One-Piece Vehicle Cover Strip for Seamless Dashboard Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing trim strips in vehicles suffer from a visible junction that disrupts aesthetic continuity between the left and right parts, particularly visible to the driver and passenger.
Innovation Solution
A single-piece, elastically deformable trim strip with first and second positioning means ensures precise alignment and attachment to a breastplate, using barrels and oblong holes for secure fitting without visible joints.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If the trim strip is divided into multiple parts (first part and second part) to extend from left front door to right front door, then the trim strip can cover the entire width of the vehicle, but a junction appears between the parts which disrupts aesthetic continuity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the first trim strip and second trim strip into a single continuous piece that extends from the left front door to the right front door. This single-piece construction eliminates the junction between parts, ensuring aesthetic continuity while maintaining full width coverage of the vehicle's passenger compartment.
2Ease of manufacture
If a junction is provided between the first part and second part of the trim strip, then the trim strip can be manufactured and assembled in sections, but the junction is visible to the driver and passenger which reduces perceived quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the entire trim strip as a single molded piece rather than assembling multiple sections. This approach eliminates alignment precision issues at junctions and ensures perfect continuity, while the single-piece nature simplifies the manufacturing process to one molding operation followed by attachment to the dashboard.
3Shape
If the trim strip is made as a single continuous piece, then aesthetic continuity is achieved, but the strip must be elastically deformable to accommodate manufacturing dispersions and precise positioning
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter of the trim strip to be elastically deformable. This allows the single-piece trim strip to accommodate manufacturing dispersions and be precisely positioned during assembly by elastic deformation, while maintaining its aesthetic continuity. The positioning means utilize this elasticity to achieve precise alignment with the dashboard and door strips.
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 provides continuous aesthetic alignment with door strips, ensuring perceived quality and secure attachment, even under manufacturing dispersions, while being economical and using common automotive techniques.
Implementation Method 1
The trim strip can be elastically deformable
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a cover strip (10) for a vehicle, in particular for a motor vehicle, intended to extend from one side to the other of the passenger compartment of such a vehicle between a dashboard cover (20) and a lower windscreen crossmember (30), the cover strip (10) being a one-piece construction.