Brushing – scrubbing – and general cleaning – Attachments – Optical-member-attachable cleaner
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-18
2002-12-31
Graham, Gary K. (Department: 1744)
Brushing, scrubbing, and general cleaning
Attachments
Optical-member-attachable cleaner
C015S250351, C015S250201
Reexamination Certificate
active
06499179
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention concerns a wiper arm for a device for the cleaning of a windshield on a vehicle.
2. Description of the Art
It is already known that wipers that link to a wiper arm are equipped with a variety of attachments or spoiler elements. It is also known that the wiper arms are equipped with a variety of attachments and spoiler elements. From EP 0 538 093 Al a wiper arm is known which has a conventional structure, i.e., a wiper arm component that consists of a linking element made out of sheet metal and of a wiper bar attached to it that is linked to a retaining element allowing it to pivot. A conventional wiper is snap-linked on to the hooked end of the wiper arm by means of a connecting piece. The wiper is formed by a bow-shaped wiper blade retainer and an elastic wiper blade retained by it. A one-piece trim that is clipped onto the top of the wiper arm and held in place by a snap-lock connection has a U-like cross-sectional shape that is open toward the windshield. This rigid trim extends over the full length of the entire wiper arm and the wiper blade that is connected to it. Except for the side that faces the windshield, the wiper arm is completely wrapped into the trim. In the area of the wiper blade, the longitudinal edges of the trim that face each other extend downward over a large part of the height of the bow construction of the wiper blade retainer, whereas lower edges end at a distance above the upper edge of the wiper blade. Between the upper side of the wiper blade and the lower edges of the trim, a clearance of several millimeters height remains. A disadvantage of this type of wiper arm is that the trim prevents the tilting up of the wiper arm from the windshield that may become necessary from time to time, and also this design is a strong impediment to exchanging the wiper that is connected to the wiper arm. The consequence of this design is that the wiper arm trim must be removed before tilting the wiper up from the windshield and exchanging the wiper, and that the trim must be re-installed after the wiper exchange or after tilting the wiper back down on the windshield. The snap-on fastening parts of the trim are difficult to access, and the trim is therefore difficult to remove. There is also the risk that the snap-on fastening elements might break off from the trim rendering the entire trim useless. Because the lower edges of the trim end in the area of the wiper at a distance above the upper side of the wiper blade, an opening is formed through which the wind blast pushes, and across which the lower parts of the bow construction of the wiper blade retainer extend. This opening has negative effects on the aerodynamics and aero-acoustic characteristics at high speeds.
It is the purpose of the invention to improve a wiper arm of the type described above such that the wiper arm can be easily tilted upward or the wiper can be easily exchanged.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention, the task is solved, by a wiper arm wherein the desired simple handling is guaranteed because the trim that is manufactured as a separate part is attached, with its end that faces an adapter piece, to the wiper arm part in a manner that permits it to pivot around an axis that extends perpendicularly to the wiper arm part, relative to the wiper arm part or relative to the wiper arm. Due to this configuration, the wiper arm part that is linked to the retaining element to the free end of which the wiper is linked can be tilted up and away from the windshield in the same simple manner as is known from conventional wiper arms, e.g., if the windshield needs to be cleaned manually. For the execution of a wiper exchange, the trim can also remain connected to the wiper arm—it just needs to be tilted in an upward direction from its closed position around the axis that extends perpendicularly to the wiper arm part into an open position. This exposes the linkage area of the wiper to the wiper arm, and the wiper exchange can be made in the usual easy fashion. After the exchange of the wiper has been completed, the trim is tilted back into its closed position. The tilting of the trim from the closed into the open position can be conducted in any of the positions the wiper arm part might assume in relation to the retaining element of the wiper arm.
An advantageous configuration of the invention, with the trim is connected to the wiper arm via two trunnions that engage in bearing bores or recesses, makes a simple and cost-efficient production of a wiper arm that is equipped with the trim possible according to the invention. The trunnions can be located on the trim and protrude inward from two side walls of the trim that face each other. In this case, corresponding bearing bores or bearing recesses are located on the opposite longitudinal sides of the wiper arm part into which the trunnions engage. If necessary, the bearing bores or bearing recesses can also be located on the walls of the trim that are facing each other. The trunnions are located on the wiper arm part in this case, and extend in an outward direction from its opposite outsides. If the dimensions are sized accordingly in consideration of the elasticity of the trim, this linked connection can be configured as a friendly snap-on connection.
One configuration of the invention provides that the trim can be locked into its closed position, and possibly, also into its open position on the wiper arm part, by means of a reversible locking device. Locking the trim in its closed position guarantees safe operation of the windshield cleaning device; while locking it in its open position facilitates easy handling when changing wipers. The locking device can be configured in a simple manner by one or several snap ons in combination with one or several snap grooves that are located alternatingly on the trim and on the wiper arm part near the pivoting axis that is located between the wiper arm part and the trim, and that interact with each other making use of the elasticity of the trim. In the simplest form, a snap on can be configured at an appropriate distance from the pivoting axis on the inside of the side wall of the trim that, in the closed position, snaps in behind the lower edge, and in the open position behind the upper edge of the wiper arm part.
Another advantageous configuration of the invention provides that a springy snap element that is attached to the trim or molded into it and that can be swiveled, interacts with the wiper arm part as a locking element, preferably with the free end of the wiper arm part. This locking element can be configured in such a manner that the locking or the unlocking of the trim in relation to the wiper arm part is effected as a result of tilting the trim into the open position or the other way around. For ease of handling, this would be particularly advantageous. However, if, by comparison, inadvertent unlocking, in particular caused by the force of the wind blast at high driving speeds, is to be positively precluded, the locking element needs to be configured with an accordingly strong undercut, or the locking element must be configured to require appropriately high disengagement forces for it to unlock. In this case the greater advantage of operational safety requires a manual operation of the locking element as an additional operational measure that, in view of the achievable advantage, must be accepted as appropriate.
A configuration is preferred that provides the trim as a spoiler, preferably as an integral spoiler. With such a spoiler or integral spoiler, shapes can be realized that can decisively influence the high speed behavior of a wiper arm equipped with a wiper with regard to aerodynamics and aero-acoustics. According to the invention, there is no need for spoilers on the wiper itself so that in connecting to the wiper arm, low cost wipers without spoilers can be used. The trim, in particular the trim shaped as integral spoiler, can also be understood as an additional design detail that makes it possible to adapt the essentia
Fink Andreas
Grossmann Michael
Graham Gary K.
ITT Manufacturing Enterprises Inc.
Lewis J. Gordon
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