Vehicle Cover Roller Assembly with Locking Rails
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current convertible vehicle covers are complex, expensive, and difficult to attach and remove due to their numerous parts, necessitating a simpler, more affordable, and easier-to-use solution.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle cover assembly with a transverse housing, rails attached to the roll bar, a spring-loaded or crank-operated roller, and locking members that engage with slots on the rails to securely hold a layer of material in place, allowing for easy installation and retraction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If current convertible vehicle covers are used, then protection from elements is provided, but device complexity increases and manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cover assembly is divided into distinct functional modules: a roller mechanism for material deployment, locking members for securing the cover in various positions, and a rail system for guiding movement. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently while reducing overall complexity compared to integrated designs.
Solution Approach 2:
The roller mechanism serves multiple functions: it stores the cover material, controls its deployment, and enables retraction. The locking members can engage with the rail at multiple positions to secure the cover in different configurations. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, simplifying the overall device.
2Reliability
If current convertible vehicle covers are used, then protection from elements is provided, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cover material is designed as a replaceable layer that can be easily manufactured and replaced if damaged. The underlying structural components (roller, locking members, rails) are durable and reusable, while the material layer can be produced cost-effectively and replaced without replacing the entire assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The design allows for easy adjustment of material properties and dimensions to match different protection requirements. The locking mechanism can be configured with different engagement positions and securing forces. This flexibility enables optimization for specific applications without requiring custom-designed complex systems.
3Reliability
If current convertible vehicle covers are used, then coverage is provided, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The roller mechanism is designed to be rotatable, allowing the cover material to be dynamically deployed and retracted. The locking members can be easily engaged and disengaged from the rail, enabling quick transitions between covered and uncovered states. This dynamic design replaces static, difficult-to-operate systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring-loaded roller mechanism automatically reels in the cover material when released, eliminating the need for manual winding or complex retraction systems. The locking members are designed to be easily engaged by user weight or simple manual action, reducing the effort required for operation.
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 provides a cost-effective, easy-to-use, and simplified method for attaching and removing a vehicle cover, reducing production complexity and user effort while ensuring secure coverage.
Implementation Method 1
A roller is rotatably mounted within the housing that is spring loaded
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle top assembly having a housing and a pair of rails that are perpendicular to and extend away from the housing. A roller is rotatably mounted within the housing. A layer of material is attached to the roller and has one or more locking members attached to a side edge.