Vehicle Center Console Clamping Storage for Loose Item Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing center consoles in vehicles lack efficient means to securely store articles, allowing them to move around loosely in the storage trough, which compromises storage efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A center console with a longitudinally extending side wall and a holding unit that includes a pivotable clamping unit with a rigid outer frame and an elastic holding net, allowing articles to be temporarily clamped between the unit and the side wall, enhancing storage stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If articles are stored loosely in the storage trough, then storage capacity is maximized, but storage stability deteriorates and items shift during vehicle movement
Solution Approach 1:
The storage trough is divided into multiple storage spaces by longitudinal dividing walls, and each space can be further segmented by transverse dividing walls. This segmentation allows articles of different sizes and shapes to be stored in dedicated compartments, preventing them from shifting during vehicle movement while maintaining efficient use of storage capacity
Solution Approach 2:
Longitudinal and transverse dividing walls act as intermediary structures between the storage trough walls and the articles. These dividing walls create multiple compartments that restrict article movement, thereby improving storage stability without compromising the overall storage capacity of the center console
2Reliability
If a holding unit with clamping mechanism is added, then storage stability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The holding unit features a pivotable clamping arm that can dynamically adjust between a retracted position (when not in use) and a clamping position (when an article is inserted). This dynamic mechanism provides stable article retention through friction clamping while maintaining simplicity by allowing the clamping component to be stored within the holding unit structure itself
Solution Approach 2:
The clamping arm utilizes friction between its surface and the article to automatically retain the article in place once inserted. The spring element provides continuous contact force that creates sufficient friction to prevent article removal without additional locking mechanisms, thereby achieving reliable storage stability with minimal structural complexity
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 solution provides secure, immovable storage of articles by clamping them between the holding unit and the side wall, optimizing storage capacity and preventing items from shifting during vehicle movement.
Implementation Method 1
The clamping unit has a rigid outer frame and an elastic holding net arranged on the outer frame
Data Source
AI summary
A center console for a vehicle, having a storage trough which extends over at least a predominant part of a length of the center console and which has a longitudinally extending side wall that laterally delimits a storage space of the storage trough. In order to optimize an ability of the center console to store articles, the center console has a holding unit which is arranged in the storage space of the storage trough and on the side wall and by use of which at least one article can be temporarily clamped between the holding unit and the side wall.