Wiper Arm Adapter with Rotating Plastic Longitudinal Bar
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wiper arm to wiper blade connection devices lack flexibility and adaptability for different vehicle window curvatures, and their assembly can be complex and hindered by adjacent spoiler profiles.
Innovation Solution
A connection device featuring a plastic adapter with a longitudinal web and bearing bolt, allowing for 45° rotation and snap-in engagement with the connecting element, along with guide surfaces and elevated side walls for enhanced assembly coordination and larger pivot angles, enabling use on various vehicle types with diverse window curvatures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional sheet metal claw connection device is used, then the assembly is robust and provides stable connection, but the assembly process becomes complex and difficult to coordinate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from sheet metal to plastic, enabling integration of multiple functions into a single molded component. The connecting element combines the claw structure, bearing surfaces, and guide features in one plastic part, eliminating the need for separate sheet metal components and rivets, thus simplifying assembly while maintaining connection stability through integrated design
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple separate components (claw, bearing surfaces, guide features) into a single integrated plastic connecting element. This consolidation reduces the number of parts and assembly steps while providing the same structural functions, directly addressing the complexity issue without sacrificing connection reliability
2Volume of moving object
If the adapter is positioned close to the wiper blade, then the connection device becomes compact, but the pivot angle is limited by adjacent spoiler profiles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves the spatial conflict by elevating the bearing bores to a higher vertical dimension through raised side walls. This vertical displacement allows the adapter to pivot through larger angles by clearing adjacent spoiler profiles in the horizontal plane, while the compact footprint is maintained through the vertical arrangement of the bearing surfaces
3Reliability
If the bearing pin length is increased to improve engagement, then the connection becomes more secure, but the assembly coordination becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces guide surfaces as intermediary features that mediate the engagement between the bearing pin and bearing bores. These guide surfaces on the adapter's end faces direct the bearing pin into proper alignment with the bearing bores during assembly, ensuring secure engagement while simplifying the coordination process through automatic alignment rather than requiring precise manual positioning
4Reliability
If multiple separate components are used for the connection device, then each component can be optimized for its specific function, but the overall assembly becomes more complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple optimized functions (claw connection, bearing surfaces, guide features) into a single molded plastic connecting element. This integration eliminates the need for assembling multiple separate components, directly improving productivity by reducing assembly steps and time, while maintaining the functional optimization of each feature through precise mold design
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to an attachment device (10) for connecting a wiper arm to a wiper blade (12), which is rigidly connected to an attachment element (22) of the attachment device (10), whereas an adapter (60) is connected to the attachment element (22) in an articulated fashion and is detachably fastened to the wiper arm. According to the invention, the attachment element (22) and the adapter (60) are produced from plastic, and the adapter (60) has a longitudinal bar (74) extending along a longitudinal center plane, said bar supporting a bearing pin (76), which runs transverse to the longitudinal direction, in the central region of the bar. Additionally, the longitudinal bar (74) and the bearing pin (76) protrude to a certain extent beyond the side walls (62) of the adapter (60) to the attachment element (22), the part of the longitudinal bar (74) protruding to the attachment part (26) being guided between two contact surfaces (80), which run in the longitudinal direction and are offset in relation to one another so that in the assembled position, each longitudinal side of the longitudinal bar (74) rests against a contact surface (80) and the longitudinal bar (74) can be rotated through an angle of approximately 45° about a vertical axis between the contact surfaces (80). The length of the bearing pin (76) is dimensioned so that in the assembled position, both ends of the pin engage in bearing holes (50) in the side walls (42) of the attachment part (26).