Vehicle Handle System Elastic Claws Assembly

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing handle systems for vehicle boards face challenges with high production costs due to metal shafts and cumbersome assembly processes, and they often require excessive force to prevent the handle from being removed, which complicates efficient assembly and use.

Innovation Solution

A handle system with a main body, an operating member, a lock member, and a cover, featuring elastic claws and opening suppressing portions to securely attach the operating member to the main body, allowing easy assembly while preventing removal, using projecting shafts and a through hole for assembly from the back side.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If a metal shaft is used to connect the body and handle, then the connection strength is improved, but the production cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection strengthVSAvoidproduction cost
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the expensive metal shaft with a plastic shaft that has a limited service life. The plastic shaft is designed to break or deform under excessive force, preventing handle removal while being cost-effective. This disposable approach resolves the contradiction by providing sufficient connection strength for normal use without the high cost of metal materials.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the material parameter from metal to plastic, and modifies the structural parameter by designing a shaft with specific break points or deformation zones. This parameter change allows the shaft to provide adequate strength for normal handling while being inexpensive and easy to manufacture, thus resolving the contradiction between strength and manufacturing cost.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If shaft receiving holes are designed to prevent shaft removal, then the handle security is improved, but the assembly work becomes troublesome

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandle securityVSAvoidassembly work
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of designing complex retention mechanisms to prevent shaft removal, the patent inverts the approach by designing the shaft itself to be the sacrificial element. The shaft is made to break or deform under removal force, naturally preventing handle detachment without requiring complex receiving hole designs. This inversion simplifies assembly while maintaining security.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The plastic shaft performs the security function automatically through its material properties and structural design. When excessive force is applied, the shaft breaks or deforms in a controlled manner, self-regulating the connection strength without requiring additional retention mechanisms or complex assembly procedures. This self-service approach resolves the contradiction between security and assembly simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If large force is applied to prevent shaft removal, then the handle security is improved, but the working efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandle securityVSAvoidworking efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The plastic shaft is designed as a limited-life component that breaks or deforms under excessive force. This eliminates the need for large retention forces during assembly, as the shaft's controlled failure mode provides security automatically. The disposable nature of the shaft improves working efficiency by simplifying the assembly process while maintaining handle security.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the force parameter by using a material (plastic) with lower strength than metal, but compensates through structural design. The shaft requires minimal assembly force while providing sufficient security through its break/deformation characteristics. This parameter change resolves the contradiction by reducing assembly force requirements while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Facilitates easy assembly of the operating member while preventing its removal from the main body, reducing production costs and assembly complexity, and ensuring secure locking of the board during vehicle vibrations.

Implementation Method 1

a pair of elastic claws which are provided on the base portion to movably hold the lock member therebetween

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS8876177B2Handle system
Publication Date: 2014.11.04 PIOLAX INC
  • US8876177B2 patent drawing
  • US8876177B2 patent drawing
  • US8876177B2 patent drawing

AI summary

According to one embodiment, there is provided a handle system including; a main body mounted to a mounting hole in a board; an operating member supported rotatably on the main body; a lock member locks/unlocks the board with a lock receiver in a vehicle's luggage compartment; and a cover adapted to a back surface of the main body, wherein the main body has a pair of side walls in which a pair of shaft holes are formed, a base portion positioned between the side walls, and a pair of elastic claws provided on the base portion to movably hold the lock member therebetween, wherein the operating member has a pair of projecting shafts which are inserted into the pair of shaft holes, and wherein the cover has opening suppressing portions which suppress an opening movement of the elastic claws.