Windscreen wiper device

#1. Technical Field

#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 the oscillating arm can be pivotally connected to the connecting device about a pivot axis near one end thereof. Particularly, the oscillating arm can be pivotally connected to the connecting device with the interposition of a joint part. More in particular, the wiper blade comprises a spoiler at a side thereof facing away from the windscreen to be wiped. the longitudinal groove is preferably a central longitudinal groove accommodating the longitudinal strip. the longitudinal strip is also called a “flexor”, while the connecting device is also indicated as a “connector”. In the framework of the present invention the connector is preferably made in one piece, also called a “one piece connector”.

#2. Related Art

#An embodiment of the invention will now be explained more in detail with reference to figures illustrated in a drawing, wherein

#FIG. 1 is a perspective, schematic view of a preferred embodiment of a windscreen wiper device according to the invention, with a joint part;

#FIGS. 2 through 4 are several perspective, schematic views of a connecting device according to a first embodiment, as used in a windscreen wiper device of FIG. 1;

#FIG. 1 shows a preferred variant of a windscreen wiper device 1 according to the invention. The 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 the longitudinal groove 3 (see FIGS. 5, 6 and 7). The strip 4 forms 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). The windscreen wiper device 1 is furthermore built up of a connecting device 5 of metal for connecting an oscillating wiper arm thereto (not shown), 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 FIG. 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.

#Although not shown in FIG. 1, but fully understood by skilled person, the 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 the oscillating arm into rotation and by means of the connecting device 5 moves the wiper blade 2.

#FIGS. 2 through 4 show in perspective several views of a connecting device 5 used in the windscreen wiper device 1 of FIG. 1. As mentioned earlier, this connecting device 5 has a more or less U-shaped cross-section with legs 8. Free ends 9 of the legs 8 of the U-shaped cross-section extend inwardly so as to form grooves or slits 10 for receiving longitudinal sides 11 of the wiper blade 2. The free ends 9 and parallel walls 12 of the 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. The connecting device 5 further comprises an interior space 16 functioning as a water channel extending in longitudinal direction of the connecting device 5. During use the water channel 16 transports rain water therethrough. In other words, in use rain water is carried away from a first side of the connecting device 5 facing away from the free end of the oscillating arm to a second side of the connecting device 5 facing towards the free end of the oscillating arm. As a result of the oscillatory movement of the oscillating arm, in practice an over pressure relative to the environment exists at the location of the first side of the connecting device 5, while an under pressure relative to the environment is present at the location of the second side of the connecting device 5. Due to the over pressure and the under pressure rain water is “automatically” pressed through the water channel.