Steering Wheel Tray Assembly With Rim-Matched Spill Containment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tray assemblies for vehicles do not provide an effective and user-friendly solution for converting the steering wheel rim into a tray position, as they often project beyond the rim, risking spills and contamination when objects are placed on them.
Innovation Solution
A tray assembly with a plate-shaped tray unit that is pivotable with the steering wheel rim, where the tray unit's edge matches the rim's profile, allowing it to partially or completely cover the rim without projecting outward, featuring anti-slip surfaces, holding units, induction charging, and integrated components like keyboards and lighting, ensuring secure and functional use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of moving object
If the tray unit is made larger to provide more surface area for holding objects, then the tray surface area increases, but the tray unit projects beyond the steering wheel rim, risking spills and contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The tray unit utilizes the vertical space within the steering wheel rim by extending partially below the upper side plane of the rim. This dimensional approach allows the tray to provide adequate surface area for holding objects while remaining contained within the rim's vertical boundaries, preventing projection beyond the rim and eliminating spill risks
2Ease of operation
If the tray unit is positioned to provide adequate clearance for user access, then ease of operation improves, but the tray may become unstable or project beyond the rim
Solution Approach 1:
The tray unit features an anti-slip upper side surface that provides enhanced friction and grip for objects placed on it. This localized quality improvement ensures that objects remain securely positioned on the tray during use, maintaining tray stability and preventing spills while allowing adequate user access
3Adaptability or versatility
If the tray unit is designed with additional functional features like holding units and charging units, then versatility and user convenience improve, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tray unit integrates multiple functional features including holding units for objects and induction charging units for electronic devices directly into its structure. By merging these functions into a single integrated component rather than separate assemblies, the design achieves high versatility while controlling overall device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The tray unit is designed as a multi-functional device that can simultaneously hold various objects, charge electronic devices via induction, and provide a stable surface for food or other items. This universal design allows a single component to perform multiple functions, enhancing adaptability without proportionally increasing complexity
Data Source
AI summary
A tray assembly for a vehicle has a steering wheel rim and a plate-shaped tray unit arranged on the steering wheel rim. The steering wheel rim is mounted to be pivotable about a horizontal pivot axis between a steering position and a tray position arranged at a smaller angle of inclination than in the steering position. In order to provide a tray assembly which can be handled in a manner which is reliable in operation and user-friendly, an edge of the tray unit is matched to a profile of the steering wheel rim such that the tray unit arranged on the steering wheel rim located in the tray position partially or completely covers the steering wheel rim from above, without projecting beyond the steering wheel rim on the outside.