Vehicle door for a motor vehicle

Abstract

Vehicle door (12) for a motor vehicle, comprising - a door handle unit (22) which is fastened to the inside of the rear edge (20) of the door opposite a door hinge and is motor-pivotable between a folded-in and a folded-out position, wherein the door handle unit (22) is arranged behind the closed vehicle door (12) in the folded-in position and projects laterally outwards in the unfolded position, encompassing the rear edge (20) of the door and being manually graspable for opening the door, - a door mover unit (28) which is designed to move the vehicle door (12) in a closed state from a closed position into a standby position in which the door handle unit (22) can be moved from the folded-in position to the unfolded position, - a control unit (34) with a signal input (38) which, upon receipt of the opening signal, controls the door mover unit (28) to move into the ready position and controls the door handle unit (22) to pivot into the unfolded position.

Description

The invention relates to a vehicle door for a motor vehicle having a door handle which is not accessible from the outside in the closed state.A variety of solutions are known for this, wherein the door handle is usually arranged such that it can be lowered in a depression, as is known, for example, from DE 20 20 2017 103 702 U1 or DE 10 2013 215 896 A1.DE 39 15 737 A1 discloses a vehicle door with a handle part which is arranged in a protected space in the closed state of the door. A cover part is pushed away via motor-driven kinematic mechanism, so that the grip part can be moved outwards passing through this opening and then gripped by a user.DE 28 54 423 C2 discloses a grip element having a grip surface and a smooth outer surface arranged at an angle thereto, wherein by slightly moving a vehicle door away from the door frame the grip element is pivoted to such an extent that instead of the smooth outer surface the grip surface comes outwards.DE 197 40 827 A1 discloses a vehicle door with a cover which is pulled away inwards and then laterally and thereby opens up an opening for the passage of the grip element.Furthermore, DE 10 2004 031 798 A1 discloses an outwardly foldable door edge protector which is fastened on the inside to the door edge opposite a door axis and can be pivoted from a folded-in position into a folded-out position by a movement positively coupled to a pivoting movement of the vehicle door, wherein the door edge protector surrounds the door edge in a protective manner in the folded-out position in order to avoid damage to the door edge and to adjacent vehicles in narrow parking spaces.It is an object of the invention to provide a vehicle door for a motor vehicle in which the door handle is not visible from the outside in the closed state of the door, but the vehicle door can nevertheless be easily opened by manual actuation from the outside.The invention results from the features of the independent claims. Advantageous refinements and refinements are the subject matter of the dependent claims.The object is achieved according to claim 1 bya door handle unit which is fastened on the inside of the door edge opposite a door hinge and can be pivoted by motor between a folded-in position and a folded-out position, wherein the door handle unit is arranged behind the vehicle door in the folded-in position when the vehicle door is closed and protrudes laterally outwards in the folded-out position, engaging around the door edge, and can be manually engaged with the door opening,a door moving unit configured to move the vehicle door in a closed state from a closed position into a ready position in which the door handle unit is pivotable from the folded into the folded-out position,a control unit having a signal input which, upon receipt of the opening signal, controls the door moving unit to move into the ready position and controls the door handle unit to pivot into the folded-out position.The invention provides a vehicle door for a motor vehicle, in which the door handle, when the door is closed, is arranged so as to be completely concealed behind the latter from the outside, so that the vehicle door does not have any door handle elements visible from the outside, but rather a smooth contour. Thus, the door handle is in a protected and clean area in this position. The door handle is not disruptive in the folded-in state and does not require a design space. If the door is to be opened from the outside, the door handle is provided easily accessible from the outside by actuating a door opener, preferably a wireless key, after the vehicle door has been opened in a gap-wide manner, so that the vehicle door can be opened in a comfortable and ergonomically favorable manner. This is achieved according to the invention in that the door handle unit is pivotable between two positions and the door moving unit moves the vehicle door from the closed position into the ready position in which the vehicle door is opened a gap which is sufficient to pivot the door handle unit out into the folded-out or graspable position.According to an advantageous development of the invention, the door moving unit has a push rod which can be moved on the vehicle side. As a result, after unlocking a door lock, the vehicle door can be moved structurally simply from the closed position into the ready position. The door moving unit is particularly preferably designed as a threaded drive or rack and pinion drive.According to an advantageous development of the invention, the door mover unit is fastened to the vehicle door and is supported on a vehicle body. This can thus easily be electrically connected to the other components coupled thereto, such as the control unit, the door lock and a drive for the door handle unit, which also facilitates assembly.According to an alternative development of the invention, the door mover unit is fastened to the vehicle body and is supported on the vehicle door. This design enables a greater movement stroke during the movement of the vehicle door into the ready position.According to a further alternative development of the invention, the door moving unit is arranged on a door hinge and generates a rotational movement of the vehicle door. This can be realized by means of an arcuate toothed rack which meshes with an electric motor. Alternatively, hydraulic or pneumatic actuation is also possible.According to an advantageous development of the invention, the door moving unit is configured to move back into a closed position after a manual opening movement of the vehicle door beyond the ready position. This ensures that the vehicle door can be closed again at any time by a user if necessary without damage to the door mover unit if such a closing movement takes place immediately or vigorously. Alternatively, the door moving unit can also be provided with means which, after reaching the end position, i.e. the ready position, enables a return movement of the door moving unit into the closed position effected from the outside.According to an advantageous further development, the door moving unit has at its free end a latch device which is designed to engage with a counter piece in a form-fitting manner with its support-side free end before moving into the closed position, in order to thus provide the possibility of retracting the vehicle door from the ready position again. When the door mover is disposed in the vehicle door, the engaging counterpart is formed in the body, and vice versa. This embodiment makes it possible to close the vehicle door again from the ready position by means of the door moving unit, i.e. to retract it into the closed position, which is naturally only possible after the door handle unit has been moved back from the deployed into the folded-in position. The door mover unit serves as an opening and closing device for the vehicle door. Such an automated closing movement can be triggered in particular by a radio signal of a remote control or a switching element in the vehicle interior.The invention also comprises a motor vehicle having a vehicle door according to one of the embodiments described above.A method for operating a vehicle door as described above is characterized by the following steps:providing an opening signal via a manually operable switching element or a radio signal,unlocking a door lock,actuating the door moving unit from the closed position into the ready position,waiting until it has been moved a predetermined distance which defines a sufficiently wide door gap to pivot the door handle unit from the folded-in position into the folded-out position,actuating the door handle unit to pivot it from the folded-in position into the unfolded position.Further advantages, features and details are evident from the following description, in which--possibly with reference to the drawing--at least one exemplary embodiment is described in detail. Identical, similar and / or functionally identical parts are provided with the same reference numerals.The following are shown: FIG. 1 : a schematic sectional illustration of a door handle device in the folded-in state, FIG. 2 : a schematic sectional illustration of the same door handle device in the deployed state, FIG. 3 : shows a schematic sectional illustration through a vehicle door, FIG. 4 is a flow chart of the opening and closing operation of the vehicle door.FIGS. 1 and 2 show a door handle device 10 for opening a vehicle door 12 of a motor vehicle, not shown in detail, of which only a body part 14, for example a part of a B-pillar, is shown.FIG. 1 shows the vehicle door 12 in the closed state, such that its outer surface 16 is aligned with the outer surface 18 of the body 14. The vehicle door 12 is formed to be relatively thin in the region of its rear edge 20. In this region, a door handle unit 22 is fastened on the inside, which comprises a door handle 24 which can be pivoted about a pivot axis 26 which runs parallel to the rear edge 20. In this figure, the door handle unit 22 is shown in the folded-in position, in which the door handle 24 protrudes inward.FIG. 2 shows the door handle unit 22 in the deployed position, in which the door handle 24 is pivoted or folded outwards by approximately 120° about the rear edge 20 of the door. The door handle unit 22 has a shape that fits the shape of the vehicle door 12 in the area of the rear door edge 20 and preferably has an elastic material layer in the contact area in order to cushion the pivoting movement and to avoid damage to the rear door edge 20. The folding movement of the door handle unit 22 is effected by a preferably electromotive adjusting device, not shown. A spring device can also be installed, so that a restoring folding movement of the door handle unit 22 in the one direction can be effected automatically by spring force, e.g. the pivoting movement from the unfolded position into the folded position.FIGS. 1 and 2 also show a translatory door moving unit 28 which is attached to the vehicle body 29 (for example in the foot sill region) via fastening means, not shown in more detail, which is supported on a reinforcing part 30 of the vehicle door 12. FIG. 1 shows the door mover unit 28 in the retracted state, i.e. when the vehicle door 12 is closed.In FIG. 2, the vehicle door 12 is shown in the ready position, in which the rear edge of the door is laterally displaced outward by a distance X. Indeed, the vehicle door 12 naturally pivots about an axis of rotation, not shown, in door hinges, which is caused by the door mover unit 28 being extended the distance X after unlocking a door lock and thus pushing the vehicle door 12 laterally outward. The distance X is dimensioned such that the door handle unit can fold out without the door handle 24 striking the body part 14.FIG. 3 shows a section through the vehicle door 12 in a lateral plane. In this embodiment, the door mover 28 is disposed in the vehicle door 12 supported on the vehicle body 29. This figure also shows a door lock 32 for the vehicle door 12 and a drive device 33 for the door handle unit 22.An electronic control unit 34 is electrically connected to the door lock 32, the door mover 28, the driving device 33 for the door handle unit 22, and a switch member 36. The switching element 36 (e.g. a button) is preferably located in the vehicle interior in order to move the vehicle door 12 from the inside into the ready position (FIG. 2 ). In addition, a switching element 36 which is accessible from the outside can be provided, which can likewise move the vehicle door 12 from the outside into the ready position when the door lock is not locked.The control unit 34 can furthermore have a signal input 38 for receiving opening or closing signals by means of a remote control.In FIG. 4, the opening method carried out by the control unit 34 is shown.In step 100, when the vehicle door 12 (FIG. 1 ) is closed, a check is made as to whether an opening command is present by the switching element 36 or signal input 38. If this is the case, the control unit 34 unlocks the door lock 32 in step 102 and then the door mover unit 28 is set in motion in step 104 so that said door mover unit presses the vehicle door 12 in a closed state out of the closed position shown in FIG. 1 into the ready position shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Subsequently, in step 106, the drive device 33 is activated, which moves the door handle unit 22 from the inner, folded-in position shown in FIG. 1 by approximately 120° outwards into the folded-out position shown in FIG. 2.In this state, the door handle 24 can be gripped by an outside person and the vehicle door 12 can be fully opened.In step 108, in one embodiment, the vehicle door 12 in the ready position checks whether the vehicle door 12 has been manually opened further. If this is the case, the door moving unit 28 is retracted again in step 110, so that manual closing of the vehicle door 12 can take place unimpeded by pushing from the outside or pulling from the inside.If, however, it was determined in step 108 that an actuation signal was obtained via the switching element 36 or the signal input 38 in the state of the vehicle door 12 in the standby position, then in step 118 the drive device 33 is caused to move the door handle unit 22 back into the folded-in position (FIG. 1 ) and subsequently in step 110 the door mover unit 28 is retracted again. In one embodiment, the door mover unit 28 may be configured such that retraction thereof retracts the vehicle door 12 again. A timer can also be integrated in the control unit 34, which automatically pulls the vehicle door 12 back in when no manual opening movement of the vehicle door has taken place for a certain time (for example 10-60 seconds).Although the invention has been illustrated and explained in more detail by preferred exemplary embodiments, the invention is not restricted by the disclosed examples and other variations can be derived therefrom by the person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of protection of the invention. It is therefore clear that a large number of possible variations exist. It is also clear that embodiments mentioned by way of example represent only examples which are not to be understood in any way as limiting, for example, the scope of protection, the possible applications or the configuration of the invention. Rather, the preceding description and the description of the figures enable the person skilled in the art to implement the exemplary embodiments in concrete terms, wherein the person skilled in the art, having knowledge of the disclosed inventive idea, can make various changes, for example with regard to the function or the arrangement of individual elements mentioned in an exemplary embodiment, without departing from the scope of protection defined by the claims and their legal equivalents, such as, for example, further explanation in the description.List of reference characters10 Door handle device 12 Vehicle door 14 Body part 16 Outer surface of the vehicle door 18 Outer surface of the body part 20 Rear edge of the vehicle door / rear edge 22 Door handle unit 24 Door handle 26 Pivot axis 28 Door mover unit 29 Vehicle body 30 Reinforcing part 32 Door lock 33 Drive device 34 Control unit 36 Switching element 38 Signal input

Claims

Vehicle door (12) for a motor vehicle, comprising - a door handle unit (22) which is fastened on the inside to the rear door edge (20) opposite a door hinge and can be pivoted by motor between a folded-in position and a folded-out position, wherein the door handle unit (22) is arranged behind the vehicle door (12) in the folded-in position when the latter is closed and projects laterally outwards in the folded-out position while embracing the rear door edge (20) and can be manually gripped with respect to the door opening, - a door movement unit (28) which is designed to move the vehicle door (12), which is in a closed state, from a closed position into a standby position in which the door handle unit (22) can be moved from the folded-in into the folded-out position, - a control unit (34) having a signal input (38), which, upon receipt of the opening signal, controls the door moving unit (28) to move into the ready position and controls the door handle unit (22) to pivot into the deployed position.Vehicle door according to claim 1, characterised in that the door mover unit (28) has a push rod which can be moved on the vehicle side and which preferably comprises a threaded drive or a rack and pinion drive.Vehicle door according to Claim 2, characterized in that the door moving unit (28) is fastened to the vehicle door (12) and is supported on a vehicle body (14).Vehicle door according to Claim 2, characterized in that the door moving unit (28) is fastened to the vehicle body (14) and is supported on the vehicle door (12).Vehicle door according to Claim 1, characterized in that the door moving unit (28) is arranged on a door hinge and generates a rotational movement.Vehicle door according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the door moving unit (28) is configured to move back into a closed position after a manual opening movement of the vehicle door (12) beyond the ready position.Vehicle door according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, on receipt of a closing signal, the control unit (34) actuates the door handle unit (22) to pivot into the retracted position and actuates the door moving unit (28) to move into the closed position.Vehicle door according to claim 7, characterised in that the door moving unit (28) has at its free end a latch device which is designed to come with its support-side end into positive engagement with a counter piece before the movement into the closed position, in order to pull the vehicle door (12) out of the ready position.Method for operating a vehicle door according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythe following steps: - providing an opening signal via a manually actuatable switching element or a radio signal, - unlocking a door lock, - actuating the door moving unit (28) from the closed position into the ready position, - waiting until it has been moved a predefined distance which defines a sufficiently wide door gap to pivot the door handle unit (22) from the folded-in into the folded-out position, - actuating the door handle unit in order to pivot it from the folded-in into the folded-out position.Motor vehicle comprising a vehicle door according to one of Claims 1 to 8.

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