Internal Relief Bodywork Panel With Protected 3D Surface Effect

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing motor vehicle body parts with raised elements face issues such as damage from external elements, difficulty in cleaning, safety hazards, and fragility of adhesive sheets used to create a raised appearance, which are also difficult to apply correctly and maintain.

Innovation Solution

A body part for a motor vehicle comprising a transparent or translucent element with a first surface and a second surface featuring raised and non-raised areas, covered by distinct coatings, where the raised areas are protected and not externally visible, allowing for a robust, easy-to-clean, and safe design.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Shape

If raised elements are applied to body parts to create a three-dimensional appearance, then the aesthetic quality is improved, but the surface becomes vulnerable to damage from external elements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethree-dimensional appearanceVSAvoidresistance to damage

Core Design Contradiction:

ShapeVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of placing raised elements on the external surface, the patent inverts the structure by positioning the raised relief structure on the internal surface of the transparent element. This allows the aesthetic three-dimensional appearance to be maintained while the external surface remains smooth and protected, directly resolving the contradiction between aesthetic quality and damage resistance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a visual copy of the raised relief structure on the internal surface, which is then visible through the transparent element. This internal copy provides the desired aesthetic effect without the physical vulnerabilities of external raised elements, as the external surface remains intact and smooth

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Shape

If raised elements are present on the external surface, then the aesthetic quality is improved, but cleaning becomes difficult due to dirt accumulation in crevices

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveraised surface textureVSAvoidease of cleaning

Core Design Contradiction:

ShapeVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent moves the raised relief structure from the external surface to the internal surface of the transparent element. This inversion maintains the aesthetic texture while eliminating the crevices on the external surface where dirt accumulates, making the body part easy to clean as the smooth external surface requires no special cleaning procedures

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Shape

If prominent raised elements are applied to body parts, then the aesthetic quality is improved, but safety hazards arise due to potential injury to pedestrians

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprominent raised elementsVSAvoidpedestrian injury risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ShapeVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent relocates the prominent raised elements from the external surface to the internal surface of the transparent element. This ensures that pedestrians only contact the smooth external surface, eliminating injury risk, while the internal raised structure remains visible through the transparent material to maintain aesthetic quality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The transparent element acts as an intermediary between the raised relief structure and the external environment. It transmits the visual appearance of the raised elements to observers while physically separating them from contact with pedestrians, thus resolving the safety hazard while preserving aesthetic effects

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Shape

If adhesive sheets are used to create a raised appearance, then the aesthetic quality is improved, but the adhesive sheets are fragile and difficult to apply correctly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveraised appearance effectVSAvoidapplication difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

ShapeVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the raised relief structure with the transparent element itself, forming an integrated single piece. This eliminates the need for separate adhesive sheets and their associated application difficulties, as the raised structure is permanently formed as part of the element during manufacturing processes like injection molding

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of applying separate adhesive sheets with raised patterns, the patent creates the raised relief structure as an integral part of the transparent element during manufacturing. This copying of the raised effect into the element's structure eliminates application complexity and ensures perfect alignment without bubbles or creases

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentEP3787934B1Bodywork part with internal reliefs

Publication Date: 2026.02.18 OPMOBILITY SE

Figure 1~2

AI summary

Bodywork part (10) for a motor vehicle, comprising a transparent or translucent element (20) that has a first surface (22) intended to face the outside of the vehicle and a second surface (24) which is opposite the first surface (22) and comprises at least one raised area (26) and a non-raised area (28). The bodywork part (10) also comprises at least one first coating (30) which at least partially covers only the raised area (26) of the transparent or translucent element (20), and at least one second coating (40) which at least partially covers the non-raised area (28), the second coating (40) having a color that differs from the color of the first coating (30).