Assist Grip Cover Guide Groove and Rib Alignment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
During the assembly of an assist grip onto a vehicle body, the cover sometimes inclines and gets locked in the middle of insertion, preventing it from entering the appropriate position in the hinge body, which hinders proper mounting.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of a guide groove on the inner side surface of the hinge body and a guide rib on the cover's side surface ensures that the cover is pushed in upright, avoiding mid-insertion locking, and providing increased sliding stability and strength for proper assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the cover is pushed into the hinge body during assembly, then the assist grip can be mounted to the vehicle body, but the cover may incline and get locked in the middle of insertion, preventing proper mounting
Solution Approach 1:
The guide groove is formed in advance on the inner side surface of the hinge body, and the guide rib is formed on the side surface of the cover. These guiding structures are prepared beforehand to ensure the cover enters the hinge body in an upright state during assembly, preventing inclination and mid-insertion locking.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide groove and guide rib act as intermediary guiding structures between the cover and hinge body. The guide rib on the cover fits into the guide groove on the hinge body, providing a sliding contact that maintains proper alignment and prevents the cover from inclining during insertion.
2Device complexity
If the cover is pushed into the hinge body without guiding structures, then the assembly process is simpler, but the cover may incline and get locked, requiring rework
Solution Approach 1:
The guide groove and guide rib are formed as integral parts of the hinge body and cover respectively during manufacturing. This preliminary formation of guiding structures ensures smooth assembly without requiring additional complex guiding mechanisms, balancing structural simplicity with assembly ease.
3Speed
If the cover enters the hinge body at an inclined state, then insertion may be easier initially, but the cover gets locked in the middle and cannot reach the appropriate position
Solution Approach 1:
The guide groove and guide rib serve as intermediary structures that control the insertion process. The guide rib fits into the guide groove, providing sliding contact that maintains upright orientation throughout insertion, ensuring both smooth movement and precise final positioning of the cover in the hinge body.
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
This solution enhances the workability of the assist grip assembly by ensuring the cover enters the hinge body correctly, improving the mounting process and securing the assist grip to the vehicle body with increased pull-out resistance.
Implementation Method 1
the cover is pushed into the hinge body in an upright state without inclination with respect to the hinge body due to fitting and sliding contact of the guide groove and the guide rib
Implementation Method 2
The mounting clip is formed of a metal having spring resiliency into a substantially U-shape
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A grip body (1) of an assist grip includes hinge bodies (21, 31) provided in hinge cavities (11, 12) on bases provided at opposite left and right ends, and the hinge bodies (21, 31) are pivotally connected to the hinge cavities (11, 12) at opposite sides via pivot shafts. A mounting clip (5) having spring resiliency is inserted into a rectangular opening (27, 37) provided substantially at the center of the hinge body (21, 31), and a cover (4) is assembled by inserting a clip support potion (42) into the inside of resilient legs at both sides of the mounting clip (5) so as to cover the front of the hinge body (21, 31). Between the cover (4) and the hinge body (21, 31), a guide groove (21 c, 31 c) and a guide rib (44) are provided so as to be fitted together and slidingly contact along a push-in direction of a part where the hinge member and the cover slidingly contact when the cover (4) is pushed.