Brushing – scrubbing – and general cleaning – Attachments – Optical-member-attachable cleaner
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-18
2001-03-20
Graham, Gary K. (Department: 1744)
Brushing, scrubbing, and general cleaning
Attachments
Optical-member-attachable cleaner
C015S250430
Reexamination Certificate
active
06202251
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In wiper blades, the support element for the entire field swept by the wiper blade is intended to assure the most uniform possible distribution of the wiper blade contact pressure, originating in the wiper arm, against the window. By means of suitable curvature of the unloaded support element—that is, when the wiper blade is not resting on the window—the ends of the wiper strip, which in wiper blade operation is pressed completely against the window, are located by the then tensed support element toward the window, even if the radii of curvature of spherically curved vehicle windows change in every wiper blade position. That is, the curvature of the wiper blade must be somewhat greater than the greatest curvature measured in the wiping field of the window to be wiped. The support element thus replaces the complicated support bracket construction with two support elements disposed in the wiper strip of the kind used in conventional wiper blades.
The invention takes as its point of departure a known wiper blade (German Patent Disclosure DE 26 14 457), in which the connection device is integrally joined to the support element. Hence it is made of the same material as the support element. This may possibly be of secondary importance as long as the support element is made from a plastic which is therefore made by filling a suitable mold. However, if the support element is to be made of metal, then two demands directly contradict one another. On the one hand, the support element should have good spring properties, but on the other the attachments of the connection device should be easily bent by approximately 90° out of the plane of the support element and fixed in that position, so that the loads occurring in operation between the wiper blade and the wiper arm can be absorbed on stop faces of these attachments. These two demands are virtually impossible to meet unless disadvantageous compromises in the choice of material are made.
In another known wiper blade (German Published, Examined Patent Disclosure DE-AS 12 47 161), the support element is provided with a connection device as a separate component. This connection device is solidly joined to the support element with the aid of rivets. The requisite bores in the support element, however, lead to an undesired, because uncontrollable, change in the support element tension, so that a satisfactory window wiping result cannot be attained.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, the connection device is formed as a separate component and is secured to the support element by means of an adhesive.
In the wiper blade in accordance with the present invention with the body, a choice of materials that suits the demands made of the particular component can be made for both the support element and the connection device. The joining of the two components to one another is done easily and economically by means of an adhesive, so that undesired changes in the cross section of the support element are avoided.
A connection device that can be adapted without difficulty in view of the wiper arm design is obtained if it has a substantially U-shaped cross section and rests flatly with the base of the U, joining the two legs of the U, on the side of the bandlike support element remote from the window.
As an aid in assembly, the base of the U of the connection device may be provided, on its side remote from its legs of the U, with protrusions, which are spaced apart crosswise to the longitudinal extent of the support element by a distance that is adapted to the width of the support element.
Especially good lateral guidance and holding of the two components to be joined together is attained if the protrusions are embodied as strips, which extend longitudinally of the support element.
A further-improved, stable holding of the connection device to the support element is attained if on the free ends of the strips, remote from the base of the U, clawlike attachments oriented counter to one another are disposed, and the spacing between the clawlike attachments and the outside, remote from the legs of the base of the U is adapted to the thickness of the support element.
For positioning the connection device on the support element in the longitudinal direction thereof, the connection device has at least one shoulder, pointing longitudinally of the support element, with which shoulder a counterpart shoulder of the support element is associated. The result is accordingly a positive positioning aid that becomes operative before the adhesive bonding operation.
Absolute securing of the mounted position of the connection device on the support element is obtained if the connection device has at least two shoulders, pointing in opposite directions, with each of which the counterpart shoulder of the support element is associated.
Further advantageous features and refinements of the invention are described in the ensuing description of embodiments shown in the drawing.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2303694 (1942-12-01), Horton
patent: 2761168 (1956-09-01), Krohm
patent: 2932843 (1960-04-01), Zaiger et al.
patent: 3132367 (1964-05-01), Wise
patent: 3390416 (1968-07-01), Scinta
patent: 1077088 (1960-03-01), None
patent: 1 247 161 (1967-08-01), None
patent: 26 14 457 (1976-10-01), None
patent: 2743086 (1978-03-01), None
patent: 2843164 (1979-04-01), None
patent: 1069875 (1954-07-01), None
Graham Gary K.
Robert & Bosch GmbH
Striker Michael J.
LandOfFree
Wiper blade does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Wiper blade, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Wiper blade will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2487031