Vehicle Door Bezel Breakaway Attachment for Latch Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
In current vehicle door constructions, the inner door trim panel can separate from the inner panel during a rear vehicle impact, causing the door release lever and linkage to disengage and inadvertently trigger the door latch to open.
Innovation Solution
A bezel with breakaway portions is attached to both the door trim panel and inner panel, allowing it to remain fixedly attached to the inner panel even if the trim panel separates, using a pair of first attachments that break away from the bezel to release it from the trim panel while maintaining attachment to the inner panel via a second attachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the bezel is fixedly attached to both the door trim panel and door inner panel, then the door release lever remains secure during normal operation, but the entire assembly including the door release cable may disengage during a rear impact
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment system is divided into two distinct attachment mechanisms: a first attachment connecting the bezel to the door trim panel, and a second attachment connecting the bezel to the door inner panel. This segmentation allows the first attachment to fail safely during impact while the second attachment maintains the critical door release lever engagement, preventing unintended door opening.
2Strength
If the first attachments are made strong to prevent bezel separation from trim panel, then normal operation is maintained, but the trim panel cannot separate during impact to protect occupants
Solution Approach 1:
The first attachments are designed with localized structural features (such as reduced thickness or intentional stress concentration points) that create a predetermined failure point. This local quality difference ensures that the first attachments fail at a lower force threshold during impact, allowing the trim panel to separate and absorb impact energy, while the second attachment maintains sufficient strength to keep the door release lever engaged.
Data Source
AI summary
The vehicle door construction includes a bezel carrying a door release lever and linkage connected by a pair of first attachments to a door trim panel and by a second attachment to a door inner panel. The pair of first attachments includes a collar with an aperture for receiving a fastener to attach the bezel via the collar to the door trim panel. A small tab integrally connects the collar to a main portion of the bezel and defines a rupturable area when force is exerted on the door causing the door trim panel to separate from the door inner panel. The tabs rupture to allow the door trim panel to separate from the door inner panel while maintaining the bezel and the door release lever and linkage fixedly attached to the door inner panel.