Retractable Cup Holder Breakaway Trim Panel
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cup holder assemblies in vehicles can be damaged when excessive downward forces are applied, causing them to forcibly withdraw from the trim panel, leading to damage of either the cup holder assembly or the trim panel, necessitating replacement.
Innovation Solution
A retractable cup holder assembly with a reusable breakaway connection that allows it to release from the trim panel without damage when excessive force is applied, featuring a pivotally supported cup holder and a support housing with detents that deflect under high force, enabling easy re-installation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a cup holder assembly is firmly retained to the trim panel using detents, then the cup holder assembly is securely held in the installed orientation, but excessive force can damage the detents or trim panel, requiring replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The cup holder assembly is divided into separate functional components: the support housing with detents, the cup holder tray, and the trim panel opening. This segmentation allows the support housing to be designed with a breakaway feature that separates from the trim panel when excessive force is applied, preventing damage to both the detents and the trim panel while maintaining secure retention during normal use
Solution Approach 2:
The detent retention force parameter is designed to have two distinct thresholds: a normal operating threshold that securely holds the cup holder during regular use, and a breakaway threshold that activates when excessive force is applied. This parameter change allows the system to transition from a firmly retained state to a breakaway state, preventing permanent damage
2Stability of the object's composition
If the cup holder assembly is designed to be permanently fixed to the trim panel, then it provides stable support, but it cannot be easily removed or re-installed if damage occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The cup holder assembly transitions from a static permanently fixed design to a dynamic system with two states: a stable installed state during normal operation, and a removable breakaway state when excessive force is applied. The support housing can pivot between these states, providing stable support when needed while allowing easy removal and re-installation when damage occurs
Solution Approach 2:
The breakaway feature acts as a pre-designed failure point that protects the overall system. When excessive force is applied, the support housing breaks away from the trim panel in a controlled manner, cushioning the impact and preventing damage to the detents and trim panel that would otherwise require complex repair procedures
3Strength
If the cup holder assembly uses a rigid connection to the trim panel, then it resists movement, but it cannot safely accommodate inadvertent excessive forces without damage
Solution Approach 1:
The breakaway feature acts as an intermediary element between the support housing and the trim panel. During normal use, it provides a strong rigid connection that resists movement. When excessive force is applied, this intermediary element fails in a controlled manner, absorbing the excessive force and preventing it from being transmitted to and damaging the detents or trim panel
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
Prevents damage to both the cup holder assembly and the trim panel during forced removal and allows for easy re-installation without requiring replacement, ensuring safe and secure operation.
Implementation Method 1
a breakaway connection that at least partially releases the support housing from the interior trim panel for movement between an installed orientation and a breakaway orientation upon application of a prescribed force applied to the breakaway connection
Implementation Method 2
The retractable cup holder is pivotally supported to the support housing about a pivot axis between a stowed position in which the cup holder is retracted and a deployed position in which the cup holder is extended outwardly
Data Source
AI summary
A retractable cup holder assembly includes an interior trim panel, a support housing and a retractable cup holder. The support housing is releasably retained in a cup holder receiving opening of the interior trim panel by a reusable breakaway connection such that the breakaway connection at least partially releases the support housing from the interior trim panel for movement between an installed orientation and a breakaway orientation upon application of a prescribed force being applied to the breakaway connection. The retractable cup holder is pivotally supported to the support housing about a pivot axis between a stowed position in which the cup holder is retracted and a deployed position in which the cup holder extends outwardly from the support housing. The cup holder moves with the support housing when the support housing moves from the installed orientation to the breakaway orientation.