Land vehicles: bodies and tops – Bodies – Storm-front shield – apron – or robe
Utility Patent
2000-01-12
2001-01-02
Pape, Joseph D. (Department: 3612)
Land vehicles: bodies and tops
Bodies
Storm-front shield, apron, or robe
C296S097110, C015S250440, C015S250290
Utility Patent
active
06168223
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a windshield wiper system for vehicles, particularly, motor vehicles.
A windshield wiper arrangement of this type is known from DE 4036367 A1. It has an elongated support structure accommodating a windshield wiper drive device which, in the area of its two ends, carries at respectively one attachment point an attachment member with the aid of which the support structure can be attached at one part of the vehicle body. These attachment members are formed by screws which are parallel to each other, are arranged so they can be turned, and which are axially secured and which extend in the same direction, wherein the screws are to be screwed on the body side into threaded bore holes. As a rule, windshield wiper arrangements of this type have at least one additional attachment point at which as an additional attachment member, also a screw or a peg, is provided which can be inserted into a receiving opening on the body side in a form-locking manner.
This type of attachment requires a correspondingly expensive, special bearing and a mounting of the screws at the attachment points of the support structure, as well as a screwing-on of the attachment screws to the vehicle body which is time-consuming and at the same time cost-intensive.
It is the task of the invention to simplify a windshield wiper arrangement with respect to the manufacturing technology as well as the mounting technology.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This windshield wiper arrangement, due to its construction in accordance with the invention, with extendable attachment members protruding from the support structure to be mounted at all attachment points of the support structure, can be mounted in a rapid manner and by means of a simple movement with the aid of a screwless plug connection at a vehicle body. Through the use of plug-in attachment members at all of the attachment points, a secure premounting of attachment screws at the support structure, in accordance with the initially described state of the art, is also omitted. This results in a simplification with respect to manufacturing technology as well.
By means of an embodiment wherein the second number of attachment members protrudes into a second direction from the support structure, extending at an angle of 45° to 135°, preferably approximately 90°, with respect to the first direction of the first number of attachment members, the first number of attachment members—due to this arrangement—is axially secured to prevent a release of same from their plug-in openings at the vehicle body.
One embodiment of the invention assures a stable attachment of the windshield wiper arrangement at the vehicle body with respect to the axial direction of at least one wiper shaft, so that an appropriate pressing force of the wiper blade against the vehicle's windshield is assured.
For this purpose, one development provides a particularly simple maneuver during the mounting or removal of the windshield wiper arrangement at the vehicle or from the vehicle wherein, furthermore, it is assured that the first attachment members are optimally secured in their receiving openings at the vehicle body. During mounting, at first the windshield wiper arrangement with the first number of attachment members, in a position which is at an angle with respect to the central axes of the receiving openings, is pushed into the assigned receiving openings at the vehicle body. After an appropriate depth of insertion has been reached which may advantageously be limited or defined by an appropriate stop, the windshield wiper arrangement is merely pivoted diagonally with respect to the first direction of insertion, whereby the second number of attachment members is made to engage the assigned receiving openings. Also, in the case of the second number of attachment members, stops would provide a further simplification of the mounting. The dismounting would occur in the same simple manner with a reversed course of movement.
A development provides that the attachment members are plug-in pegs of preferably cylindrical form. This is an optimally simple constructive and material-saving embodiment of the attachment members which nonetheless assures a secure and stable attachment of the windshield wiper arrangement. The insertion pegs can be rigidly mounted at the support structure in a simple way by welding on or by a press-plug connection. In order to accommodate the latter at the vehicle body, cylindrical bore holes suffice, only two of them being provided with sufficiently tight tolerances to ensure a non-rattling holding of the mounting device.
One embodiment of the invention with attachment members formed in one piece with the support structure or parts of the support structure, permits a simple and cost-efficient manufacture.
An arrangement of the attachment members at the support structure assures a “mounting-friendly” and simple attachment, in accordance with the manufacturing technology, of the attachment members at the support structure or a part of the support structure. Furthermore, this arrangement of the attachment members at the opposing external sides or the opposing longitudinal sides of the support structure, with respect to the forces in effect during the wiper operation, is advantageous for a secure mounting, particularly because with respect to the geometric conditions of the windshield wiper arrangement an optimally great distance between the first and the second number of attachment members is given in this way.
One embodiment of the invention is recommended for, above all, those cases in which the number of the first attachment members is greater than two due to the fact that the windshield wiper arrangement extends largely in the longitudinal direction. This can occur most of all in the case of windshield wiper arrangements with more than two wiper shafts which are provided, for example, for use in a bus or truck. The arrangement of these attachment members along a straight or nearly straight connecting line makes possible a simpler introduction into the assigned receiving openings and assures the required pivotability of the windshield wiper arrangement during its attachment or removal for the introduction or removal of the second number of attachment members into or from the receiving openings.
A development is advantageous with respect to a simple and cost-efficient manufacture. Furthermore, it is thereby assured that the windshield wiper arrangement or its support structure is connected with the vehicle body at a location of the most varied force influences, which is advantageous for a permanent secure attachment and precise wiper movements on the vehicle windshield. These advantages are applicable also in transferred form to an arrangement wherein hereby a relatively great lateral distance with respect to the connecting line of the first attachment members as well as an advantageous plug engagement of this attachment, provided at the drive aggregate, inside the receiving opening assigned to it can be achieved.
A development of the invention is preferred because same can achieve, at an advantageously low manufacturing and mounting cost, a safely operating attachment of the windshield wiper arrangement at the vehicle, wherein by means of a development of the construction of the invention, with respect to an optimum force distribution, an advantageous support basis of the windshield wiper arrangement at the vehicle body can be achieved. In connection with one of the developments, as viewed at that point, a development of the invention for a windshield wiper arrangement solves the initially given problem in the best manner.
In this connection, it should be pointed out that from DE 44 136 35 A1, a windshield wiper system is already known which is supported via three attachment points at vehicle body parts, which attachment points are located at the corners of a triangle. Two of the attachment points are provided laterally at the windshield wiper arrangement and are to be rigidly connected with corresponding attachment parts with a suppo
ITT Manufacturing Enterprises Inc.
Lewis J. Gordon
Pape Joseph D.
Patel Kiran
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