Wiper Blade Bending Member Thickness Variation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The production and logistics of wiper blades require multiple components with varying thicknesses to accommodate different lengths, leading to increased complexity and costs.
Innovation Solution
A bending member with a longitudinally extending strip having an intermediate portion with a lesser thickness than its lateral portions, allowing for standardization of connectors across different wiper blade lengths, including a transition between the intermediate and lateral portions, and optionally an anti-corrosion layer for improved durability and adhesion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple components with varying thicknesses are used to accommodate different wiper blade lengths, then the flexibility and adaptability of the wiper blade system is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing logistics are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The bending member features a non-uniform thickness distribution along its length, with a first thickness in the intermediate portion and a second thickness in the lateral portions. This local variation in thickness allows the connector to interface with the lateral portions (maintaining standardization) while the intermediate portion's different thickness provides the necessary flexibility adaptation for different wiper blade lengths.
Solution Approach 2:
The lateral portions of the bending member are designed with a standardized second thickness that enables the use of a universal connector across all wiper blade lengths. This single connector design can accommodate multiple blade lengths without requiring different connector variants, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining adaptability.
2Reliability
If the thickness of the flexible element is adapted to match the components, then the reliability and performance of the wiper blade is improved, but the ease of manufacture and logistics are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The bending member is segmented into distinct regions: an intermediate portion with a first thickness and lateral portions with a second thickness. This segmentation allows the manufacturing process to produce a single standardized component that inherently provides the necessary thickness variation, eliminating the need to manufacture and manage multiple different thickness variants.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the thickness parameter of the bending member along its length, creating a gradient or stepped variation from the intermediate portion to the lateral portions. This parameter variation is built into the single component design, allowing one manufacturing process to produce components that adapt to different blade lengths without requiring multiple production lines or inventory variants.
3Ease of manufacture
If a standardized connector is used for all wiper blade lengths, then the ease of manufacture and logistics is improved, but the adaptability to different blade lengths is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The connector utilizes only the lateral portions of the bending member, which maintain a constant standardized second thickness. This local quality approach allows the connector to be standardized while the intermediate portion's varying thickness provides the necessary adaptability for different blade lengths through the curvature generation.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention shifts the adaptability function from the dimensional domain of connector thickness to the domain of blade curvature. The standardized connector attaches to the lateral portions, while the intermediate portion's thickness variation generates the necessary curvature for different blade lengths, effectively moving the adaptation mechanism to a different functional dimension.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention concerns a wiper blade for a vehicle, comprising at least one wiper strip intended to come to bear on a glazed surface and at least one bending member (1) housed in a support, the wiper strip being held by the support, the bending member (1) being configured to generate curvature in the wiper blade, the bending member (1) being arranged in the form of a longitudinally extending strip, the strip comprising, seen in cross-section, an intermediate portion (2) arranged between two lateral portions (3a, 3b) of the strip, characterized in that a first thickness (12) of the intermediate portion (2) is less than a second thickness (13) of at least one of the lateral portions (3a, 3b).