Motor Vehicle Shade Cover with Spring-Elastic Clamping

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing shading devices for motor vehicle windows face challenges in securely and quietly maintaining the open and closed positions of the cover, often resulting in rattling or inadequate sealing.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a control plunger with a resilient tensioning means, such as a helical tension spring, that provides a dual function of force transmission and elastic clamping, ensuring the cover is securely locked in its closed position without rattling, using a spring-elastic clamping force that engages when the control plunger is subjected to tension or pressure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a conventional cover closure mechanism is used, then the cover can be opened and closed, but the cover rattles and is not securely held in its closed position

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecover positioning stabilityVSAvoidrattling noise
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The resilient tensioning means is pre-loaded to automatically engage the control plunger with the cover, creating a clamping force before any movement occurs. This preliminary action ensures the cover is immediately secured when it reaches the closed position, preventing rattling noise without requiring additional adjustment or manual intervention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The resilient tensioning means changes the force parameter dynamically - it is resiliently tensioned during the closing movement to provide clamping force, and ineffectively relaxed during opening movement. This parameter change allows the system to securely hold the cover in the closed position while still permitting smooth opening and closing operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If a spring-elastic clamping means is added to the control plunger, then the cover is securely clamped without rattling, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecover clamping securityVSAvoidcontrol mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The resilient tensioning means combines two functions into a single component: it acts as both a force transmission element (pushing the cover closed) and a clamping element (securing the cover in position). This merging eliminates the need for separate clamping mechanisms, reducing overall device complexity while achieving secure cover positioning.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The control plunger with resilient tensioning means serves multiple functions: it transmits force to move the cover, provides elastic clamping to secure the cover, and allows smooth operation in both opening and closing directions. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional components, maintaining simplicity while achieving reliable cover positioning.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Ease of operation

If the control plunger is articulated in opposite directions of tension and pressure, then smooth operation is achieved, but the cover may experience torsion

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecover movement smoothnessVSAvoidcover structural stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The resilient tensioning means acts as an intermediary between the control plunger and the cover, absorbing and distributing forces evenly. This intermediary element prevents direct transmission of torsional forces to the cover while still enabling smooth opening and closing movements through its elastic properties.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

This solution effectively secures the cover in its closed position, preventing rattling and ensuring a stable seal, while allowing smooth operation between open and closed positions, suitable for various vehicle types including passenger cars, commercial vehicles, and rail vehicles.

Implementation Method 1

a spring-elastic clamping means is assigned to the control plunger, which exerts an additional elastic clamping force on the cover in a direction of movement of the control plunger. Advantageously, the elastic clamping force is provided in the closing direction or in the closed position of the cover in order to clamp the cover securely and without rattling into its closed position

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSpring-elastic clamping force: Spring

Implementation Method 2

the control plunger being operatively connected to the cover via a resilient tensioning means which is resiliently tensioned in one direction of movement and is ineffectively relaxed in an opposite direction of movement

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectResilient tensioning: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3212445B1Shade device for a windscreen of a motor vehicle
Publication Date: 2021.06.09 BOS GMBH & CO KG
  • EP3212445B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3212445B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3212445B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a shade device having a shade structure that can be shifted by drive means between a lowered resting position and an extended shade position in lateral guide rails secured to the vehicle, wherein in the resting position, the shade structure is lowered via a through-passage into a shaft secured to the vehicle, wherein the through passage can be closed by a cover that moves between an opening and a closing position, and wherein control means are provided for opening and closing the cover, said control means being coupled to a shifting movement of the shade structure. According to the invention, the control means comprise a control plunger engaged on the cover, said control plunger being linked to the cover in opposing pulling and pushing directions, wherein the control plunger is in operative connection with the cover via a spring-elastic tensioning means, said tensioning means being spring-elastically tensioned in a movement direction, and released so as to be ineffective in an opposing movement direction. Application in passenger vehicles