Prior art

The invention relates to a wiper blade for a wiper arrangement of a motor vehicle according to the precharacterizing clause of Claim 1.

A wiper blade of this type is known from the applicant's DE 10 2008 011 449 Al . The known wiper blade has a wiper blade adapter which is connected to the wiper blade body and may be connected to a cross- sectionally U-shaped connecting region of the wiper arm. For this purpose, the connecting region of the wiper arm, at the two side leg ends thereof which face away from the base section of the U-shaped connecting region, has in each case two holding regions which are arranged spaced apart from each other with respect to the longitudinal axis of the wiper arm and interact with the wiper blade adapter by the holding regions surrounding the wiper blade adapter on the lower side of the wiper blade adapter element on the wiper arm side. At the same time, because of an appropriate geometry of the wiper blade adapter, an axial stop is obtained when the wiper blade is mounted on the wiper arm. Furthermore, in order to secure the wiper blade on the wiper arm, the known wiper blade has a securing tongue which, in the operating state of the wiper blade, engages in a form-fitting manner in an opening, which is arranged in the base section of the connecting region and is in the form of an aperture, and is latched there. In order to remove the wiper blade, the securing tongues have to be pressed in the latching region thereof into the opening in the wiper arm and the wiper blade has to be pulled out in the longitudinal direction of the wiper blade body in order, subsequently, by means of a movement perpendicular thereto, to permit the holding regions of the wiper arm to pass out of operative connection to the wiper blade adapter. Furthermore, the prior art discloses wiper blades and wiper blade adapters which have connections for supplying the wiper blade with a washing fluid. The connections are in this case customarily embodied in the form of tubular connecting branches in the wiper blade adapter, said connecting branches being connected to one or more hose lines which are arranged in the region of the wiper arm. However, given a predetermined length of the wiper blade adapter in the longitudinal direction of the wiper blade, a wiper blade adapter of this type requires a relatively large overall height because of the additional connections. This is critical whenever the securing tongue discussed has to be guided above the connections so as to be able to interact with the opening in the wiper arm.

Disclosure of the invention

Proceeding from the described prior art, the invention is based on the object of developing a wiper blade for a wiper arrangement of a motor vehicle according to the precharacterizing clause of Claim 1 in such a manner that said wiper blade permits a particularly compactly constructed wiper blade adapter and, furthermore, can be fitted and removed in a particularly simple manner. This object is achieved according to the invention in the case of a wiper blade for a wiper arrangement of a motor vehicle having the features of Claim 1 in that the at least one securing tongue, on mounting of the wiper blade on the wiper arm, is arranged in operative connection with a holding section of the wiper arm and is pressed in by the latter in the direction of the wiper blade adapter, and that in the operating position the holding section lies against the holding region of the securing tongues, forming a stop. Put another way, this means that the securing tongue arranged, in the prior art, above, for example, washing fluid connections, can be omitted, since the securing tongue is arranged laterally on the wiper blade adapter and interacts with the holding section of the wiper arm. This permits a wiper blade adapter which is compact in particular in the overall height thereof. Advantageous developments of the wiper blade according to the invention are indicated in the dependent claims. The scope of the invention includes all combinations of at least two features disclosed in the claims, the description and/or the figures.

In a particularly preferred wiper blade configuration which can be operated particularly simply and, furthermore, prevents the wiper blade from becoming detached from the wiper arm in the event of breakage of a securing tongue, it is proposed that two securing tongues are arranged on opposite sides of the adapter element on the wiper arm side.

In order, when mounting the wiper blade on the wiper arm, to permit yielding of the securing tongue during the relative movement of the wiper blade with respect to the wiper arm, so that the holding section can enter into operative connection with the wiper blade adapter without additional further (manual) interventions, it is proposed that on the side facing the base section of the fastening section, the securing tongue is connected with the adapter element on the wiper arm side and extends substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal access of the adapter element on the wiper arm side.

Furthermore, in order to keep the removal forces for pressing in the securing tongue as small as possible, it is proposed that the securing tongue has at its one end a manually actuable pressing-in region. Owing to the fact that the pressing-in region is arranged at one end of the securing tongue, the greatest possible lever effect, or the smallest possible pressing-in force, is achieved for an operator.

Furthermore, in a further alternative of the embodiment described last, it is provided that the pressing-in region projects laterally over the side leg of the wiper arm. As a result, a particularly simple and intuitive operation of the wiper blade is possible for an operator, since said operator can very easily detect the pressing-in region by touch, and the pressing in of the pressing-in region is facilitated by the operator not coming into contact with other components of the wiper blade during the pressing-in operation.

A configuration of the invention, in which the wiper blade has connections for supplying washing fluid to the wiper blade, is very particularly preferred. In order, in this case, to be able particularly readily and simply to check the connections of the wiper blade adapter and to permit relatively simple mounting and removing of the hose lines on/from the wiper blade adapter, it is proposed that the wiper blade adapter has at least one connection for a line for the supply of the wiper blade with a washing fluid, and that on its upper side in the region of the connection the wiper blade adapter has an aperture, which makes possible an intervention to the connection.

Furthermore, the discussed connection of the line to the connection can be checked during the operating position of the wiper blade on the wiper arm if the aperture is arranged in alignment with an aperture formed in the base section of the wiper arm. Further advantages, details and features of the invention emerge from the description below of preferred exemplary embodiments and with reference to the drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a wiper arrangement with a wiper arm and a wiper blade according to the invention, Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of the wiper arm of the wiper arrangement according to Fig. 1 in a connecting region,

Fig. 3 shows a wiper arm adapter element on the wiper arm side, in a perspective view,

Fig. 4 shows a wiper blade adapter, as used in the case of a wiper blade according to the invention, and

Fig. 5

and

Fig.6 show, in a perspective view in each case, a wiper blade according to the invention during the mounting operation on a wiper arm during various mounting phases.

Identical components and components with the same function are provided with the same reference numbers in the figures.

The wiper arrangement 100 which is illustrated in Fig.

1 and is intended for cleaning windows of motor vehicles has a wiper arm 1 and a wiper blade 10 according to the invention, which can be connected to the wiper arm 1. The wiper arm 1 comprises a wiper rod

2 which is connected in a connecting region 3 of the wiper arm 1 to the wiper blade 10. The connecting region 3 has a substantially U-shaped cross section, as can best be seen from looking at Figs 1 and 2. The connecting region 3 has a base section 4, from which respective side legs 5, 6 arranged at a right angle to the base section 4 protrude on the side facing the wiper blade 10. Each of the two side legs 5, 6 respectively has on the side facing away from the base section 4 two holding sections 7, 8 which are spaced apart axially from each other in the longitudinal direction of the wiper blade or in the longitudinal direction of the wiper arm 1 and are bent over inwards at a right angle. Furthermore, an aperture in the form of a rectangular opening 9 is also formed in the base section 4 of the connecting region 3. The wiper blade 10 is fastened interchangeably to the wiper arm 1 described to this extent, or to the connecting region 3 thereof .

The wiper blade 10 comprises an elongate wiper blade body 11 which is composed, in particular, of flexible material and with a respective spring rail 12, which is composed of sheet metal and serves to stiffen the wiper blade body 11, arranged in corresponding grooves on mutually opposite sides in the longitudinal direction of said wiper blade body. On the side facing the vehicle window, the wiper blade body 11 has a wiper lip 13. On the side facing away from the wiper lip 13, the wiper blade body 11 may be designed in the manner of a spoiler. The two opposite end regions of the wiper blade body 11 are closed by means of respective covering caps 14. The wiper blade body 11 is connected to a wiper blade adapter 15, which is merely indicated in Fig. 1. The wiper blade 10 described to this extent is known per se and, moreover, may be modified in diverse ways in comparison to the previous description.

As can be seen in particular from looking at Figs. 3 to 7, the wiper blade adapter 15 consists of an adapter element 17 on the wiper blade side and of an adapter element 18 on the wiper arm side, which are connected to each other and are arranged so as to be pivotable with respect to each other in a rotation axis 19. In this case, the holding sections 7, 8 are arranged between the rotation axis 19 when the wiper blade 10 is fitted .

The adapter element 18 on the wiper arm side is illustrated in more detail in Fig. 3. It comprises a cross-sectionally substantially U-shaped carrier 21, the two opposite side walls 22, 23 of which each have an aperture 24, in which a cross-sectionally round pin 25 (Fig. 5) of the adapter element 17 on the wiper blade side engages, in order to permit the discussed pivotability about the rotation axis 19. On the side facing away from the wiper arm 1, the cross section of the carrier 21 is closed by an end plate 27. The end plate 27 projects both laterally and beyond the upper side 28 of the carrier 21. Furthermore, an opening 29, rectangular in the exemplary embodiment, in the form of an aperture is formed in the upper side 28 of the carrier 21. On that end side of the carrier 21 which faces away from the end plate 27, i.e. on the side facing the wiper arm 1, the carrier 21 has securing tongues 31, 32 approximately in alignment with the side walls 22, 23. The two securing tongues 31, 32 are each integrally formed on the upper side 28 of the carrier 21, run at least substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the adapter element 18 on the wiper arm side, and have a first region 33 which runs parallel to the side walls 22, 23 and which is adjoined on the side facing away from the upper side 28 by a second region 34 which is curved or is bent over outwards. The second region 34 merges, in turn, into an end section 35 which is arranged parallel to the side walls 22, 23, forms a holding region for the wiper blade 10 and on which, on the side opposite the end plate 27, an outwardly projecting actuating region 37 is integrally formed, said actuating region protruding laterally over the end section 35 (and the side legs 5, 6 of the connecting region 3 when the wiper blade 10 is fitted) and being connected to the end section 35 via a web 38 (see Fig. 4) . The two securing tongues 31, 32 are movable elastically to and fro on the carrier 21 in the direction of the double arrows 39. On that side of the carrier 21 which faces the end plate 27, the two side walls 22, 23 have a depression in the form of a guide channel 41 for the one holding section 7 of the connecting region 3 of the wiper arm 1, which holding section faces the guide channel 41. The guide channel 41 permits a relative movement of the wiper blade 10 with respect to the connecting region 3 in the direction of the double arrow 42, which runs at least substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the wiper blade. On the side facing the lower side 43 of the carrier 21, the guide channel 41 opens into expanding section 44 which reaches as far as the end plate 27.

The two securing tongues 31, 32 are arranged in such a manner that, during the mounting or removal of the wiper blade 10 on/from the wiper arm 1, said securing tongues are aligned with the second holding section 8 of the connecting region 3. In the region of the lower side 43 of the carrier 21, said holding sections each have a notch 45, adjacent to the securing tongues 31, 32, the side of the notch which faces the end plate 27 forming a stop surface 46 for the second holding sections 8 in the operating position of the wiper blade 10 on the wiper arm 1. As can be seen in particular with reference to Figs. 4 and 5, the adapter element 17 on the wiper blade side has two connecting branches 47, 48 which are arranged parallel to each other and onto which the end of a hose line (not illustrated) can be pushed in each case, via which hose line the wiper blade adapter 15 or the wiper blade 10 can be supplied with a washing fluid. As can be seen in particular with reference to Fig. 4, the connecting branches 47, 48 are aligned with the opening 29 in the adapter element 18 on the wiper arm side in such a manner that the state of the connecting branches 47, 48, or the connection of the hose lines to the connecting branches 47, 48 can be checked via the opening 29. Furthermore, it is particularly preferred that, in the operating position of the wiper blade 10 on the wiper arm 1, the opening 29 on the wiper blade adapter 15 is aligned with the opening 9 in the connecting region 3 such that, when the wiper blade 10 is fitted, the region of the connecting branches 47, 48 can be checked from the outside.

The mounting of the wiper blade 10 on the wiper arm 1 will be explained with reference to Figs. 5 to 7: according to Fig. 5, the wiper blade 10 or the wiper blade adapter 15 is first of all aligned with the connecting region 3 of the wiper arm 1 in such a manner that the holding sections 7 can be introduced from above into the guide channels 41 of the wiper blade adapter 15 while the other holding sections 8 are located in the region of the securing tongues 31, 32. When the holding sections 7 are pushed into the guide channels 41, the holding sections 8 enter into operative connection with the securing tongues 31, 32, in particular with the second regions 34 thereof, such that the securing tongues 31, 32 are pressed or yield inwards. Fig. 6 illustrates the state, in which the wiper blade adapter 15 is fully introduced into the connecting region 3. In said state, the (front) holding sections 7 are in the region of the sections 44 of the guide channels 41 while the (rear) holding sections 8 are located in the region of the end sections 35 of the securing tongues 31, 32. The wiper blade 10 is subsequently moved in the direction of the arrow 49 until the holding sections 7 bear against the end plate 27, and the holding sections 8 bear against the stop surfaces 46 of the adapter element 18 on the wiper arm side. In said state, the wiper blade 10 or the wiper blade adapter 15 is held in a form-fitting manner by the connecting region 3 of the wiper arm 1 while the securing tongues 31, 32 at the same time are released by the movement of the wiper blade 10 in the direction of the end plate 27 and snap outwards such that the webs 38 and the end sections 35 of the securing tongues 31, 32 secure the wiper blade 10 to the wiper arm 1 counter to the mounting direction (arrow 49) of the wiper blade 10. In order to remove the wiper blade 10 from the wiper arm 1, the two opposite actuating regions 37 of the securing tongues 31 32 are pressed inwards manually, whereupon the wiper blade 10 can subsequently be pulled horizontally out of the wiper arm 1, or the connecting region 3, counter to the direction of the arrow 49. The wiper blade 10 is subsequently moved perpendicularly to the arrow 49 such that the holding sections 7, 8 can be guided within the guide channels 41 and along the securing tongues 31, 32.

The wiper blade 10 described to this extent may be modified in diverse ways without deviating from the inventive concept. List of reference numbers

1 Wiper arm

2 Wiper rod

3 Connecting region

4 Base section

5 Side leg

6 Side leg

7 Holding section

8 Holding section

9 Opening

10 Wiper blade

11 Wiper blade body

12 Spring rail

13 Wiper lip

14 Covering cap

15 Wiper blade adapter

17 Adapter element on the wiper blade side

18 Adapter element on the wiper arm side

19 Rotation axis

21 Carrier

22 Side wall

23 Side wall

24 Aperture

25 Pin

27 End plate

28 Upper side of the carrier

29 Opening

31 Securing tongue

32 Securing tongue

33 First region

34 Second region

35 End section

37 Actuating region

38 Web

39 Double arrow

41 Guide channel

42 Double arrow Lower side of the carrier

Section

Notch

Stop surface

Connecting branch

Connecting branch

Arrow

Wiper arrangement