Mudguard Rebate Structure for Wheel-Arch Junction Concealment

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Solution Overview

Problem

The visibility of the body side color at the junction between the bumper and the body side in the rear wheel arch of motor vehicles affects the perceived quality, particularly in high-end vehicles, due to the exposure of the body color under certain lighting conditions, and existing solutions require modifications to the manufacturing process or additional operations.

Innovation Solution

A mudguard rebate design featuring a transverse slot and a bowl-shaped recess to cover the wheel arch, allowing deformation for assembly and concealing the body side and bumper elements, thus improving aesthetic quality without modifying the body side or bumper.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a cutout is made in the mudguard rebate to allow mounting and visibility of body elements, then the mudguard can be assembled over the wheel arch, but the body side color becomes visible at the junction, reducing perceived quality

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemudguard assemblyVSAvoidaesthetic quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The mudguard rebate is segmented into multiple functional zones: a first area with a cutout for assembly operations, and a second area with a projection extending into the wheel arch to mask the body side. This segmentation allows different portions of the mudguard to serve different purposes - one for ease of assembly, another for aesthetic quality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The solution adds a third dimensional element (the projection extending axially into the wheel arch) to address the two-dimensional problem of visibility. By creating a volumetric feature that protrudes into the wheel arch space, the design masks the body side color without interfering with the primary mounting function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Ease of manufacture

If the mudguard is designed to cover the junction between body side and bumper, then aesthetic quality improves, but assembly becomes difficult without modifying bodywork

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaesthetic qualityVSAvoidmudguard assembly

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The projection acts as an intermediary element between the mudguard and the body side/bumper junction. It fills the visual gap without requiring modification of the existing bodywork, serving as a mediating structure that achieves aesthetic coverage while maintaining assembly simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of manufacture

If existing solutions modify the body side or bumper to mask the junction, then aesthetic quality improves, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaesthetic qualityVSAvoidmanufacturing process

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of modifying the body side or bumper, the aesthetic masking function is extracted and integrated into the mudguard itself. The projection is formed as part of the mudguard rebate structure, eliminating the need for separate bodywork modifications while maintaining aesthetic quality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The aesthetic masking function is merged with the mudguard's primary protective and covering functions. By integrating the projection into the mudguard structure, the design combines multiple functions (protection, coverage, and aesthetic masking) into a single component, reducing overall manufacturing complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3894304B1Mudguard rebate for the trim of a wheel-housing of a motor vehicle, and motor vehicle incorporating it

Publication Date: 2024.01.24 STELLANTIS AUTO SAS

Figure 1A
Figure 1B~2A
Figure 2B

AI summary

What is disclosed is a mudguard that makes it possible to mask the body side (1) at the junction (4) between the bumper (2) and the body side in order to suppress the local visibility of the body colour in the wheel arch and thus to improve the perceived quality without harming the capacity to mount the mudguard. To this end, the mudguard rebate (3) comprises a transverse slot (31) to allow deformation of the mudguard upon mounting, and also a cup (33) adjacent to the transverse slot in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle so as to form a hollow space on the top of the mudguard in order to escape from the parts of the body side and/or bumper and/or fastening elements. The cup is closed in all directions except towards the top of the mudguard and except towards the interior of the wheel-housing.