Rotatable Closing Device With Offset Handle And Latch

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing door and hatch closing systems for motor vehicles are complex and costly to manufacture, requiring dual movements for operation and often have alignment issues with the door or hatch, limiting flexibility and increasing production time.

Innovation Solution

A rotatable closing device with a handle that allows simple rotation to lock the door or hatch, featuring an offset shaft and cogged wheels for force modulation and adaptable installation, eliminating the need for translational movements and enhancing compatibility with various door thicknesses.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a dual movement mechanism (translational and rotary) is used for the knob, then the locking function is achieved, but the manufacturing complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelocking functionVSAvoidmechanical details
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the translational movement function from the knob mechanism, leaving only the essential rotary movement for actuation. The latch is moved offset from the rotational axis, allowing the knob to rotate independently without requiring complex translational guides and stops, thereby simplifying the mechanical details while maintaining reliable locking through the offset latch geometry

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of having the latch move along the rotational axis of the knob (conventional approach), the patent inverts the arrangement by positioning the latch offset from the axis. This inversion allows the rotary motion to directly drive the latch through geometric conversion rather than requiring separate translational and rotary actuation mechanisms

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Ease of manufacture

If the handle is in line with the latch, then the locking mechanism is straightforward, but the flexibility in connecting to doors and hatches is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovealignmentVSAvoidconnection flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces asymmetry by offsetting the latch from the rotational axis of the handle. This asymmetric arrangement allows the mechanism to accommodate various door and hatch configurations, as the offset geometry can adapt to different mounting positions and angles, thereby increasing connection flexibility while maintaining ease of manufacture through a standardized offset design

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

3Reliability

If a complex dual movement mechanism is used, then the locking function is reliable, but the production time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelocking functionVSAvoidproduction time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

By removing the translational movement component from the mechanism, the patent reduces the number of parts and assembly steps required during production. The simplified rotary-only mechanism requires fewer precision components and less complex assembly procedures, directly reducing production time while maintaining reliable locking through the offset latch design

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP3473790B1Rotatable closing device for doors and hatches provided with offset handle and latch
Publication Date: 2021.05.19 FAP SRL
  • EP3473790B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3473790B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3473790B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A rotatable closing device for doors and hatches which allows the user to close the door or hatch to which the device is applied by means of a simple rotation of the handle with much less force due to the use of a coupling by means of cogged wheels between handle and closing latch. The device the present invention also allows simplifying the management and assembly because the locks and handle forming the device are compatible with the installation on doors of various thickness.