Automotive Glove Box Lock Damper Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lock apparatuses for automobile glove boxes generate striking noise when the handle returns to its original position, which is undesirable for user experience, and previous solutions like gearwheel-based resistance dampers cause vibrations that are transmitted to the user's hand.
Innovation Solution
A lock apparatus design featuring a handle connected to a stationary member via a rotating shaft, with a damper comprising a rotor and a second member interlocked through a slit and projection, providing resistance torque without the need for a gearwheel, thus reducing noise and maintaining a smooth operation feeling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a gearwheel-based resistance damper is used to suppress striking noise, then striking noise is reduced, but vibrations are generated and transmitted to the user's hand
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the gearwheel component from the resistance damper mechanism. By removing the meshing engagement between rack and gearwheel, the source of vibrations is eliminated while the resistance damper continues to suppress striking noise through its damping action alone.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a projection and groove interlocking mechanism as an intermediary between the rack and resistance damper. This intermediary provides guidance and positioning without the meshing engagement that causes vibrations, allowing smooth operation while maintaining noise suppression.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a rack and gearwheel mechanism is used for resistance damping, then striking noise is suppressed, but the operation feeling becomes rough due to vibrations
Solution Approach 1:
The gearwheel is completely removed from the mechanism, eliminating the source of vibrations that degrade the operation feeling. The resistance damper achieves noise suppression through alternative means that do not interfere with smooth handle operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The projection and groove mechanism serves as an intermediary that provides necessary mechanical engagement without the problematic meshing of gear teeth. This creates a smooth operation feeling by eliminating gear meshing vibrations while still enabling the resistance damping function.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a gearwheel-based resistance damper is implemented, then striking noise is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The complex gearwheel component is extracted and removed from the resistance damper assembly. This simplification reduces the number of parts, assembly steps, and overall mechanism complexity while maintaining the noise suppression functionality through the simplified projection-groove interlocking mechanism.
4Force
If meshing engagement between rack and gearwheel is used, then resistance torque is generated, but vibrations are produced during handle movement
Solution Approach 1:
The gearwheel that causes vibrations through meshing engagement is extracted and removed. The resistance torque is generated through alternative means that do not produce vibrations, such as friction-based damping or direct resistance mechanisms without toothed engagement.
Solution Approach 2:
The projection and groove mechanism acts as an intermediary that enables force transmission and resistance torque generation without the problematic meshing engagement. This intermediary provides smooth force application without the vibrations inherent in gear tooth contact.
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 solution effectively suppresses striking noise while ensuring a smooth operation of the handle, reducing vibrations and fabrication costs by simplifying the interlocking mechanism and reducing the number of parts and assembly steps.
Implementation Method 1
a damper having a rotor rotatably connected to the stationary member and a second member fixed to the rotor
Data Source
AI summary
According to one embodiment, there is provided a lock apparatus, including: a stationary member; a handle rotatably connected to the stationary member via a handle rotating shaft, the handle having a first member; and a damper having a rotor rotatably connected to the stationary member and a second member fixed to the rotor, wherein the first member and the second member are interlocked with each other through a slit and a projection, the slit being provided in either of the first and second members, the projection being provided on the other of the first and second members so as to loosely fit in the slit.