Rear View Display Folding Joint With Compact Cam Locking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional folding joints for rear view display devices in vehicles are bulky, obstructing the driver's view and adversely affecting the vehicle's drag coefficient, and they often require separate components to achieve bidirectional folding and locking functionalities.
Innovation Solution
A folding joint design featuring a spring biased cam section with a guide pin and a clamping bolt, utilizing a wave spring for biasing, which allows for compact and strong rotational locking with adjustable locking positions, combining functionalities into a single component.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional folding joints are used to attach rear view display devices, then the device can achieve bidirectional folding capability, but the overall height becomes large making the joint bulky and obstructing driver's view
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the first and second hinge sections into a single integrated folding joint component, eliminating the need for separate hinge sections and reducing the overall height. The integrated design combines rotational movement and locking functions into one compact structure that does not obstruct the driver's view.
Solution Approach 2:
The folding joint employs a nested structure where the cam section is positioned within the hinge body, and the detent mechanism is integrated within the same component. This nesting arrangement allows multiple functional elements to occupy overlapping spatial volumes, significantly reducing the overall height while maintaining bidirectional folding capability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional folding joints with separate components are used, then bidirectional folding and locking functionalities can be achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the locking mechanism, rotational movement, and bidirectional folding functionalities into a single integrated hinge section. The cam section and detent are incorporated within the same component, eliminating the need for separate locking mechanisms and reducing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The folding joint is designed as a multi-functional component that simultaneously provides rotational movement, bidirectional folding capability, and adjustable locking positions. The single hinge section performs multiple functions that would traditionally require separate components, including rotation about an axis, forward folding, rearward folding, and position locking.
3Length of stationary object
If the folding joint is made compact with reduced height, then the driver's view is not obstructed, but the robustness and locking strength may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a cam mechanism with curved surfaces that convert rotational motion into locking action. The cam section features optimized curvature profiles that concentrate locking forces at specific contact points, enabling strong locking capability within a compact height. The curved geometry allows efficient force transmission without requiring large component dimensions.
Solution Approach 2:
The folding joint utilizes spring elements with optimized elastic properties to provide biasing force for the cam mechanism. By adjusting spring constants and pre-compression parameters, the system achieves robust locking strength in a compact configuration. The material properties and geometric parameters are optimized to maintain strength while minimizing overall height.
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 design achieves a very flat profile that does not obstruct the driver's view or the rear view display, maintains a low drag coefficient, and allows for efficient bidirectional folding and locking, reducing the overall height of the folding mechanism while ensuring robustness and adjustability.
Implementation Method 1
a biasing element including a spring, a coil, a wave spring, or other elastic member for biasing at least one of the one or more hinge sections in response to rotation of the folding joint
Data Source
AI summary
A folding joint for attaching a rear view display device to a vehicle includes one or more hinge sections each of which is adapted to rotate relative to the vehicle, with each of the one or more hinge sections having a first end and a second end, and a biasing element comprising a spring, a coil, a wave spring, or other elastic member for biasing at least one of the one or more hinge sections in response to rotation of the folding joint, with the biasing element biasing at least one of a spring biased cam section and a biased clamping bolt. An external rear view display device for a vehicle may include the folding joint, and a vehicle may include two external rear view display devices.