Flexible Bumper Plug With Grippers And Insect Screen
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Solution Overview
Problem
Recreational vehicle (RV) bumper plugs often become loose and can fall out, allowing contents to be lost and providing entry points for insects and pests, while existing solutions fail to balance ease of installation and air flow with secure sealing.
Innovation Solution
A flexible bumper plug made from low-density polyethylene with cavities for easy grasping and apertures for air flow, featuring grippers for secure engagement with the bumper compartment to prevent pests and ensure tight fit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a traditional plug with a finger hole is used for easy removal, then ease of operation is improved, but insect infiltration increases
Solution Approach 1:
The plug is segmented into multiple functional zones: a smooth grasping surface for easy removal, a textured gripping surface for secure attachment, and an insect screen mesh that segments the opening into tiny pores. This segmentation allows the single plug structure to simultaneously provide easy removal, pest protection, and secure attachment.
Solution Approach 2:
An insect screen mesh is introduced as an intermediary layer within the plug structure. This mesh acts as a mediator that blocks insects while allowing air flow and does not interfere with the grasping or gripping functions. The mesh is integrated into the plug body, creating a multi-layered solution that addresses multiple problems simultaneously.
2Reliability
If a tight-fitting plug is used to prevent pests, then reliability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The plug incorporates a flexible flange with resilient gripping surfaces that can dynamically adapt during installation. When installed, the flange flexes to conform to the bumper compartment opening, creating a tight seal. During removal, the same flexibility allows the plug to be pulled out without deformation. This dynamic behavior enables both secure sealing and ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The plug material properties are optimized to change flexibility based on installation conditions. The plastic material is formulated to be sufficiently flexible during installation to conform to the opening, then becomes rigid enough when in place to maintain the seal. The gripping surfaces utilize friction parameter changes - high friction when stationary for security, low friction during removal when flexed.
3Strength
If a rigid plug structure is used for durability, then strength is improved, but flexibility for easy installation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The plug exhibits local quality variations: the main body is made of rigid, durable plastic to provide structural strength and longevity, while the flange and gripping surfaces incorporate flexible, textured regions that enable easy installation and removal. The insect screen mesh provides a semi-rigid structure that maintains its shape while allowing flexibility in the overall plug assembly. Each zone has optimized properties for its specific function.
Solution Approach 2:
The plug is constructed as a composite structure combining different material properties within a single molded component. The main body uses rigid plastic for strength, while the flange incorporates flexible plastic variants or texturing that provides grip and flexibility. The insect screen mesh acts as a composite reinforcement that adds structural integrity while maintaining flexibility. This composite approach allows the plug to exhibit both rigidity and flexibility in different regions.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The flexible bumper plug securely retains contents, prevents insect infiltration, and allows air flow while being easy to install and remove, addressing the issues of durability, cost-effectiveness, and ease of use.
Implementation Method 1
Grippers are formed along the outside walls of the plug body for tightly gripping the interior walls of the bumper compartment to maintain the bumper plug in tight frictional engagement therewith
Implementation Method 2
The bumper plug is flexible and includes a pair of cavities therein to allow for easy thumb and multi-finger grasping and flexing for insertion into and removal from the bumper compartment
Data Source
AI summary
A plug for enclosing a bumper compartment of a vehicle which will maintain the compartment pest free, allow air flow therethrough and securely retain accessories placed therein. The plug includes a front, a body and a rear, with the front and rear attached to the body. The front defines a pair of openings while the body and the rear define a pair of cavities. The front openings are in communication with the body cavities to provide a handle for easily grasping the plug for removal and insertion. Apertures are formed in the rear to allow for air flow and also act as an insect screen. The plug also includes grippers attached to the exterior of the body for frictional engagement with the inside of the bumper compartment.