Residential Vehicle Cover Panel Flat Mounting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing residential vehicle cover panels, such as windows and doors, protrude significantly from the vehicle's wall due to thick pivot body systems, affecting aesthetics and increasing air resistance, and are at risk of opening or breaking off during transportation due to strong air currents.
Innovation Solution
A double-walled cover panel with a pivot body comprising a first body part attached to the wall and a second body part with a clamping profile that securely holds the edge part of the back wall, allowing the cover panel to be flat against the wall, reducing protrusion and enhancing aesthetics, while the pivot body is designed to be flat and adjustable between closed and open positions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a traditional pivot body system is used to fasten the cover panel to the wall, then the cover panel can be adjusted between closed and open positions, but the pivot body and cover panel protrude significantly from the wall, reducing aesthetics and increasing air resistance
Solution Approach 1:
The pivot body is repositioned from a lateral mounting configuration to a recessed mounting configuration within the wall thickness. The receiving cavity is formed inside the wall rather than extending outward, allowing the cover panel to rotate within the wall plane. This dimensional repositioning eliminates the protruding pivot body while maintaining the rotational adjustment function between closed and open positions.
Solution Approach 2:
The pivot body and receiving cavity are nested within the wall structure itself. The first body part is recessed into the wall, and the second body part rotates within this recessed space. The cover panel's edge part is received within the cavity formed by the pivot body components, which are all contained within or flush with the wall surface. This nesting approach allows the entire mechanism to be hidden within the wall thickness.
2Reliability
If a traditional pivot body system is used to fasten the cover panel, then the cover panel can be securely fastened, but the protruding structure increases air resistance during transportation, risking the panel flying open or breaking off
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting mechanism is moved from an external protruding position to an internal recessed position within the wall. This dimensional change places the cover panel and pivot body within the wall plane, eliminating the protruding surface area that would catch wind during transportation. The panel remains securely fastened through the recessed pivot mechanism while presenting a flush surface that minimizes aerodynamic drag and wind load.
3Shape
If the cover panel is made flat against the wall to improve aesthetics and reduce air resistance, then the visual appearance and aerodynamics improve, but the fastening mechanism becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The pivot body is divided into two separate body parts: a first body part that is recessed into the wall and a second body part that rotates within the receiving cavity. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function - the first body part provides stable mounting within the wall, while the second body part enables rotation. The separation of functions simplifies the overall design compared to a single complex protruding pivot mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The receiving cavity acts as an intermediary space between the wall structure and the rotating cover panel. This cavity provides a controlled environment for the rotation mechanism, allowing the cover panel to pivot smoothly while remaining flush with the wall surface. The intermediary cavity mediates between the structural requirements of the wall and the functional requirements of the movable cover panel.
Data Source
Figure 1A~1C
Figure 2A~2C
AI summary
Residential vehicle and cover panel, such as a caravan, camper or boat, comprising a wall (1) with at least a wall opening (2) covered by a cover panel (10). The cover panel (10) is fastened to the wall (1) by means of a pivot body (20) with which the cover panel is adjustable between a closed position sealing the wall opening and an open position releasing the wall opening. The pivot body (20) comprises a first body part (21) for fastening against the wall (1) and a second body part (22) fastened to the first body part in a pivoting manner. The second body part (22) comprises a clamping profile (23) with an open space to clampingly receive an edge part (15) of the cover panel.