Steel Reinforcement Bracket for Trunk Handle Structural Integrity
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Solution Overview
Problem
The Scion tC hatchback's rear hatch handle design is prone to structural failure due to plastic screws snapping under regular use and extreme weather conditions, posing a potential safety hazard as it renders the trunk inaccessible, especially in emergencies.
Innovation Solution
A reinforcement bracket with a steel or stainless steel construction, featuring a handle support structure, planar braces, and a web that redirects forces to secure fastening interfaces, preventing structural failure by redistributing stress away from the original plastic screws.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If plastic screws are used to attach the handle to the trunk, then the handle can be easily installed and manufactured, but the handle fails under regular use and extreme weather conditions
Solution Approach 1:
A steel reinforcement bracket is introduced as an intermediary component between the handle and the trunk. The bracket receives fastening forces from the plastic screws and transfers them to the trunk, protecting the plastic screws from direct stress and preventing their failure.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution combines different materials with complementary properties: plastic screws for ease of installation, steel reinforcement bracket for strength and durability, and the composite structure leverages the advantages of each material while mitigating their individual weaknesses.
2Reliability
If a reinforcement bracket is added to prevent handle failure, then structural reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fastening system is segmented into distinct functional components: plastic screws for attachment, a steel reinforcement bracket for structural support, and mounting holes for integration. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining overall system reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
The reinforcement bracket provides structural integrity for the trunk handle of an automobile, in particular the Scion tC. The bracket includes first fastening interface, a second fastening interface, a handle support structure, a first planar brace, a second planar brace, and a web. The handle support structure includes a planar body and a grasping hole. The grasping hole traverses through the planar body to facilitate the placement of the lock actuator. The first planar brace and second planar brace are oriented parallel and offset to each other as well as being positioned adjacent and normal to the planar body. The web is connected between the two planar braces and provides additional structural rigidity. The bracket is attached to the trunk handle and trunk through the two fastening interfaces. The first and second fastening interface is connected adjacent and normal to the first and second planar brace, respectively.