Integrally Molded Center Cover Floor Panel Non-Slip Surface

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Solution Overview

Problem

In seat type vehicles, forming a non-slip portion on the floor surface between tire housings is challenging due to the need to split the molding die in the longitudinal direction, making it difficult to create a protruding non-slip feature while maintaining integral resin molding of the front cover.

Innovation Solution

The body cover structure includes a center cover with an integrally formed floor panel between tire housings, allowing for non-slip features to be molded vertically, and footrests are formed on the tire housings, enabling the molding die to be split in the longitudinal direction, thus allowing for integral non-slip surfaces and reducing manufacturing complexity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If the molding die for the front cover is split in the longitudinal direction to form tire housings, then the front cover can be integrally molded, but it becomes difficult to form a non-slip portion that protrudes in the vertical direction on the floor surface between the tire housings

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveintegral molding of front coverVSAvoidmolding die configuration

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The body cover is divided into two separate covers: the front cover (molded integrally without vertical protrusions) and the center cover (which includes the floor panel with non-slip portions). This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific manufacturing requirements while maintaining overall functional integration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The non-slip portions are formed by extending the molding die in the vertical direction rather than the longitudinal direction. This dimensional change allows the non-slip features to be created on the floor surface without requiring a complex split in the longitudinal direction, thereby simplifying the overall molding die configuration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Manufacturing precision

If the molding die is split in the longitudinal direction to accommodate tire housings, then the front cover can be formed integrally, but the floor surface between tire housings cannot have vertically protruding non-slip portions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefloor surface non-slip featureVSAvoidmolding die configuration

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The center cover acts as an intermediary component that bridges the front cover and the rear cover, and simultaneously provides the floor panel with non-slip portions. This intermediary structure allows the non-slip features to be formed without complicating the front cover molding process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If the floor panel portion is formed separately from the front cover, then non-slip portions can be formed on the floor surface between tire housings, but the number of assembly steps increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenon-slip floor surfaceVSAvoidassembly man-hours

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The floor panel portion is merged with the center cover to form a single integrally molded component. This merging eliminates the need for separate assembly steps for the floor panel, thereby maintaining productivity while ensuring the reliability of the non-slip floor surface through integral molding.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The center cover serves multiple functions: it provides structural support, forms the floor panel with non-slip portions, and connects the front cover and rear cover. This multi-functionality reduces the overall number of components and assembly steps, maintaining productivity while achieving the non-slip floor surface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS7510235B2Body cover structure for seat type vehicle

Publication Date: 2009.03.31 HONDA MOTOR CO LTD

AI summary

A body cover structure for a seat type vehicle provides a non-slip portion that can be formed integrally on a floor surface located between the tire housings. In a body cover structure for a seat type vehicle in which a body cover made of resin that covers a body frame is split into a front cover, a center cover, and a rear cover, and in which tire housings are formed in the front cover, a floor panel portion extends between tire housings and is formed integrally in the center cover. Non-slip portions are integrally formed on the floor surface of the floor panel portion.