Automotive Storage Box Claw Engagement Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for assembling automotive storage boxes, such as gloveboxes, using screws or vibration welding face issues like aesthetic blemishes and increased worker-hours, and vibration welding requires precise rib alignment and large equipment, limiting production flexibility.
Innovation Solution
The integration of claw engagement portions between the outer and inner panels, including positioning and undetachable claw engagement portions, allows for easy and secure assembly without screws or vibration welding, ensuring precise positioning and preventing separation under load.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If vibration welding is used to combine the outer panel and the inner panel, then the assembly strength is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases due to the need for precise rib alignment and large-scale equipment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the vibration welding mechanical system with a snap-fit engagement system. The outer panel includes engagement protrusions that fit into engagement recesses of the inner panel, eliminating the need for vibration welding equipment, rib alignment, and large-scale welding machinery. This substitution maintains assembly strength while dramatically reducing manufacturing complexity.
2Strength
If screws are used to combine the outer panel and the inner panel, then the assembly strength is improved, but the ease of manufacture deteriorates due to increased worker-hours and aesthetic blemishes
Solution Approach 1:
The engagement protrusions and recesses are designed to self-align and self-engage during assembly. The protrusions automatically guide the panels into correct alignment and snap into the recesses without requiring manual fastening operations. This eliminates the need for screw fastening operations, reducing worker-hours and eliminating visible screw heads that cause aesthetic blemishes.
3Manufacturing precision
If the projecting directions of the welding ribs are set in parallel to the pressure direction, then the welding uniformity is improved, but the manufacturing precision deteriorates due to rib fall-down on curved surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of making the welding ribs conform to the curved surface (which causes alignment problems), the patent inverts the approach by making the engagement features conform to each other through complementary geometric shapes. The protrusions and recesses are designed with matching geometries that ensure proper alignment regardless of surface curvature, eliminating the rib fall-down issue inherent in vibration welding of curved surfaces.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a storage box comprising an outer panel and an inner panel which are easily and firmly combined with each other without employing vibrational welding or screws. The outer panel and the inner panel are integrally combined by claw engagement portions. The claw engagement portions comprise at least one positioning claw engagement portion for determining relative positions of the outer panel and the inner panel, and at least one undetectable claw engagement portion for restricting the outer panel and the inner panel from moving in directions to be separated from each other.