The present invention relates to a windscreen wiper device of the flat blade type 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 includes at least one groove, in which groove a longitudinal strip of the carrier element is disposed, which windscreen wiper device comprises a connecting device for an oscillating arm, wherein said oscillating arm can be pivotally connected to said connecting device about a pivot axis near one end. Ends of said longitudinal strip may be connected by a respective connecting piece, also called "end cap".

Such a windscreen wiper device is generally known. This prior art windscreen wiper device is designed as a

"yokeless" wiper device or "flat blade", wherein no use is made of several yokes pivotally connected to each other, but wherein the wiper blade is biased by the carrier element, as a result of which it exhibits a specific curvature.

In practice it has become apparent that, during use of the known windscreen wiper device, high forces are exerted on the connection between the connecting device and the

oscillating arm. As a consequence thereof the wiper blade may get loose from the oscillating arm.

The object of the invention is to provide a windscreen wiper device, wherein the connecting device and the oscillating arm are connected in an improved, reliable manner, using a minimum of parts. Thereto, a windscreen wiper device of the type referred to in the introduction is characterized according to the invention in that said connecting device comprises at least two parts provided with protrusion/hole means arranged for pivotally and detachably connecting said parts together through a snapping operation, wherein the first part is retained onto the wiper blade and wherein the second part comprises a channel arranged for inserting said oscillating arm therein, wherein said windscreen wiper device is provided with retaining means arranged for retaining said connecting device onto said oscillating arm, wherein said retaining means comprises at least one upwardly extending protrusion on the second part, wherein said protrusion is movable relative to the second part between an inward position, wherein in mounted position said protrusion engages into a correspondingly shaped hole provided in said oscillating arm and said connecting device is retained onto said oscillating arm, and an outward position, wherein in dismounted position said protrusion disengages from said hole provided in said oscillating arm and said connecting device is released from said oscillating arm. The second part is mounted pivotally relative to said first part so as to enable the wiper blade to follow any curvatures of a windscreen to be wiped, without the risk that, in a downward or wiping position of said oscillating arm, the wiper blade unintentionally can get loose from the oscillating arm.

However, in an upright or service position of said

oscillating arm, the second part can be pivoted further relative to said first part (i.e under a larger angle than in the downward position of said oscillating arm) , forcing the upwardly extending protrusion to move, preferably to hinge, in said outward position, thereby releasing the unit consisting of the wiper blade and the connecting device from the oscillating arm. Hence, the inward position of the protrusion (relative to the hole of the oscillating arm) corresponds to a normal working angle between the wiper blade and the oscillating arm in the wiping position of said oscillating arm, and the outward position of the protrusion (relative to the hole of the oscillating arm) corresponds to an extended angle between the wiper blade and the

oscillating arm in the service position of said oscillating arm.

Preferably, the first part and the second part are each made of one piece of plastic. Said first and second parts

preferably are the only parts forming the connecting device. Preferably, said oscillating arm has a rod-like extension to be inserted inside the channel of the second part of the connecting device.

Said first and second parts are connected through a snapping operation, wherein preferably vertical side walls of said first part are allowed to deform elastically or plastically, in order to clip said parts together, using said

protrusion/hole means.

It is noted that the present invention is not restricted to the use of only one longitudinal strip that is particularly located in a central, channel forming groove of the wiper blade. Instead, said carrier element may comprise two, spaced-apart longitudinal strips forming the elastic, elongated carrier element, wherein said strips are disposed in opposing longitudinal grooves on longitudinal sides of the wiper blade. In the latter case said connecting device may be welded, soldered, brazed or glued to the longitudinal strips. In the former case, said connecting device may be welded, soldered, brazed or glued to an elastomeric

material, such as rubber, of the wiper blade.

In a preferred embodiment of a windscreen wiper device in accordance with the invention said second part comprises a lever provided with said protrusion, wherein said lever is hingeable between said inward position and said outward position. Particularly, said first part comprises a stop surface arranged to force said lever to hinge from said inward position into said outward position upon pivoting said second part relative to said first part until said lever abuts said stop surface on said first part. In other words, by rotating the wiper blade around the extremity of the oscillating arm, said second part is allowed to pivot relative to said first part until said lever abuts said stop surface on said first part in order to force said protrusion in the outward position. The windscreen wiper device may then be released from the oscillating arm. When the second part is subsequently pivoted back, said lever is forced to hinge from said outward position into said inward position, for example by the elasticity of the material used for said lever or by a part, for example a bottom, of said first part. More in particular, said lever is hingeable along hinges of said second part located near opposite side walls of said second part and on opposite sides of the oscillating arm in mounted position thereof, i.e. on opposite sides of the channel arranged for inserting said oscillating arm therein . Said second part and said lever are preferably made of one piece. When said first and said second part are snapped together, said lever is preferably not visible from the outside . In another preferred embodiment of a windscreen wiper device according to the invention said retaining means form first retaining means, and wherein said windscreen wiper device is further provided with second retaining means arranged for retaining said connecting device onto said oscillating arm, wherein said second retaining means comprises at least one protrusion provided on the first part arranged to engage the oscillating arm. Preferably, said protrusion on the first part is arranged to engage into a recess provided on a longitudinal side of the oscillating arm. In the

alternative, said protrusion on the first part is arranged to engage into a hole having a closed circumference provided in the oscillating arm.

In another preferred embodiment of a windscreen wiper device in accordance with the invention said protrusion on the first part is located near an insertion opening of said channel arranged for inserting said oscillating arm therein. In other words, said recess provided on a longitudinal side of the oscillating arm is located at a larger distance to the free end of the oscillating arm than the hole in the oscillating arm cooperating with the protrusion on the second part. Accordingly, mounting or dismounting said connecting device onto or from said oscillating arm can be effected at a certain pivot angle of the oscillating arm relative to said first part.

The present invention also refers to a wiper arrangement of a windscreen wiper device in accordance with the invention and an oscillating arm connected thereto. Particularly, for mounting or dismounting said connecting device onto or from said oscillating arm, the second part of said windscreen wiper device and the free end of said oscillating arm connected thereto are arranged to be pivoted relative to said first part of said windscreen wiper device in order to engage or disengage the protrusion on the first part into or from the recess on the longitudinal side of said oscillating arm. This can, of course, only be done when also the

protrusion on the second part in all embodiments is engaged into or disengaged from the hole in the oscillating arm. The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to figures illustrated in a drawing, wherein

- Figure 1A is a schematic and perspective view, partly in exploded view, of a main part of a windscreen wiper device according to the invention, wherein a first part and a second part of a connecting device of said windscreen wiper device is shown arranged to be

connected to an oscillating arm; - Figure IB are schematic and perspective views of said windscreen wiper device, wherein said oscillating arm is inserted inside and outside said second part of the connecting device of figure 1A, respectively; - Figures 2A through 2D are side views of said first part and said second part of said connecting device shown in figure 1A, explaining in steps how to retain and to release a unit consisting of a wiper blade and said connecting device on and from said oscillating arm, respectively;

- Figure 3A is a top view and a side view of said

connecting device and said oscillating arm in assembled position, as well as a top view of said oscillating arm, whereas figure 3B is a perspective view of said oscillating arm; and - Figure 4A are top views of said connecting device and said oscillating arm in assembled position, with and without said second part, respectively, whereas figure 4B is a side view of said second part and said

oscillating arm in the process of insertion.

Figures 1A and IB show a windscreen wiper device 1 of the "flat blade" type according to the invention. Said

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 rubber wiper blade 2, as it were, which is thus biased in a curved position (the curvature in operative position being that of a windscreen to be wiped) . Neighbouring ends of strips 4 are interconnected on either side of the windscreen wiper device 1 by means of connecting pieces 5 or "end caps" functioning as clamping members. In this embodiment, the connecting pieces may be separate constructional elements, which may be form-locked ("positive locking" or "having positive fit"), as well as force-locked to the ends of strips 4. In another preferred variant, said connecting pieces are in one piece with the strips 4 made of spring band steel. In the latter case said connecting pieces form transverse bridges for the strips 4, as it were.

Possibly, a spoiler is furthermore provided. The windscreen wiper device 1 is furthermore built up of a connecting device 6 of plastic material for an oscillating wiper arm 7. Said wiper arm 7 is finalized by a rod-like extension (without an adapter) . Connecting device 6 consists of a first part 8 and a second part 9 detachably and

pivotally connected together. Said first part 8 is retained onto the wiper blade 2, whereas said second part 9 is positioned within said first part 8, that is between

parallel, upright walls thereof. Further, said first part 8 comprises clamping members 10 that are integral therewith, which engage round longitudinal sides of the strips 4 that face away from each other, as a result of which the

connecting device 6 is firmly attached to the unit

consisting of wiper blade 2 and strips 4. Said second part 9 has a U-shaped cross-section at the location of its

connection to said first part 8. The oscillating wiper arm 7 is pivotally connected to the connecting device 6 about a pivot axis near a free end thereof, and that in the

following manner.

With reference to figures 1 and 2, said second part 9 comprises two cylindrical protrusions 11 (only one is visible) extending outwards on either side of said second part 9, that is on each vertical side wall of its U-shaped, rectangular or square cross-section. These protrusions 11 pivotally engage in identically shaped cylindrical holes 12 (only one thereof is visible in figures 1 and 2) of said first part 8. Said protrusions 11 act as bearing surfaces at the location of a pivot axis in order to pivot the second part 9 (and the oscillating wiper arm 7 attached thereto) about said pivot axis near a free end of said arm 7. The protrusions 11 are preferably in one piece with said second part 9. In the alternative, the protrusions 11 are part of a single pivot pin perpendicular to the connecting device 6.

Referring to figures 1, 2 and 3, the second part 9 comprises a protrusion 13 extending upwardly from a free end of a lever 14 inside said second part 9, while the oscillating arm 7 has an identically shaped hole 15 with a closed circumference at the location of its connection to said second part 9. Said lever 14 with said protrusion 13 is hingeable relative to said second part 9 between an inward position (see figure 2A) , wherein in a mounted position said protrusion 13 engages into said hole 15 provided in said oscillating arm 7 in order to retain said connecting device 6 onto said oscillating arm 7, and an outward

position (figure 2C) , wherein in a dismounted position said protrusion 13 disengages from said hole 15 provided in said oscillating arm 7, allowing said connecting device 6 to be released from said oscillating arm 3. As shown, said lever 14 is hingeable along two lateral hinges 16 located near opposite side walls of said second part 9 and on opposite sides of said oscillating arm 7, upon pivoting a unit consisting of said wiper blade 2 and said connecting device 6 relative to said oscillating arm 7 by hand in the

direction of arrow 17. More in particular, by pivoting a unit consisting of said wiper blade 2 and said connecting device 6 relative to said oscillating arm 7 by hand in the direction of arrow 17 from the position of figure 2A into the position of figure 2C, a free end of said lever 14 opposite to its other free end with said protrusion 13, will abut a bottom part 18 of said first part 8, as shown in detail in the encircled part X of figure 2C. As a

consequence thereof, said protrusion 13 of said lever 14 will disengage said hole 15 of said oscillating arm 7, as shown in detail in the encircled part Y of figure 2C. The above unit consisting of said wiper blade 2 and said connecting device 6 may then be released from said

oscillating arm 7 by hand. In the same position of figure 2C the above unit consisting of said wiper blade 2 and said connecting device 6 may then be mounted on said oscillating arm 7 by hand. Namely, by pivoting said unit consisting of said wiper blade 2 and said connecting device 6 relative to said oscillating arm 7 by hand in the direction of arrow 23 from the position of figure 2C into the position of figure 2A, due to its resiliency said lever 14 will hinge from its outward position (figure 2C) into its inward position

(figure 2A) . Said protrusion 13 will then engage said hole 15 of said oscillating arm. The unit is then safely retained onto said oscillating arm 7. Said hinges 16 are invisible from the outside when the first and second parts 8,9 are interconnected .

The protrusion 13 on said second part 9 and the hole 15 in the oscillating arm 7 are meant for retaining the connecting device 6 onto the oscillating arm 7 and are therefore called "first retaining means". However, in case the first

retaining means would disfunction, for example when the protrusion 13 would not properly fit into the hole 15, the second part 9 and the first part 8 connected thereto would be able to move relative to the oscillating arm 7 in longitudinal direction of the wiper blade 2. In order to avoid the wiper blade 2 from coming loose, with all negative consequences involved, second retaining means are provided for. With reference to figures 3A, 3B and 4A said second retaining means consist of a sidewardly extending protrusion 19 on at least one of parallel, upright walls 20 of said first part 8 cooperating with a recess 21 in the oscillating arm 7, as shown in detail in the encircled part Z of figure 4A. Reference is also made to figures 3A and 3B. In other words, said protrusion 19 engages into said correspondingly shaped recess 21 provided on a longitudinal (exterior) side 22 of the oscillating arm 7. Said protrusion 19 may also be called a cam.

For mounting or dismounting the connecting device 6 onto or from the oscillating arm 7, the second part 9 and thus the free end of the oscillating arm 7 connected thereto is pivoted relative to the first part 8 (figure 7) . While carrying out the pivot movement the protrusion or cam 19 is no longer in line with the recess 21 and cannot mutually cooperate any longer, so that the second part 9 and the first part 8 attached thereto can be released from the oscillating arm 7. This can, of course, only be done when also the protrusion 13 in all embodiments is released from the hole 15. 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.

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.