Bowden Cable Clip Structure for Secure Tailgate Manual Unlocking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing motor vehicle luggage compartment or tailgate locking systems do not allow for easy manual unlocking from within the vehicle's interior space, and there is a need for a stable and easily assembled clip that can securely mount a Bowden cable for manual unlocking.
Innovation Solution
A clip with a housing and a closed frame featuring an arcuate portion and lateral projections that provide a spring action, allowing for secure attachment of a Bowden cable sheath and rope, enabling manual unlocking of the luggage compartment or tailgate from inside the vehicle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a clip with spring action is used to mount the Bowden cable sheath, then the ease of assembly is improved, but the stability under tensile loading must be maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The clip incorporates a spring action mechanism that allows dynamic adaptation to assembly variations while maintaining stable engagement. The spring-loaded design enables the clip to flex during assembly and then hold the Bowden cable sheath firmly under tensile loads, resolving the contradiction between ease of assembly and stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The clip is designed with separable functional elements: the housing, the spring action mechanism, and the engagement features. This segmentation allows the spring action to provide easy assembly while the reinforced engagement features maintain stability under load, addressing both requirements simultaneously.
2Ease of operation
If the clip structure is simplified for easy assembly, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability of secure mounting must be ensured
Solution Approach 1:
The clip features self-aligning engagement elements and a spring action mechanism that automatically adjusts to the Bowden cable sheath during assembly. This self-service capability ensures reliable mounting without requiring complex alignment procedures or multiple assembly steps, thus maintaining both ease of operation and reliability.
3Strength
If the clip is designed with reinforcing ribs for stability, then the strength is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Reinforcing ribs are strategically positioned only in critical areas of the clip where tensile loads are concentrated, rather than uniformly throughout the entire structure. This localized reinforcement provides the necessary strength while minimizing the increase in overall structural complexity and material usage.
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
The clip ensures stable and secure attachment of the Bowden cable, allowing for effective manual unlocking of the lock, enhancing safety and convenience by providing a reliable mechanism for emergency unlocking from within the vehicle.
Implementation Method 1
The closed frame has a spring action and can be deformed elastically at the level of the two laterally running portions
Data Source
AI summary
A clip includes a housing with a passage opening and a closed frame where the housing is surrounded by the closed frame or the housing is a constituent part of the closed frame. The closed frame has two laterally running portions and the two laterally running portions are connected to one another by an arcuate portion which is formed opposite the housing. The closed frame has a spring action and is deformable elastically at a level of the two laterally running portions. A respective projection which protrudes from the clip and which is engageable at an intended assembly point with a hooking-behind action is formed on the two laterally running portions on an outer surface of the clip pointing away from the closed frame.