Rotatable Decorative Element With Undercut Drainage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rotating decorative elements for vehicles fail to effectively protect against dirt and moisture while maintaining a simple structure, as they often allow penetration and collection of dirt and water due to design flaws.
Innovation Solution
A rotatable decorative element design featuring a housing and decorative section stacked one on top of the other, with material undercuts creating a gradient that allows water to flow outwards, preventing external dirt and water from entering and utilizing an integrated composite component including an eccentric weight for enhanced protection and assembly simplicity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the cavity is completely sealed to prevent dirt and water entry, then protection against dirt and moisture is improved, but water accumulation inside the cavity cannot be avoided
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating different structural characteristics at different locations within the cavity. The material undercut provides a localized drainage path with specific geometric features (slope and cross-sectional area) that enable water to exit through a controlled opening, while the rest of the cavity remains sealed to prevent dirt and water entry. This localized structural variation resolves the contradiction between sealing and drainage.
2Loss of substance
If material undercuts with drainage paths are added to the housing, then water removal capability is improved, but structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the drainage function with the existing cavity structure by integrating material undercuts directly into the housing and decorative section design. Instead of adding separate drainage components, the drainage paths are formed as inherent features of the cavity walls, combining structural support and water removal functions into a unified design, thereby minimizing additional complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs parameter changes by varying the geometric parameters of the material undercut (slope angle, cross-sectional area, length) to optimize drainage performance. By adjusting these parameters, effective water removal is achieved without requiring complex additional structures, as the drainage capability is controlled through geometric parameter optimization rather than structural complexity.
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 effectively prevents dirt and moisture from entering the bearing area while allowing water to escape, ensuring the interior remains protected and maintaining a compact design, suitable for embedded electrical functions and illumination.
Implementation Method 1
the material undercut has a slope so that water can be transported through the cavity towards the outside world
Implementation Method 2
When the housing of the rotating decorative element turns with the wheel, centrifugal force assists in the removal of water.
Data Source
Figure 1a
Figure 1b
Figure 2
AI summary
The invention relates to a rotatable decorative element (10). It is provided that the rotatable decorative element (10) is designed in such a way that areas into which dirt or water can penetrate or in which dirt and water can accumulate are reduced.