Emergency opening system for a vehicle door

Abstract

Emergency opening system (11) for a vehicle door (8) comprising an electrical opening subsystem and an internal mechanical handle opening subsystem (10), the internal mechanical handle opening subsystem (10) being hidden in an inner lining (9) of the vehicle door (8).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to the field of vehicle door handle.BACKGROUND

[0002] With increased automation, it is known to use an electric motor to activate an opening mechanism to open a vehicle door.

[0003] In the event of an electrical breakdown, this method of opening becomes inefficient.

[0004] Therefore, there is a need for a solution to open the door internally in the case of an electrical breakdown.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] To that end, the present invention provides an emergency opening system for a vehicle door comprising an electrical opening subsystem and an internal mechanical handle opening subsystem, the internal mechanical handle opening subsystem being hidden in an inner lining of the vehicle door.

[0006] According to these provisions, the opening system remains functional for a user inside the vehicle, even when the electrical system of the vehicle has failed. Thus, the internal mechanical handle opening subsystem can be classified as an emergency subsystem, i.e. as an essential security subsystem.

[0007] According to an embodiment, the invention comprises one or more of the following features, alone or in any combination technically compatible.

[0008] According to an embodiment, the internal mechanical handle opening subsystem comprises a support and a handle pivotally mounted on the support, the handle comprising a pulling member at one end of the handle, the handle being mobile in rotation, around a handle pivot axis transversal to a plane of extension of the handle, from a door closing position of the handle up to a door opening position of the handle, the pulling member being flush with the inner lining when the handle is in the door closing position, the door opening position of the handle being reached when the pulling member is pulled by a user according to a first rotating direction in the plane of extension of the handle, the internal mechanical handle opening subsystem further comprising a cable connected to a door opening mechanism by an end of the cable, so that when the handle is pulled by the user from the door closing position up to the door opening position, the end of the cable is driven in a pulling direction transversal to the plane of extension of the handle and the door opening mechanism is actuated by the end of the cable driven in the pulling direction.

[0009] According to an embodiment, the handle further comprises a handle lever at another end of the handle, and wherein the internal mechanical handle opening subsystem further comprises a cable lever pivotally mounted on the support, the cable lever being mobile in rotation around a cable lever pivot axis transversal to a plane comprising the pulling direction, the cable lever pivot axis being between an end of the cable lever, and another end of the cable lever, another end of the cable being connected to the other end of the cable lever, so that when the pulling member of the handle is pulled by the user according to the first rotating direction, the handle lever rotates according to the first rotating direction around said handle pivot axis, and drives the end of the cable lever in a rotation around the cable lever pivot axis according to a second rotating direction, so that the other end of the cable lever rotates around the cable lever pivot axis according to the second rotating direction, and drives the other end of the cable in the pulling direction.

[0010] According to an embodiment, the internal mechanical handle opening subsystem further comprises a first elastic member configured to drive the handle back to the door closing position of the handle when the user releases the pulling member.

[0011] According to an embodiment, the first elastic member is a helical spring rolled up around the handle pivot axis.

[0012] According to an embodiment, the internal mechanical handle opening subsystem further comprises a second elastic member configured to maintain the end of the cable lever in contact with the handle lever when the user releases the pulling member.

[0013] According to an embodiment, the second elastic member is another helical spring rolled up around the cable lever pivot axis.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] The foregoing and other purposes, features, aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of embodiments, given by way of illustration and not limitation with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which the same reference refer to similar elements or to elements having similar functions, and in which: [Fig. 1] represents a detailed perspective view of an internal mechanical handle opening subsystem and a view of a placement of the internal mechanical handle opening subsystem within the inner lining of a vehicle door, according to an embodiment of the disclosure. [Fig. 2] represents another detailed perspective view of an internal mechanical handle opening subsystem, according to an embodiment of the disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION ACCORDING TO AN EMBODIMENT

[0015] With automation and added comfort in current vehicles, electric motors are applied to the locks where they open the vehicle with a simple touch of a button.

[0016] For this new method of opening using a simple button, a safety item is required, similar to an internal mechanical handle that activates and opens the vehicle in the event of an electrical breakdown or accident, in which the vehicle's electrical power is inoperative.

[0017] Therefore, as represented on figure 1, the disclosure provides an emergency opening system 11 for a vehicle door 8 comprising an electrical opening subsystem, not represented on figure 1, and an internal mechanical handle opening subsystem 10, the internal mechanical handle opening subsystem 10 being hidden in an inner lining 9 of the vehicle door 8.

[0018] According to this disposition, the opening system remains functional for a user inside the vehicle, even when the electrical system of the vehicle has failed. Thus, the internal mechanical handle opening subsystem 10 can be classified as an emergency subsystem, i.e. as an essential security subsystem.

[0019] As illustrated on figure 2, in an example embodiment, the internal mechanical handle opening subsystem 10 comprises a support 1 and a handle pivotally mounted on the support 1. The handle comprises a pulling member 2 at one end of the handle, the pulling member 2 being configured to be pulled by a user. The handle is mobile in rotation around a handle pivot axis transversal to a plane of extension of the handle; The handle is mobile in rotation from a door closing position of the handle up to a door opening position of the handle. The pulling member 2 is flush with the inner lining 9 when the handle is in the door closing position, the door opening position of the handle being reached when the pulling member 2 is pulled by the user according to a first rotating direction D1 in the plane of extension of the handle. The internal mechanical handle opening subsystem 10 further comprises a cable 7 connected to a door opening mechanism by an end of the cable 7, so that when the handle is pulled by the user from the door closing position up to the door opening position, the end of the cable 7 is driven in a pulling direction D4 transversal to the plane of extension of the handle, and the door opening mechanism is actuated by the end of the cable 7 driven in the pulling direction D4.

[0020] Optionally, the handle further comprises a handle lever 2bis at another end of the handle, and the internal mechanical handle opening subsystem 10 further comprises a cable lever pivotally mounted on the support 1; the cable lever 5 is mobile in rotation around a cable lever pivot axis transversal to a plane comprising the pulling direction; the cable lever pivot axis is between an end 5 of the cable lever, and another end 5bis of the cable lever. Another end of the cable 7 is connected to the other end 5bis of the cable lever, so that when the pulling member 2 of the handle is pulled by the user according to the first rotating direction D1, the handle lever 2bis rotates according to the first rotating direction D1 around said handle pivot axis, and drives the end 5 of the cable lever in a rotation around the cable lever pivot axis according to a second rotating direction D2; thus, the other end 5bis of the cable lever 5 rotates around the cable lever pivot axis according to the second rotating direction D2, and drives the other end of the cable 7 in the pulling direction D4.

[0021] As an example, the internal mechanical handle opening subsystem 10 further comprises a first elastic member 3 configured to drive the handle back to the door closing position of the handle when the user releases the pulling member 2.

[0022] In particular, the first elastic member 3 is a helical spring rolled up around the handle pivot axis.

[0023] More particularly, the internal mechanical handle opening subsystem 10 further comprises a second elastic member 6 configured to maintain the end 5 of the cable lever in contact with the handle lever 2bis when the user releases the pulling member 2. For example, the second elastic member 6 is another helical spring rolled up around the cable lever pivot axis.

Claims

1. Emergency opening system (11) for a vehicle door (8) comprising an electrical opening subsystem and an internal mechanical handle opening subsystem (10), the internal mechanical handle opening subsystem (10) being hidden in an inner lining (9) of the vehicle door (8).

2. Emergency opening system (11) according to claim 1, wherein the internal mechanical handle opening subsystem (10) comprises a support (1) and a handle pivotally mounted on the support (1), the handle comprising a pulling member (2) at one end of the handle, the handle being mobile in rotation, around a handle pivot axis transversal to a plane of extension of the handle, from a door closing position of the handle up to a door opening position of the handle, the pulling member (2) being flush with the inner lining (9) when the handle is in the door closing position, the door opening position of the handle being reached when the pulling member (2) is pulled by a user according to a first rotating direction (D1) in the plane of extension of the handle, the internal mechanical handle opening subsystem (10) further comprising a cable (7) connected to a door opening mechanism by an end of the cable (7), so that when the handle is pulled by the user from the door closing position up to the door opening position, the end of the cable (7) is driven in a pulling direction (D4) transversal to the plane of extension of the handle and the door opening mechanism is actuated by the end of the cable (7) driven in the pulling direction (D4).

3. Emergency opening system (11) according to claim 2, wherein the handle further comprises a handle lever (2bis) at another end of the handle, and wherein the internal mechanical handle opening subsystem (10) further comprises a cable lever pivotally mounted on the support (1), the cable lever (5) being mobile in rotation around a cable lever pivot axis transversal to a plane comprising the pulling direction, the cable lever pivot axis being between an end (5) of the cable lever, and another end (5bis) of the cable lever, another end of the cable (7) being connected to the other end (5bis) of the cable lever, so that when the pulling member (2) of the handle is pulled by the user according to the first rotating direction (D1), the handle lever (2bis) rotates according to the first rotating direction (D1) around said handle pivot axis, and drives the end (5) of the cable lever in a rotation around the cable lever pivot axis according to a second rotating direction (D2), so that the other end (5bis) of the cable lever (5) rotates around the cable lever pivot axis according to the second rotating direction (D2), and drives the other end of the cable (7) in the pulling direction (D4).

4. Emergency opening system (11) according to anyone of claim 2 or 3, wherein the internal mechanical handle opening subsystem (10) further comprises a first elastic member (3) configured to drive the handle back to the door closing position of the handle when the user releases the pulling member (2).

5. Emergency opening system (11) according to claim 4, wherein the first elastic member (3) is a helical spring rolled up around the handle pivot axis.

6. Emergency opening system (11) according to anyone of claim 3 or 5, wherein the internal mechanical handle opening subsystem (10) further comprises a second elastic member (6) configured to maintain the end (5) of the cable lever in contact with the handle lever (2bis) when the user releases the pulling member (2).

7. Emergency opening system (11) according to claim 6, wherein the second elastic member (6) is another helical spring rolled up around the cable lever pivot axis.

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