Vehicle Door Latch With Redundant Inside Release Mechanism

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional vehicle door latch assemblies face challenges in reducing complexity, weight, and cost while improving performance, particularly in scenarios where a side impact damages the outer door panel, hindering the release of the locking mechanism via the outside release mechanism.

Innovation Solution

A door latch assembly with a locking mechanism equipped with a release link connected to an inside release lever, allowing the door to be opened by actuating the inside release mechanism, even if the outside release mechanism is damaged, through a ratchet and pawl mechanism that includes an inside release lever and a release link.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the door latch assembly uses a conventional outside release mechanism, then the door can be opened from the exterior, but the system becomes vulnerable to side impact damage that hinders release

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedoor release reliabilityVSAvoidside impact damage vulnerability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The release mechanism is segmented into two independent paths: an outside release mechanism and an inside release mechanism. Each can independently actuate the release link to disengage the pawl from the ratchet. This segmentation ensures that if one path is compromised by side impact damage, the other remains functional, thereby maintaining door release reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The design anticipates potential side impact damage to the outside release mechanism by providing a pre-configured alternative release path through the inside release mechanism. This prior cushioning ensures that even if the outside mechanism is damaged, the door can still be opened from the interior, preventing complete system failure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

2Reliability

If the door latch assembly includes both inside and outside release mechanisms, then alternative release paths are provided, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedoor release reliabilityVSAvoidrelease mechanism complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Both the inside release mechanism and outside release mechanism converge on a common release link that controls the pawl-ratchet engagement. By merging the two release paths at the release link, the patent achieves redundant release capability without duplicating the entire locking mechanism, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The release link serves multiple functions: it can be actuated by either the outside release mechanism or the inside release mechanism to achieve the same result of disengaging the pawl from the ratchet. This multi-functionality allows the system to provide alternative release paths without proportionally increasing complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS10214945B2Door latch assembly for motor vehicles

Publication Date: 2019.02.26 MAGNA CLOSURES INC

AI summary

A door latch assembly is equipped with a latch mechanism, a locking mechanism, an operating mechanism and inside and outside release mechanisms. The locking mechanism includes a release link that is connected to an inside release lever connected to the inside release mechanism. This arrangement permits a vehicle door to be opened from inside the passenger compartment via actuation of the inside release mechanism in the event the outside release mechanism is damaged.