Vehicle Camera Cover Mounting Mechanism with Elastic Engagement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing camera cover structures for vehicle windows face challenges with poor mounting operability, difficulty in checking position from outside, and potential for friction sounds or disengagement under vibrations due to complex engaging mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A cover structure with a mutual engaging mechanism that includes an engaging part and an engaged part, along with an urging member, such as a bending-deformable elastic piece, to securely engage and disengage with the base member by applying an urging force, improving ease of mounting and demounting while maintaining stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a mutual engaging mechanism with pins and U-shaped guides is used to secure the cover to the base member, then the cover can be mounted to the window glass, but the mounting operability is poor and it is difficult to check the position from outside
Solution Approach 1:
The engaging mechanism is divided into separate functional elements: positioning protrusions on the cover that engage with positioning recesses on the base member, and clicking protrusions with clicking holes for audible confirmation. This segmentation allows each element to perform its specific function independently, improving overall operability while maintaining manageable complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary auditory signal (clicking sound) as a mediator between the mechanical engagement and the user's perception of proper mounting. The clicking protrusions and holes create an audible confirmation that serves as an intermediate indicator, eliminating the need for visual inspection and improving ease of operation.
2Ease of operation
If the cover is slid forward to engage pins with U-shaped guides, then the cover can be mounted, but the cover collides with the ceiling part during sliding
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful collision effect by replacing the sliding motion that causes impact with a direct pressing motion. The positioning and engaging features are designed to work through vertical compression rather than horizontal sliding, eliminating the collision with the ceiling part while maintaining effective engagement.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of sliding the cover forward along the window glass surface, the patent inverts the mounting approach by pressing the cover directly toward the window glass. The positioning protrusions and engaging features are activated through this pressing motion rather than sliding, reversing the direction of application and avoiding harmful collisions.
3Device complexity
If pins are simply inserted in U-shaped guides without additional securing, then the structure is simple, but vibrations cause the cover to move or produce friction sounds
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple engagement functions into a unified pressing action. The positioning protrusions, clicking protrusions, and elastic piece all work together through the same vertical pressing motion, combining simplicity of operation with enhanced stability under vibration. The elastic piece provides continuous contact pressure that prevents loosening during vibration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the engagement parameter from static insertion to dynamic pressing with elastic recovery. The elastic piece is compressed during mounting and then recovers to maintain constant contact pressure, changing the engagement from a single-position insertion to a continuous force application that resists vibration-induced loosening.
4Manufacturing precision
If the cover structure requires precise positioning of U-shaped guides with respect to pins, then engagement can be achieved, but the mounting process becomes time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning protrusions are pre-formed on the cover during manufacturing, and the positioning recesses are pre-formed on the base member. This preliminary preparation of positioning features eliminates the need for time-consuming alignment operations during installation, as the features automatically guide proper positioning when the cover is pressed onto the base member.
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 solution enhances mounting operability and stability by allowing easy engagement and disengagement, reducing the likelihood of friction sounds and maintaining the engaged state even under vibrations.
Implementation Method 1
an urging member configured to urge the engaged part toward the engaging part, wherein when the cover is pushed toward the window glass, the engaging part engages with the engaged part with being urged in a direction following a surface of the window glass by the urging member
Data Source
AI summary
An onboard electronic device cover configured to be engageably secured to a base member, which is to be fixed to a window glass of a vehicle, to cover an electronic device which is to be held on an installation part, includes: a mutual engaging mechanism capable of mutually engaging the onboard electronic device cover with the base member. The mutual engaging mechanism includes: an engaging part provided to one of the base member and the cover; an engaged part provided to the other of the base member and the cover and capable of engaging with the engaging part; and an urging member configured to urge the engaging part toward the engaged part. When the cover is pushed toward the window glass, the engaging part engages with the engaged part with being urged in a direction following a surface of the window glass by the urging member.