Motor Vehicle Storage Compartment Closure Unit With Unified Handle
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing closure units for motor vehicle storage compartments often lack intuitive handling, robustness, and a visually appealing design while being space-efficient and cost-effective.
Innovation Solution
Each closure element is equipped with its own handle, featuring an off-center projection for a unified visual appearance, allowing independent movement and secure interlocking to form a continuous cover, with guides for space-saving integration and easy operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If two closure elements are mounted displaceable independently of one another in the frame, then the storage compartment can be partially or fully released, but the handling becomes less intuitive and the visual appearance is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines two separate handles into a unified handle structure where both closure elements share a common handle. This merging maintains the adaptability to open either partially or fully while improving ease of operation through a single intuitive gripping point, resolving the contradiction between versatility and operational simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The single handle serves multiple functions: it can open one closure element alone, the other closure element alone, or both simultaneously. This multi-functionality maintains the partial/full release capability while providing intuitive handling through one unified interface, addressing both requirements of the contradiction.
2Device complexity
If only one handle is associated with two closure elements with optional coupling, then the structure is simpler, but the robustness is reduced and the visual impression is degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the handle structures into a single unified component that internally connects both closure elements. This merging maintains structural simplicity from the outside while internally providing robust connections for both elements, resolving the contradiction between simplicity and robustness.
3Reliability
If two handles are provided for two closure elements, then the robustness and visual appearance improve, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines what would traditionally be two separate handles into one unified handle structure. This merging maintains the robustness of having handles for both closure elements while reducing device complexity by eliminating the need for two separate handle assemblies, their mounting structures, and associated components.
4Shape
If closure elements are designed to overlap laterally in closed position, then the visual appearance is improved with a continuous handle impression, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the handle structures into a single unified component that is inherently aligned. This merging eliminates the need for precise alignment between two separate handles, as the single handle structure automatically provides the continuous appearance without requiring high manufacturing precision for relative positioning, resolving the contradiction between shape quality and manufacturing precision.
Data Source
AI summary
A closure unit for a storage compartment, in particular of a motor vehicle, with a frame that forms an access opening for the storage compartment, with two closure elements arranged displaceable on the frame, wherein the closure elements each close a different part of the access opening in a closed position and together close the entire access opening in their respective closed position, and wherein a handle for manually moving the closure elements is disposed at the mutually facing ends of the closure elements. It is provided that the closure elements each have an off-center projection at their mutually facing ends, on which the respective handle is disposed, such that the handles in the closed position of both closure elements are arranged in a line transverse to the sliding direction of the closure elements.