The present invention relates to a windscreen wiper arm, particularly for automobiles, comprising a mounting head mountable on a drive shaft and an oscillating arm member pivotally connected to the mounting head by means of a pivot pin, wherein the arm member can oscillate to-and-from between a first reversal position and a second reversal position, and wherein said arm member is arranged to be connected to a elongated wiper blade to be placed in abutment with said windscreen to be wiped.

In the framewo k of the present invention said first reversal position may be identified as a position, wherein the arm member extends parallel to a windscreen to be wiped and is located near a lower edge of said windscreen to be wiped . Also, said second reversal position may be formulated as a position, wherein the arm member extends also parallel to a windscreen to be wiped and is located in a central region or near a side edge of said windscreen to be wiped.

The present invention also relates to a vehicle equipped with such a windscreen wiper arm, as well as to a method for manufacturing a windscreen wiper arm.

It is noted that the present invention is not restricted to automobiles, but also refers to rail coaches and other

(fast) vehicles . Such a windscreen wiper arm is generally known . The arm member is pivotally connected to the mounting head by means of a pivot pin, for example in the form of a rivet. A spring is hooked with its first end on the mounting head and with its second end on to the arm member in order to ensure that the arm member and thus the wiper blade connected thereto is pressed onto a windscreen to be wiped. 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 the arm member into rotation and by means of a connecting device moves the wiper blade .

A disadvantage of the known windscreen wiper arm is the following. In use said known windscreen wiper arm is

connected - via a connecting device or connector - with a wiper blade equipped with a wiping lip . At each turning point of the oscillatory movement ("reversal position") of the windscreen wiping arm, said wiping lip being in abutment with a windscreen to be wiped is tumbled over . This results in a significant reversal noise (a patterned shock noise) , with all negative consequences involved, such as a

perception of occupants of a car that the acoustic quality of the car is lowered.

It is an object of the invention to obviate this

disadvantage, in the sense that at minimum costs - without using complex machinery and additional tools - windscreen wiper arms are proposed, wherein said reversal noise is reduced, while the mounting head and the arm member are interconnected in a reliable and secure manner .

Thereto, according to the invention a windscreen wiper arm mentioned in the preamble is characterized in that said windscreen wiper a m is provided with a guide for guiding said arm member during its oscillatory motion and in said first reversal position and said second reversal position in a direction away from said windscreen to be wiped in order to reduce reversal noise . In other words, in use of said windscreen wiper arm, the pressure exerted thereby on a wiper blade connected thereto is reduced when said

windscreen wiper arm is located in said first or second reversal position . Consequently, at these first and second positions a wiping lip of said wiper blade is lifted in upward direction relative to a windscreen to be wiped resulting in less noise . Experiments have shown that the noise caused by the wiping lip being swung over at each turning point of its oscillatory movement, is then minimal .

The present arm member is preferably made of metal . In the alternative, said arm member is preferably made of a plastic material .

Particularly, the present arm member in use thereof is connected to a windscreen wiper device of the "flat blade" type . Preferably, said windscreen wiper device comprises 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 a longitudinal strip of the carrier element is disposed, which windscreen wiper device comprises a connecting device

("connector") for the windscreen wiper arm according to the invention.

In a preferred embodiment of a windscreen wiper arm in accordance with the present invention said guiding means are arranged to hinge said arm member in said first reversal position and said second reversal position relative to said mounting head around said pivot pin in a direction away from said windscreen to be wiped. In a further preferred embodiment of a windscreen wiper arm according to the present invention said arm member is allowed to be guided at a distance varying between 0 mm and 100 mm from said windscreen to be wiped, seen at a location of connection with said wiper blade .

In a further preferred embodiment of a windscreen wiper arm in accordance with the present invention wherein said guide comprises a guiding rod, wherein said guiding rod near a first end thereof is connected to said arm member, wherein said guiding rod near a second end thereof is arranged to cooperate with a guiding profile provided near said mount ng head and on a vehicle involved. Said guiding profile functions as a jack handle . Particularly, said guiding rod near said second end thereof is arranged to slide along said guiding profile between a first notch thereof corresponding to said arm member being in said first reversal position and a second notch thereof corresponding to said arm member being in said second reversal position .

In a further preferred embodiment of a windscreen wiper arm according to the present invention said arm member is allowed to be pushed by said notches in a direction away from said mounting head. Said notches function as "bumps" . When the guiding rod would slide against one of said bump , said bump would create a push in o der to move the guiding rod in horizontal direction . Said push would allow a

rotational movement of the arm member, as a result of which a desired lift of the wiper blade would be achieved.

As indicated earlier, the present invention also refers to a vehicle provided with a windscreen wiper arm and a guiding profile in accordance with the present invention .

Preferably, said guiding profile is formed by a collar arranged around on said drive shaft on which said mounting head is mounted, wherein said collar is provided with said notches being spaced apart forming a guidance in between for said arm member .

Further, the present invention also refers to a method for manufacturing a windscreen wiper arm according to the present invention, wherein said windscreen wiper arm is provided with a guide for guiding said arm member during its oscillatory motion and in said first reversal position and said second reversal position in a direction away from said windscreen to be wiped .

The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to figures illustrated in a drawing, wherein : figure 1 is a schematic bottom view of a preferred embodiment of a windscreen wiper a m according to the invention (with a windscreen wiper blade) , as well as a schematic side view thereof (without a windscreen wiper blade) ;

figure 2 shows a schematic side view of the windscreen wiper arm of figure 1, as well a detail of figure 1 seen from below;

fig re 3 is a schematic top view of the windscreen wiper arm of figure 1 mounted on a vehicle, together with a detail thereof;

- figure 4 is a schematic perspective view of the the

windscreen wiper arm of figure 3, together with a detail thereof; and figure 5 is a schematic perspective view of a detail of figure 1 in another preferred embodiment.

Figure 1 shows a preferred variant of a windscreen wiper arm 1 according to the invention. As illustrated in figure 1, the windscreen wiper arm 1 according to the invention comprises a mounting head 2 which can be fixed for rotation to a shaft 3 driven, via a mechanism not illustrated, by a small motor. Said windscreen wiper arm 1 further comprises an arm member 4 supported by the mounting head 2, wherein said arm member 4 in turn supports a schematically depicted wiper blade 5 with the help of a connecting device (not shown) . The arm member 4 is pivotaily connected to the mounting head 2 by means of a pivot pin 6, for example in the form of a rivet. A spring (not shown) is hooked with its first end on the mounting head 2 and with its second end on to the arm member 4 in order to ensure that the arm member 4 and thus the wiper blade connected thereto is pressed onto a windscreen to be wiped. In use, the shaft 3 rotates

alternately in a clockwise and in a counter-clockwise sense carrying the mounting head 2 into rotation also, which i turn draws the arm member 4 into rotation and by means of the connecting device moves the wiper blade 5. Said mounting head 2 and/or said arm member 4 could be made of a plastic, metal or composite material .

As illustrated, the arm membe 4 has a substantially U- shaped cross-section near said pivot pin 6 comprising two side walls 7,8, wherein said side walls 7,8 extend between part of the mounting head 2 and beyond said pivot pin 6. Said part of the mounting head 2 is provided with opposite surfaces 9,10. The arm member 4 is pivotally connected to the mounting head 2 by means of the pivot pin 6, wherein the arm member 4 can be pivoted between a wiping position (or "working

position") , wherein the arm member 4 extends parallel to a windscreen to be wiped, and an elevated or upright position (or "service position") , wherein the arm member 4 and/or a windscreen wiper blade 5 to be attached thereto can be repaired or replaced. With reference to figures 1 through 3 said windscreen wiper arm 1 is provided with a guide in the form of a guiding rod 11 arranged to hinge said arm member 4 during its

oscillatory motion in said first reversal position and said second reversal position relative to said mounting head 2 around said pivot pin 6 in a direction away from said windscreen to be wiped (see arrow 12) . In other words, said guiding rod 11 is able to lift said wiper blade 5

particularly 10 mm from said windscreen to be wiped.

As depicted, said guiding rod 11 near a first end thereof (at an end stop 13) is connected to said arm member 4. Near a second end thereof said guiding rod 11 is arranged to cooperate with a guiding profile provided on a collar 14 fixed to a vehicle concerned and arranged around on said drive shaft 3 on which said mounting head 2 is mounted. Said collar 14 is provided with notches 15,16 being spaced apart and forming a guidance in between for said arm member . One of said notches 15 corresponds to said arm member 4 being in said first reversal position and the other notch 16 thereof corresponds to said arm member 4 being in said second reversal position . Consequently, said arm member 4 is allowed to be pushed by said notches 15, 16 in a direction away from said mounting head 2 (see arrow 17) against said end stop 13 allowing a rotation of the arm member 4 and the wiper blade 5 connected thereto in the direction of arrow

12.

In figure 3, 4 and 5 parts corresponding with those of figures 1 and 2 haven been designated with the same

reference numerals, wherein a windscreen to be wiped is designated with reference numeral 18. It is noted that at both reversal positions, i.e. the first and the second reversal positions, the guiding rod 11 is in abutment with the end stop 13. The guiding rod 11 may be guided in its linear motion by a slide guide 19 (see figure 5) .

The invention is not restricted to the embodiment shown, but extends also to other embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims .