Window for a motor vehicle with a reversible locking hinge, vehicle comprising such a window

Abstract

A hinge (1) comprising a first knuckle (11) that is mounted so as to be able to pivot on a second knuckle (12) between a first position and a second position, by means of a rotation pin (2), this hinge being arranged in such a way that, in the second position, an inner face (123) of the second knuckle (12), substantially perpendicular to the rotation pin (2), is positioned facing a lateral face (113) of the first knuckle (11), being noteworthy in that the second knuckle (11) comprises a locking means (30) on its inner face (123), and the first knuckle comprises, on its lateral face (113), a securing interface (110) that cooperates with said locking means (30) when said first knuckle (11) is in the second position so as to lock said first knuckle (11) with respect to the second knuckle (12) in this second position, the locking means (30) being able to move.

Description

[0001] The present invention claims priority from French application 2000729 filed on January 24, 2020, the content of which (text, drawings and claims) is incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] The invention relates to an automobile window comprising a reversible locking hinge and a vehicle comprising such a window. The automobile window includes a fixed pane and a pane that rotates around an axis of rotation. Such a window is described in document FR1123463A.

[0003] A hinge is a device comprising two hinges that move relative to each other by rotation around a connecting axis. To give the hinge a reversible locking position, it is known to install a reversible locking mechanism within the hinge, at the axis of rotation, allowing the hinge to be held in the locked position and released from this position when a force exceeding a certain level is applied to the hinge.

[0004] For example, US patent 20090293228 describes a vehicle door hinge for holding the door in an open position. The hinge includes a reversible locking mechanism located at its axis. The hinge consists of two hinge pins connected by two cylindrical pins aligned along the hinge's axis of rotation. Each of these two cylindrical pins forms part of the axis of rotation. These two pins are fixed relative to the first hinge pin and each has a groove in its diameter opening at one end. Two cylindrical rods, oriented perpendicular to the axis of rotation, pass through the grooves of each cylindrical rod. A thick washer is threaded around the end of the pin containing the groove at each pin before the cylindrical rod is inserted into the groove.A helical spring exerts pressure against the cylindrical rod, pressing it against one face of the thick washer. The thick washer is fixed against rotation relative to the second hinge and has a locking groove along its diameter into which the cylindrical rod is inserted for a specific position of the second hinge.

[0005] When the second hinge pin pivots relative to the first, it guides the thick washer relative to the cylindrical rod along the hinge's axis of rotation until this cylindrical rod enters the locking groove, pushed by the helical spring. When the cylindrical rod is in the locking groove, the hinge is in a locked position. Sufficient force must be applied to the second hinge pin to allow the cylindrical rod to push back the spring and come out of the groove, thus unlocking the hinge. With the two pins facing each other, the helical spring is positioned between them and pushes against each of the cylindrical rods inserted into the pin grooves at their ends.

[0006] Other similar hinges are described in documents WO2005031097A1 and US2799889A1.

[0007] The drawback of this design is its complexity in assembly, as all the locking elements and the pins forming the axis of rotation must be aligned simultaneously when the pins are inserted. Furthermore, it requires a large number of parts. The design is complex because it is necessary to ensure, on the one hand, that the pins are locked in relation to the first hinge, and on the other hand, that the thick washers are locked in relation to the second hinge, while ensuring that these washers are correctly positioned.

[0008] In particular, one of the objectives of the invention is to provide a car window comprising a fixed pane and a pane that rotates around a parallel axis, comprising at least one hinge with a reversible locking position, simple to manufacture and assemble, made with few parts and at low cost.

[0009] This goal is achieved according to the invention, thanks to a hinge comprising a first hinge pivotally mounted on a second hinge between a first position and a second position, by an axis of rotation, arranged so that in the second position an inner face of the second hinge, substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation, is disposed opposite a lateral face of the first hinge, remarkable in that the second hinge has on its inner face a locking means, and the first hinge has on its lateral face a fixing interface cooperating with said locking means when said first hinge is in the second position so as to lock said first hinge relative to the second hinge in this second position, the locking means being movable so as to allow the locking of the first hinge relative to the second hinge.

[0010] Advantageously, the number of parts required to enable reversible locking of the hinge in the second position can be reduced, as reversible locking is achieved by moving the movable locking mechanism. Another advantage is the simplicity of assembly, since the locking mechanism is independent of the connection between the two hinges via the axis of rotation; the locking mechanism is not directly linked to this axis. A further advantage is that unlocking can be achieved by simply moving the locking mechanism.

[0011] In a particular embodiment of the invention, the second hinge comprises a cylindrical bore with a direction substantially parallel to the axis of rotation, opening onto the inner face of the second hinge and having a narrowing of its cross-section at its end opening onto said inner face, a lock comprising the movable locking means disposed in cylindrical bore and a spring pushing said movable locking means to a stop position in which this movable locking means is in contact against the narrowing, the locking means having a contact end protruding from the cylindrical bore through the narrowing, projecting from the inner face and cooperating with the fixing interface when said first hinge is in second position so as to maintain said first hinge in this second position reversibly.

[0012] Advantageously, the hinge with the lock is simple in design. Indeed, it requires a simple bore in the second hinge, specific shapes in the first hinge, for example reliefs or recesses, to cooperate with the movable locking means, and only two elements to make the lock: the movable locking means and a spring.

[0013] In one embodiment of the invention, the spring is a helical spring inserted into the cylindrical bore.

[0014] Advantageously, the spring is of simple design and is guided by the walls of the bore.

[0015] In another embodiment of the invention, the movable locking means is a ball, the narrowing is arranged so as to allow a part of the ball to protrude from the cylindrical bore, projecting from the inner face, this part of the ball forming the contact end, and the fixing interface is a recessed relief located on the lateral face of the first hinge located opposite the inner face of the second hinge when said second hinge is in the second position, the ball fitting into this relief when said second hinge is in this second position so as to lock the first hinge against the second hinge in a reversible manner.

[0016] Advantageously, the parts forming the lock are widely available, and standard dimensions can be chosen. These parts can therefore be standardized and thus very cost-effective.

[0017] Furthermore, when the first hinge is moved to the second position, its lateral face will rub against the ball and move the ball inward within the bore until it sits in the recess. The pressure of the springs on the ball, partially inserted in the recess, will lock the first hinge relative to the second hinge. The friction of the first hinge against the ball will cause it to rotate, thus advantageously reducing the effort required to move the first hinge to its second position, as the ball's rotation generates less force than friction. Moreover, the portion of the ball's surface in contact with the first hinge as it moves to the second position is regularly changed due to the ball's rotation, reducing wear on both the ball and its lateral face.

[0018] In another particular embodiment of the invention, the second hinge comprises an arm extending to the axis of rotation, the cylindrical bore passing through this arm, and a closing plate closes an inlet end of said cylindrical bore located on the side opposite to the end having the constriction, the spring being compressed between this closing plate and the locking means.

[0019] This advantageous method simplifies the hinge assembly. The movable locking mechanism and spring are inserted through the inlet end of the cylindrical bore opposite the narrowing, with the closing plate sealing this end. The lock can then be easily assembled to the hinge after the two hinges have been joined together.

[0020] In one embodiment of the invention, the arm of the second hinge has a rotation bore through which the axis of rotation passes, and the closing plate covers the inlet end of the bore, extends to the rotation bore and has a passage opening through which said axis of rotation passes, the axis of rotation having a shoulder pressing the closing plate against said arm of the second hinge.

[0021] Advantageously, the closing plate is held against the second hinge by the pivot point. No additional fasteners are required for this closing plate.

[0022] In another embodiment of the invention, the second hinge comprises two parallel and opposite arms, spaced apart and each traversed at one of their ends by the axis of rotation, one of said arms of the second hinge comprising the movable locking means, and the first hinge comprises an arm connected to the axis of rotation between the two arms of the second hinge, a part of said arm of the first hinge being placed between the two arms of the second hinge when it is in the second position and comprising the fixing interface.

[0023] Thus, advantageously, the hinge is particularly rigid.

[0024] In one embodiment of the invention, each arm of the second hinge has an inner face, one screwed to the other, and a movable locking means projecting from each of these inner faces, and the arm of the first hinge has two opposite lateral faces positioned between the two arms and opposite each of the inner faces when the first hinge is in the second position, each of these lateral faces having a fixing interface cooperating with each of the movable locking means.

[0025] Thus advantageously, the effort to maintain the first hinge relative to the second hinge in second position is greater thanks to the presence of two locking means.

[0026] The invention also relates to a vehicle comprising a window as described above, the first position of the first hinge relative to the second hinge corresponds to a closed position of the glazing system preventing outside air from entering the vehicle, and the second position corresponds to an open position in which the movable window is folded against the fixed window and is held in this position by means of the movable locking means of the hinge.

[0027] Thus, advantageously, the window can be opened and held in this open position by a simple and inexpensive system.

[0028] The invention will be better understood upon reading the following description, given solely by way of example and made with reference to the attached drawings, in which: [ Fig.1 ] represents an exploded perspective view of a hinge according to the invention. Fig.2 ] represents a cross-sectional view of the second hinge pin of the figure 1 at the level of the lock. Fig. 3 ] represents a cross-sectional view of the first hinge at the fixing interface [ Fig. 4 ] is a view of a vehicle comprising a window according to the invention.

[0029] The drawings are schematic representations to facilitate understanding of the invention. The components are not necessarily shown to scale. The same reference numerals correspond to the same components from one figure to another.

[0030] THE figure 1 illustrates a hinge 1 according to the invention comprising a first hinge 11 pivotally mounted on a second hinge 12 by means of a rotation axis 2. The first hinge 11 comprises an arm 112 connected to a plate 111. The end of this arm 112 opposite the plate 111 comprises a cylindrical hole of circular cross-section through which the rotation axis 2 passes.

[0031] The second hinge 12 has a plate 121 from which two arms 122 extend parallel to each other, so that the second hinge 12 has a general "U" shape, the two branches of the "U" being formed by the two arms 122 of this second hinge 12. The end of the arm 112 of the first hinge 11 through which the axis of rotation 2 passes is disposed between the two arms 122 of the second hinge 12, so that the axis of rotation 2 passes through the two arms 122 of the second hinge and the arm 112 of the first hinge.

[0032] Each of the arms 122 of the second hinge 12 has a cylindrical bore 120 passing through said arms 122, these two bores 120 being aligned and parallel to the axis of rotation 2. These two bores 120 each open into the space between the two arms 122 of the second hinge 12. These two bores 120 are for example aligned along the same axis.

[0033] The first hinge 11 pivots relative to the second hinge between a first position and a second position. In the embodiment shown in the figures, the first position is a position in which the arm 112 of the first hinge 11 and the two arms 122 of the second hinge 12 are on either side of the axis of rotation, forming an angle of approximately 180 degrees between them.

[0034] When the first hinge 11 is in the second position relative to the second hinge 12, the arm 112 of the first hinge 11 is at least partially between the two arms 122 of the second hinge 12, so as to be opposite the cylindrical bores 120. In this second position, the arm 112 of the first hinge 11 is, for example, abutting or close to the plate 121 of the second hinge 12, that is, for example, less than a few millimeters from the plate 121 of the second hinge 12. The faces of the arms 122 of the second hinge 12 facing the arm 112 of the first hinge 11 are called the inner faces 123 of the second hinge 12. The cylindrical bores 120 open on one side onto these inner faces 123. These inner faces 123 are substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation 2.

[0035] A lock 3 is inserted into each of the cylindrical bores 120. As illustrated in figure 2 Each of these locks 3 consists of a movable locking means 30 and a spring 31. Each cylindrical bore 120 has a constriction in its cross-section on the end opening onto the inner face 123 of each of the arms 122 of the second hinge 12, so as to prevent the movable locking means 30 from completely exiting said bore 120. The movable locking means 30 has a contact end protruding from the bore 120 through the constriction when the spring 31 pushes the movable locking means 30 against said constriction. In the embodiment of the figure 2 The movable locking means 30 is a ball 30, and the constriction allows the ball 30 to be locked to prevent it from coming out completely from the cylindrical bore 120 while leaving a part of said ball 30 protruding. The contact end corresponds to the part of the ball 30 which comes out of the cylindrical bore 120 and protrudes from the inner face 123.

[0036] In the embodiment illustrated in figure 2 The two arms 122 of the second hinge 12 are connected by a connecting portion 124, which stiffens the second hinge 12. This connecting portion 124 is positioned so that the cross-section of the second hinge 12 at the level of these arms 122 has a "U" shape, creating a groove between the two arms 122 of the second hinge 12. A portion of the arm 112 of the first hinge 11 is inserted into this groove when it is in its second position. Alternatively, the second hinge 12 does not have this connecting portion 124.

[0037] The cylindrical bore 120 is closed by a closing plate 4 at its end, called the inlet end, which is opposite its end with the constriction. The ball 30 and then the spring 31 are successively inserted into the cylindrical bore 120 through the inlet end of said cylindrical bore 120 before the closing plate 4 is positioned. Once the closing plate is installed, it compresses the spring 31 so that it pushes said ball 30 against the end of the cylindrical bore 120 with the constriction, until a part of the ball 30 protrudes and extends beyond the inner face 123 of the arm 122 of the second hinge 12. In this position, the ball 30 is in a stop position.

[0038] In the figure 1 The closing plate 4 extends to the opposite side of the rotation bore 13 located at the end of the arms 122 of the second hinge 12. The closing plate 4 has an opening through which the rotation axis 2 passes. The rotation axis 2 is held in place by flattening each of its ends in the manner of a rivet, this flattening forming a shoulder. The closing plates 4 located on each side of the second hinge 12, on each of the arms 122 of said second hinge 12, are held against the second hinge 12 by the shoulders of the rotation axis 2.

[0039] To ensure reversible locking in the second position of the first hinge 11 relative to the second hinge 12, the arm 112 of the first hinge 11 has, on each of its faces opposite the cylindrical bores 120 when said first hinge 11 is in the second position, faces called lateral faces 113, a fixing interface 110 in the form of a recess 110, as illustrated in figure 1 And 3cooperating with the ball 30. When the first hinge 11 and the second hinge 12 are in this second position, the portion of each ball 30 protruding from each of the inner faces 123 of the second hinge 12 is placed in each of the recesses 110 located on the lateral faces 113 of the first hinge 11. In this position, the balls 30 are either in a stop position or slightly recessed in their respective bores 120 but still within the recess 110, so that they exert pressure against the arm 112 of the first hinge 11 under the force of the springs 30. This pressure on the balls 30 allows for effective locking of the first hinge 11 in the second position relative to the second hinge 12. The recess 110 is, for example, of a shape complementary to the portion of the ball 30 that is inserted into it.

[0040] When the first hinge 11 moves from the first position to the second position, the arm 112 of this first hinge 11 will be positioned between the arms 122 of the second hinge 12, displacing the balls 30 due to the greater width of this arm 112 of the first hinge 11 to the spacing between said balls 30, the balls 30 being pushed towards the inside of the bore 120 in contact with said arm 112 of the first hinge 11. Then these balls 30 will be inserted into the recesses 110, each pushed by one of the springs 31. The pressure of the springs 31 pushing the balls into the recess 110 will lock the first hinge 11 in the second position. To unlock the hinge 1 and bring the first hinge 11 back to the first position, it is necessary to apply a force to this first hinge 11 in the direction of the first position sufficient to exceed the holding force generated by the balls 30 pushed into the hollow 110 by the springs 31.

[0041] As illustrated in figure 1 , the arms 112 and 122 are projecting from their respective plates 111 and 121. This arrangement allows the arm 112 of the first hinge 11 to be inserted between the two arms 122 of the second hinge 12 until the hollow 110 comes opposite the ball 30 without being blocked by a contact between the two plates 111 and 121, or between one of the arms of one of the hinges and the plate of the other hinge, with a significant travel.

[0042] To aid in the assembly of the retaining plate 4, it may include one or more fixing tabs that fit into a suitable recess in the second hinge 12. As illustrated in figure 1 A cap 5 is placed over the retaining plate 4 and the end of the rotation shaft 2 to protect the assembly. The cap 5 is, for example, secured by clipping.

[0043] To fix the hinge 1 to a support and an opening, it has on each of its hinges 11 and 12 a screw on which a nut 7 is fixed. Flexible contact pads 6 can be provided to create a layer of absorption and damping between the hinges 11 and 12 and the elements on which these hinges 11 and 12 are fixed, such as for example panes of glass.

[0044] There figure 4This illustrates an application on a vehicle 6 of a hinge 1 as described previously. The vehicle 6 has, on one of its doors 60, a window comprising two panes of glass: a fixed upper pane 61 and a movable lower pane 62. The upper pane 61 is positioned above the lower pane 62, the separation between the two panes 61 and 62 being along a substantially straight line parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle 6. The lower pane 62 rotates about an axis substantially parallel to the separation line between the two panes 61 and 62, so that said lower pane 62 folds upwards opposite the upper pane 61. A hinge 1 is positioned at each end of the separation line between the two panes 61 and 62. For example, the first hinge 11 is fixed to the lower pane 62 and the second hinge 12 to the upper pane 61, the axes 2 of rotation being aligned. Alternatively, the reverse can be done.The use of this type of hinge 2 allows for a holding position of the lower glass 62 in the open position, opposite the upper glass 61, which is simple to achieve, with the minimum number of parts, without adding another element to hold the lower glass 62 in addition to the hinge 2.

[0045] The fixing on the lower pane 62 is done for example by drilling holes in said lower pane 62 and passing through a threaded rod fixed to one of the hinges and on which a nut is tightened to sandwich the lower pane 62 between one of the hinges and the nut.

[0046] Alternatively, the locking means 30 can be made in other forms, always with a movable part of the locking means 30 protruding from the inner face 123 in order to lock the hinge 1 by cooperating with the arm 112 of the first hinge 11. For example, the locking means 30 can be a cylinder with a rounded end, sliding in the bore 120.

Claims

1. A window for a motor vehicle comprising a stationary window (61) and a window (62) which is movable by rotation about an axis of rotation (2), comprising at least one hinge (1) which comprises a first knuckle (11), integral with the stationary window (61) or with the movable window (62) and a second knuckle (12), integral with the movable window (62) or with the stationary window (61), the first knuckle (11) being pivotally mounted on the second knuckle (12) between a first position and a second position, by the axis of rotation (2), arranged so that in the second position an inner face (123) of the second knuckle (12), substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation (2), is arranged facing a lateral face (113) of the first knuckle (11), characterised in that the second knuckle (12) comprises on its inner face (123) a standstill means (30), and the first knuckle comprises on its lateral face (113) a fixing interface (110) cooperating with said standstill means (30) when said first knuckle (11) is in the second position so as to block said first knuckle (11) by report with the second knuckle (12) in this second position, the standstill means (30) being movable so as to allow the standstill of the first knuckle (11) to be released by report with the second knuckle (12).

2. Automobile window according to the previous claim, the second knuckle (12) of which comprises a cylindrical bore (120) of management substantially parallel to the axis of rotation, opening onto the inner face (123) of the second knuckle (12) and comprising a narrowing of its cross-section at the level of its end opening onto said inner face (123), a lock (3) comprising the movable standstill means (30) arranged in the cylindrical bore (120) and a spring (31) pushing said movable standstill means (30) as far as abutment position in which this movable standstill means (30) bears against the constriction, the standstill means (30) comprising a contact end projecting from the cylindrical bore (120) through the constriction, projecting from the inner face (123) and cooperating with the fixing interface (110) when said first knuckle (11) is in the second position so as to hold said first knuckle (11) in this second position in a reversible manner.

3. Automobile window according to claim 2, the spring (31) of which is a helical spring inserted into the cylindrical bore (120).

4. Automobile window according to claim 3, in which the mobile standstill means (30) is a ball (30), the narrowing is arranged so as to allow a part of the ball (30) of the cylindrical bore (120), projecting from the inner face (123), this part of the ball (30) forming the contact end, to project, and the fixing interface (110) is a recessed relief (110) located on the lateral face (113) of the first knuckle (11) located in a recess facing the inner face (123) of the second knuckle (12) when said second knuckle (12) is in the second position, the ball (30) being inserted in this relief (110) when said second knuckle (12) is in this second position so as to block the first knuckle (11) by report with the second knuckle (12) in a reversible manner.

5. Automobile window according to Claim 3 or 4, the second knuckle (12) of which comprises an arm (122) extending as far as the axis of rotation (2), the cylindrical bore (120) passing through this arm (122), and a closure plate (4) closes an entry end of the said cylindrical bore (120) located on the side opposite the end comprising the narrowing, the spring (31) being compressed between this closure plate (4) and the standstill means (30).

6. Automobile window according to Claim 5, the arm (122) of the second knuckle (2) of which comprises a rotation bore (13) through which the axis of rotation (2) passes, and the closure plate (4) covers the entry end of the bore (120), extends as far as the rotation bore (13) and comprises a passage opening through which the said axis of rotation (2) passes, the rotation axis comprising a shoulder pressing the closure plate (4) against the said arm (122) of the second knuckle (2)7. Automobile window according to one of the previous claims, in which the second knuckle (12) comprises two arms (122) which are parallel and opposite, spaced apart and each traversed at one of their ends by the axis of rotation (2), one of said arms (122) of the second knuckle (12) comprising the movable standstill means (30), and the first knuckle (11) comprises an arm (112) connected to the axis of rotation (2) between the two arms (122) of the second knuckle (12), a part of said arm (112) of the first knuckle (11) being placed between the two arms (122) of the second knuckle (12) when it is in the second position and comprising the fixing interface (110).

8. Automobile window according to Claim 7, each arm (122) of the second knuckle (12) of which comprises an inner face (123), one facing the other, and a movable standstill means (30) projecting from each of these inner faces (123), and the arm (112) of the first knuckle (11) of which comprises two opposite lateral faces (113) positioned between the two arms (122) and facing each of the inner faces (123) when the first knuckle (11) is in the second position, each of these lateral faces (113) comprising a fixing interface (110) each cooperating with one of the mobile standstill means (30).

9. Vehicle (6) comprising a window according to any one of the previous claims, characterised in that the first position of the first knuckle (11) by report with the second knuckle (12) corresponds to a closed position of the glazing system preventing outside air from entering the interior of the vehicle, and the second position corresponds to an open position in which the movable window (62) is folded down against the stationary window (61) and is held in this position by means of the movable standstill means (30) of the hinge (1)

Images