Vehicle Interior Skin Wrapping for Acute Terminal Corners

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

In vehicle interior components, when the terminal of the base member has an acute shape, the skin member often tears or whitens at the contact point, limiting design flexibility due to the need for a rounded corner to prevent damage.

Innovation Solution

The interior component design includes a rib on the back surface of the base member's terminal, allowing the skin member to be wrapped and welded to the rib without folding, thus preventing tearing and whitening.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the terminal of the base member has an acute shape, then design flexibility is improved, but the skin member tears or whitens at the contact point

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedesign flexibilityVSAvoidskin member integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A rib structure is introduced as an intermediary element between the acute terminal of the base member and the skin member. The rib has a rounded distal end that contacts the skin member, mediating the stress distribution and preventing direct contact between the acute terminal and skin member, thereby preventing tearing and whitening while allowing the base member to maintain its acute terminal shape for design flexibility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The rib structure is positioned beforehand at the terminal of the base member to provide cushioning protection. The rounded distal end of the rib acts as a pre-positioned cushion that distributes contact stress before it can reach the skin member, preventing damage in advance while allowing the acute terminal shape to be maintained

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

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

This configuration enables the use of acute-shaped terminals in vehicle interior components without causing damage to the skin member, enhancing design flexibility while maintaining structural integrity.

Implementation Method 1

a terminal portion of the skin member is wrapped to the back surface of the base member, and is welded to the base member

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectWelding: Welding

Data Source

PatentUS20250033576A1Interior component of vehicle

Publication Date: 2025.01.30 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK

AI summary

An interior component of a vehicle includes: a base member; and a skin member that covers at least a part of the base member, in which a rib is provided on a back surface of a terminal of the base member and a terminal portion of the skin member is wrapped to the back surface of the base member, and is welded to the base member so as to contain the rib.