Flexible Scraper with Conforming Edges to Reduce Hand Strain

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing ice scrapers for vehicles suffer from poor ergonomics, inefficiency in removing material over a wide path, and are prone to damage, with designs that do not easily fit in storage spaces and require excessive hand and wrist strain due to their bulky and inflexible construction.

Innovation Solution

A scraper with continuous and discontinuous material removal edges that can conform to curved surfaces, featuring a handle mechanism that distributes force evenly and transforms bending loads into tension and compression, allowing simultaneous contact with the surface and reducing strain on the user.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If prior art scrapers use rigid material removal surfaces, then structural strength is maintained, but the scraper cannot conform to curved surfaces and is easily damaged

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to conform to curved surfacesVSAvoiddurability of material removal surface

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The scraper employs a flexible material removal surface that can deform to conform to curved surfaces while maintaining structural integrity. The flexible surface allows adaptation to different curvatures without breaking, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and strength.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The scraper design incorporates dynamic characteristics where the material removal surface can flex and adapt during use. This dynamic flexibility allows the scraper to maintain contact with curved surfaces while the overall structure provides strength through its geometric configuration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Strength

If prior art scrapers use bulky construction for strength, then structural integrity is maintained, but ergonomics deteriorate and hand/wrist strain increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidergonomics and hand/wrist strain

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The scraper uses a flexible, thin material removal surface instead of bulky rigid structures. This flexible surface provides sufficient strength for material removal while being lightweight and easy to maneuver, significantly improving ergonomics and reducing hand and wrist strain.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Productivity

If prior art scrapers use single material removal edge, then device complexity is reduced, but productivity decreases due to inability to remove material over wide path simultaneously

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveefficiency of material removal over wide pathVSAvoidnumber of material removal edges

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The scraper divides the material removal function into multiple separate edges along the surface. Each edge can independently contact and remove material, allowing simultaneous removal over a wide path. This segmentation increases productivity without requiring complex mechanical systems to coordinate multiple edges.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Area of stationary object

If prior art scrapers use large size for wide coverage, then material removal coverage is improved, but storage capability deteriorates as they do not fit in available spaces

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoverage area of material removalVSAvoidstorage space requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The scraper uses a flexible, thin material removal surface that can be collapsed or folded when not in use. This allows the scraper to maintain a large effective working area during use while occupying minimal storage space, resolving the contradiction between coverage area and storage volume.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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 scraper effectively removes adhered material from curved surfaces with reduced hand and wrist strain, improved ergonomics, and increased efficiency, while being compact enough to fit in vehicle storage spaces.

Implementation Method 1

a first structure that is coupled to the first material removal wall near the first material removal edge and to one or both of the handle and the second material removal wall forming a first truss, where the first truss variably transforms bending loads applied to the first material removal edge into tension and compression loads in the first truss

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLoad transformation through truss structure: Mechanical Advantage

Data Source

PatentUS11453034B2Material removal from surfaces

Publication Date: 2022.09.27 GREENBERGER HAL P

AI summary

Scrapers for removing adhered material from surfaces employ continuous and discontinuous material removal edges to remove different types of material. Continuous and sometimes discontinuous material removal edges are constructed and arranged to conform to the curvature of a surface from which material is to be removed, when a user forces the scraper against the surface. Some scrapers include multiple material removal edges designed to simultaneously contact the surface. The use of multiple points of contact combined with locations of handles provide stable designs that reduce hand and wrist strain.