Self-Adjusting Air Bladder Item Holder for Secure Vehicle Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicle interior storage solutions inadequately retain small personal items and beverage containers of varying sizes, leading to movement, noise, and potential ejection during vehicle maneuvering due to insufficient retention.
Innovation Solution
An item holder with a self-adjusting air bladder system that includes porous casings with a filler material, sensors, and an inflation system, allowing the air bladders to deflate and re-inflate to securely hold items of different sizes by sensing their presence and adjusting to provide a custom friction fit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a cup holder or shallow open bin is used for storing items, then items are easily accessible and the structure is simple, but items are insufficiently retained and subject to moving around, vibrating, and making noise during vehicle maneuvering
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs air bladders as pneumatic elements that can be inflated to engage with stored items. When an item is placed in the holder, the air bladders inflate to apply frictional force against the item, securing it in place and preventing movement, vibration, and noise during vehicle maneuvering, while maintaining easy accessibility.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a receptacle is designed to hold beverage containers of varying sizes, then it can accommodate different items, but it is difficult to provide a one-size-fits-all solution that secures all items effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The air bladders in the patent are dynamic elements that can change their volume and shape in response to the size and shape of stored items. When an item is placed in the holder, the bladders inflate to conform to the item's contours, providing customized friction fit for each item regardless of size, thereby achieving both versatility and secure retention.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes parameter changes in the air bladders by controlling their inflation level. The bladders can be inflated to different degrees depending on the size and shape of the stored item, adjusting the friction force and volume to provide optimal retention for each specific item while maintaining secure holding capability.
3Reliability
If air bladders are used to securely hold items by inflating to fill the upper opening, then item retention is improved, but the device complexity increases due to the need for sensors and inflation control systems
Solution Approach 1:
The air bladder system in the patent is designed to be self-regulating. The bladders automatically inflate and deflate in response to the presence and removal of items, using the item's own weight and position to trigger the inflation process. This self-service mechanism reduces the need for complex external control systems while maintaining reliable item retention.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates sensors that detect the presence of items and provide feedback to the inflation control system. This feedback mechanism allows the system to automatically adjust the inflation level of the air bladders based on the detected item, ensuring secure retention while minimizing unnecessary complexity by only activating the inflation system when needed.
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 system effectively secures items in place, preventing movement and ejection, while maintaining an aesthetically clean appearance by self-adjusting to accommodate various sizes and shapes, ensuring easy retrieval and secure storage.
Implementation Method 1
A plurality of air bladders are disposed in the receiving well. Each air bladder includes a porous casing having an outer surface with an upper portion that is substantially flush with the upper opening of the receiving well when the air-bladders are in an at-rest position. The air bladders deflate to a retracted position from the at-rest position as an item is received in the receiving well.
Implementation Method 2
The present invention generally relates to an item holder for a vehicle interior, and more specifically, to an item holder having a self-adjusting air bladder system adapted to hold an item in a custom friction fit manner.
Implementation Method 3
Each air bladder includes a porous casing having an outer surface with an upper portion that is substantially flush with the upper opening of the receiving well when the air-bladders are in an at-rest position.
Data Source
AI summary
An item holder includes a receiving well with a sidewall and an upper opening. One or more air bladders are disposed within the receiving well and are operable between inflated and deflated conditions within the receiving well. The air bladders substantially fill the upper opening when the air bladders are in the inflated condition to provide a filled receiving well appearance. A sensor is configured to sense an item being received in or removed from the receiving well. The air bladders deflate from the inflated condition to the deflated condition as an item is received in the receiving well. The air bladders may include a filler material that is predisposed to an expanded condition which correlates to the air bladders being in the inflated condition to substantially fill the upper opening of the receiving well.