Vehicle door handle assembly

Abstract

The invention relates to a vehicle door handle assembly (1) comprising: a movable lever (7) arranged on the inside of a vehicle door and configured for rotation from a rest position to an active position; an electrical latch (15) configured to open the door when an electrical opening signal is received; a converter (13, 13 ') configured for converting a displacement of the movable lever (7) towards the active position into an electrical opening signal sent to the electrical latch (15). Using a converter configured to convert displacement of the movable lever towards the active position into an electrical opening signal sent to the electrical latch enables the mechanical handle to be kept usable with the mechanical latch and used in a door with the electrical latch, thereby avoiding full redesign of the vehicle door.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of vehicle door handles for controlling the opening of a vehicle door, and in particular to an inner door handle assembly. Background Art

[0002] To improve vehicle safety, mechanical latches are increasingly being replaced by electrical latches in which the door opens upon receiving an electrical signal.

[0003] However, completely redesigning a vehicle door to provide an electric opening mechanism can be very expensive.

[0004] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle door handle assembly in which displacement of a mechanical handle is converted into an electrical opening signal suitable for transmission to an electrical latch. Summary of the invention

[0005] The present invention relates to a vehicle door handle assembly, comprising:

[0006] a movable lever arranged on the inner side of the vehicle door and configured for rotation from a rest position to an active position,

[0007] - an electrical latch configured to open the door upon receiving an electrical opening signal,

[0008] - a converter configured for converting a displacement of the movable rod towards the active position into an electrical opening signal sent to the electrical latch,

[0009] Wherein, the converter comprises:

[0010] - a housing forming the recess,

[0011] - a switch arranged in the recess and connected to the electric latch,

[0012] a movable portion arranged in the recess and configured to move from a rest position associated with a first state of the switch, in which no signal is sent, to an active position associated with a second state of the switch, in which an electrical opening signal is sent to the electrical latch,

[0013] - an elastic element configured for constraining the movable part in the rest position,

[0014] - a mechanical linkage arranged between the movable rod and the movable part.

[0015] The use of a converter configured to convert displacement of the movable rod toward the active position into an electrical opening signal sent to the electrical latch makes it possible to keep the mechanical handle usable with the mechanical latch and use it in a door with an electrical latch, thereby avoiding a complete redesign of the vehicle door.

[0016] According to another aspect of the invention, the mechanical linkage is a Bowden cable or a connecting rod.

[0017] According to another aspect of the invention, the movable portion is configured to translate between a rest position and an active position.

[0018] According to another aspect of the invention, the movable portion is configured to rotate between a rest position and an active position.

[0019] According to another aspect of the present invention, the elastic element is a coil spring.

[0020] According to another aspect of the invention, the switch is connected to the electrical latch via a cable.

[0021] According to another aspect of the invention, the electrical latch is remotely located relative to the converter.

[0022] The present invention also relates to a vehicle door comprising the vehicle door handle assembly as described above.

[0023] The invention also relates to a vehicle comprising a vehicle door as described above. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] Figure 1a is a door handle mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention in a closed position;

[0025] Figure 1b is a door handle mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention in an open position;

[0026] Figure 2 is an exploded view of a converter according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0027] Figure 3 Shows Figure 2 The two states of the converter;

[0028] Figure 4 shows two states of a converter according to another embodiment of the present invention;

[0029] Figure 5 yes Figure 4 Exploded view of the converter; DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] The following achievements are examples. Although the specification mentions one or several embodiments, it does not imply that each mention refers to the same embodiment or that features apply to only a single embodiment. Simple features of different embodiments may also be combined to provide other embodiments.

[0031] In the following description, the terms “upper”, “above”, “lower”, “below”, “vertical”, and “horizontal” refer to relative positions or directions when the door handle is assembled to a vehicle.

[0032] The present invention relates to a vehicle door handle assembly 1, in particular to an inner door handle. Figure 1a As shown, the door assembly includes a movable rod 3 arranged on the inner side of the door. The rod 3 is, for example, a rotatable rod arranged to rotate around a pivot axis 5. The rod 3 is located in a recess of a box 7 fixed to an inner door panel 9. The rod 3 includes a manipulation portion 3a at a first end located on a first side of the pivot axis 5. The manipulation portion 3a is configured to be grasped by a user so as to pull the manipulation portion 3a of the rod 3 toward the interior of the car to open the door. The rod 3 also includes an actuating portion 3b located at a second end of the rod 3, which is located on a second side of the pivot axis 5 opposite to the first side. The actuating portion 3b is linked to a Bowden strand 11a of a Bowden cable 11 arranged between the box 7 and a converter 13. The Bowden cable 11 includes a sheath 11b, which is connected to the housing 21 of the converter 13 on one side and to the stopper 8 arranged in the box 7 on the other side. When the rod 3 is in a stationary position (corresponding to Figure 1a ), the actuating portion 3b of the rod 3 can be stationary at a distance corresponding to the length L1 away from the stopper 8. When the user pulls the rod 3, the rod 3 is configured to pivot from the stationary position to the active position (corresponding to Figure 1b Then, the actuating portion 3b is displaced away from the stopper 8 by a length L2 corresponding to the stroke of the actuating portion 3b of the rod 3. Alternatively, the Bowden cable 11 may be replaced by a connecting rod or any other suitable mechanical linkage.

[0033] The vehicle door handle assembly 1 also includes an electric latch 15. The electric latch 15 is configured to open the door upon receiving an electric opening signal. The electric latch 15 can be arranged at a remote location relative to the rod 3, for example, in a different part of the door. The electric latch 15 can be connected to an electrical connector 17 of the converter via a cable 19. The electrical connector 17 is optional.

[0034] The converter 13 includes a hollow housing 21 forming an inner recess. The housing may have a cylindrical shape and may be made of two semi-cylindrical shells 21a and 21b, such as Figure 21. The shell can be fastened together, for example by clamping. The internal recess can also have a cylindrical shape. The converter 13 also includes a switch 23, which is arranged in the recess and connected to the electrical connector 17 via a cable 25. The converter 13 also includes a movable portion 27 arranged in the recess. The movable portion 27 is linked to the end of the cable strand 11a opposite to the end linked to the rod 3, so that the cable strand 11a provides a mechanical link between the movable rod 3 and the movable portion 27. The movable portion 27 can also have a cylindrical shape complementary to the shape of the internal recess. Alternatively, a non-cylindrical shape can be used for the recess and the movable portion 27 to prevent the movable portion 27 from rotating in the recess and causing the cable strand 11a to twist. The movable portion 27 is configured to translate in the recess from a static position associated with the static position of the rod 3 to an active position associated with the active position of the rod 3. Furthermore, when passing from the rest position to the active position, the movable portion is configured to switch the switch 23 from a first state where no signal is sent to a second state where an electrical opening signal is sent to the electrical latch 15. The switch 23 includes, for example, a rod 23a (at Figure 3 ), the rod 23a is pushed downward by the movable part 27 to contact the electrical contact 23b, thereby causing the transmission of the electrical opening signal sent to the electrical latch 15 via the cable 25, the connector 17 and the cable 19. The movable part 27 may include Figure 3 The beveled shape 28 is shown. The beveled shape 28 provides space for the rod 23a to move upward and away from the electrical contact 23b when the movable part 27 is in the rest position, and when the movable part 27 moves to the active position, the beveled shape 28 will push the rod 23a downward to contact the electrical contact 23b.

[0035] The converter 13 further comprises an elastic element 29, such as a coil spring, which is configured to constrain the movable part 27 towards the rest position. In particular, the elastic element 29 is configured to bring the movable part 27 back from the active position to the rest position when the user releases the rod 3. The elastic element 29 can also be configured to bring the rod 3 back to the rest position (but another elastic element can be dedicated to the rod 3).

[0036] Thus, when the user pulls the operating portion 3a of the movable lever 3 from the rest position to the active position, the movable lever 3 rotates about the pivot axis 5, so that the cable strand 11a is pulled by the length L=L2-L1, resulting in the displacement of the movable portion 27 from its rest position to its active position in the housing 21 and the compression of the elastic element 29. The displacement of the movable portion 27 towards the active position causes the switch 23 to switch to the second state and thus causes the transmission of an electrical opening signal towards the electric latch 15, so that the door is opened. When the user 30 releases the lever 3, the elastic element 29 (possibly with the help of another elastic device associated with the lever 3) extends and brings the movable portion 27 back to the rest position. At the same time, the lever 3 is brought back to its rest position.

[0037] Use of a converter configured to convert the movement of a cable linked to the handle lever 3 into an electrical opening signal enables use of a handle lever of a mechanical handle mechanism in an electrically opening door without modifying the design of the handle lever 3 .

[0038] Figure 4 and Figure 5 Another embodiment is shown, in which the movable part 27' is configured to rotate in a recess of the housing 21' of the converter 13'. In addition, the converter 13' of this embodiment is smaller in size and can be positioned next to the box 7, so that no cable sheath is required. The movable part 27' is configured to rotate from the rod 3 under the action of the Bowden cable 11 when the user pulls the rod 3. Figure 4 The rest position shown in the upper part is rotated to Figure 4 The converter 13' may include a pivot axis 31, and the movable part 27' may be configured to rotate around the pivot axis 31. The movable part 27' may include a first extension 27'a located on a first side of the pivot axis 31 and a second extension 27'b located on a second side of the pivot axis 31 opposite to the first side 15, the first extension 27'a and the second extension 27'b being configured to push the rod 23a of the switch 23 downward to trigger the transmission of an electrical opening signal when the movable part 27 moves toward the active position, the first side of the pivot axis 31 being linked to the Bowden strand 11. The converter also includes an elastic element 29' (at Figure 5 The housing 21' of the converter 13' may also include two shells 21a' and 21b' fastened together, for example by clamping. Other aspects of this second embodiment may be similar to those previously described. Figures 1a to 3 The first embodiment described in .

[0039] Thus, when the user pulls the operating portion 3a of the movable rod 3 from the rest position to the active position, the movable rod 3 rotates about the pivot axis 5, so that the cable strand 11a is pulled by the length L, resulting in the rotation of the movable portion 27' in the housing 21' from its rest position to its active position and the tensioning of the elastic element 29'. The rotation of the movable portion 27' towards the active position causes the switch 23 to switch to the second state and thus causes the transmission of an electrical opening signal towards the electric latch 15, so that the door is opened. When the user releases the rod 3, the elastic element 29' (possibly with the help of another elastic device associated with the rod 3) is brought back to its released state and brings the movable portion 27' back to the rest position. At the same time, the rod 3 returns to its rest position.

[0040] The present invention thus provides a way of adapting an existing mechanical door handle to an electric door opening mechanism, avoiding the need to completely redesign the door to provide electric opening.

Claims

1. A vehicle door handle assembly (1), comprising: - a movable rod (7) arranged on the inner side of the vehicle door and configured to be rotated from a rest position to an active position, - an electric latch (15) configured to open the door upon receipt of an electric opening signal, a converter (13, 13') configured to convert the displacement of the movable rod (7) towards the active position into an electrical opening signal sent to the electrical latch (15), Wherein, the converter (13, 13') comprises: - a housing (21, 21') forming a recess, - a switch (23) arranged in the recess and connected to the electric latch (15), a movable portion (27, 27') arranged in the recess and configured to move from a rest position associated with a first state of the switch (23), in which no signal is sent, to an active position associated with a second state of the switch (23), in which an electrical opening signal is sent to the electrical latch (15), - an elastic element (29, 29') configured to constrain the movable part (27, 27') in the rest position, - a mechanical link (11) arranged between the movable rod (7) and the movable part (27, 27').

2. The vehicle door handle assembly (1) according to claim 1, wherein: The mechanical link (11) is a Bowden cable or a connecting rod.

3. A vehicle door handle assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The movable portion (27) is configured to translate between the rest position and the active position.

4. The vehicle door handle assembly (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The movable portion (27') is configured to rotate between the rest position and the active position.

5. A vehicle door handle assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The elastic element (29, 29') is a helical spring.

6. A vehicle door handle assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The switch (23) is linked to the electrical latch (15) via a cable (19, 25).

7. A vehicle door handle assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The electrical latch (15) is remotely located relative to the converter (13, 13').

8. A vehicle door comprising a door handle assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims.

9. A vehicle comprising the door according to claim 8.

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