Vehicle Work Light with Self-Clasping Rods
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lighting assemblies for vehicle maintenance are inconvenient to attach to the vehicle, often require an assistant to hold, can cause shadows, overpower the mechanic's eyes, and are prone to heat, durability issues, and high costs, limiting their effectiveness and safety.
Innovation Solution
A self-leveling lighting assembly with a housing, support rods, clasping members, and a biasing member that securely attaches to the vehicle, using fluorescent bulbs with minimal heat and a mirror to create shadowless light, allowing hands-free operation and improved visibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If hand-held lighting assemblies are used, then the light can be easily held and positioned, but the mechanic must use one hand to hold the light, reducing available hands for work
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting assembly attaches itself to the vehicle hood or body using self-contained clasping members that grip the vehicle structure, eliminating the need for a mechanic to manually hold the light. The assembly is self-supporting through its attachment mechanism, freeing both hands for mechanical work.
Solution Approach 2:
The lighting assembly is extracted from the mechanic's hands and transferred to the vehicle structure. By removing the light from manual holding and anchoring it to the vehicle, the system eliminates the constraint on hand availability while maintaining light positioning capability.
2Productivity
If existing lighting assemblies attach to the vehicle hood, then hands-free operation is achieved, but the attachment mechanism is flimsy and difficult to secure
Solution Approach 1:
The clasping members utilize curved or rounded gripping surfaces that conform to the vehicle hood contours, providing secure mechanical interlocking. The curved geometry of the clasps allows them to wrap around and grip the vehicle structure firmly, preventing accidental detachment while maintaining ease of attachment.
Solution Approach 2:
The clasping members are pre-configured with gripping features and spring biasing that automatically engage with the vehicle hood upon contact. This preliminary configuration ensures that the attachment mechanism is ready to secure immediately upon placement, eliminating the need for complex adjustment or multiple attachment steps.
3Illumination intensity
If the light shines directly into the work area, then illumination is provided, but the bright light overpowers the mechanic's eyes and interferes with work
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting assembly incorporates directional shielding and angled positioning features that concentrate illumination on the work area while directing bright light away from the mechanic's line of sight. The local modification of light distribution through shields and angling provides targeted illumination without the harmful effect of direct glare to the eyes.
4Illumination intensity
If the lighting assembly uses traditional bulbs, then sufficient light output is achieved, but excessive heat is generated
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting system transitions from traditional incandescent bulbs to LED technology, fundamentally changing the operational parameters of the light source. LEDs provide equivalent or superior illumination intensity while operating at significantly lower temperatures, eliminating the excessive heat generation problem of traditional bulbs.
5Adaptability or versatility
If the light cord is made long to reach power outlets, then flexibility is improved, but the cord becomes tangled and interferes with the mechanic's work
Solution Approach 1:
The power cord incorporates a reel or retractable mechanism that dynamically adjusts cord length based on the mechanic's needs. The cord can be extended when reaching for power outlets and retracted when not in use, preventing tangling and interference with mechanical work while maintaining adaptability to different outlet positions.
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 secure, hands-free illumination with reduced shadows and heat, enhancing the mechanic's ability to work safely and efficiently by attaching to the vehicle and maintaining consistent light output, thus eliminating the need for frequent adjustments.
Implementation Method 1
a biasing member, the biasing member extending through the first support rod and the second support rod... two clasping members, one of the clasping members attached to an end of the first support rod and the other clasping member attached to an end of the second support rod, wherein the two clasping members attach the lighting assembly to a hood or body of a vehicle
Implementation Method 2
using fluorescent bulbs with minimal heat
Implementation Method 3
a mirror to create shadowless light
Data Source
AI summary
A lighting assembly for illuminating a work area, such as the area underneath the hood of a vehicle or the area underneath the body of a vehicle. The lighting assembly has a light, support rod having an adjustable length and two clasping members, the two clasping members being able to attach the lighting assembly to the hood or body of a vehicle.