Golf Car Instrument Panel Grommets for Internal Roof Strut Mounting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional golf car roof struts mounted to the exterior sides of the vehicle increase the overall width, reducing the usable space and complicating storage and transportation.

Innovation Solution

The roof struts are repositioned to extend through apertures in the instrument panel, allowing them to be internally mounted, thereby increasing the usable width without expanding the car's exterior dimensions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If roof struts are mounted externally on the sides of the car, then the roof struts can be easily installed and supported, but the width of the car increases and usable interior space is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of installationVSAvoidusable interior space

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The roof struts are nested within the instrument panel structure by routing them through apertures in the panel. This allows the struts to be positioned internally rather than externally, reducing the car's overall width while maintaining structural support functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The mounting position of the roof struts is changed from the external lateral dimension to an internal position through the instrument panel. This dimensional repositioning allows the struts to occupy space that does not contribute to the car's external width, thereby increasing usable interior space.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Area of stationary object

If roof struts are repositioned to extend through apertures in the instrument panel, then the usable interior space increases, but the instrument panel structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveusable interior spaceVSAvoidinstrument panel structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The instrument panel is segmented by incorporating apertures that allow the roof struts to pass through. This segmentation enables the panel to accommodate the struts internally without requiring a complete structural redesign, balancing complexity with space optimization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Device complexity

If roof struts are mounted externally, then the structural support is simple to implement, but the overall dimensions of the car are increased

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural support simplicityVSAvoidoverall car width

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentUS7527319B2Instrument panel grommets

Publication Date: 2009.05.05 TEXTRON INNOVATIONS INC

AI summary

The present teachings can provide for a golf car including: a front body; a rear body; a roof suspended above at least a portion of each of the front body and the rear body; an instrument panel mounted to the front body, the instrument panel having an outer surface facing the roof; a aperture in the outer surface of the instrument panel; and a roof strut extending from the roof and passing through the aperture.