As driverless and electric cars rapidly redefine mobility across the globe, the seemingly trivial issue of water seeping into the vehicle during rain has grown to be a core problem demanding a solution. A patent, now numbered US11801736B2, issued to the company AUTOCLOVER CO., seems to be sailing towards this very solution.
The problem, in layman's terms, deals with a sensor-activated window that lowers automatically when the door opens - such as the ones installed in a Tesla Model 3. With current visor designs, when the door opens and the window lowers, there is a gap for rain to directly slide into the vehicle, risking contamination of the car's interior.
The discord here arises from the needs to both protect the interior from rain and provide uninterrupted functionality of the windows. The ability to get into the car while maintaining a dry interior is posed as a much-needed luxury that current car designs are yet to render.
Now, the AUTOCLOVER CO's recent patent aims to address this gap in utility. The proposed door visor doesn't demand a change in the car's structure. Instead, it can comfortably cling to the car body, covering a part of the top of the window without actually touching it, thereby creating a makeshift shelter for the window when the door opens. This inventive design reduces the impairing gap to a fraction, drastically reducing the amount of water getting in the car.
It is fascinating to imagine a rainy day where a Tesla Model 3 owner hops into the car in the middle of a heavy downpour without worrying about drenching the car's interior. Such a reality would reflect a vital step towards functional design adjustments suited for an autonomous future where the car's interior aesthetic and maintenance takes precedence. The visor will not only ensure dry interiors but also reduce efforts given to car cleanliness.
However, it is essential to remember that this visor is still in its patent phase, numbered US11801736B2. Though the pictures from the patent showcase how the device would practically look on a Tesla Model 3, it's still a blueprint waiting for execution.
P.S. Despite the significant potential of this patent, its commercial appearance on the market remains uncertain. Patents give exclusive rights to the idea, but the journey from an idea to a product on a shelf can be long and winding.