Vehicle Lid Locking Mechanism Resilient Positioning

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing lid opening and closing devices for vehicles require unnecessary and inconvenient operations when the door is erroneously locked with the rod in a protruding position, as the restriction member fails to engage properly, necessitating a wasteful unlocking and relocking process to achieve a stable lid closed position.

Innovation Solution

A lid opening and closing device with a holding mechanism that resiliently maintains the restriction release position of the restriction member, preventing it from stopping at a halfway position and allowing smooth rod movement to the closed position without requiring an unlocking operation, featuring an abutment part and elastic member to hold the restriction member in the correct position.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the door is locked while the rod is in the protruding position, then the door locking function is activated, but the restriction member stops at a halfway position and cannot properly restrict the rod

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedoor locking reliabilityVSAvoidlid closing operation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The holding mechanism performs preliminary action by resiliently holding the restriction member at the restriction release position before the door locking operation. This ensures that when the door is locked, the restriction member is already positioned to properly engage with the rod, preventing the halfway position problem and enabling smooth rod movement to the closed position without requiring unlocking operations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Device complexity

If the restriction member is driven without a holding mechanism, then the structure is simpler, but the restriction member stops at a halfway position when the rod is in the protruding position

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemechanism structureVSAvoidrestriction member positioning

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The holding mechanism performs preliminary action by resiliently holding the restriction member at the restriction release position before the door locking operation. This ensures that when the door is locked, the restriction member is already positioned to properly engage with the rod, preventing the halfway position problem and enabling smooth rod movement to the closed position without requiring unlocking operations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If the door locking operation is performed with the rod in the protruding position, then the locking function is activated, but unnecessary unlocking and relocking operations are required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperation efficiencyVSAvoiddoor operation time

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The holding mechanism performs preliminary action by resiliently holding the restriction member at the restriction release position before the door locking operation. This ensures that when the door is locked, the restriction member is already positioned to properly engage with the rod, preventing the halfway position problem and enabling smooth rod movement to the closed position without requiring unlocking operations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The holding mechanism provides self-service by automatically returning the restriction member to the restriction release position after door locking, eliminating the need for manual unlocking and relocking operations. The elastic member self-actuates to reset the restriction member position, reducing operational steps and time loss

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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

Enhances convenience by allowing the rod to be restricted at the lid closed position without needing an unlocking operation, even when the restriction member is halfway between positions, thus eliminating the need for wasteful door state changes and ensuring smooth operation.

Implementation Method 1

an elastic member (70) that is mounted on the restriction member (28) while abutting against the abutment part (69) so as to urge the restriction member (28) toward the restriction release position side

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS11279224B2Lid opening and closing device for vehicle

Publication Date: 2022.03.22 MINEBEA ACCESSSOLUTIONS INC

AI summary

A lid opening and closing device for a vehicle which includes a restriction member that can operate between a restriction position at which movement of a rod at the lid closed position is restricted and a restriction release position at which the restriction is released, an electric motor that operates for a predetermined time in response to a door switching between a locked state and an unlocked state for driving the restriction member, and a case that houses the restriction member and the electric motor, wherein at least the restriction release position of the restriction member is resiliently held by a holding mechanism. Thus, even when the restriction member stops at position halfway between the restriction release position and the restriction position, convenience is enhanced by carrying out an operation of locking the door by moving the rod to the lid closed position without requiring an unlocking operation.