Control Lever Protective Casing with Integrated Fixing Base

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing protective coverings for control levers in vehicles are difficult to mount and require specific floor supports, making it impossible to replace existing trims without removing carpeting or breaking the support.

Innovation Solution

A protective casing assembly for control levers with a fixing base that attaches directly to the control lever base, eliminating the need for a specific floor support and allowing for easy replacement of trims without disturbing existing carpeting, using a clip-based fixing mechanism and adaptable shell design.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a protective covering with a fixing means is mounted on the floor to secure the control lever, then the control lever is protected and securely fixed, but the mounting process becomes complicated and requires removal of existing carpeting

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecure fixation of control leverVSAvoidmounting process
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the fixing means from the floor mounting system and relocates it to the control lever itself. The fixing means is now integrated into the lower part of the control lever, allowing the protective covering to be secured directly to the lever rather than requiring floor installation. This eliminates the need to remove carpeting or install additional floor supports.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The lower part of the control lever serves as an intermediary element that connects the protective covering to the vehicle structure. By positioning the fixing means on the control lever's lower part, the system uses the lever itself as a mediator to achieve secure fixation without direct floor mounting, simplifying the overall installation process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If a specific floor support is provided to receive the fixing means, then the protective covering can be securely mounted, but the device complexity increases and repairability decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecure mounting of protective coveringVSAvoidmounting system structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention removes the separate floor support component from the mounting system. The fixing means is extracted from the floor support and relocated to the control lever itself, eliminating the need for a dedicated floor support structure. This reduces the number of components and simplifies the overall system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The fixing means and the control lever are merged into a single integrated assembly. The fixing means is positioned on the lower part of the control lever, combining the function of the control lever with the mounting function. This integration reduces device complexity by eliminating separate floor support structures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If the fixing means is mounted on the floor, then the protective covering is securely fixed, but the ability to replace trims without removing carpeting is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecure fixationVSAvoidtrim replacement
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the fixing means from the floor mounting system and relocates it to the control lever. This relocation allows the protective covering to be detached and replaced by simply removing the covering from the lever, without needing to access or remove floor carpeting. The fixing means remains on the lever, enabling easy trim replacement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system is segmented into distinct modular components: the control lever with integrated fixing means, and the protective covering. This segmentation allows the covering to be independently removed and replaced without affecting the floor installation or carpeting, significantly improving ease of repair.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3356190B1Command lever protection sheating arrangement
Publication Date: 2019.09.11 RENAULT SA
  • EP3356190B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2

AI summary

The invention relates to an assembly of a protective casing (10) with a control lever (1), in particular a parking brake, for a motor vehicle. The present invention further relates to a method for mounting such an assembly on a control lever (1).