Vehicle Door Lock Bulged Housing for Modular Mechanisms
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing door lock devices for vehicles lack a design that allows for easy handling during assembly and have limited internal space for additional features, restricting the use of common parts for various specifications.
Innovation Solution
A door lock device with a bulged portion on its inner side, housing a latch mechanism and interchangeable power child and super lock mechanisms, including electric motors and gears, which enables easy specification changes and improved hand-holding functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a recessed surface is provided on the housing to enable easy handling, then the door lock device is easy to hold during assembly, but the inner space of the housing is reduced, limiting the mounting of additional parts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves the space conflict by utilizing the outer surface of the housing rather than consuming internal space. The bulged portion extends outward from the housing exterior, providing a finger-hooking surface that improves handling without encroaching on the internal mounting space needed for additional parts like power child lock mechanisms.
2Reliability
If the door lock device is designed with a fixed structure to ensure stability, then the device is reliable, but it cannot accommodate different specifications or additional functions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the door lock device into modular components: a standardized housing and latch mechanism that remain fixed for reliability, and interchangeable functional modules (power child lock mechanism, super lock mechanism) that can be selectively mounted. This segmentation allows the base structure to maintain stability while accommodating different specifications through module replacement.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing is designed with universal mounting capabilities that can accommodate multiple types of lock mechanisms. The standardized mounting interface allows the same housing to support different functional specifications (manual child lock, power child lock, super lock) without requiring structural changes, enabling one housing design to serve multiple functions.
3Adaptability or versatility
If additional functions like power child lock or super lock are integrated into the door lock device, then the device provides enhanced functionality, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Additional functions are implemented as separate, self-contained mechanism modules that can be independently mounted on the housing. The power child lock mechanism and super lock mechanism are distinct modular units with their own components (electric motor, gear, link), allowing enhanced functionality without complicating the base door lock structure. Each module can be installed or removed without affecting other functions.
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 bulged portion facilitates easy handling and allows for specification changes by accommodating different lock mechanisms within the same device, enhancing usability and versatility without restricting additional feature integration.
Implementation Method 1
an electric motor; a power child gear, disposed on an upper side or a lower side of the child lock mechanism, being driven by the electric motor
Data Source
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AI summary
A door lock device 10a includes a bulged portion 30 that extends in an up-and-down direction on the inner side of a cabin, a latch mechanism 23 that locks a door by becoming engaged with a striker S, a child lock lever 62 that disables an operation of opening the door using an inside handle by actuating the latch mechanism 23 based on an operation of switching a child lock knob 28 to ON, and a power child lock mechanism 64 that electrically operates the child lock lever 62. The power child lock mechanism 64 includes a second motor 66, a power child gear 70 that is positioned above the child lock lever 62 and that is driven by the second motor 66, and a power child link 72 that joins the power child gear 70 and the child lock lever 62. The power child link 72 is positioned in the internal space of the bulged portion 30.