Vehicle Interior Skin Structure for Static Dissipation and Soft Touch
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicular interior components that combine static electricity removal with a soft touch feel are lacking, as existing conductive resin-based solutions fail to provide a high-quality grip and tactile experience.
Innovation Solution
A vehicular interior component featuring a plate-shaped body member with an elastic layer and a static dissipative surface layer, where the elastic layer is compressed by a retainer to establish an electrical connection with a metal panel, allowing for effective static electricity discharge while offering a soft and high-quality touch experience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an electrically conductive portion is made of electrically conductive resin or includes a skin made of electrically conductive elastomer, then static electricity removal function is achieved, but the touch quality feels hard and not soft
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses a composite structure consisting of an electrically conductive base member and an insulating resin skin layer. The base member provides the static electricity removal function through its conductive properties, while the skin layer made of insulating resin provides a soft touch quality. This composite material approach allows both functions to coexist without compromising either aspect.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention applies different material properties to different parts of the component. The inner base member is made electrically conductive for static discharge, while the outer skin layer is made of insulating resin for soft touch. This local differentiation of material qualities allows the component to satisfy both the functional requirement of static electricity removal and the tactile requirement of softness.
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 solution effectively removes static electricity and provides a superior tactile experience by integrating an elastic layer with a static dissipative surface layer, ensuring gentle touch and efficient static discharge without pain or shock.
Implementation Method 1
The electrically conductive member is to be electrically connected to a metal panel
Implementation Method 2
The elastic layer of the skin is on the plate surface of the body member and is not electrically conductive and has elasticity
Implementation Method 3
Static electricity charged in the occupant is discharged to the vehicle if the occupant touches the holding surface
Implementation Method 4
The electricity removal surface layer of the skin is disposed on the elastic layer and configured as a surface of the skin and has static dissipative properties
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicular interior component includes a body member being in form of a plate shape having a plate surface, a skin disposed on the plate surface of the body member, the skin including an elastic layer that is on the plate surface of the body member and is not electrically conductive and has elasticity and an electricity removal surface layer that is disposed on the elastic layer and configured as a surface of the skin and has static dissipative properties, and an electrically conductive member being electrically conductive and disposed on the body member, the electrically conductive member including a retainer that retains an edge portion of the skin. The elastic layer included in the edge portion of the skin is compressed by the retainer from an electricity removal surface layer side and the electrically conductive member is to be electrically connected to a metal panel.