Angled Hook Assembly for Vehicle Sunshade Mounting

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sunshade hook assemblies face challenges in assembly time and space constraints, as well as misplacement issues during installation due to parallel alignment requirements, limiting their effective mounting to vehicle body components.

Innovation Solution

A hook assembly design where the clip prongs and pin insertion directions are angled relative to each other, allowing for pre-assembled combination and secure installation at an angle relative to the body member, featuring a pin member with upward insertion pins and a hook housing with interior channels and clip prongs that secure to the vehicle body component.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the hook part and pin part are installed separately with parallel alignment, then the assembly can be securely mounted to the body member, but the assembly time increases and space constraints are violated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecure mountingVSAvoidassembly time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The hook part and pin part are merged into a single pre-assembled hook assembly unit. The pin part is inserted through the hook part during manufacturing, creating a integrated component that is installed as one piece into the body member, eliminating the need for separate alignment and installation steps

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The hook part and pin part are pre-assembled into a complete hook assembly before installation. The pin is pre-inserted through the hook housing and secured with retainer clips during manufacturing, so that the entire assembly is ready for immediate installation without requiring separate assembly steps at the installation site

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If the hook part and pin part are installed separately with parallel alignment, then the components can be individually secured, but the available space for mounting is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecure mountingVSAvoidmounting space

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The hook part and pin part are merged into a single pre-assembled hook assembly unit. The pin part is inserted through the hook part during manufacturing, creating a integrated component that is installed as one piece into the body member, eliminating the need for separate alignment and installation steps

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The design transitions from separate parallel insertion operations to a single angled insertion operation. The hook assembly is inserted at an angle relative to the body member surface, utilizing three-dimensional space more efficiently and reducing the footprint required for mounting

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Manufacturing precision

If the hook part and pin part are installed separately, then each component can be properly positioned, but the components may be misplaced or dropped before installation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomponent positioningVSAvoidinstallation reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The hook part and pin part are merged into a single pre-assembled hook assembly unit. The pin part is inserted through the hook part during manufacturing, creating a integrated component that is installed as one piece into the body member, eliminating the need for separate alignment and installation steps

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The hook part and pin part are pre-assembled into a complete hook assembly before installation. The pin is pre-inserted through the hook housing and secured with retainer clips during manufacturing, so that the entire assembly is ready for immediate installation without requiring separate assembly steps at the installation site

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS11207954B2Hook assemblies

Publication Date: 2021.12.28 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK

AI summary

A hook assembly for mounting to a body component having a pair of openings is provided. The hook assembly includes a pin member and a hook housing. The pin member includes a base portion and a pair of insertion pins extending upwardly from the base portion. The hook housing includes a top surface and a pair of interior channels. A pair of clip prongs are positioned at each opening of the pair of interior channels. A hook member extends outwardly from the hook housing. The hook housing is coupled to the body component by inserting the pair of clip prongs into the openings formed in the body component in a clip prong insertion direction. The pair of insertion pins are inserted into the pair of interior channels in a pin insertion direction to secure the pin member and the hook housing to the body component.