Motor Vehicle Door Lock Partial Housing Design

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing motor vehicle door locks face challenges in providing optimal protection against environmental influences while allowing for easy conversion of connection means, as the joining zone between the actuation lever and connection means is often exposed to humidity and dirt.

Innovation Solution

A motor vehicle door lock design featuring an attachment element that acts as a partial housing, made from the same material as the main housing, which covers the joining zone and allows for easy assembly and conversion of connection means, such as Bowden cables or rods, by providing a releasable interlocking mechanism with pins and sockets.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If the joining zone between actuation lever and connection means is exposed for easy assembly, then ease of manufacture is improved, but protection against environmental influences deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of assemblyVSAvoidprotection against environmental influences

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The lock housing is divided into a main housing and a separate attachment element that forms a partial housing. This segmentation allows the attachment element to be specifically designed to cover and protect the joining zone while maintaining easy access during assembly. The modular design enables the protective function to be added without complicating the overall assembly process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The attachment element acts as an intermediary component between the main housing and the connection means. It provides a protective covering for the joining zone while still allowing the connection means to be mounted and converted. The attachment element mediates between the need for protection and the need for accessibility during assembly and maintenance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the attachment element provides complete coverage of the joining zone, then protection against environmental influences is improved, but accessibility for assembly and replacement deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection against environmental influencesVSAvoidaccessibility for assembly

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The attachment element is designed with dynamic characteristics, allowing it to be easily attached and detached. This dynamic design enables the element to provide complete coverage during normal operation for maximum protection, while allowing quick removal or opening during assembly and maintenance operations. The releasable interlocking mechanism facilitates this dynamic transition between protected and accessible states.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The attachment element is pre-designed with integrated mounting features and interlocking mechanisms that simplify the assembly process. The bearing seat and interlocking elements are prepared in advance to guide the connection means into the correct position, eliminating the need for complex alignment procedures and tools during assembly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If the attachment element is made as a separate component, then adaptability for different connection means is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconversion of connection meansVSAvoidassembly complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The attachment element is designed as a universal component that can accommodate different types of connection means (Bowden cables, rods, etc.). It provides standardized mounting features and a universal bearing seat that works with various connection types, eliminating the need for different attachment elements for different connection means and simplifying the overall device architecture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The attachment element combines multiple functions into a single component: it serves as a mounting structure for the connection means, a protective cover for the joining zone, and a structural element of the lock housing. By merging these functions, the design reduces the number of separate components needed and simplifies the overall assembly while maintaining adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS9540854B2Motor vehicle door lock

Publication Date: 2017.01.10 KIEKERT AG

AI summary

The invention relates to a motor vehicle door lock comprising at least one actuation lever (3) that is arranged in a lock housing (1, 2). Furthermore, a connection means (4, 5) is used for coupling the actuation lever (3) to an actuation element (6) arranged outside the lock housing (1, 2). Finally, an attachment element (2) is provided for mounting the connection means (4, 5) on the lock housing (1, 2). According to the invention, the attachment element (2) is designed as a partial housing (2) which can be combined with a main housing (1) to form the lock housing (1, 2) and which, in the mounted state, at least largely covers an opening (7) in the main housing (1) as well as a joining zone (8) between the actuation lever (3) and the connection means (4, 5).