Vehicle Lock Mechanism with Integrated Direction Indicator Repeater
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing motor vehicle door lock mechanisms face reliability issues due to the stress on electric cables during door operation and complex installation, especially with sliding windows, and the vulnerability of direction change light repeaters on mirrors to vandalism and accidental damage.
Innovation Solution
Integrating a light source into the lock mechanism that serves as a direction change light repeater, electrically connected to the vehicle's control system, allowing the lock actuation mechanism to be fixed on the vehicle's structure, eliminating the need for cables within the door and reducing the door's thickness and weight, while also providing a visual indicator for the lock's operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the electric cable passes through the movable door to supply the lock mechanism, then the lock can be actuated, but the cable is subjected to stress during door operation which can lead to shearing and reliability issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the lock mechanism from the movable door and relocates it to the fixed vehicle body. The lock mechanism is now carried by the fixed structure rather than the movable opening, which eliminates the need for cables to pass through the moving door. This resolves the contradiction by removing the cable from the stress-prone environment while maintaining lock functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of the conventional arrangement where the lock is mounted on the moving door, the patent inverts the arrangement by mounting the lock on the fixed body and the keeper on the moving door. This inversion allows the actuating mechanism to remain stationary, eliminating cable stress during door operation.
2Illumination intensity
If the direction change light repeaters are placed on mirrors, then visibility is improved, but the mirrors are vulnerable to vandalism and accidental knocks requiring replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the direction change light repeaters from the vulnerable mirror location and relocates them to the lock mechanism on the fixed body. This removes the light repeaters from exposure to vandalism and accidental damage while maintaining their visibility function.
Solution Approach 2:
The lock mechanism housing is given multiple functions: it houses the lock mechanism, provides structural support, and serves as the mounting location for direction change light repeaters. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate mirror-mounted repeaters, reducing vulnerability to damage.
3Ease of manufacture
If the door structure is made thick to accommodate lock mechanisms and window mechanisms, then the mechanisms can be properly installed, but the usable volume and aesthetic envelope are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the lock mechanism from the door thickness and relocates it to the fixed body structure. This removes the need to allocate door thickness for the lock mechanism, preserving both the usable door volume and the aesthetic envelope while maintaining proper mechanism installation capability in the fixed structure.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The vehicle has a sliding type lateral opening section (2) equipped with a lock (1) having a lock actuating mechanism (3) that cooperates with a hooking part (4) i.e. striker, carried by a lateral opening. The actuating mechanism is carried by a fixed structure i.e. plate, of the vehicle. The lock comprises a light source that is visible from outside and electrically connected to a direction indicator lamp controller for forming a direction indicator lamp repeater. The light source is housed in a push-button (3A).