Integrated Fender Trim Side Panel for Commercial Vehicles

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing side paneling devices for commercial vehicles, such as trucks, often feature gaps between the side paneling element and the rear fender, requiring adjustment devices to maintain dimensional compliance, which can lead to visible joints or gaps.

Innovation Solution

Integrating the fender trim into the side paneling element as a single, integral component, eliminating the need for intermediate gaps and adjustment devices, and allowing the side paneling element to form a continuous fender trim from the front to the rear, thereby reducing visible joints and enhancing sealing capabilities.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If the side paneling element and rear fender are separate components, then manufacturing and assembly flexibility is improved, but visible gaps and joints appear between the components

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly flexibilityVSAvoidgap-free transition
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the side paneling element and rear fender into a single integrated component. The side paneling element includes an integrated rear fender portion that directly forms the rear fender, eliminating the need for separate components and visible joints while maintaining manufacturing flexibility through modular design sections

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Adaptability or versatility

If separate components are used for side paneling element and rear fender, then adaptability to different vehicle configurations is improved, but adjustment devices and gap maintenance requirements increase complexity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevehicle configuration adaptabilityVSAvoidadjustment device requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates adjustable mounting brackets with variable position holes that allow the integrated side paneling element to be dynamically positioned at different heights and angles. This dynamic adjustment capability provides adaptability to different vehicle configurations without requiring complex separate adjustment devices, as the integration simplifies the adjustment mechanism to a single component system

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3130528B1Side covering device for a commercial vehicle
Publication Date: 2018.07.04 MAN TRUCK & BUS SE
  • EP3130528B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3130528B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3130528B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The invention relates to a side panel assembly (1) for mounting on a commercial vehicle (N). The side panel assembly (1) comprises a side panel element (2) and a mounting device (3) for mounting the side panel element (2) on the commercial vehicle (N). The side panel element (2) is characterized in particular by the fact that at least one fender trim (4.1, 4.2) for a fender assembly (10.1, 10.2) of the commercial vehicle (N) is integrated into the side panel element (2), so that, in particular, the side panel element (2) itself forms the at least one fender trim (4.1, 4.2).