Movable Cover for Steering Swivel Unit

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Solution Overview

Problem

It is challenging to effectively cover and conceal the peripheral area around a steering swivel unit in vehicles due to its angular mobility, which complicates the use of cover assemblies.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle design incorporating a cover assembly with a fixed cover and a movable cover that is angularly movable in unison with the steering handle, allowing the cover assembly to widely cover the steering swivel unit and its associated mechanisms.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If a cover assembly is used to cover the steering swivel unit, then the peripheral area can be covered and concealed, but the angular mobility of the steering swivel unit and steering handle prevents wide coverage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoverage area of cover assemblyVSAvoidangular mobility of steering components

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The cover assembly is designed with a movable cover portion that can rotate angularly relative to the fixed cover portion. This dynamic design allows the cover to adapt to the angular movement of the steering swivel unit and steering handle, maintaining coverage while accommodating the mobility of the underlying components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The cover assembly is divided into a fixed cover portion and a movable cover portion. This segmentation allows the fixed portion to provide stable structural support and the movable portion to follow the angular motion of the steering components, achieving comprehensive coverage despite the angular mobility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If the steering swivel unit and steering handle are made angularly movable for steering functionality, then steering operation is enabled, but it becomes difficult to widely cover the peripheral area with a cover assembly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesteering operationVSAvoidcoverage area of cover assembly

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The movable cover portion is designed to rotate angularly in unison with the steering handle, creating a dynamic cover system that maintains coverage of the steering components during angular movement. This allows the cover assembly to accommodate the steering operation while maintaining peripheral coverage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The movable cover portion is nested within the fixed cover portion and rotates within the angular space defined by the steering handle's movement. This nested arrangement allows the cover to follow the steering components without interfering with the steering operation, achieving both functionality and coverage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentUS10604205B2Vehicle

Publication Date: 2020.03.31 HONDA MOTOR CO LTD

AI summary

A vehicle includes a vehicle frame, a steering swivel unit supported on a head pipe of the vehicle frame and angularly movable about a steering axis, a steering handle mounted on the steering swivel unit, and a cover assembly covering the steering swivel unit from above, wherein the cover assembly includes a fixed cover fixed to a vehicle body and a movable cover covering an upper opening defined in the fixed cover, and the movable cover is angularly movable in unison with the steering handle.