Vehicle Protective Panel Mounting With Shock-Absorbing Gap
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle protection systems fail to provide robust, damage-resistant mounting for panels that accommodate vehicle curvatures without damaging the surface, and do not effectively protect against off-road impacts or allow for easy installation and removal of advertising panels.
Innovation Solution
A panel assembly with a plate body, fasteners, and a biasing means that securely attaches to a vehicle's exterior without direct contact, using resilient materials and a gap to absorb shocks and maintain attachment, allowing for easy installation and removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If magnets are used to secure protective plates to the vehicle exterior, then the plates can be removably attached, but the connection is not sufficiently robust for high-speed travel and causes scratching damage to the surface
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting system is divided into separate components: a base plate attached to the vehicle surface and a protective plate that can be removed. This segmentation allows the protective function to be maintained while enabling easy removal and reattachment without damage to the vehicle surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The base plate is pre-attached to the vehicle surface using adhesive or other non-damaging methods before the protective plate is needed. This preliminary action creates a ready mounting position that ensures robust connection when the protective plate is attached, while allowing easy removal when not in use.
2Strength
If protective plates are mounted directly on the vehicle surface, then they provide impact protection, but they allow dirt buildup that chaffs the paint and lock in moisture that damages the exterior
Solution Approach 1:
The protective plate is elevated off the vehicle surface by a mounting arrangement that creates a gap between the plate and the paint. This dimensional change allows the protective function to be maintained while preventing direct contact that would cause dirt buildup and moisture entrapment against the painted surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting arrangement acts as an intermediary between the protective plate and the vehicle surface. It provides the necessary mechanical connection for impact protection while maintaining separation to prevent harmful contact with dirt and moisture against the paint.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional covers are attached to protect vehicle panels, then they protect from light scratching in urban environments, but they cannot be used at high speeds or off-road due to insufficient connection strength
Solution Approach 1:
The protective plate system combines a rigid protective plate material with a robust mounting arrangement that includes base plates and securing mechanisms. This composite approach provides both the protection from impacts and the connection strength needed for high-speed and off-road conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting system is designed to be dynamic in its application - it can be attached when protection is needed (off-road, high-speed conditions) and removed when not needed (urban cruising conditions). This dynamic approach allows the system to provide appropriate protection levels for different operating conditions.
4Reliability
If drilling is performed to attach protective plates to the vehicle panel, then the plates can be securely mounted, but the vehicle panel is damaged and aesthetic appearance is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical drilling and fastening system is replaced with an adhesive-based mounting system for the base plate. This substitution maintains secure mounting reliability while eliminating the damage to the vehicle panel and compromise of aesthetic appearance that would result from drilling holes in the painted surface.
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 system provides effective protection against various impacts, maintains the vehicle's exterior integrity, and allows for rapid deployment of advertising panels without surface damage.
Implementation Method 1
a biasing means; wherein the biasing means retains the fastener in a locked position when the panel is secured on the vehicle
Implementation Method 2
using resilient materials and a gap to absorb shocks and maintain attachment
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a panel comprising a protective plate which is adapted to be fitted to a vehicle body panel to cover the vehicle body panel. The protective plate includes a plurality of fasteners to releasably secure the protective plate to the vehicle body panel. Each fastener comprises a first fastening portion which is secured to the protective plate, and a second fastening portion which is secured to the surface of the vehicle's body panel. Upon securing the protective plate in place, the first fastening portion is biased away from the second fastening portion to retain the fastener in a locked position. The protective plate is adapted to remain fixed to the vehicle body panel when the vehicle is driven in either an on-road or off-road environment.