Motor Vehicle Lock Plastic Housing Merging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing motor vehicle locks with metal housings require complex and costly assembly processes for attaching panels or covers, increasing manufacturing and installation complexity.
Innovation Solution
A motor vehicle lock design featuring a plug-in cover with a motor accommodation chamber that houses the electric drive motor, providing impact protection and a raised appearance, while simplifying assembly through clip-in fixing of components like the stamped grid, and using a plastic material for cost-effective production.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a metal housing with separate panel or cover is used, then impact protection and structural strength are improved, but assembly complexity and manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the protective cover and housing into a single integrated plastic lock housing that combines both protective and structural functions. The lock housing is made as one piece with injection-molded integrally formed attachment elements, eliminating the need for separate panels or covers and their complex fastening systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The plastic lock housing serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides impact protection, houses the locking mechanism, and includes integrally formed attachment elements for mounting. This multi-functional design replaces what would traditionally require separate components.
2Shape
If a separate panel or cover is attached to the lock housing, then aesthetic appearance is improved, but manufacturing and installation costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The aesthetic cover function is merged with the structural housing by creating a single-integration plastic lock housing. The integrally formed attachment elements are molded directly into the housing, eliminating separate fastening components and reducing manufacturing steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a plastic material for the lock housing that combines structural strength with aesthetic appearance. The plastic can be molded into complex shapes with integrated features, providing both functional and cosmetic properties in a single material.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate components are used for the lock assembly, then functional versatility is improved, but assembly effort and time increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple functional components are merged into a single plastic lock housing with integrally formed attachment elements. The housing itself provides mounting functionality through molded-in attachment elements, eliminating the need for separate fastening operations and reducing assembly time.
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The invention relates to a motor vehicle lock (3) comprising a locking mechanism (5) with rotary latch (6) and locking pawl (7), actuating lever means (8), a drive motor (9) designed for operating the locking mechanism (5) and/or the actuating lever means (8) and a lock housing (10), wherein the lock housing (10) has a notch (12) on one of its side edges (11) which extends towards the center of the lock housing (10).A plug-in cover (14) further comprises a receiving pocket 15, which has an access opening (17) on a side edge (16) and which has a slot (18) extending towards the center of the receiving pocket (15) on the side edge (19) opposite the access opening (17), wherein the lock housing (10) is inserted at least partially with the cut (12) leading through the access opening (17) into the receiving pocket (15) of the plug-in cover (14) such that the rotary latch jaw (6a) can be pivoted into both the slot-shaped cut (12) of the lock housing (10) and into the slot (18) of the receiving pocket (15) to secure a locking part of the motor vehicle (1).