Motor Vehicle Lock Assembly With Gap-Opening Handle Elimination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing motor vehicle lock arrangements require external door handles that are aerodynamically disadvantageous, pose injury risks, restrict design freedom, and are costly.
Innovation Solution
A motor vehicle lock arrangement with an adjusting drive that allows motorized adjustment of the locking element to create an engagement gap between the locking element and the vehicle body, relocating the external door handle function to an accessible area between the locking mechanism and the vehicle body, and incorporating a manual override mechanism that is inaccessible when closed and accessible when open.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional external door handles are mounted on the door's outer skin, then a gripping surface for manual opening is provided, but aerodynamic performance deteriorates, injury risks increase, design freedom is restricted, and manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the door handle function from the traditional external door skin location and relocates it to the interior locking mechanism area. The locking element is motorized to create an engagement gap that provides access to the locking mechanism from the exterior, eliminating the need for a conventional external door handle while maintaining manual opening capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions the door handle function from a two-dimensional surface mounting on the door skin to a three-dimensional spatial solution involving the creation of an engagement gap. The locking element moves along the opening direction to create this gap, providing access to the locking mechanism through the gap rather than through a surface-mounted handle
2Adaptability or versatility
If the locking element is motorized to create an engagement gap, then external door handles become unnecessary and design freedom improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the locking element perform multiple functions: it not only locks and unlocks the door but also creates the engagement gap by moving along the opening direction. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate external door handles and reduces overall system complexity despite the motorized adjustment mechanism
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the door handle function with the locking mechanism function. The locking element itself serves as both the locking component and the mechanism for creating the engagement gap, consolidating multiple functions into a single integrated system
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 3a~3b
AI summary
The invention relates to a motor vehicle lock assembly for a closing element (3) movably coupled to a motor vehicle body (2), wherein a motor vehicle lock (5) is provided, which is arranged on the closing element (3) or on the motor vehicle body (2) in the installed state. According to the invention a movement drive (6) for applying a driving force to the closing element (3) in an opening direction of the closing element is provided, such that the closing element (3) can be moved from a closed position to a gap position in a motorized opening process and thereby an intrusion gap (8) can be produced between the closing element (3) and the motor vehicle body (2).