Wiper Blade Connector Segmentation for Universal Arm Compatibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional connectors for wiper blade devices with leg-added side pin arms are fixed to the clamp, making them impossible to separate and incompatible with arms of different sizes, leading to manufacturing inefficiencies and limited compatibility with various wiper blades.
Innovation Solution
A horizontally symmetrical connector with a pin insertion portion and slits on the upper surface, allowing for easy coupling and decoupling from the clamp, accommodating different arm sizes and vehicle types, including left and right-hand drive vehicles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the connector is completely fixed to the clamp with a complicated structure to surround and cover the whole clamp, then the connection stability is improved, but the adaptability to different arm sizes and types deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The connector is divided into a clamp body and a separate arm receiving portion. The arm receiving portion can be selectively attached to different clamp sizes and types, allowing the same connector design to work with various arm configurations without requiring a completely new connector for each size variant.
Solution Approach 2:
The connector is designed with universal compatibility features including multiple receiving portions that can accommodate different arm types (hook arms, bayonet arms, side pin arms, leg-added side pin arms) and clamp sizes. This multi-functional design allows one connector to serve multiple purposes across different vehicle configurations.
2Reliability
If the connector has a complicated structure to surround and cover the whole clamp, then the connection stability is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The connector is segmented into modular components that can be manufactured separately and assembled. This reduces manufacturing complexity and cost compared to producing a single complex piece that surrounds the entire clamp, while still achieving stable connection through the modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
The arm receiving portion is extracted as a separate attachable component rather than being integrated into the main clamp structure. This allows for simpler, less expensive manufacturing of the base clamp while maintaining connection stability through the added receiving portion.
3Reliability
If the connector is completely fixed to the clamp, then the connection stability is improved, but the ease of separation and reconfiguration deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The connector transitions from a completely fixed design to a dynamic, selectively attachable design. The arm receiving portion can be easily attached and detached from the clamp, allowing for simple reconfiguration while maintaining stable connection during use. This dynamic capability enables quick changes between different arm types and clamp configurations.
Data Source
Figure 1a
Figure 1b~2
Figure 3a~3b
AI summary
Provided is a connector (110) of a wiper blade device which connects a wiper blade (400) selectively to a first wiper arm (200) and a second wiper arm (200') of different sizes. The connector (110) includes: a body (111) which includes a pair of sidewalls facing each other and an upper surface formed adjacent to the sidewalls; a pin insertion portion (120) which is formed in the sidewalls in a widthwise direction of the body (111) and into which a first pin (210) of the first wiper arm (200) or a second pin (210') of the second wiper arm (200') can be inserted; and a plurality of slits (130) which are formed in the upper surface of the body (111) along a lengthwise direction of the body, wherein the slits (130) include a first slit (131a) into which a first leg (220) of the first wiper arm (200) can be inserted and a second slit (131b) into which a second leg (220') of the second wiper arm (200') can be inserted. The connector (110) is compatible with a leg-added side pin arm (200) regardless of whether a leg of the leg-added side pin arm is wide or narrow and is horizontally symmetrical to be suitable for use in either a left hand drive (LHD) vehicle or a right hand drive (RHD) vehicle.