Vehicle Door Leaf with Reduced Sub-Area for Mirror Clearance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle door and exterior mirror arrangements, particularly in commercial vehicles, face collisions due to the need for the door to be spaced far from the mirror structure during opening and closing, leading to a less compact design.

Innovation Solution

A compact arrangement where the door leaf has a reduced sub-area that creates space for the exterior mirror, allowing it to be positioned closer to the mirror, with a locking device and functional part to prevent collisions and secure the door during vehicle operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If the door leaf is positioned close to the exterior mirror construction, then the arrangement becomes more compact, but the door leaf collides with the exterior mirror construction during opening/closing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompactness of arrangementVSAvoidcollision avoidance
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The door leaf is segmented into a reduced sub-area (upper corner region) and a main body area. This segmentation allows the reduced sub-area to be recessed or shaped differently to create clearance for the exterior mirror construction, while the main body remains intact for its primary functions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The reduced sub-area is positioned in the upper corner region of the door leaf, utilizing the vertical and depth dimensions rather than just horizontal spacing. This dimensional approach allows compact horizontal arrangement while maintaining vertical clearance for the mirror construction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Reliability

If the door leaf has a reduced sub-area to accommodate the mirror, then collision is avoided, but the door leaf structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecollision avoidanceVSAvoiddoor leaf structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Only the upper corner region (reduced sub-area) of the door leaf is modified with a recessed or differently shaped configuration, while the rest of the door leaf maintains its standard structure. This localized modification minimizes structural complexity while achieving the collision avoidance function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Volume of moving object

If the reduced sub-area is filled out during opening/closing, then space utilization is improved, but the door motion control becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespace utilizationVSAvoiddoor motion control
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The reduced sub-area is designed to be dynamically filled or utilized during the door opening and closing motion sequence. The space is optimally used at specific moments in the door's travel, allowing compact overall design while maintaining simple mechanical motion control without complex active mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3421277B1Door wing provided with upper, reduced partial region for an outside mirror construction
Publication Date: 2022.08.10 MAN TRUCK & BUS SE
  • EP3421277B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3421277B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3421277B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to an arrangement (100) for mounting on a vehicle, preferably a commercial vehicle, in particular a bus or truck. The arrangement (100) comprises an exterior mirror assembly (1) with at least one mirror surface (S1, S2) and at least one door leaf (2). The arrangement (100) is characterized in particular by the fact that the door leaf (2) has a reduced section (3), wherein the reduced section (3) provides space for the exterior mirror assembly (1) to avoid collisions, preferably such that the reduced section (3) can be at least partially filled by the exterior mirror assembly.