Snap-Fit Protective Cover for Profile Pipe Corner Joints
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing protective cover systems for profile tube systems do not effectively cover corner connection areas, leading to potential damage to scratch-sensitive surfaces, such as painted vehicle parts, which can result in costly repairs and production line disruptions.
Innovation Solution
A protective cover system with two interconnected cover parts featuring snap-in connections and a design that allows coverage of corner connection areas, including a hollow-cylindrical section and orthogonal flanks, enabling easy assembly and disassembly without tools, and utilizing rubber-like plastic injection molded parts for impact absorption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If protective profiles are used to cover profile tubes, then protection against damage is improved, but corner connection areas remain uncovered and vulnerable
Solution Approach 1:
The protective cover is divided into two separate protective cover parts (first protective cover part and second protective cover part) that can be assembled together to cover the corner connection area. Each part can be produced independently using standard plastic injection molding tools, yet when combined they provide complete coverage of the corner connection region that neither part could achieve alone.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If complex assembly methods are used to cover corner areas, then complete protection is achieved, but assembly becomes difficult and requires tools
Solution Approach 1:
The protective cover parts feature self-latching through locking contours and counter-locking contours that automatically engage when the parts are assembled together. This snap-in connection allows the parts to be fixed to one another without requiring any additional tools or complex assembly procedures, making the system easy to operate while achieving complete protection.
3Ease of operation
If protective covers are made detachable for easy removal, then ease of operation is improved, but connection reliability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The locking contours and counter-locking contours are designed with curved geometries that provide a snap-in connection mechanism. This curved design allows the parts to be firmly latched together for reliable protection while still enabling easy detachment by applying slight force to release the latching mechanism, thus maintaining both reliability and ease of operation.
4Reliability
If multiple latching connections are used to secure protective cover parts, then connection reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking and counter-locking contours are integrated directly into the structure of the protective cover parts themselves during plastic injection molding. This merging of the latching mechanism into the basic component structure provides reliable multiple latching connections without adding separate fasteners or complex assembly mechanisms, thus achieving high reliability while keeping the device structure simple.
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 solution provides enhanced protection for corner connection areas, preventing damage to sensitive surfaces by allowing complete coverage of profile tube systems, reducing repair costs, and facilitating easy assembly and disassembly, thus minimizing production disruptions.
Implementation Method 1
a locking contour and a counter-locking contour are arranged on the first protective cover part and a counter-locking contour and locking contour designed to complement them are arranged on the second protective cover part, so that the two protective cover parts can be fixed to one another via two snap-in connections
Implementation Method 2
utilizing rubber-like plastic injection molded parts for impact absorption
Data Source
Figure 1a~1c
Figure 2
Figure 3a~3d
AI summary
The invention relates to a profile tube system (1) with at least two profile tubes (2) that are connected to each other essentially orthogonally via a connecting element (3). A protective cover (4) is essential to the invention, comprising two connectable protective cover parts (5, 6) which, when assembled, covers the connecting element (3). A locking contour (7) and a counter-locking contour (8) are arranged on the first protective cover part (5), and a complementary counter-locking contour (8) and locking contour (7) are arranged on the second protective cover part (6), so that the two protective cover parts (5, 6) can be fixed to each other via two locking connections. This allows for better coverage of a corner area of the profile tube system (1) and, at the same time, enables the protective cover (4) to be easily assembled without tools.