Access device for a motor vehicle with antagonistic doors

Abstract

The invention relates to an access device (21) for a motor vehicle (20) comprising a first and a second door (24, 26) which are configured in an antagonistic manner so as to close the same opening, one end (38) of the first door (24) overlapping one end (44) of the second door (26) in a central region of the opening so as to close it when the doors (24, 26) are in the closed position, the first door (24) comprising a locking device (25) suitable for locking the first door (24), the access device (21) comprising a means (23) for controlling the second door (26), the second door (26) comprising a mechanism (27) for unlocking the locking device (25), which mechanism is configured so as to unlock the locking device (25) when a user actuates the control means (23).

Description

[0001] TITLE: Access device for a motor vehicle with opposing doors.

[0002] The invention relates to an access device for a motor vehicle with opposing doors. The invention also relates to a vehicle having opposing doors equipped with such an access device.

[0003] Motor vehicles are often equipped with access devices comprising multiple doors on the same side of the vehicle body. Each door is mounted to pivot about a vertical axis. Typically, adjacent doors on the same side of a vehicle body open in the same direction of rotation relative to the vehicle. These adjacent doors are typically each mounted on an associated pillar.

[0004] There are also motor vehicles with access devices in which two adjacent doors on the same side of the body open in opposite directions of rotation. A single opening in the vehicle body is then possible, without a central pillar between the two doors. The axis of rotation of a first door extends along a front edge of the opening while the axis of rotation of the rear door extends along a rear edge of the opening. This type of arrangement, commonly called "antagonistic doors", is generally used for trucks or sport utility vehicles with more than one row of seats.

[0005] In this particular arrangement, the opening in the body does not include a central pillar between a row of front seats and a row of rear seats. In order to provide lateral support to the vehicle, the front and rear doors generally fit together when in the closed position, thus providing lateral structural support. However, doors arranged in this way are generally designed so that the user must open the front door before being able to open or close the rear door. This makes it difficult for a rear passenger to exit, as they must wait for someone to open the front door. In some cases, the rear passenger can fold the front seat down to access the release system for unlocking the front door themselves, but this system requires them to perform several manipulations beforehand to be able to clear access to the release system.

[0006] The aim of the invention is to provide an access device for a vehicle with opposing doors which allows easier exit for a rear passenger.

[0007] To this end, the invention relates to an access device for a motor vehicle comprising a first door and a second door, the first door and the second door being configured in an antagonistic manner to close the same opening, one end of the first door at least partially overlapping one end of the second door in a central region of the opening so as to close said opening when the first door and the second door are both in the closed position, the first door comprising a locking device adapted to lock the first door in the closed position, the access device comprising a means for controlling the second door, the control means being intended to be actuated by a user, the second door comprising a mechanism for unlocking the locking device of the first door,the unlocking mechanism being configured to unlock the locking device of the first door when a user actuates the control means of the second door. In one embodiment, the unlocking mechanism of the second door is also configured to partially open the first door once the locking device of the first door is unlocked.,

[0008] In one embodiment, the control means of the second door is linked to the unlocking mechanism by a cable, such as a Bowden cable.

[0009] In one embodiment, the unlocking mechanism of the locking device of the first door comprises at least one movable lever.

[0010] In one embodiment, the first door includes a first lever that is rotatable about a first pivot axis and the unlocking mechanism of the locking device of the first door includes a second lever mounted on the second door.

[0011] In this same embodiment, the second lever is movable in rotation around a second pivot axis and the first lever is in contact with the second lever.

[0012] In this same embodiment, the second lever is configured to be set in motion when the control means is actuated by a user and the second lever is configured to drive the first lever in motion around its pivot axis so as to unlock the locking device of the first door when a user actuates the control means of the second door.

[0013] In one embodiment, the first pivot axis of the first lever and the second pivot axis of the second lever are the same. In one embodiment, the stroke of the first lever comprises a first step for unlocking the locking device of the first door and a second step for partially opening said first door.

[0014] In one embodiment, the first lever comprises on the one hand a first portion configured to bear on the second lever and on the other hand a second portion configured to unlock the locking device of the first door.

[0015] In one embodiment, the first portion of the first lever and the second portion of the first lever are separate parts.

[0016] The invention also relates to a motor vehicle equipped with such an access device.

[0017] These objects, characteristics and advantages of the present invention will be explained in detail in the following description of a particular embodiment made without limitation in relation to the attached figures among which:

[0018] Figure 1 is a partial perspective view of a motor vehicle with opposing doors in the closed position.

[0019] Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 and illustrates the motor vehicle with opposing doors in the open position.

[0020] Figure 3 is a detail view of the unlocking mechanism of the access device.

[0021] Figure 4 is a detail view of the control means of the access device.

[0022] Figure 5 is a detail view of a lever of the unlocking mechanism of Figure 3.

[0023] Figure 1 illustrates a motor vehicle 20 according to one embodiment of the invention. The motor vehicle 20 is represented as a pickup truck, but any type of motor vehicle can be considered within the scope of the present invention.

[0024] In this document, the X axis designates the longitudinal axis of the motor vehicle 20. When moving forward and in a straight line, the vehicle moves from the rear to the front in a direction parallel to its longitudinal axis. The X axis is oriented from the front to the rear of the vehicle, i.e. in the direction of reverse travel. The Y axis designates the transverse axis of the vehicle. The Z axis designates the axis perpendicular to the X axis and the Y axis. The vehicle is considered to be resting on horizontal ground. The Z axis is a vertical axis, oriented from bottom to top. The X, Y and Z axes form an orthogonal reference frame.

[0025] The motor vehicle 20 has an access device 21 comprising a pair of doors 24, 26 arranged on a lateral side of the body 22 of the motor vehicle 20. The pair of doors comprises a first door 24 located at the front of the motor vehicle 20 and a second door 26 located at the rear of the motor vehicle 20. The two doors 24, 26 extend parallel to the longitudinal axis X of the vehicle 20 when they are in the closed position.

[0026] However, it is understood that the features of the first front door 24 described herein may be incorporated into a rear door and that the features of the second rear door 26 described herein may be incorporated into a front door.

[0027] Furthermore, the features of either of the doors 24, 26 may be incorporated into any door, regardless of their forward, rearward, or lateral spatial relationship to the motor vehicle 20. For example, such an access device 21 may be installed at the rear of a vehicle, such as a sport utility vehicle, a freight vehicle, or the like. Both doors 24, 26 could thus extend perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X of the vehicle and parallel to the transverse axis Y when in the closed position.

[0028] The body 22 includes a door opening 28 (visible in FIG. 2), which is closed in a central region of the opening 28 by the first door 24 and the second door 26, as illustrated in FIG. 1. To facilitate entry and exit of the occupants of the vehicle 20, the door opening 28 does not have a pillar, i.e., there is no central pillar dividing a front row 30 and a rear row 32 of the passenger compartment.

[0029] In the absence of a central pillar, there are fewer obstacles in the opening 28, which is then widened to allow passengers to get in and out of the passenger compartment, which facilitates entry and exit from the vehicle. The first door 24 and the second door 26 of the access device 21 are each pivotally connected to the body 22 of the motor vehicle 20: they overlap in the central region of the opening 28 such that the first door 24 located at the front must be open in order to open and close the second door 26 located at the rear.

[0030] More specifically, the first door 24 is attached to the vehicle by hinges near a forward area of ​​the perimeter of the opening 28. The first door 24 is hinged to the body 22 of the vehicle about a generally vertical axis 34, such that the first door 24 can be opened in a first opening direction, from the closed position illustrated in Figure 1 to the open position illustrated in Figure 2.

[0031] The access device 21 comprises a locking device 25 (illustrated in more detail in FIG. 3) adapted to lock the first door 24 in the closed position. The first door 24 may comprise an exterior door handle 36 and an interior door handle for actuating the locking device 25, which disengages the rear end 38 of the first door 24 from the body 22. The locking device 25 may in particular comprise a lock block 25a, visible in FIG. 3. A strike wire 29 (visible in more detail in FIG. 5) is intended to cooperate with an opening of the lock block 25a when the first door 24 is in the closed position in order to lock it.

[0032] Furthermore, the second door 26 includes a front end 44 that engages the rear end 38 of the first door 24 at the central region of the opening 28. The second door 26 also includes a rear end 46 that engages the perimeter of the opening 28 at a rear area. The second door 26 pivots about a generally vertical axis 48 (visible in FIG. 2) to be opened in a second opening direction opposite the first opening direction of the first door 24 to achieve the open position illustrated in FIG. 2.

[0033] Since the rear end 38 of the first door 24 and the front end 44 of the second door 26 engage in the central region of the opening 28, an interference prevents the independent opening of the first and second doors 24, 26: the first door 24 and the second door 26 cooperate to close the opening 28 of the body 22 when both doors 24, 26 are in the closed position.

[0034] This is why the access device 21 comprises a control means 23 for controlling the second door 26. This control means 23, illustrated in particular in FIG. 4, is intended to be actuated by a user. In particular, the control means 23 is intended to be actuated by a rear passenger of the vehicle 20. The second door 26 further comprises an unlocking mechanism 27 for the locking device 25 of the first door 24. The unlocking mechanism 27, illustrated in FIG. 3, is configured so as to unlock the locking device 25 of the first door 24 when a user actuates the control means 23 of the second door 26.

[0035] The control means 23 of the second door 26 may take various forms. Thus, the control means 23 may, for example, be a manual control means such as a handle that a user can pull, or a lever that a user can push or pull, or a push button that a user can press. Other interactive embodiments may be envisaged for the control means 23 of the second door 26.

[0036] According to a particular embodiment, the control means 23 of the second door is linked to the unlocking mechanism 27 by a cable, such as a Bowden cable. Thus, when a user actuates the control means 23, this generates for example a movement of the cable, which then acts on the unlocking mechanism 27 so as to unlock the locking device 25 of the first door 24. Other types of mechanical connections between the control means 23 of the second door 26 and the unlocking mechanism 27 can be envisaged.

[0037] According to one embodiment, the unlocking mechanism 27 of the locking device 25 of the first door 24 comprises at least one lever 52 movable in rotation around a pivot axis A2.

[0038] More particularly, the first door 24 comprises a first lever 50 which is rotatable about a first pivot axis A1 and the unlocking mechanism 27 of the locking device 25 of the first door 24 comprises a second lever 52 mounted on the second door 26.

[0039] In this particular embodiment, the two levers 50, 52 are movable levers. More precisely, the first lever 50 may in particular be movable in rotation about a pivot axis A1 and the second lever 52 may be movable in rotation about a pivot axis A2. In order to optimize the compactness of the unlocking mechanism 27, the first pivot axis A1 of the first lever 50 and the second pivot axis A2 of the second lever 52 may be the same. In other words, the first lever 50 and the second lever 52 rotate about the same axis A1, A2 when a user actuates the control means 23 of the second door 26. The first and second levers 50, 52 may be configured to pivot in the same direction of rotation. According to a variant, the first and second levers 50, 52 may be configured to pivot in opposite directions of rotation.

[0040] Furthermore, the second movable lever 52 is configured to be set in motion when the control means 23 is actuated by a user. The second lever 52 is also configured to drive the first lever 50 in motion so as to unlock the locking device 25 of the first door 24 when a user actuates the control means 23 of the second door 26.

[0041] To do this, the first lever 50 is in contact with the second lever 52. Thus, according to a particular embodiment of the unlocking mechanism 27 illustrated in FIG. 3, the first lever 50 may comprise on the one hand a first portion 54 configured to bear on the second lever 52 and on the other hand a second portion 56 configured to unlock the locking device 25 of the first door 24.

[0042] According to one example, one end of the second lever 52 may be in contact with the first portion 54 of the first lever 50. Choosing one end of the second lever 52 as the portion of contact with the first lever 50 makes it possible to maximize the movement of the first lever 50 during rotation of the second lever 52 around its pivot axis A2.

[0043] However, other types of arrangements between the first lever 50 and the second lever 52 may be envisaged. Thus, the second lever 52 may in particular have a portion 58 in the form of a hollow or in the form of a fork configured to at least partially envelop the first portion 54 of the first lever 50. Such an example is in particular illustrated in FIG. 3. Such a design of the second lever 52 makes it possible to ensure reliable contact between the second lever 52 and the first lever 50, and reduces the risks of the components of the unlocking mechanism 27 becoming detached.

[0044] The first lever 50 and the second lever 52 are, for example, single-piece plastic parts. However, other materials may be considered for the first lever 50 and the second lever 52.

[0045] According to a variant, the first portion 54 of the first lever 50 and the second portion 56 of the first lever 50 may be separate parts. These separate parts which form the first and second portions 54, 56 are assembled together during the assembly of the unlocking mechanism 27 to together form the first lever 50. Such an assembly of separate parts for the first lever 50 makes it possible to envisage a more complex geometry for said first lever 50. The first and second portions 54, 56 of the first lever 50 may be designed such that they can be assembled and disassembled multiple times, for example during maintenance operations.

[0046] According to a variant, the first and second portions 54, 56 of the first lever 50 can be designed such that they are permanently secured during their assembly. This then makes it possible to limit the play between the first and second portions 54, 56, which makes it possible to further stabilize the first lever 50 in its assembled configuration.

[0047] According to a preferred embodiment, the unlocking mechanism 27 of the second door 26 can also be configured to partially open the first door 24 once the locking device 25 of the first door 24 is unlocked. The first door 24 is then partially open, at least sufficiently so as to no longer overlap the second door 26.

[0048] In this preferred embodiment, the first lever 50 can be configured so that the travel of the first lever 50 comprises a first step for unlocking the locking device 25 of the first door 24 and a second step for opening the first door 24. In other words, when a user actuates the control means 23 of the second door 26, this causes the second lever 52 to move, which causes the first lever 50 to move. During its movement, the first lever 50 takes a first step which marks the unlocking of the locking device 25. The passing of this first step can be signaled to the user of the control means 23 by an audible signal, such as a click, and / or by a visual signal, such as a change of color on the control means 23 for example, and / or by haptic feedback, in which case the user feels, for example, a slight jolt at the level of the control means 23.

[0049] In the case where the unlocking mechanism 27 of the second door 26 is also configured to half-open the first door 24 once the locking device 25 of the first door 24 is unlocked, the first lever 50 can take a second step which marks the opening of the first door 24. Here again, the taking of the second step can be signaled to the user of the control means 23 by an audible signal, and / or by a visual signal, and / or by haptic feedback. Preferably, the signal which indicates the taking of the second step is different from the signal which indicates the taking of the first step.

[0050] Thus, it is possible to equip a motor vehicle 20 comprising opposing doors 24, 26 with a mechanical access device 21 which allows easier exit for a rear passenger by allowing him, using a control means 23, to easily unlock the locking device 25 which locks the first door 24. This mechanical access device 21 thus offers greater autonomy to the rear passenger.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Access device (21) for a motor vehicle (20) comprising a first door (24) and a second door (26), the first door (24) and the second door (26) being configured in an antagonistic manner to close the same opening (28), one end (38) of the first door (24) at least partially overlapping one end (44) of the second door (26) in a central region of the opening (28) so as to close said opening (28) when the first door (24) and the second door (26) are both in the closed position, the first door (24) comprising a locking device (25) adapted to lock the first door (24) in the closed position, the access device (21) comprising a control means (23) for controlling the second door (26), the control means (23) being intended to be actuated by a user, the second door (26) comprising an unlocking mechanism (27) for the access device (21) and a locking device (25) adapted to lock the first door (24) in the closed position, the access device (21) comprising a control means (23) for controlling the second door (26), the control means (23) being intended to be actuated by a user, the second door (26) comprising an unlocking mechanism (27) for unlocking ...). locking (25) of the first door (24),the unlocking mechanism (27) being configured so as to unlock the locking device (25) of the first door (24) when a user actuates the control means (23) of the second door (26)., 2. Access device (21) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the unlocking mechanism (27) of the second door (26) is also configured to half-open the first door (24) once the locking device (25) of the first door (24) is unlocked.

3. Access device (21) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control means (23) of the second door (26) is linked to the unlocking mechanism (27) by a cable, such as a Bowden cable.

4. Access device (21) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the unlocking mechanism (27) of the locking device (25) of the first door (24) comprises at least one movable lever (50).

5. Access device (21) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the first door (24) comprises a first lever (50) which is rotatable about a first pivot axis (A1) and in that the unlocking mechanism (27) of the locking device (25) of the first door (24) comprises a second lever (52) mounted on the second door (26), the second lever (52) being rotatable about a second pivot axis (A2), the first lever (50) being in contact with the second lever (52), the second lever (52) being configured to be set in motion when the control means (23) is actuated by a user, the second lever (52) being configured to drive the first lever (50) in motion about its pivot axis (A1) so as to unlock the locking device (25) of the first door (24) when a user actuates the control means (23). from the second door (26).

6. Access device (21) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the first pivot axis (A1) of the first lever (50) and the second pivot axis (A2) of the second lever (52) are the same.

7. Access device (21) according to claims 2 and 5, characterized in that the stroke of the first lever (50) comprises a first step for unlocking the locking device (25) of the first door (24) and a second step for half-opening said first door (24).

8. Access device (21) according to any one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that the first lever (50) comprises on the one hand a first portion (54) configured to bear on the second lever (52) and on the other hand a second portion (56) configured to unlock the locking device (25) of the first door (24).

9. Access device (21) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the first portion (54) of the first lever (50) and the second portion (56) of the first lever (50) are separate parts.

10. Motor vehicle (20), characterized in that it is equipped with an access device (21) according to one of the preceding claims.

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