Insertable Holder Coupling Assembly With Self-Closing Clean Cover

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing car holders are not firmly coupled, leading to a risk of falling off and compromising the cleanliness of the vehicle interior when not in use.

Innovation Solution

A holder coupling assembly with a mounting plate, fixing support, door, and locking tongue assembly that ensures stable mounting of an insertable holder, featuring a door that closes to prevent foreign matter entry and a locking mechanism to maintain cleanliness.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a holder is coupled to the dashboard or seat back, then the holder can be used to support items, but the coupling structure exposes holes and affects cleanliness when the holder is not mounted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveholder mounting and removalVSAvoidcleanliness of vehicle interior
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the harmful element (exposed coupling holes) by introducing a cover assembly that can be removed when the holder is mounted and closed when the holder is not mounted, thus eliminating the visual and functional impact of exposed holes on vehicle cleanliness

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The cover assembly is designed to be dynamic, transitioning between open and closed states based on whether the holder is mounted or not. This dynamic behavior allows the system to adapt to different usage conditions and maintain cleanliness when not in use

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of operation

If the holder coupling assembly is left open when the holder is not mounted, then access is easy, but foreign matter can enter the inserting cavity making it messy

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccess to inserting cavityVSAvoidforeign matter entry
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The cover assembly is designed to automatically close and lock when the holder is removed, performing the protective action of preventing foreign matter entry before any contamination can occur. The elastic member ensures the cover returns to the closed position automatically

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If the door is made movable to allow holder insertion, then the holder can be mounted and removed, but the door may accidentally open affecting stability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveholder mounting capabilityVSAvoiddoor stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the door with a locking mechanism featuring a locking protrusion and locking groove, creating a composite structure that integrates both the movable door function and the stable locking function in a single integrated assembly

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The locking mechanism is designed to automatically engage when the holder is inserted and automatically disengage when the holder is removed, allowing the system to self-lock and self-unlock without requiring additional manual operations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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 assembly effectively prevents foreign matter from entering the cavity and maintains a clean, organized interior by ensuring the holder remains securely mounted when not in use.

Implementation Method 1

A first elastic member is in the inserting cavity and configured to act on the door and provide the door with a restoring force for switching the door into the closed position

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic force: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

the second elastic member is configured to act on the locking tongue and the coupling frame, and the locking tongue is configured to slide elastically relative to the coupling frame

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic force: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP4321386B1Holder coupling assembly and insertable holder
Publication Date: 2026.04.15 XIAOMI EV TECH CO LTD
  • EP4321386B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4321386B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4321386B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The present invention relates to a field of cars, and provides a holder coupling assembly (110) and an insertable holder (100). The holder coupling assembly (110) includes a mounting plate (10), a fixing support (20), a door (30) and a locking tongue assembly (40). The mounting plate (10) has an inserting opening (11). The fixing support (20) is coupled to the mounting plate (10) and has an inserting cavity (21) with an opening opposite to the inserting opening (11), and the fixing support (20) forms a first coupling portion (22) for coupling the insertable holder (100). The door (30) is at the inserting opening (11) and switchable between an open position and a closed position relative to the inserting opening (11). A locking tongue assembly (40) is in the inserting cavity (21) and configured to stop the door (30) when the door (30) is in the closed position.