Integrated In-Vehicle Bracket Sealing Against Water Ingress
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing in-vehicle brackets allow water ingress through gaps between the plastic section, in-vehicle camera, and fastening screws, compromising sealing performance.
Innovation Solution
An in-vehicle bracket with a bracket body section and a seal section made of soft material, integrating a waterproof part and crimp part to enhance sealing between the flange part and attachment panel, and between the flange part and in-vehicle device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If fastening screws are used to secure the in-vehicle camera to the plastic section, then the in-vehicle camera can be firmly attached, but gaps are created between the fastening screw, plastic section, and in-vehicle camera that allow water to enter
Solution Approach 1:
The elastomer section serves as an intermediary component between the plastic section and the in-vehicle camera. It fills the gaps created by fastening screws and provides a sealing effect that prevents water ingress while allowing the mechanical attachment to remain secure.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastomer section is made of a flexible material that can deform to conform to the interfaces between components. This flexibility allows it to effectively seal irregular gaps between the fastening screw, plastic section, and in-vehicle camera, preventing water from penetrating through these interfaces.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If an elastomer section is added to occlude gaps, then waterproofing performance is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The elastomer section is integrally molded with the flange part of the plastic section, merging two components into a single integrated structure. This reduces assembly complexity while maintaining the waterproofing function, as the elastomer section is already positioned to seal gaps between the flange part and the vehicle body metal plate.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastomer section serves multiple functions simultaneously: it occludes gaps between the flange part and vehicle body metal plate, seals gaps around the in-vehicle camera attachment area, and provides cushioning or shock absorption. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate sealing components.
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 integrated seal section provides high sealing performance by minimizing gaps and ensuring effective waterproofing between the bracket and attachment panel, as well as between the bracket and the in-vehicle device.
Implementation Method 1
a seal section made of soft material, the seal section being integrated with the bracket body section
Implementation Method 2
a crimp part having an attachment hole for attaching the in-vehicle device to the attachment part, the crimp part being disposed to effect, around the attachment hole, waterproofing between the flange part and the in-vehicle device
Data Source
AI summary
An in-vehicle bracket for attaching an in-vehicle device to an attachment panel includes: a bracket body section; and a seal section, including soft material, integrated with the bracket body section. The bracket body section includes: a flange part including an attachment part for allowing the in-vehicle device to be attached to the attachment part; and a leg part including a fastening part for attaching the leg part to the attachment panel, the leg part extending from the flange part. The seal section covers the flange part and expands around the flange part, and includes: a waterproof part around the flange part to effect waterproofing between the flange part and the attachment panel; and a crimp part having an attachment hole for attaching the in-vehicle device to the attachment part, the crimp part being around the attachment hole for waterproofing between the flange part and the in-vehicle device.