Motor Vehicle Latch With Universal Mounting Bracket

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Solution Overview

Problem

The high cost and complexity of constructing motor vehicle latches to accommodate vehicle-specific fixing points, requiring costly adjustments of movable latch components for each vehicle.

Innovation Solution

A system with at least two motor vehicle latches, each with a catch and pawl pivotably mounted on a latch plate or case, featuring the same latch plate or case design with differently arranged fixing points, and an empty cavity to provide space for screw connections, allowing for flexible arrangement without the need for component adjustments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If motor vehicle latches are constructed to accommodate vehicle-specific fixing points with constructive adjustment of movable latch components, then the latches can be adapted to different vehicle configurations, but the manufacturing cost and complexity increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to different vehicle configurationsVSAvoidcomplexity of constructive adjustment

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The latch system is segmented into two independent parts: a standardized latch mechanism (catch, pawl, latch plate) that remains unchanged, and a vehicle-specific mounting bracket that accommodates different fixing point arrangements. This segmentation allows the latch mechanism to be manufactured once and reused across multiple vehicle types, while only the mounting bracket needs to be adapted to each vehicle's specific fixing point configuration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A mounting bracket is introduced as an intermediary component between the standardized latch mechanism and the vehicle chassis. This mounting bracket absorbs the variability of different vehicle fixing point arrangements, allowing the latch mechanism itself to remain unchanged. The mounting bracket acts as a mediator that translates between the fixed latch design and the variable vehicle mounting requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If movable latch components are adjusted for each vehicle's fixing points, then proper installation is achieved, but manufacturing expenses increase for every vehicle

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinstallation compatibilityVSAvoidmanufacturing expense

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The latch mechanism is designed with universal mounting capabilities through a standardized latch plate that can be mounted on different brackets. The same catch and pawl assembly can be installed on vehicles with different fixing point arrangements by simply changing the mounting bracket, not the latch mechanism itself. This universality reduces manufacturing expenses by allowing mass production of the latch mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The mounting bracket is pre-configured with mounting holes and attachment features specific to each vehicle's fixing point arrangement. This preliminary preparation of the mounting bracket allows the standardized latch mechanism to be quickly installed without requiring custom adjustment or modification for each vehicle, reducing both manufacturing complexity and expense.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Area of stationary object

If latch components are arranged close together on the latch plate, then space is optimized, but insufficient space remains for screw connections from the outside

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelatch plate space utilizationVSAvoidaccessibility for screw connection

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The mounting holes and screw connection access are moved from the two-dimensional plane of the latch plate to a third dimension by positioning them on the backside or edge of the latch plate. This dimensional shift allows the front face of the latch plate to maintain compact component arrangement while providing adequate space for screw connections from the outside, typically through the rear surface of the latch plate.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP3408479B1Motor vehicle latch

Publication Date: 2020.06.03 KIEKERT AG

Figure 1~3a
Figure 2b~3b

AI summary

The invention relates to a motor vehicle latch (1, 2) with a catch (3) and a pawl (4) for a latching of the catch (3) which is pivotably mounted on a latch plate (5) or a latch case, whereby only the catch (3) and the pawl (4) are pivotably mounted as rigid- shaped, power-transmitted latch components of the motor vehicle latch (1, 2) in the same first rotational level (6) on the latch plate (5) or on the latch case, whereby in a system with at least two such motor vehicle latches each catch (3) and each pawl (4) are mounted at the same position on the latch plate (5) or the latch case and the at least two motor vehicle latches (1, 2) demonstrate differently arranged screwing points (10, 11) in the latch plate (5) or the latch case for screwing of one of each motor vehicle latch (1, 2) to a motor vehicle. This facilitates especially great flexibility with regard to the varying arrangements of the screwing points (10, 11).