Rearview Mirror Mount With Single-Fastener Breakaway Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing interior rearview mirror assemblies for vehicles face challenges in ergonomic installation, interference with neighboring components, and reliability in breaking away under regulatory forces, due to complex mounting structures that require sliding or twisting motions and may experience fatigue or incorrect breakage thresholds.
Innovation Solution
A single-fastener attachment design using a threaded fastener with a compressible component, such as a conical-shaped rubber or spring element, that allows the mirror assembly to deflect or break away from the vehicle's interior when a force is applied, without requiring sliding or twisting motions, and minimizes interference with other components during installation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a complex mounting structure with sliding or twisting motions is used, then the mirror assembly can be attached to the vehicle interior, but it interferes with neighboring components and creates installation difficulties
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting structure is divided into separate functional components: a mounting base with attachment portion, a mounting arm, and a simple threaded fastener. This segmentation eliminates complex sliding or twisting mechanisms while maintaining attachment functionality and reducing interference with neighboring components.
Solution Approach 2:
The complex sliding or twisting motion mechanisms are extracted and removed from the mounting structure. Only the essential threaded fastening mechanism remains, which significantly simplifies the overall structure and reduces interference with surrounding vehicle interior components.
2Reliability
If a rigid mounting structure is used, then the mirror assembly is securely attached, but it may not break away reliably under regulatory forces
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting base incorporates a frangible portion with localized reduced thickness or structural weakness at a specific location. This creates a predetermined breakaway point that maintains overall mounting strength during normal use but allows controlled fracture when subjected to regulatory impact forces, ensuring reliable breakaway behavior.
Solution Approach 2:
The frangible portion is pre-designed and pre-positioned in the mounting base during manufacturing. This preliminary structural preparation ensures that when regulatory forces are applied, the mounting base will break away at the predetermined location with consistent and reliable behavior, rather than requiring complex sensors or active control systems.
3Productivity
If multiple fasteners or complex attachment mechanisms are used, then the mirror assembly is securely mounted, but installation becomes time-consuming and labor-intensive
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple fastening functions are merged into a single threaded fastener that passes through the mounting base and secures the mirror assembly to the vehicle interior. This consolidation eliminates the need for multiple separate fasteners or complex attachment mechanisms, significantly reducing installation time and labor requirements while maintaining secure mounting.
Solution Approach 2:
The single threaded fastener serves multiple functions: it secures the mounting base to the vehicle interior, positions the mirror assembly correctly, and provides a simple removal mechanism. This multi-functional design replaces complex multi-component attachment systems, improving installation productivity without compromising mounting security.
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 a simple, ergonomic, and reliable attachment method that complies with regulatory requirements by allowing the mirror assembly to break away from the vehicle's interior when a force of 400 Newtons or less is applied, while avoiding interference with neighboring components and reducing fatigue, ensuring secure attachment and easy installation.
Implementation Method 1
The compressible component compresses in response to the mounting base moving relative to the interior portion of the vehicle, such as when a force greater than a threshold force is applied at the mirror head or at the mounting arm
Implementation Method 2
The compressible component may be formed of a rubber material or may include a spring
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicular interior rearview mirror assembly includes a mirror head adjustable about a mounting base configured to attach at an interior portion of a vehicle. The mirror head includes a mirror reflective element. The mounting base is configured to attach at the interior portion of the vehicle via a threaded fastener. The threaded fastener includes a head end and a threaded end that threadedly engages the interior portion of the vehicle. A compressible component is disposed between the head end of the threaded fastener and the mounting base. With the mounting base attached at the interior portion of the vehicle, and responsive to movement of the mounting base relative to the threaded fastener and the interior portion of the vehicle, the compressible component at least partially compresses to accommodate movement of the mounting base.