Side opening of a motor vehicle showing an interior lining

Abstract

The invention relates to a side opening for a motor vehicle having an outer panel and an inner lining, said side opening comprising an opening control with an outer handle and a hinge bracket (7) for said handle mounted between the outer panel and the inner lining, said bracket (7) having at least one notch (9), said side opening further comprising a reinforcing piece (11) disposed between the outer panel and the inner lining and fixed to the inner lining, the side opening being notable in that said reinforcing piece (11) has at least one tab (13), the tab(s) (13) of the reinforcing piece being inserted into a notch (9) of the bracket. Figure to be published with the abstract: Fig. 2

Description

Title of the invention: Side opening of a motor vehicle showing an inner lining

[0001] The invention relates to the field of passive safety of motor vehicles and more particularly concerns a side opening of a motor vehicle showing an inner lining as well as a method for manufacturing such a side opening.

[0002] A side opening of a motor vehicle must guarantee the safety of the occupants, particularly in the event of a side impact. To this end, one of the key principles is preventing the opening of the side openings of the motor vehicle in the event of a side impact, as opening the doors is associated with a risk of ejection of the occupants. This principle is also regulated according to EuroNCAP standards within the framework of vehicle testing.

[0003] Generally, a door or window is closed by engaging the bolt of the lock in a strike plate located on a door or window frame. When opened from outside the vehicle, the bolt is released from the strike plate by activating an external opening control system. This system includes a handle which, when pulled by a user, drives a control lever designed to pull one end of a cable, which is connected at the other end to the bolt of the lock. Thus, the action exerted on the handle, through the kinematic chain of the external opening control, results in the bolt being released from the strike plate and therefore in the opening of the door or window. When the user releases the handle, it is returned to its rest position by a return spring.

[0004] When the door is not equipped with a safety device, during a side impact, the inertial force due to the mass of the handle can reach, or even exceed, the pulling force normally required to open the door. A side impact can indeed generate instantaneous accelerations on the handle of several hundred times the acceleration due to gravity. The intensity of the generated inertial forces can therefore be considerable. Furthermore, the stiffness of the handle's return spring is insufficient to counteract the opening force exerted by the inertial force in the event of a side impact.

[0005] In order to overcome this problem, systems allowing the handle to be locked to prevent a handle pull due to inertia during lateral impacts have been developed.

[0006] For example, a counterweight and return spring device has been developed. The counterweight is thus mounted on an axle to which the handle is also connected, so as to produce on the axle, during a lateral impact, an inertial torque opposite to that of the inertial force applied to the handle. This safety device therefore acts by compensating for inertia without, however, hindering the normal opening movement of the door, as these are slow movements with low acceleration. When a user pulls the handle to open the door, they simultaneously activate the counterweight of the safety device, which is then returned to its initial position by the return spring when the user releases the handle.

[0007] The counterweight can also be blocked by a locking element. Like the counterweight, the locking element is mounted on an axle. In the event of an impact, the locking element, being lighter than the counterweight, rotates before the counterweight, thus blocking the counterweight and preventing the handle from being pulled. However, there are cases where the counterweight may rotate before the locking element, causing the handle to be pulled outwards and thus opening the side panel during the side impact.

[0008] One solution has been to install a steel blade which, in the absence of an impact, rests on the locking element and, at the end of a lateral impact, locks the locking element in the position that secures the counterweight. This type of system is therefore irreversible and prevents, after the lateral impact, an outside person and / or the occupant from opening the door or window because the handle is thus locked.

[0009] This type of safety device therefore involves a specific bracket which must be tested with each type of opening to pass the safety tests.

[0010] Simplified designs have been developed in which the bracket includes a lock actuator and the handle an actuating finger capable of engaging the lock actuator. In the event of a lateral impact, and in the absence of a safety device, one end of the bracket pivots around an axis of rotation, thus imparting a rotational torque to the handle sufficient to open the lock of the door. Based on this observation, document FR 2 949 498 discloses a door opening device with a handle hinge bracket where the bracket has been configured to limit the travel of the handle's actuating finger relative to the actuator in the event of a lateral impact on the device, thereby reducing the risk of the door opening unintentionally. More specifically, the bracket exhibits a programmed area of ​​weakness located between its two ends.According to this disclosure, when the programmed weak point is located in the center of the shackle, the shackle tends to break during a lateral impact, thus preventing the handle from being subjected to sufficient torque to open the door lock. When the programmed weak point is located near the lock actuator, the center of rotation in the event of a lateral impact tends to shift near the actuating finger, thereby reducing the amplitude of the actuating finger's movement and preventing the shackle from actuating the door lock.

[0011] The absence of steel blades makes the system reversible, that is to say that at the end of the impact, an outside person and / or the occupant can again use the handle as before the impact, which is important for the safety of the vehicle's occupants.

[0012] However, implementing a programmed weak point between the two ends of a bracket is impractical, as it is still necessary to perform tests on each type of opening since the bracket must be specifically adapted to it. This results in significant cost and considerable time loss for motor vehicle manufacturers.

[0013] The invention aims to address at least one of the problems or drawbacks encountered in the prior art. In particular, the invention aims to provide a side opening for a motor vehicle that counteracts the inertial forces acting on the opening mechanism and thus keeps the opening in the closed position during a side impact, and which is simpler to implement because it eliminates the need to create a bracket specific to each type of opening.

[0014] To this end, and according to a first aspect, the invention relates to a side opening of a motor vehicle showing an outer panel and an inner lining, said side opening comprising an opening control with an outer handle and a hinge bracket for said handle mounted between the outer panel and the inner lining, said bracket showing at least one notch, said side opening further comprising a reinforcement piece disposed between the outer panel and the inner lining and fixed to the inner lining, the side opening is remarkable in that said reinforcement piece has at least one tab, the tab or each of the tabs of the reinforcement piece being inserted into a notch of the bracket.

[0015] As will be understood from reading the definition just given, the invention relates to a side opening of a motor vehicle which, in the event of a side impact, prevents the handle from being pulled out by mechanically restraining the movement of the handle's articulation bracket towards the outside of the vehicle.

[0016] The invention is also advantageous in the case where the stirrup includes a counterweight coupled to a locking element because the mechanical restraint of the movement of the stirrup outwards would make it possible to overcome the problem where the counterweight could begin to rotate before the rotation of the locking element.

[0017] Furthermore, the invention requires only a minor modification to the handle's hinge bracket, namely the creation of one or more notches, thus eliminating the need to test each opening. Since an opening generally comprises several reinforcing pieces, at least one of these, provided it contains at least one tab that can be inserted into a notch of the bracket, can easily be adapted for the embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] For example, the inner lining shows a slot for a lock mechanism and said reinforcing piece is a sheet metal piece configured to extend at least around said slot. Preferably, the tab(s) are at a distance from the slot.

[0019] For example, the leg(s) show an insertion area in a corresponding notch shown by the stirrup. Preferably, the leg(s) show at least one fold, more preferably at least two folds.

[0020] For example, said stirrup is made of plastic material.

[0021] For example, said stirrup includes a lock actuator and the outer handle includes an actuating finger capable of engaging said actuator.

[0022] For example, said reinforcing piece is attached to the inner lining by welding.

[0023] Preferably, at least one notch in the stirrup is straight.

[0024] According to a second aspect, the invention relates to a motor vehicle comprising at least two side openings, said vehicle is remarkable in that each of said at least two side openings is such as defined according to the first aspect.

[0025] According to a third aspect, the invention relates to a reinforcement piece for a side opening of a motor vehicle as defined according to the first aspect, the reinforcement piece is remarkable in that it is formed by a body with a first face having at least one fixing interface intended to be fixed on an inner lining of a side opening of a motor vehicle and with a second face opposite to the first face and having at least one tab.

[0026] For example, the leg or legs are intended to be inserted into a notch of a bracket of a side opening.

[0027] In a first alternative, the leg or legs are advantageously made of material with said body.

[0028] In a second alternative, at least one leg is an element attached to said body. Preferably, at least one leg is an element attached to said body by at least one weld point.

[0029] Preferably, the reinforcing piece shows at least one dropped edge.

[0030] For example, said reinforcing piece is a metal piece.

[0031] According to a fourth aspect, the invention relates to a method for manufacturing a side opening for a motor vehicle. According to the first aspect, said method is remarkable in that it comprises the steps of (a) providing a reinforcing piece having at least one tab; (b) providing or producing a side opening for a motor vehicle showing an outer panel and an inner lining and including an opening control with an outer handle; (c) installing the reinforcing piece provided in step (a) between the outer panel and the inner lining of said side opening; (d) providing or producing a hinge bracket. of exterior handle; (e) making at least one notch on said bracket to form a notched bracket; (f) mounting said notched bracket between the exterior panel and the interior lining of the side opening produced in step (c); and (g) engaging each tab of the reinforcement piece in a notch of said notched bracket.

[0032] Preferably, the reinforcing piece supplied in step (a) is a reinforcing piece as defined according to the third aspect.

[0033] The invention will be well understood and other aspects and advantages will become clear upon reading the following description given with reference to the accompanying figures in which:

[0034] [Fig-1] Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a side opening of a vehicle automobile.

[0035] [Fig.2] Fig.2 shows the interaction between a splint joint of a handle exterior and a reinforcing piece according to the invention.

[0036] [Fig.3] Fig.3 shows the reinforcing piece according to the invention, where the reinforcing piece features a leg made of material with the reinforcement piece.

[0037] [Fig. 4] Fig. 4 shows the reinforcing piece according to the invention, where one tab is a element attached to the reinforcement piece.

[0038] In the following description, the term "include" is synonymous with "include" and is not limiting in that it permits the presence of other steps in the process or other elements in the sealing frame or the vehicle to which it relates. It is understood that the term "include" includes the terms "consist of". The terms "external" and "internal" shall respectively designate what is oriented towards the outside of the vehicle and towards the inside of the vehicle.

[0039] Similarly, the terms "lower", "upper", "high" and "low" shall be understood according to their usual definition, in which the terms "lower" and "low" indicate a greater proximity to the ground in the vertical direction than respectively the terms "higher" and "high".

[0040] In this description, the terms "longitudinal" and "transverse" are used with respect to the vehicle's frame of reference in the mounting configuration. The term "longitudinal" corresponds to the principal direction of travel of the vehicle. The term "transverse" corresponds to a direction perpendicular to the principal direction of travel of the vehicle.

[0041] Fig. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of a side opening 1 of a motor vehicle. The side opening has an outer panel 3 and an inner lining 5. A reinforcing piece 11 enclosing a locking mechanism (not shown) is attached to the inner lining 5, preferably by welding. The side opening 1 includes an opening control with an outer handle (not shown) and a bracket. 7. Articulation of said handle mounted between the outer panel 3 and the inner lining 5.

[0042] During a side impact, inertial forces cause the handle to pull, which triggers the internal mechanism of the bracket 7 and opens the side door 1, potentially ejecting the occupant(s) from the vehicle. To prevent this, the invention proposes, as illustrated in [Fig. 2], to modify the reinforcement piece 11 with at least one tab 13 that fits into a notch 9 in the bracket. In this way, during a side impact, the outward movement of the bracket 7 is mechanically restrained by the tab(s) 13 of the reinforcement piece, which is itself fixed, preferably welded, to the inner lining 5 of the door, thus preventing the side door 1 from opening.

[0043] It is very interesting to note that modifying a reinforcement piece 11 by adding at least one tab, in combination with a minor modification of the bracket, makes it possible to obtain a side opening 1 that guarantees maximum safety for the occupant(s) in a side impact while being adaptable to most side openings. Indeed, since a simple notch 9 on the bracket is sufficient and there is no need to modify the internal mechanism of the bracket 7, the principle of providing one or more tabs 13 on the reinforcement piece 11 can be applied to any type of side opening. It is no longer necessary to extensively modify the configuration of the bracket 7, which eliminates the need for car manufacturers to test each opening with a specific bracket. For example, the notch 9 on the bracket is straight.

[0044] The inner lining 5 of the side opening generally has a slot 25 for a lock mechanism and the reinforcing piece 11 is a sheet metal piece advantageously configured to extend at least around said slot 25. Preferably, the tab(s) are on a face of the reinforcing piece 11 which is at a distance from the slot 25. For example, the reinforcing piece 11 comprises a first face fixed on the inner lining 5 of the side opening and the tab(s) are on a second face opposite to the first face.

[0045] Advantageously, the stirrup 7 is made of plastic material. When manufacturing the stirrup 7 by molding, it is easy to create the notch(s) 9.

[0046] Furthermore, the side openings 11 of a motor vehicle generally include various types of reinforcement, such as a lock reinforcement, a hinge reinforcement, a lining stiffener, and / or a lining frame reinforcement. Given the position of these different types of reinforcement within the side opening, the invention will be more advantageously applied when the reinforcement piece 11 is a reinforcement piece configured to strengthen the lock, i.e., configured to receive a lock strike plate loop (not shown), but it is nevertheless possible to design modifications to other reinforcement pieces, such as the stiffener. of lining, and / or the lining frame reinforcement to mechanically restrain the movement of the articulation bracket 7 of said handle. In the case where the reinforcement piece 11 is configured to receive a strike plate loop, then, in the closed position of the opening, the strike plate loop is able to pass through the reinforcement piece 11.

[0047] The reinforcement piece 11 is therefore remarkable in that it is formed by a body with a first face having at least one fixing interface 17 intended to be fixed on an inner lining 5 of a side opening of a motor vehicle and with a second face opposite to the first face and having at least one tab 13. For example, the tab(s) 13 are intended to be inserted into a notch 9 of a bracket of a side opening.

[0048] Preferably, the body of the reinforcement piece 11 further includes at least one recess 19 allowing the reinforcement piece 11 to be lightened. At least one of the recesses 19 can thus be disposed on the body between said at least one fixing interface 17 and the tab(s) 13.

[0049] The reinforcing piece 11 is advantageously a metallic piece, composed for example of zinc, aluminum, magnesium and copper. This type of alloy facilitates the production of thin pieces with a complex configuration and is therefore useful for the reinforcing pieces 11 which are positioned between the outer panel 3 and the inner lining 5 of the side openings.

[0050] In a first alternative illustrated in [Fig.3], the leg(s) 13 are advantageously made of material with the body of the reinforcing piece 11. This type of reinforcing piece is easy to obtain.

[0051] In a second alternative illustrated in [Fig.4], at least one leg 13 is an element attached to the body of the reinforcement piece 11. Preferably, the leg(s) are elements attached to the body of the reinforcement piece 11 by at least one weld point 21, more preferably at least two weld points 21 or at least three weld points.

[0052] The reinforcement piece 11 may also have at least one folded edge 23, for example, as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, on the face of the body opposite the face having the attachment interface(s) 17 with the inner lining 5 of the side opening. The folded edge(s) 23 of the reinforcement piece provide protection for electrical wiring, necessary, for example, for the electronic locking and / or unlocking of the lock.

[0053] For example, said reinforcing piece is a metal piece.

[0054] The leg(s) 13 advantageously show an insertion area in a corresponding notch 9 shown by the stirrup 7. Preferably, the leg(s) 13 show at least one fold 15, more preferably at least two folds, to allow The insertion area of ​​the leg(s) engages in the notch 9 made on the stirrup 7. The fold(s) 15 thus allow adjustment of the insertion of the leg(s) 13 in the notch 9.

[0055] The stirrup 7 may for example include a lock actuator and the outer handle an actuating finger capable of engaging said actuator.

[0056] The invention also relates to a motor vehicle comprising at least two side openings 1 as defined above. For example, the four side openings of a motor vehicle may each be like those defined above.

[0057] Finally, the invention relates to the method for manufacturing a side opening 1 of a motor vehicle as defined above.The method is notable in that it comprises the steps of (a) supplying a reinforcement piece 11 having at least one tab 13; (b) supplying or producing a motor vehicle side opening having an outer panel 3 and an inner lining 5 and comprising an opening control with an outer handle; (c) placing the reinforcement piece 11 supplied in step (a) between the outer panel 3 and the inner lining 5 of said side opening; (d) supplying or producing an outer handle hinge bracket 7; (e) producing at least one notch 9 on said bracket 7 to form a notched bracket; (f) mounting said notched bracket between the outer panel 3 and the inner lining 5 of the side opening produced in step (c); and (g) engaging each tab 13 of the reinforcement piece in a notch 9 of said notched bracket.

Claims

Demands

1. Side opening (1) of a motor vehicle showing an outer panel (3) and an inner lining (5), said side opening (1) comprising an opening control with an outer handle and a hinge bracket (7) for said handle mounted between the outer panel (3) and the inner lining (5), said bracket (7) showing at least one notch (9), said side opening (1) further comprising a reinforcement piece (11) disposed between the outer panel (3) and the inner lining (5) and attached to the inner lining (5), said reinforcement piece (11) having at least one tab (13), the tab or each of the tabs (13) of the reinforcement piece being inserted into a notch (9) of the bracket, characterized in that the inner lining (5) shows a slot (25) for a lock mechanism and in that said reinforcement piece (11) is a sheet metal piece configured to extend at least around said slot (25);the leg(s) (13) are at a distance from the slot (25).;

2. Side opening according to claim 1, characterized in that the tab(s) (13) show an insertion area in a corresponding notch (9) shown by the stirrup (7); preferably, the tab(s) (13) show at least one fold (15).

3. Side opening according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said bracket (7) is made of plastic material and / or in that said bracket (7) includes a lock actuator and the outer handle includes an actuating finger suitable for activating said actuator.

4. Side opening according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said reinforcing piece (11) is fixed to the inner lining (5) by welding.

5. A method for manufacturing a side opening (1) of a motor vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 4, said method being characterized in that it comprises the steps of (a) providing a reinforcing piece (11) having at least one tab (13); (b) providing or producing a side opening of a motor vehicle having an outer panel (3) and an inner lining (5) and comprising an opening control with an outer handle; (c) installing the reinforcing piece (11) provided in step (a) between the outer panel (3) and the inner lining (5) of said side opening; (d) providing or producing a handle hinge bracket (7) exterior; (e) making at least one notch (9) on said bracket to form a notched bracket; (f) mounting said notched bracket between the outer panel (3) and the inner lining (5) of the side opening produced in step (c); and (g) engaging each tab (13) of the reinforcement piece in a notch (9) of said notched bracket.

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