Vehicle Trim Flange Soft Material Arc Profile Gap Reduction

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle trim structures are prone to gaps and varying contact angles due to the profile of the counterpart member, assembly path, or assembly method, affecting the appearance of the contact location between the vehicle trim and the counterpart member.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle trim structure with a flange end portion formed from a soft material and a circular arc-shaped cross-section contact face, which maintains a constant contact angle regardless of the profile or positional variations, and can be configured with a planar profile on one side and a circular arc on the other for improved aesthetics.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If a thickened portion is formed along the entire length of the upper edge flange to provide rigidity, then structural strength is improved, but the contact angle varies significantly due to warping and deformation, deteriorating the appearance

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverigidity of lower baseVSAvoidcontact angle consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The invention applies local quality by forming a thickened portion only at the specific location where the flange contacts the armrest, rather than along the entire length of the flange. This localized reinforcement provides the necessary rigidity at the contact point while minimizing the overall material usage and reducing the tendency for warping and deformation in other areas, thereby maintaining consistent contact angle and improving appearance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Manufacturing precision

If the flange is made rigid to maintain positional relationship, then assembly precision is improved, but the contact location appearance deteriorates due to gaps from warping

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepositional relationship between flange and counterpart memberVSAvoidappearance of contact location

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The invention applies local quality by forming a thickened portion only at the specific location where the flange contacts the armrest, rather than along the entire length of the flange. This localized reinforcement provides the necessary rigidity at the contact point while minimizing the overall material usage and reducing the tendency for warping and deformation in other areas, thereby maintaining consistent contact angle and improving appearance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Ease of manufacture

If the contact face is made flat for simplicity, then manufacturing complexity is reduced, but the contact angle varies with assembly variations, deteriorating appearance

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesimplicity of contact face geometryVSAvoidcontact angle consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The invention applies spheroidality by configuring the contact face of the thickened portion with a circular arc-shaped cross-section instead of a flat surface. This curved geometry ensures that the contact angle remains substantially constant even when the flange undergoes inward tucking or outward splaying during assembly, as the arc shape accommodates variations in positional relationship while maintaining a consistent aesthetic appearance at the contact location.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Data Source

PatentUS11142139B2Vehicle trim structure

Publication Date: 2021.10.12 NIFCO INC

AI summary

A vehicle trim structure includes a flange provided at a vehicle trim and configured to contact a counterpart member, wherein an end portion of the flange that is configured to contact the counterpart member is formed from a soft material, and a contact face of the end portion is configured with a circular arc-shaped cross-section profile.