Patents by Inventor Eric Windmolders

Eric Windmolders has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9511747
    Abstract: The invention is based on a wiper blade (12) with an elongate, spring-elastic carrying element (36) which is precurved in a concave fashion with respect to a vehicle window (22) and has two spring rails (52, 66) which run parallel to one another in a plane, and having a wiper strip (24) which is held with a web (34) of its head strip (30) between the spring rails (52, 66) via the carrier element (36), said spring rails (52, 66) being inserted in longitudinal grooves (32) on both sides of the web (34), wherein the wiper strip (24) is secured in the longitudinal direction (20) relative to the carrier element (36) at least close to one of the ends of said wiper strip (24). It is proposed that the spring rails (52, 66) have, at the longitudinal sides facing one another in their end regions, clips (60, 74) with cutters (62, 76) which, in the mounted state, cut into adjoining walls of the longitudinal grooves (32).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Paul Criel, Hans Beelen, Peter De Block, Peter Saevels, Mohamed Aznag, Eric Windmolders, Jan Bonroy
  • Patent number: 9211867
    Abstract: The invention is based on a wiper blade (12) with an elongated, spring-elastic carrier element (36) which is pre-curved concavely with respect to a vehicle window (22) and has at least one spring rail, and with a wiper strip (24) which is held by the carrier element (36), wherein the wiper blade (24) is secured relative to the carrier element (36) by an end cap (44) at least near to one end in the longitudinal direction (20), which end cap (44) has, on one longitudinal side, an opening which can be closed off by a flap (46) which can pivot about a pivoting axis (84) running in the longitudinal direction (20) into an open position and into a closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Hans Beelen, Paul Criel, Eric Windmolders, Peter Saevels, Mohamed Aznag, Peter De Block, Jan Bonroy
  • Publication number: 20150353055
    Abstract: The invention is based on a wiper blade (12) with an elongate, spring-elastic carrying element (36) which is precurved in a concave fashion with respect to a vehicle window (22) and has two spring rails (52, 66) which run parallel to one another in a plane, and having a wiper strip (24) which is held with a web (34) of its head strip (30) between the spring rails (52, 66) via the carrier element (36), said spring rails (52, 66) being inserted in longitudinal grooves (32) on both sides of the web (34), wherein the wiper strip (24) is secured in the longitudinal direction (20) relative to the carrier element (36) at least close to one of the ends of said wiper strip (24). It is proposed that the spring rails (52, 66) have, at the longitudinal sides facing one another in their end regions, clips (60, 74) with cutters (62, 76) which, in the mounted state, cut into adjoining walls of the longitudinal grooves (32).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2015
    Publication date: December 10, 2015
    Inventors: Paul Criel, Hans Beelen, Peter De Block, Peter Saevels, Mohamed Aznag, Eric Windmolders, Jan Bonroy
  • Patent number: 9096196
    Abstract: The invention is based on a wiper blade (12) with an elongate, spring-elastic carrying element (36) which is pre-curved in a concave fashion with respect to a vehicle window (22) and has two spring rails (52, 66) which run parallel to one another in a plane, and having a wiper strip (24) which is held with a web (34) of its head strip (30) between the spring rails (52, 66) via the carrier element (36), said spring rails (52, 66) being inserted in longitudinal grooves (32) on both sides of the web (34), wherein the wiper strip (24) is secured in the longitudinal direction (20) relative to the carrier element (36) at least close to one of the ends of said wiper strip (24). It is proposed that the spring rails (52, 66) have, at the longitudinal sides facing one another in their end regions, clips (60, 74) with cutters (62, 76) which, in the mounted state, cut into adjoining walls of the longitudinal grooves (32).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Paul Criel, Hans Beelen, Peter De Block, Peter Saevels, Mohamed Aznag, Eric Windmolders, Jan Bonroy
  • Patent number: 9021652
    Abstract: The invention is based on a connecting element (36) for the articulated connection of a wiper blade (14) to a wiper arm (12) of a window wiper (10), wherein the connecting element (36) has a hub (50), which is open towards a vehicle window (16), for a bearing pin (26) fastened to the wiper blade (14), and at least one elastically flexible spring tongue (46) in order to keep the bearing pin (26) in the open hub (50), and the connecting element (36) furthermore has at least one bearing surface (60) in order to support it on a hook-shaped end (28) of the wiper arm (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Wildrik Coemans, David Van Baelen, Andreas Biank, Kris Coart, Hans Beelen, Eric Windmolders, Ernest Dekeyser
  • Patent number: 8931133
    Abstract: The invention relates to a connecting device which has a connecting element (18) of flat beam design fixed to a wiper blade (10) and an adapter (16) joined to said connecting element in an articulated manner, and also a joining element (14) that is joined to a wiper arm (12) and into the u-shaped cross-sectional profile of which the adapter (16) is inserted and, by means of a spring tongue (64) arranged on the top wall (42) thereof, is fixed to a pushbutton (66), the connecting element (18) having a central web (28) running in the longitudinal direction of the wiper blade (10) and bearing a hinge shaft (30) projecting on the long sides thereof, which is mounted in laterally flexible hubs (46) in side walls (40) of the adapter (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Kris Coart, Peter Saevels, Mohamed Aznag, Eric Windmolders, Robert Vertongen, Jan Bonroy
  • Patent number: 8839483
    Abstract: The invention relates to a wiper blade (10) having a support composed of a plurality of support components (12, 14, 16, 18, 20) that are joined to one another by welding, gluing, or the like and have at least one longitudinal channel (34) incorporating a pre-curved elastic support element (36) and two parallel retaining rails (28) separated by a longitudinal gap (32), for a wiper strip (38), wherein a connecting element (50) is arranged in the center region of the wiper blade (10) for the articulated connection to a wiper arm. It is proposed that at least two support elements in the form of spring bars (36) having a round cross-section are provided in corresponding separate longitudinal channels (34), between which the retaining rails (28) are arranged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Inigo Op't Roodt, Peter De Block, Hans Beelen, Bart Fatan, Eric Windmolders
  • Patent number: 8539634
    Abstract: A wiper blade (10) consisting of a rubber profiled element (48) comprising a wiper lip (50) and at least one carrier element (46) that can be connected to a wiper arm (18) by means of a fixing element (14) and a connection element (22). The fixing element (14) comprises a covering cap (16) and the connection element (22) fixed to the wiper arm (18) secures the wiper blade (10) perpendicularly to a pivoting axis (20) by means of a clip (52), on the end (54) thereof at an angle to the wiper blade. According to the invention, the covering cap (16) comprises an opening (34) or recess for the angular end (54) of the clip (52), on the side of the cap opposing the rubber profiled element (48), in the region of the connection element (22), said opening only partially overlapping the covering cap (16) in the mounted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Wilms, Eric Windmolders, Erik Kinnaert, Dave Claes
  • Patent number: 8448290
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device (10) for the jointed connection of a wiper blade (12), having a wiper arm (18), wherein a connector (20) intended to be connected to the wiper blade (12) has a joint part (32) which forms a joint with a joint part (40) on a connector (38) intended to be connected to the wiper arm, and one of the joint parts (40) is a hub (40) open in the longitudinal direction of the associated component (20 or 28), the hub being supported with respect to the other component (38) in the direction opposite (42) the hub opening (42) when in the installed state, wherein the side walls (30, 56) of the connector (20) and of the connector (38) overlap. It is suggested that the side walls (56) of one component (38) has recesses (44) which are open to the wiper strip (14), and plunge into the projections (34) in the wiper blade (12) operating position, such that both components (20, 38) are locked against each other in the longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Inigo Op't Roodt, Peter De Block, Hans Beelen, Eric Windmolders
  • Patent number: 8359701
    Abstract: The invention is based on a wiper blade (12) with a wiper strip (14) which has a wiper lip (16) and a head strip (20) which is integrally formed on said wiper lip and, in a first longitudinal channel (26), has a supporting element in the form of a spring rail (18) with a flat cross section, and has a spoiler (22, 38, 46) on that side which faces away from the wiper lip (16). It is proposed that the spoiler (22, 38, 46) surrounds the head strip (20) on its longitudinal sides by means of guide rails (40).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Peter De Block, Jan Bonroy, Hans Braun, Hans Beelen, Bart Fatan, Eric Windmolders, Liesbet van Vinckenroye, Edwin Luypaerts, Robert Vertongen, Marcello Bubba, Herve Bratec
  • Publication number: 20120311807
    Abstract: The invention is based on a wiper blade (12) with an elongate, spring-elastic carrying element (36) which is precurved in a concave fashion with respect to a vehicle window (22) and has two spring rails (52, 66) which run parallel to one another in a plane, and having a wiper strip (24) which is held with a web (34) of its head strip (30) between the spring rails (52, 66) via the carrier element (36), said spring rails (52, 66) being inserted in longitudinal grooves (32) on both sides of the web (34), wherein the wiper strip (24) is secured in the longitudinal direction (20) relative to the carrier element (36) at least close to one of the ends of said wiper strip (24). It is proposed that the spring rails (52, 66) have, at the longitudinal sides facing one another in their end regions, clips (60, 74) with cutters (62, 76) which, in the mounted state, cut into adjoining walls of the longitudinal grooves (32).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2010
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Applicant: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Paul Criel, Hans Beelen, Peter De Block, Peter Saevels, Mohamed Aznag, Eric Windmolders, Jan Bonroy
  • Patent number: 8327500
    Abstract: A wiper blade (10) is proposed having a rubber elastic wiper strip (12). The wiper strip (12) is secured by means of at least one spring rail (14, 16) as supporting element. An end cap (20) is attached to at least one end of the longitudinal extension of the supporting element. According to the invention, the end cap (20) has at least one first, energy-absorbing region (22) and one second, in particular stabilizing region (24).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Peter De Block, Wim Verboven, Eric Windmolders
  • Publication number: 20120297565
    Abstract: The invention is based on a wiper blade (12) with an elongated, spring-elastic carrier element (36) which is pre-curved concavely with respect to a vehicle window (22) and has at least one spring rail, and with a wiper strip (24) which is held by the carrier element (36), wherein the wiper blade (24) is secured relative to the carrier element (36) by an end cap (44) at least near to one end in the longitudinal direction (20), which end cap (44) has, on one longitudinal side, an opening which can be closed off by a flap (46) which can pivot about a pivoting axis (84) running in the longitudinal direction (20) into an open position and into a closed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2010
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Hans Beelen, Paul Criel, Eric Windmolders, Peter Saevels, Mohamed Aznag, Peter De Block, Jan Bonroy
  • Patent number: 8272096
    Abstract: The invention relates to a wiper blade (10) consisting of a rubber profiled element (48) comprising a wiper lip (50) and at least one carrier element (46) that can be connected to a wiper arm (18) by means of a fixing element (14) and a connection element (22). The fixing element (14) comprises a covering cap (16) and the connection element (22) fixed to the wiper arm (18) secures the wiper blade (10) perpendicularly to a pivoting axis (20) by means of a clip (52), on the end (54) thereof at an angle to the wiper blade. According to the invention, the covering cap (16) comprises an opening (34) or recess for the angular end (54) of the clip (52), on the side of the cap opposing the rubber profiled element (48), in the region of the connection element (22), said opening only partially overlapping the covering cap (16) in the mounted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Wilms, Eric Windmolders, Erik Kinnaert, Dave Claes
  • Publication number: 20120233801
    Abstract: The invention relates to a connecting device which has a connecting element (18) of flat beam design fixed to a wiper blade (10) and an adapter (16) joined to said connecting element in an articulated manner, and also a joining element (14) that is joined to a wiper arm (12) and into the u-shaped cross-sectional profile of which the adapter (16) is inserted and, by means of a spring tongue (64) arranged on the top wall (42) thereof, is fixed to a pushbutton (66), the connecting element (18) having a central web (28) running in the longitudinal direction of the wiper blade (10) and bearing a hinge shaft (30) projecting on the long sides thereof, which is mounted in laterally flexible hubs (46) in side walls (40) of the adapter (16).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2010
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Kris Coart, Peter Saevels, Mohamed Aznag, Eric Windmolders, Robert Vertongen, Jan Bonroy
  • Patent number: 8266759
    Abstract: The invention relates to a wiper blade (10) of a windshield wiper provided with a protective rail (32, 44, 56, 72, 88), comprising a base body (34) that has an essentially V-shaped cross section and a wiper lip (36) of the wiper blade (10) and that is detachably fixed to the wiper blade (10) with the aid of fixing elements (38, 52, 58, 78, 90). It is proposed that the wiper blade (10) consist of a wiper strip (14) with at least one flat, bar-type, elastic support element (26) and a spoiler (12), wherein the protective rail (32, 44, 56, 72, 88) rests on the support element (26) or spoiler (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Hans Braun, Peter De Block, Eric Windmolders, Edwin Luypaerts, Hans Beelen, David Van Baelen, Wilhelm Fangmeier
  • Publication number: 20120198649
    Abstract: A wiper blade (10) consisting of a rubber profiled element (48) comprising a wiper lip (50) and at least one carrier element (46) that can be connected to a wiper arm (18) by means of a fixing element (14) and a connection element (22). The fixing element (14) comprises a covering cap (16) and the connection element (22) fixed to the wiper arm (18) secures the wiper blade (10) perpendicularly to a pivoting axis (20) by means of a clip (52), on the end (54) thereof at an angle to the wiper blade. According to the invention, the covering cap (16) comprises an opening (34) or recess for the angular end (54) of the clip (52), on the side of the cap opposing the rubber profiled element (48), in the region of the connection element (22), said opening only partially overlapping the covering cap (16) in the mounted position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2012
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicant: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Wilms, Eric Windmolders, Erik Kinnaert, Dave Claes
  • Patent number: 8196255
    Abstract: The invention relates to a connection apparatus (10) for a wiper arm (14) and a wiper blade (12). The connection apparatus comprises a first and a second connection part. According to the invention, provision is made for the first connection part to have a first identification means and for the second connection part to have a second identification means which corresponds to the first identification means. The invention also comprises a system with two flat-bar wiper blades, with at least one first identification means being provided on at least one flat-bar wiper blade in order to distinguish between the two wiper blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Peter De Block, Eric Windmolders, Tom Vangeel, Hans Beelen
  • Patent number: 8191201
    Abstract: The invention is based on a connection element (16, 44, 50, 66, 74, 80) for connecting a wiper blade (10), which has at least one spring rail (14) as a supporting element, to a wiper arm in an articulated manner, with the connection element (16, 44, 50, 66, 74, 80) having claws (22, 46, 52) which are integrally formed on the side of a base part (18) and, in the mounted state, surround and retain the spring rail (14) by the base part (18) being supported on a part of a wiper rubber (12) which is arranged between the spring rail (14) and the base part (18, 56, 68, 70). The invention proposes that the connection element (16, 44, 50, 66, 74, 80) has means (28, 58, 60, 68, 72, 76, 78, 82, 84) with which the surface pressure between the base part (18, 56, 68, 70) and the wiper rubber (12) is locally increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Peter De Block, Klaus-Dieter Haefele, Bart Fatan, Wilfried Merkel, Rudi Crabbé, Paul Criel, Eric Windmolders, David Van Baelen
  • Publication number: 20120036670
    Abstract: Wiper lever (10) with a driven wiper arm (12) and a wiper blade (14) linked to it for cleaning the windows of motor vehicles in particular, which is provided with a band-like, long-stretched-out, elastic supporting element (22) that is curved in the longitudinal direction over its band surfaces (26, 28), which features a rubber elastic wiper strip (30) that can be applied to the window on its concave curved band surface (26), on whose convex curved band surface (28) a coupling element (20) sits to connect the wiper blade to a coupling piece (18) of the wiper arm and the articulated connection is covered by a cap (100) that is held on the wiper blade.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2011
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Applicant: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Hubert Verelst, Eric Windmolders, Christian Wilms, Hans Beelen, Robert Vertongen