Vehicle Tether Anchor Bezel with Displaceable Cover
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle systems lack a convenient, secure, and aesthetically integrated solution for anchoring baby or child safety seats and hanging various items, while also ensuring ease of use and cosmetic integration within the vehicle interior.
Innovation Solution
A tether anchor bezel with a displaceable cover and a hook that can be mounted in various locations, featuring a tether anchor, a hook with prongs and a tether receiver, and an alternative embodiment with a detent hinge for impact absorption, allowing secure item attachment and concealment for aesthetic purposes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a tether anchor is installed in the vehicle, then security for anchoring safety seats is improved, but aesthetic appearance deteriorates due to visible anchors
Solution Approach 1:
The tether anchor is extracted from visible locations and concealed within a compartment behind a displaceable cover, allowing the anchor to remain functional while being hidden from view to maintain aesthetic appearance
Solution Approach 2:
The tether anchor is nested within a housing compartment that can be concealed behind a displaceable cover, creating a nested structure where the functional element is embedded within a cosmetic enclosure
2Ease of operation
If a hook is provided for hanging items, then convenience is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hook is merged with the displaceable cover, allowing the cover to serve dual functions of concealing the tether anchor and providing a hanging surface for items, thereby reducing overall device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The displaceable cover is designed with universal functionality, serving both as a cosmetic cover for the tether anchor and as a functional hook for hanging various items, eliminating the need for separate components
3Ease of operation
If the cover is made displaceable for access, then ease of use is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to potential accidental displacement
Solution Approach 1:
The cover is designed as a displaceable component that can be dynamically moved between closed and open positions, allowing users to access the tether anchor when needed while maintaining a closed aesthetic appearance during normal use
4Strength
If the hook is made rigid for strength, then strength is improved, but harmful factors increase due to impact forces on occupants
Solution Approach 1:
The detent hinge is pre-configured with spring elements that provide cushioning capability, allowing the hook to absorb impact forces from accidental contacts with knees, shoulders, or arms before these forces are transmitted to occupants
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Provides a secure, easy-to-use, and aesthetically integrated solution for anchoring safety seats and hanging items, ensuring both functionality and a clean appearance within the vehicle, while the detent hinge design mitigates impact forces.
Implementation Method 1
a resilient tab carried on the housing and configured to engage at least one of the first prong and the second prong when the cover is in the first position
Implementation Method 2
the detent hinge will allow the second section of the hook to be displaced toward the first section of the hook in the event it is inadvertently contacted by a knee, shoulder, arm or other object thereby reducing the force of the blow
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus and method are provided for securing an item for transport in a vehicle. The apparatus includes a tether anchor bezel, having a housing and a displaceable cover, a tether anchor held within the tether anchor bezel, and a hook carried on the displaceable cover.