Clawed Wiper Blade Backing for Secure Strip Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional windshield wiper blades face challenges in effectively distributing the force from the wiper arm to the wiper strip, often relying on brackets or beams that may not provide optimal performance.
Innovation Solution
A wiper blade design featuring an elongate backing element with descending legs and claws that form a cavity to receive the wiper strip, along with a mounting base and cover, which securely engages the wiper strip and distributes the wiper arm force along the length of the wiper strip.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional brackets or beams are used to distribute force from the wiper arm to the wiper strip, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the force distribution performance is suboptimal
Solution Approach 1:
The backing element is divided into multiple segments including a top portion, opposing legs with claws, and a wiper strip cavity. This segmentation allows each portion to independently contribute to force distribution while maintaining overall structural integrity, resolving the contradiction between performance and complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The wiper strip is nested within the cavity formed by the backing element's legs and claws. This nested configuration allows the wiper strip to be securely held while the backing element distributes force along its entire length, achieving optimal force distribution without requiring additional complex components
2Reliability
If the gap between claws is made narrower than the wide portion of the wiper strip, then the wiper strip is securely secured, but the manufacturing precision requirement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The backing element features localized claws at the ends of the opposing legs that provide secure engagement with the wiper strip's wide portion. This local quality approach concentrates the securing function at specific points rather than requiring uniform precision throughout the entire structure, reducing manufacturing precision requirements while maintaining reliable wiper strip securing
Solution Approach 2:
The backing element may be constructed from composite materials that combine rigidity for maintaining the claw gap geometry with flexibility for absorbing manufacturing tolerances. This allows the structure to maintain secure wiper strip engagement while being more tolerant of normal manufacturing variations
Data Source
AI summary
A wiper blade having a wiper strip having a wide portion and a lip, and an elongate backing element. The backing element having a top portion, and two opposing legs that descend from the top portion, such that each opposing leg has a claw which extends towards the other opposing leg. A gap formed between the claws that is narrower than a width of the wide portion of the wiper strip. The claws, legs, and top portion define a wiper strip cavity sized to receive the wide portion wiper strip.