Angled Squeegee Blade Design for Rear Spoiler Window Cleaning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing automobile window squeegees are unable to effectively clean the V-shaped area under rear window spoilers due to their 90-degree angles, which prevent proper engagement with the upper periphery of the windshield, leading to streaks and incomplete cleaning.

Innovation Solution

An angled squeegee blade and sponge, shaped as parallelograms with 45-degree angles, allowing full access to the V-shaped space under the spoiler, ensuring complete cleaning without streaks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a traditional rectangular squeegee blade with 90-degree angles is used, then the device can maintain a simple rectangular structure, but it cannot properly engage the upper periphery of the windshield under the spoiler, resulting in incomplete cleaning

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to clean under spoilerVSAvoidblade geometry

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The squeegee blade is changed from a symmetric rectangular shape to an asymmetric parallelogram shape with 45-degree angles. This asymmetric geometry allows the blade to properly engage the V-shaped valley under the spoiler while maintaining structural simplicity, resolving the contradiction between operational effectiveness and geometric constraints

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

2Ease of operation

If the squeegee blade angle is changed to 45 degrees to access the V-shaped valley, then complete cleaning of the spoiler area is achieved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess to V-shaped areaVSAvoidangled head structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The device is segmented into modular components (handle, head, blade, sponge) where the angled head is a separate replaceable component. This segmentation allows the complex angled geometry to be isolated to a single module, making the overall device easier to manufacture and maintain while achieving the required access to the V-shaped area

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Adaptability or versatility

If a single angled squeegee is used to clean both the spoiler area and the rest of the window, then one tool suffices for complete cleaning, but the angled design may compromise traditional cleaning effectiveness

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemulti-area cleaning capabilityVSAvoidcleaning performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The angled squeegee blade and sponge are designed with 45-degree angles that enable the single device to effectively clean both the V-shaped valley under the spoiler and the traditional flat window surfaces. The universal angled geometry maintains reliable cleaning performance across different window areas, eliminating the need for multiple specialized tools

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS12419481B2Angled auto window washer and squeegee for rear spoilers

Publication Date: 2025.09.23 BINT TIMOTHY D

AI summary

A handheld window cleaning tool having a squeegee blade shaped as a parallelogram having diagonally opposing corners defined by angles of approximately forty-five degrees. The squeegee blade is secured along a first longitudinal edge of a head shaped as a parallelogram having diagonally opposing corners defined by angles of approximately forty-five degrees so that the lateral edges of the squeegee blade and the head are colinear. The opposing longitudinal edge of the head may secure a hollow sponge portion also defined by a parallelogram having diagonally opposing corners defined by angles of approximately forty-five degrees.