Vehicle Interior Panel Assembly for Tight-Space Tolerance Control

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

In vehicle interior components, the combination of multiple members requires minimizing the influence of dimensional variation to accommodate thin instrument panel designs and limited space, especially in autonomous driving vehicles.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle interior component design featuring a first member and a second member with a locking section, positioning section, and fixing section arranged side by side in a direction intersecting the longitudinal direction, allowing for assembly in a small space while suppressing dimensional variation, and utilizing the strength of the first member to stabilize attachment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple members are combined to form a vehicle interior component, then the component can provide functional and decorative purposes, but the dimensional variation between members increases and assembly space requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefunctional and decorative capabilityVSAvoiddimensional variation between members

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The vehicle interior component is divided into multiple members (first member, second member, third member) that can be manufactured separately with controlled dimensional tolerances, then assembled using the positioning section to reduce cumulative dimensional variation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The positioning section acts as an intermediary element between the first, second, and third members, providing reference surfaces and geometric constraints that minimize the influence of dimensional variation during assembly

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Volume of moving object

If the instrument panel is designed to be thin, then the vehicle compartment space increases, but the space available for assembling multiple members is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevehicle compartment spaceVSAvoidassembly space for multiple members

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The locking section, positioning section, and fixing section are arranged side by side in a direction intersecting the longitudinal direction of the first member (transverse direction), utilizing the width dimension rather than consuming length in the thickness direction, enabling assembly in limited space while achieving thin panel design

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The second member is positioned between the first member and the attachment section, with the locking section inserted into an insertion hole in the second member, creating a nested arrangement that maximizes space utilization

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentUS11766973B2Vehicle interior component

Publication Date: 2023.09.26 NIHON PLAST CO LTD

AI summary

There is provided a panel capable of assembling a first member and a second member in a small space while suppressing the influence of dimensional variation. Panel 11 is attached to attachment section 15. Panel 11 includes first member 20 formed in an elongated shape. Panel 11 includes second member 21 fixed to a back side of first member 20. Panel 11 includes locking section 24 formed on either first member 20 or second member 21 and locked to attachment section 15. Panel 11 includes positioning section 22 that positions first member 20 and second member 21 relative to each other. Panel 11 includes fixing section 23 that fixes first member 20 and second member 21 to each other. Locking section 24, positioning section 22, and fixing section 23 are arranged side by side in a direction intersecting a longitudinal direction of first member 20.