Vehicle Center Console Holder for Secure Emergency Hammer Release

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing center console designs for vehicles do not effectively store an emergency hammer in a stable, easily accessible, and secure manner, particularly during extreme events.

Innovation Solution

A center console with a holder that includes a handle holding unit and a head holding unit, both with upwardly open recesses to receive the emergency hammer's handle and head respectively. The holder is pretensioned using a spring element to keep the emergency hammer in a rest position, ensuring it cannot detach, and can only be released by displacing it rearward against the pretensioning unit.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the emergency hammer is stored in a fixed holder without pretensioning, then the holder structure is simple, but the emergency hammer may detach during extreme events due to inertial forces

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecurity of emergency hammer storageVSAvoidholder structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary anti-action by using a pretensioning element (spring) that exerts a continuous retaining force on the emergency hammer before any detachment event occurs. This pretensioning force counteracts the inertial forces that would otherwise cause the hammer to detach during extreme events, thereby preventing the harmful effect before it can manifest.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamics by using a spring-based pretensioning element that provides a dynamic retaining force. The spring can dynamically adjust to forces acting on the emergency hammer, maintaining secure holding under varying conditions while allowing controlled release when necessary, thus balancing security with operational flexibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If the emergency hammer is securely fixed to prevent detachment, then storage security is improved, but accessibility and ease of removal by occupants is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage securityVSAvoidease of removal
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The spring-based pretensioning element provides a dynamic retaining force that secures the emergency hammer during normal conditions but allows controlled release when sufficient force is applied. This dynamic characteristic enables the holder to maintain security while still permitting easy removal by occupants who apply deliberate force to overcome the spring tension.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the force parameter dynamically - the pretensioning element exerts a relatively small retaining force during normal storage that secures the hammer, but when an occupant applies force to remove it, the spring compresses and the force parameter changes, allowing the hammer to be released. This parameter change enables both secure storage and easy retrieval.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If the holder allows easy removal of the emergency hammer, then accessibility is improved, but the emergency hammer may become loose or detach during vehicle movement

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveaccessibilityVSAvoidstability of hammer position
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The pretensioning element applies a continuous retaining force that counteracts forces trying to dislodge the emergency hammer during vehicle movement. This preliminary anti-action ensures the hammer remains stable in its stored position while still allowing easy removal when an occupant deliberately applies force to overcome the pretensioning.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Solution Approach 2:

The dynamic spring-based pretensioning system adapts to forces acting on the emergency hammer during vehicle movement, maintaining stable positioning through continuous retaining force while allowing controlled removal when necessary. The system dynamically balances stability and accessibility based on the forces applied.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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 emergency hammer is securely held in place during normal vehicle operation and extreme events, ensuring it remains accessible and can be easily retrieved by the vehicle occupants without risking detachment due to inertial forces.

Implementation Method 1

The pretensioning unit can have at least one spring element for its function

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP4371619B1Center console for vehicle
Publication Date: 2025.06.18 FORD GLOBAL TECH LLC
  • EP4371619B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4371619B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4371619B1 patent drawingFigure 3(a)~3(c)

AI summary

The invention relates to a center console (1) for a vehicle, comprising at least one holder (4) for holding an emergency hammer (5). To store an emergency hammer (5) safely, freely and easily within a passenger compartment of a vehicle, the holder (4) has a handle holding unit (9) with an upwardly open recess (11) for at least partially receiving a handle (6) of the emergency hammer (5) and a head holding unit (10) arranged transversely to the center console (1) and spaced apart from the handle holding unit (9), with an upwardly open recess (12) for at least partially receiving a hammer head (7) of the emergency hammer (5), wherein the emergency hammer (5) arranged on the holder (4) is biased by means of at least one biasing element (20) towards a rest position in which at least one rearward extending retaining projection (15) of the handle holding unit (9) and/or the head holding unit (10), which engages the recess (11) orthe recess (12) partially closes at the top front, at least partially covering the handle (6) or the hammer head (7) at the top.