Releasable Headlight Bracket for Pedestrian Impact Detachment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing headlight assembly mounting brackets that break in response to impact forces are costly to replace and do not efficiently manage the displacement of headlight assemblies during collisions.
Innovation Solution
A releasable bracket system for headlight assemblies, featuring a fixed bracket portion and a component-side portion with a clip and cage configuration, respectively. The clip is designed to detach from the cage under an impact force and re-engage after detachment, allowing the headlight assembly to be securely re-attached to the vehicle structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If frangible mounting brackets are used to allow headlight displacement during collision, then pedestrian protection function is improved, but replacement cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting bracket is divided into two separate segments: a fixed bracket portion attached to the vehicle structure and a component-side portion attached to the headlight assembly. These segments can detach from each other during collision to allow headlight displacement for pedestrian protection, but can be easily reattached by replacing only the inexpensive component-side portion rather than the entire bracket assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The component-side portion of the bracket is designed as a disposable, low-cost element that can be easily replaced after collision. This inexpensive portion contains the frangible connection features that detach during impact, allowing the expensive fixed bracket portion attached to the vehicle structure to be reused.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If frangible portions are included in headlight housing to enable detachment, then pedestrian protection is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bracket system is segmented into a simple fixed portion and a separate component-side portion, each with straightforward attachment features. The frangible connection is achieved through simple clip and cage portion geometries rather than complex mechanisms, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining pedestrian protection functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of making the entire headlight housing or fixed bracket portion frangible (which would be complex), the invention applies the frangible feature only to the component-side portion that attaches to the headlight assembly. This inverted approach places the complexity only where necessary and keeps the vehicle-mounted fixed bracket simple and robust.
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 releasable bracket system effectively manages the displacement of headlight assemblies during impacts, reducing replacement costs and ensuring continued functionality by allowing the clip to re-engage the cage after detachment.
Implementation Method 1
the releasable bracket further includes a spring configured to bias the fixed bracket portion away from the cage portion with the releasable bracket in the retained position
Implementation Method 2
the clip is configured to detach from the cage portion in response to application of an impact force on the headlight assembly
Data Source
AI summary
A releasable bracket for a headlight assembly of a vehicle includes: a fixed bracket portion configured to be attached to a structural component of the vehicle; and a component-side portion attached to the headlight assembly. The component-side portion is configured to engage the fixed bracket portion in a retained position for holding the headlight assembly to the structural component of the vehicle. One of the fixed bracket portion or the component-side portion includes a clip, and another one of the fixed bracket portion or the component-side portion includes a cage portion. The clip is configured to detach from the cage portion in response to application of an impact force on the headlight assembly. The clip is configured to re-engage the cage portion and to re-attach the fixed bracket portion to the cage portion after being detached therefrom.