Sealing Hinge for Rigid Tonneau Cover Waterproofing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rigid tonneau covers for vehicles fail to effectively prevent water ingress when unfolded, as the seals do not adequately cover the gaps between panels, leading to compromised weatherproofing.
Innovation Solution
A folding tonneau cover design featuring a hinge assembly with pivotally connected rigid portions and seals affixed to the panel edge rails, ensuring that the seals extend on the same side of the pivot axis as the panels unfold, creating a continuous seal between adjacent panel edges.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the seal is positioned on the opposite side of the hinge pivot axis from the panels, then the hinge can fold properly, but the seal fails to prevent water ingress when the cover is unfolded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional seal positioning by placing the seal on the same side of the hinge pivot axis as the panels rather than the opposite side. This inversion allows the seal to extend between panel edges when unfolded, creating a barrier that prevents water ingress while maintaining proper hinge folding capability.
2Ease of operation
If the seal extends across the hinge pivot axis, then the hinge can pivot freely, but water can ingress through the gap between panels when unfolded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by positioning the seal to extend only between the edges of adjacent panels rather than across the entire hinge assembly. This localized sealing approach allows the hinge to pivot freely while the seal specifically targets and blocks water ingress paths at the panel interfaces when the cover is unfolded.
3Reliability
If the seal is positioned to cover panel edges when unfolded, then waterproofing is improved, but the seal may interfere with hinge folding operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves the conflict by positioning the seal in a specific spatial dimension - on the same side of the hinge pivot axis as the panels and extending between panel edges. This dimensional placement allows the seal to provide waterproofing when unfolded while being clear of the hinge folding path, enabling smooth operation without interference.
Data Source
AI summary
A folding tonneau cover including a first substantially rigid panel having a laterally-extending front edge at least partially defined by an elongate edge rail, and a second substantially rigid panel having a laterally-extending rear edge at least partially defined by an elongate edge rail, the first and second panels having opposed exterior and interior sides. The first and second panels substantially lie in a plane when the cover is unfolded, the first and second panel exterior sides generally facing in a direction away from a first side of the plane when the cover is unfolded, the first and second panel exterior sides adjacently superposed when the cover is folded. The cover includes a hinge assembly having substantially rigid first and second portions pivotally connected together along a first pivot axis located on the one side of the plane, the hinge first portion affixed to the first panel edge rail, the hinge second portion affixed to the second panel edge rail. A seal is affixed to at least one of the first and second panel edge rails. When the cover is unfolded the seal extends from one of the first panel front edge and the second panel rear edge toward the other and is entirely disposed on the same side of the first pivot axis as is the plane.