Automotive Side View Mirror Internal Mounting Structure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing side view mirror mounting systems on vehicle doors face challenges in minimizing the mirror footprint while preventing vibration and ensuring sufficient structural support under abusive loading, often resulting in bulky structures that increase aerodynamic drag.
Innovation Solution
An internal side view mirror-mounting system that includes a reinforcement member with depression and reinforcement apertures on the inner door panel, coupled with a belt reinforcement member and a wedged mounting configuration, providing primary and secondary loading surfaces to securely attach the mirror without a large external base.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If the mirror footprint is minimized to provide sleek stylization, then the aesthetic appearance is improved, but the structural support becomes insufficient causing mirror shaking and vibration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a two-dimensional surface mounting approach to a three-dimensional multi-layer reinforcement structure. The reinforcement members extend through the door panel thickness, creating multiple loading surfaces (first and second loading surfaces) at different depths, thereby providing structural support without increasing the external mirror footprint.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs nested reinforcement members where an inner reinforcement member is positioned within the door panel and an outer reinforcement member is positioned outside, both contributing to mirror support. This nested arrangement allows multiple reinforcement elements to occupy overlapping spatial volumes, maximizing structural support within the constrained footprint.
2Strength
If a bulky mirror-mounting structure is used to secure the mirror assembly, then the structural support is improved, but the aerodynamic drag increases
Solution Approach 1:
The reinforcement members utilize the third dimension (depth through the door panel) to provide structural support, allowing the mounting structure to be compact in the external dimensions while maintaining strength through internal multi-layer reinforcement. This eliminates the need for bulky external mounting structures that would increase aerodynamic drag.
3Shape
If the mirror footprint is minimized, then the aesthetic appearance is improved, but the vibration during vehicle travel increases
Solution Approach 1:
The nested arrangement of inner and outer reinforcement members creates a distributed structural support system that effectively dampens vibrations. The multiple reinforcement layers at different positions within the door panel provide vibration isolation while maintaining a compact external footprint.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite reinforcement structures combining multiple materials and configurations (inner reinforcement member, outer reinforcement member, loading surfaces) to achieve both compact footprint and vibration resistance. The composite structure provides superior vibration damping compared to single-material mounting structures.
Data Source
AI summary
An automotive side view mirror attachment assembly includes first and second loading surfaces for engaging a mounting member of a side view mirror assembly, wherein the first and second loading surfaces are disposed within an interior of a vehicle door, such that, in assembly, a mounting member of the mirror assembly is substantially or fully disposed within the interior of a vehicle door, thereby minimizing the overall mirror footprint by eliminating the need for an external base for attachment of a mirror assembly to a vehicle door.