Vehicle Door Link Arm Layout for Flush Hand Placement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional vehicular door devices have link arms that protrude from the inner side surface of the door, leading to potential issues with design and functionality.

Innovation Solution

A vehicular door device featuring first and second link arms with rotary coupling points, where the first link arm includes a hand placement portion that rotates integrally with it, supporting loads applied to this portion, and is configured to prevent protrusion from the inner side surface by using a bent shape and covers to enhance design and safety.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Shape

If the link arm is configured to prevent protrusion from the inner side surface of the door, then designability and safety are improved, but the ability to support load applied to the hand placement portion may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelink arm configurationVSAvoidload support capability

Core Design Contradiction:

ShapeVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The link arm is configured with a bent shape instead of a straight form, allowing it to prevent protrusion from the inner side surface while maintaining structural integrity and load support capability through optimized curvature geometry

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The link arm is divided into multiple sections with different functions: a hand placement portion for user interaction, a bent portion for preventing protrusion, and connection portions for mechanical linkage, allowing each segment to be optimized for its specific purpose

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If the link arm protrudes from the inner side surface of the door, then ease of operation may be improved, but designability and safety are worsened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperation convenienceVSAvoidlink arm configuration

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The link arm is nested within the door structure such that it does not protrude from the inner side surface, while still providing accessible hand placement portions for operation, effectively hiding the mechanical components within the available space

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the link arm is configured to prevent sandwiching between the link arm and door trim, then safety is improved, but device complexity may increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesandwiching preventionVSAvoidlink arm configuration

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The bent shape of the link arm creates clearance spaces that prevent sandwiching between the link arm and door trim, using geometric configuration rather than additional protective components to eliminate the hazard

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Data Source

PatentUS12139956B2Vehicular door device

Publication Date: 2024.11.12 AISIN CORP

AI summary

A vehicular door device causes a door to perform an opening-closing operation, based on an operation of a link mechanism formed of first and second link arms. Further, the first link arm is provided with a hand placement portion that rotates integrally with the first link arm. Then, the vehicular door device is configured in such a way that the first link arm supports a load applied to the hand placement portion.