Vehicle Door Locking Mechanism with Slidable Stopper

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle door night lock systems, when not correctly installed, fail to prevent unauthorized opening from outside, even with authorized keys, due to their separate installation and lack of integration with the door latching mechanism.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle door locking mechanism that integrates a slidable stopper with the door latch, allowing manual actuation from inside to block the control paddle's rotation, preventing the door from being opened from outside, even with an authorized key, by intercepting the rotational pathway of the control lever and providing a resistive force.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a separate mechanical night lock is installed on the door panel, then privacy protection is improved, but installation complexity increases and reliability decreases if not correctly installed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprivacy protection reliabilityVSAvoidinstallation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The stopper mechanism is integrated into the existing door latch assembly, merging the privacy protection function with the door locking mechanism. This eliminates the need for separate night lock installation while ensuring reliable integration with the door's existing latching system, resolving both the installation complexity and reliability issues.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The stopper is designed to be manually operable by the user without requiring professional installation or specialized interfaces. The simple manual operation allows users to activate privacy protection themselves, eliminating installation complexity while maintaining reliability through direct user control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a separate mechanical night lock is used, then privacy protection is improved, but the risk of unauthorized opening increases if installation is incorrect

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveunauthorized opening riskVSAvoidprivacy protection reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

By integrating the stopper directly into the door latch mechanism, the system ensures that the privacy protection function is mechanically coupled with the door's existing secure latching system. This integration eliminates the risk of incorrect installation while maintaining reliable protection against unauthorized opening, as the stopper becomes part of the proven door locking system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If the stopper blocks the control lever rotation, then door security from outside is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedoor securityVSAvoidlatch mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The stopper mechanism is merged with the existing door latch assembly, utilizing the same housing and structural elements. This integration adds the security function of blocking control lever rotation without significantly increasing overall device complexity, as it leverages the existing latch mechanism's components and space.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The stopper is designed as a movable component that can be positioned to block or allow control lever rotation as needed. This dynamic design allows the mechanism to adapt between different security states without requiring a completely separate static locking device, thereby minimizing complexity while maintaining security.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4528055A1Vehicle door locking mechanism
Publication Date: 2025.03.26 MINEBEA ACCESSSOLUTIONS FRANCE
  • EP4528055A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4528055A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4b
  • EP4528055A1 patent drawingFigure 5~6a

AI summary

Vehicle door locking mechanism (100) comprising a lock cylinder (10) for locking or unlocking a vehicle door (1) by rotating a control paddle (20) linked to a door latch (30), the vehicle door locking mechanism (100) comprises a slidable stopper (40) which can be manually actuated from inside the door (1) between a first position allowing rotation of the control paddle (20) and a second position in which said stopper (40) blocks rotation of the control paddle (20) preventing therefore opening of the vehicle door (1) from outside.