One-piece concealed lens cap and vehicle using the same

Abstract

A one-piece concealed lens cap includes a base, a plate abutment, a lens abutment, and a toothed resilient latching member. The base has a non-enclosed wall and an adjustment notch, and has fastening through holes on both sides, defining a lens accommodating space. In use, the plate abutment abuts against the front of the vehicle's exterior panel, and with the resilient latching member, the one-piece concealed lens cap can be installed in the mounting hole of the exterior panel. Furthermore, through the lens abutment and the fastening member passing through the fastening through holes, the lens can be confined to the front and rear sides of the lens accommodating space. The adjustment notch allows the one-piece concealed lens cap to accommodate lens tolerances and thermal expansion and contraction, and the toothed resilient latching member allows the one-piece concealed lens cap to accommodate exterior panels of different thicknesses.

Description

One-piece concealed lens cap and vehicles using it ONE-PIECE CONCEALED LENS CAP AND VEHICLE USING THE SAME Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to modification parts and accessories for multi-wheeled locomotives or multi-wheeled electric locomotives, and in particular to a one-piece concealed lens cover and a vehicle using the same. Prior Technology

[0002] With advancements in automotive electronics technology, existing vehicles, especially multi-wheeled motorcycles and electric motorcycles, are now commonly equipped with cameras to provide driving recording or driver assistance functions. However, in traditional installation practices, cameras are often mounted on the vehicle body surface using exposed brackets or screws. This configuration not only disrupts the overall streamlined and aesthetically pleasing appearance of the vehicle, but the protruding structure also easily increases wind resistance and generates wind noise. Furthermore, these traditional installation methods often rely on additional locking tools and complex fasteners, resulting in cumbersome assembly procedures and lengthy work times. In environments where vehicles frequently travel on bumpy roads, traditional rigid connection structures are prone to loosening due to continuous vibration, causing lens displacement, image jitter, and even allowing moisture or dust to seep into the lens and / or the vehicle body due to insufficient sealing, affecting the lifespan of the lens and / or the vehicle's electronic components.

[0003] While some existing technologies attempt to integrate lenses into vehicle body panels, these designs suffer from significant structural limitations due to manufacturing tolerances and material properties. Since vehicles are exposed to outdoor environments for extended periods, traditional lens cap structures struggle to effectively cope with thermal expansion and contraction caused by temperature variations, and cannot eliminate dimensional variations during manufacturing. When the structure is too tight, stress concentration can lead to component cracking; when too loose, it fails to provide sufficient clamping force and waterproof sealing. Furthermore, existing fixing structures typically cannot accommodate exterior panels of varying thicknesses and are only suitable for a single vehicle model. They often lack a front-to-rear locking mechanism for the lens itself, making it highly susceptible to backward retraction or detachment under inertial impacts. Therefore, they fail to meet the demands of modern vehicles for high integration and reliability. Summary of the Invention

[0004] When installing exposed lenses on existing vehicles (especially multi-wheeled locomotives or electric locomotives), technical problems such as insufficient aesthetics, easy loosening of the structure due to vibration, and poor waterproof and dustproof performance are often encountered. Furthermore, traditional installation methods often require additional locking tools or complex brackets, increasing assembly time and compromising the overall aesthetics of the vehicle. To address these issues, the main objective of this invention is to provide a highly integrated, one-piece concealed lens cap that can be quickly installed using only a single enlarging tool and can adapt to different manufacturing tolerances and environmental thermal expansion and contraction. This improves the stability, protection, and integration of the lens installation with the vehicle's appearance.

[0005] To achieve at least one objective of this invention, an embodiment of the invention provides a one-piece concealed lens cover designed to be installed in a mounting hole on the exterior panel of any vehicle model. The one-piece concealed lens cover includes a base, a plate abutment, and a resilient snap-fit ​​element. The base, as the main structural frame, has a non-enclosed wall that defines a lens housing space around the lens. To accommodate thermal expansion and contraction caused by dimensional variations during manufacturing or changes in ambient temperature, the non-enclosed wall has at least one adjustment notch, providing radial elastic deformation capability to accommodate tolerances of at least one of the lens and the one-piece concealed lens cover. The plate abutment is connected to the outer periphery of the base and functions to abut against the front portion of the exterior panel at the periphery of the mounting hole, thereby forming an outer seal and positioning. The non-enclosed wall is spatially positioned behind the plate abutment. The resilient snap-fit ​​element is connected to the bottom of the base, and its front side has a toothed portion with multiple teeth. This design allows the one-piece concealed lens cap to utilize the elastic deformation of the snap-fit ​​component to pass through and snap into the mounting holes on the outer panel. Furthermore, the multiple teeth of the snap-fit ​​component can adapt to outer panels of varying thicknesses, enabling quick installation without locking tools. In addition, the one-piece concealed lens cap has at least one lens abutment formed on the inner wall of the lens housing space to restrain the lens's forward displacement. Simultaneously, each of the opposite sides of the base body on the rear side of the non-enclosed wall has at least one fastening member through-hole for at least one fastening member to pass through. The two fastening member through-holes on opposite sides of the base body are configured to allow the fastening member to pass through, thereby forming a lateral stop after tightening, preventing the lens within the lens housing space from falling backward due to vibration or inertia. Thus, the one-piece concealed lens cap provides a stable structure with front and rear locking for the lens within the lens housing space.

[0006] Optionally, the one-piece hidden lens cover further includes a decorative section, which is physically connected to the base and located on the front side of the plate abutment. The decorative section constitutes the front appearance surface of the vehicle after the one-piece hidden lens cover is installed. Its design is usually streamlined or matches the vehicle's style to hide the internal mechanical structure and lens body, only exposing the front optical part of the lens, thereby improving the overall aesthetics and visual integrity. The texture can be further optimized through surface treatments such as texturing or painting.

[0007] Optionally, the decorative part and the base extend from each other structurally and jointly define the lens receiving space, with two lens abutments formed at corresponding locations on the inner wall of the decorative part within the lens receiving space. This configuration ensures that after the lens is placed into the lens receiving space, its front end face can accurately abut against the lens abutment on the inner side of the decorative part. The design of the lens abutment not only provides axial limiting to prevent excessive forward protrusion of the lens, but its position design also avoids the effective optical diameter of the lens, ensuring that it does not obstruct the field of view, and reduces stress concentration through precise contact surface design, protecting the lens housing.

[0008] Optionally, the panel abutment is designed as a ring-shaped outer wall with a diameter larger than the diameter of the mounting holes on the outer panel to ensure complete coverage of the mounting hole edges and provide a good waterproof seal. The base is designed as a ring-shaped base to accommodate the cylindrical lens body, and the non-enclosed wall is designed as a C-shaped wall. The opening of the C-shaped wall corresponds to the aforementioned adjustment notch. This geometry gives the base a C-ring-like elasticity in the radial direction, allowing for moderate expansion to hold the lens when it is inserted, while maintaining sufficient structural rigidity.

[0009] Optionally, the number of teeth in the multiple teeth of the fastener is two or more. These teeth are arranged in a stepped or serrated pattern along the longitudinal axis of the elastic fastener. This multi-tooth design not only enhances the fastening force, but more importantly, it enables the one-piece concealed lens to accommodate various sizes of exterior panels. When facing a thinner exterior panel, the front teeth abut against the inner side of the exterior panel; while when facing a thicker panel, the front teeth engage the exterior panel with the inner wall of the mounting hole, while the rear teeth abut against the inner side of the exterior panel. This multi-level fastening mechanism eliminates the limitation of single-size compatibility, significantly improving the product's versatility and market adaptability.

[0010] Optionally, the base has two fastening through holes on each of the left and right sides of the rear side of the non-enclosed wall, giving the base a total of four fastening through holes. Here, the fastening members passing through the corresponding two fastening through holes on the left and right sides of the base, and another fastening member passing through the corresponding two fastening through holes on the left and right sides of the base, after being tightened, form two lateral stops to prevent the lens from falling backward within the lens housing space. This dual-strap design provides a redundant safety mechanism; even if one fastening member fails, the other can still maintain the lens's position, making it particularly suitable for high-vibration driving environments, ensuring that the lens will never fall off due to back force.

[0011] Optionally, the rear side of the elastic buckle connects to the bottom of the base, forming a cantilever beam structure. The connection between the rear side of the elastic buckle and the bottom of the base has a chamfered angle with the front side of the one-piece concealed lens cover, with the chamfered angle set between 15 and 60 degrees. This specific angle range is mechanically optimized to balance the insertion force during installation and the holding force after installation. When the angle is within this range, the elastic buckle can smoothly undergo downward bending elastic deformation when subjected to the normal component of the pushing force, facilitating installation; while when subjected to the force in the pulling direction, the angle provides sufficient structural support, allowing the teeth to form a geometrically locked or high-resistance state with the inner side of the outer trim panel, thereby enhancing anti-detachment and anti-theft performance.

[0012] Optionally, the non-enclosed wall extends further behind the adjustment notch to form at least one reinforcement. The reinforcement may be rib-like or thickened, its purpose being to compensate for the localized decrease in structural strength caused by the adjustment notch. The reinforcement increases the section modulus of the area, improving bending stiffness and ensuring that the seat provides radial elasticity to accommodate tolerances without fatigue fracture or loss of clamping force due to excessive deformation, thus achieving an optimal balance between elastic adaptability and structural durability.

[0013] To achieve at least one objective of this invention, an embodiment of the invention further provides a vehicle comprising a one-piece concealed lens cover as described above, wherein the one-piece concealed lens cover is installed in a mounting hole on an exterior trim panel. In this coupled state, the one-piece concealed lens cover is tightly pressed against the outer surface of the exterior trim panel by its panel abutment to prevent moisture infiltration, and is secured to the inner side of the exterior trim panel by the teeth of its elastic fastener, forming a stable clamping fixation. The vehicle thereby achieves a lens configuration with a concealed appearance, low wind resistance, and high stability, avoiding the disruption to the vehicle body lines caused by traditional external mounting brackets.

[0014] Optionally, the vehicle is a multi-wheeled motorcycle or a multi-wheeled electric motorcycle, and the exterior panel is either the front or rear decorative panel of the vehicle. In this application scenario, the weather-resistant material and shock-resistant structural design of the one-piece concealed lens cover can effectively cope with the sun, rain, and road bumps encountered during motorcycle operation. Especially for electric motorcycles, their low wind resistance characteristics contribute to energy conservation, while the highly integrated exterior design meets the modern electric vehicle's pursuit of technological sophistication and minimalist aesthetics.

[0015] As described above, the one-piece concealed lens cap provided in this novel embodiment, through its integrated design of the base, plate abutment, and elastic buckle, enables quick and secure installation on the exterior panels of vehicles without the need for locking tools. The adjustment notch on the one-piece concealed lens cap not only effectively solves the lens tolerance problem but also addresses the issue of thermal expansion and contraction, ensuring structural stability under various ambient temperatures. Furthermore, the multi-tooth design gives the one-piece concealed lens cap high versatility to adapt to different plate thicknesses, while the internal lens abutment and the rear fastening member's perforated structure restrict lens displacement from the front and rear directions respectively, constructing a comprehensive protection and locking mechanism. Simple Explanation of the Diagram

[0016] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a one-piece concealed lens cover according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 is a front view of the one-piece concealed lens cover according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3 is a rear view of the one-piece concealed lens cover according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4 is a left-side view of the one-piece concealed lens cover according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 5 is a right-side view of the one-piece concealed lens cover according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 6 is a top view of a one-piece concealed lens cover according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 7 is a bottom view of the one-piece concealed lens cover according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of the installation of the lens onto the one-piece concealed lens cap of this novel embodiment. Figure 9 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the one-piece hidden lens cover of this novel embodiment installed on the exterior trim panel of a vehicle. Figure 10 is another cross-sectional view of the one-piece hidden lens cover of this novel embodiment installed on the exterior panel of a vehicle. Figure 11 is a schematic diagram of using a single fastening member as a lateral stop for a one-piece concealed lens cap according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 12 is a schematic diagram of using two fastening members as two lateral stops for a one-piece concealed lens cap in this embodiment of the invention. Figure 13 is a schematic diagram of the use of the one-piece concealed lens cover according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 14 is another schematic diagram of the use of the one-piece concealed lens cover according to an embodiment of the present invention. Implementation

[0017] First, please refer to Figures 1 to 9 and Figure 11, where Figure 1 is a perspective view of the one-piece hidden lens cover of this embodiment, Figure 2 is a front view of the one-piece hidden lens cover, Figure 3 is a rear view of the one-piece hidden lens cover, Figure 4 is a left side view of the one-piece hidden lens cover, Figure 5 is a right side view of the one-piece hidden lens cover, Figure 6 is a top view of the one-piece hidden lens cover, Figure 7 is a bottom view of the one-piece hidden lens cover, Figure 8 is an installation diagram of mounting the lens on the one-piece hidden lens cover, Figure 9 is a cross-sectional diagram of mounting the one-piece hidden lens cover on the exterior panel of a vehicle, and Figure 11 is a schematic diagram of using a single fastening member as a lateral stop member for the one-piece hidden lens cover. The one-piece hidden lens cover (1) disclosed in this embodiment is a highly integrated optical component fixing device designed specifically for vehicles. Its main design purpose is to solve the technical problems faced by exposed lens installation on existing vehicles (especially locomotives or electric locomotives), such as insufficient aesthetics, loose structure, and poor waterproof performance.

[0018] The novel one-piece concealed lens cap (1) is structurally based on a base (110). The base (110) serves as the main supporting frame and integrates various functional components with specific physical functions through an integral molding manufacturing process. This allows for rapid installation without additional hand tools and provides strong adaptability to different environmental conditions. Specifically, the one-piece concealed lens cap (1) includes a base (110), a flexible snap fastener (100), a plate abutment (105), a decorative part (104), and at least one lens abutment (102). These components work closely together spatially and structurally to form a complete lens protection and fixing system.

[0019] The base (110) has an open wall (106) that defines an internal space, namely a lens housing space (103), for housing the lens (200), in a surrounding manner. On each of the opposite sides of a rear side of the open wall (106), the base (110) has a through structure, namely at least one fastener through-hole (111) for at least one fastener (400) to pass through. The top of the open wall (106) has at least one adjustment notch (107), the presence of which gives the wall radial elastic deformation capability to accommodate dimensional tolerances arising during the manufacturing process of at least one of the lens (200) and the one-piece concealed lens cap (1), or thermal expansion and contraction due to changes in ambient temperature.

[0020] The panel abutment (105) is connected to the outer periphery of the base (110). Its function is to abut the front part of the outer panel (301) around the mounting hole (302). The non-enclosed wall (106) is spatially located on the rear side of the panel abutment (105). The elastic buckle (100) is connected to the bottom of the base (110). Its front side has a tooth (101) with a plurality of teeth (T1, T2). The tooth (101) allows the one-piece hidden lens cover (1) to be securely fastened in the mounting hole (302) on the outer panel (301) through mechanical interference. In this novel embodiment, the decorative part (104) can be a non-essential component. It is physically connected to the base (110) and located on the front side of the plate abutment (105), thereby forming the front view surface of the one-piece hidden lens cover (1) exposed on the vehicle surface after installation and constituting the visual focus. In addition, an alignment inspection hole 112 can be provided in the upper half and the lower half of the decorative part (104). Furthermore, the alignment inspection holes (112) in the upper half and the lower half of the decorative part (104) are respectively for the installer to check whether the alignment mark (202) of the lens (200) is aligned with the alignment inspection hole (112) when the one-piece hidden lens cover (1) is installed on the front decorative outer panel and the rear decorative outer panel of the vehicle (300), so as to determine whether the lens (200) in the lens receiving space (103) is aligned.

[0021] In one embodiment, the decorative part (104) and the base (110) extend structurally to each other and jointly define the aforementioned lens receiving space (103), and two lens abutments (102) are respectively formed at two corresponding locations on the inner wall surface of the decorative part (104) of the lens receiving space (103). This design is intended to effectively abut and position the lens (200) from the front, ensuring that after the lens (200) is inserted and installed in the direction of the arrow, it is precisely axially limited and stably located in the center of the lens receiving space (103), while preventing the lens (200) from protruding excessively due to inertia or vibration, thereby achieving a good concealment effect and physical protection effect.

[0022] In terms of specific geometric construction, the plate abutment (105) is designed as an annular outer wall, the diameter of which is larger than the diameter of the mounting hole (302) on the exterior panel (301) to ensure complete coverage of the edge of the mounting hole (302); the seat (110) is designed as an annular seat to accommodate the cylindrical lens body; and the non-enclosed wall (106) is designed as a C-shaped wall, with the C-shaped opening corresponding to the adjustment notch (107). This structural layout ensures that the lens cap fits tightly against the periphery of the mounting hole (302), and the rear surface of the plate abutment (105) forms a sealed contact with the front surface of the exterior panel (301), providing a good waterproof and dustproof foundation and preventing rainwater or dust from entering the vehicle interior through the mounting hole (302). In addition, with the help of a general hole enlarging machine, the mounting hole (302) is mostly a round hole.

[0023] Furthermore, regarding the structural toughness and adaptability design of the base (110), the C-shaped structure of the non-enclosed wall (106) and the adjustment notch (107) at its top are designed to provide structural flexibility. Specifically, when the lens (200) is placed into the lens receiving space (103), if the diameter of the lens (200) is slightly larger than the inner diameter of the lens receiving space (103), the non-enclosed wall (106) can produce a slight radial outward deformation by expanding the adjustment notch (107), thereby securing the lens (200) with an elastic clamping force.

[0024] To compensate for the potential reduction in structural strength caused by the notch, the non-enclosed wall (106) extends further rearward from the notch (107) to form at least one reinforcement (108). The reinforcement (108) is designed as a rib-like or thickened wall structure to increase the section modulus of the area, thereby improving bending stiffness. This design cleverly balances providing the necessary structural flexibility to cope with manufacturing tolerances and environmental thermal expansion and contraction, while maintaining the overall structural rigidity of the base (110) to prevent excessive deformation, ensuring that the one-piece hidden lens cap (1) maintains its geometric stability and durability during long-term use, especially under frequent temperature cycles and vehicle vibrations.

[0025] Furthermore, the material used for the one-piece concealed lens cap (1) of this invention may be an engineering plastic with high weather resistance and high impact resistance, such as polycarbonate (PC) or acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer (ABS), or an alloy of the two, to further enhance its structural performance. However, the material used for the one-piece concealed lens cap (1) is not intended to limit this invention.

[0026] Regarding the fixing mechanism of this novel device, special attention should be paid to the design details of the elastic buckle (100). The rear side of the elastic buckle (100) is connected to the bottom solid of the base (110) to form a cantilever beam structure. The connection (C) formed between the rear side of the elastic buckle (100) and the bottom of the base (110) has a chamfered angle with the front side of the one-piece hidden lens cover (1), wherein the angle of the chamfered angle is set to 15 to 60 degrees. The selection of the specific angle range of the above-mentioned chamfered angle is not arbitrary, but is based on precise calculations and experimental verification, aiming to optimize the insertion force during installation and the holding force after installation. When the angle is within this range, the elastic buckle (100) can smoothly generate elastic bending when subjected to an upward pushing force, and can provide sufficient structural support to resist detachment when subjected to a forward pulling force.

[0027] The front side of the elastic snap fastener (100) has a toothed part (101), and the number of teeth (T1, T2) of the multiple teeth of the toothed part (101) is more than two. These teeth (T1, T2) are arranged along the longitudinal axis of the elastic snap fastener (100) to form a stepped snap fastener structure. This elastic snap fastener design with a specific bevel angle and multiple teeth allows the one-piece hidden lens cover (1) to pass through and snap into the mounting hole (302) of the outer trim panel (301) without the need for additional locking tools (such as screwdrivers or wrenches).

[0028] By means of the teeth (T1, T2) at different axial positions on the gear (101), the one-piece hidden lens cover (1) can effectively adapt to exterior trim panels (301) of different thicknesses. Taking Figure 9 as an example, when the exterior trim panel (301) is thinner, the front tooth (T2) abuts against the inner side of the exterior trim panel (301) and engages with the inner side of the exterior trim panel (301); when facing a thicker exterior trim panel (301), as shown in Figure 10, the front tooth (T2) engages the exterior trim panel (301) with the inner wall of the mounting hole (302), while the rear tooth (T1) abuts against the inner side of the exterior trim panel (301). This multi-level snap-fit ​​mechanism ensures a stable installation on exterior trim panels of various vehicle models and solves the problem that a single specification cannot accommodate multiple panel thicknesses.

[0029] Regarding the detailed manufacturing process and material properties of the new type of base (110), in order to ensure the long-term reliability of the one-piece hidden lens cap (1) in harsh outdoor environments, the base (110), elastic buckle (100), plate abutment (105), and decorative part (104) can be selectively manufactured by one-piece injection molding. This one-piece molding structural design eliminates the tolerance stack-up problem that may occur in traditional multi-piece assembly and greatly improves the overall rigidity of the structure.

[0030] In addition to the aforementioned polycarbonate (PC) and ABS engineering plastics, in other embodiments of this invention, a weather-resistant formula with added UV stabilizer can be used to prevent the decorative part (104) from yellowing or becoming brittle due to long-term exposure to sunlight. Furthermore, considering that the elastic buckle (100) needs to repeatedly withstand bending stress, the selected material must also have excellent fatigue resistance and an appropriate elastic modulus to ensure that it can generate sufficient elastic deformation during installation without breaking, and can quickly rebound after installation to establish a stable buckling force.

[0031] In addition, the inner wall surface of the base (110), which defines the lens housing space (103), can be treated with fine texture. This not only increases the coefficient of friction between the base and the lens (200) housing to prevent slippage, but also eliminates the reflection interference that may be caused by the surface being too smooth, thus ensuring the optical imaging quality of the lens (200).

[0032] The waterproofing mechanism between the panel abutment (105) and the outer trim panel (301) is further explored. In this novel design, the panel abutment (105) is not merely a flat structure; its rearward-facing surface (i.e., facing the outer trim panel (301)) can be designed with a slight concave curvature or annular crush ribs. When the one-piece hidden lens cover (1) is tightly fastened to the outer trim panel (301) by the elastic buckle (100), the rearward pulling force provided by the elastic buckle (100) forces the panel abutment (105) to press tightly against the outer surface of the outer trim panel (301). At this time, the aforementioned slight curvature or crush ribs generate localized high contact pressure, forming an effective water barrier. The micro-deformation of the material itself fills any microscopic unevenness that may exist on the surface of the outer trim panel (301), thereby blocking capillary action and preventing rainwater from seeping in along the gaps.

[0033] In a variation of this novel embodiment, the rear surface of the plate abutment (105) can be further integrated with a soft sealing gasket made of thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) or silicone through double-shot injection molding or insert molding. This soft sealing gasket can generate a greater amount of compressive deformation under pressure, further improving airtightness and watertightness to an IP67 or higher protection level, ensuring that the internal electronic components are not corroded by moisture.

[0034] The design of the lens abutment (102) goes far beyond a simple geometric stop. Located inside the decorative section (104), the lens abutment (102) directly faces the front end of the lens (200). To protect the lens's delicate lens element and housing, the contact surface between the lens abutment (102) and the lens (200) is carefully designed to avoid sharp edges. Specifically, the contact surface of the lens abutment (102) can be designed as an arc surface that matches the curvature of the outer edge of the front end of the lens (200) to maximize the contact area, thereby reducing local contact stress and preventing stress-concentrated damage to the lens (200) during severe vehicle vibrations.

[0035] Furthermore, the lens abutment (102) is spatially positioned outside the effective optical diameter of the lens (200), strictly ensuring that it does not obstruct the field of view (FOV) of the lens (200) and guaranteeing the integrity of the image. In another embodiment of this invention, the lens abutment (102) itself can be designed with a small elastic arm structure, which can provide an axial preload when abutting the lens (200). This preload can effectively eliminate any small gaps in the lens (200) in the axial direction, prevent rattle noise caused by vibration, and improve the overall assembly quality and quietness.

[0036] Please refer to Figures 8, 11, and 12. Figure 8 shows a schematic diagram of the lens installation, detailing the fit between the lens (200) and the novel one-piece concealed lens cap (1). Figures 11 and 12 show schematic diagrams of the fixation using fasteners, illustrating the operation of the auxiliary fixing mechanism. The base (110) has two fastener through-holes (111) on each of the left and right sides of the rear side of the non-enclosed wall (106), totaling four fastener through-holes (111), forming the basis of the double-locking system. The lens (200) is installed within the lens receiving space (103), its cylindrical outer shell fitting against the inner wall of the base (110), and its front end abutting against the lens abutment (102), thus restricting its forward movement. A lens cable (201) is connected to the rear of the lens (200) for transmitting image signals and receiving power.

[0037] To prevent the lens (200) from falling backward, this invention employs a fastening member (400) as a lateral stop element. In Figure 11, the fastening member (400) passing through four fastening member holes (111) on the left and right sides of the base (110), after being tightened, forms a lateral stop to prevent the lens (200) from falling backward within the lens receiving space (103). In Figure 12, a fastening member (400) passing through two corresponding fastening member holes (111) on the left and right sides of the base (110) and another fastening member (400) passing through two other corresponding fastening member holes (111) on the left and right sides of the base (110), after being tightened, form two lateral stops to prevent the lens (200) from falling backward within the lens receiving space (103).

[0038] Specifically, the fastening element (400) spans across the opening of the non-enclosed wall (106) or directly across the rear end face of the lens (200), forming a physical barrier. This design effectively prevents the lens (200) installed in the interior space from accidentally moving backward or falling due to high-frequency vibration or instantaneous impact during vehicle operation, significantly improving the stability and reliability of the overall assembly. The fastening element (400) can be made of nylon cable ties or other flexible restraint straps with self-locking function, which are easy to install and have strong locking force. In a variation of this embodiment, the shape of the fastening element perforation (111) can be designed as an elongated hole to allow the use of a wider fastening element (400), increasing the contact area and further dispersing stress. At the same time, the edges of the fastening element perforation (111) can be chamfered or filled to prevent sharp hole edges from cutting the fastening element (400) under vibration, ensuring safety for long-term use.

[0039] Next, we will delve into the mechanical behavior and tactile feel of the elastic snap fastener (100). When the user pushes the one-piece hidden lens cap (1) into the mounting hole (302), the edge of the mounting hole (302) applies a normal force to the ramp surface of the toothed component (101). According to the principle of force decomposition, the normal force generates a component force perpendicular to the extension direction of the elastic snap fastener (100), forcing the elastic snap fastener (100) to bend towards the central axis of the base (110). At this time, the connection part (C), as the root of the cantilever beam, will generate elastic strain and store potential energy. The cross-sectional shape and size of the connection part (C) are optimized to ensure uniform stress distribution and avoid stress concentration that could lead to plastic deformation or fracture.

[0040] When the apex of the toothed component (101) passes the edge of the mounting hole (302), the stored elastic potential energy is released instantly, causing the elastic buckle (100) to rebound rapidly and strike the inner side of the exterior panel (301), producing a crisp "click" sound. This sound signal provides the installer with clear auditory feedback, confirming that the installation is in place, eliminating the need for visual inspection. This intuitive installation experience significantly reduces labor time and error rate on the assembly line, improving production efficiency. Furthermore, the toothed design of the toothed part (101) has a vertical surface or an undercut surface facing the rear. This design makes the toothed part geometrically locked when the one-piece hidden lens cover (1) is pulled out. Unless a tool is used to press the elastic buckle (100) from the inside to release the interference, it is extremely difficult to pull it out directly from the outside, thus providing excellent anti-theft and anti-drop performance.

[0041] Finally, please refer to Figures 9, 10, 13, and 14. Figures 9 and 10 are cross-sectional views of the exterior trim panel, clearly showing the engagement between the snap-fit ​​mechanism and the two different thicknesses of the exterior trim panel (301). Figures 13 and 14 are usage diagrams, showing the application scenarios of this invention in actual vehicles. Based on one of the objectives of this invention, this invention provides a vehicle (300) including a one-piece hidden lens cover (1) as described above. The vehicle (300) is a multi-wheeled vehicle or a multi-wheeled electric vehicle, and the exterior trim panel (301) is the front decorative outer panel (as shown in Figure 13) or the rear decorative outer panel (as shown in Figure 14) of the vehicle (300). The one-piece hidden lens cover (1) is installed in the mounting hole (302) on the exterior trim panel (301). In the installed state, the rear surface of the panel abutment (105) tightly abuts against and adheres to the outer surface of the exterior panel (301), forming the first line of defense to prevent the intrusion of external substances. After being deformed by external force, the elastic fastener (100) passes through the mounting hole (302) and enters the inner side of the exterior panel (301).

[0042] Once the mounting hole (302) is blocked, the elastic potential energy stored in the elastic buckle (100) material is released to generate an elastic restoring force, causing the teeth (T1, T2) to spring back upward and snap against the inner side of the exterior panel (301) around the mounting hole (302). This, together with the panel abutment (105) located on the outer side, forms a clamping effect, tightly clamping the exterior panel (301) between the panel abutment (105) and the teeth (101), and firmly fixing the one-piece hidden lens cover (1) to the exterior panel (301). This setup not only highlights its potential use as a forward-facing driving recorder, rear-view monitor, or reversing assist camera, but also, through its hidden design, only exposes the front end of the trim (104) and the lens (200), greatly maintaining the smooth lines and visual integrity of the vehicle's appearance and avoiding the damage to the vehicle's shape caused by traditional external lens brackets.

[0043] Furthermore, this novel one-piece hidden lens cover (1) also demonstrates advantages in aerodynamics. Since its main structure is hidden inside the exterior panel (301), with only the streamlined decorative section (104) slightly protruding from the surface, it significantly reduces the frontal area compared to traditional bulky external brackets, thereby reducing drag and wind noise during operation. For electric motorcycles, this helps to slightly improve energy efficiency and range. The front surface of the decorative section (104) can be textured, painted, plated, or in-mold decoration (IMD) to ensure its surface texture and color blend perfectly with the exterior panel (301) of the vehicle (300), achieving a visually "invisible" effect and meeting the high standards of aesthetic design required by modern vehicles.

[0044] Furthermore, in addition to the features mentioned above, the internal structure of the base (110) can be further optimized to cope with extreme vibration environments. For example, multiple anti-slip ribs (not shown) extending axially can be formed on the inner wall surface of the lens housing (103). The inscribed circle diameter of the top of these anti-slip ribs is designed to be slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the lens (200). Therefore, when the lens (200) is inserted, the anti-slip ribs will undergo local deformation, producing a slight interference fit. This interference fit not only significantly increases the static friction between the lens (200) and the base (110), assisting the fastening member (400) in fixing, but also effectively absorbs high-frequency vibration energy, preventing the lens (200) from rotating in the circumferential direction, and ensuring that the levelness of the captured image will not shift due to vehicle vibration. In addition, the width design of the adjustment notch (107) has also been carefully considered. It is wide enough to provide the necessary structural deformation, but not so wide that foreign objects can easily fall into the interior space.

[0045] In another embodiment of this invention, considering the different needs of various markets for anti-theft security, the design of the teeth (101) of the resilient buckle (100) can be adjusted. In addition to the standard barb design, it can also be designed as an "irreversible" locking structure, that is, once engaged, the geometry of the teeth (101) will prevent any form of non-destructive disassembly. Alternatively, in scenarios where ease of maintenance is required, the rear side of the teeth (101) can be designed with an extremely steep but non-perpendicular angle (e.g., 85 degrees), so that even with a very large specific pull-out force, the one-piece hidden lens cap (1) can still be removed without damaging the exterior panel (301). This design flexibility allows this invention to be widely adapted to various application scenarios, such as original equipment manufacturer (OEM) or aftermarket.

[0046] In summary, the one-piece concealed lens cap (1) provided by this invention integrates multiple functions such as fixing, protection, and decoration through a highly integrated design concept. Through the elastic latch (100) integrated into the bottom of the base (110) and its multi-toothed teeth (101), the device can be securely latched into the mounting holes of exterior panels (301) of different thicknesses without additional locking tools, demonstrating excellent versatility. The front decorative section (104) provides a unique visual style and conceals internal components, while the lens abutment (102) stably positions the lens (200) in the optimal optical position. Furthermore, the lateral stop structure formed by the rear clamping member (400) constructs a front-to-rear locking safety mechanism, ensuring that the lens will not fall backward in the high-dynamic environment of vehicle operation, achieving quick and adaptable concealed assembly without additional screws. The design of the non-enclosed wall (106) combined with the adjustment notch (107) and reinforcement (108) successfully resolves the contradiction between rigid support and elastic adaptation, allowing for tolerance while resisting deformation. This innovative design not only addresses the pain points of existing technologies but also achieves significant improvements in production efficiency, installation convenience, product durability, and aesthetics. The implementation of this invention is not limited to the above description; any simple equivalent changes and modifications made within the scope of this invention's patent application and specification should still fall within the scope of this patent.

[0047] This invention discloses only preferred embodiments; however, it should be understood by any person skilled in the art that the above embodiments are merely for describing this invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the patent rights claimed by this invention. All variations or substitutions equivalent to or equivalent to the above embodiments should be interpreted as being covered within the spirit or scope of this invention. Therefore, the scope of protection of this invention should be based on the claims defined below.

[0048] 1: One-piece concealed lens cap 100: Flexible snap fastener 101: Gear 102: Lens top mount 103: Lens housing space 104: Decoration Department 105: Plate support component 106: Non-enclosed walls 107: Adjusting the gap 108: Firmware Enhancement 110: base body 111: Fastening component perforation 112: Alignment Inspection Hole 200: Lens 201: Lens Wiring 202: Alignment Marker 300: Transportation 301: Exterior Panel Body 302: Mounting hole 400: Fastening component C: Connecting part T1, T2: Teeth

Claims

1. A one-piece concealed lens cap, which can be installed in a mounting hole (302) on an exterior panel (301) of a vehicle (300), comprising: A body (110) having a non-enclosed wall (106) to define a lens receiving space (103) for accommodating a lens (200), wherein the non-enclosed wall (106) has at least one adjustment notch (107) to accommodate the tolerances or thermal expansion and contraction of at least one of the lens (200) and the one-piece hidden lens cap (1); A plate abutment (105) is connected to an outer periphery of the base (110) for abutting a front portion of the outer trim panel (301) around the mounting hole (302), wherein the non-enclosed wall (106) is located on a rear side of the plate abutment (105); and an elastic snap fastener (100) is connected to a bottom of the base (110), wherein a toothed member (101) with a plurality of teeth (T1, T2) is formed on a front side, so that the one-piece hidden lens cover (1) is snapped into the mounting hole (302) on the outer trim panel (301) and adapted to different outer trim panels (301); The one-piece concealed lens cover (1) has at least one lens abutment (102) for abutting the lens (200) on an inner wall surface of the lens receiving space (103), and the base (110) has at least one fastener through hole (111) for at least one fastener (400) to pass through on each of the opposite sides of a rear side of the non-enclosed wall (106). The at least one fastener through hole (111) is configured to allow a fastener (400) to pass through in order to prevent the lens (200) in the lens receiving space (103) from falling backward.

2. The one-piece concealed lens cap as described in claim 1, further comprising: A decorative part (104) is connected to the base (110) and located on the front side of the plate abutment (105).

3. The one-piece concealed lens cap as claimed in claim 2, wherein the decorative part (104) and the base (110) together define the lens receiving space (103), and two lens abutments (102) are respectively formed at two corresponding locations of the decorative part (104) on the inner wall surface of the lens receiving space (103).

4. The one-piece concealed lens cover as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plate abutment (105) is an annular outer wall, the base (110) is an annular base, and the non-enclosed wall (106) is a C-shaped wall.

5. The one-piece concealed lens cap as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of teeth (T1, T2) of the toothed member (101) are arranged in a stepped manner along a longitudinal axis of the resilient snap member (100).

6. The one-piece concealed lens cap as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base (110) has two fastening member through holes (111) on each of the left and right sides of the rear side of the non-enclosed wall (106), the corresponding two fastening member through holes (111) on the left and right sides of the base (110) are configured to allow the fastening member (400) to pass through so that the fastening member (400) forms a lateral stop, and the other two corresponding fastening member through holes (111) on the left and right sides of the base (110) are configured to allow another fastening member (400) to pass through so that the other fastening member (400) forms another lateral stop.

7. The one-piece concealed lens cap as claimed in claim 1, wherein a rear side of the resilient fastener (100) is connected to the bottom of the base (110), and the rear side of the resilient fastener (100) and the bottom of the base (110) form a connecting portion (C), the connecting portion (C) having a chamfer angle between it and a front side of the one-piece concealed lens cap (1), wherein the angle of the chamfer angle is 15 to 60 degrees.

8. The one-piece concealed lens cap as claimed in claim 1, wherein the non-closed wall (106) is located at the adjustment notch (107) and extends further to the rear side therein to form at least one reinforcement (108).

9. A means of transport, comprising: The one-piece hidden lens cover (1) as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the one-piece hidden lens cover (1) is installed in the mounting hole (302) on the exterior panel body (301).

10. The vehicle as claimed in claim 9, wherein the vehicle (300) is a multi-wheeled vehicle or a multi-wheeled electric vehicle, and the exterior panel (301) is a front or rear exterior panel of the vehicle (300).

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