Vehicle Door Ball Joint Cover for Secure Retention Assembly

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing opening and closing devices for vehicle doors are susceptible to issues such as reduced coupling strength and ease of ball disengagement, leading to instability during operation.

Innovation Solution

The proposed opening and closing device incorporates a shaft member with a telescopic design, a socket with a housing portion for the ball, an elastic body to hold the ball, and a cover that restricts displacement at a specific position, enhancing coupling strength by sandwiching the housing portion and fitting protrusions into recesses.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If the opening and closing device uses a simple ball joint connection, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the coupling strength and stability deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidcoupling strength

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The ball joint is divided into separate components: a ball, a socket with housing portion, an elastic body, and a cover. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured independently using standard processes, while the assembled structure provides enhanced coupling strength through multiple interaction points including the elastic engagement and cover fixation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The elastic body is nested within the socket, and the cover is mounted over the socket to form a layered structure. The elastic body fits within the housing portion, creating a nested arrangement that enhances coupling strength while maintaining a compact design that is easy to manufacture as an integrated assembly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Ease of operation

If the opening and closing device allows easy ball insertion, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability of ball retention deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of operationVSAvoidball retention

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The elastic body is pre-configured within the socket to be in a state that allows the ball to be inserted easily. The elastic body can be compressed or deformed during insertion and then automatically returns to its original shape, securing the ball in place. This preliminary configuration enables easy operation during installation while ensuring reliable retention during use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The elastic deformation of the elastic body, which could be seen as a temporary compromise in structural rigidity, is actually beneficial as it allows easy ball insertion. After insertion, the elastic recovery force provides the retention mechanism, converting the temporary flexibility into a reliable locking action that prevents ball disengagement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Strength

If the cover is mounted at the restricting position, then the coupling strength is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoupling strengthVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cover includes asymmetric features such as a protrusion on one side and a corresponding recess on the socket, along with side walls that sandwich the housing portion. This asymmetric design provides directional guidance for assembly and enhances coupling strength through uneven load distribution, while the features are simple geometric shapes that do not significantly increase manufacturing complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

Solution Approach 2:

The ball joint connection inherently uses spherical geometry (ball and socket), and the cover maintains this curvature theme with its rounded contours that fit over the socket. The protrusion and recess features are integrated into the curved surfaces, allowing the cover to be molded as a single piece without complex machining, thus balancing enhanced coupling strength with manageable device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

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 configuration increases the coupling strength and stability of the device by allowing easy ball insertion while preventing disengagement, thereby improving the mounting and operational reliability of the vehicle door system.

Implementation Method 1

an elastic body supported by the socket and configured to hold the ball together with the socket

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS12196253B2Opening and closing device

Publication Date: 2025.01.14 AISIN CORP

AI summary

An opening and closing device couples a vehicle body having an opening to a body that opens and closes the opening, at least one of the vehicle body and the body including a ball stud including a ball, the opening and closing device including: a shaft member; a socket fixed to an end of the shaft member, including a housing portion that houses the ball, and constituting a ball joint together with the ball; an elastic body supported by the socket and holding the ball with the socket; and a cover mounted at a restricting position where displacement of the elastic body relative to the socket is restricted. The cover includes two side walls sandwiching the housing portion, one of the housing portion and the side walls has a recess, and the other has a protrusion fitted into the recess when the cover is at the restricting position.