Deployable Support Sub-Assembly for Vehicle Interior Trim
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing interior trim assemblies for motor vehicles, such as fold-up trays, require excessive space for storage and are aesthetically undesirable when stored, limiting their practical use, especially in areas with limited packaging space like the front seat area.
Innovation Solution
A deployable support sub-assembly integrated into the interior trim panel, featuring a support layer that can be efficiently stored behind the panel, with pivotable arms and a rolling member to move between stowed and deployed positions, providing a concealed and aesthetically appealing usable surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a fold-up tray is stored along the outer surface of an interior bolster trim area, then the tray is fully exposed and accessible, but it is aesthetically undesirable and requires excessive interior space
Solution Approach 1:
The support layer is nested within a cavity formed in the interior trim panel, allowing the tray to be stored inside the panel structure rather than along the outer surface. This nesting approach eliminates the need for excessive exterior space while maintaining accessibility through the opening in the panel.
Solution Approach 2:
The tray storage is moved from a two-dimensional surface storage (outer surface of trim panel) to a three-dimensional cavity within the panel. This dimensional transition allows the tray to be stored inside the panel thickness, reducing the exterior footprint while maintaining functionality.
2Ease of operation
If a fold-up tray is stored along the outer surface of an interior bolster trim area, then the tray is fully exposed, but it is aesthetically undesirable
Solution Approach 1:
The support layer is nested within a cavity formed in the interior trim panel, concealing the tray from external view when not in use. This nesting approach maintains aesthetic appearance by hiding the tray within the panel structure while preserving accessibility through the opening.
Solution Approach 2:
The tray is extracted from the exterior surface and placed inside the panel cavity, separating the aesthetic exterior surface from the functional storage space. This extraction allows the exterior to maintain its aesthetic appearance while the interior cavity provides functional storage.
3Volume of moving object
If a deployable support sub-assembly is integrated into the interior trim panel, then space is efficiently utilized, but the mechanism becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The support layer is made movable between a stowed position within the cavity and a deployed position extending through the opening. This dynamic capability allows the same structure to serve dual purposes: aesthetic panel appearance when stowed and functional support surface when deployed, maximizing space efficiency without permanent complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The movable arm is divided into multiple sections that can pivot relative to each other, allowing the mechanism to navigate the confined space within the panel cavity. This segmentation enables complex motion patterns using simpler, smaller components that fit within the limited volume.
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
Enables the use of a deployable support surface in areas with limited space, maintaining an aesthetically pleasing appearance while providing a stable and usable surface for objects, enhancing practicality and aesthetics in vehicle interiors.
Implementation Method 1
a first moveable arm that is coupled to the support layer. The first movable arm includes a first arm section and a second arm section pivotably coupled to the first arm section
Data Source
AI summary
Interior trim assemblies for motor vehicles are provided. In one example, an interior trim assembly for a vehicle interior of a motor vehicle includes an interior trim panel. The interior trim panel has a first outer surface for facing the vehicle interior and a second outer surface on a side opposite the first outer surface. The interior trim panel has an opening formed therethrough. A deployable support sub-assembly is coupled to the interior trim panel. The deployable support sub-assembly includes a support layer and a first moveable arm that is configured to move the support layer from a stowed position adjacent to the second outer surface of the interior trim panel through the opening to a deployed position adjacent to the first outer surface of the interior trim panel.