VEHICLE DOOR LOCK ACTIVATION DEVICE

Abstract

The invention relates to an actuation device (2) for a door lock of a vehicle door (3), in particular as part of a door handle arrangement (1) of a vehicle door (3), in which the actuation device (2) has a handle part (4) that can be grasped by a hand, in which the handle part (4) is configured to be transferable between a rest position and a standby position, and in which the handle part (4) can be moved manually from the standby position to an actuation position and is in particular extendable in a pivotal or linear manner, in which the actuation device (2) is configured to actuate the door lock when the handle part (4) reaches or has reached the actuation position.According to the present invention, it is provided in particular that the actuation device (2) has a locking and / or timing mechanism, which cooperates with the handle part (4) so ​​that the handle part (4) can be transferred from the return standby position to the rest position only with a time delay and / or only in a manner at least partially braked or damped. (Figure 40).

Description

Title of the invention: DEVICE FOR ACTIVATING A VEHICLE DOOR LOCK

[0001] The present invention relates generally to door handle arrangements for a vehicle, preferably for a side door of a vehicle, and in particular to an exterior door handle arrangement, although it could also be an interior door handle arrangement or a door handle arrangement (exterior or interior) for a tailgate.

[0002] The invention relates in particular to an actuating device for a door lock of a vehicle door, in particular a side door of a vehicle, and in particular to an actuating device forming part of a door handle arrangement for a vehicle. The actuating device is in particular an actuating device for a door lock of an exterior door handle arrangement.

[0003] The actuating device has a handle portion that can be grasped by one hand, wherein this handle portion is used for actuating the door lock of the vehicle door. The handle portion is preferably connected via a mechanism to a handle holder (e.g., a handle housing) that is fixed / fixable to the door.

[0004] Door handle arrangements or actuating devices of the type according to the present invention are used in vehicles for opening and closing doors or tailgates which are arranged in car body openings.

[0005] The door handle arrangement or actuating device according to the invention is in particular a door handle arrangement or actuating device in which the handle part configured as a door handle can actuate a corresponding door lock, preferably purely mechanically, for example by means of a Bowden cable or by means of other force transfer elements when the handle part is actuated.

[0006] In particular, it is provided in the actuating device according to the invention that the handle part can be moved from a flush, and in particular exactly flush, rest position to an exposed working position. The handle part can be moved by means of an external actuation from the flush, and in particular exactly flush, rest position to an exposed working position, in which, however, the handle part is preferably manually actuated from the flush rest position / rest position to the exposed working position / working position.

[0007] Such an exactly flush door handle, which is sometimes also called a "flush handle", is to be understood as a handle part whose surface in the rest position lies in a plane with the car body part surrounding the handle part.

[0008] In order for the handle part to be grasped by a user, it must either be actuated externally, for example by means of a mechanism, in particular by means of a motor-driven mechanism, or it must be moved manually from the rest position to the exposed working position.

[0009] An actuating device or door handle of the type considered here is for example described in publication DE 197 31 325 A1. Here, the handle part for opening the door is arranged in such a way that the outside of the handle part in its non-use position is approximately flush with the outer contour of the door (exactly flush) and the handle part can be transferred to an opening position for opening the door in which it projects against the outer contour of the door. For this purpose, a control unit can move the handle part into the opening position by means of an external force.

[0010] On the other hand, publication DE 298 04 105 U1 describes a handle part for vehicle doors and tailgates, having a handle body, which can be motor-driven pivoted out of an inwardly pivoted position to an outwardly pivoted position, having a sub-handle area, which is in a hidden position inaccessible in the inwardly pivoted position and is only accessible in the outwardly pivoted position.

[0011] With a handle part of a vehicle door handle arrangement, which is in particular manually movable from a flush, and in particular exactly flush, rest position into an exposed working position, there is a risk that a finger or several fingers of the operator of the door handle arrangement may be pinched between the handle part and the vehicle body when, during the transition to the exposed working position of the handle part, the handle part is at least partially gripped by the operator's hand and - for whatever reason - the handle part is returned to its rest position.

[0012] In such a case, in conventional door handle arrangements or actuating apparatus for door handle arrangements, the handle portion would transfer out of the exposed working position or at least out of the partially exposed working position immediately back to the exactly flush rest position, thereby pinching the fingers or at least one finger of the operator between the rear side of the handle portion and the vehicle body.

[0013] This problem is shown schematically in [Fig. 1], namely by means of a handle part 4, which is hingedly connected to the vehicle body or to the vehicle door 3 around a pivot axis 8.

[0014] The handle part 4 serves here to actuate a vehicle door lock 3 as required, in which, in a rest position (position A), the handle part 4 is preferably arranged at least substantially flush with a surface of the vehicle door 3, and in which, in a waiting position (position C), the handle part 4 preferably projects at least in places further from the vehicle door 3 than in the rest position.

[0015] In the waiting position (position C), the partially exposed handle part 4 can be gripped on the longer lever arm of the handle part 4 to move the handle part 4 from the waiting position according to position (C) to an actuating position according to position (D).

[0016] An embodiment in which the handle part 4 is connected to the vehicle body or door 3 around a pivot axis 8 in an articulated manner is shown in [Fig.l].

[0017] However, in a figurative sense, the following embodiments also apply to a corresponding handle part 4 which is preferably present both in the waiting position (C) as well as in the actuating position (D) at least substantially parallel to the outer envelope of the vehicle or parallel to the outer envelope of the vehicle door 3, and in particular exactly parallel to the outer envelope of the vehicle / vehicle door 3, in which the handle part 4 is preferably associated with kinematics for this purpose, which is configured to translate a rotational movement generated by an actuator, in particular an electric motor actuator, into a linear movement of the handle part 4.

[0018] In detail, a handle part 4 in position (A) in a rest position in particular exactly flush is shown schematically in [Fig.l]. As already noted, here, the handle part 4 is connected to the body 3 of the vehicle around a pivot axis 8 in an articulated manner.

[0019] In the case shown in [Fig.l], in order to actuate the handle part 4 out of the exactly flush rest position shown in position (A), in particular, a force must be applied manually to the shorter lever arm of the handle part, as shown schematically in position (B) and in position (C) in [Fig.l],

[0020] By applying a force to the shorter lever arm of the handle part 4, the handle part 4 is pivoted about its rotation or pivot axis 8 relative to the vehicle body 3 and brought into an exposed working position.

[0021] According to another embodiment, not shown in the drawings, the handle part 4 is moved linearly relative to the body 3 of the vehicle and brought to an exposed working position.

[0022] Specifically, in position (C) in [Fig.l], the waiting position of the handle part 4 is shown. In the waiting position, the outer end area of ​​the longer lever arm of the handle part 4 preferably projects a maximum of 40 mm from the vehicle body 3.

[0023] In the waiting position, the partially exposed handle portion 4 on the longer lever arm of the handle portion 4 can be gripped to bring the handle portion 4 from the waiting position according to position (C) to the actuating position according to position (D). Here, the actuating device is configured to actuate the door lock of the vehicle door 3 when the handle portion 4 reaches or has reached the actuating position (position D).

[0024] In detail, in position (D) of [Fig.l], an exposed working position of the handle part 4 is shown, in which the door lock can be unlocked and the door 3 can be opened. In particular, the handle part 4 is in such an exposed working position that at least the longer lever arm of the handle part 4 can be grasped by the operator's hand at least in places.

[0025] In position (E) of [Fig.l], a situation is shown in which the operator's finger, which grips the longer lever arm of the handle part 4 at least in places, can be pinched between the handle part 4 and the vehicle body 3, i.e. when attempting to quickly transfer the handle part 4 into its exactly flush rest position, position (A), from position (D).

[0026] On the other hand, when the handle 4 is released from the working position shown in position (D), it returns to the rest position depending on the position (F) under the effect of a return force.

[0027] Based on the situation described above, the present invention is based in particular on the problem of minimizing or even eliminating the risks of injury in manually operable door handle arrangements, in particular of the type described above.

[0028] For this purpose, it is provided in particular according to the present invention that the door handle arrangement has a pinch protection, with which, in particular in a simple to implement but nevertheless effective manner, accidental pinching of the operator's fingers between the handle part and the vehicle body when the handle part is pivoted back from an exposed working position to the exactly flush rest position can be effectively prevented.

[0029] The pinch protection is in particular part of the actuating device of the door handle arrangement.

[0030] According to the invention, the actuating device has a manually grippable handle portion, in which the handle portion is configured to be transferable between a rest position and a waiting position, and in which the handle portion can be manually moved to an actuating position from the waiting position, in which the actuating device is configured to actuate the door lock when the handle portion reaches or has reached the actuating position.

[0031] In this context, in order to implement the desired pinch protection, it is in particular provided that the actuating device has a blocking and / or delay mechanism, which cooperates with the handle part in such a way that the handle part can only be transferred from the return waiting position to the rest position with a delay and / or only in an at least partially braked or damped manner.

[0032] By providing such a locking and / or time delay mechanism, protection against pinching is effectively provided, as this measure prevents the handle portion from moving into the rest position at position (E) of [Fig.l] so as to pinch the operator's fingers.

[0033] Preferably, the locking and / or timing mechanism is produced in a purely mechanical manner to increase the reliability of the protection against pinching and reduce manufacturing costs.

[0034] According to preferred embodiments of the actuating device, the locking and / or timing mechanism is configured to force a non-uniform movement sequence on the handle portion from the return standby position to the rest position on a purely mechanical basis during the return movement of the handle portion.

[0035] In particular, the blocking and / or timing mechanism is configured to force a non-uniform movement sequence on the handle portion from the return standby position to the rest position during the return movement of the handle portion, in such a way that the return movement is initially, and in particular within a predetermined or determinable period of time, timed with respect to its sequence, namely in comparison with a subsequent movement sequence of the handle portion.

[0036] Various different embodiments may be used to implement the blocking and / or timing mechanism:

[0037] For example, the locking and / or timing mechanism may cooperate with the door handle so that it is not transferred from the position of return work to the rest position only with a time delay and / or only in an at least partially braked or damped manner.

[0038] By way of example, it is conceivable that the locking and / or timing mechanism has at least one damping device which acts in a motion-dampening manner during a return movement of the handle part at least temporarily during a return movement of the handle part from its standby position or its actuating position to its rest position.

[0039] By way of example, here the blocking and / or delay mechanism may in particular be configured so that the damping device enters, at least temporarily, into operative connection with the handle part only from a predetermined or determinable position in order to act on the return movement of the handle part in a movement-damping manner.

[0040] Alternatively or additionally, it is conceivable that the locking and / or timing mechanism is configured to at least temporarily increase a contact surface via which the damping device cooperates with the handle portion to act in a damping manner during a return movement of the handle portion only from a predetermined or determinable position of the handle portion.

[0041] Alternatively or additionally, it is provided that the locking and / or timing mechanism has a locking device which at least temporarily blocks a return movement of the handle part during the return movement of the handle part from its return waiting position to its rest position.

[0042] By way of example, the locking and / or timing mechanism may be configured such that the locking device at least temporarily enters into operative connection with the handle portion only from a predetermined or determinable position of the handle portion to at least temporarily block a return movement of the handle portion.

[0043] Alternatively or additionally, it is conceivable that the locking and / or timing mechanism has a braking device which, at least temporarily, exerts a braking effect on a return movement of the handle part during the recoil movement of the handle part from its standby position to its rest position.

[0044] By way of example, here, the blocking and / or delay mechanism may in particular be configured such that the braking device at least temporarily enters into operative connection with the handle portion only from a predetermined or determinable position of the handle portion to act on the return movement of the handle portion in a movement-damping manner.

[0045] However, to force the return movement of the handle portion from the standby position to the rest position in such a sequence of non-uniform motion, event-driven solutions are also possible as an alternative to the time-driven solutions described above.

[0046] According to embodiments of the actuating device according to the invention, it is thus provided that a manipulator is associated with the door device, which manipulator is movable between a released position in which the door lock is unlocked and a neutral position in which the door lock is locked.

[0047] With regard to the locking and / or delay mechanism, it is in particular provided that the latter has a control element designed in particular at least in places as a cam disc, which is configured to interact with the handle part at least during the return movement of the handle part from the waiting position to the rest position, so that a non-uniform movement sequence is forced on the handle part. The manipulator associated with the door lock can be configured to interact with the control element in its released position, in which the interaction with the control element is suspended in the neutral position of the manipulator.

[0048] According to embodiments of the actuating device according to the invention, provision is made for the control element to be pivotally mounted about a first pivot axis relative to the handle portion, wherein the handle portion is pivotally mounted about a second pivot axis extending in particular parallel to the pivot axis of the control element relative to the vehicle door, wherein the control element is operatively coupled or connected to the handle portion via a gear element or gear mechanism such that, during a pivoting movement of the handle portion about the second pivot axis caused to transfer the handle portion from the rest position to the waiting position, the control element is transferred from a starting position to a waiting position by means of a pivoting of the control element about the first pivot axis.Here, the manipulator associated with the door lock is configured so that it allows, in its released position, the transfer of the control element from the starting position to the waiting position, but blocks a pivoting or rotational movement of the control element about the first pivot axis which is necessary for the transfer of the control element from the return waiting position to the starting position.

[0049] In this context, it is conceivable that the manipulator associated with the door lock is configured so that, in its released position, it forms a ratchet with the control element, so that a pivoting or rotational movement of the control element about the first pivot axis, which is necessary for the transfer of the control element from the starting position to the waiting position, is made possible, but a pivoting or rotational movement of the control element about the first pivot axis, which is necessary for the transfer of the control element from the waiting position to the starting position, is blocked.

[0050] According to implementations of this aspect, it is intended that the manipulator associated with the door lock is configured in such a way that it forms, in its released position, a molded pawl with the control element, in particular a toothed pawl or a bar pawl and / or a friction pawl.

[0051] Alternatively or additionally, it is conceivable that the manipulator associated with the door lock is in particular configured as a blocking element, and in which the control element has a blocking projection with a stop, in which, in the released position, the manipulator configured as a blocking element abuts against the stop and blocks a pivoting or rotational movement of the control element about the first pivot axis, which is necessary for the transfer of the control element from the waiting position to the starting position.

[0052] According to implementations of this aspect, it is provided that the locking projection of the control element has a first, in particular flat, flank region and an opposite second, in particular pronounced, flank region, in which the second, in particular pronounced, flank region defines the stop, and in which the control element and / or the manipulator configured as a locking element are configured such that, when the control element is transferred from the starting position to the waiting position, the manipulator configured as a locking element slides over the first, in particular flat, flank region of the locking projection of the control element, whereas the manipulator configured as a locking element, when attempting to rotate backwards, strikes against a second, in particular pronounced, flank region, forms a positive lock with the latter,and blocks the pivoting or rotational movement of the control element about the first pivot axis, which is necessary for the transfer of the control element from the waiting position to the starting position.

[0053] In this context, for example, it is conceivable that the control element and / or the manipulator configured as the blocking element are configured such that, when the control element is transferred from the starting position to the waiting position, the control element is movable along the first pivot axis relative to the manipulator configured as the blocking element.

[0054] According to implementations of the actuating device according to the invention, it is provided that the manipulator associated with the door lock is configured as a retractable locking element and can be deployed parallel to the first pivot axis relative to the control element, in which the locking element is in its retracted state in the neutral position of the manipulator and in its deployed state in the released position of the manipulator.

[0055] According to a preferred embodiment of the locking and / or timing mechanism, the locking and / or timing mechanism has a damping device which acts at least temporarily during the return movement of the handle part from the standby position to the rest position, so as to dampen or brake the return movement of the handle part.

[0056] Without this context, it is particularly suitable when the blocking and / or delay mechanism is configured so that the damping device enters, at least temporarily, into operative connection with the handle part only from a predetermined or determinable position of the handle part to act upon the return movement of the handle part in a movement damping or movement braking manner.

[0057] According to preferred embodiments and further developments of the latest implementation of the actuating device according to the invention, the blocking and / or delay mechanism has a control element, which is configured in particular as a cam disc, at least in parts. The control element, which is designed in particular at least in parts as a cam disc, is configured to interact with the handle part during the return movement of the handle part from the standby position to the rest position, so that a non-uniform movement sequence is forced on the handle part.

[0058] In particular, the handle portion is forced to have a non-uniform movement sequence such that the return movement is initially delayed, particularly within a predetermined or determinable period of time, relative to its sequence compared to a subsequent sequence of movement of the handle portion.

[0059] According to further preferred developments of the last-mentioned embodiment, provision is made for the control element to be pivotally mounted about a first pivot axis relative to the handle portion. Here, the handle portion is pivotally mounted about a second pivot axis, which extends in particular parallel to the pivot axis of the control element, relative to the vehicle door or relative to a housing of the door handle arrangement.

[0060] The control element is preferably operatively coupled or connected to the handle portion via a gear element or via a gear mechanism such that, during a pivoting movement of the handle portion about the second pivot axis caused to transfer the handle portion from the rest position to the standby position, the control element is transferred from a starting position to a standby position by means of a pivoting of the control element about the first pivot axis.

[0061] In this context, it is conceivable, for example, that the gear element or the gear mechanism is configured to, when reaching, or after reaching, the standby position of the control element, suspend or at least interrupt the coupling or the operational connection between the control element and the handle part so that, during a pivoting movement of the handle part about the second pivot axis caused to transfer the handle part from the standby position to the actuating position, the control element is furthermore no longer and / or no longer pivots about the first pivot axis.

[0062] According to embodiments of the actuating device according to the invention, it is provided in this context that the gear element or the gear mechanism is further configured to hold the control element in the waiting position when the handle part is further pivoted out of the waiting position into the actuating position and vice versa when or after reaching the waiting position of the control element.

[0063] Different embodiments may be envisaged as the gear element or as the gear mechanism.

[0064] According to embodiments of the actuating device according to the invention, it is provided that in this context the gear element is configured as a gear element of a slot drive system, or that the gear is at least partially configured as a slot drive system. The slot drive system preferably has a slot guide, in particular in the form of a slot guide surface, which is configured to forcibly guide a slot area from the handle part associated with the slot drive system and operatively connected with the handle part according to the slot guide.

[0065] Of course, other embodiments of the gear element or gear mechanism can also be envisaged.

[0066] In particular, preferably, the control element is configured at least in places as a cam disc having a non-uniform edge area. Furthermore, in this context, the handle portion has a lever area fixedly connected to the handle portion, wherein the lever area is configured to capture the movement of the non-uniform edge area of ​​the cam disc resulting from the rotational or pivoting movement of the cam disc about the first pivot axis during the movement of the control element from the standby position to the starting position, so that the movement sequence of the handle part is controlled by the operating control element during the movement of the control element from the standby position to the starting position.

[0067] The locking and / or delay mechanism is preferably configured such that contact between the lever area of ​​the handle portion and the non-uniform edge area of ​​the cam disc is suspended when reaching, or after reaching, the standby position of the control element, in particular during further movement of the handle portion from the standby position of the handle portion to the actuating position.

[0068] In order for the cam disc mechanism described above to be as wear-free as possible, the lever area of ​​the handle part preferably has a guide roller or guide wheel, via which a movement of the non-uniform edge area of ​​the cam disc is captured during the movement of the control element from the starting position to the waiting position and vice versa.

[0069] In order to protect the guide roller or guide wheel against overloading, the guide roller or guide wheel is preferably mounted elastically, in particular spring-elastically, at least in parts of the lever area of ​​the handle part, so that when a critical, in particular predetermined or determinable, force is applied to the guide roller or guide wheel via the edge area of ​​the cam disc, the roller or wheel can be pressed into the lever area.

[0070] However, alternatively or additionally, it is also conceivable that the guide roller or guide wheel is mounted at least in places in the lever area of ​​the handle part and has an axis and an outer roller surface arranged coaxially and / or concentrically to the axis, said roller surface being connected to the axis in an elastic manner, in particular in a spring-elastic manner, so that, when a particularly predetermined or determinable critical force is applied to the guide roller or guide wheel via the edge area of ​​the cam disc, the outer surface of the guide roller or guide wheel can be pressed into the lever area at least in places.

[0071] In order to delay the return movement of the handle portion from the standby position to the rest position, the locking and / or delay mechanism preferably has a braking device associated with the control element, which device is configured to brake a pivoting movement of the control element while pivoting about the first pivot axis.

[0072] In order to implement the braking device, it can be provided that it has a rotary damper, which is preferably or can be operatively connected to the control element via a gear, in particular a toothed wheel, so that at least one pivoting movement of the control element from the standby position of the control element to the starting position of the control element is braked.

[0073] In order to also delay / brake a return movement of the control element or handle part, i.e. a movement from the starting position to the waiting position, the rotary damper can be configured to brake rotary on both sides.

[0074] According to further developments of the actuating device according to the invention, the blocking and / or delay mechanism has an overload protection associated with the control element, which protection is configured to suspend the contact between the lever area of ​​the handle part and the control element, and in particular the contact between the lever area of ​​the handle part and the non-uniform edge area of ​​the area of ​​the control element configured as a cam disc, during a return movement of the handle part from the return standby position to the rest position, when a particularly predetermined or determinable critical force is applied to the handle part.

[0075] For necessary suspension of the contact between the lever area and the control element, the control element can preferably slide relative to the lever area along the first pivot axis.

[0076] In this context, for example, it can be provided that the non-uniform edge area of ​​the cam disc and an edge area of ​​the lever area of ​​the handle part provided with the edge area of ​​the cam disc for capturing a movement of the cam disc are configured to extend diagonally so that, when an exceeding critical force which is exerted by the handle part and the lever area on the edge area of ​​the cam disc and is in particular predetermined or determinable, the overload protection is activated and the control element is slid along the first pivot axis relative to the lever area for suspending the contact between the lever area and the control element as needed.

[0077] Of course, other embodiments for implementing overload protection can also be envisaged.

[0078] Preferably, a prestressing element, in particular in the form of a spring element, is associated with the handle portion so as to prestress the handle portion in the rest position of the handle portion. In this context, it can in particular be provided that the prestressing element is configured as a leg spring. Of course, other embodiments can also be envisaged here.

[0079] Furthermore, an (additional) pre-tensioning element, in particular in the form of a spring element, is preferably associated with the control element in order to bias the control element to the starting position of the control element. The pre-tensioning element is in particular configured as a leg spring which is also compressible in its longitudinal direction.

[0080] The invention further relates to a door handle arrangement for a vehicle door, the door handle arrangement comprising an actuating device in the manner according to the invention described above.

[0081] Furthermore, the present invention relates to a vehicle door having a door handle arrangement or an actuating device for actuating a door lock of the vehicle door as required.

[0082] In the rest position of the handle portion, the handle portion is arranged at least substantially flush with a surface of the vehicle door when the actuating device is installed in the vehicle door. In the standby position, when the actuating device is installed in the vehicle door, the handle portion projects at least in places further from the vehicle door than in the rest position.

[0083] According to the embodiments of the vehicle door according to the invention, the handle portion is present both in the waiting position and in the actuating position at least substantially parallel to the outer envelope of the vehicle, and in particular exactly parallel to the outer envelope of the vehicle, in which the handle portion is preferably associated with kinematics for this purpose, which is configured to translate a rotational movement generated by an actuator, in particular an electric motor actuator, into a linear movement of the handle portion.

[0084] Examples of embodiments of the solution according to the invention are described in detail below with reference to the attached drawings.

[0085] The following is shown:

[0086] [Fig. 1] schematically represents the sequence of movement during the transfer, in particular manually actuated, of a handle part of a vehicle door from a flush, and in particular exactly flush, rest position to an exposed working position and from the exposed working position to the exactly flush rest position;

[0087] [Fig.2] represents schematically and in isometric view, an arrangement of door handle having a first exemplary embodiment of the actuating device according to the present invention for a door lock of a vehicle door, wherein the handle portion of the actuating device is in a rest position;

[0088] [Fig.3] schematically and in isometric view shows the door handle arrangement according to [Fig.2], in which the handle part of the actuating device is transferred / pivoted out of the rest position according to [Fig.2] to a waiting position through the application of a force to the shorter lever arm of the handle part;

[0089] [Fig.4] schematically and in isometric view shows the door handle arrangement according to [Fig.3], but in a state in which the handle part is manually moved from the standby position according to [Fig.3] to the actuating position;

[0090] [Fig.5] shows schematically and in isometric view, the door handle arrangement according to [Fig.4], but in a state in which the handle part is moved from the return actuation position to the standby position;

[0091] [Fig.6] schematically represents in isometric view a door handle arrangement having a second exemplary embodiment of the actuating device according to the present invention for a door lock of a vehicle door, in which the handle part of the actuating device is in a rest position;

[0092] [Fig.7] schematically and in isometric view shows the door handle arrangement according to [Fig.6], in which the handle part of the actuating device is transferred / pivoted out of the rest position according to [Fig.6] to a waiting position through the application of a force to the shorter lever arm of the handle part;

[0093] [Fig.8] shows schematically and in isometric view, the door handle arrangement according to [Fig.7], but in a state in which the handle part is manually moved from the standby position according to [Fig.7] to the actuating position;

[0094] [Fig.9] shows schematically and in isometric view, the door handle arrangement according to [Fig.8], but in a state in which the handle part is moved from the return actuation position to the standby position;

[0095] [Fig. 10] schematically represents in isometric view a door handle arrangement having a third exemplary embodiment of the actuating device according to the present invention for a door lock of a vehicle door, in which the handle part of the actuating device is in a rest position;

[0096] [Fig. 11] shows schematically and in isometric view the door handle arrangement according to [Fig. 10], in which the handle part of the actuating device is transferred / pivoted out of the rest position according to [Fig. 10] to a waiting position by applying a force to the shorter lever arm of the handle portion;

[0097] [Fig. 12] shows schematically and in isometric view, the door handle arrangement according to [Fig. 11], but in a state in which the handle part is manually moved from the standby position according to [Fig. 11] to the actuating position;

[0098] [Fig. 13] shows schematically and in isometric view, the door handle arrangement according to [Fig. 12], but in a state in which the handle part is moved from the return actuation position to the standby position;

[0099] [Fig. 14] schematically and in isometric view shows a door handle arrangement having a fourth exemplary embodiment of the actuating device according to the present invention for a door lock of a vehicle door, wherein the handle portion of the actuating device is in a rest position;

[0100] [Fig. 15] schematically shows, in an isometric view, the door handle arrangement according to [Fig. 14], in which the handle part of the actuating device is transferred / pivoted out of the rest position according to [Fig. 14] to a waiting position by applying a force to the shorter lever arm of the handle part;

[0101] [Fig. 16] shows schematically and in isometric view, the door handle arrangement according to [Fig. 15], but in a state in which the handle part is manually moved from the standby position according to [Fig. 15] to the actuating position;

[0102] [Fig. 17] shows schematically and in isometric view, the door handle arrangement according to [Fig. 16], but in a state in which the handle part is moved from the return actuation position to the standby position;

[0103] [Fig. 18] schematically represents, in top view, the door handle arrangement according to [Fig. 17];

[0104] [Fig. 19] schematically represents in isometric view a door handle arrangement having a fifth exemplary embodiment of the actuating device according to the present invention for a door lock of a vehicle door, in which the handle part of the actuating device is in a rest position;

[0105] [Fig. 20] schematically and in isometric view shows the door handle arrangement according to [Fig. 19], in which the handle part of the actuating device is transferred / pivoted out of the rest position according to [Fig. 19] to a waiting position by applying a force to the shorter lever arm of the handle portion;

[0106] [Fig.21] shows schematically and in isometric view, the door handle arrangement according to [Fig.20], but in a state in which the handle part is manually moved from the standby position according to [Fig.20] to the actuating position;

[0107] [Fig.22] shows schematically and in isometric view, the door handle arrangement according to [Fig.21], but in a state in which the handle part is moved from the return actuation position to the standby position;

[0108] [Fig.23] schematically represents, in top view, the door handle arrangement according to [Fig.22];

[0109] [Fig.24] schematically represents, in top view, the control element of the blocking and / or timing mechanism of the fifth exemplary embodiment of the actuating device according to the present invention;

[0110] [Fig.25] schematically represents in isometric view, a door handle arrangement having a sixth exemplary embodiment of the actuating device according to the present invention for a door lock of a vehicle door, in which the handle part of the actuating device is in a rest position;

[0111] [Fig.26] shows schematically and in isometric view, the door handle arrangement according to [Fig.25], in which the handle part of the actuating device is transferred / pivoted out of the rest position according to [Fig.25] to a waiting position by applying a force to the shorter lever arm of the handle part;

[0112] [Fig.27] shows schematically and in isometric view, the door handle arrangement according to [Fig.26], but in a state in which the handle part is manually moved from the standby position according to [Fig.26] to the actuating position;

[0113] [Fig.28] shows schematically and in isometric view, the door handle arrangement according to [Fig.27], but in a state in which the handle part is moved from the return actuation position to the standby position;

[0114] [Fig.29] schematically represents, in top view, the door handle arrangement according to [Fig.28];

[0115] [Fig. 30] schematically represents in isometric view, a door handle arrangement presenting a seventh exemplary embodiment of the actuating device according to the present invention for a door lock of a vehicle door, wherein the handle portion of the actuating device is in a rest position;

[0116] [Fig.31] shows schematically, and in isometric view, the door handle arrangement according to [Fig.30], in which however, for reasons of better illustration, elements of the actuating device have been omitted;

[0117] [Fig.32] shows schematically and in isometric view, the door handle arrangement according to [Fig.31], in which the handle part of the actuating device is transferred / pivoted out of the rest position according to [Fig.3] to a waiting position by applying a force to the shorter lever arm of the handle part;

[0118] [Fig.33] shows schematically and in isometric view, the door handle arrangement according to [Fig.32], but in a state in which the handle part is manually moved from the standby position according to [Fig.32] to the actuating position;

[0119] [Fig.34] shows schematically and in isometric view, the door handle arrangement according to [Fig.33], but in a state in which the handle part is moved from the return actuation position to the standby position;

[0120] [Fig.35] schematically represents, and in isometric view, the door handle arrangement according to [Fig.34], in which however the handle part is in an intermediate position between the waiting position according to [Fig.34] and the corresponding rest position;

[0121] [Fig.36] shows schematically and in isometric view, the door handle arrangement according to [Fig.35], in which however the handle part is transferred back to the rest position;

[0122] [Fig.37] schematically represents, and in a partially cutaway / partially transparent top view, the door handle arrangement according to [Fig.l], in which the handle part is in the rest position;

[0123] [Fig.38] schematically shows the overload protection of the actuating device according to [Fig.31], wherein the door handle arrangement is in a state in which the handle portion is transferred from the actuating position to the standby position, wherein the overload protection is in the non-activated state;

[0124] [Fig. 39] schematically shows the overload protection of the actuating device according to [Fig. 31], in which the door handle arrangement is in a state in which the handle part is transferred from the actuating position to the standby position, in which, for this purpose, a force exceeding a critical value (pinching force) is applied to the lever arm plus along the handle portion, whereupon the overload protection of the actuating device engages to separate the handle portion from the locking and / or time-delay mechanism;

[0125] [Fig.40] schematically represents in isometric view the elements of the overload protection according to [Fig.38] in a non-activated state;

[0126] [Fig.41] shows schematically and in isometric view, the elements of the overload protection according to [Fig.39] after their triggering;

[0127] [Fig.42] schematically and in isometric view shows a door handle arrangement having an eighth exemplary embodiment of the actuating device according to the present invention for a door lock of a vehicle door, wherein the handle portion of the actuating device is in a rest position;

[0128] [Fig.43] schematically represents in isometric view, a door handle arrangement having a ninth exemplary embodiment of the actuating device according to the present invention for a door lock of a vehicle door, in which the handle portion of the actuating device is in a rest position; and

[0129] [Fig.44] details the door handle arrangement according to [Fig.43].

[0130] Unless otherwise indicated, the same reference numerals in the accompanying figures refer to the same or functionally similar objects.

[0131] In [Fig.l], the movement sequence of a handle part 4 of a door handle arrangement 1 is shown schematically, in which the handle part 4 of the door handle arrangement 1 is in an exactly flush rest position (position A), in particular. The handle part 4 is connected to the vehicle body 3 via, for example, a housing of the door handle arrangement 1 (not shown) around a pivot axis 8 in an articulated manner.

[0132] In order to actuate the handle part 4 out of the exactly flush rest position shown in position (A), a force must in particular be applied manually to the shorter lever arm of the handle part 4, as shown schematically in position (B). By applying a force to the shorter lever arm of the handle part 4, the latter is pivoted about its rotation or pivot axis 8 relative to the vehicle body 3 and brought into an exposed working position, called the waiting position (C).

[0133] In position (D) of [Fig.l], an exposed working position of the handle part 4 is shown. In this exposed working position, the door lock to be operated with the handle part 4 is unlocked, and the vehicle door 3 can be opened or is open. In particular, the handle part 4 is in a position of exposed work such that at least the longer lever arm of the handle part 4 can be grasped by the operator's hand at least in places.

[0134] In position (E) of [Fig.l], a situation is shown in which the operator's finger, which at least in places grips the longer lever arm of the handle part 4, can be pinched between the handle part 4 and the vehicle body 3, i.e. when the handle part 4 is quickly transferred back into its exactly flush rest position, position (F), from position (D).

[0135] To minimize, and in particular to exclude, this risk of injury, a pinch protection is provided according to the invention, with which an unintentional pinching of the operator's fingers between the handle part 4 and the vehicle body 3 can be effectively prevented, when the handle part 4 is pivoted rearwardly out of the waiting position to the exactly flush position.

[0136] Embodiments of the pinch protection are described in detail below with reference to Figures 2-44.

[0137] In these drawings, there is shown a door handle arrangement 1 with an actuating device 2 for a door lock of a vehicle door 3, in which the actuating device 2 has a handle part 4 which can be grasped with one hand.

[0138] The handle part 4 is in particular manually transferable between a rest position and a waiting position. From the waiting position, the handle part 4 is manually movable to an actuating position, in which the actuating device 2 is configured to actuate the door lock (not shown in the drawings) when the handle part 4 reaches or has reached the actuating position.

[0139] In the rest position, the handle portion 4 is preferably arranged at least substantially flush with a surface of the door 3 of the vehicle when the actuating device 2 is installed in the door 3 of the vehicle.

[0140] In the standby position, when the actuating device 2 is installed in the vehicle door 3, the handle portion 4 protrudes at least in places from the vehicle door 3 further than in the rest position.

[0141] The waiting position is preferably a position in which the handle part 4 is or can be kept released by means of a locking and / or time-delay mechanism. In the waiting position, the handle part 4 can be grasped manually or can be grasped better than in the rest position.

[0142] However, it is preferably also possible to grasp the handle part 4 in the rest position and pull it manually to the standby position and then to the actuating position. In the standby position, when the actuating device 2 is installed in the vehicle door 3, the handle part 4 protrudes at least in places from the vehicle door 3 further than in the rest position.

[0143] The actuating device 2 may be fixed, for example screwed, to the body part of a vehicle body 3 via a housing of the door handle arrangement 1 (not shown in the drawings). For example, the vehicle may be a car or a truck.

[0144] The body part may be made of a metal, for example steel or aluminum. It may be a sheet metal body part. However, the body part may also be made of plastic. This generally applies to the entire body 3 of the vehicle. The body part may itself be part of the outer surface of the vehicle. However, it is also conceivable that it is a body part that is attached to another body part that is part of the outer surface of the vehicle. The body part and, optionally, the other body part have a body cutout in which the door handle arrangement 1 is used with the actuating device 2 so that the handle part 4 is accessible from the outside in the mounted state.

[0145] On the one hand, the handle part 4 is movably mounted in the housing for unlocking and / or opening the vehicle door 3. The handle part 4 is mounted in particular between a rest position located in the housing, which corresponds to the closed state of the door handle arrangement 1 or the vehicle door 3, and a waiting position / actuating position which is moved out of the housing.

[0146] For this purpose, for example, the handle part 4 can be pivotally mounted in the housing. The unlocking of the door 3 of the vehicle can be purely mechanical, electrical, or even electrical and mechanically redundant.

[0147] If the unlocking is exclusively electrical, pivoting the handle part 4 out of the rest position into the actuating position only serves to pull the door that has already been unlocked and, if necessary, to actuate the electrical unlocking. The door can also be pre-opened electrically via a low opening path.

[0148] The actuating device 2 has a blocking and / or delay mechanism which cooperates with the handle part 4 so that the handle part 4 can only be transferred from the return waiting position to the rest position with a delay and / or only in an at least partially braked or damped manner.

[0149] In particular, the blocking and / or timing mechanism is configured to force a non-uniform movement sequence on the handle portion 4 from the return waiting position to the rest position on a purely mechanical basis during the return movement of the handle part 4. In this case, the return movement is initially time-delayed with respect to its sequence in comparison with a subsequent sequence of movement of the handle part 4.

[0150] With reference to the illustrations in Figures 2 to 5, a first exemplary embodiment of the blocking and / or timing mechanism is described below in detail.

[0151] In detail, in [Fig. 2], a door handle arrangement 1 having the locking and / or delay mechanism is shown in a state in which the handle portion 4 of the actuating device is in a rest position. [Fig. 3] schematically shows the door handle arrangement 1 according to [Fig. 2], in which the handle portion 4 is transferred / pivoted out of the rest position according to [Fig. 2] to a waiting position by applying a force to the shorter lever arm of the handle portion 4.

[0152] [Fig. 4], schematically and in isometric view, shows the door handle arrangement 1 according to [Fig. 3] in a state in which the handle part 4 is manually moved from the standby position according to [Fig. 3] to the actuating position.

[0153] In the first concept of the present invention shown schematically in Figures 2 to 5, a prestressing element 20 in the form of a branch spring is associated with the handle part 4 to prestress the handle part 4 in the rest position of the handle part according to [Fig.2].

[0154] The locking and / or timing mechanism used in this case comprises a lever 32 mounted around a pivot axis 31 in the manner of a rocker, in which the pivot axis 31 extends perpendicular to the pivot axis 8, around which the handle part 4 can pivot relative to the door 3 of the vehicle.

[0155] The rocking lever 32 has a first end region and an opposite second end region, wherein the first end region of the lever 32 is arranged in the region of the pivot axis 8 of the handle part 4. The lever 32 is mounted such that it abuts against a lever region 33 of the handle part 4 from below with its first end region under the effect of the force of gravity. For this purpose, a corresponding weight 34 can be attached to the second end region of the lever 32 to press the lever 32 from below against the lever region 33 of the handle part.

[0156] Instead of such a "gravity" prestressing of the lever 32, a corresponding spring element can also be used to press the first end zone of the lever 32 against the lever zone 33 of the handle part 4.

[0157] A corresponding contact zone 35, in particular in the form of a block, is formed on the first end zone of the lever 32 mounted in a rocker. This zone is in frictional connection with a damper 36, in particular an elastic one.

[0158] When, as shown in [Fig. 3], the handle portion 4 is pivoted out of the rest position according to [Fig. 2] to the standby position through the application of a force to the shorter lever arm of the handle portion 4, the lever area 33 of the handle portion 4 is also pivoted so that the first end area of ​​the rocker-shaped lever 32 is no longer in contact with (the underside of) the lever area 33.

[0159] Due to the rocking arrangement of the lever 32 and the gravitational preload of the lever 32, the lever 32 can move about the pivot axis 31 so that the first end region of the lever 32, and in particular the block-shaped contact region 35, moves upwards along the damper 36. This position is shown in [Fig.4].

[0160] If now, as shown in [Fig. 5], the handle part 4 is actuated back from the actuating position according to [Fig. 4] to the waiting position, the lever area 33 of the handle part 4 abuts against the block-shaped contact area 35 of the lever 32 so that it is effectively prevented that the handle part 4 can be moved back into the rest position according to [Fig. 2]. By this means, a purely mechanical pinch protection is provided.

[0161] In Figures 6 to 9, an alternative embodiment of a pinch guard is shown, in which a rotary damper 37 is used.

[0162] As can be seen in the illustrations of [Fig.7] and [Fig.8], the rotary damper 37 is twisted against the preload of a spring 38 by a lever region 33 of the handle part 4. In the activated position of the rotary damper 37 according to [Fig.8], this blocks the handle part 4 so that it can [no longer] be transferred directly from the actuating position according to [Fig.8] to the rest position according to [Fig.6], but instead remains in an intermediate position. The rotary damper 37 then returns to its starting position in a damped manner according to [Fig.6], so that the handle part 4 can also be moved to the rest position with a time delay.

[0163] A similar concept is shown in Figures 10 to 13. Here again, a rotary damper 37 is used, in which a blocking element 39 is moved to the movement path of a lever area 33 of the handle part 4 when the handle part 4 is transferred from the standby position shown in [Fig.l 1] to the actuating position shown in [Fig. 12]. The blocking element 39 delays a return movement of the handle part 4 from the position actuating position according to [Fig. 12] to the rest position according to [Fig. 10], as shown in [Fig. 13].

[0164] A similar damping device is also used in the concept shown in Figures 14 to 18. In detail, for this purpose, the blocking and / or delay mechanism has a control element 40 which, when the handle part 4 is transferred from the rest position shown in [Fig. 14] to the waiting position shown in [Fig. 15], additionally pivots along the axis 8 of the handle part 4. The control element 40 additionally pivots along the pivot axis 8 together with the handle part 4 when the handle part 4 is moved to the actuating position shown in [Fig. 16] from the waiting position shown in [Fig. 15].

[0165] However, this coupling movement between the control element 40 and the handle part 4 is interrupted when the handle part 4 is to be moved back into the rest position from the actuating position shown in [Fig. 16], as can be seen in [Fig. 17] and in particular in the top view according to [Fig. 18]. The control element 40 returns to the rest position in a damped manner via the damper 41 and thus allows the handle part 4 to pivot back into the rest position with a time delay.

[0166] A similar mechanism is used in the concept shown in [Fig. 19] to [Fig. 24], as well as in the concept shown in Figures 25 to 29.

[0167] In the exemplary embodiment of the actuating device 2 according to the invention according to figures 30 to 41, it is provided that the blocking and / or delay mechanism has a control element 5 designed in particular at least in places as a cam disc 6, which is configured to interact with the handle part 4 at least during the return movement of the handle part 4 from the return standby position to the rest position, so that a non-uniform movement sequence is forced on the handle part 4, in particular such that the return movement is initially delayed with respect to its sequence in comparison with a later movement sequence of the handle part 4.

[0168] In the exemplary embodiment of the actuating device 2 according to the invention, the control element 5 is pivotally mounted about a first pivot axis relative to the handle part 4.

[0169] Similarly, the handle part 4 is pivotally mounted about a second pivot axis 7, which extends in particular parallel to the pivot axis 8 of the control element 5, relative to the door 3 of the vehicle.

[0170] A prestressing element 20 in the form of a spring element is associated with the handle part 4 to prestress the handle part 4 in the rest position of the part handle 4. As shown in the drawings, the prestressing element 20 is in particular produced in the form of a branch spring.

[0171] A pre-tensioning element 21, in particular in the form of a spring element, is also associated with a control element 5 so as to pre-tension the control element 5 to the starting position of the control element 5, in which the pre-tensioning element 21 is in particular designed as a leg spring.

[0172] The control element 5 is operatively coupled or connected to the handle part 4 via a gear element or via a gear mechanism so that, during a pivoting movement of the handle part 4 about the second pivot axis 8, caused to transfer the handle part 4 from the rest position to the waiting position, the control element 5 is transferred from the aforementioned starting position to a waiting position by means of a pivoting of the control element 5 about the first axis 7.

[0173] The gear element or gear mechanism via which the control element 5 is operatively coupled or connected to the handle part 4 is further configured to, upon reaching, or after reaching, the standby position of the control element 5, suspend or at least interrupt the operational coupling or connection between the control element 5 and the handle part 4 so that, during a pivoting movement of the handle part 4 about the second pivot axis 8 caused to transfer the handle part 4 from the standby position to the actuating position, the control element 5 is furthermore no longer or no longer pivots about the first pivot axis 7.

[0174] In particular, the gear element or gear mechanism is configured to hold the control element 5 in the waiting position when the handle portion 4 is further pivoted from the waiting position to the actuating position and vice versa when reaching or after reaching the waiting position of the control element 5.

[0175] As can be seen in particular in the illustration of [Fig. 37], the gear element 9 has a slot control system for this purpose, or is at least partially configured as a slot control system. The slot control system has a slot guide 10, in particular in the form of a slot guide surface, which is configured to forcibly guide a slot area 11 of the handle part 4 associated with the slot control system and operatively connected to the handle part 4 according to the slot guide 10.

[0176] As already indicated, the blocking and / or timing mechanism has a control element 5 which is produced in the form of at least one cam disc 6 in places, to force a non-uniform movement sequence on the handle part 4.

[0177] In particular, the control element 5 is configured at least in places as a cam disc 6 having a non-uniform edge area 12.

[0178] On the other hand, the handle portion 4 has a lever area 13 fixedly connected to the handle portion 4. The lever area 13 is configured to capture the movement of the non-uniform edge area 12 of the cam disc 6 resulting from the rotation of the cam disc 6 about the first pivot axis 7 during the movement of the control element 5 from the standby position to the starting position, so that the movement sequence of the handle portion 4 is controlled by the control element 5 in operation during the movement of the control element 5 from the standby position to the starting position.

[0179] In detail, the locking and / or timing mechanism is configured such that contact between the lever area 13 of the handle portion 4 and the non-uniform edge area 12 of the cam disc 6 is suspended when it reaches, or after reaching, the waiting position of the control element 5, in particular during a further movement of the handle portion 4 from the waiting position of the handle portion to the actuating position.

[0180] In the cam disc mechanism thus formed, the lever area 13 of the handle part 4 has a guide roller or guide wheel 14, via which a movement of the non-uniform edge area 12 of the cam disc is captured 6 during the movement of the control element 5 from the starting position to the waiting position and vice versa.

[0181] The guide roller or guide wheel 14 is preferably mounted elastically, in particular spring-elastically, at least in parts of the lever area 13 of the handle part 4, so that when a critical, in particular predetermined or determinable force is applied to the guide roller or guide wheel 14 via the edge area 12 of the cam disc 6, the roller or wheel can be pressed into the lever area 13 so as to protect the guide roller or guide wheel 14 against overloading.

[0182] In an alternative embodiment, not shown in the drawings, the guide roller or guide wheel 14 is also mounted at least in places in the lever area 13. However, the mounting is not designed to be elastic.

[0183] In contrast, in the alternative embodiment, it is provided that the guide roller or guide wheel 14 has an axis as well as an outer roller surface arranged coaxially and / or concentrically to the axis, said roller surface being connected to the axis in an elastic manner, in particular in a spring-elastic manner, so that, when a critical force in particular predetermined or determinable is applied to the guide roller or guide wheel 14 via the edge area 12 of the cam disc 6, the outer surface of the guide roller or guide wheel 14 can be pressed into the lever area 13 at least in places.

[0184] In principle, such a guide roller or guide wheel 14 for capturing a movement of the non-uniform edge area 12 of the cam disc 6 can be considered as an optional feature. The movement of the non-uniform edge area 12 of the cam disc 6 can also be captured by a direct line contact.

[0185] The locking and / or timing mechanism has a braking device 17 associated with the control element 5, which device is configured to brake a pivoting movement of the control element 5 during pivoting about the first pivot axis 7.

[0186] The braking device 17 has in particular a rotary damper, which is preferably or can be brought into operational connection with the control element 5 via a gear, in particular a gear wheel 18, so that at least one pivoting movement of the control element 5 from the standby position of the control element to the starting position of the control element is braked. In principle, however, it is also conceivable here that the rotary damper is configured to brake rotationally on both sides.

[0187] As shown in Figures 38 to 41, the blocking and / or timing device 2 or the blocking and / or timing mechanism of the actuating device 2 may have an overload protection associated with the control element 5, which protection is configured to suspend the contact between the lever area 13 of the handle part 4 and the control element 5, and in particular the contact between the lever area 13 and the non-uniform edge area 12 of the area of ​​the control element 5 configured as a cam disc 6, during a return movement of the handle part 4 from the standby position to the rest position, when a particularly predetermined or determinable critical force is applied during the transfer of the handle part 4 to the rest position.

[0188] For suspension of the contact between the lever area 13 and the control element 5 as required, the control element 5 is in particular configured so that it can slide relative to the lever area 13 along the first pivot axis 7.

[0189] In this context, it is in particular provided that the spring element 21 associated with the control element 5 is configured as a leg spring, which is designed to be compressible in its longitudinal direction, so that with this spring 21 the control element 5 is prestressed in the lower position, i.e. in the position in which the overload protection is not active.

[0190] On the other hand, the non-uniform edge area 12 of the cam disc 6 and an edge area 19 of the lever area 13 provided with the edge area 12 of the cam disc 6 for capturing a movement of the cam disc 6 are configured to move diagonally so that, when an exceeding critical force which is exerted by the lever area 13 on the edge area 12 of the cam disc 6 and is in particular predetermined or determinable, the overload protection is activated and the control element 5 is slid along the first pivot axis 7 relative to the lever area 13.

[0191] After activation of the overload protection, the handle part 4 can return to the rest position, while the control element 5 also returns to its rest position with a time delay and is then deactivated again under the effect of the spring associated with the control element 5.

[0192] [Fig.42] shows another embodiment of the actuating device according to the invention for a door lock, in which the handle part of the actuating device is present in a rest position.

[0193] The concept shown in [Fig.42] is characterized in that a manipulator 41 is associated with the door device, which manipulator is movable between a released position in which the door lock is unlocked and a neutral position in which the door lock is locked.

[0194] With regard to the blocking and / or delay mechanism, it is provided in the actuating device shown in [Fig. 42] that the latter has a control element designed in particular at least in places as a cam disc, which is configured to interact with the handle part at least during the return movement of the handle part from the return waiting position to the rest position in such a way that a non-uniform movement sequence is forced on the handle part, namely that initially during a return movement of the handle part, in particular within a predetermined or determinable period of time, the movement sequence of the handle part is delayed in comparison with a later movement sequence of the handle part.

[0195] On the other hand, the manipulator 41 associated with the door lock is configured to interact with the control element in its released position, in which the interaction with the control element is suspended in the neutral position of the manipulator.

[0196] As in the embodiment shown in Figures 30 to 41, provision is made in the actuating device according to [Fig.42] for the control element to be pivotally mounted about a first pivot axis relative to the handle part, wherein the handle part is pivotally mounted about a second pivot axis extending in particular parallel to the pivot axis of the control element relative to the vehicle door, wherein the control element is coupled or operatively connected to the handle portion via a gear element or gear mechanism such that, during a pivoting movement of the handle portion about the second pivot axis caused to transfer the handle portion from the rest position to the waiting position, the control element is transferred from a starting position to a waiting position by means of a pivoting of the control element about the first pivot axis.

[0197] Here, the manipulator 41 associated with the door lock is configured so that it allows, in its released position, the transfer of the control element from the starting position to the waiting position but blocks a pivoting or rotational movement of the control element around the first pivot axis which is necessary for the transfer of the control element from the waiting position to the starting position,

[0198] In this context, it is conceivable that the manipulator 41 associated with the door lock is configured in such a way that, in its released position, it forms a ratchet with the control element, so that a pivoting or rotational movement of the control element about the first pivot axis, which is necessary for the transfer of the control element from the starting position to the waiting position, is made possible, but a pivoting or rotational movement of the control element about the first pivot axis, which is necessary for the transfer of the control element from the waiting position to the starting position, is blocked.

[0199] According to implementations of this aspect, it is intended that the manipulator 41 associated with the door lock is configured in such a way that it forms, in its released position, a ratchet molded with the control element, in particular a toothed ratchet or a bar ratchet and / or a friction ratchet.

[0200] Alternatively or additionally, it is conceivable that the manipulator 41 associated with the door lock is in particular configured as a blocking element, and in which the control element has a blocking projection with a stop, in which, in the released position, the manipulator 41 configured as a blocking element abuts against the stop and blocks a pivoting or rotational movement of the control element about the first pivot axis, which is necessary for the transfer of the control element from the waiting position to the starting position.

[0201] According to implementations of this aspect, it is provided that the locking projection of the control element has a first, in particular flat, flank area and an opposite second, in particular pronounced, flank area, in which the second, in particular pronounced, flank area defines the stop, and wherein the control element and / or the manipulator 41 configured as a locking element are configured such that, when the control element is transferred from the starting position to the waiting position, the manipulator 41 configured as a locking element slides over the first, in particular flat, flank area of ​​the locking projection of the control element, whereas the manipulator 41 configured as a locking element, when attempting to turn backwards, strikes against a second, in particular pronounced, flank area, forms a positive lock therewith, and blocks the pivoting or rotational movement of the control element about the first pivot axis, which is necessary for the transfer of the control element from the waiting position to the starting position.

[0202] In this context, for example, it is conceivable that the control element and / or the manipulator 41 configured as the blocking element are configured such that, when the control element is transferred from the starting position to the waiting position, the control element is movable along the first pivot axis relative to the manipulator 41 configured as the blocking element.

[0203] According to implementations of the actuating device according to the invention, it is provided that the manipulator 41 associated with the door lock is configured as a retractable locking element and can be deployed parallel to the first pivot axis relative to the control element, in which the locking element is in its retracted state in the neutral position of the manipulator and in its deployed state in the released position of the manipulator.

[0204] The invention further relates to a door handle arrangement for a vehicle door, wherein the door handle arrangement has an actuating device in the manner according to the invention described above.

[0205] Furthermore, the present invention relates to a vehicle door having a door handle arrangement or an actuating device for actuating a door lock of the vehicle door as required.

[0206] In the rest position of the handle portion, the handle portion is arranged at least substantially flush with a surface of the vehicle door when the actuating device is installed in the vehicle door. In the standby position, when the actuating device is installed in the vehicle door, the handle portion projects at least in places further from the vehicle door than in the rest position.

[0207] In the embodiment shown in Figures 43 and 44, the handle portion is present in both the standby position and the actuating position at less substantially parallel to the outer envelope of the vehicle, and in particular exactly parallel to the outer envelope of the vehicle, wherein the handle portion is preferably associated with kinematics for this purpose, which is configured to translate a rotational movement generated by an actuator, in particular an electric motor actuator, into a linear movement of the handle portion. Here, the kinematics is associated with a blocking and / or delay mechanism, since it is also used in the actuating device according to [Fig.42].

[0208] The invention is not limited to the embodiments shown in the drawings, but results therefrom when all the features set forth herein are considered together. List of reference signs

[0209] 1 Door handle arrangement

[0210] 2 Actuating device

[0211] 3 Vehicle door

[0212] 4 Handle part

[0213] 5 Control element

[0214] 6 Cam disc of the control element

[0215] 7 First pivot axis

[0216] 8 Second pivot axis

[0217] 9 Gear mechanism

[0218] 10 Slotted guide

[0219] 11 Slotted area of ​​the handle part

[0220] 12 Non-uniform edge area of ​​the cam disc

[0221] 13 Leverage Zone

[0222] 14 Guide roller / guide wheel

[0223] 15 Guide roller / guide wheel axle

[0224] 16 Guide roller / guide wheel surface

[0225] 17 Braking device

[0226] 18 Gear / Cogwheel

[0227] 19 Lever area edge zone

[0228] 20 Pre-stressing element of the handle part

[0229] 21 Pre-stressing element of the control element

[0230] 31 Pivot axis

[0231] 32 Lever mounted in rocker

[0232] 33 Leverage Zone

[0233] 34 Weight

[0234] 35 Block-shaped contact area

[0235]

[0236]

[0237]

[0238]

[0239]

[0240] 36 Shock absorber 37 Rotary shock absorber 38 Spring 39 Locking element 40 Control element 41 Manipulator

Claims

Claims

1. Actuating device (2) for a door lock of a vehicle door (3), in particular as part of a door handle arrangement (1) of a vehicle door (3), wherein the actuating device (2) has a handle portion (4) which can be grasped by one hand, wherein the handle portion (4) is configured to be transferable between a rest position and a waiting position, and wherein the handle portion (4) can be moved manually to an actuating position from the waiting position and is in particular pivotally or linearly extendable, wherein the actuating device (2) is configured to actuate the door lock when the handle portion (4) reaches or has reached the actuating position, characterized in that the actuating device (2) has a blocking and / or delay mechanism,which cooperates with the handle part (4) in such a way that the handle part (4) can be transferred from the waiting position to the rest position only with a time delay and / or only in an at least partially braked or damped manner.,

2. An actuating device (2) according to claim 1, wherein the locking and / or timing mechanism is configured to force a non-uniform movement sequence on the handle portion (4) from the return standby position to the rest position on a purely mechanical basis during the return movement of the handle portion (4).

3. Actuating device (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the actuating device (2) has a blocking and / or timing mechanism, which is configured to force a non-uniform movement sequence on the handle part (4) from the return waiting position to the rest position during the return movement of the handle part (4), in such a way that, initially during a return movement of the handle part (4), in particular within a predetermined or determinable period of time, the movement sequence of the handle part (4) is timed in comparison with a subsequent movement sequence of the handle part (4).

4. Actuating device (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the blocking and / or delay mechanism has a damping device which acts in a movement-damping or movement-braking manner during a return movement of the handle part (4) at least temporarily during a return movement of the handle part (4) from the standby position to the rest position. wherein the blocking and / or delay mechanism is configured in particular such that the damping device enters, at least temporarily, into an operative connection with the handle part (4) only from a predetermined or determinable position of the handle part (4) to act on the return movement of the handle part (4) in a movement-damping or movement-braking manner.

5. Actuating device (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the actuating device (2) has a blocking and / or delay mechanism, which has a control element (5) designed in particular at least in places as a cam disc (6), which is configured to interact with the handle part (4) at least during the return movement of the handle part (4) from the return waiting position to the rest position in such a way that a non-uniform movement sequence is forced on the handle part (4) in particular such that, initially during a return movement of the handle part (4), in particular within a predetermined or determinable period of time, the movement sequence of the handle part (4) is delayed in comparison with a later movement sequence of the handle part (4).

6. An actuating device (2) according to claim 5, wherein a manipulator is associated with the door lock, said manipulator being transferable between a released position in which the door lock is unlocked and a neutral position in which the door lock is locked, wherein the manipulator associated with the door lock is configured to

7.

8. so that it interacts with the control element in its released position, wherein, in the neutral position of the manipulator, the interaction with the control element is suspended. Actuating device (2) according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the control element (5) is pivotally mounted about a first pivot axis (7) relative to the handle part (4), wherein the handle part (4) is pivotally mounted about a second pivot axis (8) extending in particular parallel to the pivot axis (7) of the control element (5) relative to the vehicle door (3), wherein the control element (5) is operatively coupled or connected to the handle part (4) via a gear element or gear mechanism (9) such that, during a pivoting movement of the handle part (4) about the second pivot axis (8) caused to transfer the handle part (4) from the rest position to the waiting position,the control element (5) is transferred from a starting position to a waiting position by means of pivoting the control element (5) about the first pivot axis (7)., Actuating device (2) according to claims 6 and 7, wherein the manipulator associated with the door lock is configured such that it allows, in its released position, the transfer of the control element from the starting position to the waiting position but blocks a pivoting or rotational movement of the control element about the first pivot axis which is necessary for the transfer of the control element from the waiting position to the starting position, wherein the manipulator associated with the door lock is preferably configured such that, in its released position, it forms a ratchet with the control element, so that a pivoting or rotational movement of the control element about the first pivot axis, which is necessary for the transfer of the control element from the starting position to the waiting position, is made possible,but a pivoting or rotating movement of the control element around the first pivot axis, which is necessary for the transfer of,

9. the control element from the waiting position to the starting position is blocked. in which the manipulator associated with the door lock is in particular configured in such a way that it forms, in its released position, a molded pawl with the control element, in particular a toothed pawl or a bar pawl and / or a friction pawl, and / or in which the manipulator associated with the door lock is in particular configured as a blocking element, and in which the control element has a blocking projection with a stop, in which, in the released position, the manipulator configured as a blocking element abuts against the stop and blocks a pivoting or rotational movement of the control element about the first pivot axis, which is necessary for the transfer of the control element from the waiting position to the starting position. Actuating device (2) according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the gear element or gear mechanism (9) is configured to, upon reaching or after reaching the standby position of the control element (5), suspend or at least interrupt the coupling or operational connection between the control element (5) and the handle part (4) so that, during a pivoting movement of the handle part (4) about the second pivot axis (8) caused to transfer the handle part (4) from the standby position to the actuating position, the control element (5) is furthermore no longer and / or no longer pivots about the first pivot axis (7),wherein the gear element or gear mechanism (9) is preferably further configured to hold the control element (5) in the waiting position when the handle part (4) is further pivoted out of the waiting position into the actuating position and vice versa when reaching or after reaching the waiting position of the control element (5); and / or wherein the gear element is configured as a gear element of a slot control system, or the gear mechanism (9) is configured at least partially as a slot control system, wherein the slot control system has a slot guide (10), in particular in the form of a slot guide surface, which is configured to guide in a manner, forced a slotted area (11) of the handle part (4), said area being associated with the slotted control system and operatively connected to the handle part (4), according to the slotted guide (10).

10. Actuating device (2) according to any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the control element (5) is configured at least in parts as a cam disc (6) having a non-uniform edge area (12), and wherein the handle part (4) has a lever area (13) fixedly connected to the handle part (4), which area is configured to capture the movement of the non-uniform edge area (12) of the cam disc (6) resulting from the rotation of the cam disc (6) about the first pivot axis (7) during the movement of the control element (5) from the standby position to the starting position, so that the movement sequence of the handle part (4) is controlled by the control element (5) in operation during the movement of the handle part (4) from the standby position to the starting position,wherein the locking and / or delay mechanism is preferably configured such that contact between the lever area (13) of the handle part (4) and the non-uniform edge area (12) of the cam disc (6) is suspended when reaching or after reaching the waiting position of the control element (5), in particular during a further movement of the handle part (4) from the waiting position to the actuating position.,

11. Actuating device (2) according to claim 10, wherein the lever region (13) of the handle part (4) has a guide roller or guide wheel (14), via which a movement of the uneven edge region (12) of the cam disc (6) is picked up during the movement of the control element (5) from the starting position to the waiting position and back, wherein the guide roller or guide wheel (14) is preferably mounted elastically, in particular spring-elastically, at least in places in the lever region (13) of the handle part (4), so that, when a critical, in particular predetermined or determinable force is applied to the guide roller or guide wheel (14) via the edge region (12) of the cam disc (6), the roller or wheel can be pressed into the lever region (13), and / or wherein the guide roller or guide wheel (14) is mounted at least in parts in the lever area (13) and has an axis (15) and an outer roller surface (16) arranged coaxially and / or concentrically to the axis (15), said roller surface being connected to the axis (15) in an elastic manner, in particular in a spring-elastic manner, so that, when a particularly predetermined or determinable critical force is applied to the guide roller or guide wheel (14) via the edge area (12) of the cam disc (6), the outer roller surface (16) of the guide roller or guide wheel (14) can be pressed into the lever area (13) at least in parts.

12. Actuating device (2) according to any one of claims 5 to 11, wherein the blocking and / or delay mechanism has a braking device (17) associated with the control element (5), which device is configured to brake a pivoting movement of the control element (5) during pivoting about the first pivot axis (7), wherein the braking device (17) has in particular a rotary damper, which preferably is or can be brought into operative connection with the control element (5) via a gear (18), in particular a toothed wheel, so that at least one pivoting movement of the control element (5) from the waiting position to the starting position is braked, wherein the rotary damper is preferably configured to brake rotationally on both sides.

13. An actuating device (2) according to any one of claims 5 to 12, wherein the blocking and / or time delay mechanism has an overload protection associated with the control element (5), which protection is configured to suspend the contact between the lever area (13) of the handle part (4) and the control element (5), and in particular the contact between the lever area (13) of the handle part (4) and the non-uniform edge area (12) of the area of the control element (5) configured as a cam disc (6), during a return movement of the handle part (4) from the standby position to the rest position, when a critical force in particular predetermined or determinable is applied to the handle part (4).

14. Actuating device (2) according to claim 13, wherein, in order to suspend the contact between the lever area (13) and the control element (5) as required, the control element (5) is slidable relative to the lever area (13) along the first pivot axis (7), wherein, preferably, the non-uniform edge area (12) of the cam disc (6) and an edge area (19) of the lever area (13) of the handle part (4) provided with the edge area (12) of the cam disc (6) for capturing a movement of the cam disc (6) are configured to move diagonally so that, when an exceeding critical force which is exerted by the handle part (4) and the lever area (13) on the edge area (12) of the cam disc (6) and is in particular predetermined or determinable,the overload protection is activated and the control element (5) is slid along the first pivot axis (7) relative to the lever area (13) for suspension, if necessary, of the contact between the lever area (13) and the control element (5).,

15. Actuating device (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein a preloading element (20), in particular in the form of a spring element, is assigned to the handle part (4) for preloading the handle part (4) in the rest position of the handle part (4), wherein the preloading element (20) is in particular configured as a leg spring; and / or in which the actuating device (2) has a blocking and / or delay mechanism, which has a control element (5) being configured in particular at least in sections as a cam disc (6), in which a preloading element (21), in particular in the form of a spring element, is assigned to the control element (5) for preloading the control element (5) in the starting position of the control element (5), the preloading element (21) is configured in particular as a leg spring.

16. Vehicle door (3) having an actuating device (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 15 for actuating a door lock of the vehicle door (3) according to needs, wherein, in the rest position, the handle portion (4) is preferably arranged at least substantially flush with a surface of the vehicle door (3) when the actuating device (2) is installed in the vehicle door (3), and wherein the handle portion (4), in the standby position when the actuating device (2) is installed in the vehicle door (3), preferably projects at least in places further away from the vehicle door (3) than in the rest position, wherein the handle portion is preferably present both in the standby position and in the actuating position at least substantially parallel to the outer envelope of the vehicle, and in particular exactly parallel to the outer envelope of the vehicle, wherein the handle portion is preferably associated with kinematics for this purpose, which is configured to translate a rotational movement generated by an actuator,in particular an electric motor actuator, in a linear movement of the handle part.,

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