Perpendicular Wiper Blade Adapter Fluid Connection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wiper blade technologies face challenges in providing a simple and reliable connection to the wiper arm, particularly in preventing fluid leakage and damage during car washes, while minimizing the length of the vehicle-side supply line and ensuring a secure fluid connection.

Innovation Solution

The wiper blade adapter is designed with swivellable adapter elements on both the wiper blade and wiper arm sides, connected via a hose connection, featuring a fluid connecting piece attachment that runs perpendicularly to the wiper blade axis, and an additional detent connection to secure the fluid link, with the connecting piece overlapping the wiper arm covering to prevent damage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the wiper blade adapter is connected to the wiper arm adapter in a direction parallel to the wiper blade longitudinal axis, then the fluid connection can be produced simultaneously with the mechanical connection, but the connection complexity increases and the operator cannot easily grasp the wiper blade longitudinal axis to perform the connection

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of connectionVSAvoidconnection complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional connection direction from parallel to perpendicular relative to the wiper blade longitudinal axis. This allows the operator to easily grasp the wiper blade and perform the connection by simply pushing it onto the wiper arm adapter, significantly improving ease of operation while maintaining simultaneous production of mechanical and fluid connections

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Reliability

If the connecting piece attachment is arranged on the side facing away from the wiper arm, then the fluid connection is established, but the supply line length increases and the connecting point is exposed to damage during car washes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefluid connection reliabilityVSAvoiddamage risk
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent positions the connecting piece attachment on the side facing the wiper arm, allowing the wiper arm or its covering to overlap and protect the connecting point. This nesting arrangement shields the fluid connection from external damage during car washes while maintaining reliable fluid connection, and simultaneously minimizes the supply line length

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Ease of manufacture

If the connecting piece attachment is not protected by the wiper arm covering, then the connection structure is simpler, but the fluid connection is vulnerable to damage during car washes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidfluid connection durability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent utilizes the existing wiper arm covering to provide protective overlap for the connecting piece attachment before any damage can occur. This beforehand cushioning approach leverages the existing structure to protect the fluid connection from car wash damage without adding complex protective mechanisms, maintaining manufacturing simplicity while improving durability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Data Source

PatentEP2505440B1Wiper blade and wiper assembly for the cleaning of vehicle windows
Publication Date: 2020.12.23 VALEO SYST DESSUYAGE SAS
  • EP2505440B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2505440B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP2505440B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The invention relates to a wiper blade (10) for the cleaning of vehicle windows, with at least one wiper blade body (14) extending in a wiper blade longitudinal axis (36), with at least one wiper rubber (16), having at least one wiper lip, on the wiper blade body (14), with at least one wiper blade adapter (11) for a mechanical connection of the wiper blade (10) with a wiper arm adapter (8) arranged on a wiper arm (1), and with at least one nozzle opening provided on the wiper blade (10), which is able to be connected via a fluid connection (38) on the wiper blade side with a supply system on the vehicle side for supplying a cleaning or washing fluid, wherein for connecting or releasing the mechanical connection between the wiper blade adapter (11) and the wiper arm adapter (8) at the same time also the fluid connection is produced or respectively released. According to the invention, it is provided that the wiper blade adapter (11) is releasably connected with the wiper arm adapter (8) in a direction (56) at least substantially perpendicularly to the wiper blade longitudinal axis (36).