Motor Vehicle Roller Blind Stabilizing Element

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing motor vehicle window cover systems face issues with twisting due to spring forces and temperature fluctuations, leading to uneven gap dimensions and aesthetic concerns, particularly with longer cover units like those for side windows, and existing solutions complicate installation space usage.

Innovation Solution

A two-part cover unit design featuring a plastic panel and a torsionally rigid stabilizing element, typically made of metal, which extends along the panel's length to provide stability and prevent twisting, allowing for a thinner, lighter panel and enabling the use of a metal rod with varying shapes for a torsionally rigid connection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If the cover unit is made as a single plastic part, then the manufacturing is simple, but the cover unit twists under spring force and temperature fluctuations, preventing an aesthetically advantageous closed state

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidcover unit stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The cover unit combines a plastic screen with a metal stabilizing element to create a composite structure. The metal element provides high rigidity and stability to prevent twisting under spring force and temperature variations, while the plastic screen maintains ease of manufacture and aesthetic appearance. This composite approach resolves the contradiction by integrating materials with complementary properties.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The cover unit is divided into two distinct components: a plastic screen for aesthetic coverage and a separate metal stabilizing element for structural integrity. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function - the plastic for manufacturability and appearance, the metal for stability - while working together as a unified assembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Length of moving object

If the cover unit length is increased to cover side windows (60 cm or more), then the coverage is improved, but uniform gap dimensions over the entire length become difficult to ensure when closed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecover unit lengthVSAvoidgap dimension uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of moving objectVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The metal stabilizing element acts as a rigid backbone that maintains uniform spacing and alignment over the entire 60 cm or longer length of the cover unit. This metal reinforcement ensures that the plastic screen remains stable and maintains consistent gap dimensions across its full length, resolving the precision issue that arises with increased length.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Stability of the object's composition

If the cover unit is subjected to force on both sides in the direction of the closed position, then the closed state stability is improved, but the available installation space is reduced, particularly in the area of side windows

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveclosed state stabilityVSAvoidinstallation space
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The stabilizing function is extracted from the plastic screen itself and implemented as a separate metal stabilizing element. This allows the plastic screen to be thinner and lighter while the metal element provides the necessary structural support and stability, reducing the overall space requirements compared to having to reinforce the plastic screen or add bilateral active couplings.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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 ensures a visually appealing, uniformly closed state without significant twisting, optimizing installation space by allowing the coupling moment to be applied further from the pivot axis, resulting in a smoother and quieter operation of the cover unit.

Implementation Method 1

stabilizing element, which is connected to the screen in a torsionally rigid manner and is made of a material with a higher modulus of elasticity than the material of the screen

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

stabilizing element...connected to the screen in a torsionally rigid manner...which can be pivoted about the pivot axis the base is hinged

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTorsional rigidity:

Implementation Method 3

the cover unit is permanently urged in the direction of its open state by means of a spring force

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSpring force: Spring

Data Source

PatentEP2614974B1Roller blind system for a motor vehicle
Publication Date: 2019.09.11 BOS GMBH & CO KG
  • EP2614974B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2614974B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~4b
  • EP2614974B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

The system (20) has a base (30) including a receiving space (34) for receiving a roll web (42) in a storing position, and a discharge gap (36) for displacing the roll web into a covering position. A lid unit (60) is pivoted between opening and closing positions. The lid unit includes a plastic diaphragm (62) for covering the gap. A metal rod (64) is rotationally rigidly connected with the diaphragm, and made of a material with a high modulus of elasticity relative to a material of the diaphragm. The metal rod is pivotably movably hinged at the base around a pivot axis (2).