Specific Coupling Or Mounting For A Driving Means Or Between A Cleaning Element And Means Linking It To The Driving Means Patents (Class 15/250.31)
  • Patent number: 7281293
    Abstract: A windshield wiper device (10), in particular, for a motor vehicle, includes a wiper bearing (14), which includes a bearing housing (24), a wiper shaft 922), which is supported in the bearing housing (24) and which supports a wiper arm (28) on a first end (26), and an element (42) that axially secures the wiper shaft (22). The element (42) includes at least one region that is made from a foam material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Joachim Zimmer
  • Publication number: 20070226939
    Abstract: A wiper motor which can prevent an impact force from greatly acting on attaching parts is provided. A gear cover formed in a substantially inverted y-plate shape is fastened to an opening of a gear case of the wiper motor used in a rear wiper device so as to cover a worm reduction gear and a crank device. A gravity center of a motor part and a gear part is disposed within an area of a triangle formed by a first attaching part, a second attaching part, and a third attaching part, which are formed at three end portions of the inverted y-plate shape of the gear cover. The first attaching part is disposed on an extension line of the rotation axis, and the rotation axis is disposed at a position where a segment connecting the second attaching part and the third attaching part is divided into half. A wiper shaft is disposed on an opposite side to the third attaching part with respect to a segment connecting the first attaching part and the second attaching part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Publication date: October 4, 2007
    Applicant: Mitsuba Corporation
    Inventor: Sadaki Takada
  • Publication number: 20070200389
    Abstract: A backdoor apparatus includes a backdoor panel, a rear spoiler and a wiper mechanism. The wiper mechanism includes a motor assembly, a wiper arm and a wiper blade. A motor installation recess is formed in a top portion of the backdoor panel to receive the motor assembly. The motor assembly includes a cover, which covers a portion of a motor, which is exposed from the rear spoiler. The cover has a flange, which covers a top end part of the glass. The cover, which includes the flange, does not contact the glass.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2007
    Publication date: August 30, 2007
    Applicant: ASMO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Eiji Ina, Masaki Kobayashi, Tomoyuki Kikuta, Atsushi Katou
  • Patent number: 7251852
    Abstract: The invention is based on a wiper system (10) having a mounting plate (12), on whose mounting plate tube (14) a wiper bearing (20) is disposed on one end and a cast part (16) is disposed on the other, and a first bearing housing (22) for a second drive shaft (26) and a second bearing housing (28) for a control shaft (30) of a four-bar lever linkage are integrated with the cast part, and the second drive shaft (26) is driven by a wiper motor (32) via a motor crank (36), a drive element (44), and a bearing rocker (46). It is proposed that the wiper motor (32) is disposed as a reversing motor on the passenger side, and its motor shaft (34) is disposed on the cast part (16) in the vicinity of the second drive shaft (26), between the second drive shaft (26) and the control shaft (30), and the drive element (44) is embodied as a coupling plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Ulrich Metz
  • Patent number: 7249394
    Abstract: A vehicular wiper device includes a wiper motor secured to a crank arm, a first pivot holder rotatably supporting a wiper arm and a first pivot lever, a second pivot holder rotatably supporting a wiper arm and a second pivot lever, and a link structure connected to the crank arm. Rotation power of the wiper motor is transmitted to the first pivot lever and the second pivot lever via the crank arm and the link structure. The wiper motor is secured to a rear face of a motor bracket portion of the first pivot holder on an opposite side as the wiper arm with respect to the motor bracket portion. The crank arm is arranged on the opposite side as the wiper motor with respect to the motor bracket portion. A dimension between the rear face of the motor bracket portion and the first pivot lever is set to be greater than a dimension between the rear face of the motor bracket portion and the crank arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2007
    Assignee: ASMO CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kengo Iwata
  • Patent number: 7240392
    Abstract: A windshield wiper drive linkage is provided for use in a wiper system. The linkage includes a crank arm connectible to an output shaft of a drive motor. A drive arm is pivotally connected to the crank arm for movement between first and second angular positions about a pivot pin with respect to one another. A flexible composite spring extends between the crank arm and the drive arm. The flexible composite spring is preloaded into an initial arcuate position and is bendable from the initial position to facilitate preventing damage to components in the wiper system when a load applied to the arms exceeds a predetermined load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Assignee: Valeo Electrical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: James P. Penrod, Harry C. Buchanan, Jr., Bruce A. Bryson
  • Patent number: 7222385
    Abstract: A removable and portable manually operated windshield wiper assembly that attaches to the top side of a window or window frame of a boat, tractor, atv and the like not otherwise so equipped which can be easily operated by the simple rotation of a handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Inventor: Howard Borg
  • Patent number: 7222386
    Abstract: A pivot holder includes a tubular main body, which rotatably supports a pivot shaft therein, and a securing portion, which is integrally formed with the main body and extends from an outer peripheral surface of the main body, and a plurality of engaging grooves. A water shield cap includes a tubular portion, which is fitted to the outer peripheral surface of the main body of the pivot holder, a water receiver, which extends radially outward from the tubular portion, and a plurality of engaging projections. The engaging projections of the water shield cap are engaged with the engaging grooves of the pivot holder to limit axial movement and rotational movement of the water shield cap relative to the pivot holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: Asmo Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshinori Nakamura
  • Patent number: 7203990
    Abstract: The invention starts with a wiper blade (20) comprised of a wiper strip support (22) and a wiper strip (24) that is guided laterally by a device (28) with a connecting rod (32, 74) vis-à-vis a wiper arm (10), whereby one end of the connecting rod (32, 74) is fixed so that it can pivot on an articulated part (12) of the wiper arm (10) approx. vertically to the windshield (26), and the connecting rod (32, 74) having lateral guide surfaces is adjacent to a part of the wiper blade (20). It is proposed that a pivot bearing (86, 88) be arranged on both ends of the connecting rod (32, 74), one of which permits a movement in the longitudinal direction of the wiper arm (10) or the wiper blade (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Stephan Mayer
  • Patent number: 7191487
    Abstract: A wiper apparatus for a vehicle window has a wiper arm pivot rotatably mounted in a pivot holder fixedly securable to vehicle structure. An end portion of the wiper arm pivot normally extends exteriorly of an impact line defined by vehicle structure. The wiper arm pivot includes an inner pivot shaft telescopingly displacable with respect to an outer pivot shaft upon the imposition of an impact load on the exterior end of the wiper arm pivot. A first pin separably holds the inner pivot shaft to the outer pivot shaft at a first position. An energy absorption material mass is disposed between the inner pivot shaft and the outer pivot shaft to control the telescoping movement of the inner pivot shaft in the outer pivot shaft and to absorb impact forces acting on the inner pivot shaft. A second fixed pin is carried by the outer pivot shaft and limits movement of the inner pivot shaft to a second position adapted for temporary operation of the wiper apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: Valeo Electrical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Lee A. Bissonnette, George C. Thompson
  • Patent number: 7185390
    Abstract: A wiper arm pivot is rotatably mounted in a pivot holder fixedly securable to vehicle structure. The wiper arm pivot is telescopingly displacable in the pivot holder upon an impact load on one end of the wiper arm pivot. An energy absorption material has a gel state when disposed in the pivot holder and flows through one or more orifices from the pivot holder under impact forces causing telescoping movement of the pivot in the pivot holder absorption of the impact force on the pivot shaft. In another aspect, the energy absorption material is a liquid which is retained within the pivot holder by a releasable plug which is separable from the orifice under a predetermined impact pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Valeo Electrical Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Harry Charles Buchanan, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7059009
    Abstract: This invention relates to windshield wiper system and method which utilizes a flexible member to account for compression loads in excess of a predetermined load, such as 30 percent greater than a maximum load for the flexible member. The system utilizes a flexible pultruded composite material having a relatively low modulus of elasticity, yet relatively high elongation characteristics. The flexible arm bends to facilitate preventing damage to components in the wiper system when a compressive load applied to the flexible member reaches a predetermined load as a result of a fatigue condition, such as snow or ice build up on the windshield. In one embodiment, the predetermined load is defined as: PCR=KE=1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Valeo Electrical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce Allen Bryson, Harry Charles Buchanan, Yaomin Dong, James Preston Penrod
  • Patent number: 7055208
    Abstract: The invention is based on a link element (10) for windshield wipers, which is adjoined by a wiper rod (28) and is manufactured out of a metal sheet (16) by means of stamping and bending, in which, starting from a longitudinally aligned covering wall (40), at least one wall part of a side wall (38, 42) is comprised of a number of sheet metal layers produced by being bent inward by 180°, and a hanging device (32, 52, 54; 60; 58, 64) for a tension spring is fastened to the innermost sheet metal layer and protrudes into a free space (30) between the side walls (38, 40). The invention proposes that a slot (52) lateral to the longitudinal direction (56) of the link element (10) be let into the innermost sheet metal layer from the bottom edge (50) and that a pin (54) be inserted into this slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Wilfired Merkel, Roger Daenen
  • Patent number: 7024722
    Abstract: The invention concerns a fastening for a windshield wiper system on a vehicle body, in particular for motor vehicles, whereby the windshield wiper system is composed of a premanufactured assembly having at least one fastening site arranged on it. It is provided that the at least one fastening site of the windshield wiper system (32) is bonded in each case with a fastening site arranged accordingly on the vehicle body (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Achim Neubauer, Peter Kalchschmidt, Jochen Moench, Heiko Sponar
  • Patent number: 7017224
    Abstract: This invention relates to windshield wiper system and method which utilizes a flexible member to account for compression loads in excess of a predetermined load, such as 30 percent, greater than a maximum load for the flexible member. The system utilizes a flexible pultruded composite material having a relatively low modulus of elasticity, yet relatively high elongation characteristics. The flexible arm bends to facilitate preventing damage to components in the wiper system when a compressive load applied to the flexible member is in excess of the predetermined load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: Valeo Electrical Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Harry Charles Buchanan, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7003845
    Abstract: A wiper system 10 comprising a pivot shaft 41, a lever portion 12 provided on the pivot shaft 41 at right angles, a wiper arm 14 attached to the lever portion, and a wiper blade 15 attached to the wiper arm is constructed such that, when a windscreen 17 is viewed from a surface side thereof, the pivot shaft is disposed at a position which is displaced towards a center of the windscreen from an edge 35 thereof, such that the lever portion extends in such a manner that a distal end 42 thereof always protrudes from the edge of the windscreen, and such that the lever portion and the wiper arm are integrally connected together so as to form and maintain an acute angle ?.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Mamoru Kagawa
  • Patent number: 6994395
    Abstract: A motor vehicle equipment module includes a lock formed of a bolt received in a housing designed to be mounted on a support part and a striker designed to be mounted on a mobile part along a globally axial direction relative to the support part between an open position and a closed position wherein the bolt cooperates with the striker. When the module is delivered to be installed on the vehicle, the striker and the bolt are linked together by an intermediate plate for temporarily indexing the position of the bolt relative to the position of the striker and to facilitate mounting and fixing of the module on the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2006
    Assignee: Valeo Systemes d'Essuyage
    Inventor: Franck Cathala
  • Patent number: 6978510
    Abstract: A wiper system for wiping a movable window (2), in particular of a motor vehicle, having a rotationally drivable first coupling part (10) for connection to a rotationally drivable drive shaft (9) disposed downstream of a stationary motor-gear unit (6), a second coupling part (15), which is connected to a wiper shaft (14) for driving a wiper (5), is movable in common with the window (2), and can be brought in centering fashion, relative to the drive shaft (9), with the first coupling part (10) in a torque-transmitting way along with the wiper shaft (14), and an overload-prevention means for limiting the torque that can be transmitted between the first coupling part (10) and the second coupling part (15), which prevention means is embodied in one piece with the first coupling part (10) and/or the second coupling part (15).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2005
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Richard Knauf
  • Patent number: 6976285
    Abstract: The invention relates to a four-hinged wiper arm for a windshield wiper system, especially for an automobile wherein a connecting rod is pivotally connected to a driving arm in a first bearing point and to a control arm in a second bearing point. A hinged part is coupled to the connecting rod. A wiper blade that can be placed on the hinged part or on a wiper rod connected to the hinged part can be pressed against the windshield to be wiped by a spring element that is mounted on the four-hinged wiper arm. In order to ensure good wiping quality and low-noise operation over a long service period, the invention provides that the connecting rod or the driving arm or the control arm is fitted with an antifriction bearing at least one of the two locating points of the four hinged wiper arm. According to advantageous embodiments of the invention, the four-hinged wiper arm is fitted with an antifriction bearing on both bearing points, whereby the antifriction bearing is preferably a deep groove ball bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Assignee: Valeo Auto-Electric Wischer und Motoren GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Scholl, Herbert Bienert
  • Patent number: 6952857
    Abstract: A wiper arm window latch system and method includes an end of a wiper arm which is mounted on a window and which is received in a drive coupler coupled to a drive motor mounted on a door. The drive coupler permits the wiper arm to be drivingly coupled to a wiper motor. The drive coupler and end of the wiper arm also cooperate to lock the wiper arm to the drive coupler, thereby causing the window of the vehicle to be locked in a closed position, such as against the door. This system and method is particularly suited for use in a vehicle having a rear window which is pivotable between an open position and a closed position and where a rear window wiper is desired or required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2005
    Assignee: Valeo Electrical Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard L. Ponziani
  • Patent number: 6941611
    Abstract: An energy absorbing wiper system for a vehicle, including: a pivot shaft to which a wiper arm is fixed; a pivot shaft holder into which the pivot shaft is rotatably inserted; an impact absorbing portion provided between the pivot shaft and the pivot shaft holder, the impact absorbing portion being adapted to be broken or deformed when a certain load is applied thereto to thereby permit the movement of the pivot shaft in a sinking direction relative to the pivot shaft holder; and, an energy absorbing member interposed between the wiper arm and the pivot shaft holder, the energy absorbing member adapted to be broken or deformed while permitting the sink of the pivot shaft when the pivot shaft moves in the sinking direction after the impact absorbing portion has been broken or deformed, to thereby absorb the moving energy of the pivot shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masakazu Kashiwagi, Tomoaki Sakai
  • Patent number: 6925677
    Abstract: A wiping arrangement is provided for wiping a transparent pane, particularly a motor vehicle window pane, having a driving motor on one side of the pane and a bearing unit with a wiper arm on the opposite side of the pane. The driving motor has a drive shaft and the bearing unit has a rotary shaft, while the drive shaft has a passage opening and the rotary shaft of the bearing unit has a blind hole and, for a precise positioning, the two openings are made to be congruent by means of a positioning device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c.F. Porsche AG
    Inventor: Eduard Bente
  • Patent number: 6923591
    Abstract: A wiper arrangement for the windscreen of a motor vehicle includes a screwless securing device which enables the arrangement to be attached to a vehicle. The securing device includes at least three securing members arranged at a distance from each other, whereby two members are situated on a connecting line. The third securing member is arranged at a distance from the connecting line. The securing device also includes receiving devices with which the securing members can engage. The securing direction of at least one securing member and the corresponding receiving device is orientated in a substantially parallel position to the transversal extension of the windscreen in order to receive moments occurring while the wiper arrangement is in operation in an optimum manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: Valeo Wischersysteme GmbH
    Inventors: Bruno Egner-Walter, Eckhardt Schmid
  • Patent number: 6910243
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for securing a wiper arm, which is driven via a lever mechanism (10) that has a drive lever, connected in a manner fixed against relative rotation to the drive shaft (12), and a steering lever (22, 24, 26) connected to an axle (16, 18, 20), which are pivotably connected to a wiper lever (112). It is proposed that the steering lever (22, 24, 26) is braced in the mounting direction (28) on a bearing shoulder (30, 32, 34) on the axle (16, 18, 20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Joachim Zimmer
  • Patent number: 6901623
    Abstract: A wiper pivot for a wiper apparatus of motor vehicles, which is provided with a pivot holder 3 having a shaft-holding portion 3b to rotatably support a pivot shaft 2, and a body-fixing portion 3d to be fixed to the vehicle body and formed in one body of resin together with the shaft-holding portion 3b through a connecting portion 3c, and the connecting portion 3c is further provided with a thin-walled destructible portion 4 to be destroyed at the time when impulsive force exceeding the predetermined value is applied on the pivot shaft 2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2005
    Assignee: Jidosha Denki Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuo Ohashi, Toshiyuki Fuke
  • Patent number: 6902221
    Abstract: A wiper arrangement for a windscreen of a motor vehicle having a screwless fixing device, which has at least three fixing members arranged at a distance from one another, two of which lie on a connecting line and the third of which is arranged at a distance from the connecting line, and which includes appropriate receiving devices, in which the fixing members can engage and at least one fixing member includes a thickened section for axial securing. The receiving device of the wiper arrangement includes a recess designed to complement the thickened section and in which the thickened section can be received in the manner of a snap-locking connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2005
    Assignee: Valeo Systemes D'Essuyage
    Inventors: Bruno Egner-Walter, Wolfgang Scholl
  • Patent number: 6899370
    Abstract: The invention starts with a fastening of a wiper system (10) to a vehicle body (20) by means of a rubber elastic fastening element (22), which sits on the circumference in a receptacle opening (26) of the wiper system (10) or the vehicle body (20) and sits with a passage opening (28) on a pin (32) of the respective other part, whereby the connection between the wiper system (10) and the vehicle body (20) is detachable via a defined axial force (30) in the direction of the interior of the vehicle body (20). It is proposed that a defined frictional force between the inner and/or outer circumferential surface (36, 38) of the fastening element (22) and the adjacent component (10, 20, 32) is generated by an initial axial stress of the fastening element (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2005
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Kalchschmidt, Marc-Oliver Karle, Christian Reiser
  • Patent number: 6886212
    Abstract: A wiper apparatus that decreases the number of tightening means and can efficiently carry out connecting and fixing work with respect to integration of a wiper motor and pivot axes with a pipe member. A linkage piece at the second pivot axis side is arcuately formed so as to match half the outer circumference of a linkage pipe member, a linkage piece at the wiper motor side is formed so as to be arcuate, on the inner circumferential surface of which, an external fitting portion of a pipe member along the outer circumference of the linkage pipe member and an external fitting portion of the linkage piece along the outer circumference of the linkage piece are formed. The respective linkage pieces, that are disposed on the outer circumference of the linkage pipe member, are connected in a laminated manner at the position of the external fitting portion of the linkage pieces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Assignee: Mitsuba Corporation
    Inventor: Ken Machida
  • Patent number: 6854154
    Abstract: A motor bracket is attached at one end of a vehicle body so as to be able to slide, and is fixed at the other end to the vehicle body. And weak points are provided in the vicinity of a motor bracket fixing section. Weak points are also provided in the vicinity of a first fixing section of a first pivot holder. On the other hand, weak points are also provided in the vicinity of a second fixing section of a second pivot holder. Since the motor bracket slides and becomes detachable if the weak points are ruptured, it is possible to absorb an impact at the wiper motor. Since the first and second pivot holders are also detached if the weak points and weak points are ruptured, it is possible to improve the overall impact absorbing performance of the vehicle wiper assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2005
    Assignee: Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tadashi Masuda
  • Patent number: 6845540
    Abstract: A wiper apparatus for a vehicle windshield has a wiper arm pivot rotatably mounted in a pivot holder fixedly secured to vehicle structure. An end portion of the wiper arm pivot normally extends exteriorly of an impact line defined by surrounding vehicle structure. The wiper arm pivot is axially displayable relative to the pivot holder upon the imposition of an impact load on the exposed end of the wiper arm pivot. An axial displacement biasing member is coupled to the wiper arm pivot for normally biasing the wiper arm pivot to a normal wiper arm wiping position. The axial displacement member returns the wiper arm pivot to the nominal wiping position after the impact load causing axial displacement of the wiper arm pivot has been removed from the wiper arm pivot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2005
    Assignee: Valeo Electrical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Lee A. Bissonnette, Kenneth W. Hensley
  • Patent number: 6842939
    Abstract: The wiper pivot unit for smoothly absorbing a load applied from the outside of a vehicle. The wiper pivot (1) has a pivot shaft (3), a pivot holder (4) and a toothed washer (5). The pivot shaft has a small-diameter section (31) and a large-diameter section (32). The toothed washer is fitted on the large-diameter section to constrict it with a predetermined force. The toothed washer slips off the large-diameter section when a load of a predetermined value or more acts upon the pivot shaft. When the toothed washer is shifted to the small-diameter section, the pivot shaft descends smoothly along the pivot holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2005
    Assignee: Asmo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Hasegawa, Yoshimasa Sato, Yuji Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20040255424
    Abstract: A windshield wiper device for a motor vehicle is proposed with at least one drive part (10), which features a first coupling part (18) and at least one wiper part (12), which bears a wiper shaft (22) and features a second coupling part (20), which is essentially rigidly connected to the wiper shaft (22), whereby the second coupling part (20) can be brought eccentrically into effective connection with the first coupling part (18).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2004
    Publication date: December 23, 2004
    Inventors: Achim Kraus, Sofiene Gharbi
  • Publication number: 20040255423
    Abstract: The invention starts with a wiper system with a mounting plate (10) made of sheet metal, which features at least one receptacle opening (38, 48) to support drive shafts (14), in which opening a pre-mounted bearing unit (12) with a bearing housing (16) is inserted, whose outer contour (24, 26) is adapted to the inner contour (42) of the receptacle opening (38, 48). It is proposed that the bearing housing (16) is a deep-drawn sheet metal part and has a cylindrical bearing sleeve (18) on which a plate-shaped flange (22) is formed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2004
    Publication date: December 23, 2004
    Inventors: Michael Weiler, Joachim Zimmer
  • Patent number: 6832802
    Abstract: A wiper system for a glass pane of a motor vehicle includes a fixing device which itself includes at least three fixing mechanisms which are set apart from each other and corresponding receiving devices in which the fixing mechanisms engage the wiper system also includes a contact device having at least one essentially rigid part that is connected to the system and a complementary vehicle-side part the contact device provides the connection between a driving device of the wiper system and a vehicle-side supply device. In order to facilitate the mounting of the wiper system, the vehicle-side part of the contact device is essentially rigidly connected to the vehicle and the two parts of the contact device are aligned in such a way that a contact is established automatically when the wiper system is fixed to the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2004
    Assignee: Valeo Wischersysteme GmbH
    Inventor: Bruno Egner-Walter
  • Publication number: 20040250368
    Abstract: A wiper system for wiping a movable window (2), in particular of a motor vehicle, having a rotationally drivable first coupling part (10) for connection to a rotationally drivable drive shaft (9) disposed downstream of a stationary motor-gear unit (6), a second coupling part (15), which is connected to a wiper shaft (14) for driving a wiper (5), is movable in common with the window (2), and can be brought in centering fashion, relative to the drive shaft (9), with the first coupling part (10) in a torque-transmitting way along with the wiper shaft (14), and an overload-prevention means for limiting the torque that can be transmitted between the first coupling part (10) and the second coupling part (15), which prevention means is embodied in one piece with the first coupling part (10) and/or the second coupling part (15).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2002
    Publication date: December 16, 2004
    Inventor: Richard Knauf
  • Publication number: 20040244134
    Abstract: A windshield wiper structural assembly and a method of forming the same is disclosed. The structural member is generally comprised of an elongate tubular component, which is bent to the desired configuration. The pivot mechanisms (8, 10) are designed for application to the exterior surface of the tubular component, whereupon they are clamped to the tubular component where they are retained. The clamping is done by wire clips which are crimped around the pivot mechanisms (8, 10). Pins can also be driven through the housings and the tubular component to prevent rotation of the housings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2004
    Publication date: December 9, 2004
    Inventor: Philip S. Linden
  • Patent number: 6820302
    Abstract: The invention starts with a wiper arm (10) with a wiper blade (20) that is connected in an articulated manner, which includes a wiper strip support (22) and wiper strip (24) and is laterally guided vis-à-vis the wiper arm (10) by a device (28) with an elastic connecting blade (34), whereby a first end (30) of the connecting blade (34) is fixed on an articulated part (12) of the wiper arm (10). It is proposed that a second end (32) of the connecting blade (34) be fixed on the wiper blade (20) and the connecting blade (34) feature an area (40, 46, 48) that is flexible in a longitudinal direction (54).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2004
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Joachim Zimmer
  • Patent number: 6820303
    Abstract: The invention is based on a wiper arm (10), with a pivotably connected wiper blade (16), which includes at least one bracket (18,20,22) and a wiper strip (26) and which is guided laterally in relation to the wiper arm (10) by a device (32,44,58). A first part (34,48,62) of the device (32,44,58) associated with the wiper arm (10) is connected to a second part (36,46) associated with the wiper blade (16) by means of a link (38,50,60), which flexes approximately perpendicular to the windshield (30). The invention proposes that the second part (36,46) be permanently connected to the wiper blade (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2004
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Joachim Zimmer, Harald Rapp
  • Publication number: 20040226128
    Abstract: A boot is installed to a shaft portion of a ball pin and slidably engages a joint case to seal between the ball pin and the joint case. The boot includes a slidably engaging portion, a connecting portion and a flexible portion. The slidably engaging portion slidably engages the joint case. The connecting portion is attached to the shaft portion of the ball pin. The flexible portion flexibly connects between the slidably engaging portion and the connecting portion. The slidably engaging portion includes an arcuate section and a flange section. The arcuate section has an arcuate cross section on an inner peripheral side of the slidably engaging portion. The flange section projects on an outer peripheral side of the slidably engaging portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2004
    Publication date: November 18, 2004
    Applicant: ASMO CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yoshiyuki Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 6817056
    Abstract: In a windshield wiper drive mechanism, having a pivotably supported drive shaft, a drive rocker (10) solidly connected to it, a coupling rocker (14) that is connected to the drive rocker by a drive joint (16), a support rocker (18) that is connected to the coupling rocker (14) by a support joint (20) and is supported by a blind joint (22), a windshield wiper arm (26), which is connected to the coupling rocker by a joint (28), a contact-pressure spring (30) that acts upon the windshield wiper arm relative to the coupling rocker, and a compensation joint (24) that is disposed on one of the rockers, the object is for the tilting moments generated by the contact-pressure spring to be reduced. To that end, a compensation spring (34) is provided on the compensation joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2004
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Gerd Kuehbauch
  • Publication number: 20040216258
    Abstract: The invention relates to a wiper system with a wiper drive (1), which is comprised of a wiper motor (2) and a gear (3). A wiper arm shaft (14) for a wiper arm (19) can be driven via the output shaft (5) of the gear (3). Linking points (31, 32, 33) for accommodating the wiper drive (1) on a surface (24, 40) are arranged in the housing area (7) of the wiper drive (1). The linking points (31, 32, 33) of the wiper drive (1) each feature a decoupling element (41, 42, 43), in which fastening elements (55) to mount the wiper drive (1) either on a vehicle body (24) or on a screw-down surface (40) are accommodated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2003
    Publication date: November 4, 2004
    Inventors: Johannes Moosmann, Claus Fleischer, Norbert Wegner, Thomas Weigold, Joachim Zimmer
  • Publication number: 20040205923
    Abstract: A drive mechanism 10 for a windshield wiper has a pivot 11 with a first end with an internally threaded hole 22 for receiving a screw 23 for securing a wiper arm. The first end has a coupling surface 24 adapted to mate with a DIN style wiper arm attachment. A ring driver 25 is fitted to the end of the pivot and mates with the coupling surface 24. The driver has an outer surface 27 adapted to mate with a US style wiper arm attachment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2004
    Publication date: October 21, 2004
    Inventors: Kevin Erik Hultquist, Michael W. Parmelee
  • Publication number: 20040200025
    Abstract: A wiper pivot for a wiper apparatus of motor vehicles, which is provided with a pivot holder 3 having a shaft-holding portion 3b to rotatably support a pivot shaft 2, and a body-fixing portion 3d to be fixed to the vehicle body and formed in one body of resin together with the shaft-holding portion 3b through a connecting portion 3c, and the connecting portion 3c is further provided with a thin-walled destructible portion 4 to be destroyed at the time when impulsive force exceeding the predetermined value is applied on the pivot shaft 2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2004
    Publication date: October 14, 2004
    Applicant: JIDOSHA DENKI KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasuo Ohashi, Toshiyuki Fuke
  • Patent number: 6802102
    Abstract: A windshield wiper includes a drive shaft (10), to which shaft a crank (12) is fastened. A base body (14) of the drive shaft (10) is made from an extruded light metal profile and on its free end, in the region of a fastening part, carries a connection part (16, 22) of a harder material, which has a screw thread (18).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2004
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Wilfried Merkel, Roger Daenen
  • Patent number: 6792643
    Abstract: A wiper arm window latch system and method includes an end of a wiper arm which is mounted on a window and which is received in a drive coupler coupled to a drive motor mounted on a door. The drive coupler permits the wiper arm to be drivingly coupled to a wiper motor. The drive coupler and end of the wiper arm also cooperate to lock the wiper arm to the drive coupler, thereby causing the window of the vehicle to be locked in a closed position, such as against the door. This system and method is particularly suited for use in a vehicle having a rear window which is pivotable between an open position and a closed position and where a rear window wiper is desired or required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Assignee: Valeo Electrical Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard L. Ponziani
  • Patent number: 6793396
    Abstract: The invention concerns a wiper bearing housing having a bearing region (12) and at least one mounting element (14, 16), whereby at least one transitional region (18, 20) between the bearing region (12) and the mounting element (14, 16) is deformable. The invention further concerns a method for producing a wiper bearing housing (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Joachim Zimmer
  • Patent number: 6786671
    Abstract: A device for fixing the hub of an arm of a wind-screen wiper (2) on a pivoting axis (1) with locking elements (6, 7) for the arm on the pivoting axis (1), a cavity (32) which is created in the hub (2) and is provided with adjusting and angular positioning elements for the arm in relation to the axis (1), whereby the hub (2) rests on the base of a stop (3) which nestles on a radius of operation (4) of the said axis (1); the locking elements (6, 7) are adapted in such a way that they can be engaged in a locking or unlocking position, the adjusting elements includes a connecting ring (10) which is rotationally fixed to the axis (1) and accommodated in the cavity (32) of the hub (2) with a certain amount of play allowing for limited relative angular displacement between the connecting ring (10) and the hub (2) when the locking elements (6, 7) are in an unlocked position, whereby all relative displacement is prohibited between the connecting ring (10) and the hub (2) when the locking elements (6, 7) are in a locke
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: Societe de Recherches d'Etudes et de Valorisation
    Inventor: Jean-Pierre Eckendorff
  • Patent number: 6785930
    Abstract: This invention relates to windshield wiper system and method which utilizes a flexible member to account for compression loads in excess of a predetermined load, such as 30 percent greater than a maximum load for the flexible member. The system utilizes a flexible pultruded composite material having a relatively low modulus of elasticity, yet relatively high elongation characteristics. The flexible arm bends to facilitate preventing damage to components in the wiper system when a compressive load applied to the flexible member reaches a predetermined load as a result of a fatigue condition, such as snow or ice build up on the windshield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: Valeo Electrical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Harry C. Buchanan, Jr., Yaomin Dong
  • Patent number: 6782580
    Abstract: A wiper system (1) for vehicles, having at least one wiper lever linkage (3) that has at least one wiper arm (35), and a method for operating the wiper lever linkage (3), are proposed. The wiper lever linkage has a first pivot lever (5), which can be coupled to a stationary first shaft (21) in a manner fixed against relative rotation, and a second pivot lever (7) that can be coupled to a stationary second shaft (29) in a manner fixed against relative rotation, the pivot levers being connected in articulated fashion to a coupling element (9). The wiper system (1) is distinguished in that the coupling element (9) is embodied in multiple parts and has a first coupling part (11) and a second coupling part (13), which are coupled to one another with the aid of a joint (15).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Joachim Zimmer
  • Patent number: 6772470
    Abstract: A four-jointed wiper arm assembly includes a drive lever, which is connected to a driveshaft so that they rotate together and is coupled via a coupling element to a link rod which is pivotably mounted in a bearing on a vehicle body. The drive lever encloses an angle of approximately 90° with the coupling element in a parking position of the windshield wiper and is adjustable about an adjustment axis which extends approximately parallel to the coupling element and intersects the longitudinal axis of the driveshaft, and the coupling element is connected to the link rod via a ball joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Joachim Zimmer