Adjustable Spare Tire Cover Mount for Wheel Offset and Camera Fit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing spare tire cover systems fail to provide a universal fit for various vehicle models with different wheel and tire sizes, and often require complex installation methods that may damage the vehicle.
Innovation Solution
A modular spare tire cover system featuring an adjustable design with a two-part clamping component, including a hollow base and a faceplate, that can accommodate different tire sizes and wheel offsets, while also allowing for the mounting of accessories.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a model-specific protective tire cover is used to ensure precise fitment, then the fitment accuracy is improved, but the device complexity and variety of SKUs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The protective tire cover system is designed to fit multiple tire sizes and wheel configurations through a universal base plate with adjustable components. The faceplate can be repositioned along the base plate to accommodate different wheel offsets, and the system can adapt to various tire diameters without requiring separate model-specific covers, thereby reducing SKU variety while maintaining precise fitment.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting system incorporates adjustable and reconfigurable components that can be dynamically positioned to match different wheel and tire configurations. The faceplate can be moved to different locations on the base plate, and the entire assembly can be adjusted during installation to achieve precise fitment across multiple vehicle models without requiring pre-configured model-specific parts.
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional accessory mounting methods are used to provide functional features, then the functionality is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to drilling and semi-permanent affixing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting system is divided into separate, removable components including a base plate, faceplate, and accessory mounting elements. This segmentation allows accessories to be easily attached and detached without permanent modification to the vehicle, simplifying installation and removal operations while maintaining full accessory mounting functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses non-permanent mounting methods that allow for easy removal and reuse of mounting components. The base plate and faceplate can be removed from the vehicle and reused on different wheels or vehicles, and accessories can be detached without damage, enabling recovery and reuse of all mounting elements without permanent affixing.
3Ease of operation
If a single adjustable cover design is used to reduce product configurations, then the ease of operation is improved, but the manufacturing precision may worsen due to broader compatibility requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustable components allow the mounting system to be dynamically configured during installation to achieve precise fitment for each specific wheel and tire combination. The faceplate position can be adjusted along the base plate, and components can be repositioned as needed, enabling a single design to achieve manufacturing precision equivalent to model-specific covers while maintaining ease of operation.
Data Source
AI summary
The inventive technology described herein may be present in many different embodiments that include systems and methods for adjustably protecting a spare tire with a rearward-facing camera. In some embodiments, a spare tire protective system may utilize a hollow base, a camera collar, a retaining element such as a faceplate, and a tire cover to easily adjust to varying spare tire sizes and wheel offsets for vehicles that may be equipped with a center or near center-mounted rearview camera. A hollow base and camera collar may slide over a rearview camera stock and partially seat into a wheel center bore. A tire cover may be sandwiched between the hollow base and faceplate. This system may provide improved ease of installation and removal for vehicle models with varying wheel and tire offsets and sizes.