Headlight Trim Cap Damping Structure for Vibration-Stable Connectors

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Vibrations during driving cause premature wear and disconnection of connectors and wiring harnesses in motor vehicle headlights, leading to potential malfunctions.

Innovation Solution

A motor vehicle projector design with a housing, support, and trim ring that secures power supply connections for the lighting system and electric motor, using safety elements to prevent unplugging of plugs, thereby stabilizing the connectors against vibrations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If the headlight is secured to the wheel arch using conventional securing elements, then the headlight can be mounted, but vibration occurs between the headlight and wheel arch due to gap fluctuations

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovePosition stability of headlightVSAvoidSecure connection between headlight and wheel arch
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The securing element is divided into three distinct functional parts: a mounting portion that attaches to the wheel arch, a damping portion that absorbs vibrations, and a securing portion that fastens to the headlight. This segmentation allows each part to specialize in its function, with the damping portion specifically designed to compensate for gap fluctuations and prevent relative vibration between the headlight and wheel arch.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The damping portion acts as an intermediary element between the mounting portion (attached to wheel arch) and the securing portion (attached to headlight). This intermediary component absorbs and dampens vibrations, preventing direct transmission of vibrational forces between the headlight and wheel arch, thereby eliminating the harmful relative motion caused by gap fluctuations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Stability of the object's composition

If the headlight is secured rigidly to prevent vibration, then connection stability improves, but the headlight assembly becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveConnection stabilityVSAvoidSecuring element structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The securing element merges three functions (mounting, damping, and securing) into a single integrated component rather than using separate elements. This combination achieves vibration damping and secure connection simultaneously, avoiding the need for multiple separate components and reducing overall assembly complexity despite the multi-functional nature of the single element.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The damping portion utilizes material parameter changes through viscoelastic properties to adapt to varying vibration conditions. The material's ability to change its mechanical parameters (damping coefficient, stiffness) in response to vibrational inputs allows the securing element to maintain stable connection across different operating conditions without requiring complex adjustable mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of manufacture

If conventional securing elements are used, then installation is simple, but manufacturing precision requirements increase due to gap fluctuations

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveInstallation simplicityVSAvoidGap consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The damping portion is designed beforehand to compensate for expected gap fluctuations during installation and operation. By incorporating this pre-designed cushioning capability, the system can accommodate variations in manufacturing tolerances and installation conditions without requiring extremely tight gap control, thereby reducing manufacturing precision requirements while maintaining connection stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

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

Enhances the reliability of motor vehicle headlights by securing power supply connections and preventing connector disconnection due to vibrations, improving the stability and functionality of the lighting system.

Implementation Method 1

a damping portion (22) having a first end connected to the mounting portion (21) and a second end connected to the securing portion (23), the damping portion (22) being formed of a vibration damping material

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectViscoelastic damping: Viscoelasticity

Data Source

PatentEP4508366B1Scheinwerfer für kraftfahrzeuge mit einer zierkappe mit schwingungsdämpfenden sicherungselementen
Publication Date: 2026.04.29 STELLANTIS AUTO SAS
  • EP4508366B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP4508366B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP4508366B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

The invention relates to a headlight (100) for a motor vehicle, said headlight comprising a casing (101) forming its rear face which cooperates with a mirror (102) forming its front face, an illuminating device (103) mounted on a support fixed to the casing and, fixed to the support, a motor for modifying the position of the illuminating device, and a frame. The invention also relates to a motor vehicle comprising such a device.