Vehicle Door Assembly with Spring-Loaded Lever Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicles lack a convenient method for partially opening a door from a remote location, requiring users to manually operate the door handle, which can be cumbersome when hands are occupied.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle assembly comprising an actuator, lever, and spring mechanism that allows partial opening of the door when the user is not physically interacting with the door handle, utilizing a remote key fob to initiate unlatching and a spring-loaded lever to push the door to a partially open position, enabling hands-free full opening.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual operation is used to open the vehicle door, then the door can be opened reliably, but it requires manual intervention which is inconvenient when hands are occupied
Solution Approach 1:
The door opening system uses a spring mechanism that automatically pushes the door to a partially open position after unlatching, without requiring manual pushing. The spring stores energy when the door is closed and automatically converts it to kinetic energy to move the door, making the system serve itself rather than requiring continuous manual intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring is pre-loaded with potential energy while the door is in the closed position. When the door is unlatched, this pre-stored energy is immediately converted to kinetic energy to push the door open, performing the opening action in advance of any manual intervention the user might need to make.
2Ease of operation
If a remote opening mechanism is added to enable hands-free operation, then convenience is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spring acts as an intermediary energy storage device between the door latch mechanism and the door itself. Instead of directly connecting the latch to the door movement, the spring serves as a mediator that stores and releases energy, enabling the door to move automatically after unlatching without requiring complex direct-actuation mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces complex electronic or motorized remote opening systems with a simple mechanical spring mechanism. The spring-based mechanical system achieves hands-free partial opening functionality without requiring sensors, motors, or complex control electronics, thereby reducing overall device complexity while maintaining the desired convenience.
3Productivity
If the door is partially opened automatically, then manual effort is reduced, but the mechanism becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The spring mechanism is integrated into the existing door latch assembly, combining the unlatching function and the partial opening function into a single unified mechanism. This merging approach allows the door to be partially opened automatically using the same mechanical components that handle the latch, avoiding the need for separate complex systems for each function.
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
Enables users to partially open the vehicle door without manual intervention, allowing for easy full opening even when hands are occupied, enhancing convenience and accessibility.
Implementation Method 1
a spring coupled between the lever and the actuator shaft. The spring biases the lever toward the pillar
Implementation Method 2
a lever pivotally coupled to the vehicle door and a spring coupled between the lever and the actuator shaft
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle includes a vehicle body having a pillar, a vehicle door movably coupled to the vehicle body, and an assembly for at least partially opening the vehicle door. The assembly is coupled to the vehicle door and includes an actuator having an actuator body and an actuator shaft movable relative to the actuator body between a retracted position and an extended position. Further, the assembly includes a lever pivotally coupled to the vehicle door and a spring coupled between the lever and the actuator shaft. The spring biases the lever toward the pillar. When the vehicle door is unlatched, the lever exerts a force on the pillar and, consequently, pushes the vehicle door away from the pillar to a partially open position. The present disclosure also relates to the assembly for at least partially opening the vehicle door as described above.