FR2790780A1 - Handle for motor vehicle door has grip outside vehicle body movable inwardly to actuate switch - Google Patents

Abstract

The handle for a motor vehicle door has a grip (36) outside the vehicle body panel (12) which is hinged to a support (14) to pivot outwardly between rest and open positions. The grip can be rotated inwardly around a second pivot axis (A4) from the rest position to a switching position. The grip is biased from the switching position by a spring.

Description

The invention relates to a motor vehicle door handle

  comprising a dual-function gripping element mounted to pivot about two distinct articulation axes. The invention relates more particularly to a door handle of a motor vehicle, of the type comprising a gripping element which extends from the external side of a body panel and which is articulated on a handle support, around a first axis substantially parallel to the plane of the body panel, so as to pivot outwards between a rest position and an open position in which it controls the opening of a

opening lock.

  The invention will be more particularly applicable in the context of vehicle security systems

  automobile in which the conviction and the

  door lock nation are managed by a central anti-theft unit which, to authorize such unlocking or locking, carries out a remote interrogation of a

  identification badge worn by the user.

  Such a security system is for example described in

EP-A-0.218.251.

  In the device described in this document, the authentication sequence is triggered by the user when he manipulates the grip element of the handle. The gripping element then acts on an electrical switch. In this document, it is in particular provided that when the user pulls the gripping element towards the outside, he triggers the unlocking of the lock. To lock the lock, the user is expected to operate the gripping element in the opposite direction in order to trigger a second switch. In such a design, in which the gripping lever is capable of being operated in the same movement but in two different directions to cause two different actions. The gripping element is therefore caused to occupy on the one hand an intermediate rest position and, on the other hand, two opposite extreme positions in which it respectively activates one or the other of the switches. However, it is also necessary to provide means 0o for elastic return of the lever to its rest position from each of its extreme positions. Thus, in the context of a lever in which the two extreme positions are obtained simply by reversing the direction of operation of the lever but maintaining the same direction of movement, the intermediate position of rest could only be defined by taking into account the antagonistic action of the two means of recall. Such a solution cannot be satisfactory because the intermediate rest position cannot then be defined precisely, except by using elastic interlocking means to maintain the gripping element in a determined position, which would have the drawback to impose on the user a significant initial effort to disengage the gripping element from its intermediate rest position in order to take it towards one or the other of its extreme positions. The object of the invention is therefore to propose a new design for a door handle of a motor vehicle in which the gripping element can be maneuvered in two different movements to exercise two different functions, these two movements each taking place from

  of the same stable and defined intermediate rest position.

  To this end, the invention provides a handle for a motor vehicle sash, of the type comprising a gripping element which extends on the external side of a body panel and which is articulated on a handle support, around a first axis, so as to pivot outwards between a rest position and an open position in which it controls the opening of a lock of the opening, characterized in that the gripping element is capable to be moved in rotation from the outside to the inside, substantially around a second axis of rotation, from its rest position to a switching position in which it actuates a switching member, and in this that elastic return means are provided which tend to bring the gripping element back from its position of

  switching to its rest position.

  According to other characteristics of the invention - the second pivot axis of the gripping element is defined by the cooperation of a surface of the gripping element with a fixed complementary surface, the two surfaces being in support one against the other when the gripping element is in the rest position; - the gripping element is a lever which is articulated on the support between its rest and opening positions by a first articulation end, its second opposite end controlling the opening of the lock, and the first end of the lever is capable of being moved transversely inward, by pivoting the lever substantially around an axis located near the opposite end, from a rest position, towards which it is resiliently recalled, to a position d actuation in which it actuates a switching member the gripping element comprises an external pallet and at least one hooking lug which extends inside the opening through a corresponding orifice of the body panel and which is articulated on the support, and the hooking lug has a support surface which, when the pallet is in the rest position, is supported against a complementary surface. re handle holder; - The bearing surface of the latching lug is formed by a boss which cooperates with a complementary hollow of the support to define the second axis of articulation; the hooking lug is articulated on the support by an end opposite to the pallet, and, along the hooking lug, the bearing surface is arranged between the pallet and the articulation end; - The pallet has at least two parallel hooking lugs; - the handle support comprises a hinge rod whose axis coincides with the first axis of rotation of the gripping element and which is received in a lumen

  formed in the gripping member.

  Other characteristics and advantages of the invention

  will appear on reading the detailed description which follows

  for the understanding of which reference will be made to the appended drawings in which: - Figures 1 to 3 illustrate a first embodiment of a handle according to the invention in which the gripping element is illustrated respectively in the rest position, in open position and in switching position; and - Figures 4 to 6 are views similar to those of Figures 1 to 3 illustrating a second embodiment of the invention. FIGS. 1 to 3 schematically illustrate a first embodiment of the invention in which the handle gripping element is produced under the

shape of a grip lever.

  The handle 10 is intended to be mounted on an exterior body panel 12 of a motor vehicle opening. The handle 10 essentially comprises a handle support 14, which is intended to be fixed on the internal side of the panel 12, and a gripping lever 16 which is intended to be arranged on the external side of a panel 12, all

by being fixed on the support 14.

  In the figures, the support 14 is only illustrated by

  schematic and incomplete.

  In the embodiment of Figures 1 to 3, the gripping lever 16 is in the form of a bar which extends in a longitudinal direction, horizontal by

  compared to a conventional orientation of the motor vehicle

  bile, and it is articulated on the support 14 by its front end 18 around a vertical axis A1, that is to say substantially

  parallel to the plane of the body panel 12 and perpendicular

  cular to the longitudinal direction of the lever 16.

  Of course, the concepts of horizontal and vertical are used here in order to simplify the understanding of

  description and should not be construed as

  limitations of the scope of the invention, in particular as to

the orientation of the handle.

  For its articulation on the support 14, the front end 18 of the lever 16 comprises a hinge element 20 which extends transversely inwards, through a front opening 22 arranged in the panel 12, and which

  cooperates with a hinge element of the support 14.

  At its rear end 24, the gripping lever 16 comprises a control element 26 which is intended to extend transversely inwards through a rear opening 28 arranged in the panel 12, so as to be able to control a linkage associated with a lock in order to cause the opening of the opening when the user manipulates the gripping lever 16 by spreading

  this with respect to the plane of the panel 12.

  To bring the lever 18 to its open position, the user must therefore introduce his hand between the body panel 12 and a gripping surface 30 of the lever 18 in order to be able to pull the latter towards him, towards the outside with respect to

at panel 12.

  In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 to is 3, the hinge element 20 arranged at the front end 18 of the lever 16 is pierced along the axis A1 of a lumen 34 which extends in a direction transverse perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and perpendicular to the plane of the panel 12. A hinge rod 32, of axis A1 and integral with the support 14 of the handle, passes through this lumen 34. Elastic return means (not shown) are arranged so as to urge the hinge element 20 transversely outwards, so that the articulation rod 32 is received at one of the ends of the lumen 34, at least when the lever 16 is in a position rest illustrated in FIG. 1. When the user grasps the lever 16 by the gripping surface 30, and brings it transversely outwards, it therefore causes the lever 16 to rotate to its position d illustrated opening in Figure 2. The hinge element 20 of the lever 16 then performs a simple rotational movement around the articulation rod 32 of axis A1. On the contrary, when, from the rest position, the user presses transversely from the outside to the inside on the front end 18 of the lever 16, the hinge element 20, and therefore the front end 18 of the lever 16, are capable of moving transversely inwards, an adequate clearance being provided between the front end 18 of the lever 16 and the body panel 12. This clearance can moreover be 1o produced in the form of a void or in the form of an element

compressible seal.

  In this way, the lever can therefore be brought to a position illustrated in FIG. 3, the hinge element 20 then being able for example to cause the switching of a switch 35, which is illustrated diagrammatically in the figures. . The movement of the hinge element 20 is allowed by the presence of the light 34 in which

moves rod 32.

  In the rest position, it can be seen that the rear end 24 of the lever 16 is substantially in transverse support

  inward against the body panel 12, if any-

  Lement with interposition between the two of a sealing element. In this way, in the movement of the lever 16 between its rest position and its switching position, the rear end 24 of the lever 16 remains substantially stationary so that this movement can be compared to a rotational movement around a axis parallel to axis A1, axis which is determined by the geometry of the respective bearing surfaces of the rear end 24 of the lever 16 and of the

panel 12.

  A second embodiment of the invention, in which the gripping element is produced in the form of a pallet 36, is illustrated in FIGS. 4 to 6 in which

  identical or similar to those described above

  are designated by the same reference numbers.

  In the palette handles, the gripping element 36 has substantially the shape of a plate 38 which, in the rest position, extends substantially parallel to the body panel 12, outside of it, such so that one face 40 of the plate 38, facing the body panel 12, is still accessible to the user so that he can bring the pallet 36 from a rest position illustrated in FIG. 4 to an open position

illustrated in figure 5.

  The pallet 36 also comprises at least one latching lug 42 which extends towards the inside of the opening through an opening 44 arranged in the body panel 12. Preferably, the pallet has two lugs 42 identical which are offset in a direction perpendicular to the plane of Figures 4 to 6. The tabs 42 extend from an upper edge of the plate 38 with reference to the orientation of the figures. Each tab 42 has a first branch 46 which extends transversely inwards from the upper edge of the plate 38, a second branch 48 which extends it vertically upwards and a third branch 50 which

  extends the second transversely outward.

  The free end of the third branch 50 is articulated on the support 14 around an axis A3 which, in FIGS. 4 to 6, is substantially horizontal, parallel to the general plane of the panel 12. The attachment tabs 42 therefore have , in a plane perpendicular to the axis A3, the shape of a U open towards the outside which forms a clearance allowing the pallet 36 to be brought to its open position without interfering with

the support 14.

  For its articulation on the support 14, the free end of the third section 50 of each of the legs includes a light in an arc of a circle 54 in which is received an articulation rod 32 of axis A3 secured to the support 14. Means of elastic return 56 urges the tabs 42 so that, as long as the pallet 36 is maneuvered between its rest and opening positions, the articulation rod 32 remains at

  io one of the ends of the light 54 in an arc.

  Furthermore, other elastic return means (not shown) allow the pallet 36 to be brought back to its

  open position from its rest position.

  As can be seen in the figures, the hooking tabs 42 of the pallet 36 also have, near the intersection between the second branch 48 and third branch 50, a pin 58 which extends vertically upwards and which is received in an imprint 60 whose spherical shape is substantially complementary to that of the head of the pin 58. The imprint 60 is formed in a transverse return 62 of the support 14 which extends just above the third section 50 of the latch 42. When the pallet 36 is brought from its rest position to its open position, the pin 58 moves away from the imprint 60, so that it does not hinder the movement of the pallet 36 and it returns to contact with the imprint 60 only when the pallet

  36 has again reached its rest position.

  On the contrary, when the user tends to press the plate 38 of the pallet 36 transversely from the outside to the inside, the pin 58 is in abutment at the bottom of the imprint 60 and these two complementary surfaces determine a new axis of rotation A4 of the pallet 36 relative to the support 14. This second axis A4 is parallel to the axis A3 but it is offset transversely inwardly with respect thereto and the movement of rotation about the axis A4 is allowed thanks to the presence of the light 54 in an arc of a circle which is centered on the axis A4. Thus, by rotation around the second axis A4, the pallet 36 is capable of being brought to a switching position illustrated in FIG. 6 in which it can be seen that the free end of the third branch 50 of the tab 42 io s 'is moved so as to compress the elastic return means 56 and in such a way that the light 54 has moved

  relative to the articulation rod 32 which is fixed.

  In this switching position, the paddle 36 is capable of triggering an electrical switch 35

  illustrated schematically in the figures.

  In the first type of handle corresponding to FIGS. 1 and 3, it is noted that the gripping surface 30 is situated between, on the one hand, the articulation axis A1 of the gripping element and, on the other hand, the means 26 by which this gripping element acts on the control linkage of the lock. On the contrary, in the second handle illustrated in FIGS. 4 to 6, the lock control linkage is connected for example to one of the lugs 42 for hooking in such a way, relative to the axis of rotation A3 of l gripping member 36, the gripping surface 40 is located at a

free end of the pallet 36.

  Thus, by providing that the gripping element describes different trajectories depending on whether its movement corresponds to a locking or unlocking maneuver, it is possible to define an intermediate rest position which is stable. The two movements being perfectly decoupled, there is no risk that one of the movements will accidentally trigger when the user wishes

  manipulate the gripping element using the other movement.

  In addition, since the travel required to effect the switching is very small, the handle according to the invention allows the second axis of rotation of the gripping element to be defined very simply by complementary surfaces bearing one against the other, without the need to resort to a "real" penalizing articulation both in terms of cost of

  io manufacturing and in terms of assembly time.

Claims (8)

  1. Motor vehicle opening handle, of the type comprising a gripping element (16, 36) which extends on the external side of a body panel (12) and which is articulated on a handle support (14) , around a first axis (A1, A3), so as to pivot outwards between a rest position and an open position in which it controls the opening of a lock of the leaf, characterized in that the gripping element is capable of being rotated from outside to inside, substantially around a second axis of rotation (A4), from its rest position to a switching position in which it actuates a switching member (35), and in that there is provided elastic return means which tend to bring the gripping element   (36) from its switching position to its rest position.   2. Handle according to claim 1, characterized in that the second pivot axis of the gripping element is defined by the cooperation of a surface (24, 58) of   the gripping element (16, 36) with a complementary surface   fixed shutter (12, 60), the two surfaces pressing one against the other when the gripping element (16, 36) is in rest position.   3. Motor vehicle window handle according to one   any of the preceding claims, characterized in   that the gripping element is a lever (16) which is articulated on the support between its rest and opening positions by a first articulation end (18), its second opposite end (24, 26) controlling the opening of the lock, and in that the first end (18) of the lever (16) is capable of being displaced transversely inwards, by pivoting of the lever (16) substantially around an axis located near the opposite end (24), from a rest position, towards which it is resiliently returned, to an actuation position in which it actuates a switching member (35). 4. Handle according to claim 2, characterized in that the gripping element comprises an external pallet (36) and at least one hooking tab (42) which extends inside the opening through d 'a corresponding hole (44) io of the body panel (12) and which is articulated on the support (14), and in that the hooking lug (42) has a bearing surface (58) which, when the pallet (36) is in the rest position, bears against a complementary surface (60) of the handle support is (14).   5. Handle according to claim 4, characterized in that the bearing surface of the hooking lug (42) is formed by a boss (58) which cooperates with a complementary recess (60) of the support (12) to define the second axis hinge (A4).   6. Handle according to claim 5, characterized in that the hooking lug (42) is articulated on the support (14) by an end (50) opposite the pallet (38) and in that, along the hooking lug (42), the bearing surface (58) is arranged between the pallet (38) and the articulation end (50).   7. Handle according to any one of claims 4   6, characterized in that the pallet (36) has at least   two hooking lugs (42) parallel.   8. Handle according to any one of claims   previous, characterized in that the handle support (14) comprises an articulation rod (32) whose axis coincides with the first axis (A1, A3) of rotation of the gripping element (16) and which is received in a light (34) formed   in the gripping element (16).