Vehicle Dashboard Trim Holding Element Impact Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
During an accident, the central console trim element of a motor vehicle can detach and expose passengers to sharp edges of the dashboard, leading to injuries, and existing methods like screwing it down may cause the trim element to break, exacerbating the issue.
Innovation Solution
A dashboard trim element arrangement featuring a holding element that breaks or separates during impact, maintaining the trim element at a predetermined distance from the support element to prevent sharp edge exposure, using clips or hooks that pass through an orifice in the support element, allowing for shock absorption and easy mounting/dismounting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the trim element is clipped onto the dashboard, then it is easy to mount and dismount, but it may detach during impact exposing passengers to sharp edges
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a cushioning element positioned between the trim element and the dashboard body. This cushioning element is designed to compress during impact, absorbing the shock force and preventing the trim element from detaching or exposing sharp edges. The cushioning action is pre-configured to activate when impact forces exceed normal operating conditions, thus protecting passengers beforehand.
Solution Approach 2:
The cushioning element serves as an intermediary component between the trim element and the dashboard body. It mediates the interaction during impact by providing a compliant interface that absorbs forces, preventing direct contact between the trim element and the hard dashboard structure, thereby eliminating the exposure to sharp edges while maintaining easy mounting and dismounting capabilities.
2Reliability
If the trim element is screwed to the dashboard, then it remains secure during impact, but it may break causing sharp edges to appear
Solution Approach 1:
The cushioning element is pre-installed between the trim element and the dashboard body to absorb impact forces before they can cause the trim element to break. This cushioning action prevents the transmission of excessive forces that would lead to breakage and subsequent sharp edge formation, while still maintaining secure retention during normal operation and impact.
Solution Approach 2:
The cushioning element acts as an intermediary that decouples the rigid connection between the trim element and dashboard body. During impact, it mediates the force transmission by compressing, thereby preventing the trim element from experiencing breaking forces while maintaining reliable retention through its controlled compliance.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The invention relates to an arrangement of a trim element (4) of a dashboard (1) of a motor vehicle on a supporting element (3) of said dashboard (1), said trim element (4) being attached by attachment means to a wall of the supporting element (3) in a normal use position, said trim element (4) also occupying, following a crash, a detached position in which the attachment means are separated from the supporting element (3), said detached position being separate from the normal use position, characterised in that said arrangement comprises at least one holding element shaped so as to keep the trim element (4) connected to the supporting element (3) at a predetermined distance from same in said detached position.