Hinged Bumper Skin Extension for Lighting Device Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing bumper arrangements for motor vehicles face challenges in connecting with lighting and/or signaling devices due to varying geometries and shapes, making it difficult to use the same bumper elements across different vehicle ranges, and complicating assembly and manufacturing processes.
Innovation Solution
A modular bumper arrangement featuring a bumper skin extension with a hinge that allows for rotational mobility, enabling adaptation to various geometries and shapes, and facilitating assembly by forming a secure, detachable connection with the bumper skin, which can pivot between open and closed configurations to protect the lighting and/or signaling devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed bumper element is used to protect lighting and signaling devices, then the protection structure is simple and manufacturing cost is reduced, but the bumper element cannot adapt to different geometries and shapes of lighting devices across different vehicle ranges
Solution Approach 1:
The bumper skin extension is made movable through a hinge connection, allowing it to transition between different angular positions. This dynamic configuration enables the same bumper element to adapt to various lighting device geometries by adjusting its angle, rather than requiring multiple fixed bumper designs for different vehicle ranges.
2Reliability
If multiple specialized bumper elements are designed for different lighting device geometries, then each geometry is perfectly protected, but manufacturing costs increase and assembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A single universal bumper skin extension design with hinge connection can serve multiple vehicle ranges and lighting device geometries. The hinge mechanism allows the same bumper element to be universally applied across different configurations, eliminating the need to manufacture multiple specialized bumper parts for different vehicle models.
Solution Approach 2:
The bumper system is divided into a fixed bumper skin and a movable bumper skin extension that can be independently positioned and adjusted. This segmentation allows the extension to be optimally positioned for protection while maintaining a standardized base structure that simplifies manufacturing.
3Productivity
If a rigid fixed connection is used for the bumper extension, then the structure is simple and strong, but the assembly process becomes difficult and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge connection enables the bumper skin extension to be easily positioned and attached at different angles during assembly. This dynamic fixing mechanism simplifies the assembly process compared to rigid fixed connections, as the extension can be adjusted to the correct position before being secured, reducing assembly time and complexity.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The invention relates to a bumper arrangement (1) comprising a bumper skin extension detachably attached to a bumper skin (11) by means of a hinge (151) forming an attachment member (15) and allowing a rotating movement of the bumper skin extension (12) with respect to the bumper skin (11) about an axis of rotation (O). The bumper skin extension (12) as an extension of the bumper skin (11) in order to place an upper longitudinal end (121) of the bumper skin extension (12) in the immediate vicinity of a lighting and/or signalling device (10), so as to seal off at least a lower portion (101) of the latter. According to a second aspect, the invention also relates to a motor vehicle comprising such a bumper arrangement (1).