Sliding Center Console Air Duct for Sealed Adjustable Airflow

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing central console units in vehicles are rigidly installed, making it impossible to adjust the air guide and air outflow to match the position of the central console, which is a limitation especially in vehicles with shiftable consoles.

Innovation Solution

A central console unit design that includes a shiftable second partial unit connected to a fixed first partial unit via a telescopic air guiding arrangement, allowing the air guide to adjust and extend or reduce as the central console shifts, ensuring a sealed airflow to the desired air outflow openings.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a rigid air guiding system is installed in a shiftable central console, then the air guide cannot adjust to the console's position, but installing it only in the stationary part reduces air guiding effectiveness

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadjustability of air guide to console positionVSAvoidsealed airflow delivery
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The air guiding system transitions from a rigid stationary installation to a dynamic telescopic structure that moves with the central console. The telescopic air guiding arrangement extends or retracts based on the console's position, ensuring continuous sealed airflow delivery while adapting to different console locations along the vehicle's longitudinal axis.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The telescopic air guiding arrangement employs a nested structure where one air guiding component is inserted within another, allowing compact storage when retracted and extended configuration when needed. This nesting mechanism enables the air guide to adapt its length according to the central console's position while maintaining a compact form factor.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Adaptability or versatility

If a telescopic air guiding arrangement is implemented to enable adjustment, then adaptability improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadjustability of air guideVSAvoidcomplexity of air guiding system
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The telescopic air guiding arrangement merges the air guiding function with the console's shifting mechanism. The same structural elements that enable the central console to move also provide the air guiding path, combining two functions into a unified system rather than adding separate air guiding components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The telescopic air guiding arrangement serves multiple functions: it guides airflow, adapts to different console positions, and maintains sealed connections. This multi-functional design reduces the need for additional specialized components, thereby limiting the increase in overall system complexity despite the added adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the air guide is made telescopic to follow console movement, then airflow adjustment is enabled, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveairflow adjustment capabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity and cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The telescopic air guiding arrangement utilizes flexible or thin-walled structural elements that can be easily formed and assembled. These flexible components allow for telescopic movement while maintaining airflow sealing, and their simplified geometry reduces manufacturing complexity compared to rigid telescopic mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

4Adaptability or versatility

If the central console is made shiftable to improve ergonomics, then adaptability improves, but maintaining sealed air connection becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveergonomic adjustability of consoleVSAvoidsealed air connection
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The air guiding system transitions from a rigid stationary installation to a dynamic telescopic structure that moves with the central console. The telescopic air guiding arrangement extends or retracts based on the console's position, ensuring continuous sealed airflow delivery while adapting to different console locations along the vehicle's longitudinal axis.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The telescopic air guiding arrangement employs a nested structure where one air guiding component is inserted within another, allowing compact storage when retracted and extended configuration when needed. This nesting mechanism enables the air guide to adapt its length according to the central console's position while maintaining a sealed connection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentUS12304276B2Slidable central console unit with air outlets connected to telescopic air duct
Publication Date: 2025.05.20 MERCEDES BENZ GROUP AG
  • US12304276B2 patent drawing
  • US12304276B2 patent drawing
  • US12304276B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A central console unit for a vehicle includes a first partial unit that is fixedly connectable to the vehicle and a second partial unit shiftably connected in relation to the first partial unit to the first partial unit. The first partial unit has a first air guiding arrangement that is connectable to an air-conditioning device of the vehicle. The second partial unit has a second air guiding arrangement which is shiftably connected to the first air guiding arrangement at least in sections along the first air guiding arrangement. The second partial unit forms a central console for the vehicle.