Armrest Connector Mounting with Through-Hole Operation Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
The operability of mounting an armrest on a mount member is compromised when insufficient space is provided for coupling the mount member-side connector and the armrest-side connector, leading to difficulties in the mounting process.
Innovation Solution
The armrest features an arm-side wire harness with an electric wire and connector, and an arm body member with an electric wire routing cavity and a mount member-side wall that includes a connector insertion hole and an operation hole, allowing for easier coupling of the connectors after the arm body member is fixed to the mount member, with optional protection via a cover and extra wire management within the routing cavity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the armrest is mounted on a mount member with limited space, then the mounting location flexibility is improved, but the connector coupling operability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a through-hole in the mount member that extends in the thickness direction, creating a new spatial dimension for connector coupling. This allows the connectors to be coupled through the thickness direction of the mount member, effectively resolving the space limitation issue by utilizing the Z-axis dimension rather than being constrained to the XY-plane.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting structure is segmented into distinct components: the mount member with through-hole, the armrest with connector, and the wiring harness. This segmentation allows the connector coupling operation to be performed through the through-hole after the armrest is fixed to the mount member, separating the fixing operation from the connector coupling operation and improving overall operability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the electric wire is made long enough to allow connector coupling, then the connector coupling flexibility is improved, but the wire harness management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the excess wire portion from the general wiring harness and specifically routes it through the through-hole in the mount member. This extraction approach allows the excess wire to be deliberately positioned and managed in a specific location (through the through-hole), converting a potential management problem into a structured solution that facilitates connector coupling while maintaining wire harness organization.
Data Source
AI summary
An armrest described herein includes an arm-side wire harness including an electric wire and an arm-side connector that is on an end of the electric wire and is to be coupled to a seat-side connector mounted on a seat. The armrest further includes an arm body member including an electric wire routing cavity in which the electric wire of the arm-side wire harness is arranged and a seat-side wall that is to be arranged opposite a seat frame of the seat. The arm body member is to be fixed to the seat frame while the seat-side wall being opposite the seat frame. The seat-side wall includes a connector insertion hole through which the arm-side connector can be inserted. The arm body member includes an operation hole that is continuous from the connector insertion hole via an arrangement section of the electric wire routing cavity.