Windshield Molding Water Drainage Cutout

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing windshield glass peripheral structures allow water droplets to drip onto wiper units due to the design of the molding, leading to potential early deterioration, and current solutions involve adding new components which increase complexity and cost.

Innovation Solution

A windshield glass peripheral structure with a molding that includes a water drainage portion with a specific shape and orientation, positioned further outside than the wiper unit, to direct water droplets away from the wiper unit without adding new components, featuring a design that balances water drainage efficiency with join strength.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a water stopping member such as a dam rubber is provided to the upper end portion of the molding, then water droplets can be dammed from running along the molding and beading toward the vehicle width direction inside, but the number of components increases and assembly steps and component costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewater exposure of wiper unitVSAvoidnumber of components

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The water stopping function is merged into the molding itself by forming a water drainage portion as an integrated structure. The upper end portion of the joining face is cut out to create a configuration that naturally directs water downward, eliminating the need for separate water stopping members while maintaining the water protection function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The harmful function of the molding upper end portion (directing water toward the vehicle inside) is extracted and replaced by a specifically designed water drainage portion. This portion is cut out from the joining face to create a new function that directs water downward away from the wiper unit, removing the harmful effect without adding separate components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Strength

If the molding is curved protruding toward the vehicle front and vehicle bottom, then the molding can be joined to the inner face of the windshield glass, but water droplets run along the upper end portion of the molding and head toward the vehicle width direction inside

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvejoin strength between molding and windshield glassVSAvoidwater droplet flow toward wiper unit

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The molding structure is modified locally at the upper end portion of the joining face by cutting out a water drainage portion. This local modification changes the water flow characteristics in that specific area to direct water downward, while maintaining the overall curved structure and join strength of the molding.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of the molding upper end portion directing water toward the vehicle inside (harmful function), the water drainage portion is designed to direct water in the opposite direction - downward away from the wiper unit. This inverts the harmful water flow direction into a beneficial drainage function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If a water drainage portion is formed by cutting out the upper end portion of the joining face, then water droplets are directed away from the wiper unit, but the joining face area is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewater exposure of wiper unitVSAvoidjoin strength between molding and windshield glass

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The water drainage portion is designed with optimal dimensions that provide sufficient water drainage function while maintaining adequate joining face area. The cut-out portion is sized and shaped to effectively direct water downward without excessively reducing the bonding area, achieving a balance between drainage efficiency and join strength.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

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

Effectively suppresses water exposure on the wiper unit by directing water droplets to fall outside the wiper unit area, while maintaining the structural integrity of the molding, even at varying water flow speeds and processing variations.

Implementation Method 1

a vehicle up-down direction upper end portion of the joining face is cut out further toward a vehicle width direction outer side than a wiper unit provided at a vehicle up-down direction lower side of the cowl louver

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentUS9963027B2Windshield glass peripheral structure

Publication Date: 2018.05.08 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK

AI summary

A windshield glass peripheral structure is provided including a molding that couples a windshield glass with a cowl louver. The molding includes an attachment portion that is attached to an inner side of an upper end portion of the cowl louver, an interposing portion that is interposed between and seals between a lower end portion of the windshield glass and an upper end portion of the cowl louver, and has a leading end at a vehicle outer side making contact with a lower edge portion of the windshield, glass, and a joining portion. The joining portion extends in a vehicle width direction following, the lower end portion of the windshield glass, is formed with a water drainage portion cut out from a vehicle up-down direction upper end portion of the joining face further toward a vehicle width direction outer side than a wiper unit.