Vehicle Light Cover Assembly with Sealing Rib and Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicle light covers often experience 'light leaks' around the periphery due to gaps between the cover and the housing, and lighting caps can become dislodged due to vibrations and material wear, leading to unsightly appearances and potential loss.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle light cover with flexible engagement members and a light blocking rib to secure the cover to the housing, and a cap with retention members to prevent disengagement, ensuring a tight seal and secure attachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If a light cover is placed over the light housing to provide aesthetic shaping and protection, then the appearance and protection are improved, but light leaks occur around the periphery due to gaps between the cover and housing
Solution Approach 1:
The light cover is divided into multiple functional zones: a peripheral flange portion that interfaces with the housing, a light-blocking rib that prevents light leaks, and a central opening portion that provides the aesthetic shape. This segmentation allows each zone to perform its specific function independently.
Solution Approach 2:
A light-blocking rib is introduced as an intermediary element between the light cover and housing. This rib extends into the housing to physically block light from leaking through the gap, while the flexible engagement members provide the necessary connection and sealing.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a cap is removably attached to the light cover to provide additional protection or coverage, then the functional versatility is improved, but the cap becomes dislodged or loosened due to vibration and material wear
Solution Approach 1:
The engagement members are designed to be flexible rather than rigid, allowing them to dynamically adapt to vibrations and thermal expansion/contraction. This flexibility enables the cap to remain securely attached while accommodating environmental changes that would otherwise cause loosening.
Solution Approach 2:
The engagement members change their physical state between engaged and disengaged positions through flexible deformation. This parameter change allows the cap to be easily installed and removed when needed, while maintaining secure attachment during normal operation despite vibrations and temperature variations.
3Ease of operation
If flexible engagement members are used to attach the light cover to the housing, then the ease of installation and vibration resistance are improved, but the complexity of the attachment mechanism increases
Solution Approach 1:
The engagement members are implemented as flexible tabs or lips that can be easily deformed during installation and then return to their original position to secure the light cover. This flexible element approach simplifies the attachment mechanism compared to rigid fasteners while maintaining ease of installation and vibration resistance.
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
The solution effectively eliminates light leaks and prevents caps from becoming dislodged, maintaining the aesthetic and functional integrity of vehicle lights by providing a secure and leak-proof attachment.
Implementation Method 1
each engagement member being flexible between a laterally outward position and a laterally inward position
Implementation Method 2
the rib extends alongside an interior wall of the vehicle light assembly thereby blocking light otherwise passing between an interface of the light assembly and the light cover
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle light assembly that includes a light cover and a cap is described. The light cover includes a light blocking, sealing rib that prevents undesirable light leakage around a housing of the light assembly. The cap includes one or more retention members that upon attachment of the cap to the light cover, prevent unintended detachment of the cap from the light cover.