Vehicle Panel Auxiliary Claw Attachment Mechanism

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional vehicle interior components, such as overhead consoles, face issues where the panel member attached to the ceiling lining member can become detached due to deformation under load, leading to the lining member hanging down and potential noise generation from vibration.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle interior component design featuring a base member fixed to a structural member with a panel member that includes panel protrusions with insertion holes and auxiliary claws, which engage with the base member to prevent displacement and detachment, ensuring the panel member remains securely attached even under load from the ceiling lining member.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the panel member is pressed to the lining member using only a lock portion inserted into an insertion hole, then the structure is simple, but the panel member may deform and come away from the base member under load

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovestructureVSAvoidattachment reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The attachment mechanism is segmented into multiple functional elements: a lock portion for primary attachment, an insertion hole for receiving the lock portion, and auxiliary claws for additional support. This segmentation allows each element to perform its specific function, preventing panel deformation while maintaining structural simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The attachment system transitions from a single-point lock mechanism to a multi-point engagement system by adding auxiliary claws that engage with the base member at different locations. This dimensional expansion of the attachment mechanism provides distributed support across the panel perimeter, preventing deformation under load.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Ease of manufacture

If the panel member is pressed to the lining member with simple locking, then manufacturing is easy, but the lining member may detach and hang down

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing easeVSAvoidattachment reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The attachment mechanism is segmented into multiple functional elements: a lock portion for primary attachment, an insertion hole for receiving the lock portion, and auxiliary claws for additional support. This segmentation allows each element to perform its specific function, preventing panel deformation while maintaining structural simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The attachment system transitions from a single-point lock mechanism to a multi-point engagement system by adding auxiliary claws that engage with the base member at different locations. This dimensional expansion of the attachment mechanism provides distributed support across the panel perimeter, preventing deformation under load.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Ease of manufacture

If excessive dimensional tolerance is used to ensure attachment, then manufacturing is easier, but the device becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedimensional toleranceVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The auxiliary claws are designed with elastic deformation capability, allowing them to dynamically adapt to dimensional variations in the base member and panel member. This dynamic flexibility enables the attachment mechanism to accommodate normal manufacturing tolerances without requiring excessive tolerance specifications, thereby avoiding increased device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The material properties of the auxiliary claws are selected to provide appropriate elasticity, allowing them to deform within a specific range to accommodate dimensional variations. This parameter optimization enables the system to handle normal manufacturing tolerances while maintaining attachment reliability, avoiding the need for excessive dimensional tolerance that would increase device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS9539953B2Vehicle interior component

Publication Date: 2017.01.10 KOJIMA INDUSTRIES CORP

AI summary

A vehicle interior component includes a base member fixed to a structural member, and a panel member attached to a vehicle compartment inner side of the base member so that its outer peripheral portion is pressed to a lining member from the vehicle compartment inner side. The panel member includes a panel protrusion protruding on a vehicle compartment outer side in the peripheral part of its outer peripheral edge, and the panel protrusion has an insertion hole into which a lock portion formed in the base member or a base fixing member fixed to the base member is inserted, and an auxiliary claw protruding on an outer peripheral edge side. The auxiliary claw engages with the base member to prevent the displacement of the panel protrusion to the vehicle compartment inner side when the outer peripheral portion of the panel member receives a load from the lining member.