Windscreen Wiper Adapter Snap-In Connection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing windshield wiper devices face challenges in achieving an easy, intuitive, and secure connection between the wiper arm and the upper part of the adapter, which is also easy to disassemble, while ensuring a firm and secure hold during operation.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves a snap-in connection mechanism using a safety slide with latching strips and recesses, where the safety slide is guided as a sleeve over the connection part, secured by latching strips that interact with bevels on the locking lugs, allowing for easy assembly and secure transmission of forces, and featuring a stop to prevent accidental disassembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a locking slider mechanism is used to secure the connecting element to the wiper arm, then the connection becomes secure and firm, but the assembly process becomes more complex and requires additional steps
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is divided into separate functional elements: locking lugs on the connecting element, corresponding recesses in the wiper arm, and a locking slider that engages these features. This segmentation allows each component to be simple while the combination provides secure locking.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking lugs and recesses are positioned and dimensioned such that when the connecting element is inserted into the wiper arm, the locking slider automatically engages the locking lugs in the recesses without requiring manual intervention or additional steps.
2Reliability
If a secure locking connection is implemented with multiple components, then the connection reliability improves, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to additional assembly and disassembly steps
Solution Approach 1:
The locking lugs are pre-positioned on the connecting element and the recesses are pre-formed in the wiper arm. When the connecting element is inserted, the locking slider is already in position to engage these features, eliminating the need for separate locking actions.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of requiring the user to manually engage locking mechanisms, the design inverts the approach: the locking features passively engage each other through the geometry of the components themselves, with the locking slider simply needing to be pushed onto the wiper arm.
3Reliability
If the connecting element is designed as a hollow body with locking features, then the connection security improves, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hollow body structure of the connecting element is combined with the locking lugs as integrated features rather than separate components. This merging reduces the number of parts to manufacture while maintaining the secure locking connection.
Solution Approach 2:
The hollow body of the connecting element serves multiple functions: it provides the structural connection between the wiper blade and wiper arm, houses the locking lugs for secure engagement, and allows the locking slider to be pushed through. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional components.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~9
AI summary
In a windscreen wiper device consisting of a wiper arm (2) and an adapter (9) for holding a wiper blade (10) with an adapter top part (6), which has at least one snap-in lug (12) on at least one side wall (19), wherein an inner wall (18) of the connection part (3) of the wiper arm (2) rests against the side wall (19), and in the inner wall (18) there is a recess (17) corresponding to the snap-in lug (12), in which recess the snap-in lug (12) is located in the assembled state, and having a safety slide (4), which is guided by the connection part (3) and is displaceable on the connection part (3) between a disassembly position and a functional position, wherein a wall section (15) of the safety slide (4) engages over the connection part (3) and engages with a snap-in tongue (16) below the side wall and the snap-in tongue (16) has interruptions (22) such that in the functional position the snap-in tongue (16) holds the snap-in lug (12) in the recess (17) and in the disassembly position an interruption (22) of the snap-in tongue (16) comes to rest under the recess (17) in order to enable the adapter top part (3) to be pulled out, the wall section (15) and/or the side wall (19) has an elastic deformability and there is at least one formed bevel (20) on the underside of the snap-in tongue (16) and/or the top side (13) of the snap-in lug (12) such that the connection part (3) can be pressed with the safety slide (4) in the functional position onto the adapter top part (3) until a snapping-in occurs.