The present invention relates to a windscreen wiper arm, particularly for automobiles, comprising a mounting head mountable on a drive shaft for transferring a reciprocal movement to a wiper blade and an arm member pivotally connected to the mounting head by means of a pivot pin between a wiping position, wherein said arm member extends substantially parallel to a windscreen to be wiped, and an elevated position (i.e. service position), wherein said arm member extends away from a windscreen to be wiped, wherein the arm member has a substantially U-shaped cross- section near said pivot pin comprising two side walls, wherein a part of the mounting head extends between the side walls and beyond said pivot pin, wherein said part is provided with opposite surfaces facing towards the side walls of the arm member.

Such a windscreen wiper arm is known from European patent publication no. 1 514752 of the same Applicant. In use, said known windscreen wiper arm is connected to the mounting head mounted on the drive shaft, wherein said windscreen wiper arm at one end thereof is pivotally connected to the mounting head by means of the pivot pin and at another end thereof is connected to a connecting device fixed to said wiper blade placed in abutment with said windscreen to be wiped. In use, the shaft rotates alternately in a clockwise and in a counter-clockwise sense carrying the mounting head into rotation also, which in turn draws the windscreen wiper arm into rotation and by means of said connecting device moves the wiper blade. Said oscillating arm can thus oscillate to-and-from between first and second reversal positions.

The present invention particularly relates to a windscreen wiper arm arranged to be connected to a wiper blade of the flat blade type or "yokeless blade", wherein no use is made of several yokes pivotally connected to each other, but wherein the wiper blade is biased by a carrier element, as a result of which it exhibits a specific curvature. Said wiper blade of the flat blade type particularly comprises an elastic, elongated carrier element, as well as an elongated wiper blade of a flexible material, which can be placed in abutment with a windscreen to be wiped, which wiper blade is connected to at least one longitudinal strip of the carrier element. Said longitudinal strip is also called a “flexor”, while said connecting device is also indicated as a “connector”. Often, said wiper blade includes at least one longitudinal slit, in which slit said longitudinal strip is disposed. In the alternative, said wiper blade and said longitudinal strip are glued together. Preferably, said wiper blade comprises a spoiler at a side thereof facing away from the windscreen to be wiped. The spoiler is also called an "air deflector” and is preferably made in one piece with said wiper blade through extrusion. Said longitudinal slit is preferably a central longitudinal slit accommodating said longitudinal strip. Said connecting device is preferably fixedly connected to the longitudinal strip(s) particularly through a welding, brazing (“soldering”), gluing or clamping operation or with the help of a pin inserted through said connecting device and said longitudinal strip(s). In the alternative or in addition thereto, said connecting device is clamped onto the flexible material of the wiper blade, particularly in case the latter is equipped with a central longitudinal slit for the carrier element.

In the framework of the present invention it is noted that the present invention is not restricted to the use of only one longitudinal strip forming the elastic carrier element that is particularly located in a central longitudinal slit of the wiper blade. Instead, said carrier element may also comprise two longitudinal strips, wherein said strips are disposed in opposite longitudinal slits of the wiper blade. Said slit(s) may be closed at one outer end. Instead or in addition thereto, said wiper blade and said longitudinal strip may be glued together.

It is further noted that the present invention is not restricted to automobiles, but also refers to rail coaches and other (fast) vehicles.

A disadvantage of the known windscreen wiper arm is that it is often used in combination with a nozzle fixedly mounted on (or below) a bonnet of a car for spraying a washing liquid onto the car’ s windscreen to be wiped. In practice it has become apparent that the windscreen cannot effectively be cleaned by a combination of the windscreen wiper arm and the nozzle, as the nozzle emits the washing fluid thereon at a large distance relative to the windscreen, so that a relatively large amount of the washing fluid does not effectively reach a wiping pattern on the windscreen to be wiped. Further, it has become apparent that in the prior art a large amount of liquid (consumption) is required in an attempt to clean the windscreen to be wiped. Further, if the washing fluid is spread onto the car’s body instead of onto the windscreen to be wiped, it may damage the car. Indeed, ethanol, methanol and other components of the washing fluid are believed to have a corrosive effect on paint, rubber, car wax and plastics, for example.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved windscreen wiper arm, wherein these disadvantages are obviated, in the sense that at minimum costs - without using complex machinery and additional tools - a simple windscreen wiper arm (also called “oscillating arm”) is proposed to effectively clean a windscreen to be wiped, without damaging parts of a car, wherein less washing liquid is required to clean the windscreen to be wiped.

In order to accomplish that objective, a windscreen wiper arm of the type referred to in the introduction is characterized according to the invention in that said arm member comprises a nozzle near said pivot pin, said nozzle being arranged for supplying washing liquid towards a windscreen to be wiped. Particularly, said nozzle is detachably connected to said arm member, preferably snapped onto said arm member. Even more preferably said nozzle is snapped into a cap, wherein preferably said cap is mounted onto said arm member.

Hence, by mounting the nozzle close to the pivot pin, i.e. at the beginning of the windscreen wiper arm/arm member, the nozzle is able to spray washing liquid onto a windscreen to be wiped over an entire length of a wiper blade, without any deviation of the washing liquid in other directions. The washing liquid is thus sprayed in a direction of a wind flow. Also, by connecting the nozzle directly to the windscreen wiper arm, the nozzle is not only fixed to the U-shaped arm member in a reliable and controllable manner, although detachably in case of repair or replacement of the nozzle, but the nozzle is located at a very small distance relative to the windscreen to be wiped and is allowed to directly follow any oscillatory movement of the oscillating arm, so that the washing fluid exiting the nozzle can be effectively sprayed thereon, with all positive consequences involved as to effective cleaning of the windscreen to be wiped and safe visibility for a driver.

Further, the nozzle may be used as a first nozzle in combination with a second nozzle located on near the wiper blade center for spraying a washing liquid onto the windscreen to be wiped. Hence, in that case the washing liquid is sprayed from at least two locations (on the arm member and near the wiper blade) onto the windscreen to be wiped, namely washing liquid exiting from the first nozzle connected to the arm member, as well as washing liquid exiting from the second nozzle connected near the wiper blade center, for example on the windscreen wiper arm at the location of its connection to a connector attached to the wiper blade. Thus, the windscreen can be cleaned efficiently over a very large wiping area thereof, particularly at high speeds. In that case, the first and second nozzles are preferably connected to only one inlet for the washing fluid, so that the first and second nozzles are in liquid contact with each other.

In a preferred embodiment of a windscreen wiper arm in accordance with the invention said nozzle and/or said cap is connected to one of said side walls of said U-shaped cross-section of said arm member. Preferably, said one of said side walls in use faces away from a downward reversal position of the arm member. Thus, washing liquid is sprayed onto a windscreen to be wiped in advance of the windscreen wiper arm, so that the washing liquid is immediately wiped away by the windscreen wiper arm thereafter.

In a further preferred embodiment of a windscreen wiper arm according to the invention said nozzle comprises two, longitudinally spaced apart claws gripping behind said one of said side walls, wherein a cap covering said nozzle comprises a downwardly extending, resilient protrusion engaging between said claws. Particularly, said claws engage into a recess in said one of said side walls, so that any movement of the nozzle in longitudinal direction is blocked by transverse sides of said recess. Preferably, said protrusion engages in a snapping manner between said claws.

Hence, the nozzle and the cap (entirely) covering the nozzle are arranged to clip together after sequentially being mounted onto the channel shaped arm member. Preferably, said cap is first mounted on said arm member, after which said nozzle is mounted on said arm member and clipped in said cap. Alternatively, said nozzle is first mounted on said arm member, after which said cap is mounted on said arm member and clipped on said nozzle.

In a further preferred embodiment of a windscreen wiper arm in accordance with the invention said cap comprises a resilient rib engaging into a hole of said arm member and closing off said hole from the outside. Preferably, said rib of said cap engages in a snapping manner into said hole of said arm member.

Preferably, in a mounted state, said one of said side walls is disposed between said resilient protrusion and said resilient rib. Further preferably, in a mounted state, said claws of said nozzle and said resilient rib of said cap clamp said one of said side walls, and preferably said resilient protrusion of said cap simultaneously engages said nozzle. Accordingly, said cap and said nozzle simultaneously connect to each other and the one of said side walls, in order to securely fasten the cap and nozzle to the arm member.

Particularly, said nozzle and said cap are each in one piece of plastic material.

The present invention also refers to an arm member arranged to be pivotally connected to a mounting head by means of a pivot pin between a wiping position, wherein in use said arm member extends substantially parallel to a windscreen to be wiped, and an elevated position, wherein in use said arm member extends away from a windscreen to be wiped, wherein the arm member has a substantially U-shaped cross-section near said pivot pin comprising two side walls arranged to embrace and face towards opposite surfaces of a part of the mounting head beyond said pivot pin, with the special feature that said one of said side walls near said pivot pin comprises a hole with a closed circumference at its upper part, seen in use, wherein said hole is arranged to receive connection means of a nozzle and/or a cap covering said nozzle. Said connection means are preferably formed by said claws of said nozzle, said protrusion and/or said rib of said cap. In a preferred embodiment of the arm member, said one of said side walls near said pivot pin further comprises a recess with an open circumference at its bottom part, seen in use, and wherein said recess is arranged to receive said connection means of said nozzle and/or said cap covering said nozzle. In other words, said recess is complementary to said hole with the closed circumference at its upper part.

The present invention also refers to a nozzle arranged for supplying washing liquid towards a windscreen to be wiped, wherein said nozzle comprises two, spaced apart claws arranged for gripping behind one of two side walls of an arm member having an U-shaped cross-section of a windscreen wiper arm.

The present invention also relates to a cap arranged for covering a nozzle for supplying washing liquid towards a windscreen to be wiped, wherein said cap comprises a downwardly extending, resilient rib arranged to extend through a hole in one of two side walls of an arm member having an U-shaped cross-section of a windscreen wiper arm, and closing off said hole from the outside.

The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to figures illustrated in a drawing, wherein:

- figure 1 shows in perspective a windscreen wiper arm with a mounting head and an arm member connected to a wiper blade according to a preferred variant of the invention, in an assembled state of a nozzle and a cap (figure la above), as well as in a disassembled state of said nozzle and said cap (figure lb below);

- figure 2 depicts a perspective (side) view of the windscreen wiper arm of figure lb seen from below (figure 2a above), the windscreen wiper arm of figure la seen from below (figure 2b in the middle), as well as a mounting and a part of the arm member of the windscreen wiper arm of figure la (figure 2c below);

- figure 3 depicts perspective views (figures 3a - 3e), in an assembled state of a nozzle and a cap, wherein sections of the cap or nozzle are cut away;

- figure 4 depicts a perspective view of embodiments of a nozzle (figure 4a) and a cap (figure 4b); figure 5 depicts perspective views (figures 5a - 5c) of a cap and a nozzle in disassembled state, and being aligned with respect to each other for assembly; and - figure 6 depicts a detailed perspective view of a cap and a nozzle in assembled state and mounted to an arm member, wherein sections of the cap, nozzle, and arm member are cut away.

As illustrated in figure 1 , a windscreen wiper arm 1 comprises an aluminium or steel mounting head 2 fixed for rotation to a shaft 3 driven, via a mechanism not illustrated, by a small motor. As also shown in figure 2, said windscreen wiper arm 1 further comprises a steel arm member 4 supported by the mounting head 2, wherein said arm member 4 in turn supports a wiper blade 5 of the flat blade type with the help of a connecting device 6. In the longitudinal sides of said wiper blade 5 opposing longitudinal slits 7 are formed. Longitudinal strips 8 (“flexors”) made of spring band steel are fitted in said longitudinal slits 7. Said strips 8 form a flexible carrier element for the rubber wiper blade 5, as it were, which is thus biased in a curved position (the curvature in operative position being that of a windscreen to be wiped). A rod-like extension 9 of said arm member 4 can be pivotally connected to said connecting device 6 about a pivot axis, with the interposition of an adapter 10 being integral with said rod-like extension 9. Said connecting device 6 comprises inwardly extending legs 11 integral therewith engaging around longitudinal sides of the wiper blade 5, as a result of which the connecting device 6 is firmly attached to the unit consisting of the wiper blade 5 and the strips 8. Said connecting device 6 and the wiper blade 5 with the strips 8 on the one hand and the arm member 4 with the rod-like extension 9 on the other hand are arranged to be interconnected by sliding said connecting device 6 onto said adapter 10 in longitudinal direction of said rod-like extension 9. After sliding said connecting device 6 onto said adapter 10, a resilient tongue 12 on the connecting device 6 engages into a hole 13 in the adapter 10. More precisely, said adapter 10 has a U-shaped cross-section at the location of its connection to the connecting device 6 and a base of said U-shaped cross-section comprises said hole 13. Said resilient tongue 12 is hingeable (i.e. can pivot) along a hinge axis between an inward position retaining said connecting device 6 (together with the wiper blade 5 attached thereon) onto said rod like extension 9, and an outward position releasing the connecting device 6 (together with the wiper blade 5 attached thereon) from said rod-like extension 9. Said resilient tongue 12 is hingeable (i.e. activated and deactivated) from said inward position into said outward position by a hand, as if it were a push button. This is a so-called bayonet connection. As shown, the adapter 10 is laterally equipped with a nozzle 14 for spraying a washing liquid onto a windscreen to be wiped.

As illustrated in figures 1 and 2, the arm member 4 is pivotally connected to the mounting head 2 by means of a pivot pin 15. In use, the shaft 3 rotates alternately in a clockwise and in a counter clockwise sense carrying the mounting head 2 into rotation also, which in turn draws the arm member 4 into rotation and by means of the connecting device 6 moves the wiper blade 5. As illustrated in figures 1 and 2, the arm member 4 according to the invention has a substantially U- shaped cross-section near said pivot pin 15 (inserted through co-axial openings thereof) comprising two side walls 16,17 and a base 18. A part of the mounting head 2 extends between the side walls 16,17 of the arm member 4 and beyond said pivot pin 15. Said part is provided with opposite surfaces 19,20 facing towards the side walls 16,17.

Onto one of said side walls 16,17 of said U-shaped cross-section of said arm member 4, namely onto side wall 16, a nozzle 21 is snapped with the help of a cap 22 covering the entire nozzle 21, as will be explained hereunder. Said nozzle 21 comprises two, spaced apart claws 23,24 gripping behind said side wall 16, through a recess 25 therein, wherein said cap 22 comprises a downwardly extending, resilient protrusion 26 snappingly engaging with the nozzle 21 between said claws 23,24. Said cap 22 comprises a resilient rib 28 snappingly engaging into said hole 27 of said arm member 4 and closing off said hole 27 from the outside. The nozzle 21 and the cap 22 thus clip together after sequentially being mounted onto the channel shaped arm member 4. For instance, the cap 22 may first be mounted on the channel shaped arm member 4, after which the nozzle 21 is mounted on the channel shaped arm member 4, such that the cap 22 and nozzle 21 clip together, or vice versa. Accordingly, once the nozzle 21 and cap 22 are clipped together on the channel shaped arm member 4, said side wall 16 extends between said claws 23,24 and said resilient protrusion 26, as can for instance be seen in figure 2b.

Figures 3a - 3e show various perspective views of an assembled state of the nozzle 21 and the cap 22 on the arm member 4, specifically on the side wall 16 thereof. As shown in figure 3a, the nozzle 21 is covered by the cap 22, which is partially cut away here. In this view the feed through hole 29, formed by a passage 221 in the cap 22 and a corresponding passage in the side wall 16, is clearly shown. Said feed through hole 29 will be elaborated upon hereafter. Further, in figure 3b the assembly of the cap 22, nozzle 21, and arm member 4 is shown in perspective from below, wherein part of the nozzle 21 is cut away. Thereby, the aforementioned recess 25, configured to receive the claws 23,24 of the nozzle 21, is clearly visible. It can also be seen that the resilient protrusion 26 of the cap 22 is situated between the claws 23,24 of the nozzle 21 in an assembled state. Further, in figure 3c, a front-facing portion of the cap 22 (a portion extending towards the wiper blade) in vicinity of the feed through hole 29 is partially cut away. The cap 22 is formed such that it partially extends into the feed through hole 29. In figure 3d, part of the cap 22 is cut away in order to show the nozzle 21 situated therein, similar to figure 3a. Further, in figure 3e, part of the nozzle 21 is cut away in order to show the recess 25, similar to figure 3b. A nozzle 21 is shown in an enlarged perspective view in figure 4a. The nozzle 21 is configured to spray washing liquid towards a windscreen to be wiped by the wiper blade 5 through its nozzle outlets 210. The washing liquid is supplied to the nozzle 21 by means of a liquid inlet 211. Further, a liquid feed through 212 is provided, to feed washing liquid from the liquid inlet 211, through the nozzle 21, and to the nozzle 14 of the adapter 10.

In figure 4b a cap 22 is shown in an enlarged perspective view. The cap 22 is configured to be connected to the arm member 4 by means of the resilient rib 28, and to the nozzle 21 by means of the resilient protrusion 26. In order to further strengthen the connection between the cap 22 and the nozzle 21, the nozzle 21 is provided with claws 23,24 which can be received in corresponding claw recesses 223,224 of the cap 22. The cap is provided with various openings. In particular, a nozzle outlet opening 220 is provided in the cap, such that the nozzle outlets 210 of the nozzle 21 may spray washing liquid therethrough. Further, part of the aforementioned feed through hole 29 is formed by feed through opening 221 of the cap 22. In addition an entrance opening 222 is provided, which is configured to receive a conduit (not shown) for transporting washing liquid to the nozzle 21, and particularly the liquid inlet 211 thereof.

Figures 5a, 5b, and 5c show various views of the nozzle 21 and the cap 22 in disassembled state, and being aligned with respect to each other for assembly. In order to assemble the nozzle 21 and the cap 22, they may be moved towards each other, such that the claws 23,24 of the nozzle 21 engage the claw recesses 223,224 of the cap 22, and the resilient protrusion 26 is located between said claws 23,24 and engages the lower side of the nozzle 21. It is noted that in order to mount the nozzle 21 and the cap 22 to the arm member 4, the nozzle 21 and cap 22 should, in this shown example, in disassembled state. Firstly, one of the cap 22 and the nozzle 21 shall be connected to the arm member 4, after which the other one of the cap 22 and the nozzle 21 shall be connected to the arm member 4 and the earlier connected one of the cap 22 and the nozzle 21. Accordingly, after assembly, the nozzle 21, the cap 22, and the arm member 4 are securely mounted to each other.

The aforementioned conduit (not shown) runs from a washing liquid reservoir (not shown), through the entrance opening 222 of the cap 22 to the liquid inlet 211. The conduit then runs from the liquid feed through 212, through the feed through hole 29 (and thereby the feed through opening 221 of the cap 22), through the arm member 4 and the rod-like extension 9 of said arm member 4, to the nozzle 14 of the adapter 10. Accordingly, the same liquid reservoir and conduit line can be used for both nozzles 14,21.

In figure 6, a detailed perspective view of a cap 21 and a nozzle 22 in assembled state and mounted to an arm member 4 is shown, wherein sections of the cap 22, nozzle 21, and arm member 4 are cut away. From this view, it is clearly visible how the nozzle 21, cap 21, and arm member 4 are securely connected together. In particular, the side wall 16 of the arm member 4 lies between the resilient protrusion 26 and the resilient rib 28 of the cap 22, and between the claws 23,24 and a side of the nozzle 21. As the resilient protrusion 26 snaps onto a lower side of the nozzle 21, the claws 23,24 and resilient rib 28 are stationary with respect to each other. Accordingly, the assembly of the nozzle 21 and cover 22 is securely clamped onto the side wall 16 of the arm member 4. In other words, the nozzle 21 is clamped to both the cap 22 and the arm member 4, the cap 22 is clamped to both the nozzle 21 and the arm member 4, and the arm member 4 is clamped by both the nozzle 21 and the cap 22. The invention is not restricted to the embodiment shown, but extends also to other embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.