particularly for automobiles, comprising 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 of the flat blade type and includes at least one groove, in which groove a longitudinal strip of the carrier element is disposed, wherein said windscreen wiper device further comprises a mounting head for transferring a reciprocal movement to said wiper blade.

It is noted that the present invention is not restricted to cars, but also refers to rail coaches and other (fast) vehicles . Such a windscreen wiper device is known from European patent publication no. 1 514 752 (Federal-Mogul S.A.). The

windscreen wiper device described in this European patent publication comprises a mounting head mountable on a drive shaft and an arm member pivotally connected to the mounting head by means of a pivot pin, 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 .

A disadvantage of the windscreen wiper arm known from the above European patent publication is that it comprises many complex parts with a dedicated shape, wherein reference is made to the oscillating arm described therein consisting of a plastic arm member at one end thereof pivotally connected to a mounting head by means of a pivot pin and at the other end thereof folded around a rod-like part. Obviously, this needs complex machinery, tools, with all the expenses involved .

To obviate this disadvantage, in the sense that at minimum costs - without using complex machinery and additional tools - the present Applicant has already proposed in European patent application no. 08160187.4 a connecting device for detachably connecting said wiper blade directly to said mounting head, wherein said connecting device is positioned near one end of said wiper blade. The gist of the above proposal is to refrain from the use of an intermediate oscillating arm, thereby avoiding an articulation between the oscillating arm and the wiper blade, as well as between the mounting head and the oscillating arm. Further, by directly connecting said connecting device to the mounting head, said wiper blade is mounted closer to the windscreen to be wiped, so that the wiping properties are improved. Accordingly, a simple though effective windscreen wiper device is achieved which fits on all kinds of different cars .

However, by directly connecting said connecting device to the mounting head, it has become apparent that the wiping properties may deteriorate if the mounting head is not properly mounted on the shaft.

It is an object of the present invention to obviate this disadvantage, i.e. to provide an improved windscreen wiper device, wherein excellent wiping properties are guaranteed at all times.

Thereto, according to the invention a windshield wiper arm mentioned in the preamble is characterized in that said connecting device is provided with a spacer for maintaining a predetermined distance between said connecting device and said windscreen to be wiped. Particularly, said spacer extends in downward direction from a bottom of said

connecting device to said windscreen to be wiped, and wherein said spacer can be placed in abutment with said windscreen to be wiped. Hence, as a result of the use of said spacer or distance means, it is possible to mount said mounting head onto said shaft in a controllable manner, wherein said mounting head is firmly attached thereto, while being kept at a well-defined and predetermined distance from the windscreen to be wiped. In fact, by using different types of spacers for different cars, it is even possible to select such a distance for each type of car.

Said spacer is preferably detachably connected to said connecting device, particularly through a snapping

operation. In the alternative, said connecting device and said spacer are in one piece, such as one piece of plastic. In the latter case a unit consisting of said connecting device and said spacer preferably comprises a weakening to allow separation of said spacer from said connecting device, for example by hand or a specific tool. Said weakening preferably consists of a weakening line to allow separation of said spacer from said connecting device through a torque action, for example by hand.

Said connecting device and said mounting head are each preferably made of one piece. The present windscreen wiper device is particularly designed for use at a rear window of a car .

Preferably, said windscreen wiper device further comprises a connecting piece positioned near the other end of said wiper blade and connected to one end of said longitudinal strip. Preferably, said wiper blade includes opposing longitudinal grooves on its longitudinal sides, in which grooves spaced- apart longitudinal strips of the carrier element are

disposed, wherein neighboring ends of said longitudinal strips are interconnected by said connecting device at one end of said wiper blade and by said connecting piece at the other end of said wiper blade. Said connecting device may be glued, soldered, clipped, snapped or welded onto said longitudinal strips.

In a preferred embodiment of a windscreen wiper device in accordance with the invention said mounting head is fixed for rotation to a shaft, and wherein said shaft is rotatable alternately in a clockwise and in a counter-clockwise sense carrying said mounting head into rotation. Thus, in turn said mounting head draws said connecting device into

rotation and thereby moves said wiper blade. In the

alternative, said mounting head is fixed for translation to a carriage, wherein said carriage can be translated

alternately in a one linear direction and in another counter linear direction carrying said mounting head into

translation. The present invention can therefore be used for circular or linear movement of said mounting head.

Preferably, said shaft along a portion of its length and around at least a part of its outer surface is provided with a profile. Said profile preferably includes longitudinal grooves extending in co-axial direction of said shaft. Hence, a fixation without any play (i.e. without axial movement and/or rotational movement) between said mounting head and said shaft is realized. In a further preferred embodiment of a windscreen wiper device according to the invention said mounting head is clamped around said shaft. Said mounting head particularly comprises a hole to receive said shaft, wherein said

mounting head further comprises side walls extending beyond said shaft in mounted position thereof, and wherein said side walls are provided with a co-axial holes for receiving a pin for clamping said mounting head around said shaft through deformation of said side walls. More in particular, said mounting head is clamped around said shaft through screwing a nut onto said pin. The mounting head as a whole is particularly made of a sheet material, such as sheet metal, to allow (elastic of plastic) deformation thereof during said clamping action. In a further preferred embodiment of a windscreen wiper device in accordance with the invention said longitudinal strip is biassed in such a way that its curvature near the connecting device is larger than that its curvature near the other end of said wiper blade, all seen in dismounted position. In other words, in dismounted position said wiper blade has an asymmetric shape, seen along its middle

transverse plane perpendicular to a windscreen to be wiped. Thus, said wiper blade is able to follow any curvature of a windscreen to be wiped, while said wiper blade is pressed onto said windscreen to be wiper with sufficient force to enhance the wiping properties. In a further preferred embodiment of a windscreen wiper device according to the invention the interconnection between the mounting head and the wiper blade does not allow any pivotal movement. In other words, in mounted position said mounting head and said connecting device cannot move relative to one another, i.e. are stationary with respect to each other.

In a further preferred embodiment of a windscreen wiper device in accordance with the invention said connecting device comprises at least one resilient tongue engaging in a correspondingly shaped hole provided in said mounting head, and wherein said resilient tongue is movable between a outward position retaining said wiper blade onto said mounting head and an inward position releasing said wiper blade from said mounting head. In order to connect the wiper blade onto the mounting head, said resilient tongue is initially pushed in against a spring force - as if it were a push button - and then allowed to spring back into the hole provided in said mounting head, thus snapping, that is clipping the resilient tongue into the hole. By subsequently pushing in again said resilient tongue against the spring force, the wiper blade may be released from the mounting head. Particularly, said hole has a closed circumference. Preferably, said resilient tongue is hingeable along an hinge axis, wherein the hinge axis is orientated towards said mounting head (so that said resilient tongue opens away from said mounting head) or facing away from said mounting head near an outer edge of said joint part (so that said resilient tongue opens towards said mounting head) .

Particularly, said hinge axis is located at an outer edge of said connecting device. In a further preferred embodiment of a windscreen wiper device according to the invention said mounting head has an at least substantially U-shaped cross-section at the

location of its attachment to said connecting device, wherein each leg of said U-shaped cross-section comprises clamping members formed as inwardly bend edges at the end of said legs, which engage around longitudinal sides of said connecting device that face away from each other. Hence, a transverse locking of said connecting device inside said mounting head is achieved.

In a further preferred embodiment of a windscreen wiper device in accordance with the invention said hole is

provided in a base of the U-shaped cross-section of said mounting head. In this embodiment said resilient tongue may be provided on an upper part of said connecting device. In addition thereto or instead thereof the connecting device may be provided with at least two lateral resilient tongues extending outwardly, wherein each tongue engages in a correspondingly shaped hole provided in each leg of the U- shaped cross-section of said mounting head. Said holes preferably have a closed circumference. Such closed holes enhance the retention of the connection device onto the mounting head in all possible directions, particularly both horizontally and vertically.

Preferably, said mounting head has an at least substantially U-shaped cross-section at the location of its attachment to said connecting device, and wherein each leg of said U- shaped cross-section comprises clamping members formed as inwardly bend edges at the end of said legs, which engage around longitudinal sides of said connecting device that face away from each other. Accordingly, the interconnection thus achieved also ensures a blockage in vertical, that is transverse direction relative to the longitudinal direction of the wiper blade. The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to figures illustrated in a drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective, schematic and exploded view of an embodiment of a windscreen wiper device in accordance with European patent application no.

08160187.4 mentioned earlier;

Figure 2 shows a perspective, schematic view of a connecting device and a mounting head connected together, wherein a spacer according to the invention is used;

Figure 3 schematically shows a perspective and a front view of the connecting device equipped with the spacer of figure 2;

Figure 4 relates to a way for removing said spacer from said connecting device of figures 2 and 3; - Figure 5 shows various details of the mounting

head and a driving shaft, as well as the way they are interconnected; and

Figure 6 relates to the use of a nut to clamp said mounting head onto the shaft of figure 5.

The windscreen wiper device 1 is built up of an elastomeric wiper blade 2, in the longitudinal sides of which opposing longitudinal grooves 3 are formed, and of longitudinal strips 4 made of spring band steel, which are fitted in said longitudinal grooves 3. Said strips 4 form a flexible carrier element for the wiper blade 2, as it were, which is thus biassed in a curved position (the curvature in

operative position being that of a windscreen to be wiped) . Neighboring ends 5 of the strips 4 at one end of said wiper blade 2 are interconnected by means of a connecting piece 6 or "end cap" functioning as clamping member. In this

embodiment, the connecting piece 6 is a separate

constructional element, which may be form-locked ("positive locking" or "having a positive fit") or force-locked to the ends 5 of the strips 4. In another preferred embodiment, said connecting piece 6 is in one piece with the strips 4 made of spring band steel. In the latter case said

connecting piece 6 forms a transverse bridge for the strips 4, as it were.

The windscreen wiper device 1 is furthermore built up of a connecting device 7 of plastic material for a mounting head 8. Alternatively, the connecting device 7 may also be made of metal, such as steel or aluminum. The connecting device 7 may comprise clamping members that are integral therewith, which engage around longitudinal sides of the strips 4 that face away from each other, as a result of which the

connecting device 7 is firmly attached to the unit

consisting of the wiper blade 2 and the strips 4. As can be seen, the connecting device 7 is connected to said wiper blade 2 at its other end, that is opposite the connecting piece 6.

As illustrated in figures 1 the windscreen wiper device 1 according to the invention comprises a plastic or metallic mounting head 8 which can be fixed for rotation to a shaft 9 driven, via a mechanism not illustrated, by a small motor. In use, the shaft 9 rotates alternately in a clockwise and in a counter-clockwise sense carrying the mounting head 8 into rotation also, which in turn draws the connecting device 7 in rotation and thereby moves the wiper blade 2.

With reference to figures 2, 3 and 4 the connecting device 7 comprises one resilient tongue 10 extending outwardly, while the mounting head 8 has an U-shaped cross-section at the location of its connection to said connecting device 7, so that the tongue 10 engages in an identically shaped hole 11 provided in a base 12 of said U-shaped cross-section. The connecting device 7 can be easily slid in horizontal

direction on a free end of the mounting head 8. During this sliding movement the resilient tongue 10 is initially pushed in against a spring force and then allowed to spring back into said hole 11, thus snapping, that is clipping the resilient tongue 10 into the hole 11. This is a so-called bayonet-connection. The mounting head 8 together with the connecting device 7 are then ready for use. By subsequently pushing in again said resilient tongue 10 against the spring force (as if it were a push button) , the connecting device 7 together with the wiper blade 2 (not shown) may be released from the mounting head 8. Dismounting the

connecting device 7 with the wiper blade 2 (not shown) from the mounting head 8 is thus realized by sliding the

connecting device 7 together with the wiper blade 2 (not shown) in a direction away from the mounting head 8.

As shown in figures 2 and 3, said connecting device 7 is equipped in one piece therewith with a W-shaped spacer of distance means 13. Said spacer 13 ensures that the mounting head 8 is mounted onto the shaft in a well-defined and controllable manner, wherein the mounting head 8 is kept at a predetermined (constant) distance from a windscreen 14 to be wiped. As can be seen from figure 3, a plastic unit consisting of said connecting device 7 and said spacer 13 comprises a weakening line or tight junction 15 to allow separation of said spacer 13 from said connecting device 7 through a torque action in the direction of an arrow 16 shown in figure 4.

Figure 4 schematically relates to a top view of said

connecting device 7 and said mounting head 8 being connected together (with the spacer 13 still being present) and a perspective view of the connecting device 7 seen from the back (with the spacer 13 as a separate element being already removed from the connecting device 7) .

As can be seen from figures 4, 5 and 6, said mounting head 8 comprises a hole 17 to receive said shaft 9, wherein said mounting head 8 further comprises side walls 18,19 extending beyond said hole 17 (and said shaft 9 in mounted position thereof) . Said side walls 18,19 are provided with a co-axial holes 20,21 for receiving a pin 22 having screw thread for clamping said mounting head 8 around said shaft 9 through elastic deformation of said side walls 18,19. Said elastic deformation is finalized by screwing a nut 23 onto said pin (figure 6) . The mounting head 8 as a whole is particularly made of a sheet material, such as sheet metal, to allow (elastic of plastic) deformation thereof during said

clamping action. For esthetic reasons the interconnection between the mounting head 8 and the shaft 9 is covered by a cap 24. With reference to figure 5, said shaft 9 along a portion of its length and around its outer surface is provided with a profile. Said profile, as shown, includes longitudinal grooves 24 extending in co-axial direction of said shaft 9. As a result, an improved fixation without any play (i.e. without axial movement and/or rotational movement) between said mounting head 8 and said shaft 9 is realized.

The invention is not restricted to the variants shown in the drawing, but it also extends to other embodiments that fall within the scope of the appended claims.