Concave Panel Dial Selector to Prevent Foreign Object Interference
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing dial selector units for vehicles face issues with operability due to excessive or insufficient protrusion of the dial member, which can lead to accidental contact or difficulty in gripping, and are prone to operation disturbances from foreign objects.
Innovation Solution
A dial selector unit design featuring a panel with a concave surface and an inclined outer circumferential surface on the dial member, which increases the distance from the panel to the inclined surface as the radial distance from the opening increases, allowing foreign objects to be pushed out and enhancing user operability while maintaining substantial protrusion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the amount of protrusion of the dial member relative to the panel is increased, then the user can easily grip the dial member, but a person or thing may accidentally contact with the dial member
Solution Approach 1:
The panel surface is designed with a concave portion at the location where the finger contacts during operation, creating a localized depression that accommodates the finger while keeping the overall dial member protrusion minimal. This local modification allows the dial member to maintain a small overall protrusion while still providing adequate grip surface in the specific contact area.
2Ease of operation
If the panel has a concave surface adjacent to the dial member, then the user can operate the dial member easily, but foreign objects are likely to gather toward the dial member and enter the space between the dial member and panel
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of having the panel surface be flat or convex, the invention inverts the surface geometry to create a concave portion. This concave surface naturally directs foreign objects away from the dial member's operational space by creating a depression that collects debris at the periphery rather than allowing it to migrate toward the center where the dial member operates.
3Ease of operation
If the dial member is designed with a large operation portion, then the user can easily grip it, but the space between the dial member and panel increases, allowing foreign objects to enter and disturb operation
Solution Approach 1:
The dial member's operation portion is designed with a localized grip-enhancing feature (such as a textured surface or protruding grip element) that provides adequate finger contact area without significantly increasing the overall radial dimension. This allows the dial member to maintain a compact size that minimizes the space between it and the panel, reducing foreign object entry risk while still ensuring easy grip.
Data Source
AI summary
A selector unit includes a panel, and a dial member that protrudes in a first direction from an opening of the panel. A surface of the panel includes a concave surface having a depth that increases toward the opening. The dial member has an operation portion gripped by a user, and a base shaft portion that extends from the operation portion through the opening of the panel. At least a part of an outer circumferential surface of the base shaft portion is an inclined surface that is inclined radially outward as being away from the panel, and the inclined surface is opposed to the surface of the panel in the first direction. The distance from the surface of the panel to the inclined surface of the dial member in the first direction continuously increases, as a radial distance from the opening to the inclined surface increases.