Elastic Rear View Mirror Cover with Folded Trimmed Edge
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current protective covers for external rear view mirrors lack universality, leading to high costs, difficulty in mounting, poor attachment, and potential safety issues due to mismatched sizes and coverage of the mirror surface.
Innovation Solution
A protective cover made of elastic material with a folded trimmed edge and securing bands on the arc-shaped mirror surface opening, allowing the cover to be securely fitted and preventing excessive coverage of the mirror surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a hard shell housing with a fixed shape is used as a protective cover, then the mirror surface is protected from damage, but the cost increases and universality decreases due to requiring custom molds for each mirror type
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses an elastic protective cover made of flexible material that can deform and adapt to different mirror shapes and sizes. This flexible shell approach eliminates the need for custom rigid molds for each mirror type while maintaining protection functionality, directly resolving the contradiction between protection effectiveness and universality.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic material allows the protective cover to change its physical parameters (shape, size) dynamically to fit different mirror configurations. This parameter adaptability enables a single cover design to serve multiple mirror types, solving the universality problem while maintaining protective coverage.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a sticking film is used as a protective cover, then the mirror surface is protected, but the attachment quality deteriorates on arc-shaped surfaces and stains remain after removal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible elastic cover that conforms to arc-shaped mirror surfaces through material deformation rather than adhesive bonding. This eliminates attachment quality issues on curved surfaces and avoids residue problems associated with sticker removal, while maintaining protective functionality.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a fabric cover is used as a protective cover, then the mirror surface is protected, but universality decreases due to requiring special patterns and cuts for each mirror type
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic protective cover functions as a universal protective solution that can be stretched and molded to fit various mirror dimensions and shapes without requiring custom patterns or cuts. The material's elasticity provides the adaptability needed for universality while maintaining protective coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent designs a single elastic cover structure that can serve multiple mirror types through its deformable nature. This universal design eliminates the need for mirror-specific patterns and cuts, allowing one cover to protect various mirror configurations effectively.
4Adaptability or versatility
If an elastic protective cover is used to achieve universality, then adaptability improves, but the risk of covering part of the mirror surface increases
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic cover's dynamic properties allow it to be stretched and positioned precisely during installation. The material can be temporarily deformed to fit the mirror contours and then returns to its original shape, enabling controlled coverage that prevents mirror surface obstruction while maintaining universality.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic material's ability to change its physical parameters (extension, compression) allows precise adjustment of the cover's dimensions during installation. This parameter control ensures the cover fits snugly around the mirror without extending over the reflective surface, maintaining both universality and optical functionality.
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 elastic protective cover effectively fits various vehicle rear view mirrors, preventing damage from scraping and collisions while ensuring secure attachment and avoiding coverage of the mirror surface.
Implementation Method 1
a main body 11 made of elastic material
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
A rear view mirror protective cover includes a main body (11) made of an elastic material and a trimmed edge (12) arranged at one end of the main body that is folded towards the inside of said cover. Another end of the main body opposite to the trimmed edge is in the shape of a circular arc. The main body includes a mirror opening (13), also formed with a trimmed edge (14), that is arranged to accommodate a rear view mirror. Securing bands (15) are arranged on the trimmed edge (14). The elastic material is nylon, lycra or latex. The mirror opening (13) is square or elliptic in shape. The protective cover is suitable for various kinds of rear view mirror due to its use of elastic material. The trimmed edge (12) can effectively prevent the cover from sliding from the rear view mirror. The cover can effectively protect the rear view mirror from external scuffing and damage caused by collision.