Sliding Aesthetic Finishing Element for Vehicle Lighting Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicle lighting devices face challenges in aligning annular or semi-annular frames (bezels) due to processing tolerances, leading to stylistic limitations and difficult, costly installations, with potential detachments from lenses under driving vibrations.
Innovation Solution
An aesthetic finishing element system featuring a support with a profiled element that slides parallel to its face, utilizing matching male and female sliding elements for alignment and attachment to vehicle lighting devices or body parts, allowing for adjustable and secure fitting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional fixed aesthetic finishing elements are used on vehicle lighting devices, then the initial alignment may be acceptable, but processing tolerances cause misalignment and detachment under vibrations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by transforming the fixed bezel attachment into a movable sliding mechanism. The profiled element with sliding elements allows the aesthetic finishing element to adjust its position dynamically, compensating for processing tolerances and maintaining alignment despite vibrations during vehicle operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs parameter changes by allowing the position parameter of the aesthetic finishing element to vary within a range defined by the sliding mechanism. This enables the system to adapt to different alignment requirements and compensate for manufacturing variations without requiring precise initial positioning.
2Shape
If aesthetic finishing elements are designed with complex shapes for stylistic reasons, then the visual appearance is improved, but alignment and installation become more difficult and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the aesthetic finishing element into two independent parts: the support (attached to the lighting device) and the profiled element (providing the visible aesthetic shape). This separation allows each part to be optimized independently - the support for easy attachment and the profiled element for aesthetic design - while the sliding mechanism connects them.
Solution Approach 2:
The sliding mechanism between the support and profiled element provides dynamic adjustment capability, allowing installers to easily align complex-shaped aesthetic elements during installation by moving the profiled element along the sliding elements until proper alignment is achieved.
3Stability of the object's composition
If aesthetic finishing elements are rigidly fixed to lenses, then initial positioning is stable, but driving vibrations cause stresses that lead to detachment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces rigid fixed attachment with a dynamic sliding mechanism that allows controlled movement. The profiled element can slide along the support to absorb thermal expansion, contraction, and vibration-induced movements, preventing stress accumulation that would lead to detachment while maintaining stable visual alignment.
Solution Approach 2:
The sliding mechanism acts as a flexible connection between the support and profiled element, allowing the system to accommodate dimensional changes and vibrations without rigid constraints that would cause stress and detachment.
4Manufacturing precision
If processing tolerances are reduced to improve alignment precision, then manufacturing cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary sliding mechanism between the support and profiled element that acts as a tolerance compensator. This intermediary component allows standard-tolerance parts to be assembled and automatically adjusts to achieve proper alignment, eliminating the need for high-precision manufacturing while adding minimal system complexity.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~7
AI summary
An aesthetic finishing element (5), which can be coupled to a vehicle element, such as a lighting device (3), including a support (7), which can be fixed to the vehicle element on the side of a first face (8) thereof, and a profiled element (10), which is shaped like a channel and is coupled, in an integral manner, to the support on the side of a second face (9) thereof, opposite the first one; wherein the profiled element (10) is coupled to the support (7) so as to slide in a direction (D), which is parallel to the second face, at least a first stretch (11) of the support and a corresponding second stretch (12) of the profiled element being provided with sliding elements (13,14) with a matching shape, which are coupled to one another in a snapping manner and are configured to allow the support (7) and the profiled element (10) to slide relative to one another.