Resilient Ball-and-Socket Mount Assembly for Vibration Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mount assemblies for vehicle-mounted camera systems face issues such as material degradation due to heating-cooling cycles, excessive movement causing damage to electrical cables, and detachment under vibrations and acceleration forces, leading to safety hazards and ineffective camera orientation.
Innovation Solution
A mount assembly featuring a socket assembly with a resilient member and a unitary mounting ball that restricts rotational and pivotal movements within specific angles, using complementary formations to inhibit excessive movement and maintain orientation, thereby protecting electrical connections and ensuring stable camera positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a screw thread and nut arrangement is used to tighten the socket around the ball, then the arm orientation can be maintained, but the assembly may unfasten under vibrations and acceleration forces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the screw thread and nut mechanical fastening system with a resilient member that uses elastic deformation and friction to secure the ball. The resilient member deforms elastically to grip the ball and maintains this grip through vibrational forces, eliminating the risk of unfastening associated with threaded connections.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the mechanical parameters of the connection by using a resilient member whose stiffness and friction characteristics allow it to maintain secure engagement under vibration and acceleration. The resilient bias provides continuous contact force that adapts to dynamic loading conditions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the arm is allowed excessive rotation and pivotal movement, then the camera can be positioned for different views, but the electrical cable may be damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by incorporating formations on the ball and complementary formations in the socket that preemptively prevent excessive rotation and pivotal movement. These geometric constraints stop the arm from moving into positions that would damage the electrical cable before such damage can occur.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the movement自由度 into controlled ranges by using the interaction between formations and complementary formations. This allows necessary movement for positioning while blocking movement in directions that would harm the cable.
3Ease of manufacture
If plastic materials are used for the mount assembly, then the assembly is lightweight and easy to manufacture, but the stiffness of the ball and socket interface degrades over time due to heating-cooling cycles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter by introducing a resilient member with viscoelastic properties that are stable across temperature ranges. This resilient member maintains consistent mechanical properties despite heating-cooling cycles, preventing the stiffness degradation that occurs in standard plastics.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a composite approach by combining the plastic mounting structure with a resilient member that has superior thermal stability. This hybrid construction maintains the ease of manufacture of plastic while adding the thermal stability of specialized resilient materials.
4Adaptability or versatility
If a channel is provided through the ball and socket joint for cable routing, then electrical connections can be made, but the assembly becomes unsuitable for applications requiring unrestricted movement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses preliminary anti-action by designing complementary formations that prevent the arm from rotating or pivoting into positions where the cable would be damaged. This allows the cable channel to be provided while maintaining protection against cable harm.
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 stable and secure mounting system that maintains camera orientation within a limited range of motion, preventing damage to electrical connections and ensuring effective footage capture despite vehicle vibrations and varying windscreen pitches, while reducing the need for frequent user adjustments.
Implementation Method 1
the socket assembly comprises a resilient member configured to define a socket to receive and engage the unitary mounting ball, the resilient member configured to permit the unitary mounting ball to be urged into the socket against a resilient bias
Implementation Method 2
the socket comprising at least one formation and the unitary mounting ball comprising at least one complementary formation, the at least one formation and at least one complementary formation configured to interact to inhibit rotational movement of the mounting element relative to the socket assembly about a roll axis
Data Source
AI summary
Described herein is a mount assembly for mounting a device to a surface, including: a socket assembly; a mounting element including a unitary mounting ball receivable by the socket assembly to pivotally couple the mounting element to the socket assembly to position the mounting element relative to the socket assembly, where the socket assembly includes a resilient member configured to define a socket to receive and engage the unitary mounting ball, the resilient member configured to permit the unitary mounting ball to be urged into the socket against a resilient bias; and the socket including at least one formation and the unitary mounting ball including at least one complementary formation, the at least one formation and at least one complementary formation configured to interact to inhibit rotational movement about a roll axis of the mounting element relative to the socket assembly.