Wiper Blade Connection Part Water Seal Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing windshield wiper blades experience 'overspray' due to water being pressed into and sucked out of the cover cap by wind pressure and negative pressure during operation, leading to water being sprayed back onto the cleaned area.

Innovation Solution

A wiper blade design featuring a connection part with a pocket-like depression and a groove-like receiving channel on the cover cap, which is watertight on the side facing the wiper strip, preventing water from entering or exiting, and a base element that directs water to an outlet opening for controlled drainage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the cover cap has openings and gaps for water drainage, then water can flow off during wiping operation, but rain and spray water is pressed into the cover cap through these openings and gaps due to high wind pressure causing overspray

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewater drainageVSAvoidoverspray
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The cover cap is divided into two functional zones: a watertight sealing area that prevents water ingress, and a controlled drainage area with the receiving channel that allows water egress. This segmentation enables the cap to simultaneously prevent overspray while maintaining drainage functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The receiving channel acts as an intermediary structure between the external environment and the cover cap interior. It provides a controlled interface that allows water to drain while preventing direct pressure-driven ingress through the cap walls.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the connection part is sealed watertight to prevent water ingress, then overspray is reduced, but water accumulated in the connection part cannot be drained off

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveoversprayVSAvoidwater drainage
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The drainage function is extracted from the general sealing structure by introducing a dedicated receiving channel. This separate drainage pathway allows water to be removed from the connection part without compromising the overall watertight seal that prevents overspray.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the side of the connection part facing away from the wiper strip is designed without openings to prevent water seepage, then overspray is reduced, but the overall structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewater seepageVSAvoidconnection part structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cover cap integrates multiple functions into a single component: it provides structural coverage, creates a watertight seal, and incorporates the receiving channel for drainage. This merging reduces the need for separate components and simplifies the overall assembly while maintaining the no-openings design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

Reduces 'overspray' by preventing water from entering or exiting the connection part, ensuring that accumulated water is drained off, thereby minimizing water spray back onto the cleaned area during operation.

Implementation Method 1

The pocket-like depression is watertight on its side facing the wiper strip

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCapillary action: Capillary Action

Implementation Method 2

The pocket-like depression is watertight on its side facing the wiper strip

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSurface tension: Surface Tension

Implementation Method 3

the base element being designed to drain water entering the connection part during wiping operation to the outlet opening

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentEP2398679B1Wiper blade having a connection component for linking to a wiper arm
Publication Date: 2013.05.29 ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
  • EP2398679B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2398679B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2398679B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The invention relates to a wiper blade (12) for a windshield wiper, having a wiper strip (20) and a connection component (60) fastened to the wiper strip (20) for linking the wiper strip (20) to a wiper arm (14), that can be connected in a pivoting fashion around a pivot axis (48) to the connection component (60) via an articulated element (44) and can be fastened via a retaining link (34) to an angled retaining hook (36) on the connection component (60), wherein the connection component (60) has a pocket-like recess (40) for accommodating the angled retaining hook (36) on the side (72) thereof facing away from the wiper strip (20), wherein the pocket-like recess (40) is sealed water-tight on the side (42) thereof facing the wiper strip (20).