Stackable Automotive Water Shield With Inwardly Angled Glue Channel
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automotive door assembly processes are labor-intensive and generate waste due to the need for a removable membrane to protect pre-applied glue on water shields, leading to inefficiencies and increased costs.
Innovation Solution
A stackable, pre-glued water shield with inwardly angled channels that accommodate a glue bead, allowing for secure stacking without a protective membrane, and a complementary ridge on the door panel to ensure precise placement and adhesion, reducing waste and labor costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a removable membrane is used to protect pre-applied glue on water shields, then the glue is protected from contamination, but waste material accumulates on the assembly floor and labor intensity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the removable membrane component entirely from the system. Instead of protecting the glue with a separate membrane layer, the glue is contained within a molded channel structure that is integral to the water shield itself, eliminating the source of waste material accumulation
Solution Approach 2:
The protective function previously performed by a separate removable membrane is merged into the water shield structure itself through the molded channel. The channel walls and bottom form an integrated containment system that protects the glue without requiring an additional membrane component
2Reliability
If a removable membrane is used to protect pre-applied glue, then the glue is protected, but the assembly process becomes more labor intensive
Solution Approach 1:
By removing the membrane component entirely, the patent eliminates the steps of applying, positioning, and removing the membrane during assembly. Workers simply handle the water shield with the glue already contained in the molded channel, significantly reducing labor intensity
Solution Approach 2:
The glue is pre-applied and contained within the molded channel during water shield manufacturing. This preliminary containment action is performed automatically during molding, eliminating the need for manual membrane application and removal steps during the assembly process
3Productivity
If glue is pre-applied on water shields, then stacking is enabled, but one water shield may slip into another without a protective membrane
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the containment function locally at the glue location through the molded channel. The channel walls and bottom provide localized protection exactly where the glue is applied, preventing slippage during stacking without requiring a global membrane covering the entire water shield surface
Solution Approach 2:
The molded channel creates an asymmetric geometry with inwardly angled walls that provide mechanical interlocking and resistance to slippage. The channel structure is specifically shaped to prevent one water shield from sliding into another during stacking, providing inherent stability
Data Source
AI summary
A stackable water shield comprising a body portion having a width and length and thickness, said body having a wet surface, said body further having a channel formed between inwardly angled walls in a portion of the body, said channel having a width and a depth sufficient to accept a sufficient amount of glue, said glue amount not extending to the wet surface of the water shield, said water shields stackable without interposing a glue protective barrier such as a release sheet between said stacked water shields.