The present invention relates to a windscreen wiper device, 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 comprises a mounting head for transferring a reciprocal movement to an oscillating arm, wherein said windscreen wiper device further comprises a connecting device for detachably

connecting said wiper blade to said oscillating arm near one end thereof around a pivot axis, and wherein said wiper blade comprises a spoiler at a side thereof facing away from a windscreen to be wiped.

The invention also refers to a wiper blade to be used in such a windscreen wiper device.

Such a windscreen wiper device and such a wiper blade are generally known. This prior art wiper blade is designed as a so-called "flat blade" or "yokeless blade", wherein no use is made of several yokes pivotally connected to each other, but wherein the wiper blade is biassed by the carrier element, as a result of which it exhibits a specific

curvature. In practice said wiper blade often comprises a spoiler at a side thereof facing away from the windscreen to be wiped. The spoiler is also called an "air deflector".

The object of the invention is to provide an improved windscreen wiper device. In order to accomplish that objective, a windscreen wiper device of the type referred to in the introduction is characterized according to the invention in that said connecting device comprises connecting parts formed as separate constructional elements, wherein said spoiler is sandwiched between said connecting parts when they are connected to each other, thereby allowing said connecting parts to engage said spoiler on opposite sides thereof in order to block any lateral movement between said

longitudinal strip and said wiper blade at the location of their interconnection and between said connecting device and said wiper blade at the location of their interconnection. In use, during each oscillatory movement of said oscillatory arm, said wiper blade at the location outside said

connection device would normally suffer from the so-called "fishtailing phenomenon", wherein said wiper blade on opposite sides of said connecting device vibrates in an uncontrollable manner parallel to a windscreen to be wiped. Obviously, this "fishtailing phenomenon" results in

deteriorated wiping properties, with all negative

consequences involved, particularly at high speeds.

According to the invention said connecting parts are clamped onto the flexible material of the wiper blade, wherein a controlled and predetermined pressure is applied by said connecting parts onto said spoiler sandwiched between them. Experimental results have shown that the "fishtailing phenomenon" is avoided at least to a large extend, so that the wiping properties are improved.

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 groove of the wiper blade. Instead, said carrier element may also comprise two longitudinal strips, wherein said strips are disposed in opposite longitudinal grooves of the wiper blade. Further, the present invention is not restricted to automobiles, but also refers to other fast vehicles, such as trains and the like.

In a preferred embodiment of a windscreen wiper device in accordance with the invention said connecting parts are not mirror symmetrical with respect to a middle longitudinal plane of said connecting device, said plane extending perpendicular to a windscreen to be wiped. In other words, said asymmetric connecting parts follow an asymmetric shape of the spoiler, wherein the one connecting part (in use) facing away from a bonnet or hood of an automobile has a width corresponding to a longitudinal air deflecting side of the spoiler (in use) facing away from said bonnet, and wherein the other connecting part (in use) facing towards said bonnet has a width corresponding to a longitudinal non- air deflecting side of the spoiler facing towards said bonnet. Hence, a controlled and predetermined pressure can be applied by said connecting parts onto said spoiler sandwiched between them. In another preferred embodiment of a windscreen wiper device according to the invention said connecting parts and said spoiler are provided with co-axial transverse through holes at the location of their interconnection, wherein said connecting parts and said spoiler are connected together by means of a pin extending through said through holes. Said pin is preferable a screw, so that the connecting parts are screwed together. In another preferred embodiment of a windscreen wiper device in accordance with the invention said connecting parts are provided with inwardly extending protrusions comprising said through holes, wherein a protrusion of the one connecting part extends inside a protrusion of the other connecting part. Said protrusions thus function as guiding elements for correctly positioning said connecting parts relative to one another in order to interconnect them. In another preferred embodiment of a windscreen wiper device according to the invention the connecting parts comprise legs having inwardly bent edges at their outer ends, said legs being connected to the flexible material of said wiper blade on opposite sides thereof, wherein said legs are provided with two pairs of opposite protrusions near the outer ends of said connecting device, and wherein said protrusions extend laterally inwardly for exerting only a transverse force on the flexible material of said wiper blade, thereby locally squeezing said flexible material onto said longitudinal strip, in order to block any lateral movement between said longitudinal strip and said wiper blade at the location of their interconnection.

Particularly, the ratio (1 /L) between the width L' of said flexible material at the location of said protrusions and the width L of said flexible material at the location outside said protrusions varies between 30% and 1 %.

According to the invention said protrusions extend laterally inwardly only from a vertical part of each leg for exerting only a transverse force on the flexible material of said wiper blade, thereby allowing said longitudinal strip to exhibit a curvature at the location of the interconnection of said connecting device and said wiper blade. Experimental results have shown that the "fishtailing phenomenon" is further avoided at least to a large extend, so that the wiping properties are improved. Preferably, said protrusions have a round cross-section. In another preferred embodiment of a windscreen wiper device in accordance with the invention said oscillating arm is provided with an extension comprising a pivot pin being able to pivot around said pivot axis, as well as a L-shaped shoulder acting as securing means for securing said

connecting device on the pivot pin, wherein said L-shaped shoulder projects out in the direction of said pivot pin and across said wiper blade and at the free end of which is disposed a leg facing said windscreen to be wiped, and wherein said connecting device comprises a transverse through hole for receiving said pivot pin. Accordingly, the wiper blade may then be connected to the oscillating arm on the basis of a so-called "sidelock system". The oscillating arm is provided with said pivot pin or joint pin to be inserted in said co-axial through holes. Said pivot pin protrudes in a direction towards the wiper blade and has a pivot axis extending in a direction of the oscillating movement of the oscillating arm.

In another preferred embodiment of a windscreen wiper device according to the invention said connecting device is

detachably connected to said oscillating arm with the interposition of a joint part, and wherein said joint part is detachably connected to said connecting device by

engaging protrusions of said connecting device, at the location of said pivot axis, in recesses provided in said joint part. The protrusions preferably extend outwards on either side of said connecting device, whereas said joint part preferably comprises at least one resilient tongue engaging in a correspondingly shaped hole provided in a base of a U-shaped cross-section of said oscillating arm, and wherein said resilient tongue is rotatable along a hinge axis between an outward position retaining said wiper blade onto said oscillating arm and an inward position releasing said wiper blade from said oscillating arm. Accordingly, the wiper blade may then be connected to the oscillating arm on the basis of a so-called "toplock system" on the basis of a bayonet connection. In order to connect the wiper blade onto the oscillating arm, the 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 the oscillating arm, thus snapping, that is clipping the resilient tongue into the hole. By subsequently pushing in again the resilient tongue against the spring force, the wiper blade may be released from the oscillating arm.

A windscreen wiper device according to the invention

comprises a mounting head fixed for rotation to a shaft, wherein said shaft is rotatable alternately in a clockwise and in a counter-clockwise sense carrying said mounting head into rotation. Said oscillating arm is connected to said mounting head fixed for rotation to said shaft driven by a small motor. 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 said oscillating arm into rotation and by means of said

connecting device moves said wiper blade. Further, a

windscreen wiper device in accordance with the invention comprises a connecting piece positioned on both ends of said wiper blade and connected to an end of said longitudinal strip . The present invention also relates to a wiper blade of the flat blade type including at least one groove, in which groove a longitudinal strip of a carrier element is

disposed, said wiper blade comprising a connecting device detachably connected thereto for detachably connecting said wiper blade to an oscillating arm near one end thereof around a pivot axis, and wherein said wiper blade comprises a spoiler at a side thereof facing away from a windscreen to be wiped, characterized in that said connecting device comprising connecting parts formed as separate

constructional elements, wherein said spoiler is sandwiched between said connecting parts when they are connected to each other, thereby allowing said connecting parts to engage said spoiler on opposite sides thereof in order to block any lateral movement between said longitudinal strip and said wiper blade at the location of their interconnection and between said connecting device and said wiper blade at the location of their interconnection.

The invention will now be explained more in detail with reference to figures illustrated in a drawing, wherein figure 1 is a perspective, schematic view of a

preferred embodiment of a windscreen wiper device according to the invention, with and without (a part of) an oscillating arm, respectively;

figure 2 is an exploded view and an assembled view of wiper blade and a connecting device, as used in a windscreen wiper device of figure 1 ;

figures 3 and 4 are a perspective view of two

connecting parts of the connecting device of figure 2 ; and figures 5 and 6 are details of a windscreen wiper device according to the invention showing a connection between the connecting device and the oscillating arm according to a first embodiment ("Bayonet connection") and to a second embodiment ("Sidelock connection"), respectively .

Figure 1 shows a preferred variant of a windscreen wiper device 1 according to the invention. Said windscreen wiper device is built up of an elastomeric (rubber) wiper blade 2 of the flat blade type comprising a central longitudinal groove 3, wherein a longitudinal strip 4 made of spring band steel is fitted in said longitudinal groove 3. Said strip 4 forms a flexible carrier element for the rubber 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) . An end of said strip 4 and/or an end of said wiper blade 2 is connected on either side of the windscreen wiper device 1 to respective connecting pieces or "end caps" (5) . The connecting pieces may be separate constructional elements, which may be form-locked as well as force-locked to both ends of said strip 4 and/or ends of said wiper blade 2. In another preferred variant, said connecting pieces may be in one piece with the strip 4 made of spring band steel. The windscreen wiper device 1 is furthermore built up of a connecting device 6 of metal for connecting an oscillating wiper arm 7 thereto, with the interposition of a joint part 8 (see figure 5) . The

oscillating wiper arm 7 is pivotally connected to the connecting device 6 about a pivot axis near one end. The preferred embodiment of figure 1 according to the invention comprises a spoiler or "air deflector" 9 which is made in one piece with the rubber wiper blade 2 and which extends along the entire length thereof.

Although not shown in figure 1, but fully understood by a skilled person, said oscillating arm 7 is connected to a mounting head fixed for rotation to a shaft driven by a small motor. 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 said oscillating arm 7 into rotation and by means of said

connecting device 6 moves said wiper blade 2.

As shown in figures 2, 3 and 4 said connecting device 6 comprises two connecting parts 10,11 formed as single constructional elements. When said connecting parts 10,11 are connected to each other, said spoiler 9 is sandwiched between said connecting parts 10,11 in the sense that said connecting parts 10,11 engage said spoiler 9 on opposite sides thereof. Said connecting parts 10,11 and said spoiler 9 are each provided with three co-axial transverse through holes 12,13,14 at the location of their interconnection, so that said connecting parts 10,11 and said spoiler 9 can be interconnected by means of three screws 15 having external screw thread and extending through said through holes

12,13,14. The through holes 14 of the connecting part 11 are provided with internal screw thread for that purpose. As shown in figures 2 and 3, said connecting parts 10,11 are not mirror symmetrical with respect to a middle longitudinal plane of said connecting device 6, said plane extending perpendicular to a windscreen to be wiped. In assembled position, that is when the screws 15 are tightened, the connecting parts 10,11 exert a controllable, predetermined pressure on the spoiler 9. Thus, any lateral movement between said longitudinal strip and said wiper blade at the location of their interconnection and between said

connecting device and said wiper blade at the location of their interconnection is blocked.

In use, during each oscillatory movement of said oscillatory arm 7, said wiper blade 2 at the location outside said connection device 6 would normally suffer from the so-called "fishtailing phenomenon", wherein said wiper blade 2 on opposite sides of said connecting device 6 vibrates in an uncontrollable manner parallel to a windscreen to be wiped. Obviously, this "fishtailing phenomenon" results in

deteriorated wiping properties, with all negative

consequences involved, particularly at high speeds. Hence, said longitudinal strip 4 is allowed to exhibit a curvature at the location of the interconnection of said connecting device 6 and said wiper blade 2. Experimental results have shown that the "fishtailing phenomenon" is now avoided according to the invention at least to a large extend.

With reference to figures 3 and 4, said connecting parts 10,11 are provided with inwardly extending protrusions 16,17 comprising said through holes 12,14, wherein a protrusion 16 of the one connecting part 10 extends inside a protrusion 17 of the other connecting part 11 for guiding both connecting parts 10,11 into assembled position. Each connecting part 10,11 has legs 18 having a C-shaped cross-section, i.e. with inwardly bent edges 19 at their outer ends. In assembled position said legs 18 clamp around the wiper blade 2, so that the longitudinal strip 4 of the carrier element is situated in said C-shape. Said legs 14 are each provided, on a respective vertical part 20 thereof, with two pairs of opposite protrusions 21,22 near the outer ends of said connecting parts 10,11. Said protrusions 21,22 extend laterally inwardly for exerting only a transverse force on the rubber of said wiper blade 2, thereby locally squeezing said rubber onto said longitudinal strip 4. Accordingly, any lateral movement of said longitudinal strip 4 at the

location of the interconnection of said connecting device 6 and said wiper blade 2 is blocked. The protrusions 21,22 have the additional function to further limit the

"fishtailing phenomenon".

As can be seen in figures 1 and 5, the joint part 8

comprises a resilient tongue 23 extending outwardly, while the oscillating arm 7 has an U-shaped cross-section at the location of its connection to said joint part 8, so that the tongue 23 engages in an identically shaped hole 24 provided in a base of said U-shaped cross-section. The connecting device 6 with the wiper blade 2 is mounted onto the

oscillating arm 7 as follows. The joint part 8 being already clipped onto the connecting device 6 is pivoted relative to the connecting device 6, so that said joint part 8 can be easily slided on a free end of the oscillating arm 7. During this sliding movement the resilient tongue 23 is initially pushed in against a spring force and then allowed to spring back into said hole 24, thus snapping, that is clipping the resilient tongue 23 into the hole 24. This is a so-called bayonet-connection. The oscillating arm 7 together with the joint part 8 may then be pivoted back in a position parallel to the wiper blade 2 in order to be ready for use. By subsequently pushing in again said resilient tongue 23 against the spring force (as if it were a push button) , the connecting device 6 and the joint part 8 together with the wiper blade 2 may be released from the oscillating arm 7. Dismounting the connecting device 6 with the wiper blade 2 from the oscillating arm 7 is thus realized by sliding the connecting device 6 and the joint part 8 together with the wiper blade 2 in a direction away from the oscillating arm 7.

In the alternative as can be seen in figure 6, in a so- called "side-lock system", said oscillating arm 7 is provided with an extension comprising a pivot pin 25 being able to pivot around a pivot axis, as well as a L-shaped shoulder 26 acting as securing means for securing said connecting device 6 on the pivot pin 25. Said L-shaped shoulder 26 projects out in the direction of said pivot pin 25 and across said wiper blade 2 and at the free end of which is disposed a leg 27 facing said windscreen to be wiped. Said connecting device 6 comprises a joint part 8 with a transverse through hole 28 (see figures 2 and 3) for receiving said pivot pin 25.

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