Wiper Jacket with Foam-Lined Chamber for Blade Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Windshield wiper blades wear out quickly due to exposure to sunlight and adverse weather conditions, leading to reduced effectiveness and safety concerns, as they become brittle and fail to clear the windshield effectively, necessitating a reliable and easy replacement solution.
Innovation Solution
A windshield wiper blade device with a wiper jacket made from extruded rubber, featuring a multi-channel bladed edge and a chamber with resilient foam lining for secure engagement with the existing blade frame, allowing for easy installation and replacement without special adapters, ensuring effective cleaning under various weather conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional rubber wiper blades are used, then initial wiping effectiveness is good, but they wear out quickly and become brittle due to sunlight and weather exposure
Solution Approach 1:
The wiper blade is divided into multiple independent channels, each containing its own spring element and rubber wiping element. This segmentation allows individual channels to function independently, so if one channel degrades, others continue to provide wiping service, extending overall blade life while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The wiper blade combines multiple materials with complementary properties: rubber for flexible wiping contact, spring steel for structural support and pressure application, and plastic for channel structure. This composite construction enhances both immediate effectiveness and long-term durability against weather exposure.
2Reliability
If wiper blades are replaced frequently, then visibility is maintained, but time and effort are lost in replacement procedures
Solution Approach 1:
The blade assembly is designed with universal mounting features that accommodate different wiper arm types and vehicle configurations. The standardized interface allows the same blade design to be installed on various vehicles without requiring vehicle-specific adapters or complex installation procedures, reducing replacement time while ensuring effective windshield clearing.
Solution Approach 2:
The blade assembly features a nested structure where the rubber wiping elements are positioned within channels formed by the plastic body, and spring elements are integrated within the same channels. This compact nesting allows the entire assembly to be installed as a single unit, simplifying the replacement process and minimizing installation time.
3Manufacturing precision
If pressure is applied to keep blades in conforming contact with windshield, then wiping uniformity improves, but blade wear accelerates
Solution Approach 1:
The spring elements are designed to provide dynamic, self-adjusting pressure that automatically adapts to variations in windshield curvature and blade wear. As the blade wears or the windshield contour changes, the springs compress or extend to maintain optimal contact pressure, ensuring uniform wiping while distributing mechanical stress to reduce wear acceleration.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring constant and pre-compression parameters are carefully selected to provide sufficient contact pressure for uniform wiping while remaining within limits that prevent excessive wear. The design optimizes the balance between pressure magnitude and duration of contact, adjusting material properties and geometric parameters to achieve both wiping quality and blade longevity.
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
The solution provides a durable, easy-to-install, and cost-effective replacement for worn or damaged wiper blades, ensuring immediate and effective windshield cleaning, enhancing safety by maintaining clear visibility even in emergency situations.
Implementation Method 1
The chamber walls of the wiper jacket are lined with a resilient foam material on opposite sides to engage the existing blade frame assembly transversely and secure its position within the wiper jacket
Data Source
AI summary
A windshield wiper blade device is constructed and formed to be releasably secured in a fitted engagement upon an existing wiper arm and blade assembly to provide an effective wiping blade that is easily installed and replaceable in an integral form. The present device comprises a wiper jacket constructed in an envelope-like form partially sealed along its top edge and open but sealable along the remainder of the edge to allow the insertion of an existing wiper blade assembly within the walls of the jacket. A bladed edge having a multi-channel configuration is provided externally along the bottom of the jacket while the interior length of its chamber is formed to provide an angled nesting area for the foot of the wiper blade assembly inserted within the jacket. The chamber walls of the wiper jacket are lined with a resilient foam material on opposite sides to engage the existing blade assembly transversely and secure its position within the wiper jacket. The open top edge of the wiper jacket is provided with fastening material on opposed surfaces and a plurality of releasable straps to selectively close the open edge in a sealed engagement.