Elastomer-Biased Push Button for Low-Cost Vehicle Locking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing spring biased or spring loaded push buttons used in vehicle components, such as headrest guides, rely on expensive metal band springs that have a significant environmental impact due to resource consumption during production.
Innovation Solution
A push button design utilizing an elastomeric member, such as a thermoplastic polyurethane or silicone rubber band, is coupled to the body portion, providing a biasing force through deformation, allowing for a two-step molding process that reduces assembly time and manufacturing costs, and is configured to move between locked and unlocked positions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If metal band springs are used in push buttons, then reliable biasing force is provided, but manufacturing cost and environmental impact increase due to resource consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive metal band springs with elastomeric members that can be molded from inexpensive materials like thermoplastic polyurethane or silicone rubber. The elastomeric members are formed through molding processes that are significantly cheaper than metal spring manufacturing, while still providing the necessary biasing force for push button operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the material parameter from metal to elastomer, fundamentally altering the physical properties used to generate biasing force. Instead of relying on metal elasticity and spring mechanics, the invention uses elastomeric deformation and recovery characteristics to provide the same functional effect at lower cost and with reduced environmental impact.
2Reliability
If metal band springs are used in push buttons, then reliable biasing force is provided, but environmental impact increases due to resource consumption during production
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive metal band springs with elastomeric members that can be molded from inexpensive materials like thermoplastic polyurethane or silicone rubber. The elastomeric members are formed through molding processes that are significantly cheaper than metal spring manufacturing, while still providing the necessary biasing force for push button operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the material parameter from metal to elastomer, fundamentally altering the physical properties used to generate biasing force. Instead of relying on metal elasticity and spring mechanics, the invention uses elastomeric deformation and recovery characteristics to provide the same functional effect at lower cost and with reduced environmental impact.
3Reliability
If traditional spring components are used, then reliable locking function is achieved, but assembly time and manufacturing complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the spring function, push button body, and locking mechanism into a single integrated elastomeric component. The elastomeric member is molded to include the button body and the biasing element as one piece, eliminating the need for separate metal spring components and reducing assembly steps to simply mold the integrated part in place.
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
The elastomeric member-based push button offers a cost-effective and environmentally friendly solution by reducing material costs and assembly time, while providing a reliable locking and unlocking mechanism for adjustable components, with the elastomeric material providing sufficient resilience and biasing force for effective operation.
Implementation Method 1
an elastomeric member operably coupled to the distal end of the body portion and arranged to engage a contact element of a structure, wherein the push button is operably mountable to the structure and movable in a first direction from a first position, in which the push button locks an adjustable component to the structure, to a second position in which the adjustable component is unlocked from the structure, and wherein the elastomeric member is configured to provide a biasing force back towards the first position when the push button is moved towards the second position
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a push button, particularly a spring-loaded or spring-biased press or push button suitable for a vehicle component. The push button includes a body portion including a proximal end, contactable by a user, and a distal end including an elastomeric member. The elastomeric member is operably coupled to the distal end of the body portion and arranged to engage a contact element of a structure. The push button is operably mountable to the structure and movable in a first direction from a first position, in which the push button locks an adjustable component to the structure, to a second position in which the adjustable component is unlocked from the structure. The elastomeric member is configured to provide a biasing force back towards the first position when the push button is moved towards the second position.