Vehicle Rear Fascia Assembly With Cam-Guided Flexing for Impact Deflection

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle rear fascia assemblies lack improved impact energy deflecting characteristics and aesthetic appeal, as they typically consist of a single, rigid trim element that does not effectively manage impact forces or enhance appearance.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle rear fascia assembly comprising a main fascia member with guide channels and a secondary fascia member with protrusions that flex and align during installation, allowing for a secure, single-technician installation process that enhances impact energy deflection and appearance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If a one-piece rigid fascia assembly is used, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the impact energy deflecting characteristics are poor and appearance is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimpact energy deflecting characteristicsVSAvoidfascia assembly structure

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The fascia assembly is divided into multiple separate members (main fascia member, secondary fascia member, and third fascia member) that can be installed in sequence. The secondary fascia member includes protrusions that interact with cam surfaces on the main fascia member, allowing the assembly to be segmented into functional components that provide both structural simplicity and improved impact energy management.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The fascia assembly incorporates dynamic elements where the secondary fascia member can move relative to the main fascia member during installation and operation. The cam surfaces and protrusions create a mechanical interaction that allows controlled movement and flexing, transforming the rigid static structure into a dynamic system that can better manage impact forces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Strength

If guide channels and protrusions are added to enable flexing during installation, then impact energy deflection is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimpact energy deflectionVSAvoidfascia member fabrication

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The secondary fascia member is designed as a flexible component with protrusions that can bend and flex during installation. This flexibility allows the member to navigate the cam surfaces in the guide channels, enabling the fascia assembly to deflect impact energy while maintaining ease of manufacture through standard plastic forming techniques for the thin-walled flexible structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The cam surfaces in the guide channels are designed with curved geometries that guide the protrusions of the secondary fascia member through controlled flexing paths. These curved surfaces enable the rigid-to-flexible transition during installation while maintaining manufacturability through conventional molding techniques for curved features.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

3Reliability

If a two-piece fascia assembly with flexing capability is implemented, then appearance and impact protection are enhanced, but installation complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimpact protectionVSAvoidinstallation process

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The fascia assembly is designed to be self-installing through the interaction between the protrusions on the secondary fascia member and the cam surfaces in the guide channels. As the secondary member is inserted, the protrusions automatically ride along the cam surfaces, causing controlled flexing that guides the member into its final position without requiring additional tools or complex installation procedures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The guide channels with cam surfaces are pre-formed in the main fascia member during manufacturing. This preliminary preparation of the guide paths ensures that when the secondary fascia member is installed, the flexing and alignment occur automatically through the predetermined cam mechanism, simplifying the installation process while maintaining reliable impact protection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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 assembly provides improved impact energy deflection and aesthetic appeal by allowing the secondary fascia member to flex and securely attach to the main fascia member, reducing damage and enhancing the vehicle's rear appearance.

Implementation Method 1

a portion of the first lateral end contacts the first guide channel and a portion of the second lateral end contacts the second guide channel urging the first lateral end away from the second lateral end thereby causing the secondary fascia member to flex

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS20250304172A1Vehicle rear fascia assembly

Publication Date: 2025.10.02 NISSAN NORTH AMERICA INC

AI summary

A vehicle rear fascia assembly of a vehicle includes a main fascia member and a secondary fascia member. The main fascia member has guide channels (cam surfaces) on opposite lateral sides thereof and the secondary fascia member has projections located at opposite lateral sides thereof. The projections slide along the guide channels (cam surfaces) during installation of the secondary fascia member to the main fascia member causing the secondary fascia member to flex and widen as the projections are moved away from one another as the secondary fascia member is moved toward an installed orientation.