Modular Windshield Mounting Assembly for Curved Glass Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing marine windshield designs face challenges in customizability, modularity, safety, visual clarity, and durability, often resulting in potential glass damage during manufacturing and requiring multiple extrusion varieties and bonding agents for different shapes.
Innovation Solution
A modular windshield mounting assembly using extruded joiner and mounting extrusions with a bonding agent, allowing for adjustable and secure attachment of windshields with various shapes, including curved designs, while minimizing the need for multiple components and reducing manufacturing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional windshield mounting methods are used, then the windshield can be attached to the vessel, but the glass is likely to be cracked or shattered during manufacturing and installation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an extruded joiner section as an intermediary component between the windshield and the mounting system. This joiner section absorbs manufacturing stresses and provides a buffer zone, preventing direct transmission of harmful forces to the glass that would cause cracking or shattering during assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting system is segmented into distinct functional components: the windshield, the extruded joiner section, and the mounting extrusion. This segmentation isolates the glass from direct contact with rigid mounting structures, allowing each component to perform its specific function while protecting the windshield from damage.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple extrusion varieties and bonding agents are used to accommodate different windshield shapes, then various shapes can be supported, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The extruded joiner section is designed with a universal channel configuration that can accommodate various windshield shapes and sizes through a single standardized component design. This universal interface eliminates the need for multiple specialized extrusion varieties, reducing complexity while maintaining adaptability to curved, flat, and irregular windshield geometries.
Solution Approach 2:
The system achieves adaptability to different windshield shapes by varying geometric parameters of the joiner section and mounting extrusion rather than creating entirely different component types. The channel dimensions, curvature radii, and positioning parameters can be adjusted to match different windshield specifications while using the same fundamental component design.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the windshield is rigidly fixed to prevent movement, then positioning stability is achieved, but user adjustability for optimizing wind and water deflection is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting system incorporates dynamic characteristics by allowing the extruded joiner section to be initially positioned and adjusted by the user, then secured in the desired position. The system transitions from a movable state during installation to a stable fixed state during operation, providing both adjustability and stability as needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The user performs preliminary positioning and adjustment of the windshield through the extruded joiner section before final securing. This preliminary action allows optimization of wind and water deflection characteristics, after which the mounting system provides stable fixation to maintain the optimized position during vessel operation.
Data Source
AI summary
This invention provides systems, devices, and methods for the assembly of a windshield mounting assembly that foregoes many traditional fastening mechanisms in favor of the combination of a windshield, joiner extrusion, bonding agent, and a mounting extrusion.