Vehicle Footrest With Elastic Membrane Storage Compartment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing footrests for motor vehicles are heavy, fragile, and difficult to use due to the weight and rigidity requirements of storage compartments, which lead to issues with stability and ease of object storage and retrieval.
Innovation Solution
A footrest design with a storage compartment that incorporates molded housings for specific tire repair equipment, featuring elastic blades and clips for secure storage and easy access, along with a lightweight and rigid support structure, allowing for robust and practical storage and retrieval of items.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the storage compartment is made with significant thickness and a network of ribs to ensure rigidity, then the compartment can support objects without bending or breaking, but the moving part becomes heavy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces rigid thick walls with a flexible membrane that can deform elastically to support objects. The membrane is secured at its periphery and can flex under load without requiring thick ribs or substantial material, thus achieving the necessary support function with minimal weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical state and properties of the storage compartment from rigid and thick to flexible and thin. By using a membrane with appropriate elastic properties, the compartment can dynamically adapt to loads while maintaining lightweight construction.
2Strength
If the storage compartment is made with significant thickness and rigid structure, then it can support objects, but the compartment becomes more fragile and prone to damage to hinges or clips
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible membrane eliminates rigid connecting elements like hinges and clips that are prone to damage. The membrane is secured at its periphery and flexes elastically under load, distributing stresses uniformly and avoiding concentration points that could lead to failure of connecting elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the mechanical hinge-and-clip system with a flexible membrane system. Instead of using mechanical joints that can fail, the membrane is secured at its periphery and uses elastic deformation to accommodate movement and load, eliminating the vulnerable mechanical connecting elements.
3Ease of operation
If the storage compartment is made movable to allow access to equipment, then items can be retrieved, but the compartment becomes unstable and tends to fall to one side when storing items
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible membrane can be easily moved or removed to provide access to equipment, and when in place, it distributes loads evenly across its surface. This prevents the compartment from tipping or becoming unstable, as the flexible nature allows it to adapt to the weight distribution of stored items.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of making the entire compartment movable as in conventional designs, the invention secures the membrane at its periphery while allowing it to flex and be easily removed. This inverted approach provides both stability during use and ease of access when needed, eliminating the tipping problem of conventional movable compartments.
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 design provides a robust, lightweight, and practical footrest with improved stability and ease of use, allowing for secure storage and retrieval of tire repair equipment without the need for complex mechanisms, while reducing weight by approximately 25%.
Implementation Method 1
a flexible blade with an arc-shaped profile adapted to cooperate, under tension, with the cylindrical body of the sealant container
Data Source
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AI summary
Footrest (10) intended to be installed between a part (12) of a bulkhead and a floor (14) of a motor vehicle. The foot rest comprises a bearing wall (16) intended to support the foot or feet of a passenger of the motor vehicle and a sound insulation mat extending opposite at least part of the bearing wall and attached to the floor (14) of the motor vehicle, said mat comprising an insulating layer (19) disposed between the floor (14) and a covering layer (20) attached to said insulating layer (19), the bearing wall (16) further comprising at least one storage compartment (28), the bearing wall (16) comprising an internal face (26) intended to be positioned facing an exterior face (202) of the covering layer (20) at the time of installation of the foot rest (10), the storage compartment (28) extending between said internal face (26) of the bearing face (16) and the exterior face (202) of the covering layer (20), in which the storage compartment (28) has a bottom wall (30) fixed permanently to the internal face (26) of the bearing wall (16) by first (161 to 164), (301 to 304) and second (171 to 174), (181 to 184) connecting members and comprising housings (32, 44, 52, 62) the content of which is directly accessible without removing the storage compartment (28).