Device for locking the lever for opening an opening panel of a vehicle

Abstract

The present invention relates to a lock (4) configured to be installed in an opening panel of a vehicle, comprising at least one lever (28) for opening the opening panel and a device (2) for locking the lever (28) comprising a flyweight (12) able to adopt a first position or a second position, the first position of the flyweight (12) being configured to allow the actuation of the lever (28) while the second position of the flyweight (12) is configured to lock the actuation of the lever (28), the locking device (2) comprising a support (6) which is rigidly connected to the lock (4) and configured to receive the flyweight (12), the locking device (2) comprising a return spring (26) carried by the support (6) and configured to adopt at least two configurations, a first configuration keeping the flyweight (12) in the first position and a second configuration preventing the flyweight (12) from returning to its first position.

Description

[0001] Title of the invention: Device for locking the opening lever of a vehicle door

[0002] The present invention relates to the field of vehicle openings and relates more particularly to the locking of the openings in the event of impact against the vehicle.

[0003] It is known to equip vehicle openings with a lock having a blocking device. The blocking device known from the prior art comprises a weight secured to the lock, this weight making it possible to lock the lever for actuating the lock of the opening. A spring between the lock and the weight makes it possible to keep it in the rest position. In the event of an impact against the vehicle, the regulations in force require that the door must not open in an uncontrolled manner, due to the impact. Thus, the weight is configured to interfere with the lever for actuating the lock and prevent this accidental opening.

[0004] The general problem is to limit the opening of the opening during an impact.

[0005] The present invention proposes a lock configured to be installed in a vehicle opening, comprising at least one lever for opening the opening and a device for locking the lever comprising a weight capable of taking a first position or a second position, the first position of the weight being configured to allow actuation of the lever while the second position of the weight is configured to block actuation of the lever, the locking device comprising a support secured to the lock configured to receive the weight, the locking device comprising a return spring carried by the support and configured to take at least two configurations, a first configuration holding the weight in the first position and a second configuration preventing the return of the weight to its first position.

[0006] According to the invention, the return spring makes it possible to maintain the weight in its first position. This is a situation where the vehicle has not been involved in an accident. By maintaining the weight, it is meant that the return spring exerts a holding force on said weight, such a holding force being less than the force resulting from the kinetic energy of the weight in the event of an impact on the opening.

[0007] During an impact, the weight moves from its first position to its second position and pulls the return spring with it, which in turn moves from its first configuration to its second configuration. Once the return spring is placed in this second configuration, it no longer performs its role of returning against the weight.

[0008] The first position of the locking device represents the position defined by the manufacturer in the absence of an impact against the vehicle, i.e. the initial state when the vehicle leaves the production line. The position of the locking device remains unchanged as long as the vehicle does not suffer a side impact against the opening.

[0009] The second position of the locking device represents the position for locking the lock operating lever. The second position of the locking device results from a movement of the weight which comes to position itself on the path of the lock operating lever, thus preventing the lock from being actuated and consequently the opening of the opening. This second position is thus, for example, the consequence of a road accident, in particular a side impact against the opening.

[0010] The weight is set in motion by the kinetic energy released during such an impact. This kinetic energy generates a force that pushes the return spring and brings it into its second configuration.

[0011] According to another characteristic of the invention, the weight comprises a rotation portion and a lever locking portion, each of the portions extending in non-parallel and intersecting planes, an angle formed between the two planes being less than 90 degrees.

[0012] The angle formed between the rotation portion and the blocking portion is an acute angle. Viewed in section, the weight therefore has a "V" shape. The position of the center of gravity of the weight can be located in the center of the blocking portion to promote movement during an impact.

[0013] According to another characteristic of the invention, the weight comprises a pivoting zone on the free end of the rotation portion, the pivoting zone being in particular cylindrical. The rotation portion of the weight is in contact with the support via the pivoting zone. This pivoting zone is configured to allow the weight to move from its first position to its second position, during an impact. The pivoting zone is a bearing of the weight.

[0014] According to another characteristic of the invention, the pivoting zone of the weight as well as the support are crossed by an axis allowing the rotation of the weight, the axis extending in particular in a manner substantially parallel to that of the movement of the lever.

[0015] The axle is embedded in the support, the weight is pivotally mounted around the axle.

[0016] According to another characteristic of the invention, the locking portion is configured to come into contact with the lever when the weight is in its second position. In other words, the locking portion is placed across the path of movement of the lever.

[0017] The lever travel is complete when the weight is in its first position, whereas when the weight is in its second position, the lever travel is prevented in such a way that it cannot operate the opening of the opening. The weight thus comes into mechanical interference with the lever when it is in its second position.

[0018] According to another characteristic of the invention, the locking portion of the weight comprises a slope on a lower face.

[0019] The slope of the lower face of the locking portion may include teeth forming notches, particularly in the slope of the weight. These notches make it possible to secure the connection which occurs between the weight and the lever when the lever is locked.

[0020] According to another characteristic of the invention, the return spring rests on the support in the first configuration and, in the second configuration, the return spring is interposed between the support and the weight.

[0021] The first configuration of the return spring corresponds to a position where the return spring is in contact with the upper part of the support. In this position, the return spring exerts a holding force on the weight so as to maintain it in its first position until an inertial force resulting from an impact brings this weight into its second position.

[0022] The second configuration of the return spring is a so-called “locking” position corresponding to a position where the return spring prevents the return of the weight to its first position.

[0023] According to another characteristic of the invention, the return spring comprises a curved portion which is configured to maintain a holding force on the weight when the curved portion is in contact with the support.

[0024] The curved portion of the return spring allows the return spring to be stretched when it is pressed against the support.

[0025] According to another characteristic of the invention, the return spring comprises a gripping zone configured to return the return spring from its second configuration to its first configuration.

[0026] The gripping area is located at the top of the return spring, extending between the curved portion and the free end of the spring. The gripping area corresponds to a part of the return spring on which a technician can interact, for example by grabbing it or lifting it from the inside of the door, if the spring were to be in its second configuration when assembling the lock on the door.

[0027] The return spring grip area is accessible so that a technician can change the position of the return spring to move from the second configuration to the first configuration.

[0028] The invention also relates to an opening comprising a lock configured to lock or unlock the opening, the weight being rotatable around a substantially vertical axis.

[0029] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description on the one hand, and from several examples of embodiment given for informational and non-limiting purposes with reference to the attached schematic drawings on the other hand, in which:

[0030] [fig i] is a diagram illustrating a lock equipped with a blocking device according to the invention; [fig 2] is a representative diagram of the blocking device when the weight is in the first position;

[0031] [fig 3] is a representative diagram of the locking device when the weight is in the second position.

[0032] The invention relates to a new lock making it possible to more effectively block the opening of a vehicle door during an accident, while being compact in its architecture.

[0033] Figure 1 is an overall view of the locking device 2 which equips the lock 4.

[0034] The lock 4 comprises an opening 3 on one of its faces, configured to interact with a striker arranged on the vehicle. The opening 3 and the striker interact together when the opening is closed. The release of the striker is actuated by a control cable 5 actuating a lever 28. Alternatively, the control cable 5 can be replaced by a rigid linkage.

[0035] The locking device 2 comprises a support 6 secured to the lock 4. The support 6 can for example be made secured to the lock 4 by being screwed or welded onto it, or made in one piece with a frame of the lock 4. According to an alternative embodiment, the support 6 can be molded onto a closing cover of a lock case.

[0036] The support 6 comprises a first bearing 8 and a second bearing 9 each comprising a circular perforation. The first bearing 8 and the second bearing 9 are opposite each other on the support 6. The first bearing 8 is formed on the upper part of the support 6 and the second bearing 9 is formed on the lower part of the support 6. The two perforations of the first bearing 8 and the second bearing 9 are substantially coaxial. An axis 10 passes through the two perforations. Such an axis 10 is an axis of rotation with respect to the weight 12. The axis 10 is a circular cylindrical shaft.

[0037] The locking device 2 also comprises a weight 12 configured to interact with the lever 28. The weight 12 is capable of taking a first position and a second position. The first position of the weight 12 is representative of the factory-set position. The second position of the weight 12 is a position for locking the lever 28. The weight 12 is capable of interfering with the travel of the lever 28.

[0038] The weight 12 comprises a rotation portion 14 and a locking portion 16. Each of these portions extends in a majority extension plane, and these two planes are intersecting and not parallel. An angle between these two portions 14, 16 is acute. It is for example between 20 and 80 degrees.

[0039] The weight 12 comprises a pivoting zone 18 which is arranged on a free end of the rotation portion 14. For example, the pivoting zone 18 is composed of a first protrusion 20 and a second protrusion 22 each comprising a circular hole. The first protrusion 20 is located on an upper end of the pivoting zone 18, the first protrusion 20 being adjacent to the first bearing 8. The second protrusion 22 is located on the lower end of the pivoting zone 18, the second protrusion 22 being adjacent to the second bearing 9.

[0040] These two holes are collinear and these holes are crossed by the axis 10 of the support 6. Thus, the holes of the weight 12 and the two perforations of the support 6 are coaxial.

[0041] The weight is thus able to pivot around a substantially vertical axis guided by the two bearings. The axis of rotation of the weight is approximately perpendicular to the axis around which the lever 28 is able to be in movement.

[0042] The locking portion 16 of the weight 12 comprises a slope 24 on its lower face. The slope 24 is linear and extends along the entire length of the locking portion 16. According to an alternative embodiment, the slope 16 of the weight 12 further comprises a toothing forming a succession of notches.

[0043] The locking portion 16 of the weight 12 is configured to contact the lever 28 and lock it. The locking portion 16 is the only part of the weight 12 to contact the lever 28.

[0044] The weight 12 is configured to pivot about the axis 10. This pivoting occurs when the vehicle experiences an impact, the kinetic energy released during the impact being that which allows the weight 12 to pivot. The locking device 2 comprises a return spring 26 at least partly wound 21 around the axis 10. The wound portion 21 is arranged between the first protrusion 20 and the second protrusion 22 of the weight 12. The wound portion 21 comprises turns around the axis 10 which are configured to generate a holding force for the return spring 26. A lower portion 23 of the return spring 26 is in contact with the support 6. The lower portion 23 of the return spring 26 participates in generating the holding force for the return spring 28.

[0045] The return spring 26 comprises an intermediate part 25 bearing against an internal face 29 of the rotation portion 14 of the weight 12. The intermediate part 25 of the return spring 26 transmits the holding force to the internal face 29 of the rotation portion 14 so as to hold the weight 12 in its first position. The holding force exerted by the intermediate part 25 on the weight 12 is representative of the energy accumulated by the wound part 21 of the return spring 28.

[0046] The lever 28 is configured to pivot on the support 6 in order to actuate the opening of the opening. In this case, the travel of the lever 28 is generally vertical, and it is configured to be interrupted by the weight 12 when the latter is in its second position.

[0047] The lever 28 is hinged to the lock 4, the movement of the latter being achieved by means of a pivot connection between the lock 4 and the latter. The lever 28 comprises a notch for the control cable 5. The control cable 5 is configured to transmit the opening movement of a handle to the lever 28 to release the strike of the lock 4.

[0048] The lever 28 comprises an inclination 30 on its upper part. This inclination 30 is configured to come into contact with the slope 24 of the weight 12, when the latter is in its second position.

[0049] Figure 2 is a representative diagram of the locking device 2 comprising the weight 12, when the latter is in its first position. The first position is representative of a factory-exit position, for example.

[0050] In this configuration of the return spring 26, called the first configuration, the upper part 27 of the return spring 26 comprises a curved portion 32 which is placed on the support 6, in particular on an upper surface of the support, the latter delimiting the first bearing 8. The curved portion 32 applies a force to the support 6 to tension the return spring 26. The curved portion 32 maintains the return spring 26 in its first configuration and allows, with the lower part 23 of the return spring 26, to maintain the weight 12 in its first position.

[0051] A gripping area 34 is located between the curved portion 32 and a free end of the upper part of the return spring 26. The gripping area 34 allows the return spring to be manipulated, the gripping area being configured to allow a technician to move the return spring from its second configuration to its first configuration when mounting the lock on the opening.

[0052] The inner face 29 of the rotation portion 14 of the weight 14 is in contact with the return spring 26. The inner face 29 is configured to transmit a force to the return spring 26 when sufficient kinetic energy sets the weight 12 in motion, the transmitted kinetic energy being greater than the holding force applied by the return spring to the inner face of the rotation portion. In doing so, the return spring 26 then rotates about the axis 10 until the curved portion 32 escapes from the support 6, which releases the weight 12.

[0053] Figure 3 is a representative diagram of the blocking device 2 of the lock 4 when the vehicle has suffered a sufficiently significant impact for the weight 12 to be moved from its first position to its second position.

[0054] The weight 12, when it is in its second position, occupies a place complementary to the lever 28, when the latter is in its first configuration. In other words, the weight 12 comes into mechanical interference with the lever 28, thus preventing the latter from being operated.

[0055] The slope 24 of the weight 12 and the inclination 30 of the lever 28 are preferably complementary, the contact zone between the weight 12 and the lever 28 is therefore distributed over the thickness of the lever 28 and over the edge of the weight 12.

[0056] When the weight 12 moves from its first position to its second position, it comes into contact with the return spring 26. When the kinetic energy transmitted to the weight is greater than the holding force of the spring, then the contact between the weight 12 and the return spring 26 has the effect of rotating the return spring 26 around the axis 10 and bringing it into its second configuration. When the return spring 26 is in its second configuration and the shock generating the kinetic energy of the weight is finished, the curved portion 32 of the spring is arranged between the weight 12 and the support 6, which blocks and maintains the weight in its second position. The curved portion 32 in the second configuration of the return spring is released from above the support.

[0057] Of course, the invention is not limited to the examples which have just been described and numerous adjustments can be made to these examples without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0058] The invention, as just described, achieves the aim it set itself, and makes it possible to propose a lock capable of blocking the opening of the opening during an impact, and thus satisfying the regulations in force for the approval of vehicles. Variants not described here could be implemented without departing from the context of the invention, provided that, in accordance with the invention, they comprise a blocking device and a lever in accordance with the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS 1- Lock (4) configured to be installed in a vehicle opening, comprising at least one lever (28) for opening the opening and a locking device (2) for the lever (28) comprising a weight (12) capable of taking a first position or a second position, the first position of the weight (12) being configured to allow the actuation of the lever (28) while the second position of the weight (12) is configured to block the actuation of the lever (28), the locking device (2) comprising a support (6) secured to the lock (4) configured to receive the weight (12), the locking device (2) comprising a return spring (26) carried by the support (6) and configured to take at least two configurations, a first configuration holding the weight (12) in the first position and a second configuration preventing the return of the weight (12) to its first position. 2- Lock (4) according to the preceding claim, in which the weight (12) comprises a rotation portion (14) and a blocking portion (16) of the lever (28), each of the portions extending in non-parallel and intersecting planes, an angle formed between the two planes being less than 90 degrees. 3- Lock (4) according to the preceding claim, in which the weight (12) comprises a pivoting zone (18) on the free end of the rotation portion (14). 4- Lock (4) according to the preceding claim, in which the pivoting zone (18) of the weight (12) as well as the support (6) are crossed by an axis (10) allowing the rotation of the weight (12), the axis (10) extending in particular in a manner substantially parallel to that of the movement of the lever (28). 5- Lock (4) according to any one of claims 2 to 4, in which the locking portion (16) is configured to come into contact with the lever (28) when the weight (12) is in its second position. 6- Lock (4) according to any one of claims 2 to 5, in which the locking portion (16) of the weight (12) comprises on a lower face a slope (24). 7- Lock (4) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the return spring (26) bears on the support (6) in the first configuration and, in the second configuration, the return spring (26) is interposed between the support (6) and the weight (12). 8- Lock (4) according to the preceding claim, in which the return spring (26) comprises a curved portion (32) which is configured to maintain a holding force on the weight (12) when the curved portion (32) is in contact with the support (6). 9- Lock (4) according to any one of claims 7 or 8, in which the return spring (26) comprises a gripping zone (34) configured to return the return spring (26) from its second configuration to its first configuration. 10- Opening comprising a lock (4) according to any one of the preceding claims configured to lock or unlock the opening, the weight (12) being movable in rotation around a substantially vertical axis.

Images