Vehicle Trim Bracket With Relief Slot for Gap Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Maintaining a consistent gap between trim panels and the vehicle body is challenging when trim panels are not directly coupled to the vehicle body, leading to manufacturing tolerance issues and potential misalignment.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle trim portion connection bracket with a first flange for the trim portion and a second flange for the vehicle support member, featuring a relief slot to reduce deformation load and additional relief slots for controlled deformation, along with stiffening features like gussets and ribs to resist deformation, allowing precise alignment and attachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the trim panel is supported by a bracket that is coupled to the vehicle body, then the trim panel can be installed without direct coupling to the body, but it becomes challenging to maintain a consistent gap between the trim panel and the vehicle body
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting portion is designed to be deformable, allowing dynamic adjustment during installation. The relief slot enables the connecting portion to flex and adapt to variations in support member positioning, thereby maintaining consistent gap spacing despite manufacturing tolerances in the bracket assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The material properties of the connecting portion are selected to allow controlled deformation within a specific range. This parameter change enables the connecting portion to accommodate positional variations while maintaining the trim panel at the correct distance from the vehicle body, ensuring gap consistency.
2Strength
If the connecting portion is made rigid to maintain structural strength, then the bracket can support the trim panel, but the connecting portion cannot be deformed to accommodate manufacturing tolerances
Solution Approach 1:
The bracket is segmented into a rigid support structure and a flexible connecting portion. The relief slot creates a distinct flexible zone that allows deformation, while the rest of the bracket maintains structural integrity. This segmentation enables both strength and adaptability in different parts of the same component.
Solution Approach 2:
Different parts of the bracket have different mechanical properties. The connecting portion contains the relief slot to create local flexibility, while the flanges and support structures remain rigid. This local quality differentiation allows the bracket to be both strong overall and adaptable at the connection point.
3Manufacturing precision
If the connecting portion is deformed to accommodate tolerance variations, then consistent gap spacing can be maintained, but the load required for deformation may disrupt or overload the coupling between the bracket and support member
Solution Approach 1:
The relief slot is designed in advance to provide a controlled deformation path. This beforehand cushioning allows the connecting portion to absorb deformation loads through elastic flexing rather than transmitting excessive forces to the welded joints, preventing joint disruption while achieving gap consistency.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible connecting portion acts as an intermediary between the rigid bracket and trim panel. It mediates the transmission of forces, allowing small deformations to accommodate tolerance variations without transmitting damaging loads to the support member coupling, thus protecting joint integrity.
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 solution enables accurate and consistent attachment of trim panels to the vehicle body, reducing manufacturing tolerances and maintaining a uniform gap, while minimizing the risk of joint disruption or overload.
Implementation Method 1
a relief slot provided in the first flange and configured to reduce a load required to deform the connecting portion relative to a remaining portion of the first flange
Implementation Method 2
the connecting portion may be deformed without disrupting, e.g. at least partially deforming, disconnecting, breaking or overloading, the coupling between the bracket and the support member
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle trim portion connection bracket is provided. The bracket includes a first flange having a connecting portion configured to be coupled to a trim portion and a second flange configured to be coupled to a support member of the vehicle. The support member is configured to be coupled to a body of the vehicle. A relief slot is provided in the first flange and configured to reduce a load required to deform the connecting portion relative to a remaining portion of the first flange, such that the connecting portion may be deformed without disrupting the coupling between the bracket and the support member.