Sun Visor Dual Clip Snap-Fit Attachment Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle sun visor designs with snap-fitted vanity mirrors face issues with attachment stability during impacts, as deformation of the sun visor body can lead to disconnection, and flexible connecting members may allow excessive movement, increasing the risk of damage and assembly complexity.
Innovation Solution
A dual snap-fit clip system where a first set of clips provides a firm, biasing connection to prevent movement during normal use, and a second set allows for relative movement and deformation to maintain attachment after impacts, ensuring the vanity mirror remains attached while minimizing risk of damage or incomplete assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single set of clips is used for snap-fit connection, then assembly is simple and cost-effective, but the vanity mirror assembly becomes detached during impact
Solution Approach 1:
The clip system is divided into two distinct sets: a first set of clips that provides firm biasing connection to prevent movement during normal use, and a second set of clips that allows relative movement and deformation during impact to maintain attachment. This segmentation allows each set to be optimized for its specific function, resolving the contradiction between reliability during impact and simplicity of the clip system.
2Reliability
If flexible connecting members are used to maintain attachment after impact, then the vanity mirror remains connected, but excessive displacement occurs increasing damage risk
Solution Approach 1:
The second set of clips is designed with dynamic characteristics that allow controlled movement and deformation during impact. These clips can flex and deform to absorb impact energy while maintaining connection, preventing the vanity mirror from detaching. The dynamic design allows the system to adapt to impact conditions while limiting excessive displacement through the geometric configuration and material properties of the clips.
3Ease of operation
If firm snap-fit connection is used to prevent movement during normal use, then noise and movement problems are minimized, but the connection fails during impact due to body deformation
Solution Approach 1:
Different sets of clips are assigned different local qualities and functions within the same connection system. The first set of clips has high rigidity and firm biasing characteristics optimized for preventing movement during normal use. The second set of clips has higher flexibility and deformation capacity optimized for maintaining connection during impact. This local differentiation of properties allows the system to excel at both functions simultaneously.
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
The dual clip system effectively maintains the vanity mirror attached to the sun visor body during impacts, reducing the risk of damage and assembly issues, while allowing for easy assembly and minimizing noise and movement-related problems during normal use.
Implementation Method 1
the clips comprise a first set of clips configured for snap-fit connection of the vanity mirror assembly onto the sun visor body so that the vanity mirror assembly is held firmly against the sun visor body by the first set of clips
Data Source
AI summary
A sun visor comprises a sun visor body (2) and a vanity mirror assembly (1) comprising a vanity mirror (11) mounted on a support (12). The sun visor comprises a first set of clips (31, 32) configured for snap-fit connection of the vanity mirror assembly (1) onto the sun visor body (2) so that the vanity mirror assembly (1) is held firmly against the sun visor body (2) by the first set of clips, and a second set of clips (41, 42; 51, 52) configured for snap-fit connection of the vanity mirror assembly (1) onto the sun visor body (2) allowing for movement of the vanity mirror assembly (1) in relation to the sun visor body (2). If the snap-fit connection by the first set of clips fails after an impact, the vanity mirror assembly may remain attached to the sun visor body by the second set of clips.