Motor Vehicle Door Handle Cover Flap Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing motor vehicle door handle arrangements are mechanically complex, limiting design freedom and user comfort due to the need for high-speed sliding cover flaps that require complex linear guides, leading to potential waiting times and increased structural complexity.
Innovation Solution
A cover flap assembly with two pivotable cover flaps, each assigned to an access opening, that can be adjusted between covering and release positions using a motorized drive arrangement with a rack and pinion gear, allowing simultaneous engagement from both sides with minimal design effort and reduced visibility when in the covering position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single cover flap with sliding movement is used to cover the handle arrangement, then the handle can be covered when not in use, but the cover flap must move at high speed to avoid waiting times, leading to high structural complexity and complex linear guides
Solution Approach 1:
The single cover flap is divided into two separate cover flaps, each covering one access opening. This segmentation allows each flap to operate independently and pivot simultaneously without requiring complex linear guides, resolving the contradiction between reliability and device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using a linear sliding movement as in the prior art, the invention inverts the approach by using pivotable flaps that rotate on pivot axes. This inversion eliminates the need for complex linear guides while maintaining simultaneous access to both sides of the handle section
2Area of stationary object
If the cover flap arrangement uses a complex linear guide for sliding movement, then the cover flap can cover the entire handle section, but the design complexity increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces the complex linear guide mechanism with a simpler pivotable flap design. Each cover flap pivots on its own axis to cover its respective access opening, achieving full handle section coverage without requiring complex linear guides
Solution Approach 2:
The handle section is divided into two access openings, each covered by a separate pivotable cover flap. This segmentation eliminates the need for a single complex linear guide while maintaining comprehensive coverage of the handle section
3Ease of operation
If access openings are provided on both sides of the handle section, then user comfort is improved with immediate access from either side, but the exterior design is more disrupted when cover flaps are visible
Solution Approach 1:
The cover flaps are designed to be adjustable between covering and release positions, allowing them to be flush with the outer wall surface when covering the access openings. This local adjustment capability maintains exterior design appearance while providing easy access when needed
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 solution provides high user comfort and design freedom by enabling immediate access from both sides of the handle section with reduced structural complexity and minimal disruption, while the cover flaps are hardly perceptible in the covering position, enhancing the motor vehicle's exterior design.
Implementation Method 1
a feed gear (21) connected downstream of the drive motor (20)
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 3a~3b
AI summary
The invention relates to a cover flap arrangement for a handle assembly of a motor vehicle door, wherein the handle assembly has a handle section, in particular an elongated section, with an engagement area and two engagement openings arranged on either side of the handle section towards the engagement area. It is proposed that the cover flap arrangement has two cover flaps, each of which is adjustable between a covering position, in which they cover an engagement opening, in particular sealing it, when installed, and a release position, in which they release an engagement opening when installed.