Vehicle Console Cover Assembly With Sliding Rotating Tray Modes
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle console designs lack flexibility and versatility in providing both storage and functional surfaces, such as armrests or trays, while maintaining efficient access to storage compartments.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle console assembly featuring a support bar with integrated rails and tracks, allowing a cover assembly to translate, rotate, and fold, enabling customizable configurations as an armrest or deployable tray, with integrated sensors and controls for enhanced user interaction and safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a traditional fixed console design is used, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the flexibility and versatility in providing storage and functional surfaces are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The cover assembly is designed with movable components including a support bar that translates along rails, a base panel that rotates relative to the support bar, and a deployable panel that folds between stored and deployed positions. This dynamic design allows the console to adapt between multiple configurations (storage mode, armrest mode, tray mode) while maintaining a relatively compact structure when folded.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover assembly serves multiple functions: it provides a storage compartment when folded, creates an armrest when positioned at the side, and forms a deployable tray when extended. The same components (support bar, base panel, deployable panel) are used across all configurations, eliminating the need for separate structures for each function.
2Ease of operation
If a movable cover assembly with multiple degrees of freedom is implemented, then customizable positioning for armrests or trays is achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cover assembly is divided into distinct segments: the support bar that translates along the rails, the base panel that rotates on the connector assembly, and the deployable panel that folds on hinges. Each segment has a specific degree of freedom and can be controlled independently, simplifying the overall control mechanism while achieving complex positioning capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The deployable panel is nested within the base panel when not in use, similar to a nested doll structure. The connector assembly is integrated into the support bar, and the entire cover assembly folds within the console body when in storage mode. This nesting reduces the space required and simplifies the mechanism by eliminating separate mounting structures.
3Adaptability or versatility
If integrated sensors and controls are added for enhanced user interaction, then user experience and safety are improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system includes sensors that automatically detect the position of the cover assembly and the presence of occupants, and controls that automatically adjust the cover position and deployment state based on detected conditions. This self-service capability reduces the need for manual controls and wiring complexity while improving user experience through automatic adaptation.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle console system includes a body having first and second sidewalls. Each of the first and second sidewalls defines a rail along an inner surface thereof. A support bar slidably engages the rails. The support bar defines a track. A cover assembly is operably coupled to the support bar. The cover assembly includes a base panel coupled to the support bar via a connector assembly and a deployable panel rotatably coupled to the base panel. The cover assembly is configured to translate along a first movement path with the support bar along the rails and a second movement path along the track of the support bar. The cover assembly is configured to rotate along a third movement path between a first side position and a second side position.