction. 
   The damping layer is composed of a rubber-elastic material, which is sprayed on a harder basis material of the locking element, or can be mounted, clipped and, if necessary, otherwise fastened as an independent component. 
   In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, it is proposed that the locking element in an assembled state is adjacent on one end with a flange on the drive element and gradually tapers towards its other end so that larger cross section adjacent to the flange is inserted in the elongated hole, while a narrower end engages in an assembly opening of the vehicle body. The step is adjacent on the front side to the edge of the assembly opening in the vehicle opening. This makes sure that the drive element is at a secure distance from the vehicle body in the area of the locking element, and the danger of an acoustic bridge is avoided. In this case, the damping layer can cover the basis material of the locking element towards the outside both in the area of the elongated hole as well as in the area of the assembly opening. But it suffices if the layer is only provided on the locking element in the area of the assembly opening and provides for vibrational isolation, while, in the area of the elongated hole, the locking element with the basis material, which is expediently a suitable solid plastic, is directly adjacent to the edges of the elongated hole. The end with the narrower cross section is coated by the damping layer, which preferably features two bulges. As a result, the locking element is held in the assembly opening of the vehicle body according to a type of clip connection and the vehicle body panel is covered on the front side in the edge area of the assembly opening. The bulges can be formed advantageously by thickenings of the basis material of the locking element. The thickenings simultaneously provide for a secure fit of the damping layer. 
   In another embodiment of the invention, the locking element has a spring clip closed in the first assembly direction, which has an inner and outer damping layer and engages with the closed end in the assembly opening of the vehicle body. On the open end, the spring clip is connected via angled legs with the drive element. With the spring clip the legs form such an angle that they press the spring clip together during assembly of the drive element in the first assembly direction and the inner damping layers are adjacent to one another. In the second assembly direction, the outer damping layers are pressed on the edge of the assembly opening. The closed end can form a bulge, which locks with the edge of the assembly opening. 
   While, as a rule, several fastening elements are required, one locking element suffices for a windshield wiper device. It can be arranged separately from the fastening elements. According to one embodiment of the invention, the locking element is advantageously combined with a fastening element, in that in an assembled state on the side of the fastening element that lies in the rear as viewed in the second assembly direction bridges the intermediate space between a fastening block and the edge of the receiving opening. Components are saved and/or simplified as a result. 
   In principle, the locking element can be a separate component that is essentially inflexible and is inserted into the intermediate space. In this case, the elastic fastening block yields. The locking element is expediently attached to the fastening block. According to an embodiment of the invention, it is proposed that the locking element be embodied as a locking block, which is arranged in the first assembly direction in an offset manner relative to the fastening block and can be displaced as soon as the fastening block has reached its final position. The locking block can be connected to the fastening block via shear ribs, which either yield elastically, tear off or break off during assembly, if the locking block is displaced relative to the fastening block. In another embodiment, the locking block is connected to the fastening block via a longitudinal guide, e.g., a dovetail guide. 
   During assembly, the locking block is arranged in the first assembly direction offset from the fastening block so that it can be inserted into the receiving opening and be moved in the second assembly direction. As soon as the final position is reached, the locking block is displaced in the first assembly direction by the displacement distance so that it now fills up the intermediate space in the receiving opening. So that the locking block cannot detach from the receiving opening, it is expediently locked on the edge of the receiving opening via locking elements. 
   Another possibility consists of the locking element being a bar that is flexible towards the first assembly direction. During the first part of assembly, the bar yields against the first assembly direction and engages in the receiving opening with a locking hook at the end of the second assembly movement of the fastening block. The bar expediently has a limit stop on its free end, which in an assembled state is adjacent to an edge of the receiving opening and limits the locking movement. In an assembled state, the bar runs approximately parallel to the receiving opening. As a result, the bar is stressed essentially in the longitudinal direction, wherein the bending moments and collapsing forces are low. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Additional advantages are yielded from the following description of the drawings. Exemplary embodiments of the invention are depicted in the drawings. The drawings, the description and the claims contain numerous features in combination. The person skilled in the art will also observe individual features expediently and combine them into additional, meaningful combinations. 
     The drawings show: 
       FIG. 1A  schematic depiction of a drive device of a windshield wiper device in accordance with the invention. 
       FIG. 2  A longitudinal section through a locking element of a drive device corresponding to Line II-II in  FIG. 1  during assembly. 
       FIG. 3  A section corresponding to  FIG. 2  in an assembled state of the locking element. 
       FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5  A variation of  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 6  and  FIG. 7  A variation of  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 8  A fastening element with a fastening block and locking block in a half assembled state. 
       FIG. 9  A fastening element according to  FIG. 8  in an assembled state. 
       FIG. 10  to  FIG. 13  A variation of  FIG. 8  and  FIG. 9  in various assembly steps. 
       FIG. 14  to  FIG. 16  A variation of  FIG. 8  and  FIG. 9  in various assembly steps. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     FIG. 1  shows a schematic depiction of a windshield wiper device  10  of a rear windshield wiper of a motor vehicle. Naturally, the invention is in no way restricted to rear windshield wipers. It can be used without difficulty for front windshield wipers. The windshield wiper device  10  comprises an electric motor  12  with a gear mechanism  14 , which together form a drive unit  16 . The drive element  16  features a housing  18 , which is partially made of cast material and has fastening arms  20 . Fastening elements  22  are arranged on the ends of two fastening arms  20 , while a locking element  30  is provided on the end of another fastening arm  20 . 
   The fastening elements  22  are essentially comprised of a fastening block  76  ( FIG. 8 ),  90  ( FIG. 10 ),  96  ( FIG. 14 ), which is fastened to the respective fastening arm  20 , and is manufactured of a vibration-damping, rubber-elastic material. Receiving openings  24  are provided for the fastening elements  22  on a body  26  of the vehicle. As a rule, these are openings in the body panel or in a holding device that is permanently connected to the body panel. 
   The receiving openings  24  lie in a plane transverse to a first assembly direction  64 . They can also be arranged distributed to several planes running parallel to one another. The fastening blocks  76 ,  90 ,  96  are inserted in the receiving openings  24  in the first assembly direction  64  and then moved transverse to this in a second assembly direction  32 , wherein a slot  78  reaches across the vehicle body  26  on the edge of the assembly opening  24 . The first assembly direction  64  expediently lies axially parallel to a driven shaft  28  of the drive element  16 . The second assembly direction  32  can then be a rotational movement around the driven shaft  28 , wherein the receiving openings  24  and the fastening blocks  76 ,  90 ,  96  with their slots  78  lie tangentially to circles around the driven shaft  28 . With such an arrangement, the alignment and position of the driven shaft  28  is essentially retained during assembly, and the opening for the driven shaft  28  in the vehicle body  26  can be sealed simply. 
   After the fastening blocks  76 ,  90 ,  96  have reached their final position in the second assembly direction  32 ; this position is fixed by a locking element  30 ,  52 ,  66 ,  92 ,  98 . Only one locking element  30 ,  52 ,  66 ,  92 ,  98  is required for a windshield wiper device.  FIG. 1  depicts a locking element  30 , which is arranged independent of the fastening element  22 , and a locking element in the form a locking block  92 , which is used in combination the fastening element  22 . All locking elements  30 ,  52 ,  66 ,  92 ,  98  can be used individually or in combination with one another. 
   The locking element  30  ( FIG. 2 ) has a core  38  made of solid material, e.g., plastic. It has a longish cross section, which in the embodiment according to  FIG. 1  is aligned radially to the driven shaft  28 . The locking element  30  has a flange  40  to support it on the fastening arm  20  in an assembled state. Adjacent to the flange  40  towards the body  26  is a stepped part, whose larger cross section is inserted into elongated hole  48  of the fastening arm  20  and whose end  50  with a smaller cross section is inserted into an assembly opening  34  of the vehicle body  26 . The edges of the opening  34  of the vehicle body  26  are beaded into a collar  36  in the first assembly direction  64 . The core  38  of the locking element  30  is surrounded from the end  50  with the smaller cross section to the flange  40  with a vibration-damping layer  44  so that the fastening arm  20  is vibrationally isolated from the vehicle body  26 . The layer  44  can be sprayed on the core  38  or be formed by a separate component, which is slid over the more solid core  38 . Since the more solid core  38  has a step  42  in the first assembly direction  64 , the layer  44  is also correspondingly stepped so that the step in an assembled state ( FIG. 3 ) is adjacent to the edge of the assembly opening  34  and secures a distance  46  between the fastening arm  20  and the body  26 . 
   The locking element  52  in accordance with  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5  is designed similar to the locking element  30 . However, in this case the larger cross section of the core  38  is directly adjacent to the elongated hole  48  without a vibration-damping layer, while the vibration-damping layer  54  extends only into the area of the step  42 . The end  50  with the reduced cross section has a thickening  60  in the area of the step  42  and a thickening  62  towards the outside. The thickenings  60 ,  62  cause the vibration-damping layer  54  to form bulges  56 ,  58  in these areas. The distance between the bulges  56 ,  58  is dimensioned so that the locking element  52  clips into the assembly opening  34  of the vehicle body  26  and guarantees an adequate distance  46  between the vehicle body  26  and the fastening arm  20 . In addition, the thickenings  60 ,  62  secure a solid fit of the vibration-damping layer  54 , even if this is embodied as a separated component. 
   The locking element  66  in accordance with  FIG. 6  and  FIG. 7  has a spring clip  68  with a bent end  75 . Adjacent to the free ends of the spring clip  68  are angled legs  70 , which are connected to the fastening arm  20  in a manner not shown in more detail. The spring clip  68  has a vibration-damping layer  72  on the inside and a vibration-dampening layer  74  on the outside, which surround the bent end  75 . This end is thickened as compared with the assembly opening  34  so that the locking element  66  locks into place on the collar  36  of the assembly opening  34 . During assembly of the locking element  66  in the first assembly direction  64 , the legs  70  go into an extended position, wherein they press the spring clip  68  together and the press the inner vibration-damping layers  72  against each other. 
   In the case of the embodiments in  FIG. 8  through  FIG. 16 , the locking elements  80 ,  92 ,  98  are combined with the fastening element  76 ,  90 , and  96 . In the embodiment in  FIG. 8  and  FIG. 9 , the locking element embodied as a locking block  80  is connected to the fastening block  76  via shear ribs  82 , and namely offset by such an amount vis-á-vis the first assembly direction  64  that first the fastening block  76 , which is fastened on the fastening arm  20 , is inserted into the assembly opening  24  and can be displaced in the second assembly direction  32  so that the slot  78  can surround the body  26  on the edge of the assembly opening  24 . In this position, the locking block  80  is pushed into the assembly opening  24  in the first assembly direction  64 , wherein the shear ribs  82  tear off, break off or deform elastically so much that the locking block  80  can fill up the intermediate space between the fastening block  76  and an edge  88  of the receiving opening  24  ( FIG. 9 ). In doing, so the locking block is held and secured on the edge  88  by a limit stop  86  and locking hooks  84 . 
     FIG. 10  through  FIG. 13  show a similar embodiment. In this case, a locking block  92  is displaceably guided in the first assembly direction  64  into a fastening block  90  via a longitudinal guide  94 . The fastening block  90  is fastened on the fastening arm  20  and has a slot  78 . In a first assembly step ( FIG. 11 ), the fastening block  90  is inserted into the assembly opening  24  until the upper flank  104  of the slot  78  is adjacent to the side facing the body  26 . In a further step of the procedure, the fastening block  90  with the locking block  92  is rotated in the second assembly direction  32  until the final position ( FIG. 12 ) is reached and the slot  78  surrounds the body  26  on the edge of the receiving opening  24 . In another assembly step, the locking block  92  is displaced in the longitudinal guide  94  in the first assembly direction  64  until the limit stop  86  is adjacent to the body  26  and one of the locking hooks  84  secures the position of the opposite side of the vehicle body  26 . 
   In the embodiment in  FIG. 14  through  FIG. 16 , a bar  98  serves as the locking element, which bar is arranged so that it is flexible towards the first assembly direction  64  on the side of the fastening block  96  facing away from the slot  78 . In this case, the bar  98  can be permanently inserted in the fastening block  96  made of elastic material and the resiliency can be brought about by the elasticity of the fastening block  96 . Another possibility is that the bar  98  itself have sufficient elasticity in the first assembly direction  64  or be connected in an articulated manner to the fastening block  96 . The fastening block  96  is inserted into the receiving opening  24  of the vehicle body  26  in a first assembly step in the first assembly direction  64  until the upper flank  104  of the slot  78  is adjacent to the side facing the vehicle body  26 . In doing so, the bar  98 , which is adjacent to the vehicle body  26  with an angled locking hook  100 , yields towards the first assembly direction  64 . In a further assembly step in the second assembly direction, the edge of the assembly opening  24  is slid into the slot  78 . If the fastening block reaches its final position in the second assembly direction  32  ( FIG. 16 ), the bar  98  snaps into the receiving opening  24  with a locking hook  100 , wherein a limit stop  102  on the free end of the bar  98  ends up adjacent to the vehicle body  26 . In this position, the bar  98  bridges the distance between the fastening block  96  and the edge  88  of the receiving opening  24 . In this case, it is expedient that the bar  98  lies in a plane as near as possible to the receiving opening  24  so that the bar  98  is not stressed in the longitudinal direction by any appreciable bending moments.