Vehicle Handle Jacket with Embedded Controller

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional heatable handle jackets for vehicles suffer from inconvenient assembly, potential water ingress, and controller disengagement due to complex designs and gaps between frames, which affect performance and durability.

Innovation Solution

A heatable handle jacket featuring a thermally conductive outer sleeve with a recessed portion and embedded controller, a helically mounted heating wire, and a bonding layer to secure the controller, reducing assembly complexity and preventing water ingress while ensuring secure attachment and efficient heat transfer.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the controller is mounted to an end of the jacket through the annular frame, then the driver can control the heatable handle jacket, but the controller is apt to disengage from the jacket

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontroller accessibilityVSAvoidcontroller retention

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The controller is merged with the jacket by embedding it into a recessed portion formed directly in the jacket body. This integration eliminates the need for separate mounting frames and prevents disengagement while maintaining thumb accessibility for operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The controller is nested within a recessed portion of the jacket, creating a nested structure where the controller is housed inside the jacket body rather than being mounted externally on frames. This nesting secures the controller while keeping it accessible.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Ease of operation

If the annular frame with three frames is used to mount the controller, then the controller can be positioned for thumb control, but water is apt to enter the interior of the heatable handle jacket via gaps between the frames

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethumb control positioningVSAvoidwater ingress

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The recessed portion is formed directly in the jacket body, merging the controller mounting structure with the jacket itself. This eliminates gaps between separate frames, preventing water ingress while maintaining thumb control positioning.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If the heatable handle jacket includes many elements for controller mounting and structure, then the controller can be securely positioned, but the assemblage becomes inconvenient and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontroller positioningVSAvoidassemblage complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The controller mounting structure is merged with the jacket by forming a recessed portion directly in the jacket body. This integration reduces the number of separate elements and assembly steps while ensuring secure controller positioning.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The jacket body serves multiple functions: it provides thermal insulation, structures the handle, and contains the recessed portion for controller mounting. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate mounting components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Object-affected harmful factors

If the controller is embedded in the recessed portion with a bonding layer, then water is prevented from entering gaps, but the assembly requires additional bonding material

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewater protectionVSAvoidbonding layer addition

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The bonding layer is integrated into the recessed portion structure, combining the sealing function with the mounting structure. This eliminates the need for separate gaskets or sealing components while preventing water ingress.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 simplifies assembly, enhances controller security, and prevents water damage, providing effective and reliable heating for vehicle handles with reduced components and improved user control through integrated temperature indicators.

Implementation Method 1

A heating unit includes a heating wire mounted inside the jacket or to an inner side of the jacket

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Implementation Method 2

The jacket is made of a thermally conductive material and includes an end having an outer surface with a recessed portion

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentEP2829462B1Heatable handle jacket for a vehicle

Publication Date: 2016.12.21 TONG YAH IND CO LTD

AI summary

A heatable handle jacket includes a jacket mounted around a handle of a vehicle. The jacket is made of a thermally conductive material and includes an end having an outer surface with a recessed portion. A heating unit includes a heating wire mounted inside the jacket or to an inner side of the jacket. A controller is embedded in the recessed portion and electrically connected to the heating unit to control heating operation of the heating wire.