Glove Compartment Lock Spring Biasing Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing glove compartment lock device requires multiple assembly steps due to the need to support and fix the center portion of the spring member to the base member, increasing complexity.
Innovation Solution
A glove compartment lock device design featuring a base member with a shaft portion, a knob member that rotates around it, an arm member that swings between locked and unlocked positions, and a spring member that is rotatably fitted to the shaft, generating biasing forces to rotate the knob to the closed position and swing the arm to the locked position, with opposite rotation directions for each end of the spring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the center portion of the spring member is supported and fixed to the base member, then the knob member and dog member can be independently biased to their respective positions, but the number of assembly steps is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the biasing functions for the knob member and dog member into a single spring member that is not fixed to the base member. The spring member simultaneously biases both the knob member toward the closed position and the dog member toward the engagement position, eliminating the need to fix the spring's center to the base member and thereby reducing assembly steps while maintaining independent biasing functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The spring member serves multiple functions: it biases the knob member to the closed position, biases the dog member to the engagement position, and provides the restoring force for both components. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate fixing mechanisms and reduces the overall complexity of the assembly process
2Device complexity
If a single spring member is used to bias both knob member and dog member, then the structure is simplified, but the spring member must be rotatably fitted to the shaft portion without fixed center support
Solution Approach 1:
The spring member is designed to rotate freely around the shaft portion without being fixed at its center, allowing dynamic adjustment and self-alignment during assembly. This rotational freedom simplifies the manufacturing and installation process by eliminating precise positioning requirements while maintaining the spring's biasing functionality
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
This configuration reduces assembly steps by eliminating the need to fix the spring member's center to the base, while maintaining a functional lock mechanism for the glove compartment, preventing rattling during opening and closing.
Implementation Method 1
a spring member rotatably and externally fitted to the shaft portion, locked at one end portion thereof to the knob member, locked at another end portion thereof to another end portion of the arm member, and configured to generate a biasing force that rotates the knob member to the closed position around the shaft portion and swings the arm member to the locked position
Data Source
AI summary
A glove compartment lock device includes: a base member attached to a glove compartment; a knob member supported by the base member so as to be rotatable around a shaft portion between a closed position and an opened position; an arm member supported at a center portion in a longitudinal direction thereof by the base member so as to be swingable between a locked position and an unlocked position of the glove compartment and configured to come into contact with the knob member at one end portion thereof; and a spring member locked at one end portion thereof to the knob member, locked at another end portion thereof to another end portion of the arm member, and configured to generate a biasing force that rotates the knob member to the closed position and swings the arm member to the locked position. A rotation direction around the shaft portion in which the one end portion of the spring member rotates the knob member to the closed position and a rotation direction around the shaft portion in which the other end portion of the spring member swings the arm member to the locked position are opposite to each other.