Slidable Tray Aperture for Foreign Object Egress

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Solution Overview

Problem

Slidable console assemblies in vehicles often experience issues with foreign objects getting stuck in the housing or track, preventing the tray from sliding properly due to objects being placed on the top surface and becoming trapped.

Innovation Solution

A slidable tray assembly with an aperture near the track allows foreign objects to exit, featuring a grid-like housing structure to enhance strength and prevent large objects from entering the housing while allowing smaller objects to pass through, ensuring smooth tray movement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If users place objects on the top surface of the tray, then the tray can hold items for use, but foreign objects become stuck within the track preventing tray movement

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetray utility for holding objectsVSAvoidtray sliding functionality

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the problematic foreign objects from the track by providing an aperture that allows them to be removed from the housing. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining the tray's ability to hold objects while eliminating the obstruction that prevents sliding movement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The aperture converts the harmful effect of foreign objects stuck in the track into a beneficial feature by allowing these objects to exit through the aperture. The same gap that allows objects to enter the tray also enables their egress, transforming a reliability issue into a self-cleaning mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

2Reliability

If the housing structure is made solid to prevent object entry, then foreign objects cannot enter the track, but the housing strength is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprevention of foreign object entryVSAvoidhousing structural strength

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The housing is segmented with an aperture that allows controlled passage. Rather than making the housing completely solid, the segmented structure with strategic openings maintains strength while allowing foreign objects to exit, resolving the contradiction between prevention and structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The housing has different properties in different locations: solid in most areas for strength, and open at the aperture location for object egress. This local differentiation allows the housing to simultaneously maintain structural integrity and enable foreign object removal.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If an aperture is provided for foreign object egress, then trapped objects can exit, but the housing structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveforeign object egress capabilityVSAvoidhousing structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The aperture provides a self-service mechanism where the housing structure itself facilitates foreign object removal without requiring additional active components. The passive aperture design maintains reliability while minimizing added complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS8851544B2Console assembly with automatic egress for foreign objects

Publication Date: 2014.10.07 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK

AI summary

A slidable tray assembly is provided having an aperture located on the housing near the track of the slidable tray assembly to promote egress of foreign objects out of the track. The housing includes a grid-like assembly to strengthen the overall housing assembly. The grid-like pattern promotes foreign objects to become stuck within the track thereby prohibiting movement of the slidable assembly. Foreign objects enter the tray by means of a gap between the slidable tray and a panel from the interior of the vehicle. The aperture located on the housing is sized in proportion to the gap created between the panel and the slidable tray.