Hard Folding Car Cover Hinge Layout for Faster Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing car covers for pickup trucks have complex and time-consuming manufacturing and installation processes due to varying rotating shaft systems, and require disassembly for maintenance, which is cumbersome and costly.
Innovation Solution
A hard folding car cover design featuring interchangeable intermediate bars of equal width for both rotating shaft systems, a limiting system with guide grooves and fixing buckles, and a lock bolt system for simplified assembly and maintenance, reducing production costs and improving installation efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If different sizes of rotating shaft system are used between each cover plate, then the car cover can be adapted to different configurations, but it becomes time consuming to manufacture and install
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by making all rotating shaft systems use the same intermediate bar dimensions and specifications. This allows the same intermediate bar to be used across all rotating shaft systems in the car cover, enabling standardized manufacturing processes and simplifying installation. The universal design maintains configuration adaptability while eliminating the time-consuming customization of different shaft sizes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of intermediate bar dimensions from variable (different sizes for different configurations) to constant (uniform size for all systems). This parameter standardization allows for batch production of identical intermediate bars, significantly reducing manufacturing time and simplifying the installation process while still achieving the required adaptability through the folding mechanism design.
2Device complexity
If locking parts are designed as a whole through groove, then the structure is simple, but it needs to be disassembled as a whole during maintenance which is troublesome
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the locking mechanism into separate, modular components rather than a single integrated through groove. The locking parts are designed as independent elements that can be accessed and maintained individually. This segmentation maintains structural simplicity while enabling easy maintenance, as individual locking components can be replaced or serviced without disassembling the entire locking system.
3Ease of manufacture
If intermediate bars of equal width are used for both rotating shaft systems, then production costs are reduced and installation efficiency is improved, but the folding compactness may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the intermediate bar width parameter from variable to constant, making both rotating shaft systems use intermediate bars of equal width. This standardization reduces production costs through batch manufacturing and improves installation efficiency by eliminating the need for different sized components. The design compensates for any potential impact on folding compactness through optimized hinge placement and cover plate geometry.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention discloses a hard folding car cover, including a fixed cover plate and a reversible cover plate, wherein the fixed cover plate is provided with one and the reversible cover plate is provided with at least one, the reversible cover plate is connected to another reversible cover plate by a first rotational shaft system, the first rotational shaft system includes a first intermediate bar, the fixed cover plate is connected to the reversible cover plate by a second rotational shaft system, the second rotational shaft system includes a second intermediate bar wherein the second intermediate bar is of the same width as the first intermediate bar. The present invention sets the first intermediate bar and the second intermediate bar to equal width, making the first intermediate bar and the second intermediate bar require only one set of mould for processing, saving production costs and improving production and installation productivity. At the same time, by setting the two intermediate bars to equal width, the middle part of the car cover can hold spare parts after folding, making the overall size of the car cover smaller after packing, which not only facilitating the delivery of the car cover, but also reducing transportation costs.