Vehicle Door Handle Pinless Hinge Design

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle door handles face challenges with high manufacturing and assembly costs due to the need for strong, metallic pins to withstand torsion efforts, which also complicate the assembly process.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle door handle design that eliminates the use of pins by employing a pivot mechanism and rolling surfaces, allowing the lever to rotate on a lock or dummy lock, thereby reducing effort dispersion and simplifying assembly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If metallic pins are used to hinge the mobile part to the fixed part, then the handle can withstand torsion efforts, but manufacturing and assembly costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetorsion resistanceVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the metallic pin from the hinge mechanism entirely. Instead of using a separate pin component, the invention integrates the hinge function directly into the interaction between the lever's swan neck and the lock body, eliminating the need for expensive metallic pins while maintaining structural integrity and torsion resistance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines the hinge function with the existing lever and lock body components. The swan neck of the lever and the corresponding receptacle in the lock body are designed to work together as an integrated hinge mechanism, merging what were previously separate functions (hinge and locking) into a unified structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Strength

If metallic pins are used to hinge the mobile part to the fixed part, then the handle can withstand torsion efforts, but assembly time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetorsion resistanceVSAvoidassembly time
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

By removing the metallic pin component entirely, the assembly process is simplified. The lever can be directly attached to the lock body through the swan neck and receptacle interface without requiring separate pin insertion steps, reducing assembly time and complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The hinge mechanism is segmented into the swan neck portion of the lever and the receptacle portion of the lock body, allowing for modular assembly. This segmentation enables the lever to be attached to the lock body in a straightforward manner without requiring complex pin fitting procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If strong material pins are used to resist torsion efforts, then the hinge is durable, but the complexity of the system increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehinge durabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent eliminates the separate pin component that added to system complexity. By removing this element, the hinge mechanism becomes simpler while maintaining durability through the optimized swan neck and receptacle design that directly withstand torsion loads.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The hinge function is merged with the lever and lock body structures themselves. The swan neck and receptacle are designed as integral parts of these components, eliminating the need for separate hinge hardware and reducing overall system complexity while maintaining structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 results in a more reliable, efficient, and cost-effective door handle with reduced assembly time, as it disperses efforts better than traditional pin-based systems and eliminates the need for expensive pin materials.

Implementation Method 1

the lever and the insertable body comprise a rolling surface and a pivot forming a hinge around which the lever is rotationally mobile

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRolling:

Data Source

PatentEP2687652B1Vehicle door handle and method to assemble such door handle
Publication Date: 2017.05.17 U SHIN ITALIA SPA
  • EP2687652B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2687652B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2687652B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The invention relates to a vehicle door handle (1), comprising: - a lever (3), rotationally mobile between a rest position, and a release position, - a handle mechanism (77), configured to release the opening of a vehicle door when actuated, the handle mechanism (77) being actuated by the lever (3) when said lever (3) is in release position, - an insertable body (5), the lever (3) and the insertable body (5) comprising a rolling surface (58) and a pivot (35) forming a hinge around which the lever (3) is rotationally mobile, one of the two being comprised in the lever (3), and the other one in the insertable body (5).