Motor Vehicle Lock Seal Using Straight Plastic Strip
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing motor vehicle lock seals face challenges in minimizing material usage and waste when applying seals to follow the contours of the side door, leading to increased costs due to inefficient cutting of large sealing pads.
Innovation Solution
A motor vehicle lock seal made from a straight plastic strip, preferably with a rectangular cross-section and elastomeric material, is designed to minimize waste by being cut from roll material, with notches and adhesive masks for secure attachment, allowing for efficient sealing even at sharp angles with reduced material accumulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If seals are punched out of large sealing pads to follow contours and enable optimal placement at large angles, then the seal can be properly applied to the motor vehicle lock, but there is a large amount of material waste which increases costs
Solution Approach 1:
The seal is divided into multiple segments or sections that can be independently formed and attached to different parts of the motor vehicle lock housing. This segmentation allows each seal section to be optimized for its specific location and angle requirement, reducing the need to punch out entire large pads and minimizing material waste while maintaining proper sealing at all angles.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal design incorporates three-dimensional forming capabilities, allowing the seal to be shaped into complex contours and angles directly from strip material rather than punching from flat pads. This dimensional transformation enables the seal to follow the contours of the motor vehicle lock housing at sharp angles without requiring excessive material, thereby reducing waste while maintaining ease of application.
2Manufacturing precision
If the seal must follow the contour of the motor vehicle lock or side door with sharp angles, then optimal sealing placement is achieved, but the seal requires punching from large sealing pads causing material waste
Solution Approach 1:
The seal is formed from strip material that can be dynamically shaped and formed into the required contours and angles through forming processes rather than punching. This allows the seal to precisely follow the contour of the motor vehicle lock housing at sharp angles while using minimal material, as the strip can be stretched and formed to fit the exact geometry without requiring excess material that would be wasted in punching operations.
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 solution enables cost-effective sealing with minimal material waste and consistent tightness, ensuring secure sealing of the inlet region against environmental influences while reducing assembly difficulties and material accumulation at angles.
Implementation Method 1
with adhesive masks for secure attachment
Data Source
AI summary
A motor vehicle lock, in particular a side door lock, comprising a locking mechanism having a rotary latch and at least one pawl, a plastic housing, a lock case, wherein an inlet region for a lock holder can be formed by means of the plastic housing and the lock case, and a seal, wherein the seal is allocated at least in regions to the inlet region and wherein the seal is made from a straight plastic strip.