Vehicle Seat Container Mounting Structure to Prevent Finger Gaps
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing container designs for vehicle seats often create openings or clearances between the flange and trim cover assembly when the seat cushion is depressed, risking finger insertion or catching, and are difficult to mount quickly and simply.
Innovation Solution
A container design featuring a flange with connecting slits and a lid element with projecting connecting pieces that pass through corresponding slits in the trim cover assembly, securely attaching the container to the seat cushion without relying on additional guard elements, allowing rapid and simplified mounting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the container flange is secured to the foam padding with the trim cover assembly sandwiched between them, then the container is firmly attached to the seat cushion, but an opening or clearance is created between the flange and trim cover assembly when the seat cushion is depressed, risking finger insertion
Solution Approach 1:
A guard element is introduced as an intermediary component between the container flange and the trim cover assembly. This guard element prevents direct contact between user fingers and the clearance space, eliminating the finger insertion hazard while preserving the sandwiched attachment structure's strength
Solution Approach 2:
The guard element is positioned in advance to prevent the harmful action of finger insertion into the clearance. By providing this protective barrier before any potential hazard can occur, the design proactively eliminates the safety risk
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a guard element is added between the flange and trim cover assembly to prevent finger insertion, then finger safety is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The guard element is designed as a thin, flexible component that can be easily integrated into the existing sandwiched structure. This minimizes the increase in device complexity while effectively preventing finger insertion into the clearance
3Stability of the object's composition
If the container is securely mounted to the seat cushion, then the container stability is improved, but the mounting process becomes more difficult and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The guard element is integrated with either the container flange or the trim cover assembly, merging multiple functions into a single component. This allows the guard to be installed simultaneously with the container or trim cover, eliminating separate mounting steps and reducing overall assembly time
Data Source
AI summary
Container for accommodating small article(s) comprises: a container body including flange portion wherein connecting slits are formed; and a container lid element including lateral wall region having projected connecting pieces. A trim cover assembly of the seat includes: a peripheral end area or margin defined in a container mounting hole formed in the trim cover assembly; and connecting slits formed in that margin. In assembly, the connecting pieces are inserted through those flanged portion, while simultaneously the margin of trim cover assembly is sandwiched between the flanged portion and lateral wall region. Those free ends are flattened to connecting slits, respectively, so that free ends of the connecting pieces project from the connect together all the container body, container lid element and trim cover assembly. Finally, the trim cover assembly is attached upon a foam padding, with the container body inserted in a recession of the foam padding.