Flat-Blade Wiper Connector Structure for Even Stress Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing windscreen wiper devices with inclined upper surfaces experience uneven stresses on their components, leading to local damages, wear, and aging, particularly when used with air deflecting designs, which affects wiping quality.
Innovation Solution
A windscreen wiper device with a connecting device featuring a U-shaped second part and reinforcement means ensures that bending locations of its legs lie in the same horizontal plane, reducing stress and wear by using a channel with an inclined base and transverse ribs to distribute pressure evenly, and incorporating a resilient tongue and protrusions for secure attachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If an inclined upper surface of the second part of the connecting device is used to achieve an air deflecting effect, then air deflection performance is improved, but uneven stresses occur on the front side and back side of the second part, leading to local damages, wear and aging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by providing different geometries to the front side and back side of the second part. The front side has a first geometry optimized for air deflection with an inclined upper surface, while the back side has a second geometry that provides reinforcement at bending locations. This asymmetric design allows each side to be optimized for its specific function without compromising the other.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by providing reinforcement means specifically at the bending locations on the back side of the second part. These reinforcement means (such as ribs or increased wall thickness) are localized only where bending stresses occur during mounting, rather than uniformly throughout the entire second part. This allows the inclined upper surface to maintain its air deflection geometry while specific areas receive additional strength where needed.
2Reliability
If reinforcement means are added to equalize bending stresses, then structural reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the reinforcement means with the second part of the connecting device itself. The reinforcement features (such as ribs or thickened sections) are integrated directly into the molded structure of the second part rather than being separate components. This combining approach provides the necessary structural reinforcement while avoiding additional parts, assembly steps, or complex manufacturing processes.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively reduces wear and aging of the wiper blade material by evenly distributing stress, maintaining high wiping performance and extending the device's lifespan without complex machinery or additional tools.
Implementation Method 1
a resilient tongue arranged to engage into a second recess... said resilient tongue is hingeable along a hinge axis between an inward position retaining said wiper blade onto said rod-like extension and an outward position releasing said wiper blade from said rod-like extension
Data Source
AI summary
A windscreen wiper device of the flat blade type comprising an elastic, elongated carrier element, as well as an elongated wiper blade of a flexible material, which can be placed in abutment with a windscreen to be wiped, which wiper blade includes at least one longitudinal slit, in which slit at least one longitudinal strip of the carrier element is disposed, which windscreen wiper device comprises a connecting device for a rod-like extension of an oscillating arm, wherein said rod-like extension can be pivotally connected to said connecting device about a pivot axis near a free end thereof, wherein said connecting device comprises a first part and a second part, wherein said rod-like extension of said oscillating arm can be pivotally connected to said first part about said pivot axis, with the interposition of said second part, wherein said first part is connected to said wiper blade and said second part is detachably snapped onto said first part, with the special feature that said second part comprises a channel arranged to receive said free end of said rod-like extension, wherein said second part has a U-shaped cross-section having an inclined base and two legs extending downwardly from said base, and wherein said second part comprises reinforcement means to arrange that bending locations of said legs upon snapping said second part onto said first part lie in the same horizontal plane.