Flexible Latch Seal Wings Against Dust Ingress
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Solution Overview
Problem
Motor vehicle latches are vulnerable to external environmental influences such as dust, dirt, and sand, which can compromise their functionality by allowing these elements to penetrate into the closure mechanism.
Innovation Solution
A seal with a partially flexible sealing element featuring an insertion slot and two seal wings that surround the striker, providing a form-fitting seal to prevent external environmental impacts from entering the latch mechanism, along with an optional brush element for enhanced sealing and adjustable angular sections for compatibility with the latch housing geometry.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a seal with an insertion slot is provided for striker insertion, then the latch can function properly with the striker, but external environmental influences can penetrate through the insertion slot into the latch mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible sealing element with an insertion slot that allows the striker to pass through while the flexible material conforms to the striker's shape, creating a form-fitting seal that prevents dust and dirt penetration while maintaining operational functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing element is designed to be dynamically adaptable - it deforms to accommodate the striker during insertion and operation, then returns to its sealing position to prevent contaminant ingress, allowing the seal to transition between operational and protective states
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a rigid seal structure is used to prevent environmental influences, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but the seal cannot adapt to different latch housing geometries
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing element's physical parameters such as flexibility, thickness, and angular section configurations can be varied to match different latch housing geometries, allowing the same basic seal design to adapt to multiple applications while maintaining effective sealing
Solution Approach 2:
The seal is divided into angular sections that can be independently configured or adjusted to match the specific geometry of different latch housings, providing versatility while maintaining sealing effectiveness through modular adaptability
3Adaptability or versatility
If the sealing element is made completely flexible to adapt to geometries, then adaptability is improved, but structural strength and sealing reliability are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the sealing element have different properties - certain areas are made more flexible for adaptation while other areas maintain higher strength for sealing reliability, creating a heterogeneous structure optimized for both adaptability and durability
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 seal effectively prevents external contaminants from entering the latch mechanism, ensuring reliable functionality by creating a comprehensive seal around the striker, even when the door is closed, while maintaining flexibility and adaptability to various latch geometries.
Implementation Method 1
at least a partially flexible sealing element with at least an insertion slot, whereby a first seal wing and a second seal wing are formed on the sealing element... the at least one seal wing can be deformed or moved by the striker
Data Source
AI summary
The object of the invention is a seal (10) for an inlet opening (120) of a latch (100), in particular a motor vehicle latch, having at least a partially flexible sealing element (11) with at least an insertion slot (12), whereby a first seal wing (11.1) and a second seal wing (11.2) are formed on the sealing element (11), whereby a striker can at least be partially arranged in the inlet slot (11).