Device for opening an opening plate and vehicle equipped with such a device

Description

Technical field of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to the field of vehicles, more particularly motor vehicles. The invention finds a particularly relevant application in vehicle design, especially in the design of openings.

[0002] The invention relates to a vehicle passenger compartment layout comprising a body-mounted tie-down system and a device for separating a cargo volume from the passenger compartment. State of the art

[0003] A new type of door opening device is known that combines a clean door design with practical opening, as described in DE102006027473A1 and EP3020892A1. Some vehicles now feature exterior door handles that eliminate any visible recess when the handle is inactive. This design creates the appearance of a smooth door surface around the exterior handle, giving the vehicle a new look that is well-received by users and likely to be successful. When active, the handle protrudes from the exterior door panel, allowing it to be gripped to unlock and then move the door.

[0004] However original it may be, such a handle requires a complex and expensive mechanism, thus limiting it to higher-end vehicles. Furthermore, it has been observed that in the event of an electrical malfunction, the mechanism used to extend the handle becomes inoperative, making it impossible to access the vehicle's interior except through relatively complex and expensive computer and telecommunications systems, again reserved for higher-end vehicles due to their cost. The drawback of existing systems lies in the difficulty of integrating them into a comprehensive, mass-market automotive design.

[0005] It was also noted that such exterior handles have a significant footprint, particularly regarding the depth of their internal mechanism. Their integration can therefore create constraints that influence the door's design in the handle area and increase the manufacturing cost of the door frame, as the stamping operations become more complex due to the greater depth of the stamped part. Furthermore, again due to space constraints, it was observed that it is impossible to integrate the handle movement mechanism identically inside the vehicle for an interior door opening control. This requires specific, and consequently costly, development, meaning that such development cannot be limited to lower-end vehicles.

[0006] It was also noted that the interior design of a vehicle, particularly with regard to the door, is heavily dependent on the door opening and closing mechanisms, making it difficult to use a common set of parts across different vehicle models. For door interiors, standardizing the opening and closing mechanisms is also of considerable importance, including both the closing and opening mechanisms. To avoid impacting the vehicle's interior style, the need arose to conceal these mechanisms within the door itself.

[0007] The invention presented here solves the drawbacks of prior art solutions by proposing a vehicle opening device that is particularly valuable both in terms of interior and exterior style, while providing a simple and safe design. Object of the invention

[0008] To this end, the object of the present invention relates to a device for opening a vehicle opening, in particular an automobile, comprising an unlocking means intended to mechanically release the connection between the opening and the vehicle body, a gripping means intended for the opening and / or closing maneuver of the opening and a main control means connected to the unlocking means in order to control a change of state of the connection between the opening and the vehicle body, the device includes a backup control means intended to replace said main control means in the event of failure of the latter such that said backup means is then capable of controlling said unlocking means,said emergency control means comprising a movable element on the door panel between an initial rest position and a final activation position in which the movable element performs a change by mechanical control of the state of said unlocking means from its locked position in which the closed door is held immobile on the vehicle body to its unlocked position in which the door is able to be moved relative to the body, characterized in that the emergency control means comprises a pivoting, rotating, paddle-type movable element (620), the paddle (620) being manually actuable, the paddle being connected to a retaining / release means (7) holding it in an inactive position, the paddle (620) being positioned wholly or partially protruding from the interior door trim (22) when said retaining / release means is tilted into the active position, which tends to facilitate its grasping.

[0009] According to other features, the device that is the subject of the invention may comprise the following features taken separately or in combination with each other: The unlocking means comprises a lock connected to an electric actuator, the control of which causes a change of state of the lock between a locked position in which the closed opening is held stationary on the vehicle body and an unlocked position in which the opening is able to be moved relative to the body; the gripping means is of the type of a flush handle formed by a door panel and / or an interior door trim; the handle is of the type of a flush handle formed by the wall of the door panel; the door panel comprising an opening, at least one of whose peripheral edges defines the handle accessible from an interior space of the panel; the gripping means comprises an access flap to the interior space, the movement of which from a closed position of the opening to an open position makes the handle able to be grasped.The door panel and / or the interior door trim includes a compartment accessed through the opening; said main control means includes a sensor capable of detecting the presence of a hand and / or a finger positioned at least near the gripping means; the sensor being electrically connected to the electric actuator of said unlocking means; the moving element is capable of translational or rotational movement, particularly about an axis transverse to the opening; the moving element is mechanically connected to the lock by means of at least one cable or linkage; the moving element being of the type of: ∘ a manually operable door cylinder, particularly by toggling between inactive and active states, to mechanically unlock the lock, or ∘ a manually operable rotary knob such that pressing the knob unlocks the lock; the lever includes a frame, particularly one of parallelepiped shape.an articulated flap and means for rotating the flap relative to the frame, the flap, in a rest state, is disposed inside the frame delimited by the pallet, substantially flush, the pallet is subjected to the opening of the door trim such that, in the initial position, the frame extends along the peripheral edges of the opening provided in the inner door trim so that the pallet and the flap each extend so as to be flush with the inner door trim, the articulated flap is rotationally mounted on the pallet such that the axis of rotation of the flap is, in particular, perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the pallet on the inner door trim, said retaining / releasing means includes a push-button stop, an ejection means generating a pushing force,particularly of the spring type. The invention also relates to an opening comprising a device having the aforementioned characteristics, characterized in that it comprises a gripping means disposed on the outer body panel and / or on the inner door trim, the gripping means being electrically connected to the locking means via the main control means and mechanically connected to the locking means via the emergency control means.

[0010] In particular, the opening may include the feature whereby the door panel or interior trim includes a single housing intended to contiguously receive said main control means and the emergency control means, in particular so that they are respectively arranged flush with the door panel or interior door trim.

[0011] The invention also relates to a vehicle, in particular of the automobile type, comprising at least one opening having the aforementioned characteristics. Brief description of the drawings

[0012] Some of the aims, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, given solely by way of non-limiting example, and made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: there figure 1 is a partial schematic representation of a device for opening a door accessible from the outside, according to the invention; the figure 2 illustrates an AA section of the figure 1 representing a gripping means and a main control means enabling the door to be opened from outside the vehicle, according to the invention; the figure 3 schematically represents a partial perspective of the gate of the figure 1in an opening maneuver situation, the hand of a user comes into contact with the external opening device, according to the invention; the figure 4 schematically represents a partial perspective of a door 1 comprising a first embodiment of a device for opening an accessible door from the passenger compartment according to the invention, in a situation of opening maneuver by a vehicle user; the figure 5 schematically represents a partial perspective of a variant of the opening mechanism accessible from the inside of the door of the figure 4 According to the invention, the figure 6 is a schematic representation of a door comprising both an internal opening device and an external opening device, according to the invention, the figures 7 and 8schematically represent, respectively from the front and in section, an emergency control means for the interior door opening device, according to the invention; Figures 9 and 10 schematically represent a partial perspective of the gate of the figure 4 in a situation of emergency opening maneuver according to successive stages of release then grasping of an emergency control means, according to the invention. Description of preferred modes of the invention

[0013] Throughout this description, "front" and "rear" are defined according to the direction of travel of a motor vehicle. When moving forward in a straight line, the vehicle progresses from rear to front along the X-axis. Furthermore, the vehicle is considered to rest on a horizontal surface with X and Y axes. The terms "lower" and "upper" refer to a vertical Z-axis.

[0014] There figure 1This schematically illustrates an opening 2, more specifically a front left side door, although it could also be a rear left side door, a front or rear right side door, or even a tailgate, comprising an external body panel 21. The rear edge of the door has an unlocking mechanism 3, and the opposite edge has articulation hinges (not shown) allowing rotation around a substantially vertical shaft with axis Z of the door.

[0015] According to other embodiment variants, the opening can also be a sliding side door, a trunk door, a butterfly-type opening side door mounted to rotate around an X axis, or a side door with opposing opening.

[0016] The unlocking means 3, in its inactive state, keeps the door closed against the vehicle body. In the active state of said unlocking means, its moving parts are displaced, resulting in a change of state in the connection between the door and the vehicle body, enabling the door to open.

[0017] The door of the figure 1The system includes an opening device 1 and a gripping means 4 for opening and / or closing the door. This is an external door control device. The gripping means 4 is formed directly by the door panel 21 and extends over a zone shown in dotted lines, which is substantially rectangular in shape and extends below an opening 23 in the panel 21. This zone is an external door handle 41. A main control means 5 is located in this zone, on the inner face of the panel 21. It can be a capacitive sensor or a push button for electrically actuating the unlocking means 3, which includes an electric actuator 32 connected to the moving element of said unlocking means 3, i.e., a lock 31.The main control means 5 is connected by an electrical wire 51 to the electric actuator 32 such that pressing the sensor generates an electrical command causing the change of state of the lock 31.

[0018] The opening 23 is dimensioned to allow the passage of a hand through to reach said main control means 5 but also the inner area of ​​the panel 21 forming said gripping means 4. The fact of placing the sensor of said main control means 5 at the level of the inner area of ​​the panel 21 forming said gripping means 4 makes it possible to achieve in almost simultaneous unlocking and then tilting of the door towards its open position.

[0019] The opening 23 can be closed by a shutter 43 which is rotatably mounted on the panel 21 between a substantially vertical closed position and a tilted open position as shown in dotted lines on the figure 2 .

[0020] The movement of the flap 43 is achieved by rotation around a rotation shaft 431 represented by a dotted line on the figures 1 and 2 .

[0021] A support 430 extends at the opening 23. It includes the hinge means for the shutter 43, as well as means for maintaining it in a substantially vertical closed position (not shown). These means may, for example, consist of a return spring and a stop formed directly by the support 430. The support 430 can frame the shutter 43 in that it connects the outline of the shutter 43 to the outline of the opening 23. Such a framing support 430 can be made of plastic. It protects the user from injury that could result from contact of the hand against the edges of the opening 23. The opening 23 can be formed by punching a hole in the door panel 21, which can be made of steel.

[0022] The sensor of said control means 5 is located on the inner face of panel 21.

[0023] The opening 2 includes a housing whose access is made possible by the opening 23, such a housing delimiting an interior space 210 to the opening.

[0024] This housing is delimited transversely by an internal wall 211 of the bottom and by the gripping area forming the flush handle 41.

[0025] The interior space 210 is divided into two zones, an upper one in which the shutter 43 can rotate and a lower one in which the sensor of said control means 5 is located.

[0026] The lower zone defines a cellar 410 whose bottom is made by a transverse wall which is connected to the internal wall 211.

[0027] The support 430 is shaped according to the profile of the upper part of the inner wall 211, which is here substantially curved, so that the support 430 and the inner wall overlap each other. This can help with their assembly.

[0028] Opening 2 of the figure 1 includes an emergency control means 6 mechanically connected to the lock 31 via a linkage or cable 62. This emergency control means 6 includes a movable element, for example a door cylinder type control means 61, which is intended to be operated by a key to transmit a mechanical unlocking command to the lock 31.

[0029] The 61 cylinder can be covered by a cylinder cover to maintain a clean and continuous style of the door as seen from the outside.

[0030] The barrel 61 is either in an initial rest position, or in a final activation position in which the moving element effects a change by mechanical control of the state of said unlocking means 3 from its locking position in which the closed opening 2 is held immobile on the vehicle body to its unlocking position in which the opening 2 is able to be moved relative to the body.

[0031] There figure 3 shows the opening device 1 in action during an opening; the user's hand tilts the flap 43, which takes approximately the position shown in dotted line on the figure 2 . The fingers of the hand are positioned by their tips in the interior space 210 to reach the sensor of said main control means 5 as well as the handle 41 made by the panel 21.

[0032] THE figures 4 to 10describe a device 1 for opening a door which is made accessible from inside the vehicle. This is an interior door control device which has essentially the same characteristics as the device previously described, except that it is located at the level of an interior door trim 22.

[0033] The interior trim 22 may include an armrest 24 having a substantially horizontal surface. It may also include a loudspeaker 25 as can be seen on the figure 4 .

[0034] Opening 2 of the figure 4 is a front left side door, although it could be a rear left side door or a front or rear right side door, or even a tailgate, with an interior trim 22. The rear edge of the door has a means of unlocking 3 visible on the figure 5, the opposite edge having articulation hinges (not shown) allowing rotation around a substantially vertical axis Z of the door.

[0035] The unlocking means 3, in its inactive state, keeps the door closed against the vehicle body. In the active state of said unlocking means, its moving parts are displaced, resulting in a change of state in the connection between the door and the vehicle body, enabling the door to open.

[0036] On the figures 4 , 6 à 10 A representation of a door opening device is shown. figure 5 is an illustration of a variant embodiment of the door opening device in that said emergency control means 6 is different in its design as will be detailed later.

[0037] The opening device 1 includes a gripping means 4 for opening and / or closing the door. The gripping means 4 is formed directly by the door trim 22 and extends over an area shown in dotted lines, which is substantially rectangular in shape and extends below an opening 23 in the trim. This area is an interior door handle 42. A main control means 5 is located in this area, on the outer face of the interior trim 22. It may be a capacitive sensor or a push button for electrically actuating the unlocking means 3, which includes an electric actuator 32 connected to the moving element of said unlocking means 3, i.e., the lock 31, when pressure is applied to said main control means 5.

[0038] The opening 23 is dimensioned to allow the passage of a hand through it, to reach said main control means 5 but also to ensure the gripping of the handle 42.

[0039] The opening 23 can be closed by a flap 44 which is rotatably mounted on the inner trim 22 between a closed position, here substantially vertical, and a tilted open position as shown on the figure 4 The movement of the flap 44 is achieved by rotation around a rotation shaft 441 represented by a dotted line on the Figures 5 , 6 and 7 which extends in a substantially horizontal manner.

[0040] The interior fitting may include the means for articulating the flap 44 but also means for maintaining it in a substantially vertical closed position (not shown), which may, for example, consist of a return spring and a stop.

[0041] The sensor of said control means 5 is located on the outer face of the inner trim 22 which also defines a housing whose access is made possible by the opening 23, such a housing defining an inner space 210. This housing is delimited transversely by an internal bottom wall 221 and by the gripping area forming the flush handle 42.

[0042] The interior space 210 is divided into two zones, an upper one in which the shutter 44 can rotate and a lower one in which the sensor of said control means 5 is located. The lower zone defines a cellar 420 whose bottom is made by a transverse wall which is connected to the internal wall 221.

[0043] On the figure 5The opening 2 includes an emergency control means 6 mechanically connected to the lock 31 via a linkage or cable 64. This emergency control means 6 includes a movable element, for example a button 63 to be pressed or turned, which is intended to be operated to transmit a mechanical unlocking command to the lock 31.

[0044] The button 63 to be pressed or turned is either in an initial rest position, or in a final activation position in which the moving element effects a change by mechanical control of the state of said unlocking means 3 from its locking position in which the closed opening 2 is held immobile on the vehicle body to its unlocking position in which the opening 2 is able to be moved relative to the body.

[0045] On the figures 4 , 6 à 10The emergency control means 6 comprises a pallet 620, one of whose lateral edges is mounted to rotate about a substantially vertical shaft 621. This pallet 620 is mechanically connected to the lock 31 via a linkage or cable 64 such that a tilting action of the pallet about this axis causes the door to unlock.

[0046] The 620 pallet can be manually operated from an initial rest position to a final activation position in which it unlocks the opening 2 which is then able to be moved relative to the case.

[0047] The paddle 620 is positioned by default in an inactive position in which it blends with the interior trim 22, extending beyond the trim and flush with its inner face. To enable its removal, the paddle 620 is positioned partially or entirely protruding from the door's interior trim 22. To achieve this, the interior trim 22 includes a retaining / release mechanism 7 that allows either the paddle to be held in its inactive position or to be tilted into the active position, thus facilitating its removal in an emergency situation using the main control 5.

[0048] The pallet retention / release means 7 comprises a removable stop 71, in the form of a push button 71. The pallet retention / release means 7 may include an ejection means 72 generating a pushing force, in particular of the spring type. The retention / release means 7 is positioned contiguous to the pallet 62 in its inactive position, in the same plane. The retention / release means 7 extends laterally from the pallet 620, by its edge opposite to that on which the pallet is rotatably mounted relative to the interior door trim 22. Advantageously, pressing the push button 71 generates a push on the pallet 620 as shown in the figure 9The user simply has to grasp the pallet 620, then rotate it by pulling it towards him, causing it to pivot around the Z axis. By tilting the pallet 620 in this way, the mechanical link with the lock 31 triggers an unlocking action that releases the door and allows it to be opened.

[0049] In the method of implementation of figures 4 , 6 à 10The flap 44 is rotationally mounted on the pallet 620, which is shaped to frame it. The flap 44 is thus rotationally mounted around the shaft 441 carried by the pallet 620. The inner lining 22 is shaped to include an internal space 210 forming a housing in which the pallet 620, carrying the flap 44, can move. The shafts 441 and 621, which are respectively intended for the movement of the flap 44 and the pallet 62, are perpendicular to each other. The pallet 620 includes a frame that is notably hollow parallelepiped in shape, the flap being of substantially complementary shape, apart from the mounting clearances.

[0050] On the figure 6, the opening is a door which includes several previously described opening devices 1, one allowing to operate an external opening command, the other allowing to operate an internal opening command, each of these commands being carried out electrically by a sensor.

[0051] The electrical connections 51 can be connected to a common computer.

[0052] Mechanical links 62, 64 can be connected to each other in order to optimize the number of parts used.

[0053] Preferably, the sensor is positioned in an interior space 210 forming a housing located either behind the panel 21 or behind the interior trim 22.

[0054] An opening 23 made directly on the panel 21 or the interior trim 22 makes it possible to pass a hand through the panel 21 or the interior trim 22 in order to access the electrical control sensor for unlocking.

[0055] Each sensor of said main control means 5 is electrically connected to the actuator 32 of the lock 31, either directly or indirectly via a computer integrated into the lock or to an on-board computer of the vehicle.

[0056] The 44 flap is mounted in a larger structure formed by the 620 pallet. The latter can also be described as an "emergency handle".

[0057] Advantageously, said restraint / release means 7 is made operational again after the use of the emergency pallet 620.

[0058] Using device 1 for both interior and exterior operation allows for a relatively pleasing stylistic consistency. Furthermore, the use of common parts reduces the manufacturing cost of a window or door equipped with such an opening device 1.

[0059] The handle 41, 42 is of the flush-mounted type formed by the wall of the door panel 21 or the door trim through which an opening 23 is made, at least one of whose peripheral edges, preferably the lower edge, defines the handle accessible from an interior space 210 of the panel or the interior trim. This edge may be reinforced to prevent any localized deformation of the panel 21 or the interior trim 22 forming the handle 41, 42.

[0060] The opening 2 comprising a panel 21 or an interior trim 22 with an opening device previously described, includes a single housing intended to contiguously receive said main control means 5 and said emergency control means 6 in particular so that they are able to be arranged flush with the panel 21 or the interior trim 22 of door 2, ensuring discreet integration.

[0061] As this is made visible on the figures 2 And 8 The size of the opening device 1 is limited, which allows for easy integration into different vehicle ranges.

Claims

1. Device (1) for opening an opening panel (2) of a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, comprising an unlocking means (3) which is intended to mechanically release the connection between the opening panel and the body of the vehicle, a gripping means (4) which is intended for the opening and / or closing operation of the opening panel and a main control means (5) which is connected to the unlocking means (3) in order to control a change of state of the connection between the opening panel and the body of the vehicle, the device (1) comprising an emergency control means (6) which is intended to replace the main control means (5) in the event of a failure thereof so that the emergency means is then capable of controlling the unlocking means (3), the emergency control means (6) comprising an element (61, 63, 620) which can be moved on the door panel between an initial rest position and a final activation position, in which the movable element carries out a change by means of mechanical control of the state of the unlocking means (3) from the locking position thereof, in which the closed opening panel (2) is fixed in position on the body of the vehicle, toward the unlocking position thereof, in which the opening panel (2) is capable of being moved relative to the body, characterized in that the emergency control means (6) comprises a movable element of the type having a rotating tilting armature (620), the armature (620) being able to be manually actuated, the armature being connected to a retention / release means (7) which fixes it in an inactive position, the armature (620) being positioned so as to protrude completely or partially out of the interior trim (22) of the door when the retention / release means is tilted into an active position, which tends to facilitate the gripping thereof.

2. Device (1) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the emergency control means (6) comprises a movable element of the type having a barrel (61) or a rotary button (63).

3. Device (1) according to Claim 2, characterized in that the unlocking means (3) comprises a lock (31) which is connected to an electrical actuator (32), control of which brings about a change of state of the lock between a locking position, in which the closed opening panel (2) is fixed in position on the body of the vehicle, and an unlocking position, in which the opening panel is capable of being moved relative to the body.

4. Device (1) according to Claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the gripping means (4) is of the flush handle (41, 42) type which is produced by a door panel (21) and / or an interior trim (22) of the door.

5. Device (1) according to Claim 4, characterized in that the handle is of the flush handle type formed by the wall of the door panel (21), the door panel comprising an opening (23) of which at least one of the peripheral edges defines the handle which is accessible from an inner space (210) of the panel.

6. Device (1) according to any one of Claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the gripping means (4) comprises an access flap (43, 44) to the inner space (210), the movement of which from a closure position of the opening (23) to an opening position makes it possible to grip the handle (41, 42).

7. Device (1) according to any one of Claims 2 to 6, taken in combination with Claim 3, characterized in that the main control means (5) comprises a sensor which is capable of detecting the presence of a hand and / or a finger positioned at least in the vicinity of the gripping means (4), the sensor being electrically connected to the electrical actuator (32) of the unlocking means (3).

8. Device (1) according to any one of Claims 2 to 7, characterized in that the movable element is mechanically connected to the lock (31) by means of at least one cable or linkage, the movable element being of the type involving a door barrel (61) which can be manually actuated, in particular by tilting, between an inactive state and an active state, in order to mechanically act on the unlocking of the lock (31), or a rotary button (63) which can be manually actuated so that an action on the button brings about the unlocking of the lock (31).

9. Opening panel (2) comprising an opening device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a gripping means (4) which is arranged on the external body panel (21) and / or on the interior trim (22) of the door, the gripping means being connected electrically to the locking means (3) via the main control means (5) and mechanically to the locking means (3) via the emergency control means (6).

10. Opening panel (2) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the panel (21) or the interior trim (22) of the door comprises a single housing which is intended to receive in a contiguous manner the main control means (5) and the emergency control means (6), in particular so that they are arranged flush with the panel (21) of the door (2) or the interior trim (22) of the door (2), respectively.

11. Vehicle, in particular of the motor vehicle type, characterized in that it comprises at least one opening panel (2) according to Claim 9 or 10.