Retractable Door Handle Assembly for Vertical Panels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing door handle designs for vehicles are not suitable for conventional automobile doors, as they often require horizontal surfaces for operation, which are not available on most vertical doors, and fail to maintain a flush, aerodynamic appearance when not in use.
Innovation Solution
A door handle assembly with a latch release handle on the inner surface of the door panel, featuring a retractable cover plate that slides inwardly to expose the handle, allowing for a similar operation to existing designs without extending parts outward, and includes an electronic switch or sensor for door release, along with a mechanical latch release system for redundancy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If a flush door handle design is used to maintain aerodynamic appearance, then the aesthetic and aerodynamic properties are improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates because no parts extend outward for grasping
Solution Approach 1:
The door handle transitions from a static flush design to a dynamic configuration where the handle body can rotate outward about a first axis when the button is pressed, extending from the recess to a grasping position, and then rotates outward about a second axis when pulled to unlatch the door. This dynamic motion allows the handle to maintain aerodynamic appearance when not in use while providing ergonomic grasping capability when activated.
2Ease of operation
If a mechanical button mechanism is used to pivot the handle outward, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases compared to simpler latch mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The button mechanism is integrated within the handle body structure itself, with the button arranged within a recess of the handle body and the pivot mechanism combining both rotation axes (first axis for extending from recess, second axis for unlatching) into a unified mechanical assembly. This merging reduces the number of separate components and simplifies the overall device complexity.
3Ease of operation
If the handle is arranged horizontally on the upper surface as in US2004/0135380, then the ease of operation is improved, but the adaptability deteriorates because most vehicle doors lack suitable horizontal surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The handle mechanism is designed to operate on a vertical door panel surface by utilizing rotational motion about horizontal axes rather than requiring horizontal door surfaces. The handle body rotates outward about a first axis to extend from the recess, and then rotates about a second axis when pulled, creating a three-dimensional operational path that adapts the horizontal rotation operation to a vertical mounting surface.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4a~4b
AI summary
A door handle assembly is provided in the door of an automobile. The assembly includes an aperture in the outer skin of the door and a cover plate which closes off the aperture. The cover plate is retractable into a pocket behind the aperture, to open the aperture and allow a user to insert his/her fingers into the aperture. The user may then grab a latch release handle which is provided on the inner surface of the skin of the door, which senses the user's touch and releases a door latch, so that the door can be pulled open.