PTFE Coated Washer Rear View Mirror Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing adjustable rear view mirrors require frequent loosening and tightening of adjusting members for position adjustments, leading to inconvenience and occupy a relatively large area.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable rear view mirror design featuring a mounting seat, a connecting unit with PTFE-coated washers, and a pivotable supporting rod, allowing for easy rotation and adjustment without the need to loosen and tighten adjusting members, utilizing static friction provided by PTFE coatings to maintain positions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional adjusting members are used to allow rotation and adjustment of the mirror, then the mirror position can be changed, but the adjusting members must be loosened and tightened frequently which is inconvenient and occupies a relatively large area
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical adjusting mechanism (screw threads requiring loosening and tightening) with a friction-based retention system. The friction member engages with the adjusting member through friction force to maintain position, eliminating the need for frequent loosening and tightening operations while maintaining adjustability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the friction parameter by introducing a friction member with specific friction characteristics. By controlling the friction force between the friction member and adjusting member, the system achieves both easy adjustment and stable position retention without requiring complex loosening and tightening operations.
2Adaptability or versatility
If traditional adjusting members are used to allow rotation and adjustment of the mirror, then the mirror position can be changed, but the assembly occupies a relatively large area
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a nested structure where the friction member is integrated within the mounting seat assembly, and the adjusting member is positioned within the rotating arm. This nested arrangement minimizes the overall area occupied by the mounting seat while maintaining full adjustability functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by concentrating the friction engagement feature at a specific location on the adjusting member rather than distributing it across the entire assembly. This localized friction member design reduces the overall area required while maintaining the necessary adjustability.
3Reliability
If the friction member is coated with PTFE to provide sufficient static friction, then position retention is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite material by applying a PTFE coating to the friction member, combining the base material with a low-friction surface layer. This composite approach provides reliable position retention through sufficient static friction while the PTFE coating can be applied through standard manufacturing processes, limiting the increase in manufacturing complexity.
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
Enables convenient and precise adjustment of the rear view mirror with reduced assembly size, as the PTFE coatings provide sufficient static friction to maintain positions without the need for constant loosening and tightening, while minimizing the overall area occupied.
Implementation Method 1
Static friction between the PTFE coating of the first washer and an assembly of the first adjusting member and the mounting seat is sufficient to provide resistance to rotation of the rotating seat relative to the mounting seat
Implementation Method 2
Static friction between the PTFE coating of the second washer and the supporting rod is sufficient to provide resistance to rotation of the supporting rod relative to the supporting wall unit
Data Source
AI summary
An adjustable rear view mirror includes a mounting seat, and a connecting unit including a rotating seat that is rotatably connected to the mounting seat by a first adjusting member on which a first washer is sleeved, and that has a supporting wall unit. A supporting rod has a pivot end pivotably connected to the supporting wall unit by a second adjusting member on which a second washer is sleeved, and an opposite supporting end connected to a rear view mirror body. The first and second washers are coated with PTFE coatings for reducing resistance to rotation of the rotating seat relative to the mounting seat and rotation of the supporting rod relative to the supporting wall unit.