Biogenic Protective Cap Structure for Vehicle Component Coverage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing protective caps for vehicle components, typically made from fossil raw materials, face challenges in terms of high energy consumption and costs during production and recycling, as well as environmental impact due to non-biodegradability.

Innovation Solution

A protective cap made from biogenic and renewable raw materials, such as cellulose, fiber materials from hay or hemp, or biopolymers, which are recyclable and compostable, reducing environmental footprint and production costs, and featuring a multi-layered design with improved wear resistance and stackability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If protective caps are made from fossil raw materials (plastic), then they provide adequate protection and reusability, but they incur high energy consumption and costs during production and recycling

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotective functionVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the fundamental material parameter from fossil-based plastic to biogenic materials (cellulose, fiber materials, biopolymers). This material substitution maintains the protective function while fundamentally altering the energy profile of production and disposal, reducing energy consumption and enabling biodegradation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent embraces a disposable protective cap made from biogenic materials that can be disposed of after use through biodegradation or composting. This eliminates the high energy consumption and costs associated with recycling durable plastic caps, while the protective function is maintained during the cap's service life.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Reliability

If protective caps are made from fossil raw materials (plastic), then they provide adequate protection, but they have negative environmental impact due to non-biodegradability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotective functionVSAvoidenvironmental impact

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the material composition parameter from non-biodegradable fossil plastic to biogenic materials with inherent biodegradability. This fundamental material substitution eliminates the harmful environmental impact of persistent plastic waste while maintaining the protective function during use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the previously harmful characteristic of persistent plastic waste into a beneficial feature by using biogenic materials that naturally biodegrade or compost. The material's ability to break down, which was previously a problem with fossil plastics, becomes an environmental benefit.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Use of energy by moving object

If protective caps are made from biogenic materials, then energy consumption and costs are reduced, but wear resistance and durability may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy consumptionVSAvoidwear resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs composite material structures combining different biogenic materials (cellulose, fiber materials, biopolymers) to achieve the necessary wear resistance and mechanical strength. This composite approach allows the protective cap to maintain adequate durability for its protective function while retaining the low energy consumption and biodegradability benefits of biogenic materials.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentUS12168995B2Protective cap for partially covering a pre-assembled or fully assembled vehicle component

Publication Date: 2024.12.17 ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG

AI summary

A protective cap (1, 9, 12) for the partial covering of a pre-fitted or a fully fitted vehicle component (11). The protective cap (1, 9, 12) is made from a biogenic and/or renewable raw material.