Device for unlocking a door latch

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 position work in which the handle projects with respect to the door, the unlocking device comprising a cylinder (37) carried by a support directly or indirectly fixed to the door, the cylinder being connected to an unlocking element of the lock by the intermediary of an operating member of the unlocking element of the lock, in which the cylinder (37) is mounted to emerge facing the handle in an inclined manner with respect to a direction normal to the door, the inclination preferably being sufficient to allow the introduction of the cylinder into the box when the handle is in the working position

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a flush door handle and its device for unlocking a door lock, in particular, but not exclusively, a motor vehicle door lock.

[0002] A non-flush door handle designed to pivot is known, as described in documents DE 298 04 105 U1 and US 2014 / 230329 A1. Such a pivoting handle protects the door lock and prevents it from becoming clogged. A vehicle lock, for example, is described in document EP 1 262 626 A2.

[0003] This type of pivoting door handle, which can be flush-mounted like the one described in document WO 2014 / 049026 A1, already allows easy access to the door lock in case of malfunction. This ease of access is possible because one end of the handle is left free.

[0004] We are particularly interested in the motor vehicle which is equipped with a door lock associated with a flush door handle mounted to slide in 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; generally, a motor is provided to ensure the transition from the rest position to the working position after identification of the person attempting to open the door.

[0005] When the motor malfunctions, for whatever reason, the door must be able to be opened manually. For this purpose, a key mechanism is generally provided, which opens onto the door panel. However, since this mechanism is rarely, if ever, used, there is a risk of it becoming clogged, preventing the door from being opened manually. Typically, the key mechanism is located next to the flush sliding handle. To prevent this, the end of the cylinder is covered by a sliding shutter or a small cover, but this only shifts the problem, as the sliding shutter or cover is exposed to the elements. In the case of document WO 2016 / 188694 A1, the described sliding handle incorporates the key mechanism itself, so there is no need to protect it.

[0006] One aim of the invention is to provide a door lock unlocking mechanism whose operation is guaranteed under normal conditions of use.

[0007] To achieve this goal, a door handle according to claim 1 is provided.

[0008] Thus, during normal use of the vehicle, the entry of the unlocking mechanism is protected by the handle, so that the risk of fouling is considerably minimized.

[0009] According to the invention, the inclination is sufficient to allow the cylinder to be inserted into the housing from the outside of the door when the handle is in the working position.

[0010] According to another advantageous embodiment 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 having an input axis and an output axis extending in two different directions. This allows the cylinder's position to be adapted to the overall configuration of the door lock.

[0011] According to other features of the invention that can be implemented alone or in combination: the coupling member comprises bevel gears; the coupling member comprises a universal joint assembly; the coupling member comprises a bevel gear fixed to the cylinder, and a bevel gear fixed to a plate carrying part of the universal joint assembly; the cylinder is removably mounted from the outside of the door. This allows finishing operations, in particular painting the door, to be carried out without risking affecting the operation of the unlocking mechanism.

[0012] According to yet another feature of the invention, the mechanism includes a cylinder unlocking device accessible through the door rebate.

[0013] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of an example of an embodiment of the invention, with reference to the accompanying figures, among which: There figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of the control mechanism of a door handle according to the invention, The figure 2 is a top view schematic of the control mechanism shown outside its housing in the handle's rest position. figure 3 is a view analogous to that of the figure 2 for a working position of the handle, The figure 4 is a view analogous to that of the figure 2 When the handle is operated in the direction of opening the door, the figure 5 is a schematic perspective view of one embodiment of the first and second levers, The figure 6 is a schematic partial perspective view from inside the case, The figure 7 is a perspective view of the door lock unlocking device according to a first embodiment of the coupling means for the cylinder and the lock lever, The figure 8 is a schematic perspective view of a second embodiment of the unlocking device.

[0014] 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 the figure. figure 1 The control mechanism includes a housing 3 equipped with bosses 4 for fixing the housing to the door. The handle 1 is mounted to slide in an opening 5 in the door.

[0015] In the illustrated embodiment, the handle 1 is hollow. The handle's operating mechanism comprises a first lever 6, generally Y-shaped, with a tail 7 curved inwards towards the handle and hinged to a shaft 8 carried by the handle, and two arms 9, symmetrical about a median plane, extending along the longitudinal direction of the handle. Each arm has 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 slot 13 formed in the connecting rod and extending along the longitudinal direction of the connecting rod. The shaft 12 and the slot 13 thus create play for each connecting rod along a longitudinal direction of the connecting rod.

[0016] At the end opposite the articulation with the connecting rod 10, the second lever 11 is mounted in an articulated manner on an axis 14 carried by the handle. The axis 14 extends parallel to the axis 8, at a distance from it along a longitudinal direction of the handle.

[0017] 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.

[0018] Furthermore, the mechanism includes a door lock operating element 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 one edge of the plate 15 is pressed against the inner face of the housing 3. The plate 15 further has a slot in which is engaged a head 18 of a cable 19, the opposite end of which is connected to the door lock 20 (see figure 6 ). The rest position of handle 1 corresponds to a closed state of the lock 20.

[0019] The first lever 6 also includes an operating arm 21 whose end extends opposite an edge of the plate 15. At the lower end of this edge, the plate 15 includes an operating lug 22 whose function will be described below.

[0020] Opposite one end of the lever 11, opposite the pivot axis 14 of the second lever 11 relative to the handle 1, the mechanism includes a deployment element, here a cam 23 mounted eccentrically on an axis 24 carried by a motor 25 fixed in the housing and connected to a control unit 26 capable of receiving deployment control signals from a remote control 27.

[0021] Furthermore, lock 20 includes a lock locking element which is activated when the handle is in the rest position.

[0022] The operation of the mechanism according to the invention is as follows: springs 28 are suitably arranged between the levers and the housing so that, in conjunction with the return spring 17, the bearing of the operating arm 21 on the edge of the plate 15, and the bearing of the end of the lever 11 on the deployment member 23, the assembly is maintained in a stable position in which the handle 1 is flush with the opening 5, as illustrated in the figure 2 .

[0023] When a deployment command signal is sent to the electric motor 25 by the control unit 26, the deployment member 23 is driven in rotation as illustrated by the arrow 29 on the figure 3 so that levers 6 and 11 are tilted as indicated by arrows 30 and 31 on the figure 3 In this movement, the handle 1 moves translationally as indicated by arrows 32, until the operating arm 21 is against the operating lug 22. Simultaneously, an unlocking signal is sent to an electric unlocking device 34 associated with the lock 20. From this position, a pull is applied to the handle as indicated by arrow 33 on the figure 4 tilts plate 15 as indicated by arrow 34 on the figure 4 so that a pull is exerted on the cable 19 which opens the lock 20 of the door.

[0024] In the event of a failure of the electrical operation, a manual press on the handle in line with the axis 14 causes a slight tilting of the lever 6, sufficient to engage the hand in the handle and exert a pull on it.

[0025] Simultaneously, it is necessary to ensure that the lock is unlocked.

[0026] To this end, the mechanism according to the invention comprises an unlocking device including a cylinder 37 carried by a support directly or indirectly fixed to the door, here a ring 40 fixed in the housing and in which the cylinder 37 is held locked by a screw 41 screwed into the ring 40 and whose end bears 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 which opens into the door rebate. The cylinder 37 has an opening 38 for the insertion of a key 55. The cylinder 37 is connected to the unlocking element 35 of the lock by means of an operating member, here a locking lever 42 mounted to pivot on an axis 43 carried by the housing and connected to the unlocking member 36 by a cable 44.

[0027] In the implementation of the figure 7 The locking 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 locking lever 42.

[0028] The coupling member thus has an input axis 52 and an output axis 53 extending in two different directions. By appropriately choosing the direction of the output axis, the coupling can therefore be adapted to the arrangement of the various elements contained within the housing.

[0029] In the implementation of the figure 8 , the female gear 46 is carried by a plate 47 connected to the locking lever 42 by a cardan joint assembly comprising a lever 48 carrying at each of its ends a ball joint 49 engaged in a ball joint support 50.

[0030] Of course the invention is not limited to the embodiment described and is susceptible to variant embodiments which will appear to a person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.

[0031] In particular, although in the preferred embodiment of the invention the cylinder 37 is introduced through the front face of the door, which allows finishing work to be carried out before putting the cylinder 37 in place, it is advantageous to have the cylinder 37 open behind the handle 1 in order to protect the mechanism associated with the key 55 against fouling.

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 projects with respect to the door, the handle comprising: - a mechanism for operating the handle, - an unlocking device including a cylinder (37) carried by a support directly or indirectly configured to be fixed to the door, the cylinder being configured to be connected to an unlocking element (35) of the latch via an operating member (42) of the unlocking element of the latch, characterized in that the mechanism for operating the handle comprising a first lever (6) having a general Y-shape (15) comprising a tail (7) curved toward the inside of the handle and pivotally mounted about a first axis (8) carried by the handle, and two branches (9) symmetrical with respect to a median plane extending in a longitudinal direction of the handle, and each having one end connected by a joint (54) to one end of a connecting rod (10), whose opposite end is pivotally connected to a second lever (11) by means of a joint comprising a second axis (12) carried by the second lever (11) and engaged in an oblong slot (13) formed in the connecting rod and extending in the longitudinal direction of the connecting rod, the second axis (12) and the slot (13) thus providing, for each connecting rod, a clearance in a longitudinal direction of the connecting rod, at the end opposite the joint with the connecting rod (10), the second lever (11) being pivotally mounted on a third axis (14) carried by the handle, the third axis (14) extending parallel to the first axis (8) and spaced therefrom in a longitudinal direction of the handle, the first lever (6), the second lever (11) and the connecting rod (10) thus forming with the handle a deformable quadrilateral whose deformation causes a translational displacement of the handle, and in that the cylinder (37) being mounted to emerge facing the handle in an inclined manner with respect to a direction (56) normal to the door. in that the inclination is sufficient to allow the introduction of the cylinder into the housing from the outside of the door when the handle is in the working position, in that the cylinder is removably mounted from the outside of the door, and in that it includes a member (41) for releasing the cylinder accessible through the rabbet of the door.

2. The handle according to claim 1, characterized in that it includes a coupling member (45,46; 48,49,50) between the cylinder and the operating member of the unlocking element of the latch, the coupling member having an input axis (52) and an output axis (53) which extend in two different directions.

3. The handle according to claim 2, characterized in that the coupling member comprises bevel gears (45,46).

4. The handle according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the coupling member comprises a dial mounting (48,49,50).

5. The handle according to claim 3 and claim 4 considered 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 part of the dial mounting.

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