Vehicle Sun Visor Mirror Slide Mechanism with Curved Guide Rails

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing mirror unit attachment process is cumbersome due to the need for three steps to prevent the knob from interfering with the frame, making it troublesome to attach the slide lid to the frame.

Innovation Solution

The mirror unit features a slide mechanism with curved guide rails that allow oblique insertion of the slide lid, reducing the attachment steps to two by preventing knob interference and providing recess portions for smooth attachment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the slide lid is provided with a knob for assisting the slide, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases due to the need for three attachment steps

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of slide operationVSAvoidattachment process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The guide rails are provided with curved surfaces at their ends, allowing the slide lid with knob to be obliquely inserted during attachment. This curvature enables the knob to clear the frame structure during insertion, reducing the attachment process to two simple steps while maintaining the knob's operational assistance function

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

2Ease of operation

If the slide lid is provided with a knob, then the ease of operation is improved, but the loss of time increases due to the additional attachment steps

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of slide operationVSAvoidattachment time

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The curved surfaces on the guide rails enable faster attachment by allowing oblique insertion of the slide lid with knob, eliminating the need for the third sliding step required in conventional designs. This reduces attachment time while preserving the operational benefits of the knob

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

3Manufacturing precision

If the slide lid is attached with the knob interfering with the frame, then the manufacturing precision is maintained, but the ease of manufacture decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveattachment precisionVSAvoidattachment ease

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The curved surfaces at the ends of the guide rails provide a guided insertion path that naturally aligns the slide lid with the frame during oblique insertion. This maintains precise attachment positioning while significantly easing the manufacturing and assembly process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The curved surfaces act as an intermediary element between the slide lid with knob and the frame, facilitating smooth insertion by accommodating the knob's presence during the attachment process while ensuring precise final positioning

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS11318820B2Mirror unit

Publication Date: 2022.05.03 KYOWA SANGYO

AI summary

A mirror unit mounted on a sun visor main body of a vehicle sun visor includes a slide mechanism configured by a pair of guide rails that guides both edges of a slide lid. Ends of the pair of guide rails have curved surfaces that allow the slide lid to be obliquely inserted into the pair of guide rails in such a manner that the knob of the slide lid runs over the frame when the slide lid is attached to the pair of guide rails of the frame such that both edges of the slide lid are respectively guided.