Flexible Bridging Connection Member for Controlled Inward Bending

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional bridging carpets require complex production steps and a large amount of material, leading to increased costs, and when made of plastic resin, stitching to maintain a bended state can deteriorate and affect appearance and design, with uncertainty about the direction of bending if no crease is made.

Innovation Solution

A connection member with a thin plate or sheet main body and long convex portions, integrally molded using flexible synthetic resin, allowing for bending without protruding from the gap between attachment receiving portions, with convex portions arranged to limit bending direction and prevent interference.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If stitching is performed to maintain a bended state of a connection member made of plastic resin, then the bended state can be maintained, but the stitched part deteriorates with time and affects appearance and design property

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebended state maintenanceVSAvoidappearance and design property
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the stitching process from the connection member structure by using an integrally molded design with built-in bending portions. The long convex portions and bending portions are formed as integral parts of the connection member through molding, eliminating the need for separate stitching operations and avoiding the deterioration issues associated with stitched parts.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the physical parameters of the connection member by incorporating long convex portions that create predetermined bending zones. These geometric features enable the plastic resin to bend in specific directions without requiring stitching, maintaining both structural integrity and aesthetic appearance over time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of manufacture

If a connection member is made of plastic resin without a crease, then production is simpler, but it cannot be determined whether the member will bend convex upward or downward

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction simplicityVSAvoidbending direction control
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The invention applies local quality by creating specific geometric features (long convex portions) at particular locations on the connection member. These localized features determine the bending behavior in specific regions while maintaining the overall simplicity of the integrally molded structure. The long convex portions act as hinge lines that guide the bending direction without requiring complex creases throughout the entire member.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The invention performs preliminary action by incorporating the bending geometry directly into the molding process. The long convex portions and bending portions are formed during initial manufacturing, predetermined to bend in specific directions. This eliminates the need for post-manufacturing creasing or folding operations while ensuring consistent bending behavior.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of manufacture

If the connection member bends convex upward, then it can be easily formed, but the bended portion protrudes from the gap between the seat back and luggage platform

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebending formationVSAvoidprotrusion from gap
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The invention applies asymmetry by designing the long convex portions with specific geometric characteristics that create asymmetric bending behavior. The convex portions are positioned and dimensioned to ensure the connection member bends convex downward (into the gap) rather than convex upward. This asymmetric design naturally prevents protrusion while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through integral molding.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

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 connection member can be easily bended and contracted without protruding from the gap between attachment receiving portions, reducing production complexity and costs, while maintaining appearance and design integrity, and ensuring consistent bending direction.

Implementation Method 1

a main body portion (7) formed into a shape of a thin plate or a sheet; capable of stretching and contracting as at least one of the first attachment receiving portion (6) and the second attachment receiving portion (5) moves

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

a plurality of long convex portions (10, 12) provided on the main body portion (7) in a parallel manner; the long convex portions (10, 12) are extendedly provided in a direction orthogonal to a stretching and contracting direction of the connection member (1)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGeometric constraint: Geometry

Data Source

PatentEP3912855B1Connection member
Publication Date: 2023.10.11 HONDA ACCESS CORP
  • EP3912855B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3912855B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3912855B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

Provided is a connection member that has a simple structure and does not protrude upward from a gap between a first attachment receiving portion and a second attachment receiving portion when bended. A connection member (1) is to be bridged between a seat back (6) and a luggage room floor (4), and stretches and contracts as at least one of the seat back (6) and the luggage room floor (4) moves. The connection member (1) has a main body portion (7) formed into the shape of a thin plate or a sheet; and a plurality of long convex portions (10, 12) provided on the main body portion (7) in a parallel manner. The long convex portions (10, 12) are extendedly provided in a direction orthogonal to a direction along which the connection member (1) stretches and contracts. As the seat back (6) and the luggage room floor (4) approach each other, a first bending portion (13) and second bending portion (14) having the plurality of the long convex portions (10, 12) will be bended in a manner such that the plurality of the long convex portions (10, 12) will be positioned inward, thereby allowing the connection member (1) to be received in a lower space between the seat back (6) and the luggage room floor (4).