WO2007122569A2

WO2007122569A2 - End caps used in windshield wipers for vehicles

Info

Publication number: WO2007122569A2
Application number: PCT/IB2007/051425
Authority: WO
Inventors: Bekir Sonmez
Original assignee: TEKLAS KAUCUK SANAYI VE TICARET AS
Current assignee: TEKLAS KAUCUK SANAYI VE TICARET AS
Priority date: 2006-04-21
Filing date: 2007-04-19
Publication date: 2007-11-01
Anticipated expiration: 2008-10-21
Also published as: TR200804767U; WO2007122569A3

Abstract

The present invention relates to end caps (11) used in windshield wiper systems (1) composed of a flat and long supporting framework (10) made of resilient metal bent like a bow curve, an elastomer based wiper blade profile (5) assembled on the framework (10) having an end profile (5) that wipes the surface of the glass, end caps (11) clasping the system from both free ends providing the integrity of the system, and an integrated connection element (12) used for the connection of the windshield wiper arm.

Description

Description END CAPS USED IN WINDSHIELD WIPERS FOR VEHICLES

[1] The present invention relates to end caps used in windshield wiper systems composed of a flat and long supporting framework made of resilient metal bent like a bow curve, an elastomer based wiper blade profile assembled on the framework having an end profile that wipes the surface of the glass, end caps clasping the system from both free ends providing the integrity of the system, and an integrated connection element used for the connection of the windshield wiper arm.

[2] Prior Art

[3] In the patent application No. EP1491416 of Federal Mogul S.A., longitudinal strips extend from the inner surface of the end cap parallel to the longitudinal axis of the windscreen wiper and towards the center thereof. At the end of this strip a thickened protrusion is provided as a stopper. The end cap goes over this tongue as it is mounted on the metal skeleton and as it is seated, the protrusion on the tongue serving to lock is seated in the grooves on the skeleton ends. The end cap is furthermore entirely open on one side to allow the wiper blade profile to slide on one another all the way; the other side is partially open matching the geometry of the wiper blade profile. The most important disadvantage in this technique is the locking mechanism of the end cap on the system. In this system the locking latch is extended from the main body with a neck and since there is a thin plastic protrusion stretching about this neck to provide locking, it will not be safe for intensive usage conditions.

[4] In the windshield wiper described in the patent application No DE 101 39 104 Al of

Valeo Auto-Electric Wischer und Motoren GmbH, the two ends of the metal support element bear on the closed surface of the end cap and are seated in the slots provided therein. Furthermore, two fork shaped extensions projecting from the open lower surface of the end cap are inserted into the channels of the windscreen wiper profile thereby limiting the movement of the profile within the system. However, this system is far from providing a safe connection of the system components like in the other example.

[5] In the useful model of the patent application No DE 20 2004 012 109 Ul of Bollhoff

Verbindungstechnik GmbH, two side-by-side stick shaped projections protruding from the inner surface of the end cap from the top downwards, are inserted through the holes provided at the end of the metal support, one at one side of the support and the other on the other side of the support, providing locking. In this method, even though the locking mechanism can be accepted as being relatively safe, the assembly of the system is quite difficult.

[6] According to the present invention, in order to prevent the above mentioned dis- advantages, a safe locking mechanism is provided that prevents the cap to be dislodged from the system during usage after assembling by means of rigid protrusions integrated with the end cap body which can be assembled with ease.

[7] The present invention will be explicated in detail with reference to the attached figures below, where:

[8] Figure 1 - is the exploded view of the said windshield wiper wherein the present invention is implemented.

[9] Figure 2 - is the view of the end caps at both ends after being assembled to the system.

[10] Figure 3 - is the front and rear view of the end caps.

[11] Figure 4 - is the front perspective view of the end caps.

[12] Figure 5 - is the vertical sectional view of the end caps at both ends assembled on the system.

[13] Figure 6 - is the view of the profiles at the ends of the supporting framework.

[14] Figure 7 - is the horizontal sectional view of the end cap assembled on the system.

[15] THE DETAILED EXPLANATION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

[16] The present invention relates to end caps (11) used in the wiper blade systems (1) attached by a connection element (12) situated on the longitudinal center of the windshield wiper arm having an elastomer based wiper blade profile (5) providing to wipe the glass having channels (7) that extend longitudinally extending on both sides which is fixed from both sides by a supporting framework (10) made of a resilient metal such that it can form a bow curve, composed of two flat , narrow and long halves (10a and 10b) by being seated on the said channels (7) from both sides and connected to each other by means of the caps (11) used on both longitudinal ends of the halves (10a and 10b) of the framework (10), the.

[17] In the said wiper blade system (1) made of a resilient metal, flat and bow shaped supporting framework (10) is composed of two longitudinal identical halves (10a and 10b) and these halves (10a and 10b) are seated in the channels (7. a and 7.b) extending lengthwise along both sides of the elastomer wiper blade profile (5). Each of the flat twin halves (10.a and 10.b) of the supporting framework (10) when seated in the channels (7a and 7b) in the wiper blade profile (5) make a protrusion (17.a and 17.b) with a portion projecting outside. The right and left independent halves (10a and 10b) of the supporting framework (10) are connected by means of the end caps (11) and thus squeeze the wiper blade profile (5) in between, providing the integrity (unity) of the system.

[18] The end cap (11) of the present invention is a plastic component comprising an A- shaped profile (19), with an open face (6) to be fitted into the end of the system (1), another face closed (4) so that the framework (10) can bear on longitudinally and stop, having a protrusion (18) at the inner surface, providing the end profile (15) of the metal framework (10) to be connected by being seated, furthermore forming a horizontal slot (20) along the cap (11) with its legs at the lower end bending to clasp the framework (1) from below. All the other outward facing sides and corners of the component are substantially rounded so that the hands are not harmed during usage or assembly.

[19] The A-shaped profile (19) at the upper side of the end caps (11) is in conformity with the spoiler (9) of the windshield wiper blade profile (5) of the system (1) and clasps the spoiler (9) tangentially. The flaps of the end caps (11) extending downwards, following the spoiler (9) profile widens to the sides at the point wherein the spoiler (9) ends and the metal framework (10) begins, clasping the projecting parts (17.a and 17.b) of the metal framework (10) from both sides and bends downwards forming a horizontal slot (20) on which the framework (10) will be seated.

[20] Rounded quadrilateral housings (15) are provided at the longitudinal ends of each of the flat twin parts (10.a and 10.b) of the framework (10) at outwards facing directions. On the inner profile of the end cap (11), two protrusions (18) are provided on opposite sides such that they can be seated in these housings (15). These protrusions (18) serve as the tongue (latch) providing to lock after the end cap (11) is mounted on the system (1). Furthermore, on the ends of the twin halves (10.a and 10.b) of the framework (10) and on the outwards facing corners, a bevel (8) of maximum 45° is formed during assembly.

[21] When the end caps (11) are assembled to the system (1), the two spaced apart ends of the two halves (10.a and 10.b) of the framework (10) are aligned vertically with the horizontal slots (20) of the end cap (11) and the end cap (11) is pushed into this slot (20) along the axis of the wiper blade profile (5). When the ends of the framework (10) bear on the protrusions (18) having rounded ends and extending inwards at both sides at the inner profile of the end cap (11), the resulting reaction force together with the help of the bevels (8) at the ends of the framework (10) result in the two ends of the framework (10) to be pushed towards each other and get narrower. When the ends of the framework (10) bear on the closed portion (6) of the end cap (11), the protrusions (18) at the inner surface of the end cap (11) are fully aligned from both sides with the housings (15) of the end profile of the framework (10) and the freed framework (10) arms separate from each other and widen and locking is accomplished when the protrusion (18) at the inner surface of the end cap (11) is seated in the housing (15) on the metal framework (10). By means of this mechanism, while exerting a small amount of force is sufficient to assemble the end caps (11) on the system (1), dislodging is not possible by movement in the reverse direction while the system (1) is being used.

Claims

[1] An end cap (11) in order to connect two independent halves (lO.a and lO.b) of a supporting framework (10) and mounted for fixing a wiper blade profile (5) pressed in between, from at least one end, preferably from two ends, and pressing the wiper blade profile (5) in between, having preferably an A-shaped profile (19), with one open face (6) and another face (4) closed so that the framework (10) can rest against longitudinally thereto and stop, having a protrusion (18) at the inner surface so that the end profile (15) of the metal framework (10) can be seated to be clasped and also legs at the lower side bending to form a horizontal slot (20) along a cap (11) for clasping the framework (10) from below.

[2] A cap (11) as defined in Claim 1, comprising at least one, preferably two oppositely situated tongues (protrusions) (18) at the inner surface thereof, having a quadrilateral section with one rounded corner such that they will be seated in the outward facing housings (15) situated on the ends of the said metal framework (10).

[3] A cap (11) as defined in Claim 1, that tangentially clasps from the outside the spoiler (9) part of the wiper blade profile (5) that will be inserted into the A- shaped profile (19) at its upper side.

[4] A cap (11) as defined in Claim 1 of which all the outwards facing sides and corners are rounded.