Vehicle Monitoring Base Assembly With Multi-Stage Water Drainage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing base assemblies for vehicle periphery monitoring devices struggle to effectively seal the gap between the vehicle body and the base assembly, leading to potential water ingress during car washes or rain exposure.

Innovation Solution

A base assembly design incorporating a gasket, cover, and ribs that form a drainage system with vertically arranged drainage ports and a lip portion to ensure sealing and efficient water drainage, minimizing the need for cuts in the rib structure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a gasket is mounted between the base assembly and vehicle body to seal the gap, then sealing performance is improved, but water accumulation occurs in the enclosed spaces

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing performanceVSAvoidwater accumulation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The enclosed space is divided into multiple drainage spaces (first, second, and third drainage spaces) separated by drainage partitions. This segmentation allows water to be drained systematically through multiple drainage ports at different levels, preventing water accumulation while maintaining effective sealing through the gasket.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The drainage partitions act as intermediaries that separate water accumulation zones from the sealed enclosure. They create controlled pathways for water to exit through drainage ports without compromising the overall sealing integrity provided by the gasket between the base assembly and vehicle body.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If drainage ports are added to the base assembly, then water drainage is improved, but the sealing structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewater drainageVSAvoidsealing structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The drainage partitions are integrated with the base assembly as a single molded structure rather than separate components. The drainage ports are formed directly into the base assembly during molding, combining the sealing surface and drainage functionality into one piece, thereby reducing assembly complexity while maintaining effective water drainage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The base assembly serves multiple functions: it provides the mounting structure for the monitoring device, creates the sealed enclosure with the gasket, forms drainage partitions to manage water flow, and incorporates drainage ports for water evacuation. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Shape

If the sealing surface width is reduced to improve aesthetics and aerodynamics, then vehicle design is improved, but sealing reliability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing surface widthVSAvoidsealing reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The gasket is designed with varying thickness at different locations: thicker at the sealing surface contact area to ensure reliable sealing with the reduced width, and thinner in the drainage partition areas to facilitate water drainage. This localized variation in gasket properties maintains both sealing reliability and drainage efficiency within the constrained space.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 design provides effective sealing and efficient water drainage without compromising the structural integrity of the seal, maintaining drainage efficiency and reducing the width of the sealing surface, thus preventing water ingress.

Implementation Method 1

a lip portion consisting of two bent portions is formed on the periphery of the other side of the stay packing. The lip portion deforms elastically and adheres to the vehicle body. This ensures sealing the gap between the stay packing and the vehicle body.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

a rib is provided on the fixed part, the rib sealing a gap between the gasket and the vehicle body by abutting the gasket to cause the gasket to come into contact with the vehicle body

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical force: Mechanical Force

Implementation Method 3

an upper drainage port allowing water in a first space enclosed by the base, the gasket, and the cover to flow down into a second space enclosed by the fixed part and the gasket, and a lower drainage port allowing water in the second space to flow down into a third space enclosed by the base, the gasket, and the cover and positioned below the first space

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentEP4190638B1Base assembly, and periphery monitoring device for vehicle
Publication Date: 2025.09.03 MISATO INDUSTRIES CO LTD
  • EP4190638B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4190638B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4190638B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A base assembly and a periphery monitoring device for a vehicle include a base, a gasket, and a cover. The base includes a fixed part and a mounting part. The gasket is mounted to the fixed part between the fixed part and a door. The cover is mounted to and covers lower portions of the fixed part and the mounting part. A rib that has a lower rib is provided on the edge of the fixed part. The fixed part is provided with upper and lower drainage ports arranged vertically to each other. The gasket is provided with a final drainage port. As a result, the door is sealed.