Vehicle Door Lock Child Protector Mechanism Size Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle door lock devices have a large child protector mechanism due to the child protector lever being positioned away from the inside lever, leading to increased size and complexity.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle door lock device design where the inside lever, inside open lever, child protector lever, and intermediate lever are coaxially supported about a pivot shaft, with the intermediate lever guiding the movable body between unset and set positions, reducing the size of the child protector mechanism by concentrating components near the pivot shaft and using a simple structure for torque transmission switching.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the child protector lever is arranged at a position spaced from the inside lever, then the child protector lever can be pivoted about a different pivot axis, but this enlarges the child protector mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the pivot axes of the inside lever and child protector lever into a single common pivot axis. This consolidation allows both levers to share the same rotational center, eliminating the need for separate pivot mechanisms and significantly reducing the overall size of the child protector mechanism while maintaining full pivoting functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The common pivot shaft serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as the pivot axis for the inside lever, the pivot axis for the child protector lever, and a structural support element. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed, thereby compacting the mechanism without sacrificing operational capability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the child protector lever is spaced from the inside lever with different pivot axes, then the mechanism can operate independently, but the structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
By combining the pivot axes into a single common pivot shaft, the patent reduces structural complexity while preserving independent operation. The inside lever and child protector lever remain functionally independent in their pivoting motions, but share the common rotational axis, simplifying the overall structural arrangement.
Solution Approach 2:
The common pivot shaft acts as an intermediary element that enables both levers to operate independently while maintaining a simplified structural relationship. It mediates between the two levers, allowing their independent pivoting motions without requiring separate, complex pivot mechanisms for each.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle door lock device is provided. The vehicle door lock device includes a latch mechanism, an inside lever, an inside open lever, a bushing, a child protector lever, and an intermediate lever. The inside lever is operable from a passenger compartment side of a vehicle and supported pivotally about a support pin arranged in the vehicle door. The intermediate lever includes a guide hole, which receives the support pin. When pushed by the child protector lever as the child protector lever pivots, the intermediate lever pushes the bushing while moving along the guide hole relative to the support pin and thereby moves the bushing to a position between the unset position and the set position.