The present invention relates to a windscreen wiper device of the flat blade type, 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 includes at least one longitudinal groove, in which groove at least one 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 thereof, wherein said connecting device is connected to the flexible material of said wiper blade by at least one pin, wherein said pin cooperates with a recess provided along an exterior edge of said longitudinal strip in order to limit any movement of said wiper blade in longitudinal direction thereof relative to said longitudinal strip at the location of the interconnection of said

connecting device and said wiper blade, wherein said

connecting device has a substantially U-shaped cross-section, wherein free ends of legs of said U-shaped cross-section extend inwardly so as to form grooves for receiving

longitudinal sides of said wiper blade, and wherein at least one of said legs is provided with a hole for receiving said pin. Particularly, said oscillating arm can be pivotally connected to said connecting device with the interposition of a joint part. More in particular, said wiper blade comprises a spoiler at a side thereof facing away from the windscreen to be wiped, wherein said wiper blade and said spoiler are preferably made in one piece through extrusion. Said

longitudinal groove is preferably a central longitudinal groove accommodating said longitudinal strip. Said

longitudinal strip is also called a "flexor", while said connecting device is also indicated as a "connector". In the framework of the present invention said connector is

preferably made in one piece, also called a "one piece

connector" .

Such a windscreen wiper device is known from international patent publication no. WO 2012/139635 of the same Applicant which is hereby incorporated by reference. This prior art windscreen wiper device 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. The spoiler is also called an "air deflector". In said international patent publication advantageously at least two of such pins are provided on opposite sides of said longitudinal strip, wherein said pins are preferably located opposite one another. In said

international patent publication said connecting device is particularly connected to the flexible material of said wiper blade by said at least one pin being of a first type and at least one pin of a second type, wherein said pin of the second type is cutting said wiper blade at the location of the interconnection of said connecting device and said wiper blade in order to block any lateral movement of longitudinal strip at the location of the interconnection of said connecting device and said wiper blade. In other words, said pin of the first type ensures that the wiper blade and the longitudinal strip are not allowed to mutually move under the connecting device, but particularly in all other areas along the wiper blade a slight movement thereof is made possible in order to allow said wiper blade to follow any curvature of the

windscreen to be wiped. It is this interaction between the pin of the first type and the wiper blade that elastomeric

material (i.e. usually rubber) of said wiper blade and material of the longitudinal strip (i.e. usually steel) are forced to engage with each other in a locking manner when the connecting device is finally mounted onto the wiper blade, all at the location under the connecting device. Said pin of the first type is mounted inside said recess by stamping said pin of the first type through the flexible material of the wiper blade and inside said recess. Said pin of the second type ensures that the so-called "fishtailing phenomenon" is avoided at all times. Said wiper blade at the location outside said connecting device would normally suffer from this "fishtailing phenomenon", wherein said wiper blade on opposite sides of said connecting device vibrates in an uncontrollable manner parallel to the windscreen to be wiped. Obviously, the

"fishtailing phenomenon" results in deteriorated wiping properties, with all negative consequences involved,

particularly at high speeds. Said cut by the pin of the second type is realized at the time of mounting the connecting device onto the wiper blade during assembly of all relevant parts of the wiper blade, wherein said cut is particularly effected in a side region of the wiper blade, without having any influence on a bottom region thereof (i.e. containing a wiping lip of the wiper blade) . Consequently, wiping properties of said wiper blade are not adversely affected. The object of the invention is to provide an improved

windscreen wiper device. More in particular, the present invention aims to reduce stress forces at the location of the hole of the connecting device, as a result of introducing the pin inside the hole by force, in order to prevent fractures in the connecting device due to these stress forces. Said

fractures may negatively influence the retention of the connecting device (and therefore of the wiper blade relative to the oscillating arm) onto the wiper blade, as the pin may get loose due to said fractures. Hence, the present invention has the object to reduce these stress forces and to improve retention of the pin inside the hole, also after any heat treatment of the wiper blade. 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 pin is glued to an inner wall of said hole or said pin is form-locked (German: "Formschluss" ) inside said hole. Hence, said pin is connected inside said hole of the connecting device in a stress-free manner, so that the pin is not force-locked to the connecting device. Stress forces are now considerably reduced either by gluing or by form-locking (or "positive locking" or "having a positive fit") the pin inside the hole of the connecting device.

Said pin particularly is a separate element, i.e. a single constructional element extending in mounted position at least substantially perpendicular to the windscreen to be wiped.

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. Said groove (s) may be closed at one outer end . Further, it is noted that in the invention use is made of 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. 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.

In a preferred embodiment of a windscreen wiper device in accordance with the present invention said pin and said inner wall of said hole are provided with mutually cooperating snapping means for form-locking said pin inside said hole. In other words, snapping said pin inside said hole of the connecting device in order to obtain a form-locked

interconnection there between is realized either by a

protrusion extending sidewardly and outwardly from said inner wall of said hole and snapping behind an edge of said pin or by a protrusion extending sidewardly and outwardly from said pin and snapping behind an edge of said inner wall of said hole.

In another preferred embodiment of a windscreen wiper device according to the present invention said pin comprises an elongate web and at least one shoulder near an outer end of said web in use facing away from a windscreen to be wiped, wherein said shoulder is snapped behind an edge of said inner wall of said hole for form-locking said pin inside said hole. Particularly, said shoulder forms a flange on said outer end of said web.

In another preferred embodiment of a windscreen wiper device in accordance with the present invention said web and said flange are made in one piece, preferably one piece of plastic material . In another preferred embodiment of a windscreen wiper device according to the present invention said pin comprises two shoulders each located near an outer end of said web. In other words, the one shoulder is located at an outer end of said pin in use facing away from a windscreen to be wiped, whereas the other shoulder is located at an outer end of said pin in use facing toward a windscreen to be wiped. Said shoulders preferably each form a flange being in one piece with the web of said pin.

In another preferred embodiment of a windscreen wiper device in accordance with the present invention said pin is deformed near its outer ends so as to form rivets for form-locking said pin inside said hole through a rivet connection. Hence, a rivet is formed at an outer end of said pin in use facing away from a windscreen to be wiped, as well as at an outer end of said pin in use facing toward a windscreen to be wiped.

Particularly, a special tool is used to deform both outer ends .

In another preferred embodiment of a windscreen wiper device according to the present invention wherein said connecting device is connected to the flexible material of said wiper blade by said at least one pin being of a first type and at least one pin of a second type, wherein said pin of the second type is slightly cutting said wiper blade at the location of the interconnection of said connecting device and said wiper blade in order to block any lateral movement of longitudinal strip at the location of the interconnection of said

connecting device and said wiper blade. Preferably, said pin of the first type allows movement of said wiper blade in longitudinal direction thereof relative to said longitudinal strip outside the location of the interconnection of said connecting device and said wiper blade. Hence, it is made possible to allow said wiper blade to follow any curvature of the windscreen to be wiped. Preferably, said pin of the second type is slightly cutting said wiper blade in the form of a C. Preferably, said pin of the second type exerts a transverse force on the longitudinal strip, in order to block any lateral movement of longitudinal strip at the location of the

interconnection of said connecting device and said wiper blade. Preferably, no other force than said transverse force is exerted by said pin of the second type.

In a manner similar to the pin of the first type, said pin of the second type is also glued to the inner wall of a hole provided in at least one of said legs of the U-shaped cross- section of the connecting device or said pin of the second type is also form-locked inside said hole, i.e. either by snapping or by riveting in a manner as described above in relation to the pin of the first type.

Said pin of the first type and said pin of the second type are preferably separate elements, i.e. single constructional elements extending in mounted position at least substantially perpendicular to the windscreen to be wiped.

In another preferred embodiment of a windscreen wiper device in accordance with the present invention said connecting device is connected to the flexible material of said wiper blade by one pin of the first type interconnecting said connecting device and said wiper blade near the middle

longitudinal plane of said connecting device perpendicular to the windscreen to be wiped and by two pairs of opposite pins of the second type interconnecting said connecting device and said wiper blade near the outer ends of said connecting device. In the alternative, said connecting device is

connected to the flexible material of said wiper blade by one pair of opposite pins of the first type interconnecting said connecting device and said wiper blade near the middle

longitudinal plane of said connecting device perpendicular to the windscreen to be wiped and by two pairs of opposite pins of the second type interconnecting said connecting device and said wiper blade near the outer ends of said connecting device. In the alternative, said connecting device is

connected to the flexible material of said wiper blade by one pair of opposite pins of the first type and by one pair of opposite pins of the second type interconnecting said

connecting device and said wiper blade near the outer ends of said connecting device. In the alternative, said connecting device is connected to the flexible material of said wiper blade by two pairs of opposite pins of the first type

interconnecting said connecting device and said wiper blade near the outer ends of said connecting device.

The present invention also refers to a method for

manufacturing a windscreen wiper device of the flat blade type, 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 includes at least one longitudinal groove, in which groove at least one

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 thereof, wherein first a recess is cut along an exterior edge of said longitudinal strip, wherein said

connecting device is subsequently mounted onto said wiper blade, wherein said longitudinal strip is subsequently

inserted inside said groove, whereinafter at least one pin is used, said pin cooperating with said recess provided along said exterior edge of said longitudinal strip in order to block any movement of said wiper blade in longitudinal

direction thereof relative to said longitudinal strip at the location of the interconnection of said connecting device and said wiper blade, characterized by gluing said pin to an inner wall of said hole or form-locking said pin inside said hole.

In the present invention said connecting device is preferably pivotally connected to said oscillating arm with the

interposition of a joint part, 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. This is preferably realized through a snapping or clipping operation. Said joint part has preferably an at least substantially U- shaped cross-section at the location of its connection to said connecting device, wherein said joint part is provided with a recess provided coaxially with said pivot axis. In particular, the protrusions extend outwards on either side of said

connecting device and are preferably cylindrical in shape. In the alternative, said protrusions are spherical or frusto- conical in shape. Said protrusions that function as bearing surfaces are thus paced far apart, so that forces exerted thereon will be relatively low. In yet another preferred variant said joint part is provided with co-axial through holes in legs of said U-shaped cross-section thereof, wherein a pivot pin is inserted in said through holes. Preferably, said protrusions are provided with co-axial through holes. 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 a joint pin or a pivot 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. Preferably, said joint part 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. 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 a joint part;

figures 2 through 4 are several perspective, schematic views of a connecting device, as used in a windscreen wiper device of figure 1;

figure 5 shows in detail a schematic view from below of the connecting device of figure 2, further elucidating the working principle of the mutual fixation of the wiper blade and the longitudinal strip at the location of the connecting device of figure 2 according the invention; figure 6 refers to a first embodiment of the invention and is a cross-sectional view of the windscreen wiper device of figure 1 along the line A-A in figure 1 (with and without a wiper blade) , as well as a side view of some details thereof;

figure 7 refers to a second embodiment of the invention and is a cross-sectional view of the windscreen wiper device of figure 1 along the line A-A in figure 1

(without a wiper blade) before and after a riveting step, as well as a side view of some details thereof;

figure 8 shows in detail a schematic side view of a dissembled wiper blade, as used in figure 1; and

figures 9 through 11 correspond to figure 5, but relate to other embodiments of the mutual fixation of the wiper blade and the longitudinal strip at the location of the connecting device.

Figure 1 shows a preferred variant of a windscreen wiper device 1 according to the invention. Said windscreen wiper device 1 is built up of an elastomeric wiper blade 2

comprising a central longitudinal groove 3, wherein a

longitudinal strip 4 made of spring band steel is fitted in said longitudinal groove 3 (see figures 5, 6 and 7) . 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) . The windscreen wiper device 1 is furthermore built up of a connecting device 5 of metal or plastic for connecting an oscillating wiper arm thereto, with the interposition of a joint part 6. The oscillating wiper arm is pivotally connected to the connecting device 5 about a pivot axis near one end. The preferred embodiment of figure 1 according to the invention comprises a spoiler or "air

deflector" 7 which is made in one piece with the rubber wiper blade 2 and which extends along the entire length thereof. No end caps are used, but free ends of said wiper blade 2 are cut at an oblique angle. In the alternative end caps are used. Although not shown in figure 1, but fully understood by a skilled person, said oscillating arm 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 into rotation and by means of said connecting device 5 moves said wiper blade 2.

Figures 2 through 4 show in perspective several views of a connecting device 5 used in the windscreen wiper device 1 of figure 1. As mentioned earlier, this connecting device 5 has a more or less U-shaped cross-section with legs 8. Free ends 9 of said legs 8 of said U-shaped cross-section extend inwardly so as to form grooves or slits 10 for receiving longitudinal sides 11 of said wiper blade 2. Said free ends 9 and parallel walls 12 of said connecting device 5 are provided with holes 13 for receiving one pin 14 of the first type and two pairs of opposite pins 15 of the second type, as will be further explained hereunder. Said connecting device 5 may further comprise an interior space 16 functioning as a water channel extending in longitudinal direction of said connecting device 5. During use said water channel 16 transports rain water therethrough. In other words, in use rain water is carried away from a first side of said connecting device 5 facing away from said free end of said oscillating arm to a second side of said connecting device 5 facing towards said free end of said oscillating arm. As a result of the oscillatory movement of said oscillating arm, in practice an over pressure relative to the environment exists at the location of said first side of said connecting device 5, while an under pressure relative to the environment is present at the location of said second side of said connecting device 5. Due to said over pressure and said under pressure rain water is "automatically" pressed through said water channel.

With reference to figures 1 through 4 said joint part 6 is detachably connected to said connecting device 5 by engaging protrusions 17 of said connecting device 5, at the location of said pivot axis, in co-axial recesses 18 provided in said joint part 6. As shown, said protrusions 17 extend outwards on either side of said connecting device 5. The joint part 6 comprises a resilient tongue 19 extending outwardly, while the oscillating arm has a U-shaped cross-section at the location of its connection to said joint part 6, so that the tongue 19 engages in an identically shaped hole provided in a base of said U-shaped cross-section. The connecting device 5 with the wiper blade 2 is mounted onto the oscillating arm as follows. The joint part 6 being already clipped onto the connecting device 5 is pivoted relative to the connecting device 5, so that said joint part 6 can be easily slided on a free end of the oscillating arm. During this sliding movement the

resilient tongue 19 is initially pushed in against a spring force and then allowed to spring back into said hole in said oscillating arm, thus snapping, that is clipping the resilient tongue 19 into the hole of the oscillating arm. This is a so- called bayonet-connection. The oscillating arm together with the joint part 6 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 19 against the spring force (as if it were a push button) , the connecting device 5 and the joint part 6 together with the wiper blade 2 may be released from the oscillating arm. Dismounting the connecting device 5 with the wiper blade 2 from the oscillating arm is thus realized by sliding the connecting device 5 and the joint part 6 together with the wiper blade 2 in a direction away from the oscillating arm. Said longitudinal strip 4, as shown in figure 5, is provided along an exterior edge 20 thereof with a recess 21 cooperating with said corresponding pin 14 of the first type. Said recess 21 is made through a stamping operation in order to accurately control the shape of said recess 21. In mounted position said wiper blade 2 is allowed to move in longitudinal direction relative to said longitudinal strip 4 outside the location of the interconnection of said connecting device 6 and said wiper blade 2, whereas the pin 14 of the first type ensures that any such longitudinal movement of said wiper blade 2 inside said connecting device 5 is blocked. The pin 14 of the first type locally cuts the rubber. The retention of the wiper blade 2 is realized by introduction of the pins 14, 15 and thus cutting the rubber. Referring to figure 5, in assembled position, the four pins 15 of the second type cut the rubber material of the wiper blade 2, so that these pins 15 come into contact with edges of the longitudinal strip 4. Thus, any lateral movement between said longitudinal strip 4 and said connecting device 5 at the location of their interconnection is blocked. In use, during each oscillatory movement of the oscillatory arm, said wiper blade 2 at the location outside said connection device 5 would normally suffer from the so-called "fishtailing phenomenon", wherein said wiper blade 2 on opposite sides of said

connecting device 5 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 5 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.

Referring to figure 6, in a first embodiment of the invention each pin 14 of the first type comprises an elongate web 22 and two flanges 23 in one piece therewith and each located at an outer end of said web 22. When mounting a pin 14 of the first type inside a corresponding hole 13, said flanges 23 are snapped or clipped - through elastic or plastic deformation - behind edges 24 of an inner wall 25 of said hole 13 for form- locking said pin 14 inside said hole 13. The same applies when mounting a pin 15 of the second type inside a corresponding hole 13 provided in at least one leg 8 of the U-shaped cross- section of the connecting device 5.

Referring to figure 7, in a second embodiment of the invention each pin 14 of the first type comprises just an elongate web

22 (see figure 7 above on the right) . When mounting such a pin 14 of the first type inside a corresponding hole 13 (see figure 7 above on the left) said pin 14 is subsequently deformed by a special tool near its outer ends so as to form rivets 26 on both outer ends of said pin 14 (see figure 7 below on the left) for form-locking said pin 14 inside said hole 13 through a rivet connection. Said rivets 26 form flanges resting against edges of the inner wall 25 of said hole 13. Such a deformed pin 14 of the first type is depicted in figure 7 below on the right. The same applies when mounting a pin 15 of the second type inside a corresponding hole 13 provided in at least one leg 8 of the U-shaped cross-section of the connecting device 5. In a third embodiment of the invention each pin 14,15 of the first and the second type is glued inside a hole 13 provided in the legs 8 of the U-shaped cross-section of the connecting device 5.

Figure 8 shows a perspective side view of a longitudinal side 11 of the wiper blade 2, without said pins 14,15 of the first type and of the second type, but with holes 13 showing the longitudinal strip 4 and its recess 21 for the one pin (14) of the first type. The cuts in the longitudinal strip are created during assembly when pins are introduced in the connecting device through the wiper blade.

Figures 9, 10 and 11 show alternative embodiments compared to the one shown in figure 5, wherein said figures 5, 9, 10 and 11 correspond to claims 9, 10, 11 and 12 respectively. A skilled person would, for example, easy understand that said pins of the first type and of the second type could have a round cross-section (elliptical or circular) , a rectangular cross-section, or a square cross-section.

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.