Armrest Cup Holder Sealing Structure for Foam Leakage Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing foaming process for armrests with cup holders often results in leakage of the liquid foaming agent due to structural complexity and increased dimensions, which complicates assembly and increases costs.
Innovation Solution
A uniform stretcher protrusion is integrated into the cup holder, allowing the securing hole of the trim cover assembly to be uniformly stretched, creating a resilient recovery force that prevents leakage during the foaming process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a ring frame element is attached to the trim cover assembly to prevent leakage, then leakage prevention is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the leakage prevention function from a separate ring frame element and integrates it directly into the cup holder structure. The cup holder's peripheral end portion itself forms the sealing interface with the trim cover assembly, eliminating the need for an additional retainer element and simplifying the overall structure while maintaining reliable leakage prevention.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the cup holder body with the leakage prevention function by designing the peripheral end portion of the cup holder to directly interface with and seal against the trim cover assembly. This integration combines multiple functions (holding cups and preventing foam agent leakage) into a single structural element, reducing device complexity.
2Reliability
If a ring frame element is attached to the trim cover assembly to prevent leakage, then leakage prevention is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the separate ring frame element from the assembly, reducing the number of parts that need to be manufactured and assembled. By making the cup holder itself the sealing element, the manufacturing process is simplified and costs are reduced while maintaining effective leakage prevention.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention combines the cup holder structure with the sealing function, eliminating the need for a separate retainer element. This reduction in part count directly lowers manufacturing costs and simplifies the production process while ensuring reliable prevention of liquid foaming agent leakage.
3Reliability
If a ring frame element is attached to the trim cover assembly to prevent leakage, then leakage prevention is improved, but assembly labor increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the sealing function from a separate assembly step (attaching a ring frame element) and integrates it into the cup holder structure itself. This eliminates a troublesome assembly step and reduces the labor required during manufacturing while maintaining effective leakage prevention.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the cup holder installation with the sealing function, so that when the cup holder is inserted into the trim cover assembly, the sealing interface is automatically formed by the peripheral end portion of the cup holder. This integration eliminates additional assembly steps and reduces labor requirements.
4Reliability
If the armrest frame dimensions are increased to accommodate a ring frame element, then leakage prevention is improved, but the possibility of leakage through through-hole increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the ring frame element that caused the armrest frame to be enlarged, thereby maintaining the original compact dimensions. The sealing function is instead provided by the cup holder's peripheral end portion, which prevents leakage without requiring increased frame size or creating additional leakage risks through enlarged through-holes.
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
This solution effectively prevents leakage of the liquid foaming agent, simplifies the assembly process, and maintains a straightforward armrest structure without the need for additional retainer elements, reducing costs and labor.
Implementation Method 1
a liquid foaming agent injected into an inside of a preformed trim cover assembly that has been provided with a cup holder, and then, the agent is cured to form an increased mass of foam padding
Implementation Method 2
the substantially circular edge of the hole is uniformly stretched by and along the outer peripheral wall of the uniform stretcher protrusion, creating a resilient recovery force
Data Source
AI summary
An armrest with cup holder of the type where the cup holder is integral with a foam padding in a trim cover assembly through a foaming process, wherein the cup holder is inserted in a hole formed in the trim cover assembly. A uniform stretcher protrusion is defined in a given local peripheral region of the cup holder about which the afore-said hole is engaged, so that a substantially circular edge of that hole is uniformly stretched by and along the uniform stretcher protrusion, thereby causing a close contact of such substantially circular edge of the hole on and about the uniform stretcher protrusion, so as to insure preventing leakage of a liquid foaming agent from between that particular hole and the cup holder during the foaming process.