Vehicle Rear Opening Member Bracket for Watertight Load Rigidity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional opening-closing members for vehicle rear openings, typically made with rubber for elasticity and watertightness, suffer from insufficient strength and rigidity when subjected to loads during operation.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates a bracket member with a vertical wall extending in the vehicle body vertical direction, fixed to the outer panel, and a rib member that couples the bracket member body and vertical wall, distributing loads across both panels and enhancing structural integrity, including the attachment of an opening switch and camera without additional reinforcement components.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a cover member made of rubber is used for the operation part, then elasticity and watertightness are improved, but strength and rigidity against operational loads deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovewatertightnessVSAvoidstrength against load

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The operation part uses a composite structure combining a rubber cover member with a bracket member. The rubber cover provides watertightness and elasticity, while the rigid bracket member (with vertical wall and rib members) provides structural strength and rigidity to withstand operational loads in the opening and closing directions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If a rubber cover member is used for the operation part, then elasticity and watertightness are improved, but rigidity against operational loads deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovewatertightnessVSAvoidrigidity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Strength

If additional reinforcement components are added to attach the opening switch and camera, then attachment strength is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveattachment strengthVSAvoidnumber of components

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The bracket member serves multiple functions: it provides structural reinforcement for the operation part, serves as a mounting base for the opening switch and camera, and distributes operational loads. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate reinforcement components, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining attachment strength.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The bracket member integrates multiple functions into a single component: structural support, load distribution, and mounting platform for electronic components. By merging these functions, the design avoids adding separate reinforcement parts, thus reducing component count while ensuring adequate attachment strength for the opening switch and camera.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS12123227B2Opening-closing member

Publication Date: 2024.10.22 HONDA MOTOR CO LTD

AI summary

An opening-closing member including an outer panel that faces an outside of a vehicle body, and opening and closing a rear opening of the vehicle body in response to operation of an operation part arranged at a rear end part, the opening-closing member including a bracket member in the operation part, the bracket member including a bracket member body extending along a vehicle body front-rear direction, and a vertical wall extending in a vehicle body vertical direction from at least one end part of the bracket member body in the vehicle body front-rear direction, the vertical wall being fixed to an inner side of the outer panel.