Cover Assembly Water Diversion for Vehicle Electronics
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Solution Overview
Problem
Moisture and liquids within a vehicle's passenger compartment pose a risk of damaging electronic components, particularly when they condense or are spilled near or under center console structures housing electronic devices.
Innovation Solution
A cover assembly comprising a cover, a bracket, and a center console structure that encloses an electronic device, with the cover's lower peripheral portions surrounding the device and the bracket extending upward, creating a water-diverting channel and seals to prevent moisture and liquids from reaching the electronic device, while allowing ventilation for heat dissipation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the electronic device is installed to the floor within the center console structure, then the device is easily accessible and integrated into the vehicle interior, but moisture and liquids can contact the device causing damage
Solution Approach 1:
The cover is divided into a first portion and a second portion that can be separated. The first portion remains attached to the bracket while the second portion can be detached, allowing access to the electronic device while maintaining protection when closed. This segmentation enables both accessibility and protection from moisture.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover assembly acts as an intermediary barrier between the electronic device and the harmful environment (moisture and liquids). The water-diverting channel and seal create an intermediate protective layer that redirects moisture away from the device while allowing controlled access when needed.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the cover completely seals the electronic device to prevent moisture contact, then protection from liquids is improved, but heat dissipation and ventilation are restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The cover provides different qualities in different areas: the edges provide water-tight sealing through seals, while the central area includes openings for heat dissipation. This local differentiation allows the cover to simultaneously protect from moisture while enabling thermal management of the electronic device.
3Temperature
If the cover is designed with openings for heat dissipation, then ventilation is improved, but moisture and liquids can penetrate through the openings to damage the device
Solution Approach 1:
The water-diverting channel is pre-configured in the cover to intercept and redirect moisture and liquids away from the electronic device before they can penetrate through the heat dissipation openings. This preliminary protective action allows the openings to remain open for ventilation without compromising device protection.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If the cover assembly includes seals and water-diverting channels, then moisture protection is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The seal and water-diverting channel functions are integrated into a single cover component rather than being separate assemblies. This merging reduces the overall number of parts and simplifies manufacturing while maintaining effective moisture protection through the combined functionality of the integrated features.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Effectively protects electronic components from moisture and liquids, ensuring their functionality and longevity by creating a water-tight seal and diverting liquids away from the device, while allowing for heat dissipation and evaporation.
Implementation Method 1
A seal is provided on the cover to prevent water and/or moisture from penetrating through the cover to the electronic device
Implementation Method 2
A water-diverting channel is provided in the cover to divert liquids and moisture away from the electronic device
Implementation Method 3
Openings are provided in the cover to allow for heat dissipation and evaporation
Data Source
AI summary
A cover assembly includes a cover and a bracket. The cover conceals and protects the electronic device with lower peripheral portions of the cover at least partially surrounding the electronic device and contacting the floor of a passenger compartment of a vehicle. The bracket is attached to the cover and is installed to the floor of the vehicle adjacent to the electronic device. The bracket further has a central section that extends upward away from the cover. A center console structure is installed to the floor defining a hollow interior. The electronic device, the cover and the bracket are located within the hollow interior of the center console structure and are covered by the center console structure. A portion of the center consoled is connected to the central section of the bracket within the hollow interior.