Flush Door Handle Drive Mechanism for Parallel Motion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing door handle devices with complex drive units compromise comfort and safety, often leading to the handle getting stuck in intermediate positions and protruding from the door, which defeats the purpose of a flush design.

Innovation Solution

A simplified drive unit with a single drive element and transmission element that moves the handle part parallel to the door's surface, reducing the risk of getting stuck and allowing stable operation, featuring a linear drive mechanism that can be integrated into the handle's movement, with optional emergency stop surfaces and sensors for enhanced functionality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Shape

If a complex drive unit is used to move the handle part, then the handle device can achieve flush design, but the drive unit requires large space and allows complicated sequence of movements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflush designVSAvoiddrive unit complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The drive unit is segmented into minimal functional components: a single drive element (21) and a single transmission element (22.1, 22.2). This segmentation eliminates unnecessary sub-components and simplifies the overall drive mechanism while maintaining the flush design capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention extracts and removes unnecessary intermediate components from the drive chain. By using only one drive element and one transmission element, the patent takes out the complexity of multi-element drive units while preserving the essential function of moving the handle part between rest and operating positions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Ease of operation

If a complex drive unit with multiple transmission elements is used, then the handle part can be moved, but the handle part can remain in intermediate positions and get stuck

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandle part movementVSAvoidstable operation
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The drive element (21) is designed to move dynamically along a linear path parallel to the door surface, while the transmission element (22.1, 22.2) converts this linear motion to perpendicular handle part movement. This dynamic configuration ensures continuous motion without intermediate stopping positions, eliminating the risk of the handle getting stuck.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The transmission element (22.1, 22.2) acts as an intermediary that converts the linear motion of the drive element into the perpendicular motion required for handle part operation. This single intermediary element simplifies the motion conversion process and eliminates multiple intermediate positions where the handle could get stuck.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Shape

If the handle part is left in the operative position, then it protrudes disruptively from the door, but moving it back requires complex drive mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflush appearanceVSAvoiddrive mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The simplified drive unit with single drive and transmission elements enables the handle part to be easily moved between positions without requiring complex control mechanisms. The system serves itself by allowing intuitive manual operation while maintaining the ability to return to flush position, eliminating the need for sophisticated position control systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

4Device complexity

If a simple drive unit with one drive element and one transmission element is used, then the drive path is simplified, but sufficient drive effect must be maintained

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrive unit simplicityVSAvoiddrive effect
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The transmission element (22.1, 22.2) changes the dimension of motion from linear (parallel to door) to perpendicular (handle part movement). This dimensional transformation allows the simple drive unit to generate sufficient drive effect in the required direction while maintaining simplicity in the drive mechanism itself.

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

Data Source

PatentEP3482024B1Handle device with a surface-flush handle
Publication Date: 2020.11.18 HUF HÜLSBECK & FÜRST GMBH & CO KG
  • EP3482024B1 patent drawingFigure 1a~1c
  • EP3482024B1 patent drawingFigure 2a~2c
  • EP3482024B1 patent drawingFigure 2d~2e

AI summary

The invention relates to a handle device (10) for a movable part, in particular a door, of a motor vehicle, with a handle part (11) for actuating the movable part, with a carrier element (12) for fastening the handle device (10) on the movable part, wherein the handle part (11) is mounted on the carrier element (12) so as to be movable between a rest position (I) and an operating position (II), wherein the handle part (11) can be arranged in the rest position (I) with an outer surface (11a) surface-flush to an outer side (100) of the movable part, wherein, in the operating position (II), the handle part (11) can be moved out of an opening (101) in the outer side (100) of the movable part, and wherein, in the operating position (II), the handle part (11) can be operated to open the movable part, and with a drive unit (20) for driving the handle part (11) between the rest position (I) and the operating position (II). For this purpose, there is provision according to the invention that the drive unit (20) is configured in such a way that the outer surface (11a) of the handle part (11) is movable between the rest position (I) and the operating position (II) of the handle part (11) always parallel to the outer side (100) of the movable part.