Vehicular Armrest Mounting for Side Collision Safety

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Solution Overview

Problem

In vehicular interior parts with armrests, existing configurations fail to securely protect occupants during side collisions, as the armrests are not effectively anchored and can become dislodged, potentially hitting occupants upon deformation during impact.

Innovation Solution

The armrest is mounted with a combination of irreversible screws for the interior edge and reversible stopper projections for the exterior edge, allowing the exterior edge to be easily released while maintaining the interior edge's secure fixation, thereby distributing impact forces and preventing the armrest from flying within the vehicle.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the armrest is fixed to the armrest support member using only stopper projections, then the armrest can be easily mounted and dismounted, but the armrest will be completely released from the mounting hole during side collision and may fly within the vehicle hitting occupants

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of mounting and dismounting armrestVSAvoidsecurity of armrest during side collision

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The armrest mounting structure is segmented into two distinct edge portions: the first edge portion (vehicular interior side) is fixedly mounted with irreversible fastening, while the second edge portion (vehicular exterior side) is movably mounted with reversible stopper projections. This segmentation allows different mounting characteristics for different portions of the armrest, achieving both secure fixation during collision and ease of dismounting during normal use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different mounting qualities are applied to different locations of the armrest. The vehicular interior edge portion uses irreversible screw fastening for secure fixation, while the vehicular exterior edge portion uses reversible stopper projections for easy removal. This local differentiation of mounting characteristics resolves the contradiction between security during collision and ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Loss of energy

If the armrest support member is configured to absorb impact load through bending and deformation, then the armrest can be released from the mounting hole to absorb energy, but the armrest may become a projectile hitting occupants

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimpact energy absorptionVSAvoidarmrest becoming projectile hazard

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The armrest is segmented into two edge portions with different mounting characteristics. During side collision, the second edge portion (exterior side) is designed to be released and move with the deforming armrest support member to absorb impact energy, while the first edge portion (interior side) remains fixedly mounted to prevent the armrest from becoming a complete projectile that could hit occupants.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The mounting state of the armrest changes from completely fixed to partially fixed during collision. The reversible stopper projections allow the second edge portion to change its position parameter from fixed to movable, enabling energy absorption while the first edge portion maintains its fixed state to prevent hazardous projectile motion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If both edge portions of the armrest are fixedly mounted, then the armrest remains secure during normal use, but the armrest cannot be easily removed for maintenance or replacement

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecurity of armrest during normal useVSAvoidease of armrest removal for maintenance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The armrest mounting system is segmented into a permanently fixed first edge portion and a reversibly mounted second edge portion. The reversible stopper projections on the second edge portion allow easy removal and installation without tools, facilitating maintenance and replacement, while the fixed first edge portion ensures the armrest remains securely attached during normal vehicle operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS10220748B2Vehicular interior part

Publication Date: 2019.03.05 TOYOTA BOSHOKU KK

AI summary

A vehicular interior part includes an armrest extending in a vehicular front-rear direction, the armrest including a vehicular interior edge portion and a vehicular exterior edge portion, and an interior part component where the armrest is mounted from an upper side at at least the vehicular interior edge portion and the vehicular exterior edge portion. One of the vehicular interior edge portion and the vehicular exterior edge portion is mounted on the interior part component so as to be removed from the interior part component relatively more easily than another one of the vehicular interior edge portion and the vehicular exterior edge portion.