Auxiliary Lighting Mounting Bracket for Moonroof Rim
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Solution Overview
Problem
The installation of auxiliary lighting systems on vehicles with moonroofs often requires drilling holes, which is time-consuming, laborious, and irreversible, and increases the complexity and cost of vehicle assembly, while also potentially weakening the vehicle's body structure.
Innovation Solution
A mounting system that uses brackets with hook and mounting portions coupled to the moonroof rim and a support member extending across the opening, secured with fasteners, allowing the auxiliary lighting system to be integrated without destructive modifications, using a non-destructive and user-friendly method.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If drilling holes in the body or A-pillars to attach brackets is used, then the auxiliary lighting system can be securely mounted, but the installation becomes time-consuming, laborious, and irreversible while potentially weakening the vehicle's body structure
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting system is divided into separate components: a bracket assembly with hook portions that attach to the existing moonroof rim, and a support member that receives the lighting system. This segmentation allows the bracket to utilize pre-existing structural features without requiring new holes in the vehicle body, thereby reducing installation time while maintaining secure mounting through the distributed attachment points on the rim.
Solution Approach 2:
The bracket assembly acts as an intermediary component between the vehicle's moonroof rim and the auxiliary lighting system. Instead of directly drilling into the vehicle body, the bracket provides a intermediate mounting interface that hooks onto the existing rim structure, eliminating the need for destructive modifications while ensuring secure attachment.
2Reliability
If drilling holes in the body or A-pillars to attach brackets is used, then the auxiliary lighting system can be securely mounted, but the installation becomes irreversible and may adversely impact the strength of body components
Solution Approach 1:
The bracket assembly serves as an intermediary that attaches to the existing moonroof rim through hooks, avoiding direct attachment to the vehicle's main body structure. This prevents weakening of critical body components while still providing secure mounting for the lighting system through the dedicated rim structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting system localizes the attachment points to the moonroof rim area, which is specifically designed to accommodate such attachments. By concentrating the mounting function in this localized region with appropriate structural features, the overall body structure remains intact and retains its full strength, while the local rim area handles the mounting loads.
3Adaptability or versatility
If drilling holes in the body or A-pillars to attach brackets is used, then the auxiliary lighting system can be mounted, but the number of body variations increases, increasing the cost and complexity of assembling the vehicle
Solution Approach 1:
The bracket assembly is designed as a universal mounting solution that attaches to the standardized moonroof rim feature present on multiple vehicle models. This multi-functional design allows the same bracket configuration to be used across different vehicle platforms, reducing the number of body variations needed and simplifying assembly processes while maintaining mounting flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The moonroof rim is pre-designed with specific structural features during vehicle manufacturing that accommodate the bracket assembly. By preparing the mounting interface in advance as part of the standard vehicle build, the need for additional body variations is eliminated, and the lighting system can be installed using the pre-configured rim structure, reducing assembly complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle that includes a roof panel including a moonroof opening and a rim extending about the moonroof opening is described herein. The rim includes a lower edge. At least two brackets are coupled to the roof panel, and each bracket includes a first end that defines a hook portion and a second end that defines a mounting portion. The hook portion is coupled to the lower edge of the rim such that the mounting portion extends through the moonroof opening. A support member is coupled to the mounting portion of the brackets, wherein a portion of the support member is oriented to couple to the roof panel, and a fastener is coupled to the brackets and the support member such that the hook portion is secured to the rim and the support member is secured to the roof panel. An auxiliary lighting system is at least one of included at least partially within or coupled to the support member.