Door lock release device

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for unlocking a door lock associated with a door handle (1) mounted to slide in an opening (5) of the door between a rest position in which the handle is flush with the door and a working position in which the handle protrudes from the door. The unlocking device comprises a cylinder (37) carried by a support fixed directly or indirectly to the door. The cylinder is connected to a lock release element by means of an actuating member of the lock release element. The cylinder (37) is mounted to project towards the handle at an angle relative to a direction normal to the door. This angle is preferably sufficient to allow the cylinder to be inserted into the lock case when the handle is in the working position.

Description

Door lock release device The present invention relates to a flush door handle and its release device for a door lock, particularly, though not exclusively, for a motor vehicle door lock. A non-flush door handle mounted to pivot is known, as described in documents DE 29804105 U1 or US 2014 / 230329 A1. This pivoting handle protects the door lock and prevents it from becoming soiled. A vehicle lock, for example, is described in document EP 1262626 A2. This type of pivoting door handle, which can be flush-mounted as described in WO 2014 / 049026 A1, already allows easy access to the door lock in case of malfunction. This ease of access is achieved because one end of the handle is left exposed. Of particular interest is the motor vehicle equipped with a door lock associated with a flush door handle mounted to slide into a door opening between a rest position, in which the handle is flush with the door, and a working position, in which the handle protrudes from the door; a motor is generally provided that ensures the transition from the rest position to the working position after the identification of the person attempting to open the door. When the motor fails, for whatever reason, it is essential to be able to open the door manually. For this purpose, a key mechanism is generally provided, which extends into the door frame. However, since this mechanism is rarely, if ever, used, there is a risk of contamination that prevents manual opening. Typically, the key mechanism is located next to the flush-mounted sliding handle. To mitigate this risk, the end of the cylinder is covered with a sliding flap or a small cap, but this merely shifts the problem, leaving the flap or cap exposed to the elements. In the case of WO 2016 / 188694 A1, the described sliding handle integrates the key mechanism within it; therefore, there is no need to attempt to protect it. One objective of the invention is to propose a door lock release mechanism whose operation is guaranteed under normal conditions of use. To achieve this objective, a door handle according to claim 1 is provided. Thus, when the vehicle is in regular use, the opening of the unlocking mechanism is protected by the handle, so that the risk of soiling is considerably minimized. According to an advantageous version of the invention, the inclination is sufficient to allow the cylinder to be inserted into the box from the outside of the door when the handle is in the working position. According to another advantageous version of the invention, the unlocking mechanism comprises a coupling member between the cylinder and the operating member of the lock's unlocking element. The coupling member has an input shaft and an output shaft extending in two different directions. This allows the cylinder's position to be adapted to the overall configuration of the door lock. Other features of the invention, which can be implemented individually or in combination, include: the coupling member comprising bevel gears; the coupling member comprising a universal joint assembly; the coupling member comprising a bevel gear fixed to the cylinder and a bevel gear fixed to a plate carrying a portion of the universal joint assembly; and the cylinder being removably mounted on the outside of the door.Thus, it is possible to carry out finishing operations, in particular painting the door, without running the risk of affecting the operation of the unlocking mechanism. According to another feature of the invention, the mechanism comprises a cylinder unlocking organ accessible by the door's rebate. Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following description of an exemplary embodiment of the invention, with reference to the accompanying figures, among which: - Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of the control mechanism of a door handle according to the invention, - Figure 2 is a schematic top view of the control mechanism shown out of its housing for a handle rest position, - Figure 3 is a view analogous to that of Figure 2 for a working position of the handle, - Figure 4 is a view analogous to that of Figure 2 when the handle is actuated in a door opening direction, - Figure 5 is a schematic perspective view of one embodiment of the first lever and the second lever, - Figure 6 is a schematic partial perspective view from inside the box, - Figure 7 is a perspective view of the door lock release device according to a first embodiment of the coupling means of the cylinder and the bolt lever, - Figure 8 is a schematic perspective view of a second embodiment of the unlocking device. With reference to the figures, the invention relates to a control mechanism for the handle 1 of a door 2. The handle 1 is movable between a rest position, in which the handle is flush with the door, and a working position in which the handle protrudes from the door, as illustrated in Figure 1. The control mechanism comprises a housing 3 equipped with projections 4 for fixing the housing to the door. The handle 1 is mounted to slide in an opening 5 of the door. In the illustrated embodiment, the handle 1 is hollow. The operating mechanism of the handle comprises a first lever 6 having a general Y shape, comprising a tail 7 arched inwards towards the handle and hinged to a shaft 8 carried by the handle, and two arms 9 symmetrical with respect to a median plane extending along the longitudinal direction of the handle, each having one end connected by a joint 54 to one end of a connecting rod 10, the opposite end of which is hinged to a second lever 11 by means of a joint comprising a shaft 12 carried by the second lever 11 and engaged in an oblong recess 13 formed in the connecting rod and extending along the longitudinal direction of the connecting rod. The shaft 12 and the recess 13 thus provide, for each connecting rod, a play along the longitudinal direction of the connecting rod. At the end opposite the articulation with the connecting rod 10, the second lever 11 is hinged to a shaft 14 carried by the handle. The shaft 14 extends parallel to the shaft 8, at a distance from it along the longitudinal direction of the handle. The first lever 6, the second lever 11 and the connecting rod 10 thus form with the handle 1 a deformable quadrilateral whose deformation causes a translational displacement of the handle. On the other hand, the mechanism comprises a door lock operating member comprising a plate 15 mounted to pivot about an axis 16 carried by the housing 3 and returned by a spring 17 to a position in which an edge of the plate 15 is supported against the inner face of the housing 3. The plate 15 further comprises a slot in which a cable head 18 is coupled, the opposite end of which is attached to the door lock 20 (see Figure 6). The rest position of the handle 1 corresponds to a closed state of the lock 20. The first lever 6 also comprises a maneuvering arm 21 whose end extends in front of an edge of the plate 15. At the lower end of this edge, the plate 15 comprises a maneuvering pin 22 whose function will be described below. Opposite one end of lever 11 opposite the pivot axis 14 of the second lever 11 with respect to handle 1, the mechanism comprises a deployment member, in this case a cam 23 mounted eccentrically on a shaft 24 driven by a motor 25 fixed in the housing and connected to a control unit 26 suitable for receiving deployment command signals from a remote control 27. On the other hand, lock 20 comprises a lock interlocking element that is activated when the handle is in the rest position. The operation of the mechanism according to the invention is as follows: springs 28 are conveniently arranged between the levers and the housing so that, in association with the return spring 17, the support of the operating arm 21 on the edge of the plate 15 and the support of the end of the lever 11 on the deployment member 23, the assembly is held in a stable position for which the handle 1 is flush with the opening 5, as illustrated in figure 2. When a deployment command signal is sent to the electric motor 25 by the control unit 26, the deployment mechanism 23 is rotated, as illustrated by arrow 29 in Figure 3, causing levers 6 and 11 to pivot, as indicated by arrows 30 and 31 in Figure 3. During this movement, handle 1 translates, as indicated by arrows 32, until the operating arm 21 rests against the operating pin 22. Simultaneously, a release signal is sent to an electric release mechanism 34 associated with the lock 20. From this position, a pull on the handle, as indicated by arrow 33 in Figure 4, causes the plate 15 to pivot, as indicated by arrow 34 in Figure 4, thereby applying a pull on the cable 19 that unlocks the lock. 20 of the door. In the event of a faulty electrical operation, manual support on the handle in the vertical of axis 14 causes a slight tilting of lever 6, sufficient to fit the hand on the handle and exert a pull on it. Simultaneously, it is necessary to ensure the lock is unlocked. To this end, the mechanism according to the invention comprises a release device comprising a cylinder 37 carried by a support fixed directly or indirectly to the door, in this case a ring 40 fixed to the case, and in which the cylinder 37 is held locked by a screw 41 screwed into the ring 40 and whose end rests in a groove 39 of the cylinder 37. The screw 41 is preferably arranged to be accessible from the door rebate, by passing a screwdriver through a tube 51 that opens into the door rebate. The cylinder 37 comprises an opening 38 for inserting a key 55. The cylinder 37 is connected to the release element 35 of the lock by means of an operating member, in this case a bolt lever 42 mounted to pivot on an axis 43 carried by the case and connected to the release member 36 by a cable 44. In the embodiment of figure 7, the bolt lever 42 is connected to the cylinder 37 by a coupling member comprising a male bevel gear 45 carried by the cylinder 37, and a female bevel gear 46 carried by the bolt lever 42. The coupling member thus has an input shaft 52 and an output shaft 53 extending in two different directions. By appropriately selecting the direction of the output shaft, the coupling can therefore be adapted to the arrangement of the various elements contained within the housing. In the embodiment of figure 8, the female gear 46 is carried by a plate 47 attached to the locking lever 42 by a gimbal assembly comprising a lever 48 carrying at each of its ends a ball joint 49 coupled to a ball joint support 50. Obviously, the invention is not limited to the described embodiment and is susceptible to embodiment variants that will occur to the skilled worker without departing from the framework of the invention as defined by the claims. In particular, although in the preferred embodiment of the invention the cylinder 37 is inserted through the front face of the door, which allows for finishing work before placing the cylinder 37, it is desirable to have the cylinder 37 end up behind the handle 1 in order to protect the mechanism associated with the key 55 from soiling.

Claims

1. A door handle (1) configured to be mounted to slide in an opening (5) of the door between a rest position in which the handle is flush with the door and a working position in which the handle protrudes from the door, the handle comprising: - a handle operating mechanism, - a release device comprising a cylinder (37) carried by a support configured directly or indirectly to be fixed to the door, the cylinder being configured to be connected to a release element (35) of the lock by means of an operating member (42) of the release element of the lock, characterized in that the handle operating mechanism comprises a first lever (6) and a second lever (11) articulated on the handle and joined to each other by a connecting rod (10) to form with the handle a deformable quadrilateral, the deformation of which causes a translational displacement of the handle,and because the cylinder (37) is mounted to open in front of the handle at an angle with respect to a direction (56) normal to the door.

2. Handle according to claim 1, characterized in that the angle is sufficient to allow the cylinder to be inserted into the lock case from the outside of the door when the handle is in the working position.

3. Handle according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that it comprises a coupling member (45, 46; 48, 49, 50) between the cylinder and the operating member of the lock's release mechanism, the coupling member having an input shaft (52) and an output shaft (53) extending in two different directions.

4. Handle according to claim 3, characterized in that the coupling member comprises bevel gears (45, 46).

5. Handle according to claim 3 or claim 4,characterized in that the coupling member comprises a cardan joint assembly (48, 49, 50).

6. Handle according to claim 4 and claim 5, taken in combination, characterized in that the coupling member comprises a bevel gear (45) fixed to the cylinder, and a bevel gear (46) fixed to a plate (47) carrying a portion of the cardan joint assembly.

7. Handle according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cylinder (37) is removably mounted on the outside of the door.

8. Handle according to claim 7, characterized in that it comprises a cylinder release element (41) accessible through the door rebate.

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