Tonneau Cover Retention Member Blocking Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tonneau cover apparatuses suffer from external appearance issues due to exposed long holes in the outer holders, which affect the aesthetics and do not effectively prevent detachment of the retention members from the case.
Innovation Solution
The tonneau cover apparatus incorporates a retention member with blocking portions that abut against each other at an engaging position, preventing outward movement while being housed within the case, and utilizes a shaft and shaft-receiving portion with blocking portions to guide and secure the retention member, ensuring it remains inside the case without exposing any components externally.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If long holes are formed penetrating through the outer periphery wall of the outer holder to allow movement and prevent detachment, then the retention member can be securely retained, but the external appearance of the tonneau cover apparatus is degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The blocking portion is nested within the outer holder structure, specifically formed as an internal feature rather than an external protrusion. The long hole is positioned such that the blocking portion is hidden inside the outer holder, allowing the retention function while maintaining a clean external appearance.
Solution Approach 2:
The blocking function is extracted from the outer surface of the outer holder and relocated to an internal blocking portion. This separates the retention function from the external appearance, allowing the long hole to serve its purpose while the blocking portion remains hidden internally.
2Ease of operation
If the retention member is made movable in the axial direction to enable mounting and operation, then the ease of operation is improved, but the risk of detachment increases
Solution Approach 1:
The retention member is designed with dynamic movement capability along the axial direction through the long hole, allowing it to be pushed inward for mounting and operation. The blocking portion provides a dynamic stop that allows controlled movement while preventing excessive displacement and detachment.
Solution Approach 2:
The blocking portion is positioned to provide preliminary opposition to outward movement of the retention member. Before detachment can occur, the blocking portion abuts against the inner periphery face, preventing the harmful action of detachment while allowing useful movement during operation.
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a tonneau cover apparatus including: a winding shaft that winds up a tonneau cover; an elongated shaped case that accommodates the winding shaft; support members provided at one end portion and another end portion of the case, and supporting the winding shaft; a retention member provided at the one end portion and/or the other end portion of the case and including an outer wall portion that covers the support member; and blocking portions provided at the support member and the retention member at the at least one end portion, the blocking portions being disposed at the inner side relative to the outer wall portion, and blocking movement of the retention member outward in the axial direction of the winding shaft from the engaging position by abutting against one another at the engaging position.