Rotatable Door Accessory Holder with Resilient Retainers

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Vehicle compartment objects, such as mobile devices, are not easily accessible and can become damaged or lost due to movement during vehicle travel, as existing compartments do not securely retain items in a stowed or accessible manner.

Innovation Solution

A stowable accessory holder with a rotatable door and resilient retainers that securely hold objects in a compartment, allowing 360° rotation between stowed and accessible positions, using resilient clips and polymeric materials for retention and cushioning.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If objects are stored in a compartment, then storage capacity is improved, but accessibility and security against movement are worsened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage capacityVSAvoidaccessibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The door is made rotatable between stowed and accessible positions, allowing the system to dynamically switch between secure storage and easy access states. This resolves the contradiction by making the containment structure adaptive rather than static.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The door is divided into a first portion with retainers and a second portion without retainers, allowing selective retention of objects on different segments of the door surface. This enables both secure storage and accessible viewing simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Stability of the object's composition

If objects are securely retained in a compartment, then stability is improved, but accessibility is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecurity against movementVSAvoidaccessibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The rotatable door mechanism allows the system to transition between secure retention (door closed) and accessible (door open) states, resolving the contradiction by making security conditional rather than absolute.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The resilient retainers automatically engage with objects placed on the door, providing self-securing without additional fastening mechanisms. This maintains stability while allowing easy access by simply rotating the door.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Object-affected harmful factors

If a door is added to the compartment, then security and protection are improved, but device complexity is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection from damage and theftVSAvoidstructural complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The door and retainers are made from resilient polymeric material, providing protection and retention functionality through material properties rather than complex mechanical structures. This reduces overall device complexity while maintaining security.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The resilient retainers self-adjust and self-secure objects without additional latches or fasteners, reducing the number of components needed and simplifying the overall door assembly while maintaining protective functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

4Reliability

If resilient retainers are added to the door, then object retention is improved, but manufacturing complexity is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveobject retentionVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The resilient retainers are formed from polymeric material that can be molded directly into the door structure, allowing retention functionality to be integrated during manufacturing rather than added as separate components. This maintains reliability while simplifying manufacturing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The retainers are integrated with the door structure rather than being separate components, combining multiple functions (structural support, retention, cushioning) into a single manufactured part. This reduces assembly steps and manufacturing complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 ensures objects are protected from damage and theft in the stowed position while being easily accessible, preventing movement and ensuring secure retention without obstructing view or access.

Implementation Method 1

At least one resilient retainer on the door is configured to retain an object on the door

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

The first and second edges of the door are retained by the first and second resilient clips at least when the door is in the first, stowed position

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS9902331B2Compartment with stowable accessory holder

Publication Date: 2018.02.27 NYX

AI summary

A stowable accessory holder includes a compartment and a door rotatably mounted with respect to the compartment. The door is rotatable between a first, stowed position in which a side of the door faces into the compartment and a second, accessible position in which the side faces outwards from the compartment. At least one resilient retainer on the door is configured to retain an object on the door.