Exterior Part Mounting Structure with Segmented Molding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mounting techniques for exterior parts, such as spoilers on automobile bumpers, often result in a degraded aesthetic appearance due to variations in molding length, leading to gaps or raised intermediate portions, and can cause sink marks or visibility of gaps between differently painted components.
Innovation Solution
A mounting structure featuring a recessed corner portion on the exterior part with a protrusion and cutout, allowing the molding to be securely fitted and preventing gaps or raised edges, while maintaining a consistent wall thickness to avoid sink marks, and strategically painting the molding to cover noticeable gaps with a high-brightness color.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the end portion of the molding is cut and abutted against a shoulder portion of the exterior part or main member, then the molding can be installed in the gap, but variations in cut length cause degraded aesthetic appearance due to gaps or raised intermediate portions
Solution Approach 1:
The molding is divided into multiple sections with different structural features: a first section with a first end portion that fits into a cutout portion of the exterior part, and a second section with a second end portion that abuts against a shoulder portion of the main member. This segmentation allows each end to be positioned independently, eliminating the need for precise full-length cutting while maintaining aesthetic appearance.
Solution Approach 2:
The cutout portion in the exterior part serves as an intermediary structure that receives and positions the first end portion of the molding. This intermediary feature enables precise positioning of the molding end without requiring precise cutting, as the cutout portion acts as a receptacle that automatically positions the molding correctly.
2Manufacturing precision
If the molding length is increased to ensure full coverage, then gap coverage is improved, but the molding may cause raised intermediate portions when the end portion is pushed
Solution Approach 1:
The molding is segmented into functional sections: a first section that fits into the cutout portion of the exterior part, and a second section that extends toward the main member. This segmentation allows the molding to achieve full gap coverage through the combined length of its sections without requiring excessive overall length that would cause raising.
Solution Approach 2:
The first end portion of the molding is extracted from the traditional abutting configuration and repositioned into the cutout portion of the exterior part. This extraction allows the molding to achieve better gap coverage while preventing the pushing and raising problems associated with end portions abutting against shoulder portions.
3Manufacturing precision
If the molding is mounted to cover gaps between differently painted components, then aesthetic appearance is improved, but sink marks may occur due to increased wall thickness
Solution Approach 1:
The molding structure is segmented to fit into the cutout portion, which allows the molding to be mounted effectively without requiring excessive wall thickness. The cutout portion configuration enables the molding to achieve aesthetic coverage while maintaining appropriate wall thickness to prevent sink marks.
Data Source
AI summary
In a mounting structure of an exterior part, a molding has a recess capable of being fitted to an outer periphery of the exterior part, as seen in a cross-sectional view. The outer periphery includes a recessed corner portion at which two sides of the outer periphery cross each other. One of the two sides constituting the recessed corner portion includes a protrusion capable of being fitted into the recess of the molding. The other of the two sides includes a cutout portion disposed adjacent to the protrusion, the cutout portion permitting insertion of the molding therethrough under a condition where the exterior part is mounted on a front surface of a main member. The exterior part is mounted on the front surface of the main member under a condition where an end portion of the molding mounted on the one side is inserted into the cutout portion.