Windscreen Wiper Blade Linking Element with Locking Teeth

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing windscreen wiper blades with elastic tongues for linking the spine to the drive arm suffer from gradual deformation, leading to free play and reduced efficiency over time.

Innovation Solution

The use of lugs with locking teeth that cooperate with recesses on the structural element to provide rigid blocking, ensuring the spine remains securely positioned within the tubular body, preventing free play and maintaining constant dimensions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If elastic tongues are used to link the spine to the drive arm, then the initial flexibility and ease of assembly are improved, but the reliability deteriorates due to gradual deformation and free play development

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of assemblyVSAvoidlinking stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The linking element is divided into multiple functional parts: lugs for connection, locking teeth for securing, and recesses for positioning. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function optimally, with locking teeth providing rigid blocking and lugs providing structural connection, thereby preventing the gradual deformation that affects single-piece elastic tongues

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of using elastic deformation to provide the linking function (as with elastic tongues), the invention inverts the approach by using rigid locking teeth that actively prevent deformation. The locking teeth engage with recesses to create a positive mechanical lock, reversing the conventional elastic linking mechanism and eliminating the free play problem

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Reliability

If rigid blocking means are used to prevent spine movement, then the reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional components

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveblocking effectivenessVSAvoidnumber of components

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention merges multiple functions into the linking element: connection (lugs), positioning (recesses), and blocking (locking teeth) are all integrated into a single component that attaches to the drive arm. This consolidation provides rigid blocking without significantly increasing overall device complexity, as the blocking function is combined with the existing linking structure rather than adding separate blocking mechanisms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The linking element serves multiple purposes simultaneously: it connects the spine to the drive arm, positions the spine longitudinally through locking teeth in recesses, and provides structural support. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated blocking components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while achieving reliable rigid blocking

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 ensures a windscreen wiper blade with improved rigidity and reduced free play, maintaining efficiency and stability throughout its lifespan by using lugs and recesses for secure spine positioning.

Implementation Method 1

each locking tooth performs the pressing of one part of one lateral wall of the tubular body against the bottom of the associated recess

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical Force: Mechanical Force

Implementation Method 2

The spine is made from an elastic material, in order to allow the wiping strip to be pinned against the glass surface to be wiped

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS8220105B2Windscreen wiper blade comprising a support frame, an inner spine and a linking element

Publication Date: 2012.07.17 VALEO SYST DESSUYAGE SAS

AI summary

The invention provides a windscreen wiper blade (10) for a motor vehicle, comprisinga support frame (12) which comprises a longitudinal tubular body (18);a structural element (14) in the form of a longitudinal horizontal strip, which is accommodated inside the tubular body (18); andan element (16) for linking the blade (10) with a drive arm, which is mounted on the support frame (12), and the linking element (16) being installed on the support frame (12) by means of two lateral vertical longitudinal tabs (34),characterized in that the lateral tabs (34) comprise lugs (40) that cooperate with recesses (42) made in the lateral edges (14a) of the structural element (14), to provide the blocking of the structural element (14) in the tubular body (18).