Sliding Console Armrest Latch for Secure Lid Opening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional console boxes in vehicles lack an efficient mechanism for adjusting the armrest position and securing the lid in a way that allows for ergonomic comfort while ensuring the lid can be easily opened and closed regardless of the armrest's position.
Innovation Solution
A console box assembly with a latch mechanism that includes a claw and actuator system, allowing the armrest to slide relative to the carrier and a scissor linkage mechanism for height adjustment, enabling ergonomic positioning and secure closure of the storage volume.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the armrest is made adjustable to improve ergonomic comfort, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional adjustment mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The armrest is designed with slideable and height-adjustable capabilities, transforming a static component into a dynamic one. The armrest can move along guide rails and adjust height via a scissor linkage mechanism, allowing users to optimize positioning for ergonomic comfort while driving.
Solution Approach 2:
The armrest adjustment system is divided into independent functional modules: a slideable mechanism for longitudinal adjustment, a height adjustment mechanism with scissor linkage, and a latch mechanism for securing positions. This segmentation allows each subsystem to be optimized independently and simplifies the overall control architecture.
2Reliability
If the latch mechanism is designed to secure the lid firmly, then the reliability is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates when the armrest position affects latch engagement
Solution Approach 1:
A latch actuator serves as an intermediary component between the lid closure action and the claw latch engagement. The actuator translates the closing motion into reliable claw engagement with the opening in the box body, ensuring consistent latching regardless of armrest position variations.
Solution Approach 2:
The claw latch is designed to move dynamically between engaged and disengaged states. The latch mechanism includes a claw that can engage with an opening in the box body to secure the lid, and a latch actuator that moves the claw to disengage it, allowing the lid to be opened even when the armrest is in different positions.
3Ease of operation
If the first actuator member is arranged to engage the second actuator member to rotate the rotation part, then the ease of operation is improved for lid opening, but the device complexity increases due to the multi-member actuator system
Solution Approach 1:
The actuator system employs a dynamic linkage mechanism where the first actuator member rotates about a first axis and engages the second actuator member, which rotates about a second axis. This dynamic engagement allows the system to convert the latch actuator's motion into rotation part movement, enabling easy lid opening despite the multi-component design.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 3
AI summary
A console box assembly (100) is provided. The console box assembly comprises: a box body (110) defining a storage volume (112); a carrier (120) pivotally coupled to the box body; an armrest (130) slideable relative to the carrier; and a latch mechanism (200) for latching the carrier to the box body to fix the position of the carrier relative to the box body, e.g. such that the carrier closes the opening into the storage volume. The latch mechanism comprises: an opening (110a) formed in an internal wall (110b) of the box body; a claw (212) movably, e.g. slideably, supported on the carrier for engaging the opening to latch the carrier to the box body; a latch actuator (216) coupled to the armrest; a rotation part (218) pivotally supported on the carrier for rotation about a rotation part axis (218a), wherein the claw is coupled the rotation part; a first actuator member (220) coupled to latch actuator, and a second actuator member (222) coupled to the rotation part, wherein the first actuator member is arranged to engage the second actuator member and urge the second actuator member to rotate the rotation part in response to actuation of the latch actuator, so that the claw disengages from the opening.