Heat Shield With Integral Teeth For Fastener-Free Vehicle Attachment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional heat shields attached to vehicle components require fasteners like screws or bolts for securement, increasing assembly complexity, costs, and time, and necessitating additional tools and components.
Innovation Solution
The integration of teeth on vehicle components and corresponding windows in heat shields allows for secure attachment without fasteners, using a teeth-through-windows mechanism that simplifies assembly and eliminates the need for additional tools or components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If conventional fasteners (screws or bolts) are used to attach heat shields to vehicle components, then secure attachment is achieved, but assembly complexity, costs, and time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the fastening function directly into the heat shield structure by forming protrusions on the heat shield that engage with recesses in the vehicle component. This merging of the attachment mechanism into the heat shield itself eliminates the need for separate fasteners (screws or bolts), thereby reducing assembly complexity and costs while maintaining secure attachment. The heat shield structure combines both the protective shielding function and the fastening function in a single integrated component.
2Strength
If conventional fasteners (screws or bolts) are used to attach heat shields to vehicle components, then secure attachment is achieved, but assembly time increases and additional tools are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a self-service attachment mechanism where the heat shield's protrusions automatically engage with the vehicle component's recesses during installation. This self-aligning, self-securing mechanism eliminates the need for manual fastener installation and removal, allowing workers to simply snap the heat shield into place without requiring additional tools or time-consuming operations. The attachment system serves itself by utilizing the inherent geometry of the protrusions and recesses to achieve secure fixation.
3Strength
If conventional fasteners (screws or bolts) are used to attach heat shields to vehicle components, then secure attachment is achieved, but costs increase due to additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the fastening function from separate fastener components and integrates it directly into the heat shield structure through molded protrusions. This extraction eliminates the need for additional fastener components (screws, bolts, nuts, washers), reducing the total quantity of parts required. The heat shield structure itself provides the attachment capability, thereby reducing component count, material usage, and associated costs while maintaining secure attachment to the vehicle component.
Data Source
AI summary
An assembly includes a vehicle component and a heat shield. The vehicle component includes a main body, a first plurality of teeth projecting from a first side of the main body, and a second plurality of teeth projecting from a second side of the main body opposite of the first side. The heat shield includes a first shell and a second shell. The first shell defines a first plurality of windows configured to receive the first plurality of teeth. The second shell defines a second plurality of windows configured to receive the second plurality of teeth. The heat shield is attachable to the vehicle component by positioning the heat shield such that the first plurality of teeth projects through the first plurality of windows and the second plurality of teeth projects through the second plurality of windows.