Profiled Strip Water Drainage for Windshield Cowl Connection

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing profiled strips for connecting a windshield to a cowl plenum cover do not effectively control the drainage of water that runs off the A-pillar and may lead to uncontrolled dripping into the engine compartment, posing a risk of short circuits.

Innovation Solution

A profiled strip with an integrated or additional water drainage element on the latching portion, designed to guide and drain water in a controlled manner, featuring elements like additional parts, drain openings, or material thickenings to manage water flow.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If water drainage is not provided in the profiled strip, then the structure remains simple and complete, but water drips uncontrolled into the engine compartment causing short circuits

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrical system reliabilityVSAvoidprofiled strip structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The profiled strip is divided into functional segments: the latching portion for mechanical connection and the water drainage element for water management. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific function independently, with the drainage element being a separate component that can be attached to or integrated with the latching portion, thereby improving reliability without significantly complicating the overall structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The water drainage element acts as an intermediary component between the latching portion and the engine compartment. It intercepts water that would otherwise drip directly into the engine compartment and channels it away through designated drainage paths, thus protecting the electrical system while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a water drainage element is added to the profiled strip, then water is drained in a controlled manner, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuncontrolled water drippingVSAvoidprofiled strip structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The water drainage element is implemented with local quality variations - it has hydrophobic outer surfaces that repel water and hydrophilic inner surfaces that channel water flow. This localized differentiation of surface properties allows the drainage element to effectively manage water in a controlled manner while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure that doesn't require complex mechanical components

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The water drainage element utilizes the vertical dimension by creating an overhang or ledge structure that extends outward from the latching portion. This dimensional addition allows water to be redirected away from the engine compartment in a controlled manner, utilizing gravity and surface tension rather than requiring complex mechanical pumping or channeling systems

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the latching portion is sealed to prevent water entry, then water cannot enter the latching groove, but water accumulates on the outside of the profiled strip and drips uncontrolled

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewater entry into latching portionVSAvoiduncontrolled water dripping from outside

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The water drainage element extracts the water management function from the latching portion itself. By providing a separate drainage structure with hydrophobic outer surfaces and hydrophilic inner channels, it removes water from the external surface in a controlled manner without compromising the seal of the latching portion, thus addressing both harmful effects simultaneously

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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 guides and drains water away from the profiled strip, preventing uncontrolled dripping and reducing the risk of electrical issues in the engine compartment.

Implementation Method 1

The water drainage element is configured to guide and drain water away from the profiled strip in a controlled manner

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCapillary action: Capillary Action

Implementation Method 2

drain water away from the profiled strip

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentUS12570361B2Profiled strip with a water drainage element

Publication Date: 2026.03.10 ELKAMET KUNST GMBH

AI summary

A profiled strip for connecting a windshield of a motor vehicle to a cowl plenum cover includes an attachment portion, a latching portion and a water drainage element. The attachment portion is connectable to the windshield and has an attachment side facing the windshield and an underside facing away from the windshield. The latching portion has a latching groove configured to latchingly receive a rib of the cowl plenum cover and has an outside facing away from the latching groove. The latching groove is bounded by an inner leg adjacent the attachment portion, an outer leg opposite the inner leg, and a bottom portion connecting the inner and outer legs. The water drainage element is disposed on the latching portion in a section along a longitudinal extent of the profiled strip.