Lockable Footwell Storage Compartment with Dual Flap Mechanism
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Lockable storage compartments in motor vehicles with vertical openings often protrude into the space in front of the compartment when open, causing hindrance and safety concerns, especially in confined areas like the footwell in front of a driver's seat.
Innovation Solution
A storage compartment design featuring a lower, pivotable cover flap that covers at least half the compartment's height and an upper cover flap that can be displaced into the compartment, allowing for space-efficient access with minimal protrusion when open, and optional swiveling of the lower flap for larger items.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a storage compartment with a vertical opening is closed by a swing-out door, then the storage compartment can be securely closed, but the door protrudes far into the space in front of the storage compartment when open, causing hindrance and safety concerns
Solution Approach 1:
The single swing-out door is divided into two separate cover flaps: a lower cover flap that swings out horizontally and an upper cover flap that moves vertically. This segmentation allows each flap to cover different portions of the opening independently, reducing the overall protrusion distance while maintaining secure closure capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The upper cover flap transitions from horizontal swinging motion to vertical movement along guide grooves. This dimensional change allows the upper flap to be stored within the storage compartment's vertical space rather than protruding horizontally, significantly reducing the protrusion distance into the space in front of the compartment.
2Ease of operation
If the lower cover flap is swiveled out for a large grip area to access larger objects, then accessibility is improved, but the space requirement in front of the storage compartment increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lower cover flap's pivoting angle is made adjustable within a limited range (45-60 degrees) rather than being fixed. This dynamic adjustment allows the flap to provide sufficient grip area for accessing larger objects while limiting the maximum protrusion distance, thus balancing ease of operation with space constraints.
Solution Approach 2:
The pivoting angle parameter of the lower cover flap is constrained to a specific range (45-60 degrees) using stops and tensioning elements. This parameter change optimizes the balance between providing adequate grip area for hand access and minimizing the horizontal space occupied when the flap is open.
3Area of stationary object
If the upper cover flap is designed to be displaced into the storage compartment when open, then space efficiency is improved, but the complexity of the guide mechanism increases
Solution Approach 1:
Guide grooves are introduced as an intermediary mechanism to constrain and guide the upper cover flap's vertical movement. These grooves provide a simple yet effective way to achieve the desired space-efficient operation without requiring complex mechanical systems, balancing space efficiency with acceptable mechanism complexity.
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~6
AI summary
The invention relates to a lockable storage compartment (1), particularly in the footwell of a motor vehicle, with several cover flaps (4, 5) for closing a storage compartment opening. According to the invention, a lower cover flap (4), relative to a vertical axis and/or installation position, is vertically oriented in the closed position and covers a lower vertical opening area of the storage compartment (1), wherein the lower cover flap (4) can be pivoted about a pivot axis (15) located in the region of its lower edge. An upper cover flap (5), in the closed position, extends from a horizontal upper edge (6) of the lower cover flap (4) and covers an upper opening area (7) of the storage compartment (1), wherein in the open position the upper cover flap (5) can be moved into the storage compartment (1), and access to the storage compartment (1) from above is possible.