Wheel Cover Overlay Clasp Structure to Prevent Attachment Breakage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automobile wheel cover overlays are prone to breakage during installation and operation due to the failure of clips, integral legs, snap tabs, protruding strips, and adhesives used for attachment.
Innovation Solution
A wheel cover overlay designed with a peripheral boundary, a surround extending from the boundary, a plurality of spokes, openings between the spokes, and a cladding material that connects to the wheel, utilizing clasp mechanism pairs for secure attachment and reducing the likelihood of breakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If clips, integral legs, snap tabs, protruding strips, and adhesives are used for attachment, then the wheel cover overlay can be secured to the wheel, but these components are prone to failure and lead to the wheel cover overlay separating from the wheel
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment mechanism is divided into multiple clasp mechanism pairs distributed around the wheel cover overlay. Each clasp mechanism pair consists of separate clasp members that can independently engage with the wheel, allowing the system to maintain attachment reliability while reducing the complexity of any single attachment component.
Solution Approach 2:
The clasp mechanisms are designed to be flexible and dynamic during installation, allowing them to deform and conform to the wheel surface. Once installed, they provide stable retention. This dynamic behavior enables reliable attachment without requiring complex rigid structures.
2Ease of operation
If traditional attachment components are used, then the wheel cover overlay can be installed, but breakage occurs during installation and operation
Solution Approach 1:
The wheel cover overlay incorporates flexible clasp mechanisms that can deform during installation to accommodate the wheel contour and then maintain their shape for secure retention. This flexibility prevents breakage during installation while ensuring operational strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The clasp mechanisms are designed with inherent flexibility and compliance that cushions them against impact and stress during installation. This pre-built resilience prevents breakage before installation even begins, allowing ease of operation without sacrificing strength.
3Shape
If the wheel cover overlay is designed to fit precisely over the wheel, then a customized appearance is achieved, but the attachment components become more vulnerable to failure
Solution Approach 1:
The precise shape of the wheel cover overlay is maintained while the attachment function is segmented into separate clasp mechanism pairs. This segmentation allows the main body to retain its customized appearance without compromising attachment reliability, as the clasp mechanisms are distributed independently around the perimeter.
Data Source
AI summary
A snap-on wheel cover overlay for a wheel of a vehicle comprises a peripheral boundary defining an inner surface and an outer surface, a surround extending from the peripheral boundary, a plurality of spokes and a plurality of openings, and a cladding material. Each opening of the plurality of openings passes from the outer surface through the inner surface and is located between each successive spoke of the plurality of spokes. The cladding material is configured to connect the inner surface to the wheel.