Compound Water Wiper Blade Assembly for Side Water Expulsion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing water-wiper blades for automobiles and trucks are complex and costly, with inconvenient attachment mechanisms and poor fit in the hand, and often fail to effectively direct water to the sides for expulsion.

Innovation Solution

A water-wiper apparatus featuring a rigid or semi-rigid handle with a shaped engagement interface and a flexible wiper blade with curved sides and varying tip designs, allowing for secure attachment and efficient water removal by channeling water to the sides.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If existing water-wiper blades are used, then water removal function is provided, but the complexity and cost of handles and wiper blades increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewater removal functionVSAvoidcomplexity of handles and wiper blades

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The wiper blade is divided into a handle portion and a wiping portion that can be separately manufactured and assembled. The handle contains a recess with engagement features, while the wiping portion has corresponding protrusions with engagement features, allowing modular assembly and replacement without replacing the entire device.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The wiping portion is designed as a replaceable component that can be easily detached and replaced when worn or damaged. This allows the expensive handle to be reused while only replacing the cheaper wiping portion, reducing overall cost and complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Reliability

If existing water-wiper blades are used, then water removal function is provided, but the inconvenience of attaching a new blade to a handle increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewater removal functionVSAvoidconvenience of attaching blade to handle

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The engagement features on both the handle recess and wiping portion protrusions work together to create a secure mechanical connection. The protrusions fit into the recess with complementary engagement features that lock the components together, providing a simple yet reliable attachment mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If existing water-wiper blades are used, then water removal function is provided, but the fit of handle to human hand deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewater removal functionVSAvoidfit of handle to human hand

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The handle is designed with specific ergonomic characteristics including a generally cylindrical shape with longitudinal ridges that provide grip surfaces. The ridges create localized contact points that fit the contours of human fingers, improving comfort and control during operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

4Reliability

If existing water-wiper blades are used, then water removal function is provided, but the functionality of wiper blade in directing captured water to the sides for expulsion deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewater removal functionVSAvoidefficiency of water expulsion

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The wiping portion features curved side surfaces that guide water laterally toward the edges of the blade. The curvature of these surfaces creates a natural flow path that directs captured water to the sides for efficient expulsion, improving the overall water removal capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Data Source

PatentUS7627924B2Compound water-wiper apparatus

Publication Date: 2009.12.08 ONE PASS LLC

AI summary

A water-wiper apparatus has a handle having a height, width, and length with a substantially oval shape in cross-section orthogonal to the length, a major axis of the oval shape in the direction of the height, the handle formed of a rigid or semi-rigid material, a first engagement interface along the length of the handle in a region bisected by the major axis, the engagement interface comprising a channel having a shape and a first width and an opening of a second width less than the first width to the outside of the handle, and a wiper blade of the length of the handle, formed of a flexible material and having a second engagement interface shaped to engage the first engagement interface, engaging the wiper blade with the handle, the wiper blade having a curved side in cross section from the handle to a tip end of a wiper leg away from the handle, the curve of the side having a radius of from one-half inch to one-and-one-half inches.