Recessed Tailgate Handle with Movable Cover

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Vehicle door handles, especially tailgate handles, are prone to contamination from environmental pollutants and often lack functionality to assist users in opening and closing the tailgate efficiently, with interior handles being difficult to reach and not providing a means for opening the tailgate.

Innovation Solution

A handle assembly with a recessed cover on the exterior surface of the vehicle door that protects the handle from pollutants and allows for a single-motion operation, featuring a moveable cover and handle member that pivots or slides to be accessible for opening and closing the door, with optional motor or biasing mechanism actuation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the handle is mounted on the exterior surface of the vehicle door, then the handle is accessible for opening and closing the door, but the handle becomes contaminated with environmental pollutants

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehandle accessibilityVSAvoidpollutant contamination

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The handle assembly is segmented into a movable cover and a handle member. The cover can be opened to expose the handle member for operation, and closed to protect it from pollutants. This segmentation allows the handle to alternate between accessible and protected states, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and protection from harmful factors.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The handle assembly transitions from a static exposed handle to a dynamic system where the cover can move between open and closed positions. This dynamic configuration allows the handle to be accessible when needed and protected when not in use, eliminating the need for users to touch contaminated surfaces while maintaining operational accessibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a cover is provided over the recess to protect the handle from pollutants, then the handle is protected from environmental contaminants, but the handle becomes inaccessible when the cover is closed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepollutant protectionVSAvoidhandle accessibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The cover is designed to be movable rather than fixed, transitioning between closed (protective) and open (accessible) states. This dynamic design resolves the contradiction by allowing the handle to be protected during storage and easily accessible during operation, with the cover serving both protective and operational functions at different times.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The movable cover acts as an intermediary element that mediates between the need for protection and the need for accessibility. When closed, it protects the handle from pollutants; when opened, it provides access for operation. This intermediary component resolves the contradiction by providing both functions sequentially rather than simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If an interior handle is provided to assist closing the tailgate, then the user can close the tailgate more easily, but the interior handle is difficult to reach and requires switching grip between handles

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveclosing assistanceVSAvoidmultiple handle positions

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The exterior handle and cover are merged into a single integrated assembly. The cover itself becomes part of the handling mechanism, eliminating the need for separate interior and exterior handles. Users interact with the same integrated assembly for both opening and closing operations, reducing complexity and eliminating the need to switch between multiple handle positions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The handle assembly is designed to be universal, serving both opening and closing functions through the same exterior interface. The movable cover and handle member work together to provide assistance in both directions of operation, eliminating the need for separate interior handles and simplifying the user interaction to a single external assembly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Shape

If the handle is recessed in the vehicle door surface, then the handle maintains vehicle aesthetics and is protected when closed, but the handle is less accessible compared to protruding handles

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaesthetic appearanceVSAvoidhandle accessibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ShapeVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The recessed handle assembly incorporates a movable cover that transitions from a closed aesthetic position to an open accessible position. When closed, the recessed design maintains vehicle aesthetics; when opened, the handle becomes fully accessible for operation. This dynamic transformation resolves the contradiction between aesthetic appearance and operational accessibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS10227798B2Tailgate handle

Publication Date: 2019.03.12 FORD GLOBAL TECH LLC

AI summary

A handle assembly for opening and closing a vehicle door wherein the handle assembly includes: a recess in an exterior surface of the vehicle door; a cover over the recess wherein the cover is coupled to the vehicle door and is moveable between an open position and a closed position; and a handle member coupled to the cover and retained in the recess when the cover is in the closed position and released from the recess when the cover is in the open position.