Vehicle Lamp Lens Slide Mounting Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional interior lamp assemblies face issues with lens misalignment, improper connection, and potential falling off, leading to inadequate light dispersion and environmental protection, causing inconvenience and potential loss of the lens.
Innovation Solution
A lamp assembly design where the lens is connected to the housing in a specific manner, using slide components to ensure proper alignment and secure attachment, allowing the lens to be slid onto the frame along a defined axis, and a locking mechanism to prevent removal without disassembling the entire assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the lens is snapped on conventionally toward or away from the housing opening, then the lens can be easily installed and removed, but the lens may not be snapped on correctly, may fall off, and may become misaligned
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a lens holder as an intermediary component between the lens and the housing. The lens holder receives the lens and provides a structured connection interface with guide pins and slots, ensuring proper alignment and secure attachment. This intermediary structure eliminates the uncertainty of direct snapping while maintaining ease of installation through the defined mechanical guidance system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single-direction snapping mechanism to a multi-dimensional connection system. The lens holder uses guide pins moving in slots, creating a two-dimensional guidance path that ensures both lateral alignment and depth positioning. This dimensional approach prevents misalignment and falling off while preserving user-friendly installation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the lens is snapped on conventionally, then the lens can be removed for replacement, but there is no confirmation for the user that the lens has been installed correctly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates visual feedback mechanisms including color-coded indicators and alignment marks that provide immediate confirmation to the user when the lens is correctly installed. The lens holder structure includes visible features that change appearance or position based on installation status, eliminating guesswork while maintaining the ability to remove and replace the lens as needed.
3Ease of operation
If the lens is not snapped on completely or positioned incorrectly, then the lens may fall off or become misaligned, but the conventional design does not prevent these errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary alignment features in the lens holder structure, including pre-positioned guide pins, slots, and registration marks that automatically guide the lens into the correct position during installation. These pre-built guidance structures ensure precise alignment is achieved naturally during the simple attachment process, eliminating the need for user skill or measurement tools.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Ensures the lens is securely attached and correctly aligned, preventing misalignment and falling, while ensuring the lamp assembly can only be fully assembled when the lens is properly connected, maintaining intended light dispersion patterns and environmental protection.
Implementation Method 1
the lens is adapted to refract the light radiating from the light device through the opening in the frame
Data Source
AI summary
Lamp assemblies for illuminating interior or exterior spaces of a vehicle are provided. In one implementation, a lamp assembly includes a housing having a frame, the housing being adapted to at least partially cover a light device installed within the housing. Light radiating from the light device passes through an opening in the frame. The lamp assembly further includes a lens adapted to be removably connected to the frame of the housing. When connected to the housing, the lens is adapted to refract the light radiating from the light device through the opening in the frame. When the lens is connected to the frame of the housing, a shortest path between the light device and the lens is defined by a z-axis. The lens may include one or more slide components to allow the lens to slide into or onto the frame along an x-axis that is perpendicular to the z-axis.