Vehicle Door Reinforcing Bracket for Impact Latch Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
During an impact event, vehicle door assemblies fail to effectively retain the door in a closed orientation due to the distribution of impact energy to adjacent pillar structures, which can cause the door latch mechanism to operate improperly, leading to potential door opening.
Innovation Solution
A reinforcing bracket is designed to deform and move its lever capture portion toward the latch lever, interfering with its movement and preventing the door latch mechanism from operating, thereby maintaining the door assembly in a closed orientation. The bracket includes a main body, attachment, lever capture, and tab portions, which are strategically positioned and shaped to absorb and redirect impact forces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the door assembly relies on the latch mechanism to maintain closed orientation during impact, then the door can be easily opened under normal conditions, but the door may fail to remain closed during impact events due to impact energy distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The reinforcing bracket acts as an intermediary element between the door panel and the latch mechanism. It includes a lever capture portion that physically blocks the latch lever during impact events, preventing unintended door opening while allowing normal operation when the bracket is in its original position
Solution Approach 2:
The reinforcing bracket is designed to be deformable under impact forces. It includes a tab portion that can bend toward the latch mechanism during impact, transforming the bracket from a static structural element to a dynamic protective mechanism that activates only when needed
2Reliability
If the reinforcing bracket is designed to deform and block the latch lever during impact, then door retention is improved, but the bracket structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The reinforcing bracket is segmented into distinct functional portions: a main body for structural support, a tab portion for deformation and activation, a lever capture portion for blocking the latch, and an attachment portion for mounting. This segmentation allows each portion to be optimized for its specific function while simplifying the overall design and manufacturing process
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 reinforcing bracket effectively prevents the door latch mechanism from releasing the door during impact events, ensuring the door remains closed by deforming to interfere with the latch lever's movement, thus enhancing safety by maintaining the door's closed orientation under varying impact forces.
Implementation Method 1
the reinforcing bracket is shaped and dimensioned to deform moving the lever capture portion inboard toward the latch lever
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle door assembly includes an inner door panel that defines a door cavity, a latch mechanism and a reinforcing bracket. The latch mechanism has a latch lever that moves when the latch mechanism is operated to release the vehicle door from a closed orientation. The reinforcing bracket has a first end and a second end. The first end is attached to a forward area of the inner door panel. The second end has an attachment portion, a lever capture portion and a tab portion. The attachment portion is attached to a rearward area of the inner door panel. The lever capture portion is outboard from the latch lever. The tab portion is adjacent to the lever capture portion. The reinforcing bracket is shaped and configured to deform in response to an impact event moving the lever capture portion inboard toward the latch lever interfering with movement thereof.