Vehicle Assist Grip Hinge Insertion Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing assist grip for vehicles faces difficulties in inserting the turning shaft of the hinge member into the grip-bearing concave portion, requiring bending of the upright portion, which compromises rigidity and often necessitates additional components for retention.

Innovation Solution

The assist grip features concave portions with opposing groove portions and turning shafts that allow easy insertion without bending, utilizing a stopper member for reliable fixation and reducing component count through a damper and coil spring mechanism.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the upright portion is bent to insert the turning shaft into the grip-bearing concave portion, then the insertion operation becomes possible, but the upright portion lacks rigidity and requires additional components for retention

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinsertion operationVSAvoidupright portion rigidity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The groove portion is divided into multiple sections: a guide groove for insertion alignment, a through-hole for the turning shaft passage, and a retention groove for securing the shaft. This segmentation allows the upright portion to maintain rigidity while enabling easy insertion and reliable retention without bending.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The groove portion acts as an intermediary structure that mediates between the turning shaft and the upright portion. It provides a guided path for insertion and a retention mechanism for securing the shaft, eliminating the need to bend the upright portion while ensuring proper positioning and fixation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If the upright portion is made thin to enable bending, then the insertion operation becomes possible, but the structural strength is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinsertion operationVSAvoidupright portion strength
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The groove portion is divided into multiple sections: a guide groove for insertion alignment, a through-hole for the turning shaft passage, and a retention groove for securing the shaft. This segmentation allows the upright portion to maintain rigidity while enabling easy insertion and reliable retention without bending.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The groove portion acts as an intermediary structure that mediates between the turning shaft and the upright portion. It provides a guided path for insertion and a retention mechanism for securing the shaft, eliminating the need to bend the upright portion while ensuring proper positioning and fixation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Device complexity

If no damper is provided, then the structure is simpler, but a separate component is required for retaining the turning shaft

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructure simplicityVSAvoidnumber of components
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The damper is integrated with the upright portion as a unified structure, merging the damping function and the retention function into a single component. The groove portion of the damper serves both to guide the turning shaft during insertion and to retain it in the inserted position, eliminating the need for separate retention components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The damper structure performs multiple functions: it provides damping during the turning motion of the assist grip and simultaneously serves as a retention mechanism for the turning shaft through its groove portion. This multi-functionality reduces the overall component count while maintaining structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3064395B1Assist grip
Publication Date: 2019.07.17 NIFCO INC
  • EP3064395B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3064395B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5
  • EP3064395B1 patent drawingFigure 6~8

AI summary

An assist grip attached to an inside of a vehicle cabin of an automobile is provided with a grip main member including a pair of concave portions formed at both ends in a longitudinal direction, and a pair of groove portions formed at sections opposing in the longitudinal direction on respective peripheral walls of the concave portions; a hinge including a pair of upright portions housed in the concave portions, and separated by a predetermined interval, and a pair of round boss portions protruding from both outer sides of the upright portions, and formed to respectively pass through the pair of groove portions; a bearing concave portion provided in one groove portion and into which the round boss portion is inserted; and a stopper member preventing a disconnection from a state of rotational shaft insertion wherein the round boss portion is inserted into the bearing concave portion.