External opening control device for a motor vehicle door.

Abstract

This device (20) comprises a support (26), a handle (22) pivotally mounted relative to the support (26), and an actuating lever for a lock on the door (12) configured to cooperate with an extension element (36) of the handle (22) extending transversely from an inner face of the handle (22). Furthermore, the lever is movably mounted on a pivot axis (X1) of the support (26) against an elastic return element. The lever's position is between a first resting configuration of the element, in which it extends through a path of the extension element (36) to generate a force resisting the pivoting of the handle (22), and a second actuating configuration of the lock, in which it is rotated about said axis by the extension element (36) during the pivoting of the handle (22) after overcoming the resisting force. (Shortened Figure: 3)

Description

Title of the invention: Device for controlling the exterior opening of a motor vehicle door. Technical field.

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for controlling the external opening of a motor vehicle opening panel. The invention relates more particularly but not exclusively to such a control device which combines an electric actuator and a mechanical actuator, capable of triggering the opening of a lock of the motor vehicle opening panel.

[0002] Generally, the control device comprises an operating paddle (or grip handle) which is mounted hinged relative to a body panel of the opening, inside a housing. This housing is generally housed inside a cutout provided for this purpose in the body panel.

[0003] A current trend is to allow the opening of the opening by means of an electric actuator, itself triggered manually for example by a light pressure, a simple touch or a detection of a nearby presence of a user in a predefined zone of the control device, generally a non-visible inner face of the operating paddle. During this manual actuation, an electric unlocking command to open the opening of the vehicle is generated for the main control unit of the vehicle.

[0004] For safety reasons, it is generally provided that the opening control device also allows mechanical opening in the event of an electrical failure. The opening of the mechanical actuator is for example achieved by applying a significantly higher actuating force to the operating paddle, then causing the mechanical release of the opening by actuation of a transmission assembly, for example a rod connected to the lock. Prior art.

[0005] Such a control device is known in particular from the prior art, and in particular from the publication of international application WO2021 / 009294A1.

[0006] Such a design of opening control device allows a particularly intuitive operation thereof because the motorist who wishes to open the opening of the vehicle proceeds in the same pulling movement, first of all to an attempt to electrically unlock the lock mechanism associated with the pallet by manually triggering the electric actuator located in an interior gripping zone of the pallet, then, only in the event of failure to open the opening by exerting a pulling force of higher intensity on the handle. It then causes, without changing movement, the opening of the door by exerting an upward pulling force on the pallet, which leads to the pivoting of the pallet and the mechanical actuation of the lock.

[0007] This prior art control device, however, has numerous drawbacks.

[0008] First of all, this device has the disadvantage of having a relatively complex structure with in particular a large number of parts to be assembled together. In addition, the gripping of the pallet is also not very optimized from an ergonomic point of view because it requires a amplitude of twisting of the user's wrist when the latter uses the mechanical actuation of the lock of the opening.

[0009] Faced with these drawbacks, the present invention aims to further improve the exterior opening control devices of the type considered. The invention aims in particular to propose an exterior opening control device that is more ergonomic, simpler to assemble while offering new perspectives in the style of the vehicle.

[0010] The present invention aims to overcome these drawbacks. A main objective of the invention is to provide a mechanism whose actuation remains simple and natural for the user. Yet another objective of the invention is to provide a door opening mechanism having a structure that remains relatively simple, with reliable operation. Summary of the invention

[0011] To this end, the invention relates to a device for controlling the external opening of a motor vehicle opening, comprising a support, a grip handle mounted to pivot relative to the support, a lever for actuating a lock of the opening configured to cooperate with an extension element of the handle extending transversely relative to a longitudinal direction of the handle from an inner face of the handle,characterized in that the lever is mounted movable on an articulation axis of the support against an elastic return member between a first rest configuration of the member in which it extends through a path of the extension element to generate a force resisting the pivoting of the handle and a second configuration of actuation of the lock in which it is driven in rotation around said axis by the extension element during the pivoting of the handle after having overcome the resisting force.

[0012] The present invention thus makes it possible to effectively and simply oppose the mechanical opening of the handle during its electrical actuation on an internal face of the handle. The actuation lever, otherwise referred to below as a return lever, is thus particularly practical and space-saving since it has a dual function. For example, the lever may include one end attached to the end of a cable, the traction of which causes the lock of the opening to be actuated.

[0013] This therefore prevents the handle from opening accidentally when the opening control device is only electrically operated.

[0014] For example, the handle extends transversely towards the inside of the vehicle opening by a branch, forming the extension element or plunger, made in one piece with it or attached integrally. The internal branch therefore pivots around the pivot axis of the handle with the rest of the handle and describes an opening path towards the outside. It is therefore understood from the invention that the lever acts as a stop piece which is interposed on the path of the extension element of the handle when the latter is deployed.

[0015] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the lever is movable against the member in a third temporary assembly configuration, in which it is temporarily moved away from said path to allow the extension element to be mounted along said path.

[0016] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the lever is movable in translation relative to the support along the articulation axis from the first configuration to the third configuration.

[0017] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, in which the lever and the support have contact surfaces cooperating against each other to form a notch resisting the pivoting of the handle upon crossing a hard point.

[0018] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the extension element is intended to be mounted through an opening in the support and the lever extends on a back face of the support opposite a front receiving face of the handle.

[0019] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the lever comprises a body provided with a cylindrical bore mounted to slide and pivot around a lever articulation rod fixed to the support along the articulation axis.

[0020] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the lever comprises a body provided with a wing projecting radially relative to the articulation axis and configured to extend through said path.

[0021] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the member comprises a helical spring capable of operating in compression and torsion along the articulation axis.

[0022] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the lever comprises a cylindrical sleeve delimiting a cylindrical bore along the articulation axis and the member comprises a helical winding surrounding the cylindrical sleeve and fixed at one of its free ends to the support and at the other of its free ends to the lever.

[0023] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the lever comprises two arms arranged adjacently along the hinge axis and angularly spaced from each other, one of the arms forms a radial engagement wing with the extension element and the other of the arms is provided with a retaining end for a traction cable of the lock.

[0024] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the hinge axis of the lever extends substantially parallel to and at a distance from the longitudinal axis of the handle.

[0025] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the handle comprises a body of generally elongated shape in a longitudinal direction having an end portion for articulation to the support around an articulation axis substantially parallel to the plane of the opening panel and substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the handle.

[0026] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the device comprises a manual control element arranged on the inner face of the handle by means of which an electrical command for the electrical actuation of the lock can be generated such that a user can carry out in a single gripping movement of the handle the electrical actuation of the lock and, in the event of failure, the mechanical actuation of the lock by applying a tensile force of the handle towards the open position.

[0027] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the support comprising a recess for receiving the handle, the device comprises a shell shaped to cover the recess, the handle and the shell being configured to cooperate together so that the shell cannot be extracted from the support after assembly of the handle on the support.

[0028] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the support comprises a cavity configured to impose on the shell an intermediate mounting and / or dismounting position passing through a final location of the handle in the cavity of the support.

[0029] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the support comprises a transverse receiving location for a dummy barrel part provided with a front presentation face, the handle being configured in the support to cover the presentation face in the rest position.

[0030] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the bracket includes a passageway extending from the outside to the lever into which a handle mounting tool can engage to temporarily move the lever against the member to allow release of movement of the handle to a mounting position.

[0031] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the handle extends flush with the opening panel and has an outer surface which defines a continuity of shape and / or appearance with a surface of the opening panel. Brief description of the drawings

[0032] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear in the light of the following description, given with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig.l

[0033] [Fig.l] represents a perspective view of an exterior face of a vehicle opening panel integrating on the front an exterior opening control device according to the invention; Fig.2

[0034] [Fig.2] represents a perspective view of an interior face of the panel of the [Fig.l]; Fig.3

[0035] [Fig.3] represents a perspective view of the panel of [Fig.l] in a unassembled configuration; Fig.4

[0036] [Fig.4] represents a perspective view of a rear face of the device of [Fig.l] in an operational configuration; Fig.5

[0037] [Fig.5] represents an exploded perspective view of the device of [Fig.4]; Fig.6

[0038] [Fig.6] represents a perspective view of a rear face of the device of [Fig.l] in a temporary assembly configuration; Fig.7

[0039] [Fig.7] shows in perspective an actuating lever of the device of the invention of actuating a lock of the opening according to three points of view A, B and C spaced angularly; Fig.8

[0040] [Fig.8] represents a perspective view with partial cutaway of the device of control of [Fig.l] in which a manual switching element for electrically actuating a lock of the opening is visible; Fig.9

[0041] [Fig.9] represents a view of a side section of the opening and a box illustrating in detail the control device; Fig. 10

[0042] [Fig. 10] represents a partial longitudinal sectional view of the handle support of the device of [Fig.l], the lever and the handle; Fig. ll

[0043] [Fig. 11] represents a front view of the opening control device in the assembled state on an opening on the “driver's side” of the vehicle; Fig. 12

[0044] [Fig.12] represents the device of [Fig.l] during assembly of a hull of dressing according to two different assembly methods (A or B); Fig. 13

[0045] [Fig.13] represents a partial longitudinal sectional view of the device of opening command in a rest configuration (A) and in an active configuration (B); Fig. 14

[0046] [Fig. 14] represents a partial cross-sectional view of the opening control device in a rest configuration (A) and in an active configuration (B). Description of the embodiments

[0047] Figures 1 to 14 show a device for controlling the external opening of a motor vehicle opening according to the invention. In the remainder of the description, the device will be designated by the general reference 20, the opening by the general reference 12 and the motor vehicle by the general reference 10.

[0048] An orthonormal reference frame is indicated in [Fig.l]. It defines a first direction which corresponds to a longitudinal axis X of the vehicle, oriented positively from the front to the rear of the vehicle, a second direction which corresponds to a transverse axis Y of the vehicle and a third direction which corresponds to a vertical axis Z of the vehicle.

[0049] In Figures 1 and 2, the control device 20 is intended to be mounted on an exterior body panel 14 of the opening 12 which is for example a side door of the motor vehicle 10. The panel 14 comprises a visible exterior face 18E and a hidden interior face 181.

[0050] Generally speaking, as can be seen in [Fig. 3], the device 20 comprises a handle support 26 intended to be mounted in a complementary shaped cutout 16 formed in the outer panel 14 of the opening 12 and a gripping handle 22 pivotally mounted on the support 26.

[0051] Conventionally, the motor vehicle 10 also comprises an opening lock (not shown) typically mounted on the opening 12 of the vehicle 10 and configured to be actuated mechanically and / or electrically.

[0052] In this example, the handle 22 is intended for operating the opening 14 as well as for the mechanical actuation of opening the lock of the motor vehicle 10. Preferably, the lock is connected to the operating handle 22 by a mechanical connection (also referred to as a transmission assembly) which will be explained in detail later and which allows the mechanical actuation of the opening.

[0053] Generally, the opening of an opening of a motor vehicle is carried out for example by means of a lock comprising a bolt (not shown) secured to the opening capable of cooperating with a striker (not shown) secured to the body of the vehicle. In practice, the action of releasing the bolt, which allows the opening to be unhooked, is called opening the lock. Conversely, the action of keeping the bolt in the striker, which prevents the opening from being unhooked, is called closing the lock.

[0054] For example, the lock has the function of keeping the opening 12 of the motor vehicle 10 in the closed position. The lock also makes it possible to unhook the opening 12 by acting on the external opening control device 20 which is connected to the lock and can be actuated by a user. The bolt is released from the strike plate by electrical or mechanical actuation of the external opening control 20.

[0055] The lock can be opened electrically by means of an electromechanical actuator (not shown in the figures). In this case, the actuator (not shown) comprises, for example, an electric motor, electrically powered by the main electrical circuit of the vehicle. This electric motor is sized to allow the lock and the opening to be opened under normal operating conditions.

[0056] The lock is also preferably connected to a central electronic unit (not shown in the figures) for controlling the locking and unlocking of the various locks fitted to the motor vehicle 10.

[0057] In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the device 20 further comprises a barrel part 30 having a front presentation face 30A. In the example illustrated in [Fig. 3], the barrel part 30 has a generally cylindrical shape with a front presentation face 30A that is preferably relatively flat.

[0058] In the event of an electrical failure, preferably the lock can be mechanically unlocked. For this purpose, in a “driver” opening configuration of the vehicle 10, in a conventional manner, the barrel part 30 of the device 20 is functional and is configured to allow the insertion of a lock key through its presentation face 30A. As illustrated in [Fig. 1 1], in this case, the device 20 comprises a lock cover 32 in the form of a hood intended to be removably mounted (articulated in rotation or not) above the location of the barrel part 30 and can be manually removed to provide access to the 30A display face to allow insertion of the lock key.

[0059] When the control device 20 is intended to be mounted in a so-called “passenger” opening configuration, as illustrated in particular in FIGS. 1 and 3, the barrel part 30 is preferably a dummy part and is inoperative. Preferably, in this case, the handle 22 extends in the longitudinal direction to cover and to mask the barrel part 30 in the rest position of the handle 22.

[0060] Preferably, as illustrated in [Fig. 3], the support 26 is formed by a housing body 40 which is intended to be fixed on the internal side 181 of the panel 14 and the gripping handle 22 is intended to be arranged on the external side 18E of the panel 14, while being attached to the housing body 40 forming the support.

[0061] In this embodiment, the gripping handle 22 is in the form of a body of generally elongated shape which extends in the longitudinal direction X. The side of the handle 22 which comprises the articulation axis will be referred to as the rear side 22B and the opposite side will be referred to as the front side 22A. This rear-to-front orientation corresponds substantially to an orientation from right to left in [Fig.l].

[0062] According to the invention, as can be seen in [Fig. 3], the handle 22 is mounted articulated on the support 26 by the rear end side 22B around an articulation axis extending in the vertical direction Z relative to the housing body 40 and for example through an opening 23 made in the peripheral wall 46 of the housing 40. The articulation axis will be described as vertical, that is to say substantially parallel to the plane of the outer panel 14 and perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X of the gripping handle 22.

[0063] The gripping handle 22 is mounted articulated around the geometric axis of articulation relative to the support 26 between at least one extreme retracted rest position and one extreme deployed opening position causing the mechanical actuation of the opening of the lock of the opening leaf 12 causing the unhooking of the opening leaf 12, as will be explained in detail below.

[0064] In order to allow the articulation of the handle 22, in the example illustrated, its rear side 22B comprises an end 34 intended to be mounted for rotation around a pivot axis secured to the support 26 (not visible in the figures).

[0065] Furthermore, in the illustrated example, on the front side 22A, the handle 22 is mechanically coupled to the mechanism of the lock. This allows, thanks to the operation of the handle 22, the mechanical actuation of the opening of the lock and the unhooking of the opening 12.

[0066] For this purpose, preferably, as can be seen in [Fig. 5], the handle 22 comprises, on its front side 22A, an extension element 36 extending transversely from an internal face of the handle 22 and configured to act on a mechanical transmission assembly coupled to the mechanism of the lock which makes it possible to mechanically open the lock of the opening 12. The extension element 36 has, in the example illustrated, the shape of a branch or a column which has a free end 38 curved in the manner of a foot. This extension element 36, well known in the prior art, is also sometimes designated by the term “plunger”.

[0067] As clearly appears in [Fig. 3], the housing body 40 has frontally an open front face 42 on the outside of the opening 12 in the general shape of a frame and a rear wall 44 which is arranged to extend on the internal side of the panel 14 of the opening 12. The housing body 40 also comprises in this example a peripheral wall 46 which delimits with the rear wall 44 a cavity 48 for receiving the handle 22, open towards the outside of the opening 12.

[0068] In order to allow the mechanical actuation of the lock by the extension element 36, preferably and as illustrated in [Fig. 5], the housing body 40 comprises an opening 25 made in the rear wall 44, through which the extension element 36 can be engaged so that the foot 38 can cooperate with the transmission assembly located on the internal side of the rear wall 44.

[0069] Preferably, as can be seen in [Fig. 1], the cavity 48 of the housing body 40 is arranged in the panel 14 of the opening 12 to extend back relative to the outer surface of the panel 14 and thus receive the gripping handle 22 substantially flush with the outer surface of the panel 14 (or body skin of the vehicle). Preferably, the handle 22 has an outer surface which defines a surface continuity with a surface of the panel 14 of the opening 12 and possibly also a continuity of appearance.

[0070] As illustrated in [Fig. 1], the handle 22 is arranged in the body of the housing 40 to partially close the internal cavity 48 of the housing body 40 in the rest position so that in the illustrated example, a lower longitudinal edge of the handle 22 delimits vertically downwards a concave clearance 50 in the shape, for example, of a cup or half-bowl allowing the introduction of a user's hand behind the handle 22. In this illustrated example and optionally, the handle 22 has on its dorsal face a bulge which is configured to substantially match the concave clearance 50 and which delimits a cavity to allow the introduction of the hand.

[0071] In the retracted position of the handle 22, the cavity 48 open towards the outside is partially closed by the handle 22 so as to make an inner face of the handle 22 accessible for gripping via the clearance 50. Indeed, when the hand of the user slides into the clearance 50 of the housing body 40, the internal face of the user's phalanges is opposite the internal face of the handle 22.

[0072] Of course, as a variant, the handle 22 may be arranged so as to close a lower portion of the internal cavity 48 such that an upper longitudinal edge of the handle 22 vertically delimits, in this case upwards, the concave clearance. It is also conceivable that the handle 22 may be arranged so as to close a middle portion of the internal cavity 48 such that the handle 22 vertically delimits both upwards and downwards concave clearances.

[0073] Preferably, in the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in [Fig. 3], the device 20 also comprises a covering shell 52 configured to fit the clearance 50 of the open cavity 48 of the housing 40 not closed by the handle 22 in its rest position. The shell 52 forms in this example a finishing trim making it possible to cover the part of the recess 48 of the housing body 40 not covered by the handle 22 in its rest position.

[0074] For example, as shown in Figures 1 and 3, the housing 40 functionally consists of at least two parts: a first upper part for receiving the handle 22 in the rest position and a second lower part for access to gripping the handle 22 in its rest position. This second part comprises the concave recess 48 open to the outside which forms the access clearance 50 to the internal face of the handle 22 in its retracted rest position.

[0075] In the example illustrated, the housing body 40 comprises in the longitudinal direction at one end of its first part a location in which a bore 54 is formed, shaped to transversely house the barrel part 30 so that the barrel 30 presents its presentation face 30A frontally.

[0076] Furthermore, preferably, in the so-called “passenger” opening configuration, the front end portion 22A of the handle 22 is shaped to mask the presentation face 30A in the rest position of the handle 22. In the preferred configuration of the invention, the front end portion 22A of the handle 22 forms an extension of the handle 22 beyond a position of the actuating branch 36 of the handle 22.

[0077] In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the visual delimitation of the first and second parts of the housing body 40 is marked by a vertical step 56 forming a shoulder and visible for example in [Fig. 3]. In the example illustrated, the housing body 40 has a generally oblong outline and is provided with a lobe-shaped protrusion in which the location for the cylindrical bore 54 for receiving the barrel part 30 is located. In the example illustrated in [Fig.9], the barrel part 30 comprises a means 78 for fixing to a side wall 46 of the support 26.

[0078] Preferably, as shown in [Fig. 8], the device 10 also comprises a manual control element 100 arranged on an inner gripping face of the handle 22 by means of which an electrical command for the electrical opening of the lock of the opening 12 can be generated.

[0079] The manual control element 100 may for example comprise, by way of example but in a non-limiting manner, a gesture and / or tactile detector configured to detect at least one control instruction linked to a result of the gesture and / or tactile detection in a control region preferably located on the inner face of the handle 22.

[0080] The detector comprises for example a sensor using pressure-sensitive resistor technology (also known as an FSR sensor for “Force Sensing Resistor” according to English terminology), using for example pressure-sensitive resistive inks, optical technology or even capacitive technology. Such technologies are well known to those skilled in the art and will not be described in more detail below.

[0081] Thanks to this manual control actuated by a simple touch, a very light pressure or detection of the presence of the user, the latter can proceed in a single gripping movement of the handle 22 to the electrical unlocking of the lock of the opening and, only in the event of failure, to the mechanical unlocking of the lock of the opening by applying a pulling force of the handle towards the open position.

[0082] It is therefore understood that in normal use of the device 20, the handle 22 is designed to occupy its retracted rest position for the most part and to only be maneuvered occasionally towards its deployed position, in particular in the event of an electrical failure.

[0083] Generally, in order to ensure mechanical operation of the unlocking of the lock of the opening 12, the device 20 comprises an actuating lever 60 of the lock configured to cooperate with the internal branch 36 of the handle 22 for the purpose of unlocking the lock.

[0084] This lever 60 is illustrated in detail in [Fig. 7]. In this example, the lever 60 is part of the mechanical transmission assembly and is configured to pull a cable C of the lock when moving the handle 22 to its deployed position (the cable C is represented schematically by two broken lines in [Fig. 14]).

[0085] According to the invention, the lever 60 is mounted to be movable, against an elastic return member 64 on an articulation axis XI of the support 26 around which the lever 60 can in particular pivot between at least a first configuration of rest (or elastic return) in which it extends through an opening path of said branch 36 and at least a second active configuration for unlocking the lock in which it is rotated around said axis by said branch 36 of the handle 22.

[0086] For this purpose, the lever 60 comprises a body provided with a cable traction arm 62 extending radially from the articulation axis XI. This arm 62 comprises a means 63 for mechanical connection to an element of the mechanical transmission assembly, such as the cable C. The support 26 preferably also comprises a cable guide element 27 formed by a projecting stud provided with a notch on an end edge inside which the cable can slide.

[0087] In this example, the arm 62 has a general shape of an elongated tongue in the form of a “drop of water”, that is to say having a rounded base around the articulation axis XI and an opposite free end slightly tapered to a point comprising the mechanical connection means 63. Structurally, the mechanical connection means 63 comprises a housing into which one end of the cable C can be introduced and retained. For example, the cable C comprises a sheath provided at its proximal end with a head forming an element for retaining the cable inside the housing. The housing has a generally curved shape and is provided with a circumferential slot delimiting a guide groove through which the sheath of the cable can be inserted radially and opening onto an axial extension orifice through which the head of the cable can be removably engaged axially.

[0088] Furthermore, preferably, in order to cooperate with the extension branch 36 of the handle 22 from its rest configuration to its active configuration, the lever 60 further comprises an arm 68 for locking the pivoting of the handle 22 extending radially from the articulation axis XL.

[0089] The locking arm 68 is in the form of a fin or finger projecting radially relative to the articulation axis XI and configured to extend across said path. Preferably, the two arms 62 and 68 extend adjacent to each other along the articulation axis XL.

[0090] As can be seen in [Fig. 4], in the rest configuration of the lever 60, the traction arm 62 extends substantially in a transverse direction of the support 26 and the locking arm 68 is inclined relative to the transverse direction so that the two arms 62 and 68 have an angular spacing according to their radial directions. The foot 38 of the extension branch 36 engages against a bearing face of the fin or finger 68 so that the movement of the handle 22 is only possible by overcoming the resistive force generated by the presence of this fin 68 on the path.

[0091] In the example described, when the handle 22 is opened to its deployed position, the extension branch 36 engages with the radial fin 68, which has the effect of pivoting the lever 60 as a whole when the traction force of the handle 22 overcomes the resistive force generated by the presence of the fin 68 and thus causes the cable to be pulled, thereby causing the lock to be released.

[0092] Furthermore, the support 26 comprises an articulation rod 84 of the lever 60 which extends along the articulation axis XI of the lever 60 in an assembled position and materializing the articulation axis XI of the lever 60 on the support 26. For this purpose, the lever 60 also comprises an axial extension 66 in the form of a cylindrical sleeve which is provided with a cylindrical bore 69 allowing its assembly and mounting around the articulation rod 84 of the support 26.

[0093] As illustrated in [Fig.6], the rod 84 extends on the support 26 between two stud-shaped bearings 82 projecting transversely from a dorsal face of the rear wall 44 of the support 26. The lever 60 is mounted to rotate about the rod 84 and also, as will be explained in detail below, can slide along the rod 84 along a predefined stroke.

[0094] Preferably, the two traction arms 62 and locking arms 68 as well as the cylindrical sleeve 66 are molded in one piece from a plastic material.

[0095] Further, the spring 64 is configured to be centered and guided primarily around the cylindrical sleeve 66 and to extend between the lever 60 and one of the bearings 82.

[0096] In this example, the spring 64 comprises two free ends, one of the free ends being fixed to the lever 60 and the other of the free ends being fixed to one of the bearings 82. Preferably, this fixing bearing 82 of the spring 64 further comprises a fixing flange 86 provided with a sleeve journal around which one of the free ends of the spring 64 is wound. For this purpose, the traction arm 62 delimits a radial bearing face for one of the ends of the spring 64. The bearing face of the fixing bearing 82 has, for example, a peripheral frame delimiting a cavity for receiving and retaining the end of the spring 64 (FIG. 7A).

[0097] In order to prevent untimely opening of the handle 22 during electrical actuation of the device 20, a mechanism is provided for resisting the opening of the handle 22 from its retracted position to its deployed position. The mechanism comprises, for example, a hard point crossing which opposes untimely mechanical opening of the handle 22.

[0098] Preferably, as shown in [Fig. 10], in order to generate a significant resisting force when opening the handle 22, the lever 60 and the support 26 have contact surfaces cooperating with each other to form a notch 94 resisting the pivoting of the lever 60 and therefore of the handle 22 when crossing a hard point. These contact surfaces may have reliefs or shapes predefined forces capable of generating a sufficient resistive force to prevent accidental opening of the handle 22 but which can be overcome manually by a tensile force of increased intensity.

[0099] Preferably, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, the lever 60 is movable against the elastic return member 64 in a third temporary assembly configuration, in which it is temporarily moved away from said path to allow the mounting of the handle 22 of the extension element 36 along said path thus freed.

[0100] In the example described, the lever 60 is thus also movable in translation relative to the support 26 along the articulation axis XI from the first configuration to the third configuration, for example by compression of the spring 64. This degree of freedom allows the lever 60 to temporarily disengage the locking finger 68 from the path of the extension element 36 to allow the free engagement of the extension element 36 to its final position.

[0101] In this example and preferably, the elastic return member 64 comprises a helical spring capable of operating in compression and in torsion along the articulation axis XI.

[0102] Preferably, the actuating branch 36 of the handle 22 extends transversely inside the support 26 passing through the rear wall 44 of the housing 40 so that the end 38 of the actuating branch 36 cooperates with the lever 60 mounted at the rear of the housing 40 ([Fig.2]), in particular on a dorsal face of the rear wall 44.

[0103] The extension element 36 is intended to be mounted through a through opening 25 of the support 26 and the lever 60 extends on a dorsal face of the support 26 opposite a front receiving face of the handle 22.

[0104] As illustrated in [Fig.6], the articulation axis XI of the lever 60 extends substantially parallel to and at a distance from the longitudinal axis X2 of the handle 22.

[0105] Preferably, as illustrated in [Fig. 9], the support 26 comprises a passageway 90 which extends from the outside to the locking lever 60 in which a temporary mounting tool can be engaged, which may be for example a screw 76 ([Fig. 9]). When the tool is inserted into the passageway 90, for example formed by a through-hole 92 of a raised element of the support 26, it can temporarily move the lever 60 against the elastic return member 64 in order to allow the installation of the handle 22 in its final mounting destination position inside the housing 40.

[0106] For example, advantageously, when the mounting tool is a mounting screw 76 as illustrated in [Fig. 6], the device 20 can be delivered pre-assembled with the mounting screw 76 in the screwed state, i.e. engaging the lever 60 in the configuration temporary of the handle 22 allowing easy installation of the handle 22 in its mounting position. Once the handle 22 is installed on the support 26, the mounting screw 76 can be unscrewed in order to release the lever 60 and allow its elastic return to the rest configuration in which the lever 60 blocks the opening of the handle 22 by its locking finger 68.

[0107] The main operating aspects of the opening resistance mechanism 60 will now be described with reference to the figures with reference to figures 13 and 14. In the rest position (figure 13A and figure 14A), the lever 60 is held by the deployed spring 64, in a locking configuration resisting the opening of the handle 22 in an untimely manner.

[0108] In the event of a significant tensile force exerted on the handle 22, the application of the curved finger 38 on the lever 60 causes the return member 64 to twist and the locking arm 68 of the lever 60 to pivot, which allows the lock to be unlocked by simultaneous pivoting of the traction arm 62 (Figure 13B and Figure 14B). In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the user must exert a handle traction force making it possible to overcome not only the return force of the spring 64 but also the notch 94 at the point of crossing the hard point.

[0109] The device 20 according to the invention also differs from the prior art by a simplicity of design allowing simple and robust assembly without requiring the use of multiple parts.

[0110] Indeed, in the example illustrated in [Fig. 3], the housing body 40 forming the support 26 is attached by quick coupling means 70 to the panel 14 of the opening 12. As can be seen in the figures, the panel 14 of the opening 12 has at the periphery of its cutout 16 a plurality of snap-fastening or interlocking projections 72 and the housing body 40 comprises a plurality of complementary cavities 74 arranged at the peripheral edge of the front face of the housing 40.

[0111] The projections 72 and the complementary cavities 74 form in this example rapid coupling means 70. However, other rapid coupling means can be envisaged without departing from the scope of the invention. These rapid coupling means of the two parts (the body of the housing 40 and the panel 14) advantageously make it possible to position the two parts relatively between them before fixing them to each other by conventional fixing means. This allows easy, rapid and precise positioning of the support 26 during its mounting on the opening panel 14.

[0112] In the example illustrated in [Fig.8], it can be seen that the housing body 40 is secured to the panel 14 by conventional fixing means such as screws and fixing holes.

[0113] Furthermore, preferably, the opening 12 has a laterally arranged orifice 79 configured to allow access to the fixing of the screws 76 and 78 ([Fig.9]). This orifice 79 is for example made accessible by a side wall 15 of the opening 12 when the opening 12 is opened.

[0114] The trim shell 52 and the support 26 are preferably shaped to fit into each other as illustrated in [Fig. 12]. The shell 52 is shaped to cover the recess 50, the handle 22 and the shell 52 being configured to cooperate together so that the shell 52 cannot be extracted from the support 26 after assembly or installation of the handle 22 on the support 26 in its final mounting destination position.

[0115] Preferably, the cavity 48 of the support 26 is configured to impose on the shell 52 an intermediate mounting and / or dismounting position passing through a final location of the handle 22 in the cavity 48 of the support 26. In the example illustrated, the shell 52 reaches an intermediate mounting position passing through the first part of the body of the housing 40 intended to receive the handle 22. Consequently, once the handle 22 is positioned in the cavity 48, the shell 52 cannot be removed without passing through the location for receiving the handle 22 which is then made impassable by the handle 22.

[0116] Preferably, the cavity 48 and the shell 52 are shaped to prevent the shell 52 from being placed in a transverse direction of nesting inside the cavity 48 directly in a final destination position of the shell 52.

[0117] For example, with reference to [Fig. 12], the intermediate mounting position (shown in dotted lines) is a vertically higher position relative to the final destination position of the shell 52 in the support 26 (mode A) or is an inclined position relative to the final destination position of the shell 52 (mode B) or a combination of these two intermediate positions.

[0118] Such an external opening control device 20 reduces the number of parts to be supplied, handled and assembled.

[0119] Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments previously described. Other embodiments within the reach of those skilled in the art may also be envisaged without departing from the scope of the invention defined by the claims below.

Claims

Claims

1. Device (20) for controlling the external opening of a motor vehicle opening, comprising a support (26), a grip handle (22) pivotally mounted relative to the support (26), a lever (60) for actuating a lock of the opening (12) configured to cooperate with an extension element (36) of the handle (22) extending transversely relative to a longitudinal direction (X2) of the handle (22) from an inner face of the handle (22), characterized in that the lever (60) is mounted movable on a hinge axis (XI) of the support (26) against an elastic return member (64) between a first rest configuration of the member (64) in which it extends through a path of the extension element (36) to generate a force resisting the pivoting of the handle (22),a second configuration for actuating the lock in which it is rotated about said axis (XI) by the extension element (36) when pivoting the handle (22) after overcoming the resistive force and a third temporary assembly configuration, in which it is temporarily moved away from said path to allow the assembly of the extension element (36) along said path, while the lever (60) is movable in translation relative to the support (26) along the articulation axis (XI) from the first configuration to the third configuration.,

2. Device (20) according to any one of the preceding claims, in the lever (60) and the support (26) have contact surfaces cooperating against each other to form a notch (94) resisting pivoting of the handle (22) upon crossing a hard point.

3. Device (20) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the extension element (36) is adapted to be mounted through an opening (25) of the support (26) and the lever (60) extends on a dorsal face of the support (26) opposite a front receiving face of the handle (22).

4. A device (20) according to any preceding claim, wherein the lever (60) comprises a body provided with a cylindrical bore (69) mounted to slide and pivot around a rod (84) for articulating the lever (60) fixed on the support (26) along the articulation axis (XI).

5. Device (20) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the lever (60) comprises a body provided with a wing (68) projecting radially relative to the articulation axis (XI) and configured to extend through said path.

6. Device (20) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the member (64) comprises a helical spring capable of operating in compression and in torsion along the articulation axis (XI).

7. Device (20) according to the preceding claim, in which the lever (60) comprises a cylindrical sleeve (66) delimiting a cylindrical bore (69) along the articulation axis (XI) and the member (64) comprises a helical winding surrounding the cylindrical sleeve (66) and fixed at one of its free ends to the support (26) and at the other of its free ends to the lever (60).

8. Device (20) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the lever (60) comprises two arms (62, 68) arranged adjacently along the hinge axis (XI) and angularly spaced from each other, one (68) of the arms (62, 68) forms a radial engagement wing with the extension element (36) and the other (62) of the arms (62, 68) is provided with an end (63) for retaining a traction cable of the lock.

9. Device (20) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the articulation axis (XI) of the lever (60) extends substantially parallel to and at a distance from the longitudinal axis (X2) of the handle (22).

10. Device (20) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the handle (22) comprises a body of generally elongated shape in a longitudinal direction having an articulation end portion (22B) to the support (26) around an articulation axis substantially parallel to the plane of the panel (14) of the opening (12) and substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (X2) of the handle (22).

11. Device (20) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a manual control element (100) arranged on the inner face of the handle (22) by means from which an electrical command for the electrical actuation of the lock can be generated such that a user can carry out in a single gripping movement of the handle (22) the electrical actuation of the lock and, in the event of failure, the mechanical actuation of the lock by applying a pulling force of the handle (22) towards the open position.

12. Device (20) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the support comprising a recess (50) for receiving the handle, the device comprises a shell (52) shaped to cover the recess (50), the handle (22) and the shell (52) being configured to cooperate together so that the shell (52) cannot be extracted from the support (26) after assembly of the handle (22) on the support (26).

13. Device (20) according to the preceding claim, in which the support (26) comprises a cavity (48) configured to impose on the shell (52) an intermediate mounting and / or dismounting position passing through a final location of the handle (22) in the cavity (48) of the support (26).

14. Device (20) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the support (26) comprises a transverse receiving location for a dummy barrel part (30) provided with a front presentation face (30A), the handle (22) being configured in the support (26) to cover the presentation face (30A) in the rest position.

15. Device (20) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the support (26) comprises a passageway (92) which extends from the outside to the lever (60) in which a tool (76) for mounting the handle (22) can be engaged to temporarily move the lever (60) against the member (64) in order to allow the release of movement of the handle (22) towards a mounting position.

16. Device (20) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the handle (22) extends flush with the panel (14) of the opening (12) and has an outer surface which defines a continuity of shape and / or appearance with a surface of the panel (14) of the opening (12).

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