Multi-Component Interior Trim Part for Quiet Light Guide Mounting
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicle interior trim parts with integrated lighting often produce undesirable creaking noises due to relative movements of components, which negatively impact passenger experience and product value.
Innovation Solution
A trim part designed as an injection-molded multi-component component with a hard and soft plastic combination, where the soft component forms a light guide receptacle and decouples noise from the hard component, eliminating the need for additional assembly steps and ensuring noise-free operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If optical fibers are clipped into the trim part using separate holders, then lighting functionality is achieved, but unwanted noise is generated during relative movement
Solution Approach 1:
The holder for optical fibers is merged with the carrier part by integrating the holder structure directly into the carrier part's design. This combining of previously separate components (carrier part and holder) into a single integrated structure eliminates the interface between them, thereby preventing creaking noises while maintaining lighting functionality.
2Ease of manufacture
If multiple separate components are used for lighting guidance, then lighting functionality is achieved, but assembly complexity and risk of incorrect assembly increase
Solution Approach 1:
The holder structure is integrated into the carrier part as a unified component, reducing multiple separate parts into a single assembly unit. This merger simplifies the assembly process by eliminating the need to separately attach holders to the carrier part, thereby reducing assembly steps and the risk of incorrect assembly while maintaining the lighting guidance function.
3Strength
If hard plastic components are used for structural support, then structural strength is achieved, but noise transmission increases
Solution Approach 1:
The carrier part is designed as a multi-component component combining hard plastic (for structural strength) and soft plastic (for noise damping). The soft plastic component specifically forms the holder structure that contacts the optical fibers, providing both mechanical support and noise isolation, while the hard plastic provides overall structural integrity.
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 decouples noise from the light guide receptacle, providing a quiet and evenly illuminated vehicle interior, enhancing passenger comfort and product value by eliminating unwanted noises during movement.
Implementation Method 1
The soft component serves as a physical decoupling element, acting as a type of damping element between adjacent plastic components that could otherwise cause undesirable creaking noises during relative movement
Implementation Method 2
the carrier part is formed as an injection-molded multi-component component from at least two different plastics. In the carrier part of the trim part, a first plastic as a hard component and a second plastic as a soft component are connected to one another by injection molding
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
The invention relates to a trim part (1) designed for a vehicle interior and configured to be backlit or backlit, wherein the trim part (1) comprises a carrier part (3) designed for fastening the trim part (1) in the vehicle interior, which carrier part (3) is formed as an injection-molded multi-component component made of at least two different plastics, wherein a first plastic as a hard component and a second plastic as a soft component are joined together in injection molding, and wherein the trim part (1) has at least one light guide receptacle (2) for fastening and decoupled from the carrier part (3) receiving at least one light guide (5), and the light guide receptacle (2) is formed from the soft component of the carrier part (3).