Internal Relief Bodywork Panel with Dual Coating

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Solution Overview

Problem

Bodywork parts with relief elements are prone to damage, difficult to clean, and pose safety risks due to their external prominence, while adhesive sheets used for aesthetic enhancement are fragile and challenging to apply correctly, and require frequent maintenance.

Innovation Solution

A body part with a transparent or translucent element featuring a smooth outer surface and internal relief zones coated with distinct color layers, where the relief is not exposed externally, providing protection and ease of cleaning, and enhancing safety by eliminating projecting elements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Shape

If raised elements are applied to body panels to create a three-dimensional appearance, then the aesthetic appearance is improved, but the raised elements become exposed to external damage and difficult to clean

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethree-dimensional appearanceVSAvoidexternal damage and dirt accumulation

Core Design Contradiction:

ShapeVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of placing raised elements on the external surface of the body panel, the invention inverts the approach by creating raised elements on the internal surface only. The external surface remains smooth and flush, eliminating exposure to damage and dirt, while the internal raised elements still create a visible three-dimensional effect through the translucent material.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention moves the raised elements from the external dimension (surface level) to the internal dimension (within the panel thickness). By forming reliefs on the internal surface and using translucent material, the three-dimensional appearance is achieved through light interaction rather than external protrusion, resolving the contradiction between aesthetic shape and resistance to external harm.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Shape

If adhesive sheets are applied to create raised effects, then the aesthetic appearance is improved, but the adhesive sheets become fragile and difficult to apply correctly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveraised effectVSAvoidapplication difficulty and fragility

Core Design Contradiction:

ShapeVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The invention merges the aesthetic function with the structural body panel itself. Instead of applying a separate adhesive sheet layer, the raised elements are integrated directly into the panel's internal structure during manufacturing. This eliminates the fragility and application difficulties of separate adhesive sheets while maintaining the desired raised visual effect.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention creates a permanent, integrated copy of the raised effect within the panel structure itself, rather than using temporary or separate adhesive layers. The internal reliefs are molded directly into the panel, providing a durable replica of the desired aesthetic without the manufacturing challenges of adhesive application.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

3Shape

If prominent raised elements are used for aesthetic purposes, then the visual impact is improved, but safety risks increase due to potential injury to pedestrians

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevisual impactVSAvoidpedestrian injury risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ShapeVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention inverts the location of raised elements from external to internal surfaces. The external surface remains flush and smooth, eliminating protruding elements that could injure pedestrians, while the internal raised elements maintain visual impact through the translucent material's interaction with light.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The translucent panel material acts as a medium that transmits the visual effect of internal reliefs while providing a smooth, non-protruding external surface. The material's translucency allows the internal three-dimensional structure to be visible without creating external sharp edges or protrusions that could harm pedestrians.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Data Source

PatentEP3787933B1Bodywork part with painted internal raised areas

Publication Date: 2022.08.24 COMPAGNIE PLASTIC OMNIUM SA

Figure 1~4

AI summary

A bodywork part (10) for a motor vehicle, that comprises: - a transparent or translucent element (20) comprising a first surface (22) intended to be turned towards the outside of the vehicle, and a second surface (24) opposite the first surface (22), said second surface (24) comprising at least one raised area (26) and one non-raised area (28); - at least one first coating (30) that is at least partially absent from the raised area (26) and that covers the non-raised area (28) of the transparent or translucent element (20); - at least one second coating (40) that covers the first coating (30) and the raised area (26), the colour of the second coating (40) being different to the colour of the first coating (30).