Vehicle Bumper Shield Support Assembly for Vertical Displacement Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional motor vehicle shields experience deterioration and potential disconnection from the vehicle wing due to excessive vertical displacement caused by road irregularities and the weight of the shield itself.

Innovation Solution

A support system for the shield, comprising a protruding part on the shield that collaborates with a rigid structure of the vehicle to limit vertical displacement, ensuring the shield remains securely attached even under significant vertical acceleration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If the bumper is made rigid to maintain structural strength, then the strength is improved, but the vertical displacement under acceleration increases causing damage and detachment

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural strengthVSAvoidconnection reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The support system is divided into multiple independent elements (first support element and second support element) that can deflect independently. Each element handles a portion of the vertical load, allowing the rigid bumper to maintain strength while the segmented support system absorbs displacement through controlled deflection of individual elements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The support elements are designed with specific geometric parameters (dimensions, thickness, material properties) that allow them to deflect by a controlled amount under vertical acceleration. By changing these parameters, the system absorbs the vertical displacement that would otherwise cause damage or detachment, while maintaining the rigid bumper's structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Duration of action of stationary object

If the bumper weight is increased to improve durability, then the durability is improved, but the vertical acceleration effect is amplified causing excessive displacement

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovedurabilityVSAvoidconnection reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of stationary objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The support elements act as counterbalancing structures that resist the vertical acceleration forces amplified by the bumper's weight. When vertical acceleration occurs, the support elements deflect in opposition to the force direction, providing a counteracting effect that prevents excessive displacement and maintains connection reliability despite the heavy bumper mass.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

3Reliability

If the support system is made more complex to prevent detachment, then the connection reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection reliabilityVSAvoidsupport system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of making the entire support system complex, the invention applies local reinforcement through specifically designed support elements at critical locations. Each support element has localized geometric features (thickness variations, cross-sectional shapes) that provide the necessary deflection characteristics only where needed, maintaining simplicity elsewhere in the system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The support elements are designed to be dynamically responsive to vertical acceleration forces. Rather than using complex mechanical linkages or active control systems, the elements naturally deflect according to their elastic properties when subjected to vertical loads, providing adaptive protection against detachment through passive dynamic behavior.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4530132A1Assembly for supporting a bumper of a motor vehicle
Publication Date: 2025.04.02 RENAULT SA
  • EP4530132A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4530132A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4530132A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Assembly for supporting a motor vehicle shield, the assembly comprising a motor vehicle shield and a rigid structure of the motor vehicle, characterized in that the shield includes a projecting part oriented towards the interior of the vehicle, the projecting part being able to collaborate with the rigid structure to limit a displacement of the shield along a vertical terrestrial axis directed towards the ground, in particular when the vehicle drives through a pothole.