Integrated Wiper Blade Spring Strip and Liquid Guide

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wiper blade devices face challenges in efficiently guiding liquids past the wiper blade adapter, leading to undesirable splashes and increased air resistance, while also requiring multiple components and complex assembly processes.

Innovation Solution

A wiper blade device with a spring strip and a liquid guiding element integrated in one piece, made predominantly of spring steel, where the liquid guiding element is designed to direct liquids past the wiper blade adapter, reducing the need for separate fastening elements and optimizing liquid flow, with the liquid guiding element being arranged on the side away from the main airflow to minimize air resistance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a separate fluid guide element is used, then liquid flow guidance is improved, but device complexity and assembly cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveliquid flow guidanceVSAvoidnumber of components
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the spring strip and fluid guide element into a single integrated component. The fluid guide element is formed as one piece with the spring strip, eliminating the need for separate fastening elements and reducing the total number of components while maintaining effective liquid flow guidance past the wiper blade adapter

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If multiple components are used, then functional performance is improved, but manufacturing and assembly costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveliquid flow guidanceVSAvoidassembly cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The spring strip and fluid guide element are manufactured as a single integrated component, eliminating the need for separate fastening elements and reducing assembly steps. This integration maintains effective liquid flow guidance while significantly reducing manufacturing and assembly costs

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If the fluid guide element is placed on the main flow side, then liquid guidance is improved, but air resistance increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveliquid guidanceVSAvoidair resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent positions the fluid guide element on the side of the spring strip facing away from the main airflow direction, rather than on the main flow side. This spatial arrangement allows the fluid guide to effectively direct liquid past the wiper blade adapter while minimizing interference with airflow and reducing air resistance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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 design enhances liquid flow, reduces unwanted splashes, lowers manufacturing and assembly costs, and simplifies production by integrating the liquid guiding element with the spring strip, while minimizing air resistance and the number of components.

Implementation Method 1

an element that has an extent which, in a normal operating state, is elastically variable by at least 10%, in particular by at least 20%, preferably by at least 30%, and most advantageously by at least 50%, and which, in particular, generates a counterforce dependent on a change in extent, which opposes the change

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP2790981B1Wiper blade device
Publication Date: 2020.08.19 ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
  • EP2790981B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2790981B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP2790981B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The invention is based on a wiper blade device with at least one spring strip (10a; 10b) and at least one liquid-conveying element (12a; 12b). It is proposed that the liquid-conveying element (12a; 12b) is formed integrally with the spring strip (10a; 10b).