Opening control for a motor vehicle opening panel

Abstract

The present invention relates to an opening control (4) for an opening of a motor vehicle intended to activate a lock of the opening, the opening control (4) comprising at least one support (44) for connecting the opening control (4) to the opening, a lock or a cover (42) and a locking ring (45) of the lock or the cover (42) with respect to the support (44), the support (44) comprising an opening (441) centered on a main axis (100) and housing the lock or the cover (42), the locking ring (45) being disposed around the lock or the cover (42) being movable in rotation about the main axis (100) between an unlocked position and a locked position of the lock or the cover (42), characterized in that the opening control (4) comprises a locking member (7) for maintaining the locking ring (45) in its locked position.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of systems for opening an opening of a motor vehicle, and more particularly, an opening control for such an opening system.

[0002] Commonly, motor vehicles are provided with openings allowing users of a motor vehicle to enter or exit a passenger compartment of the motor vehicle. Such openings comprise, on the one hand, an opening control with which the user can interact and, on the other hand, an opening device capable of assuming a position in which the opening is blocked and another position in which the opening is unlocked. The opening device is connected to the opening control by a rod or a cable; the user's interaction on the opening control generates a movement transmitted, by the cable or the rod, to the opening device which passes from its blocked position to its unlocked position, thus releasing the opening.

[0003] The opening control comprises an actuating handle with which the user interacts, a support for fixing the opening control to an element of the opening such as a sheet metal panel, and a cover, of the type of a false lock for example, or a lock housed in the support and participating in keeping the actuating handle secured to the support. A locking ring, arranged around the cover or the lock, is provided to keep the cover or the lock in the housing of the support. This locking ring is capable of taking a locked position and an unlocked position, in its locked position the cover or the lock is kept in the housing of the support while in its unlocked position, the cover or the lock can be released from the housing, and more broadly from the opening control, as described in document EP1026343.

[0004] The known state-of-the-art opening controls may have quality defects. Repeated manipulation of the operating handle and / or the lock, as well as vehicle vibrations, can lead to the loss of parts and thus to a fault in the opening system of the opening.

[0005] Furthermore, the passage of the locking ring from its unlocked position, in which the cover or lock can be mounted on the opening control so that the locking ring can be positioned around the cover or lock, to its locked position is ensured by an operator manually moving the locking ring from its unlocked position to its locked position. In certain situations, the locking ring is not perfectly placed in its locked position by the operator, such a hazard being able to cause the cover or lock to become detached from the support of the opening control.

[0006] The present invention proposes to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art, and in particular to propose an opening control making it possible to assure the operator that the locking ring is in its locked position and maintained in said position.In this context, the main subject of the present invention is an opening control for an opening of a motor vehicle intended to activate a lock of the opening, the opening control comprising at least one support intended to connect the opening control to the opening, a lock or a cover and a ring for locking the lock or the cover relative to the support, the support comprising an opening centered on a main axis and housing the lock or the cover, the locking ring being arranged around the lock or the cover while being movable in rotation around the main axis between an unlocked position and a locked position of the lock or the cover, the opening control comprising a locking member intended to maintain the locking ring in its locked position and a means for centering the locking member relative to the lock or the cover.

[0007] It should be noted that the opening lock and the opening control are two separate elements of a system for closing the opening. The opening control allows movement to be generated on a cable or rod connected to the lock. It should also be noted that the locking member is an added element allowing the operator in charge of assembling the opening control to be assured that the locking ring is in its locked position. Such a locking member forming an added element can advantageously be fitted to pre-existing opening controls comprising a locking ring.

[0008] According to a preferable characteristic of the invention, the locking ring comprises a pusher capable of taking a first position in which the locking ring is in its unlocked position and a second position in which the locking ring is in its locked position, the locking member comprising a stop preventing the return of the pusher from its second position to its first position. The locking ring is formed of a ring and the pusher, the pusher projecting from the ring which is rotatable about the main axis. It is understood that the first position and the second position of the pusher are angular positions relative to the main axis.

[0009] According to a preferable characteristic of the invention, the stop of the locking member extends mainly in a direction substantially parallel to the main axis. This stop has a parallelepiped shape extending from the body of the locking member in a direction parallel to the main axis.

[0010] According to a preferable characteristic of the invention, the locking ring prohibits the assembly of the locking member to the opening control when the pusher of the locking ring is in its first position. This prohibition of the assembly of the locking member to the opening control is generated by the contact between the stop and the pusher when the latter is in its first position. It is understood that the locking member can only be assembled to the opening control when the pusher is in its second position and the locking ring is in its locked position. Such a characteristic allows the operator to be certain that the locking ring is indeed in its locked position.

[0011] According to a preferable characteristic of the invention, the locking member comprises a tab for holding the locking member to the support. The locking member is held to the support by means of the tab.

[0012] According to a preferable characteristic of the invention, the tongue comprises at least one chamfer and one shoulder for holding the locking member relative to the support. This holding of the locking member to the support is generated in a direction parallel to the main axis by the cooperation of a shoulder provided on the support and a shoulder provided on the tongue. The chamfer makes it possible to separate said shoulders from each other during assembly of the locking member to the support. Then, by an elastic return, the shoulder provided on the support forms a stop against which the shoulder of the tongue comes into contact; preventing the withdrawal of the locking member by a translational movement parallel to the main axis.

[0013] According to a preferable characteristic of the invention, the tab comprises a means for separating the locking member from the support. This separation means makes it possible to deform the tab so as to release the shoulders from each other.

[0014] According to the invention, the opening control comprises a means for centering the locking member relative to the lock or the cover. The centering means is intended to center the locking member relative to the lock or the cover and more broadly to the support so that the stop of the locking member is opposite the pusher of the locking ring. This centering by the centering means is achieved by the cooperation of a cylinder forming a tubular portion and a housing provided in the cover, the tubular portion penetrating into the housing. This centering can also be achieved by the cooperation between a centering recess provided in the locking member in which the lock is housed.

[0015] According to a preferable characteristic of the invention, the centering means comprises an anti-rotation member limiting the rotation of the locking member relative to the cover or the lock. The anti-rotation member is formed of hollows provided on the tubular portion of the locking member and a cross formed in the housing of the cover, the cross being housed in the hollows of the tubular portion limiting the rotation of the locking member relative to the cover. The anti-rotation member may also be formed by cavities provided in the peripheral wall of the locking member delimiting the centering recess cooperating with elements of the lock to limit the rotation of the locking member relative to the lock.

[0016] According to a preferable characteristic of the invention, the centering means is formed by a projecting element of the locking member intended to be housed in a housing provided in the cover around the main axis.

[0017] According to a preferable characteristic of the invention, the locking member has a symmetry with respect to a plane of symmetry passing at least through the tongue and the stop.

[0018] The present invention also relates to a motor vehicle opening comprising an opening control in accordance with any one of the aforementioned characteristics.

[0019] Other characteristics, details and advantages of the invention will emerge more clearly on reading the description which follows on the one hand, and several examples of embodiment given for informational and non-limiting purposes with reference to the appended schematic drawings on the other hand, in which: [ Fig.1 ] very schematically represents an opening of a motor vehicle comprising an opening control according to an embodiment of the invention; [ Fig.2 ] represents a view of the opening control represented by the figure 1 in which a cover is housed in a support of the opening control; [ Fig.3 ] represents a view of an opening control in which a lock is housed in a support of the opening control; [ Fig.4 ] represents a locking member intended to maintain the locking ring in its locked position according to the embodiment of the invention represented by the figure 2 ; [ Fig.5 ] represents a view of the locking member represented by the figure 4 cooperating with a cover of the opening control represented by the figure 2 ; [ Fig.6 ] represents a locking member intended to maintain the locking ring in its locked position according to the embodiment of the invention represented by the figure 3 ; [ Fig.7 ] represents a view of the locking member represented by the figure 6 cooperating with a lock of the opening control represented by the figure 3 .

[0020] The features, variants and different embodiments of the invention may be combined with each other in various combinations, provided that they are not incompatible or mutually exclusive. In particular, variants of the invention may be conceived comprising only a selection of features described below in isolation from the other features described, if this selection of features is sufficient to confer a technical advantage or to differentiate the invention from the state of the art, the invention being defined by the appended claims.

[0021] In the figures, elements common to several figures retain the same reference. In the description which follows, we will refer to an orientation depending on the Longitudinal, Vertical and Transverse axes as they are arbitrarily defined by the trihedron L, V, T represented by the figures 1 à 7 The choice of names for these axes does not limit the orientation that the opening control can take in its application to a motor vehicle.

[0022] There figure 1 illustrates very schematically a motor vehicle 1 equipped with an opening 2 and a closing system 3 for the opening 2 according to one embodiment of the invention. The opening 2 is an element of the motor vehicle 1 capable of opening and closing to allow, for example, a user to enter or exit the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle 1 and / or to access a storage space of the motor vehicle 1. More precisely, the opening 2 is formed of a panel 21 articulated in rotation relative to a body of the motor vehicle 1, for example, by hinges 22.

[0023] To this end, the closing system 3 of the opening 2 comprises an opening control 4 of the opening 2 connected to a lock 5 by a rod or a cable 6. The lock 5 comprises, in the embodiment shown, a bolt cooperating with a striker, integral with the body or another opening of the motor vehicle 1, to block the opening 2 in the closed position when the bolt is housed in the striker.

[0024] The opening control 4 comprises an actuating handle 41 and a cover 42 participating in keeping the actuating handle 41 secured to the opening control 4. The actuating handle 41 can be actuated by the user of the motor vehicle 1 to transmit a movement to the rod or cable 6 in order to move the lock 5 from its closed position to an open position allowing the user to open the opening 2 of the motor vehicle 1.

[0025] It should be noted that in the embodiment represented by the figure 1 , the opening control 4 could include, instead of the cover 42, a lock 43, notably visible on the figure 3 , allowing or prohibiting the change of position of the lock 5. It should also be noted that the opening control 4 and the lock 5, although part of the same closing system 3 allowing the opening 2 to be blocked or unblocked, are two separate pieces of equipment for the opening 2.

[0026] THE figures 2 And 3 illustrate the opening control 4 according to two embodiments of the invention. More precisely, the figure 2 illustrates an embodiment in which the opening control 4 comprises a cover 42, and the figure 3 illustrates an embodiment in which the opening control 4 comprises a lock 43.

[0027] The opening control 4 comprises a support 44 intended to connect the opening control 4 to the panel 21 of the opening 2. More precisely, the support 44 is an element fixed to the panel 21 of the opening 2 and formed, in the embodiment shown, by a plastic material in which means for connecting the support 44 to the panel 21 are provided. These means may, for example, be threaded orifices intended to cooperate with fixing elements such as screws and / or rivets.

[0028] Furthermore, the support 44 makes it possible to hold the operating handle 41 and the cover 42 or the lock 43 secured to the opening 2. This support 44 comprises an opening 441 centered on a main axis 100, substantially parallel to the axis L, and housing the cover 42, as visible on the figure 2 , or lock 43, as seen on the figure 3 It is understood that the support 44 ensures the maintenance of the cover 42 or the lock 43 and more broadly of the operating handle 41 to the opening 2.

[0029] Lock 43, as seen on the figure 3 , is housed in the opening 441 and is intended to cooperate by a longitudinal end, opposite the actuating handle 41 along the main axis 100, with a thresher, not shown here, forming a lever intended to actuate the rod or the cable 6.

[0030] Cache 42, as seen on the figure 2 , is housed in the opening 441 of the support 44 and comprises a housing 421 opened by a longitudinal end of the cover 42 along the main axis 100, opposite the actuating handle 41. This housing 421 is centered on the main axis 100.

[0031] The opening control 4 comprises a locking ring 45 of the cover 42 or the lock 43 relative to the support 44. This locking ring 45 is arranged around the cover 42 or the lock 43 and is movable in rotation around the main axis 100 between an unlocked position and a locked position of the cover 42 or the lock 43. It is understood that the cover 42 or the lock 43 is housed on the one hand, in the opening 441 of the support 44 and on the other hand, in a ring 451 of the locking ring 45. This ring 451 of the locking ring 45 has a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the opening 441. It is understood that the ring 451 delimiting the orifice in which the cover 42 or the lock 43 is housed does not allow the ring 451 to pass through the opening 441.

[0032] Furthermore, the ring 451 of the locking ring 45 is rotatable between an unlocked position in which the cover 42 or the lock 43 can be inserted or removed from the locking ring 45 by a translational movement parallel to the main axis 100, and a locked position in which the ring 451 is secured to the cover 42 or the lock 43.

[0033] The locking ring 45 also comprises a pusher 452 extending from the ring 451. This pusher 452 is rotatable between a first position in which the locking ring 45 is in its unlocked position and a second position in which the locking ring 45 is in its unlocked position. More precisely, the first position and the second position of the pusher 452 are two distinct angular positions relative to the main axis 100. It is understood that the operator responsible for assembling the opening control 4 can, advantageously, modulate the locked or unlocked position of the locking ring 45 by modifying the angular position of the pusher 452 between its first position and its second position.

[0034] The opening control 4 comprises, according to the invention, a locking member 7 intended to hold the locking ring 45 in its locked position. This locking member 7, visible according to two different embodiments on the figures 4 And 6, comprises a means 71 for centering the locking member 7 relative to the cover 42 or the lock 43, a stop 72 and a tongue 73. More precisely, the locking member 7 comprises a body 74 extending in a vertical main elongation direction, i.e. parallel to the axis V, from which the stop 72 and the tongue 73 project in the same direction, substantially perpendicular to the vertical main elongation direction of the body 74, i.e. in a direction parallel to the axis L. This direction in which the stop 72 and the tongue 73 extend is, when the locking member 7 is assembled to the opening control 4, substantially parallel to the main axis 100 of the support 44.

[0035] The tongue 73 comprises at a longitudinal end 731, furthest from the body 74, a cooperation between a chamfer 732 and a shoulder 733 intended to keep the locking member 7 secured to the support 44.

[0036] The stop 72 is intended to come opposite the pusher 452 when the locking member 7 is assembled to the opening control 4. More precisely, the stop 72 is intended to prevent the return of the pusher 452 from its second position in which the locking ring 45 is in its locked position to its first position in which the locking ring 45 is in its unlocked position.

[0037] It should be noted that the locking member 7 can only be assembled to the support 44, and more broadly to the opening control 4, when the locking ring 45 is in its locked position, and more precisely when the pusher 452 is in its second position. Indeed, when the pusher 452 is in its first position, the stop 72 comes into contact, in a longitudinal direction, with the pusher 452 preventing the assembly of the locking member 7 to the support 44.

[0038] The centering means 71 is intended to cooperate with the cover 42 or the lock 43 so as to center the locking member 7 relative to the cover 42 or the lock 43. More specifically, the figure 4 illustrates the locking member 7 intended to cooperate with the cover 42 of the opening control 4. For this purpose, the centering means 71 of the locking member 7 is formed, in this embodiment represented by the figure 4 , by a tubular portion 711 projecting from the body 74 of the locking member 7 in a direction parallel to the axis L and to the main axis 100 of the support 44. It should be noted that the tubular portion extends from the body 74 of the locking member in the same direction as the stop 72 and the tongue 73.

[0039] At a longitudinal end 712 of this tubular portion 711, four hollows 713 opposite each other in pairs are provided in the tubular portion 711. These hollows 713 are intended to cooperate with a cross provided in the housing 421 of the cover 42.

[0040] There figure 5 illustrates the cooperation between the locking member 7 represented by the figure 4 and the opening command 4 as represented by the figure 3 The tubular portion 711 is housed in the housing 421 provided in the part of the cover 42 housed in the opening 441 of the support 44. More precisely, the locking member 7 is assembled with the support 44, and more broadly with the opening control 4, so that the body 74 of the locking member 7 is in contact with the cover 42 and the longitudinal end 731 of the tongue 73 is engaged on the support 44.

[0041] As previously mentioned, the hollows 713 of the tubular portion 711 are intended to cooperate with a cross formed in the housing 421 of the cover 42. This cross is formed, in the embodiment shown, of two projecting elements forming a cross housed in the hollows 713 of the tubular portion 711. This cooperation between the hollows 713 and the cross formed in the housing 421 of the cover 42 makes it possible to form an anti-rotation member limiting the rotation of the locking member 7 relative to the cover 42.

[0042] Furthermore, at the level of the tongue 73, the cooperation between the chamfer 732 and the shoulder 733 allows the locking member 7 to be made integral with the support 44. As visible on the figure 5 , the support 44 comprises a receiving shoulder 442 cooperating with the shoulder 733 such that the tongue 73 is engaged on the receiving shoulder 442 of the support 44. It is understood that the chamfer 732 allows the tongue 73 to be engaged on the shoulder 733 by a simple translation of the locking member 7 in a direction parallel to the main axis 100. Such a translation generates, by means of the chamfer 732, a point deformation moving the tongue 73 away from the receiving shoulder 442 then an elastic return of the tongue 73 allows the shoulder 733 to come into engagement on the receiving shoulder 442.

[0043] The tab 73 also comprises a separation means 735 making it possible to separate the locking member 7 from the support 44. This separation means 735 makes it possible to provide a grip for the operator to deform the tab 73 so as to release the shoulder 733 from the receiving shoulder. A translation of the locking member 7 in a direction parallel to the main axis 100 then makes it possible to dissociate the locking member 7 from the support 44.

[0044] The centering means 71 of the locking member 7 represented by the figure 6 , is formed of a centering recess 714 intended to surround the lock 43, when the locking member 7 is assembled to the support 44. This centering recess 714 is delimited by a peripheral wall 715 comprising a succession of cavities 716 locally moving the peripheral wall 715 away from the main axis 100 when the locking member 7 is assembled to the support 44.

[0045] There figure 7 illustrates the cooperation of the locking member 7 as represented by the figure 6 with the opening command 4 as represented by the figure 3 . As seen on this figure 7 , the lock 43 is housed partly in the centering recess 714 of the locking member 7. Projecting elements of the lock 43 are placed opposite the cavities 716 of the centering means 71 to form an anti-rotation member limiting the rotation of the locking member 7 relative to the support 44. It should be noted that the assembly of the thresher to the lock 43 occurs after the assembly of the locking member 7 to the opening control 4.

[0046] Advantageously, the locking member 7 has a symmetry with respect to a plane of symmetry 10 passing at least through the stop 72 and the tongue 73. More precisely, this plane of symmetry 10 extends, when the locking member 7 is assembled to the support 44, in a direction parallel to the main axis 100 and in a direction parallel to the main vertical elongation direction of the body 74 of the locking member 7. This symmetry of the locking member 7 allows it to be able to equip an opening control 4 of an opening 2 located on one side of the motor vehicle 1 or the other.

[0047] Thus, the invention as just described achieves the aims it set for itself and makes it possible to propose an opening control, intended to activate a lock of an opening, within which the cover or the lock is held by a locking ring whose locked position is ensured by a locking member. Variants not described here could be implemented without departing from the context of the invention, since, in accordance with the invention, they comprise an opening control in which the locked position of the locking ring is maintained by a locking member, the control comprising a centering means, as defined in claim 1.

Claims

1. Opening control (4) for an opening leaf (2) of a motor vehicle (1), intended to activate a lock (5) of the opening leaf (2), the opening control (4) comprising at least one support (44) intended to connect the opening control (4) to the opening leaf (2), a latch (43) or a cover (42) and a ring (45) for blocking the latch (43) or the cover (42) with respect to the support (44), the support (44) comprising an opening (441) centred on a main axis (100) and housing the latch (43) or the cover (42), the blocking ring (45) being disposed around the latch (43) or the cover (42), being able to move in rotation about the main axis (100) between an unblocked position and a blocked position of the latch (43) or the cover (42), the opening control (4) comprising a locking member (7) intended to hold the blocking ring (45) in its blocked position, characterized in that the opening control comprises a means (71) for centring the locking member (7) with respect to the latch (43) or the cover (42).

2. Opening control (4) according to the preceding claim, wherein the blocking ring (45) comprises a pusher (452) that is able to adopt a first position in which the blocking ring (45) is in its unblocked position and a second position in which the blocking ring (45) is in its blocked position, characterized in that the locking member (7) comprises a stop (72) preventing the return of the pusher (452) from its second position to its first position.

3. Opening control (4) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the stop (72) of the locking member (7) extends predominantly in a direction substantially parallel to the main axis (100).

4. Opening control (4) according to either one of Claims 2 and 3, characterized in that the blocking ring (45) prevents the joining of the locking member (7) to the opening control (4) when the pusher (452) of the blocking ring (45) is in its first position.

5. Opening control (4) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the locking member (7) comprises a tongue (73) that makes it possible to hold the locking member (7) on the support (44).

6. Opening control (4) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the tongue (73) comprises a means (735) for separating the locking member (7) from the support (44).

7. Opening control (4) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the centring means (71) comprises an anti-rotation member limiting the rotation of the locking member (7) with respect to the cover (42) or the latch (43).

8. Opening control (4) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the locking member (7) exhibits symmetry with respect to a plane of symmetry (10) passing at least through the tongue (73) and the stop (72).

9. Opening leaf (2) of a motor vehicle (1), comprising an opening control (4) according to any one of the preceding claims.

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