Vehicle Bumper Shield Attachment Using L-Shaped Holding Fingers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for connecting vehicle bumpers to bodywork elements often result in inconsistent clearance and poor flushness, particularly when using thin sheet metal and polymer materials, leading to irregular gaps and deformation issues.
Innovation Solution
The proposed arrangement features a fixing part with L-shaped holding fingers that secure the bumper to the bodywork element, ensuring a constant clearance by preventing deformation and allowing for easy mounting without precise drilling, using snap-fastening and simple orifices for the fingers to pass through.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a fixing part is used to connect the bumper to the bodywork element, then the bumper can be secured to the bodywork element, but the clearance between the bumper edge and the bodywork element becomes inconsistent and poor flushness occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces a new spatial dimension by adding a longitudinal flange extending perpendicular to the fixing part faces, along the longitudinal edge. This flange engages with the shield edge in a direction orthogonal to the main fixing direction, creating a two-dimensional constraint system that simultaneously controls clearance consistency and connection strength without requiring precise drilling operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The fixing part is segmented into distinct functional elements: a main fixing part for securing to the bodywork element, and a longitudinal flange with holding fingers for engaging the shield edge. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently - the fixing part provides connection strength while the flange maintains clearance consistency, resolving the contradiction between these two requirements.
2Manufacturing precision
If the fixing part is fixed by screw or rivet to a part of the bodywork element extending perpendicularly to the shield wall, then constant clearance can be guaranteed, but precise drillings are required and expensive tools are needed
Solution Approach 1:
The longitudinal flange with holding fingers is designed to self-align and self-constrain the shield edge through snap-fastening engagement. The holding fingers pass through simple orifices and automatically position themselves to maintain constant clearance, eliminating the need for precise pre-drilled holes and expensive specialized tools while ensuring manufacturing precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the attachment parameter from requiring precise hole positioning (screw/rivet through perpendicular surface) to using a flange structure that maintains clearance through its geometric configuration and snap-fit engagement. This parameter change allows constant clearance to be achieved through the flange's physical dimensions and engagement geometry rather than through precise drilling operations.
3Weight of moving object
If the bodywork element is made of thin sheet metal and the bumper is made of polymer material, then weight reduction is achieved, but deformation of the bodywork element occurs resulting in poor flushness and irregular gaps
Solution Approach 1:
The longitudinal flange with holding fingers performs a preliminary constraining action on the thin sheet metal bodywork element before final assembly. By engaging the shield edge early in the assembly process and maintaining constant clearance through the flange's geometric configuration, the bodywork element is prevented from deforming, ensuring good flushness while retaining the weight benefits of thin sheet metal construction.
Solution Approach 2:
The longitudinal flange acts as an intermediary element between the polymer bumper and the thin sheet metal bodywork element. It mediates the connection by providing a rigid structural component that maintains constant clearance and prevents deformation of the flexible thin sheet metal, while allowing the lightweight material composition to be maintained.
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
This solution maintains a consistent maximum spacing between the bumper and bodywork element, ensuring a good finish and easy assembly, while reducing the need for expensive tools and precise drilling, and can be applied to various vehicle types.
Implementation Method 1
a first arm (13) integral with the fixing part (10) and passing through corresponding orifices (14, 15) made respectively in the edge (5) of the shield and in the second part (7) of the bodywork element
Implementation Method 2
a longitudinal flange (11) extending substantially perpendicular to the faces (10a, 10b) of the fixing part (10), along a longitudinal edge thereof, and secured to the edge (5) of the shield by snap-fastening
Data Source
Figure 1~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The invention concerns an arrangement of a shield (2) and a body element (3) of a motor vehicle. The body element (3) has, successively, a first portion (6) that extends a wall (4) of the shield at a predefined clearance from same, a second portion (7) extending substantially parallel to the edge (5) of the shield and a third portion (8) opposite the inner face of the wall (4) of the shield. The shield (2) and the body element (3) are attached together by means of an attachment part (9) of which an attachment portion (10) is secured to the third portion (8) and of which a longitudinal edge (11) is secured to the edge (5) of the shield by snap fitting. This attachment part comprises one or more L-shaped holding fingers (12) that pass through corresponding openings (14, 15) in the edge (5) and the second portion (7) and have a bearing surface (17) in contact with the latter in order to keep it separated.