Outer Mirror Turn Lamp Positioning Structure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional outer mirrors with turn lamps experience misalignment issues between the lens of the turn lamp assembly and the housing cover due to distortion, particularly at the tapered opening end, leading to a worsened appearance.
Innovation Solution
A positioning structure is introduced where a protrusion or recess is formed on the housing cover and the turn lamp assembly, allowing for precise engagement to prevent misalignment, with the protrusion or recess being positioned closer to the vehicle body to accurately align the lens with the opening in the housing cover.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the turn lamp assembly is not secured to the housing cover, then the assembly process is simplified and the structure is easier to manufacture, but misalignment between the lens and the housing cover opening occurs due to distortion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces positioning protrusions and recesses as intermediary elements between the turn lamp assembly and housing cover. These positioning features act as mediators that establish precise alignment relationships without requiring the turn lamp assembly to be directly secured to the housing cover, thus maintaining assembly simplicity while achieving accurate positioning
Solution Approach 2:
The positioning protrusions and recesses are pre-formed on the turn lamp assembly and housing cover respectively. This preliminary action of creating complementary positioning features before assembly enables automatic alignment when the housing cover is installed, preventing misalignment issues without complicating the assembly process
2Shape
If the opening end and lens end are tapered, then the appearance is improved and the fit is tighter, but misalignment noticeably occurs when the housing cover is distorted
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning protrusions and recesses serve as intermediary alignment features that decouple the tapered appearance features from the alignment function. This allows the opening end and lens end to maintain their tapered shape for aesthetic purposes while the positioning features ensure stable alignment even when the housing cover distorts
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the alignment function from the appearance features by introducing separate positioning protrusions and recesses. This segmentation allows the tapered opening end and lens end to focus on aesthetic appearance while the positioning features independently handle alignment stability, resolving the contradiction between shape and reliability
Data Source
AI summary
In an outer mirror with turn lamp having a structure in which a turn lamp assembly is mounted to a mirror housing, then a housing cover is placed over and mounted to the mirror housing, and a lens of the turn lamp assembly is exposed through an opening in the housing cover, misalignment between the lens of the turn lamp assembly and the opening in the housing cover is prevented. A protrusion is formed on a back surface near the innermost part of an opening in a housing cover. A hole is formed in the turn lamp assembly in a position facing the protrusion with the housing cover being placed over the mirror housing. When the housing cover is placed over the mirror housing, the protrusion is inserted into and engaged with the hole. This prevents misalignment between the lens of the turn lamp assembly and the opening in the housing cover.