Electric Connection Box Ribs for Secure Handling
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing electric connection boxes in car engine rooms are prone to slipping from a worker's hand due to their smooth, flat outer surfaces, which can lead to accidental drops during handling and attachment.
Innovation Solution
The electric connection box features a case with intersecting ribs forming a grid pattern on its outer surface, including a low-height area with projections, allowing workers to securely grasp and hold the box by touching the ribs, preventing slippage regardless of the holding direction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the outer surface of the case is formed into a smooth flat shape, then the case is easily manufactured and has a clean appearance, but the electric connection box slips from the worker's hand during handling
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies local quality by adding ribs only to specific areas of the case where hand contact occurs during handling. The ribs are positioned on the outer surface of the case at locations that correspond to natural gripping positions, providing enhanced friction and grip without requiring the entire surface to be textured. This localized approach maintains manufacturing simplicity while solving the slippage problem at critical contact points.
Solution Approach 2:
The ribs introduced in the invention create curved and rounded surface features on the otherwise flat case surface. These rib structures provide organic contours that naturally conform to the shape of human fingers and palms, enabling workers to easily grasp and hold the electric connection box. The curved rib surfaces increase the contact area and friction between the hand and the case, preventing slippage during installation and handling operations.
2Device complexity
If the outer surface of the case is formed into a smooth flat shape, then the case has a simple structure and low manufacturing cost, but the electric connection box cannot be securely held when attached to a car body
Solution Approach 1:
The invention maintains low device complexity by adding ribs only to specific localized areas of the case rather than redesigning the entire case structure. The ribs are positioned strategically on the outer surface at locations that correspond to natural gripping positions and areas where hand contact occurs during installation. This localized modification provides enhanced grip and prevents slippage without requiring complex structural changes to the overall case design, thus maintaining simplicity while improving reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The rib structures introduce curved surface features that naturally conform to human hand geometry, providing secure gripping surfaces. These curved ribs increase the contact area and friction between the worker's hand and the case surface, ensuring reliable handling during installation and attachment to the car body. The curvature of the ribs creates ergonomic contact points that prevent slippage without adding significant structural complexity to the case design.
3Ease of operation
If ribs are added to the outer surface of the case to prevent slippage, then the grip security is improved, but the manufacturing process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The ribs are positioned only on the outer surface of the case at specific locations where hand contact occurs during handling and installation. This localized placement means that only portions of the case require rib formation, rather than the entire surface. The ribs can be integrated into the case molding process using standard injection molding techniques with appropriate cavity designs, avoiding the need for complex post-processing or additional manufacturing steps. This approach provides secure grip where needed while maintaining relative manufacturing simplicity.
Data Source
AI summary
The electric connection box includes a case receiving various electric components, like a relay, a fuse, and a connector. The case includes a low-height area with a lower height about height than other area of the case. A plurality of ribs forming a grid shape by intersecting to each other is provided on a bottom surface of the low-height area.