Vehicle Sunshade Knob Nesting to Prevent Trim Deformation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle sunshade devices can cause local deformation of vehicle interior styling members due to the knob contacting the door trim during the stowing process, which affects the vehicle's interior design and functionality.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle sunshade device design where the knob is positioned within a case or depression, ensuring it does not contact any vehicle interior styling members during stowing, and utilizes a double axis support member for adjustable positioning and orientation, allowing the sunshade to be stowed without deforming the door trim.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the knob contacts the door trim during stowing to complete the stowing process, then the stowing is complete, but the vehicle interior styling member may be pressed and locally deform

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestowing completenessVSAvoidlocal deformation of door trim

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a case as an intermediary structure between the knob and the door trim. The case contains a depression that receives the knob during stowing, preventing direct contact between the knob and the door trim. This mediator structure allows the stowing to be completed reliably while protecting the door trim from deformation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The knob is nested within a depression formed in the case during the stowed state. This nesting arrangement allows the knob to be contained within the case structure, preventing it from contacting external vehicle interior styling members while maintaining the completeness of the stowing process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Volume of moving object

If the knob is positioned within a depression in the case, then the amount by which the knob projects toward the vehicle cabin inner side is reduced, but the structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprojection volume of knobVSAvoidcase structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent utilizes the third dimension by forming a depression within the case structure. This dimensional approach allows the knob to be positioned recessed within the case rather than protruding outward, reducing the projection volume while incorporating the protective feature into the overall case design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS11485199B2Vehicle sunshade device and vehicle door structure

Publication Date: 2022.11.01 NHK SPRING CO LTD

AI summary

A vehicle sunshade device including: a sunshade configured to block at least a portion of light entering a vehicle cabin, by being disposed along a door glass of a vehicle; a knob attached to the sunshade; and a case configured to internally stow the sunshade, such that stowing of the sunshade is complete in a state in which the knob contacts the case.