Vehicle Tether Cover Structure for Concealed Bracket Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle tether structures are not aesthetically pleasing due to the visibility of the tether bracket, which can detract from the interior design of the vehicle.
Innovation Solution
A tether cover structure is designed with a removable cover that conceals the lower portion of the tether bracket, integrating an upright panel, a trim panel, and a tether bracket, where the upper portion of the tether bracket extends through an opening in the trim panel, and the cover attaches to the trim panel to hide the lower portion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the tether bracket is located at the juncture of lower and upright seat portions, then the tether structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the aesthetic appearance deteriorates and safety hazards increase due to exposed hardware
Solution Approach 1:
A cover panel is introduced as an intermediary component between the tether bracket and the visible interior space. The cover panel conceals the tether bracket when the seat is in the upright position, eliminating the aesthetic and safety concerns of exposed hardware while maintaining the simple bracket location at the juncture of lower and upright seat portions.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover panel is designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing it to automatically adjust its position based on seat configuration. When the seat transitions between upright and folded positions, the cover panel moves accordingly to either conceal or expose the tether bracket, maintaining both aesthetics and functionality throughout the range of motion.
2Device complexity
If the tether bracket is located at the juncture of lower and upright seat portions, then the device complexity is reduced, but safety hazards increase due to exposed hardware
Solution Approach 1:
The cover panel serves as a protective intermediary that physically covers the tether bracket during normal operation, preventing direct contact with users and eliminating the safety hazard of exposed hardware while adding minimal complexity to the overall system.
3Shape
If a cover is added to conceal the tether bracket, then aesthetic appearance and safety are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cover panel is designed as a dynamic component that moves with the seat rather than being a separate fixed element. This integration allows the cover to perform its aesthetic and safety functions without requiring additional actuators or complex control mechanisms, thereby minimizing the increase in device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover panel serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides aesthetic coverage, prevents contact with hardware, and integrates with the seat structure. By combining multiple functions into a single component, the overall device complexity is minimized while achieving the desired improvements.
Data Source
AI summary
A tether cover structure has a trim panel, a tether bracket and a cover. The trim panel defines an opening with a lower portion being defined along an upright portion of the trim panel. An upper portion of the opening is defined along an upper horizontal ledge of the trim panel. The tether bracket has a lower portion that is attached to an upright panel and is aligned with the lower portion of the opening of the trim panel. The upper portion of the opening is dimensioned such that the tether bracket extends out of the upper portion of the opening. The cover is dimensioned to attach to the trim panel covering the lower portion of the opening concealing the lower portion of the tether bracket. The upper portion of the tether bracket extends upward through the upper portion of the opening.