Fin-Ray Wiper Cover for Curved Windshield Adaptation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional windshield wiper devices often fail to maintain consistent contact with sharply curved windshields, leading to streaks and fogging, and lack adequate protection for the wiper arm on the side facing away from the window.

Innovation Solution

A windshield wiper device featuring a wiper arm with an elongated, partially bendable upper and lower part connected by rotary joints and a cover device that can be attached to the upper side of the wiper arm to provide protection and improve contact with the windshield, using materials like rubber, carbon, or TPE for the cover device to enhance durability and flexibility.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the wiper blade is made flexible to adapt to curved windshields, then the wiping quality improves, but the structural complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewiping qualityVSAvoidstructural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The wiper blade is divided into multiple fin elements (10, 12) connected by pivot joints (18), allowing each segment to independently adapt to the windshield curvature while maintaining overall structural integrity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The connecting elements are designed with pivot joints that allow movement of the upper and lower parts relative to each other, enabling the wiper blade to dynamically adjust its shape to match the windshield contours during operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If the wiper arm pressure on the windshield is increased to prevent hazing, then the wiping reliability improves, but the wear on the wiper arm and blade increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewiping reliabilityVSAvoidwiper arm durability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The protective cover is made of flexible material that can conform to the windshield surface, providing protection without requiring high compression forces that would accelerate wear

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The protective cover acts as a cushioning layer that protects the wiper arm and blade from direct contact with the windshield surface, reducing wear before it occurs

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If a protective cover is added to protect the wiper arm, then the protection level improves, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection levelVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The protective cover is implemented as a flexible shell that can be attached to the wiper arm, providing comprehensive protection while adding minimal structural complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The protective cover serves multiple functions: protecting the wiper arm from windshield contact, reducing noise, and potentially serving as an advertising medium, thereby justifying the added complexity through multi-functionality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3177490B1Cover for a fin-ray wiper
Publication Date: 2019.10.23 ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
  • EP3177490B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3177490B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP3177490B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The invention relates to a windshield wiping device (100) for a vehicle, comprising a wiper blade (2) that has an elongate upper part (10) and an elongate lower part (12), which are at least partially bendable. Also provided are multiple connecting elements (18) for connecting the upper part (10) and the lower part (12), the connecting elements (18) being spaced apart along a longitudinal direction (8) of the wiper blade (2) and being attached to the upper part (10) and/or the lower part (12) by a rotary joint, and the connecting elements (18) being designed to allow a movement of the upper part (10) and the lower part relative to each other with a movement component along the longitudinal direction (8) of the wiper blade (2). The windshield wiping device further comprises a covering device (40) which can be mounted on a top side (11) of the upper part (10) and is designed to cover the wiper blade (2) on a side of the wiper blade (2) facing away from the windshield (4).