Abstract: The spark plug according to the invention comprises a shell (1), a central electrode (3) surrounded by an insulator (2) and a ground electrode (4) which, according to the invention, has a cross section (4a) such that the surface of the ground electrode (4) which is located nearest to the bottom end of the central electrode (3) is larger than the surface of the ground electrode (4) which is located farthest away from said bottom end of the central electrode (3). The ground electrode (4) may be provided with a copper core and its surface nearest to the bottom end of the central electrode (3) may be provided with a precious metal insert. The surface of the ground electrode which is farthest away from the bottom end of the central electrode (3) may be reduced to a line and the lateral surfaces of the ground electrode may be curved surfaces.

Abstract: A glow plug including a shell provided with an axially extending bore and a tubular sheath partially located in the bore and partially projecting from the shell. At least a first electrical resistance is located in the portion of the sheath extending outside the shell. The tubular sheath is filled with two different powders. Both powders have good electrical insulating characteristics. The first powder is located in the free closed end of the sheath and has good thermal conductivity characteristics. The second powder is located in the portion of the sheath located in the shell bore and has good thermal insulating characteristics. The interface between the two powders can be varied with the design of the glow plug and the type of resistance located in the sheath.

Abstract: The wiper blade comprises a superstructure 1 provided with a claw 1a, a pressure distributing rod 2, a wiping element 3 and a retention means 4. A recess provided on the bottom portion of the pressure distributing rod 2 and a recess provided on the top portion of the wiping element 3 define a transverse opening wherein is inserted the retention means 4 which prevents any longitudinal displacement of the pressure distributing rod 2 with respect to the claw 1a and 3 with respect to the pressure distributing rod of the wiping element 2. Locking means are provided for preventing the transverse displacement of the retention means 4 with respect to the wiper blade.

Abstract: The invention relates to a wiper arm assembly for motor vehicles, comprising an oscillating mounting head (1), a rod (2) rigidly secured to the mounting head (1), a slidable element (3) pivotally (12) secured to a channel (4) and arm extension (7) and capable of sliding on said rod (2). Inside the channel (4) spring means are provided which are capable of biasing the arm extension (7) towards the surface to be wiped. A stationary bar (8) is rigidly attached to the vehicle body and a movable bar (9) is pivotally secured (10) to the stationary bar (8) at one of its ends and pivotally secured (11) to the slidable element (3) at the other of its ends. When the mounting head (1) and said rod (2) are oscillating the movable bar (9) oscillates too and imparts a back and forth movement to the slidable element (3), to the channel (4) and to the arm extension ( 7). A radial movement is thus superimposed on the oscillating movement.

Abstract: The invention relates to a connecting device for a wiper system of motor vehicles wherein the wiper system comprises a wiper arm (not shown) of which the front end is articulated to the superstructure (1) of the wiper blade in its medium portion and which comprises a control arm (4) of which the front end is articulated to said superstructure (1) at its rear end. The connecting device between the control arm (4) and the superstructure (1) consists of two elements (5, 6) of which one (5) is made of an elastomer material which has an elongate form and which is locally provided with a reduced transverse section (5a). This reduced transverse section (5a) allows the control arm (4) to take different angular positions with respect to the superstructure (1) of the wiper blade.

Abstract: A device is provided for securing a wiping element to the superstructure of a wiper blade. Each of two backing strips (13) of the wiping element (2a) is provided, at its exterior longitudinal edge, with a flattened area (13a, 13b) which laterally projects from said exterior longitudinal edge. One of the claws (11a) of the superstructure of the wiper blade surrounds the flattened areas (13a, 13b) and thus prevents any longitudinal displacement of the backing strips (13) with respect to said claw (11a). The longitudinal displacement of the wiping element (2a) with respect to the backing strips (13) is prevented by similar flattened areas (13a', 13b') which compress the wiping element (2a) in the zone of the claw (11a).

Abstract: A device for securing a wiping element to the superstructure of a wiper blade. The wiping element has reinforcing backing strips extending lengthwise thereof. The supersturcture has claws which surround the backing strips and at least a portion of the wiping element. The backing strips are preferably formed by extrusion and each is stamped after the extrusion process at its interior longitudinal edge to define a flattened area which projects from the interior edge. With the superstructure and wiping element assembled, the flattened area of each strip is compressed against the wiping element and thereby prevents relative lengthwise movement between the wiping element and the backing strips.

Abstract: The invention relates to a wiper system for motor vehicles or the like, comprising at least one wiper arm guided and actuated in a complex movement by a kinematic chain or mechanical linkage which comprises a first bar (2) actuated in an oscillating movement by a motor (63), a second bar (3) pivotally connected (23) to the first bar (2) and rigidly attached to the wiper arm, a third bar (4) articulated (34) to the second bar (3) and a fourth bar (5) secured to the vehicle body at one of its ends and torically connected to the third bar (4) at the other of its ends, said toric connection being materialized by a joint (45) made of an elastomer material. The kinematic chain and wiper arm are driven by a second kinematic chain or mechanical linkage which comprises a motor (63), a crank (64) and bar (65) with the bar (65) being pivotally connected to bar (62) rigidly connected to pivot shaft (61) connected to first bar (2).

Abstract: A connecting device for a pantograph-type wiper system wherein the connecting device comprises an actuating arm, a first element for rotatably mounting a wiper blade to the actuating arm, a control arm and a second element for connecting the first element to the control arm. The second element is elongate and has at least a portion that is flexible so as to simulate the action of a ball-joint.

Abstract: The invention relates to driving mechanism for wiper blades of, for example, motor vehicles wherein two motors (14, 15) impart to the wiper arm, or to at least one of its elements, not only an oscillating, but also a translational (radial) movement. The oscillating movement is imparted to the wiper arm by means of a drive shaft (12) actuated by a first motor (14) and the radial movement is imparted to the wiper arm by means of the drive shaft (13) of a second motor (15) and by means of a conical gear (9a, 9b) associated with a screw/nut system (8, 7) wherein the nut (7) moves radially when the drive shaft (13) of the second motor (15) is rotating. The two movements of the wiper arm are controlled and regulated by an opto-electronical system comprising two slotted discs (14a, 15a), two reading heads (14b, 15b) and a micro-processor (19). Several embodiments of the invention are possible.

Abstract: A wiper blade has a pressure distributing rod for connection to a superstructure. The rod has two lips directed towards a surface to be wiped and between which a wiping element is placed. The pressure distributing rod is linked to the superstructure of the wiper by a plurality of claws. Deformations on the lips cooperate with at least one claw to confine shifting of the rod relative to the superstructure. Deformations at the ends of the lips retain the wiping element on the pressure distributing rod.

Abstract: A wiper arm comprising a mounting head, a channel which is rotatably attached to the mounting head and a cap for the mounting head. The cap has two extensions with recesses therein for cooperating with projections on the channel to selectively maintain the channel in each of two positions relative to the mounting head.

Abstract: A wiper blade is provided and has a pressure distributing rod with a longitudinal groove having a substantially T-shaped form and a wiping element. The T-shaped form of the groove has a horizontal bar and a vertical bar. The wiping element has an upper portion located in the horizontal bar of said T, a medium portion partially located in the vertical bar of said T and a lower portion forming a wiping lip. The vertical bar of said T is tapered in a direction opposite to the surface to be wiped with the junction between the vertical bar and the horizontal bar of said T is defined by rounded curves. The upper portion of the wiping element is linked to the medium portion of the wiping element by a reduced portion which, in cross-section, is defined by rounded curves.

Abstract: A connecting device is provided for selectively connecting one of at least two different type wiper arm ends to a wiper blade having a rectangular opening in an upper portion of the blade. The wiper blade has laterally spaced side walls defining the rectangular opening with two pairs of aligned openings in said side walls. The diameter of one pair of aligned openings being different from the diameter of the other pair of aligned openings to receive recessed end portions of two different diameter pins. The connecting device seats in the rectangular opening and has latching means engaging with the recessed end portion of the selected one of the pins fitted in the pair of aligned openings in the side wall to retain the pin latched to the wiper blade. The connecting device has projections engaging with the edge of the rectangular opening in the blade or with a third pin on the blade for retaining the connecting device on the blade.

Abstract: A windshield wiper arm of conventional construction, i.e. having a mounting head, a channel portion pivoted to the mounting head, and an arm extension connected to the channel, and has at least one spring made of an elastomer. The elastomer spring is mounted in the channel of the wiper arm to operate in compression tension or as a leaf spring to urge a wiper blade affixed at the outer end by the arm toward the windshield. The elastomer spring may be in the shape of a cylinder or pseudo-cylinder and may operate in linear or volumetric compression.

Abstract: A wiper assembly is disclosed and has a wiper arm mounted on a drive shaft, a wiping element in wiping contact with a surface to be wiped, a pressure distributing rod or flexor slidably attached to the wiping element for reinforcing the wiping element, and leaf springs linking the wiper arm with the pressure distributing rod or flexor. The leaf springs may be integral with the arm and slidably connected to the rod or flexor by claws or may be integral with the rod or flexor and slidably connected to the arm. The parts of the wiper assembly may all be made of plastic. When the arm is made of plastic, a preshaped reinforcing blade may be part of the arm for assisting in conforming the wiping element to the surface to be wiped.

Abstract: A wiper blade is provided and has a wiping element, a superstructure having at least two articulated elements and an air deflecting device secured to at least one of the elements by resilient members. Stops, runners or abutments are carried by the lower edge of the air deflecting device to hold the lower edge of the air deflecting device spaced from the surface to be wiped by a limited but defined amount. The resilient members hold the air deflecting device and, in particular, the stops, runners or abutments on the air deflecting device resiliently against the surface to be wiped as the blade is reciprocated across said surface.

Abstract: A wiper assembly for motor vehicles comprising a wiper arm having one portion secured to a mounting head opposite the portion on the drive shaft is provided with at least two spaced-apart hinges to which at least two rods are secured to connect said hinges to a flexor on a wiping element by means of claws. The at least two rods extend in opposite directions from their respective hinges towards the flexor or pressure distributing profile. The end portions of the at least two rods remote from the hinges carry leaf springs which have free ends resting on the flexor or pressure distributing profile to conform the wiping element to the surface to be wiped.

Abstract: A wiper blade for motor vehicles has a wiping element (6) attached to a superstructure which includes a main bridge (1), one or more intermediate yokes (2) and one or more secondary yokes (3), with at least one of the components (1,2,3) of said superstructure replaced by at least one air deflecting device (14). In a preferred form, at least one air deflecting device replaces at least one secondary yoke, with each air deflecting device (14) extending parallel to and at a certain distance from the wiping element (6) of the wiper blade. The air deflecting device or deflector (15) has attachment members (16,19,21) for securing the deflector to one of the components (2) of the superstructure of the wiper blade and has additional attachment members (17,4') for securing the deflector to the wiping element (6) of the wiper blade. The deflector has at least one resilient blade (18) capable of exerting a pressure on the wiping element (6) of the wiper blade.

Abstract: A wiper blade having a superstructure (1,2) linked to wiping element (8) which is reinforced by a longitudinal pressure distributing profile (7,20) provided with a first air deflecting device (9) consisting of a deflector (10) located at a certain distance (d1) from the wiping element (8) and that one or more longitudinal openings (11) are provided between the longitudinal pressure distributing profile (7,20) and the deflector (10). The lower edge of the deflector (10) is located at a certain distance (d2) from the surface to be wiped (18) such that the ratio between (a) the distance (d1) between the deflector (10) and the wiping element (8) and (b) the distance (d2) between the lower edge of the deflector (10) and the surface to be wiped (18) is substantially equal to ten. Optionally, a second air deflecting device (21) is attached to the longitudinal pressure distributing profile (20) of the wiping element (8) on the side opposed to the first air deflecting device (9).