Frangible Headlight Housing Tab With Stiffening Ribs

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current headlight unit repair methods for motor vehicles are inefficient due to oversized replacement lugs that require machining and do not ensure precise positioning, leading to increased repair time and material waste.

Innovation Solution

The design includes a frangible fixing lug with a pre-cut line for precise breakage and a replacement lug that matches the exact dimensions of the broken area, allowing for simpler and quicker repairs with reduced material costs, utilizing a network of stiffening ribs for secure insertion and a fixing shank for permanent attachment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If replacement lugs are made oversized to ensure sufficient dimensions, then reliability of replacement is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase due to required machining of housing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereplacement reliabilityVSAvoidhousing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The original lug is segmented into a persistent area that remains in the housing and a breaking area that is replaced. The housing is designed with a recess that receives only the breaking area of the replacement lug, separating the replacement process into modular components that simplify manufacturing and eliminate the need for housing machining.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The housing is pre-formed with a recess during manufacturing that is specifically designed to receive the breaking area of the replacement lug. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for post-manufacturing machining operations and ensures precise positioning of the replacement component.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If replacement lugs are made oversized to ensure sufficient dimensions, then reliability of replacement is improved, but loss of time increases due to machining requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereplacement reliabilityVSAvoidrepair time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The housing recess is pre-formed during housing manufacturing to precisely accommodate the breaking area of the replacement lug. This eliminates time-consuming machining operations during repair and allows for quick installation of replacement components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention utilizes a pre-formed recess structure that acts as a guiding and positioning mechanism, eliminating the need for manual machining operations and enabling rapid replacement of broken lugs during repair processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

3Adaptability or versatility

If replacement lugs are made oversized to ensure sufficient dimensions, then adaptability is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements worsen due to positioning difficulties

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereplacement adaptabilityVSAvoidpositioning precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The replacement lug is segmented into a breaking area that fits into a pre-formed recess and a persistent area that remains with the original lug. This segmentation allows the breaking area to be precisely positioned by the recess geometry while the persistent area provides sufficient dimensions for adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The pre-formed recess acts as an intermediary structure that mediates between the replacement lug and the housing. It provides precise positioning and orientation for the breaking area of the replacement lug, eliminating positioning difficulties while maintaining adaptability through the overall lug design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3508377B1Housing for an optical unit and replacement attachment tab for repairing such an optical unit of a vehicle
Publication Date: 2022.09.07 PSA AUTOMOBILES SA
  • EP3508377B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3508377B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3508377B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The invention relates to a housing device for an optical unit, said housing comprising a frangible mounting tab (100) for attaching the housing to the structure of a vehicle, said frangible mounting tab (100) comprising at least one pre-cut line configured to create a break zone and to delimit said break zone of said frangible mounting tab (100) intended to break in the event of an impact, the frangible mounting tab (100) comprising, at least in part on a persistent area distinct from the break zone, a network of stiffening ribs (101) configured such that, after breakage of the break zone of the frangible mounting tab (100),The portions of stiffening ribs belonging to the persistent zone define a housing (2) suitable for receiving a replacement fixing tab (1) and for providing guidance functions during insertion and for retaining said replacement fixing tab (1) intended to be fixed to the housing (200) in place of the broken frangible fixing tab.