Side Mirror Mounting Bracket for Vehicle Frame Attachment
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Solution Overview
Problem
The removal of side mirrors from vehicles, especially those with removable doors, compromises safety and drivability as the mirrors are typically secured to the doors and are lost when the doors are taken off.
Innovation Solution
A solid body apparatus with a base surface complementary to the vehicle's exterior surface, featuring aligned holes for secure attachment to the vehicle's threaded holes, and a third threaded hole for attaching a side mirror, allowing the mirror to be securely fastened without the doors, using screws and a lock nut for stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If side mirrors are secured to removable doors, then the mirror attachment structure is simple, but the side mirrors are lost when doors are removed, compromising safety
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the mirror attachment system into two independent parts: the door-mounted bracket and the vehicle-frame-mounted bracket. This segmentation allows the mirror to be detached from the door and reattached to the vehicle frame, maintaining mirror availability while keeping each bracket structure relatively simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces a vehicle frame as an intermediary mounting surface. The first bracket attaches to the door, the second bracket attaches to the vehicle frame, and together they support the side mirror. This intermediary structure enables the mirror to remain attached to the vehicle even when doors are removed.
2Reliability
If side mirrors are permanently secured to the vehicle frame, then side mirrors remain available when doors are removed, but the attachment structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment structure is segmented into two separate brackets: a first bracket for door mounting and a second bracket for vehicle frame mounting. This segmentation distributes the complexity across two simple components rather than one complex permanent attachment system.
Solution Approach 2:
The brackets are designed with universal mounting capabilities - the first bracket can attach to the door and the second bracket attaches to the vehicle frame. This multi-functionality allows the same bracket design to serve different mounting purposes, reducing overall system complexity.
3Strength
If a solid body apparatus with aligned holes is used to secure the mirror to the vehicle frame, then secure attachment is achieved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The solid body apparatus with pre-aligned holes and complementary contour performs self-alignment during installation. The contour matching between the base surface and vehicle exterior surface automatically positions the holes correctly, reducing the need for high manufacturing precision while ensuring strong attachment.
Solution Approach 2:
The solid body apparatus acts as an intermediary component that bridges the vehicle frame and the side mirror. Its pre-aligned holes and complementary contour design simplify the installation process and reduce precision requirements by providing a self-aligning interface.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for securing a side mirror to a vehicle includes a solid body having base and top surfaces. The base surface has a contour complementary to that of an exterior surface of the vehicle. First and second holes are formed through the solid body from the base surface to the top surface. Positioning the base surface face-to-face with the exterior surface of the vehicle aligns the first hole with a first threaded hole in the vehicle and aligns the second hole with a second threaded hole in the vehicle. Each of the first and second holes has a counterbore that opens to the top surface of the rigid body. A third hole in the solid body opens to the top surface between the counterbores of the first and second holes, wherein the third hole is threaded to receive a threaded screw that attaches a mirror.