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: 8069528
    Abstract: A wiper lever (10) with a wiper arm (12) and a wiper blade (14) linked to it to clean windows of motor vehicles in particular is proposed, whose wiper blade 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) an articulated part (20) sits, on which an adapter (40) is positioned so that it can move in a pendulum fashion, which has walls (42) aligned in the longitudinal direction of the wiper blade and standing on the band surfaces of the supporting element (22) with planes situated at a distance from one another, and locking means (72) are arranged on the adapter that are moveable against a restoring force, which cooperate with counter-locking means (66) of the wiper arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Hubert Verelst, Eric Windmolders, Christian Wilms, Hans Beelen, Robert Vertongen
  • Publication number: 20110247165
    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: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2009
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Applicant: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Inigo Op't Roodt, Peter De Block, Hans Beelen, Bart Fatan, Eric Windmolders
  • Publication number: 20110126372
    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: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2006
    Publication date: June 2, 2011
    Applicant: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Christian Wilms, Eric Windmolders, Erik Kinnaert, Dave Claes
  • Patent number: 7945987
    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: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Hubert Verelst, Eric Windmolders, Christian Wilms, Hans Beelen, Robert Vertongen
  • Patent number: 7886401
    Abstract: A device is proposed which is used to detachably connect a wiper blade (12) to clean windows, particularly of motor vehicles, to a driven wiper arm (10) featuring a wiper blade holder (50 or 150), whereby the wiper blade (12) that can be placed on the window (20) with a long-stretched-out, rubber elastic wiper strip (18) features a band-like, long-stretched-out elastic supporting element (16) that is curved in the longitudinal direction over its band surfaces (15, 17) on whose lower, concave band surface (17) the wiper strip (18) is arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis. On the outer convex band surface (15) of the supporting element (16) sits a connecting element (26), which features two parallel wall surfaces (36) mat are aligned in a vertical plane on the band surface and extend in the longitudinal direction of the wiper blade and that a pivot pin (42) projects from each wall surface, whereby the longitudinal axes of the two pivot pins are aligned with one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Matthias Weber, Harald Rapp, Godelieve Kraemer, Juergen Mayer, Wolfgang Leutsch, Michel Baseotto, Dirk Herinckx, Peter De Block, Hubert Verelst, Philippe Holsbeekx, Frans Breesch, Eric Windmolders, Christian Wilms, Inigo Op't Roodt, Hans Beelen, Robert Vertongen, Johnny Geling
  • Publication number: 20100306949
    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: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2009
    Publication date: December 9, 2010
    Applicant: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Inigo Op't Roodt, Peter De Block, Hans Beelen, Eric Windmolders
  • Publication number: 20100146727
    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: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2007
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Applicant: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Wildrik Coemans, David Van Baelen, Andreas Biank, Kris Coart, Hans Beelen, Eric Windmolders, Ernest Dekeyser
  • Publication number: 20100107354
    Abstract: A wiper lever (10) with a wiper arm (12) and a wiper blade (14) linked to it to clean windows of motor vehicles in particular is proposed, whose wiper blade 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) an articulated part (20) sits, on which an adapter (40) is positioned so that it can move in a pendulum fashion, which has walls (42) aligned in the longitudinal direction of the wiper blade and standing on the band surfaces of the supporting element (22) with planes situated at a distance from one another, and locking means (72) are arranged on the adapter that are moveable against a restoring force, which cooperate with counter-locking means (66) of the wiper arm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2010
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Applicant: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Hubert Verelst, Eric Windmolders, Christian Wilms, Hans Beelen, Robert Vertongen
  • Patent number: 7669276
    Abstract: A wiper lever (10) with a wiper arm (12) and a wiper blade (14) linked to it to clean windows of motor vehicles in particular is proposed, whose wiper blade 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) an articulated part (20) sits, on which an adapter (40) is positioned so that it can move in a pendulum fashion, which has walls (42) aligned in the longitudinal direction of the wiper blade and standing on the band surfaces of the supporting element (22) with planes situated at a distance from one another, and locking means (72) are arranged on the adapter that are moveable against a restoring force, which cooperate with counter-locking means (66) of the wiper arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Hubert Verelst, Eric Windmolders, Christian Wilms, Hans Beelen, Robert Vertongen
  • Publication number: 20100017995
    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: July 23, 2009
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Applicant: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Hubert Verelst, Eric Windmolders, Christian Wilms, Hans Beelen, Robert Vertongen
  • Patent number: 7621016
    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: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Hubert Verelst, Eric Windmolders, Christian Wilms, Hans Beelen, Robert Vertongen
  • Publication number: 20090282637
    Abstract: A device is proposed which is used to detachably connect a wiper blade (12) to clean windows, particularly of motor vehicles, to a driven wiper arm (10) featuring a wiper blade holder (50 or 150), whereby the wiper blade (12) that can be placed on the window (20) with a long-stretched-out, rubber elastic wiper strip (18) features a band-like, long-stretched-out elastic supporting element (16) that is curved in the longitudinal direction over its band surfaces (15, 17) on whose lower, concave band surface (17) the wiper strip (18) is arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis. On the outer convex band surface (15) of the supporting element (16) sits a connecting element (26), which features two parallel wall surfaces (36) mat are aligned in a vertical plane on the band surface and extend in the longitudinal direction of the wiper blade and that a pivot pin (42) projects from each wall surface, whereby the longitudinal axes of the two pivot pins are aligned with one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2009
    Publication date: November 19, 2009
    Applicant: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Matthias Weber, Harald Rapp, Godelieve Kraemer, Juergen Mayer, Wolfgang Leutsch, Michel Baseotto, Dirk Herinckx, Peter De Block, Hubert Verelst, Philippe Holsbeekx, Frans Breesch, Eric Windmolders, Christian Wilms, Inigo Op't Roodt, Hans Beelen, Robert Vertongen, Johnny Geling
  • Patent number: 7607194
    Abstract: A device is proposed which is used to detachably connect a wiper blade (12) to clean windows, particularly of motor vehicles, to a driven wiper arm (10) featuring a wiper blade holder (50 or 150), whereby the wiper blade (12) that can be placed on the window (20) with a long-stretched-out, rubber elastic wiper strip (18) features a band-like, long-stretched-out elastic supporting element (16) that is curved in the longitudinal direction over its band surfaces (15, 17) on whose lower, concave band surface (17) the wiper strip (18) is arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis. On the outer convex band surface (15) of the supporting element (16) sits a connecting element (26), which features two parallel wall surfaces (36) that are aligned in a vertical plane on the band surface and extend in the longitudinal direction of the wiper blade and that a pivot pin (42) projects from each wall surface, whereby the longitudinal axes of the two pivot pins are aligned with one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Matthias Weber, Harald Rapp, Godelieve Kraemer, Juergen Mayer, Wolfgang Leutsch, Michel Baseotto, Dirk Herinckx, Peter De Block, Hubert Verelst, Philippe Holsbeekx, Frans Breesch, Eric Windmolders, Christian Wilms, Inigo Op't Roodt, Hans Beelen, Robert Vertongen, Johnny Geling
  • Patent number: 7603741
    Abstract: The invention relates to a wiper lever (10) with a driven wiper arm (12) and a wiper blade (16) linked to it to clean windows, in particular of motor vehicles, which is provided with a band-like, long-stretched-out, elastic supporting element (30) that is curved over its band surfaces, which features a long-stretched-out, rubber elastic wiper strip (24) on its concave curved band surface (31), on whose upper, convex curved band surface (29), in particular in the longitudinal mid-range of the supporting element, a coupling part (32) sits to connect the wiper blade (16) to the wiper arm (12) and wind deflector strip sections (52) extending towards the ends of the supporting element are arranged in particular on both sides of the coupling part and a cap (60) to cover the connecting area between the wiper blade and the wiper arm belongs to the wiper lever, which cap can be locked on the supporting element (30) of the wiper blade and is provided with elastically deflectable locking means (74).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Hubert Verelst, Eric Windmolders, Christian Wilms, Hans Beelen, Robert Vertongen
  • Publication number: 20090172910
    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: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2007
    Publication date: July 9, 2009
    Applicant: ROBERT BOSCH GmbH
    Inventors: Peter De Block, Wim Verboven, Eric Windmolders
  • Publication number: 20090089956
    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: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Publication date: April 9, 2009
    Applicant: 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: 20090025174
    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: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2006
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Applicant: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Hans Braun, Peter De Block, Eric Windmolders, Edwin Luypaerts, Hans Beelen, David Van Baelen, Wilhelm Fangmeier
  • Publication number: 20080313841
    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: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2006
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Applicant: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Peter De Block, Klaus-Dieter Haefele, Bart Fatan, Wilfried Merkel, Rudi Crabbe, Paul Criel, Eric Windmolders, David Van Baelen
  • Publication number: 20080263810
    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: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2006
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Applicant: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Peter De Block, Eric Windmolders, Tom Vangeel, Hans Beelen
  • Patent number: 7281294
    Abstract: The invention relates to an articulated wiper arm of a wiper apparatus for windows of motor vehicles with a device for a detachable connection to a pivoted wiper blade on one free end, in particular for connection to a non-articulated wiper blade, which includes at least one articulated bolt. It is planned that the device for connection to the wiper blade (16) is embodied as a single piece with the wiper arm (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Wilms, Eric Windmolders