Vehicle Door Blocking System with Breakable Link

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing door opening blocking systems for vehicles are either too bulky to fit within the internal structure of the door or fail to effectively block door opening during non-perpendicular lateral impacts.

Innovation Solution

A door opening blocking system comprising a lever with an actuation cam and a blocking device with a first section, a second section, and a break area, where the first section includes a projection that breaks the break area when pressure exceeds a specific value, causing the first section to move to a blocking position and hinder the actuation cam's movement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a rigid frame blocking device with three supporting points is used, then the door opening is effectively blocked during perpendicular lateral impacts, but the device occupies a large volume within the door structure and fails to block non-perpendicular impacts effectively

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedoor opening blocking effectivenessVSAvoidblocking device volume
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The blocking device is divided into two separate sections (first section with projection, second section) connected by a break area. This segmentation allows the device to occupy less space while maintaining blocking effectiveness, as the sections can collapse independently during impact rather than requiring a large rigid frame structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The blocking device transitions from a static rigid structure to a dynamic collapsible structure. The break area is designed to break under impact forces, allowing the first section to move from an initial position to a blocking position. This dynamic behavior enables effective blocking with reduced volume occupation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If a rigid frame blocking device is fixed at three different points, then perpendicular impacts are blocked effectively, but non-perpendicular impacts may not cause any fixing point to collapse, failing to block door opening

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveblocking effectiveness under various impact conditionsVSAvoidresponse to different impact directions
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of designing a structure that resists impact in all directions (traditional approach), the invention inverts the approach by designing a structure that is intentionally vulnerable to breaking in a specific way. The break area is designed to break under various impact directions, and this breaking action itself creates the blocking effect, rather than resisting the impact directly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The structural parameters of the blocking device are optimized to be asymmetric and directional. The projection and break area are configured with specific geometries that cause the device to respond differently to impacts from different directions, ensuring that breaking occurs and blocking is achieved regardless of impact angle.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 system effectively prevents accidental door opening during lateral impacts by ensuring the blocking device moves into position to obstruct the actuation cam's path, even under non-perpendicular impact conditions, without occupying excessive space within the door.

Implementation Method 1

the break area breaks, releasing a movement of the first section of the blocking device to a blocking position

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure: Pressure Increase

Implementation Method 2

the break area breaks

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFracture: Fracture Mechanics

Implementation Method 3

In the event of a lateral impact on the vehicle door, the force of the impact may be sufficient to deform the vehicle door, and thereby push the blocking device

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectImpact force: Impact Force

Data Source

PatentEP3795781B1Opening lock system for a vehicle door
Publication Date: 2025.02.12 SEAT SA
  • EP3795781B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3795781B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3795781B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Opening blocking system for a vehicle door comprising: a lever (1), pivotable with respect to a reinforcement element (2), wherein the lever (1) comprises an actuation cam (5), such that an actuation on the lever (1) causes movement of the cam (5) which in turn causes the unlocking of the door; a blocking device (6) comprising fixing means (12) for fixing to the reinforcement element (2) and can be moved to prevent the unlocking of the door; wherein the blocking device (6) comprises a first section (7) attached to a second section (8) through a break area (9), wherein the first section (7) comprises a projection (10) extending away from the reinforcement element (2), wherein the blocking device (6) is configured such that, when the projection (10) receives pressure, the break area (9) breaks, with the first section (7) moving such that the actuation path of the cam (5) is blocked.