Flush Door Handle with Rotating Grip and Inner Bracket
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Solution Overview
Problem
Flush-style motor-vehicle door handles are complex, prone to ice buildup, and difficult to install, while traditional handles are not ergonomic and increase aerodynamic noise.
Innovation Solution
A door handle design featuring an inner bracket mechanism and an outer bezel mechanism with a rotatable grip mechanism that extends inward for user access, allowing for ergonomic operation without direct mechanical dependence on the door leaf, and includes features like elastic return elements and a Bowden cable for unlatching, enhancing installation ease and aerodynamic performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If flush-style handles are used to achieve an invisible appearance and reduce aerodynamic noise, then aerodynamic performance is improved, but the device complexity increases and ice buildup problems occur
Solution Approach 1:
The door handle is divided into two independent mechanisms: an outer bezel mechanism with the grip visible from outside, and an inner bracket mechanism mounted inside the door. This segmentation allows the external appearance to remain simple and flush while the internal mechanism can be optimized independently, reducing overall complexity and preventing ice buildup on the external portion.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a clearance (gap) between the outer bezel mechanism and the door leaf as an intermediary space. This clearance allows the grip mechanism to rotate and operate the latch while remaining visually integrated with the door surface, maintaining the flush appearance without requiring the grip to be completely embedded, thus preventing ice accumulation.
2Ease of manufacture
If traditional protruding handles are used for simple construction, then ease of manufacture is improved, but ergonomics deteriorate and aerodynamic noise increases
Solution Approach 1:
The outer bezel mechanism provides a localized ergonomic grip area that protrudes only when needed for operation, while the rest of the door handle maintains a flush appearance. This local quality approach allows traditional manufacturing simplicity for the door integration while providing enhanced ergonomics at the specific interaction point.
3Ease of operation
If the grip mechanism is rotatable between flush and opening positions, then ergonomics are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the outer bezel mechanism and inner bracket mechanism into a single integrated door handle assembly. The rotation mechanism is shared between both mechanisms, allowing the grip to rotate between flush and opening positions without requiring separate complex mechanisms for each function, thus improving ergonomics while controlling overall complexity.
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
The design provides an ergonomic, aerodynamically efficient, and easy-to-manufacture door handle that reduces ice buildup issues and simplifies installation while maintaining a flush, invisible appearance.
Implementation Method 1
the grip mechanism includes a grip elastic return element configured to drive the grip lever to the resting position
Implementation Method 2
the latch mechanism includes a Bowden cable; the latch mechanism pulls the Bowden cable such that the opening leaf is unlatched
Data Source
AI summary
A handle for a vehicle opening leaf includes an inner bracket mechanism and an outer bezel mechanism. The inner bracket mechanism is mounted from an inside of the opening leaf. The outer bezel mechanism is mounted from an outside of the opening leaf and is fixed to the inner bracket mechanism. The outer bezel mechanism includes a bezel and a grip mechanism. The bezel extends inward to an interior of the opening to allow access by a hand to the grip mechanism. The grip mechanism is configured to cooperate with a latch mechanism so as to unlatch the opening leaf. The grip mechanism is rotatably mounted on the outer bezel mechanism between a resting position in which the grip mechanism is flush with the opening leaf, and an opening position in which the grip mechanism drives the latch mechanism to unlatch the opening leaf.