Inlet Box Mounting Structure With Engaging Claw

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing inlet box mounting structures for cars are prone to theft and have a visible screw head, which affects appearance, and the mounting process from the inside is challenging due to the risk of the inlet box falling or shifting during screwing.

Innovation Solution

An inlet box mounting structure that includes a flange screwed to the outer panel from the inside, with an engaging claw that engages the panel's edge from the inside to prevent falling and slipping, allowing for easier exchange and disengagement for removal.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the flange is screwed to the outer panel from the outside, then the inlet box is easy to detach, but the inlet box becomes easy to steal and the screw head is visible affecting appearance

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of detachmentVSAvoidtheft risk and appearance

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional mounting direction by screwing the flange from the inside of the outer panel rather than from the outside. This inversion conceals the screw heads within the panel, improving appearance and preventing theft, while still allowing easy detachment by unscrewing from the interior side

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Ease of manufacture

If the inlet box is mounted from the inside with screws, then the appearance is improved, but the inlet box may fall or shift during screwing when force is applied

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveappearance qualityVSAvoidmounting stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The engaging claw performs a preliminary action by engaging the inner peripheral surface of the hole before the screwing operation begins. This preliminary engagement stabilizes the inlet box position, preventing it from falling or shifting when force is applied during the subsequent screwing process from the inside

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Stability of the object's composition

If an engaging claw is added to prevent falling, then mounting stability is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemounting stabilityVSAvoidstructure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The engaging claw is merged with the flange structure, combining the mounting function and the anti-falling function into a single integrated component. This merging avoids adding a separate complex device while still providing the necessary stability during interior screwing operations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS9083163B2Inlet box mounting structure of car

Publication Date: 2015.07.14 TOYOTA SHATAI KK

AI summary

A mounting structure of an inlet box of a car which includes an outer panel of the car having a hole, an inlet box inserted in the hole, a flange provided around the opening of the inlet box and an engaging claw provided on the outer peripheral surface of the inlet box. The flange is set around the hole from the outside onto the edge. The flange is screwed to the edge of the hole of the outer panel from the inside. The engaging claw engages the hole of the edge of the outer panel from the inside when the flange is set on the edge of the hole. The engaging claw is capable of disengaging from the edge of the hole by a disengagement operation occurring inside the outer panel.