Staggered Joint Fixing Structure for Vehicle Door Trim

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle interior fixing structures concentrate stress along joints during side collisions, leading to damage and reduced airbag performance.

Innovation Solution

A fixing structure that includes a first and second interior base material with ornamental members and joints arranged in a staggered configuration to distribute stress, preventing concentration on narrow areas and protecting the door trim from damage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If joints are arranged in a single line to fix interior base materials, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but stress concentrates in a linear portion during side collision causing damage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvejoint arrangement simplicityVSAvoidstress resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The single linear joint is segmented into multiple joints arranged in a specific pattern (e.g., staggered or distributed configuration). This segmentation distributes the stress concentration points along the joint line, preventing any single linear portion from bearing excessive stress during side collisions while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through standardized joint components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The joint arrangement transitions from a one-dimensional linear configuration to a two-dimensional distributed pattern. By arranging multiple joints in a planar distribution rather than a single line, the stress is dispersed across a broader area, enhancing the structure's resistance to collision forces while preserving ease of manufacture through modular joint design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Strength

If multiple joints are added to distribute stress, then stress concentration is reduced and damage resistance improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestress distributionVSAvoidjoint configuration complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The multiple joints are designed as standardized, interchangeable components that perform the same function (connecting interior base materials) but are distributed in a stress-dissipating pattern. This universal joint design allows stress distribution benefits while controlling complexity through component standardization and modular assembly procedures.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The joint configuration parameters (number of joints, spacing, arrangement pattern) are optimized to achieve adequate stress distribution without excessive complexity. By carefully selecting parameters such as joint density and spatial distribution, the design achieves the necessary stress dispersion while maintaining manufacturability and assembly simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS8562069B2Fixing structure for interior base material
Publication Date: 2013.10.22 TOYOTA BOSHOKU KK
  • US8562069B2 patent drawing
  • US8562069B2 patent drawing
  • US8562069B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A fixing structure for a vehicle interior material in accordance with the present invention includes: a first interior base material including a first end portion; a second interior base material including a second end portion disposed adjacent to the first end portion; an ornamental member disposed along an axis defined by the first end portion and the second end portion; and a plurality of joints that indirectly fix the first end portion and the second end portion via the ornamental member.