Roof Box Lid Lifter Retaining Structure Crash Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lid lifters for roof boxes do not adequately ensure safety during crash situations, as they fail to prevent the disassembly and ejection of force application mechanism components, which can lead to safety hazards and failure to maintain the lid in an open position.
Innovation Solution
A lid lifter design featuring a primary retaining structure with a secondary encasing portion to prevent the disassembly of force application mechanism components, utilizing a combination of rigid and elastic materials to ensure the lid lifter's integrity and functionality even in crash scenarios, with reinforced end portions for enhanced durability and force transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a force application mechanism is provided on the lid lifter to assist opening, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability deteriorates due to risk of component disassembly and ejection in crash situations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies beforehand cushioning by providing a retaining structure that preemptively secures the force application mechanism components before a crash occurs. The retaining structure includes a retaining element that engages with the force application mechanism to prevent its disassembly and ejection during crash situations, thus cushioning against the potential failure mode in advance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the lid lifter into distinct functional components: the force application mechanism for assisting lid opening, and the retaining structure for securing components. This segmentation allows the force application mechanism to provide ease of operation while the separate retaining structure ensures reliability by preventing component ejection during crashes.
2Reliability
If the force application mechanism is made robust to prevent disassembly, then the reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies merging by integrating the retaining structure with existing components of the lid lifter. The retaining element is coupled to either the first link, second link, or housing, combining the retention function with existing structural elements rather than adding completely separate components, thus improving reliability while minimizing increases in device complexity.
3Strength
If the lid lifter uses only rigid materials for strength, then the strength is improved, but the object-generated harmful factors worsen due to increased risk of component ejection in crashes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies beforehand cushioning by providing a retaining structure that preemptively secures the force application mechanism components before a crash occurs. The retaining structure includes a retaining element that engages with the force application mechanism to prevent its disassembly and ejection during crash situations, thus cushioning against the potential failure mode in advance.
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 enhanced lid lifter design significantly improves safety by maintaining the lid in an open position and preventing the ejection of components during crashes, meeting high crash test safety standards through the dual retaining structures and material combinations.
Implementation Method 1
The force application mechanism comprises a spring (12) and a force application member (18)
Implementation Method 2
The second retaining structure is at least partially made from an elastomeric material
Data Source
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AI summary
A lid lifter is introduced for assisting the opening of a lid of the roof box for a vehicle. The lid lifter comprises a first link and a second link rotatably coupled to each other at a respective first end portion and rotatably couplable to the lid or a base of said roof box at a respective second end portion, a force application mechanism for applying an assistive force on the first link or the second link, the force application mechanism being provided on at least one of the first and second links, a primary retaining structure for accommodating elements of the force application mechanism, and a secondary retaining structure for preventing at least one of the elements of the force application mechanism from coming off of the lid lifter in case of a failure of the first retaining structure.