Aluminum Composite Vehicle Accessory for Lightweight Durability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicle accessories made from metals increase vehicle weight, compromising fuel and aerodynamic efficiency, while those made from carbon fiber are expensive and fragile, failing to balance performance, aesthetics, and cost-effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
The use of aluminum composite material for vehicle accessories, which combines a thermoplastic composite core with upper and lower layers of aluminum, providing a lightweight, durable, and cost-effective solution that enhances aerodynamic performance and aesthetics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If conventional vehicle accessories are made from metals, then resilience to damage is improved, but vehicle weight increases leading to decreased fuel and aerodynamic efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining aluminum (metal layer) with thermoplastic material to create a hybrid structure that leverages the strength and durability of metal while incorporating the lightweight properties of polymer materials, thereby resolving the contradiction between resilience and weight
2Weight of moving object
If conventional vehicle accessories are made from carbon fiber, then vehicle performance is improved, but cost increases and fragility increases making them vulnerable to damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite materials combining aluminum and thermoplastic to achieve a balance between lightweight properties and damage resistance, avoiding the fragility issue of pure carbon fiber while maintaining performance benefits
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies material parameters by selecting specific aluminum alloys and thermoplastic compositions, and adjusting their proportions and structural configuration to optimize the balance between weight, strength, and damage resistance
3Duration of action of stationary object
If conventional vehicle accessories are made from metals, then durability is improved, but aesthetics decrease compared to other materials
Solution Approach 1:
The composite structure allows for aesthetic surface treatment of the thermoplastic layer while maintaining the structural durability provided by the aluminum core, combining both aesthetic and functional benefits
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle accessory includes a body portion. The body portion is made substantially of aluminum composite material. The vehicle accessory further includes at least one connector for selectively attaching the body portion to a portion of an automobile. The body portion includes a front edge and a rear edge. The front edge is curved along at least a portion thereof. The front and rear edges are laterally opposed from each other. The rear edge extends substantially linearly from a first corner to a second corner. The first and second corners are formed at junctions between the front edge and the rear edge.