Phone Wiper

Sep 2024 3.5x 4x 2.15 inches
3d printing, motor, brush
Collaborate with Sonny Yan

Process︎︎︎

Our initial idea was to create a chindogu that solves the problem of people messaging or watching videos while taking a shower in a fun way. While many may have explored concepts to prevent phones from getting wet/dirty, we discovered an interesting connection between phone screens and car windows as they both serve as portals to information. This led us to the idea of 'transplanting' a small version of a car window wiper onto the phone screen.

We studied the car wirper mechanism and successfully simulated the motion in MotionGen. We then drafted the size of the phone wipper base on the size of an iPhone 13. The mechanism is powered by a mini motor taken from a portable cell phone fan. To make the wiper run directly off the phone’s power, we incorporated the breakout board of the portable cell phone fan that connects through the iPhone’s Lightning port, eliminating the need for separate charging.

During the development process, we encountered several challenges. One major issue was that the 3D-printed parts were too heavy for the mini motor to drive. The motor needed to be positioned at a specific central angle for it to operate smoothly. To address this, we went through two more design iterations, we eliminated redundant parts and adjusted the infill of the 3D-printed components.

Another challenge was finding an appropriate way to attach the device to the phone. We finlly decided to utilize the MagSafe feature available on all iPhones. By adding a MagSafe phone holder to our third iteration, the device automatically attaches to the phone's fixed position, this also ensuring compatibility with a wider range of iPhone models, including the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro Max (and more...).

We wanted to keep the design minimal and straightforward. Since this device is designed for iPhone, we intentionally referenced its classic features, such as the clean outline and rounded edges. For the wipers, we incorporated soft bristles to made it more realistic and humor, while also adding an layer of materiality to the design.  

One thing we could improve if we had more time is the cable material. Currently, we are using a shrinking tube and black tape as its outer layer, but there are definitely better options available.