Wiper Blade End Cap Segmentation for Easy Strip Replacement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wiper blade designs require removal of end caps from spring rails for assembly and disassembly, making the process cumbersome and increasing the risk of misalignment and wind noise, while also failing to provide a secure fixation of the wiper strip relative to the spring rails.
Innovation Solution
The end caps are fixed to the spring rails via a clip connection or welding, eliminating the need to remove them during assembly and ensuring a reliable, backlash-free connection, with a blocking cam and recess in the wiper strip allowing for easy fixation and removal in both directions, and optional design features like a front flap to reduce wind noise and dirt accumulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If end caps are removed from spring rails for assembly and disassembly, then the wiper strip can be installed and removed, but the process becomes cumbersome and increases the risk of misalignment and wind noise
Solution Approach 1:
The end cap is divided into a stationary part (body) and a movable part (side flap), allowing the side flap to open for assembly/disassembly while the body remains fixed on the spring rails. This segmentation enables easy operation without compromising the fixed connection that prevents misalignment and wind noise.
Solution Approach 2:
The side flap is designed to be dynamically movable between open and closed positions, while the end cap body maintains a fixed connection to the spring rails. This dynamic design allows the wiper strip to be easily assembled and disassembled, while the fixed body ensures reliable alignment and prevents wind noise during operation.
2Reliability
If end caps are fixed to spring rails via clip connection or welding, then a reliable backlash-free connection is achieved, but the end caps cannot be removed for assembly and disassembly
Solution Approach 1:
The end cap is segmented into a fixed body (connected to spring rails via clip connection or welding) and a movable side flap. The fixed body ensures reliable connection and prevents backlash, while the movable side flap provides access for assembling and disassembling the wiper strip without requiring removal of the entire end cap.
Solution Approach 2:
The side flap is designed with dynamic movement capability, allowing it to open and close while the end cap body remains firmly fixed to the spring rails. This enables easy assembly and disassembly operations while maintaining a reliable, backlash-free connection during normal operation.
3Ease of operation
If a blocking cam and recess are used for fixation, then simple fixing in both directions is achieved, but the fixation mechanism becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using complex locking mechanisms that require tools or multiple steps, the invention uses a blocking cam and recess system where the wiper strip itself has recesses that engage with the blocking cam on the side flap. This inverted approach simplifies the fixation mechanism while enabling easy removal in both longitudinal directions.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention is based on a wiper blade (10) of flat bar construction with a wiper strip (16) which is held by a supporting element in the form of two flat spring rails (30) which are inserted in two longitudinal grooves (26) of a head strip (22) of the wiper strip (16) and are concavely prebent to a wiper lip (18) of the wiper strip (16), wherein end caps (34, 82) sit on the ends of the spring rails (30), said end caps securing the wiper strip (16) in the longitudinal direction relative to the spring rails (30) by means of a locking device (64) attached to a side flap (40) of the end cap (34) and at least one of which having an installation opening (58) in the end wall (56) facing the end of the wiper blade (10) for the installation and removal of the wiper strip (16). It is proposed that the end caps (34, 82) keep the spring rails (30) at a predetermined distance from each other, and the locking device is a locking cam (64) which, in the closed state of the side flap (40), engages in a corresponding recess (68) in the head strip (22) of the wiper strip (16).