Vehicle Fixing System Hooks for Dashboard Mounting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle mount solutions for portable computing devices are either not secure, damage the vehicle's interior, or do not provide a stable viewing position for the driver, and often require pre-existing screw holes or stress louvres, which can be fragile.
Innovation Solution
A rigid fixing system using hooks that fold around existing vehicle parts to create a stable anchor point, allowing for adjustable attachment to dashboard vents, fascia, or other surfaces without damaging the vehicle, and featuring engagement surfaces that match the vehicle's dimensions for secure and load-bearing attachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If suction-cup type mounts are used to secure a device cradle to a vehicle surface, then the device can be mounted without damaging the vehicle interior, but the mount cannot be secured to dashboards and other surfaces having cloth, leather, textured or decorative finishes
Solution Approach 1:
The fixing system is divided into separate functional components: hooks that engage with the dashboard surface, a connecting mechanism, and a device holder. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function - the hooks can be designed to work with various dashboard materials and textures without requiring the entire system to be universally adaptable
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary fixing system that mediates between the dashboard surface and the device holder. The hooks act as intermediaries that can engage with different dashboard surfaces (including cloth, leather, and textured finishes) through mechanical interlocking, while the device holder provides a stable mounting point, thus resolving the incompatibility between suction cups and various dashboard materials
2Reliability
If a device cradle is screwed to a surface of the vehicle to provide a secure location, then the device is securely mounted, but the vehicle's interior is damaged and the mount cannot be easily swapped for different drivers using different devices
Solution Approach 1:
The fixing system employs a dynamic, reversible mounting mechanism where hooks can be attached and detached without permanent modification to the vehicle. The hooks engage with dashboard features through a mechanical interlocking system that provides secure mounting during use but allows easy removal and repositioning, transforming a static permanent mount into a dynamic reversible one
Solution Approach 2:
The hooks are pre-configured with engagement features that allow them to be attached to the dashboard before the device is mounted. This preliminary attachment creates a secure foundation that distributes loads across multiple engagement points, providing reliable mounting without requiring damage to the vehicle interior
3Ease of operation
If cradles clip to the louvres of the dashboard vents to provide mounting, then the device can be positioned within eyesight of the driver, but the mounts move with the louvres and can damage or break the fragile louvres under device weight
Solution Approach 1:
The fixing system extracts the mounting function from the vulnerable louvres and relocates it to the more robust dashboard surround or fascia. The hooks are designed to engage with the stronger structural elements of the dashboard rather than the thin, movable louvres, thereby removing the loading burden from the fragile components while maintaining device visibility
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of mounting directly to the horizontal louvres, the system transitions to a different dimensional approach by engaging with the vertical or three-dimensional features of the dashboard surround. This dimensional shift allows the device to be positioned at the optimal viewing angle while transferring loads to structurally sound areas of the dashboard
4Ease of operation
If devices are attached to headrest posts or cigarette lighter sockets to place them within driver eyesight, then the device is positioned for visibility, but the mounting locations are not optimal for stable attachment and may not support heavy devices
Solution Approach 1:
The fixing system creates a universal mounting platform that can accommodate various device types and weights while providing optimal viewing angles. The adjustable mechanism allows the same mounting system to serve multiple functions - supporting different devices at different positions and angles - whereas traditional mounts like headrest posts are limited in both capacity and adjustability
Data Source
AI summary
A fixing system suitable for use in a vehicle includes a main body portion and engagement means adapted for positive engagement, in use, with a part of a vehicle, wherein the engagement means comprises at least two rigidly spaced-apart engagement surfaces.