Windscreen Wiper Blade Positioning via Snap Connection Stops
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing windscreen wiper devices have difficulty in precisely controlling the position of the wiper blade between the end caps due to tolerance in the rubber material and design, leading to potential misalignment.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating stops in the form of protrusions within the wiper blade grooves that prevent longitudinal movement of the wiper blade relative to the strips, ensuring a secure and defined position through a snap connection mechanism with engaging members and connecting pieces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the wiper blade is connected to strips with end caps allowing some movement space, then the connection is durable and solid, but the position of the wiper blade is not precisely controlled
Solution Approach 1:
The connection system is segmented into multiple functional elements: end caps for durable connection, protrusions for positioning, and grooves for guidance. This segmentation allows each element to perform its specific function optimally - the end caps provide structural durability while the protrusions and grooves provide precise positioning control.
Solution Approach 2:
Protrusions extending from the wiper blade into grooves in the strips act as intermediary positioning elements. These protrusions mediate between the wiper blade and the strips, preventing unwanted longitudinal movement while allowing the end caps to maintain their durable connection function.
2Adaptability or versatility
If tolerance in rubber material is a few millimeters, then the wiper blade is flexible and adaptable, but the position control between end caps deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Different parts of the wiper blade assembly have different quality requirements. The wiper blade itself maintains flexibility and adaptability throughout its length, while specific localized features (protrusions and grooves) provide precise positioning. This local quality approach allows the rubber material to remain adaptable while achieving precise position control at critical points.
Solution Approach 2:
The protrusions are pre-formed during the molding operation to extend laterally from the interior edge of the wiper blade. This preliminary action ensures that the positioning features are built-in during manufacturing, accommodating material tolerance while defining the position before assembly occurs.
3Manufacturing precision
If stops are added to block longitudinal movement, then position control is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning function is merged into the existing wiper blade structure through integrally formed protrusions. Rather than adding separate stop components, the positioning features are combined with the blade itself during molding, achieving precise position control without significantly increasing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The wiper blade serves multiple functions: it provides the wiping surface, maintains flexibility, and through its integral protrusions, provides its own positioning mechanism. The blade essentially services its own positioning needs through the laterally extending protrusions that engage with grooves in the strips, eliminating the need for additional complex positioning mechanisms.
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
This solution enhances the durability and precision of the wiper blade's positioning, preventing unwanted movement and maintaining a consistent curvature, thus improving the operational effectiveness of the windscreen wiper device.
Implementation Method 1
the grooves of the wiper blade each comprise a stop for blocking a longitudinal movement of the wiper blade relative to the strips. For example, such a stop may be formed by a protrusion extending laterally from an interior longitudinal wall of the wiper blade, located between the two opposing grooves, into a hole comprise an opening at the longitudinal side of a respective strip
Implementation Method 2
the strips and the connecting piece are slidably connected by means of a snap connection, wherein the snap connection comprises laterally extending means on the strips, and wherein the laterally extending means comprise at least one protrusion extending laterally from an interior edge of each strip
Implementation Method 3
at least one connecting piece comprises engaging members engaging around the longitudinal strips so that the strips are mounted in grooves formed by the engaging members
Data Source
AI summary
A windscreen wiper device comprising a carrier element, as well as a wiper blade which includes opposing longitudinal grooves on its longitudinal sides, in which grooves spaced-apart longitudinal strips of the carrier element are disposed, wherein neighboring ends of the longitudinal strips are interconnected by a respective connecting piece, wherein at least one connecting piece comprises engaging members engaging around the longitudinal strips so that the strips are mounted in grooves formed by the engaging members wherein the strips and the connecting piece are slidably connected by means of a snap connection, wherein the snap connection comprises laterally extending means on the strips, and wherein the laterally extending means comprise at least one protrusion extending laterally from an interior edge of each strip, the protrusion being located within the outer contour of each strip and between stops on the connecting piece, with the special feature that the grooves of the wiper blade each comprise a stop for blocking a longitudinal movement of the wiper blade relative to the strips.