Tonneau Latch Assembly Fillet Design and Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Tonneau system latches frequently fracture or become damaged due to compression forces and daily vehicle operations, requiring cumbersome replacement processes, often necessitating the disassembly of tonneau system components.
Innovation Solution
A latch assembly with a head featuring two corners and fillets connected by sidewalls, allowing for insertion and rotation within a cross bow member, enabling secure attachment and removal without disassembling the tonneau system, and allowing the latch to slide along the member for easy installation and stowage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If traditional latches are used to secure the tonneau system, then the connection between the frame and vehicle is tightly secured, but the latches frequently fracture or become damaged due to compression force and daily operation
Solution Approach 1:
The latch assembly is divided into separate components: a latch body that remains in the crossbow member and a latch arm that engages with the vehicle bed. This segmentation allows the latch arm to be replaced independently if damaged, while the main latch body remains intact, resolving the contradiction between maintaining strong connections and preventing catastrophic failure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the geometric parameters of the latch assembly, specifically adding fillets (curved transitions) at critical stress points where the latch arm meets the latch body. These fillets change the stress distribution parameters, reducing stress concentration and preventing fracture initiation, thereby improving latch durability while maintaining connection strength.
2Strength
If latches are secured to the vehicle bed, then the tonneau system is tightly secured, but replacement requires disassembly of the entire side member or cross bow member
Solution Approach 1:
The latch assembly is segmented into a permanent latch body (integrated with the crossbow member) and a removable latch arm. This allows the latch arm to be independently replaced by simply detaching it from the latch body, eliminating the need to disassemble the entire side member or crossbow member, thus improving ease of repair while maintaining securing strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The latch arm is designed to nest within or attach to the latch body, creating a hierarchical structure where the smaller, replaceable component (latch arm) is contained within or connected to the larger, permanent component (latch body). This nesting arrangement enables easy replacement of the inner component without affecting the outer structure.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the latch is fixed in position, then it provides stable securing, but it cannot be easily removed or installed without disassembly
Solution Approach 1:
The latch assembly transitions from a fixed design to a dynamic one where the latch arm can be easily attached and detached from the latch body. This dynamic configuration allows the latch to be stable during operation (when engaged) while being simple to install or remove (by detaching the latch arm), resolving the contradiction between stability and ease of operation.
4Stability of the object's composition
If the tonneau system uses a rigid frame design, then it creates a unitary structure, but the latches cannot freely move along the longitudinal axis
Solution Approach 1:
The latch arm is designed with dynamic movement capability along the longitudinal axis of the crossbow member while the main frame remains rigid. This allows the latch to adapt its position for different engagement points on the vehicle bed while maintaining the overall rigidity of the tonneau system, resolving the contradiction between frame rigidity and latch adaptability.
Data Source
AI summary
A latch assembly comprising: (I) a head having: (a) two corners; and (b) two fillets that are each connected to the two corners by a sidewall that extends between each of the two fillets and each of the two corners; and (II) an engaging portion coupled to the head, the engaging portion being configured to engage a wall of a cargo box of a pickup truck to compressibly secure a foldable tonneau system to the cargo box, wherein two of the sidewalls extending between the two corners and the two fillets form a locking portion that is configured to lock the latch assembly in a cross bow member of the foldable tonneau system when the latch assembly is in communication with the cross bow member, and the latch assembly is configured to be insertable and removable from the cross bow member of the foldable tonneau system without disassembly of the cross bow member.