Ventilation Mounting Assembly for Sealant-Free Watertight Roof Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vent fan installations for vehicles require sealant for a watertight seal, which can lead to user error, increased cost, and complexity, and expose occupants to screws during installation, while not providing complete moisture prevention and requiring professional installation.
Innovation Solution
A mounting assembly that uses an outer protective member, sealing members, gaskets, and bolts to create a watertight and weatherproof seal without the need for sealant, enabling easy installation, reusability, and safety by shielding screws from occupants.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If sealant is used to create a watertight seal around the flange and screw holes, then moisture prevention is improved, but installation complexity and user error potential increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes sealant from the installation process entirely. Instead of requiring users to apply sealant around the flange and screw holes, the system uses pre-integrated gaskets and molded sealing surfaces that provide watertight sealing through mechanical means alone, eliminating the problematic step that causes user error and complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces gaskets as intermediary sealing elements between the mounting assembly and the roof structure. These gaskets, combined with molded sealing surfaces on the flange, create reliable watertight seals without requiring users to apply liquid sealant, thereby maintaining moisture prevention while simplifying installation
2Strength
If screws are used to fasten the vent fan to the roof, then structural attachment strength is improved, but safety deteriorates due to exposure of screws to occupants
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional screw attachment approach by using nuts on the interior side of the roof rather than exposed screws on the exterior. Fastening elements penetrate through the roof and are secured with nuts from the inside, maintaining full attachment strength while completely hiding the fastening mechanism from external view and eliminating safety hazards to occupants
3Reliability
If professional installation is required to ensure proper sealant application, then sealing reliability is improved, but installation time and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables DIY installation by making the sealing function self-executing through pre-integrated gaskets and molded sealing surfaces. The system automatically provides watertight sealing through its mechanical design without requiring professional skill or judgment, allowing any user to achieve reliable sealing through simple assembly actions
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing elements (gaskets and molded surfaces) are pre-positioned and pre-configured during manufacturing. This preliminary action ensures that sealing is already prepared and will function automatically during installation, eliminating the need for professionals to perform complex sealant application techniques
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a mounting assembly for attaching a ventilation device to a structure. The structure comprises an inner surface, an outer surface, and a first opening extending therebetween. The mounting assembly comprises an outer protective member configured to have a top side and a bottom side, a plurality of sealing members, at least one gasket, a bottom mounting member, and a plurality of bolts. The mounting assembly of the present disclosure enables a watertight seal and weatherproof installation of the ventilation device to the structure and prevents theft of the ventilation device. Moreover, the mounting assembly enables easy installation of the ventilation device using one or more components of the mounting assembly, consumes less time, enables easy removal, and is reusable with other ventilation devices. The mounting assembly is cost effective.