Vehicle Door Handle Resettable Locking System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Door handle assemblies in vehicles are prone to sticking in an extended position during impacts, rendering them inoperable and failing to return to the at-rest position, which is crucial for proper latching and safety.
Innovation Solution
A door handle assembly with a spherical member retained within a rotatable handle, guided by a retainer with prongs and clips, allowing it to move between a rest and a blocking position, where the blocking protuberance forces the spherical member back to the rest position upon outward pull, preventing unintended latching and enabling easy reset.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a metal ball is retained within a housing pathway to prevent door opening during impact, then the door locking reliability is improved, but the handle assembly becomes prone to sticking in extended position and failing to return to at-rest position
Solution Approach 1:
The handle assembly is divided into separate functional components: the handle body, the spherical member, the retainer with prongs, and the blocking protuberance. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, enabling the spherical member to be contained within the handle body while the retainer guides its movement, and the blocking protuberance provides reset force without interfering with normal operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The retainer with prongs and clips acts as an intermediary mechanism between the spherical member and the blocking protuberance. It guides the spherical member's movement and transmits the blocking force from the protuberance to the spherical member during impact, while also enabling the reset function by allowing the spherical member to be pushed back to its initial position.
2Ease of operation
If the spherical member is allowed to move freely between rest and blocking positions to enable easy reset, then the ease of operation is improved, but the door may become vulnerable to unintended opening
Solution Approach 1:
The blocking protuberance is positioned and dimensioned to engage the spherical member at a specific blocking position before the handle can reach a position that would allow unintended door opening. This preliminary blocking action prevents the harmful effect (unintended opening) from occurring in the first place, while still allowing normal operation when the spherical member is in its rest position.
Solution Approach 2:
The spherical member is designed to be movable between rest and blocking positions rather than fixed, allowing the system to dynamically respond to impact forces. During normal operation, the spherical member remains in the rest position allowing handle movement. During impact, it transitions to the blocking position to prevent unintended opening, and can be reset by applying force in the opposite direction.
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 handle assembly effectively prevents sticking and returns to the at-rest position after impacts, ensuring proper latching and safety by utilizing a spherical member that moves between rest and blocking positions, allowing for easy reset without damage.
Implementation Method 1
During a crash, for example, a free moving lock may not return to an at-rest position. Instead, the handle may be stuck in an extended position when subjected to an external force, such as during a crash.
Implementation Method 2
The metal ball 20 is biased by a helical spring 21 into a releasing position, as shown in FIG. 1.
Implementation Method 3
the blocking protuberance forces the spherical member from the blocking position back into the rest position in response to the handle being outwardly pulled
Data Source
AI summary
A door handle assembly for a door of a vehicle includes a housing that is configured to form part of or otherwise connect to the door, and a handle moveably coupled to the housing. The handle includes a spherical member that is configured to move between a rest position and a blocking position.