Vehicle Door Handle Delay Mechanism Prevents Finger Clamping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional door handle arrangements pose a risk of finger clamping when the handle part is pivoted back from an exposed working position into a flush resting position, leading to potential injury.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a blocking and/or delay mechanism that ensures the handle part transitions from the ready position back into the resting position with a time delay and/or in a braked or dampened manner, preventing sudden clamping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the handle part is manually movable from a flush resting position into an exposed working position, then the handle part is accessible and grippable by the operator, but the operator's fingers may be clamped between the handle part and the vehicle body when the handle part is transferred back into its resting position
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a delay mechanism that slows down the return movement of the handle part from the exposed working position to the flush resting position. This cushioning effect prevents the handle part from suddenly snapping back, thereby eliminating the finger clamping hazard while maintaining full accessibility during normal operation
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a delay mechanism is introduced to prevent finger clamping, then safety is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The delay mechanism is designed to automatically engage and disengage based on the handle part's position. During the return movement, the mechanism self-activates to provide the delay effect, then self-deactivates when the handle reaches the resting position, eliminating the need for external control systems or additional actuators
3Shape
If the handle part is kept flush with the vehicle body in resting position, then aerodynamics and aesthetics are improved, but the handle part becomes less accessible for operation
Solution Approach 1:
The handle part is designed to be dynamic rather than static, transitioning between a flush resting position for aerodynamics and aesthetics, and an exposed working position for accessibility. The delay mechanism ensures that even during the transition back to the flush position, the movement is controlled to prevent injury
Data Source
AI summary
An actuating apparatus for a door lock of a vehicle door, in particular as part of a door handle arrangement of a vehicle door, wherein the actuating apparatus has a handle part that is grippable by a hand and is configured in order to be transferable between a resting position and a ready position, and wherein the handle part is manually movable from the ready position into an actuating position and is in particular pivotably or linearly extendable, wherein the actuating apparatus is configured in order to actuate the door lock when the handle part reaches or has reached the actuating position. The actuating apparatus has a blocking and/or delay mechanism, which cooperates with the handle part such that the handle part is transferable from the ready position back into the resting position only with a time delay and/or only in an at least partially braked or dampened manner.