Vehicle Register Fin Damage Prevention via Knob Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle register designs with short fin projections towards the cabin side are prone to damage when the operation knob is pressed near the pivot axis, as the fin is easily accessible and vulnerable to pressure.
Innovation Solution
A register design featuring a tube-shaped retainer with a first fin that can pivot and a second fin parallel to it, where the operation knob is positioned further towards the cabin side than the second fin, with a restricting mechanism to prevent pivoting and minimize damage by aligning the knob's leading end with the second fin's leading end when restricted, thus reducing the likelihood of pressing on the fin's vulnerable center portion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If the fin projection amount toward the vehicle cabin side is set short for styling purposes, then the aesthetic appearance is improved, but the fin becomes vulnerable to damage when pressed near the pivot axis
Solution Approach 1:
The operation knob serves as an intermediary element that physically blocks direct access to the fin's pivot axis area. By positioning the knob at the extension direction center portion of the fin and extending it toward the vehicle cabin side, the knob acts as a protective barrier that prevents fingers from pressing the fin near its vulnerable pivot axis, thus resolving the contradiction between short fin projection for styling and damage resistance.
2Ease of operation
If the operation knob is positioned at the extension direction center portion of the fin, then the fin can be easily operated, but the fin becomes more accessible and vulnerable to pressing
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of making the fin itself resistant to pressing (which would compromise operability), the invention inverts the approach by making the operation knob resistant to pressing. The knob is designed with a structure that prevents it from being pressed inward, and since the knob is attached to the fin's extension direction center portion, this indirectly protects the fin while maintaining ease of operation.
3Ease of operation
If the operation knob extends far toward the vehicle cabin side for easy access, then operation convenience is improved, but the gap between the knob and fin allows finger insertion that can damage the fin
Solution Approach 1:
The invention carefully controls the dimensional parameters of the operation knob and its positioning relative to the fin. Specifically, the minimum gap between the knob's leading end and the fin is set to a specific range (0.5mm to 2.0mm) - this parameter optimization allows the knob to extend far enough for easy access while maintaining a gap narrow enough to prevent finger insertion that could damage the fin.
Data Source
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AI summary
A register, wherein: a minimum gap, between a location of the operation knob further to the vehicle cabin side than a pivot axis of the first fin and the second fin main body, is narrower than that between the first fin and the second fin main body, and a leading end at the vehicle cabin side of the operation knob and a leading end at the vehicle cabin side of the second fin main body are set, such that positions in a direction along the tube axis of the retainer are aligned with each other in a restricted state, in which the leading end at the vehicle cabin side of the operation knob has pivoted to the opposite side to the second fin main body side, and the first fin is restricted from pivoting by the restricting mechanism.