Louvered Storage Bin Integrating Exhaust Airflow Path

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Solution Overview

Problem

In vehicle interiors, the presence of exhaust vents and exhausters on the rear wall complicates storage bin placement, as they need to avoid blockage while ensuring proper ventilation and door closure assistance.

Innovation Solution

A storage bin is designed with a louvered portion that creates a tortuous air flow path between the bin and the rear wall, allowing air to exit through the exhaust vent while maintaining storage capacity and enhancing door closure efficiency by integrating an air flow path.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If a storage bin is positioned between the seat and the rear wall, then storage capacity is improved, but air flow blockage occurs preventing proper ventilation and door closure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage capacityVSAvoidair flow blockage

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The storage bin incorporates a louvered portion with multiple openings that acts as a porous structure, allowing air to pass through the storage bin body while storing items inside. This resolves the contradiction by enabling both storage capacity and air flow penetration simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

Solution Approach 2:

The louvered portion serves as an intermediary element between the storage bin interior and the exterior environment, mediating the air flow through its structured openings. It allows air to pass through while maintaining the storage function, thus resolving the blockage issue.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Volume of moving object

If the storage bin blocks the exhaust vent, then storage capacity is improved, but ventilation function deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage capacityVSAvoidventilation function

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The storage bin is segmented into multiple functional zones: a solid portion for structural support and item storage, and a louvered portion with multiple discrete openings for air flow. This segmentation allows the bin to provide storage capacity while maintaining ventilation through the distributed openings that guide air to the exhaust vent.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The louvered portion functions as a porous structure with multiple openings that enable air to pass through the storage bin. This allows the storage bin to occupy space near the exhaust vent without blocking it, maintaining both storage capacity and ventilation productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

3Ease of manufacture

If a traditional storage bin is used without integrated air flow path, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but door closure assistance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoiddoor closure deficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The air flow path is merged with the storage bin structure itself through the integrated louvered portion, rather than being a separate component. This combination maintains manufacturing simplicity while enabling the storage bin to assist door closure by channeling air flow through its built-in louvered design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The storage bin is designed with multi-functionality: it provides storage capacity, enables air flow through its louvered portion, and assists door closure by channeling air toward the exhaust vent. The louvered structure serves multiple purposes simultaneously, maintaining ease of manufacture while adding functional benefits.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 enables effective ventilation and improved door closure by allowing air to pass through a tortuous path, while providing secure storage between the seat and rear wall, enhancing storage utilization and theft protection.

Implementation Method 1

An air flow path enables air to pass into and through the at least one window, under the receiving portion bottom and out through the exhaust vent in the rear wall of the vehicle interior sitting compartment

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure gradient: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentUS11548352B2Interior trim storage bin/tray with integrated exhauster path

Publication Date: 2023.01.10 FCA US LLC

AI summary

A vehicle has a storage bin positioned between the seat and the rear wall of an interior compartment. The storage bin includes a receiving portion and louvered portion. The receiving portion is defined by a peripheral wall and a bottom. The louvered portion is coupled with the receiving portion. The louvered portion includes at least one window. An air flow path is defined by the storage bin. The air flow path enables air to pass into and through the at least one window under the receiving portion bottom and out through an exhaust vent in the rear wall.