Vehicle Door Handle With Adjustable Actuator-Cam Engagement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing door handle and locking systems for vehicles, such as recreational vehicles, often fail to accommodate doors of varying thicknesses without requiring modifications to the actuator or cam arm length, leading to inefficiencies and increased complexity.
Innovation Solution
A door handle and locking system with a modular design that includes an exterior housing, actuator, handle, lock, interior housing, latching mechanism, and catch member, allowing for flexible installation on doors of different thicknesses by adjusting the engagement points of the actuator and cam arm without altering their length.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the actuator and cam arm lengths are fixed, then the manufacturing and inventory management are simplified, but the system cannot accommodate doors of varying thicknesses
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements adjustability in the actuator-cam arm engagement system, allowing the engagement point to be moved along the actuator arm to accommodate different door thicknesses. This dynamic adjustment capability enables a single standardized actuator length to serve multiple door configurations without requiring customized components for each door thickness.
Solution Approach 2:
The door handle and locking system is designed with universal engagement features that can accommodate various door thicknesses using the same actuator and cam arm components. The standardized design allows the system to perform the same locking function across different door configurations, eliminating the need for multiple specialized component variants.
2Manufacturing precision
If customized actuator or cam arm lengths are used for different door thicknesses, then the system fits specific door configurations precisely, but the installation and inventory management become more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The engagement point between the actuator and cam arm is designed to be adjustable along the actuator arm, allowing installers to position the engagement point at different locations to match various door thicknesses. This dynamic positioning capability achieves precise fit for specific door configurations while maintaining standardized component lengths, thereby simplifying manufacturing and installation procedures.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the actuator and cam arm are designed with fixed engagement points, then the component design is simplified, but the system lacks flexibility for different installation scenarios
Solution Approach 1:
The actuator arm incorporates multiple engagement point positions that can be selectively used depending on the door thickness and installation scenario. This dynamic engagement point positioning allows the same actuator component to adapt to different installation scenarios, providing flexibility without requiring changes to the overall actuator length or design.
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
Enables seamless operation on doors with varying thicknesses, enhancing versatility and reducing the need for customized components, thereby simplifying installation and maintenance.
Implementation Method 1
The spring is positioned around the post on one side of the arm of the retainer and engages the arm of the retainer. The actuator and the retainer rotate with movement of the handle between the latched position and the unlatched position.
Implementation Method 2
The biasing member biases the handle into the closed position with the actuator extending substantially perpendicular to the rear wall of the exterior housing
Implementation Method 3
Moving the handle from the latched position to the unlatched position rotates the actuator so as to apply force to the cam arm and cause the cam arm to move along the lower surface of the actuator, thereby pivoting cam member in a first direction and disengaging the retaining projection from the second notch of the latch member
Data Source
AI summary
A door handle and locking system includes an exterior housing, a handle, a biasing member, an actuator, a lock, an interior housing, a latching mechanism, and a catch member. The latching mechanism includes a cam member having an arm, a latch member, and a biasing member. When the handle is moved from a latched position to an unlatched position, the actuator engages the arm of the cam member, which pivots the cam member and causes rotation of the latch member under the force of the biasing member, thereby disengaging latch member from the catch member. The actuator and cam member are configured for use with doors of differing thicknesses.