Vehicle Wiper Retainer Windowed Cover Washer Ejection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle wiper designs face issues such as detrimental styling effects from cutaway portions for nozzle members, complex hose layouts, interference between urging springs and covers, and potential conductor wire breakages due to tensile forces.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle wiper design featuring a retainer with a windowed cover member that allows washer fluid ejection without compromising styling, optimized hose layout, a partitioning wall to prevent urging mechanism contact, and a conductor wire configuration that minimizes tensile stress without slack.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a cutaway portion is formed at the side wall of the retainer to allow nozzle member ejection, then washer fluid ejection is enabled, but the styling of the vehicle wiper is deteriorated
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the ejection function from the side wall by forming a through-hole in the bottom wall of the retainer instead. The nozzle member is positioned to eject washer fluid through this bottom-hole, separating the ejection function from the side wall structure and preserving the side wall's aesthetic appearance.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the ejection direction from the side wall (horizontal dimension) to the bottom wall (vertical dimension). This dimensional shift allows the nozzle member to eject washer fluid through the bottom-hole, maintaining side wall integrity and styling while achieving effective ejection.
2Ease of manufacture
If a long wave-shaped grove is formed in the back face of the arm head to lay out the hose, then the hose can be retained, but the back face side becomes complicated and difficult to manufacture
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the hose retention function by providing a dedicated hose retention groove in the retainer's bottom wall, separate from the arm head structure. This allows the hose to be laid out and retained along the length direction of the retainer without complicating the arm head's back face geometry.
Solution Approach 2:
The retainer's bottom wall acts as an intermediary structure that facilitates hose layout and retention. By providing a groove in this intermediate component rather than in the arm head itself, the invention simplifies the overall structure while achieving effective hose management.
3Ease of operation
If an urging spring is employed to urge the retainer, then the retainer can be positioned, but the spring may hit the cover and fail to maintain attachment when the retainer swings
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the urging function from a spring mechanism that could interfere with the cover by providing an urging member that operates within the retainer's bottom wall structure. The urging member is positioned to contact the retainer's bottom surface without extending into the cover's attachment space.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of having the urging spring extend outward to contact the retainer from the cover side, the invention inverts the arrangement by having the urging member contact the retainer from the bottom wall side. This reversal of the urging direction prevents interference with the cover attachment while maintaining effective positioning.
4Shape
If the retainer width is reduced toward the leading end to improve appearance, then styling is enhanced, but forming engagement structures becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The invention addresses the engagement structure challenge by utilizing the bottom wall dimension rather than relying solely on side wall structures. The engagement protrusion and groove are formed in the bottom wall area, which maintains sufficient width even as the retainer tapers toward the leading end, enabling reliable engagement while preserving aesthetic styling.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle wiper comprises a retainer that is formed in an elongated shape open at the lower side facing toward a windshield, and that is provided so as to be capable of swinging about a shaft axis of a pivot shaft that is swung to-and-fro; a first nozzle member that is housed inside the retainer, and that is capable of ejecting washer fluid from an ejection portion; and 1 a retainer cover member that closes off an opening of the retainer, and that is formed with a window through which the ejection portion of the first nozzle member is externally exposed.