Thermal protection device for quick coupling connector.

Abstract

This device (20) comprises a support intended to be mounted in a cutout (16) of a panel (14) of the opening (12), a grip handle (22) mounted articulated relative to the support (26). The handle (22) 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 panel (14) of the opening (12) and substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the handle (22). The support has a housing body delimiting an open cavity (48) towards the outside which the handle partially closes in a rest position by leaving a concave recess (50) for access to gripping an inner face of the handle (22). SHORT FIGURE: 1.

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] The external appearance of motor vehicles having become one of the main factors of appeal and success, this invention relates to a device for controlling the external opening of a side opening of the vehicle, which is both very practical in use and has an external appearance which opens up new perspectives for improving the style of motor vehicles, in particular the side style.

[0003] 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.

[0004] A current trend is to allow the opening of the opening by means of an electric actuator, itself triggered manually for example by light pressure, a simple touch or detection of a nearby presence of a user in a predefined area 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.

[0005] For safety reasons, it is generally provided that the opening control device 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.

[0006] Such a control device is known in particular from the prior art, and in particular from the publication of international application WO2021 / 009294A1.

[0007] Such a design of opening control device allows a particularly intuitive operation thereof because the motorist who wishes opening the vehicle opening 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 area 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 on the pallet an upwardly oriented pulling force which leads to the pivoting of the pallet and the mechanical actuation of the lock.

[0008] This prior art control device, however, has numerous drawbacks.

[0009] First of all, it turns out to be particularly complex to assemble because it comprises 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.

[0010] 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. 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 intended to be mounted in a cutout of a panel of the opening,a gripping handle mounted articulated relative to the support between at least one retracted rest position and one deployed open position for the mechanical actuation of a lock of the opening and in which the support has a housing body delimiting a cavity open towards the outside which the handle partially closes in the rest position by leaving a recess for access to the gripping of an inner face of the handle characterized in that the handle comprises a body of generally elongated shape in a longitudinal direction having an end part for articulation to the support around an articulation axis substantially parallel to the plane of the panel of the opening and substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the handle.

[0012] Thanks to the invention, the assembly of the device is simplified thanks to the articulation of the handle on the body of the housing in an arrangement perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the handle of the device. In particular, this makes it easier to arrange the actuating mechanism of the lock while being more ergonomic when the handle is operated. This arrangement also makes it possible to offer a new style of motor vehicle opening, allowing a relatively discreet integration of the handle into its immediate environment without resorting to complex means.

[0013] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the handle is provided with a mechanical actuating branch of the lock extending transversely and configured to act on a transmission assembly linked to the lock.

[0014] 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.

[0015] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, 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.

[0016] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the cavity of the support is 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.

[0017] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the cavity and the shell are shaped to prevent the shell from being placed in a transverse nesting direction inside the cavity directly in a final destination position of the shell.

[0018] 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.

[0019] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the barrel part comprises means for attachment to a side wall of the support.

[0020] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the device comprises a mechanism for resisting the opening of the gripping handle from its rest position to its opening position which has a hard point crossing separating at least a first part of the opening trajectory of the handle with intense tensile force from a second part of the trajectory with low tensile force.

[0021] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the opening resistance mechanism comprises a locking lever movably mounted in the support of a configuration for locking the movement of the handle to a configuration for releasing the movement of the handle, the resistance mechanism comprising means for elastically returning the locking lever towards the locking configuration.

[0022] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the locking lever comprises a cam profile and the handle comprises an actuating branch configured to act on a transmission assembly of the lock provided at the end with a follower finger cooperating along the cam profile when a tensile force is applied to the handle.

[0023] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the cam profile has a ramp provided with at least one inflection point defining the two parts of trajectories.

[0024] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the lever forms a return lever configured to pull a traction cable of the lock, during its movement towards its release configuration.

[0025] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the support comprises a housing for receiving and guiding the elastic means and the lever is mounted to slide in the longitudinal direction of the housing.

[0026] 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 means to allow release of movement of the handle to a mounting position.

[0027] 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. For reasons of aerodynamics and aesthetics of the vehicle, the operating handle is preferably made flush with a bodywork skin of the opening panel. The opening panel receiving the control device is then provided with a cavity open towards the outside to allow the user to slide his hand behind the handle, in order to grasp the internal gripping surface constituting the gripping zone of the handle. Brief description of the drawings

[0028] 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

[0029] [Fig-1] represents a perspective view of an exterior face of a panel vehicle opening incorporating on the front an exterior opening control device according to the invention; Fig.2

[0030] [Fig.2] represents a perspective view of an interior face of the panel of the [Fig.l]; Fig. 3

[0031] [Fig.3] represents a perspective view of the panel of [Fig.l] in a unassembled configuration; Fig.4

[0032] [Fig.4] represents a perspective view of a rear face of the device of [Fig.l]

[0033] [Fig.5]

[0034] [Fig.5] represents a sectional view of the device of [Fig.4] according to a sectional plane longitudinal; Fig.6

[0035] [Fig.6] represents an enlarged perspective view of a mechanism of resistance to opening of the device of [Fig.l]; Fig.7

[0036] [Fig.7] represents another perspective view of the resistance mechanism to the opening of [Fig.6] and its immediate surroundings; Fig.8

[0037] [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

[0038] [Fig.9] represents a perspective view of the handle support of the device of the [Fig.l] and the opening panel in the assembled state; Fig. 10

[0039] [Fig. 10] represents a perspective view of the handle support of the device of the [Fig.l] and the opening panel being assembled; Fig. ll

[0040] [Fig. 11] represents a detailed perspective view on an enlarged scale of means quick coupling of a handle support of the device of [Fig.l] and the opening panel in a mounted configuration; Fig. 12

[0041] [Fig. 12] represents a detailed perspective view on an enlarged scale of means quick coupling of a handle support of the device of [Fig.l] and the opening panel in a disassembled configuration; Fig. 13

[0042] [Fig.13] illustrates a step of assembling a covering shell of the device of the [Fig.l] on the opening panel; Fig. 14

[0043] [Fig.14] illustrates a step of assembling a handle of the device on the panel of the opening; Fig. 15

[0044] [Fig.15] schematically illustrates a step in the assembly of the device of the invention; Fig. 16

[0045] [Fig.16] schematically illustrates a step in the assembly of the device of the invention;

[0046] [Fig. 17]

[0047] [Fig. 17] illustrates three stages of opening the handle, an extreme rest position (position A), an intermediate opening position (position B) and a final opening position (position C).

[0048] [Fig. 18]

[0049] [Fig. 18] represents a perspective view of the device of the invention of [Fig.l] intended to be installed on an opening on the “driver’s side”; Fig. 19

[0050] [Fig.19] represents the device of [Fig.l] during assembly of a hull of dressing according to two different assembly modes (A or B). Description of the embodiments

[0051] Figures 1 to 19 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.

[0052] 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.

[0053] 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 door side of the motor vehicle 10. The panel 14 comprises a visible outer face 18E and a hidden inner face 181.

[0054] Generally, 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.

[0055] 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.

[0056] In this example, the handle 22 is intended for operating the opening 14 as well as for the mechanical actuation of opening of 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.

[0057] 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 bodywork 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.

[0058] 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.

[0059] 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.

[0060] The lock is also preferably connected to an electronic central unit (not shown in the figures) for controlling the locking and unlocking of the various locks fitted to the motor vehicle 10.

[0061] In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the device 20 further comprises a barrel part 30 having a front presentation face 30A. The part barrel 30 has in the example illustrated in [Fig.3] a generally cylindrical shape with a preferably relatively flat front presentation face.

[0062] 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. 18], 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 removed manually in order to free access to the presentation face 30A to allow the insertion of the lock key.

[0063] When the control device 20 is intended to be mounted in a so-called "passenger" opening configuration, as illustrated in [Fig. 3], the barrel part 30 is preferably a dummy part and is inoperative. Preferably, in this case, the handle 22 is configured to cover the location of the barrel part 30 in its rest position.

[0064] 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.

[0065] In this exemplary embodiment, the gripping handle 22 is in the form of a body of generally elongated shape which extends in the longitudinal direction X.

[0066] As clearly appears in [Fig.l], the handle 22 is in the form of an elongated bar, 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].

[0067] 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. 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.

[0068] 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 actuation mechanics of the opening of the lock of the opening 12 causing the unhooking of the opening 12.

[0069] In order to allow the articulation of the handle 22, in the example illustrated, its rear side 22B comprises a forked end 34 intended to be mounted for rotation around a pivot rod of the support 26 (not visible in the figures).

[0070] Furthermore, in the illustrated example, on the front side 22A, the handle 22 is mechanically linked 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 14.

[0071] For this purpose, preferably, the handle 22 comprises, on its front side 22A, a transverse extension actuating branch 36 configured to act on a transmission assembly coupled to the mechanism of the lock which makes it possible to mechanically open the lock of the opening 12. The transmission assembly comprises for example a traction cable and a return lever 62 which will be described in more detail below.

[0072] As clearly appears in [Fig.2] or 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.

[0073] Preferably, as can be seen in [Fig. 2], 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.

[0074] As illustrated in the figures, 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 example illustrated, 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.

[0075] 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.

[0076] 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.

[0077] Preferably, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, 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.

[0078] For example, as shown in [Fig. 10], 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.

[0079] 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 such that the barrel 30 presents its presentation face 30A frontally.

[0080] Furthermore, preferably, in the so-called “passenger” opening configuration, the front end portion 22A of the handle 22 is shaped to cover 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 a front longitudinal extension of the handle 22 beyond a position of the actuating branch 36 of the handle 22.

[0081] 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 in [Fig. 9]. In the illustrated example, 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. 15], the barrel part 30 comprises a means 78 for attachment to a side wall of the support 26.

[0082] 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.

[0083] 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.

[0084] 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.

[0085] Thanks to this manual control actuable 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.

[0086] In normal operation of the device 20, the handle 22 is designed to occupy its retracted rest position for the most part and to be operated only occasionally.

[0087] Thus, preferably, in order to avoid the untimely movement of the handle 22 during electrical actuation of the device 20, the device 20 also comprises a mechanism 60 for resisting the opening of the handle 22 from its rest position to its open position. The mechanism 60 comprises, for example, a hard point crossing which separates at least a first part of the opening trajectory of the handle 22 with intense tensile force from a second part of the trajectory with low tensile force.

[0088] In the example, the opening resistance mechanism 60 comprises a locking lever 62 movably mounted in the housing body 40 from a configuration for locking the handle 22 in the retracted position to a configuration for releasing the handle 22 towards its deployed position. The resistance mechanism 60 preferably comprises elastic return means 64 for the lever 62 towards the locking configuration.

[0089] Preferably, the locking lever 62 comprises a cam profile 66 and the actuating branch 36 of the handle 22 is provided at the end with a follower finger 38 cooperating along the cam profile 66 ([Fig.6]) when a tensile force is applied to the handle 22 in the direction of its open position (the movement of the follower finger 38 and of the lever 62 is shown in broken lines).

[0090] Preferably, the cam profile 66 has a ramp provided with at least one inflection point P separating the first part of the trajectory with relatively higher tractive force and a second part of the trajectory with relatively lower tractive force.

[0091] Preferably, the locking lever 62 comprises means for mechanical connection to a mechanical transmission element of the lock, such as a cable. In this case, the locking lever 62 is part of the mechanical transmission assembly and is configured to pull the traction cable of the lock, during its movement towards its release configuration. In the example described, the movement of the handle 22 towards its deployed opening position has the effect of moving the lever 62 and thus causing the cable to be pulled, causing the lock to be released.

[0092] Preferably, the support 26 also comprises a housing 80 for receiving and guiding the elastic return means 64 and the locking lever 62 which is mounted to slide in the longitudinal direction of the housing 80. The housing 80 is in this example in the form of a frame, generally rectangular and extending lengthwise in the longitudinal direction of the support 26 on the rear wall 44. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the actuating branch 36 of the handle 22 extends transversely inside the support 26 by passing through the rear wall 44 of the housing 40 so that the end of the actuating branch 36 cooperates with the resistance mechanism 60 of the handle 22 located at the rear of the housing 40 ([Fig.2]).

[0093] It can be seen in particular in [Fig. 16] that the follower finger 38 extends inside the housing 80 in the vertical direction Z and is positioned in contact with the ramp portion 66 of the lever 62. The lever 62 is in this example guided in movement in the main direction of the housing 80 in sliding.

[0094] Preferably, as illustrated in [Fig. 16], the support 26 comprises a passageway 82 which extends from the outside to the locking lever 62 in which a temporary mounting tool 84 can be engaged, which may be for example a screw 76 ([Fig. 15]) or a mounting part of a specific shape such as that shown in [Fig. 16]. When the tool 84 is inserted into the passageway 82, for example formed by a through-hole 82 of a wall of the frame of the housing 80, it can temporarily move the locking lever 62 against the means of elastic return 64 in order to allow the installation of the handle 22 in its final mounting destination position inside the housing 40.

[0095] For example, advantageously, when the mounting tool 84 is a mounting screw 76 as illustrated in [Fig. 15], the device 20 can be delivered pre-assembled with the mounting screw 76 in the screwed state, that is to say engaging the locking lever 62 in the release configuration of the handle 22, easily allowing the installation of the handle 22 in its resting mounting position ([Fig. 17], position A). Once the handle 22 is installed on the support 26, the mounting screw 76 can be unscrewed in order to release the locking lever 62 and allow its elastic return into the locking configuration of the handle 22 thanks to the elastic means 64.

[0096] The elastic return member 64 comprises in this example a spring operating in compression. In the example illustrated, the lever 62 comprises a main body in the form of a stud provided with a bearing face with the spring 64. The lever 62 also comprises a cable traction arm which is formed in the extension of the main body. For example, the arm comprises a cable retaining end in the form of a trunnion 63 and the support 26 also comprises a cable guide element 27. The lever 62 preferably comprises, opposite the bearing face of the spring, a longitudinal extension protuberance delimiting the ramp profile. The bearing face of the lever 62 also comprises, in the example illustrated, a pin 68 for centering the spring 64.

[0097] The main operating aspects of the opening resistance mechanism 60 will now be described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 7 and 16 and 17. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 and in [Fig. 17] (position A), in the rest position, the lever 62 is held, by the deployed spring 64, in a locking configuration preventing the handle 22 from opening inadvertently. In the event of a high tensile force exerted on the handle 22 ([Fig. 17], position B), the application of the follower finger 38 following the trajectory of the cam profile of the lever 62 causes the lever 62 to be pushed back inside the housing 80, against the action of the return spring 64, which allows, at the end of the trajectory, the complete release of the handle 22 towards its final open position ([Fig. 17], position C).

[0098] The device 20 according to the invention also differs from the prior art by a simplicity of design allowing simple and robust assembly without the need for multiple parts.

[0099] 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 FIGS. 3, 5, 6, the panel 14 of the opening 12 has a plurality of snap-fastening projections at the periphery of its cutout 16. or nesting 72 and the housing body 40 comprises a plurality of complementary cavities 74 arranged on the peripheral edge of the front face of the housing 40.

[0100] The projections 72 and the complementary cavities 74 form in this example the quick coupling means 70. However, other quick coupling means can be envisaged without departing from the scope of the invention. These quick 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 75. This allows easy, quick and precise positioning of the support 26 during its mounting on the opening panel 14.

[0101] 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 75 such as screws and fixing holes.

[0102] Furthermore, preferably, the opening 12 has a laterally arranged orifice 79 configured to allow access to the fixing of the screws 76 and 78 (FIGS. 2 and 15). This orifice 79 is for example accessible via a side wall 15 of the opening 12 when the opening 12 is opened.

[0103] The trim shell 52 and the support 26 are preferably shaped to fit into each other as illustrated in [Fig. 14]. 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.

[0104] 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.

[0105] 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.

[0106] For example, with reference to [Fig. 19], 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 a inclined position relative to the final destination position of hull 52 (mode B) or a combination of these two intermediate positions.

[0107] Such an external opening control device 20 reduces the number of parts to be supplied, handled and assembled.

[0108] 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 an opening leaf (12) of a motor vehicle (10), comprising a support (26) intended to be mounted in a cutout (16) of a panel (14) of the opening leaf (12), a gripping handle (22) mounted articulated relative to the support (26) between at least one retracted rest position and a deployed opening position for the mechanical actuation of a lock of the opening leaf (12) and in which the support (26) has a housing body (40) delimiting an open cavity (48) towards the outside which the handle (22) partially closes in the rest position by leaving a concave recess (50) for access to gripping an inner face of the handle (22),characterized in that 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 of the handle (22), and 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).,

2. Device (20) according to the preceding claim, in which the handle (22) is provided with a branch (36) for mechanically actuating the lock extending transversely and configured to act on a transmission assembly linked to the lock.

3. 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 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 (22) 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 (22) towards the open position.

4. A device (20) according to any preceding claim, comprising 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).

5. Device (20) according to the preceding claim, in which 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).

6. Device (20) according to any one of claims 4 to 5, in which 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).

7. 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.

8. Device (20) according to the preceding claim, in which the barrel part (30) comprises a fixing means (78) to a side wall of the support (26).

9. Device (20) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a mechanism (60) for resisting the opening of the gripping handle (22) from its rest position to its opening position which has a hard point crossing separating at least a first part of the opening trajectory of the handle (22) with intense tensile force from a second part of the trajectory with low tensile force.

10. Device (20) according to the preceding claim, in which the opening resistance mechanism (60) comprises a locking lever (62) mounted movably in the support (26) from a configuration for locking the movement of the handle (22) to a configuration for releasing the movement of the handle (22), the resistance mechanism (60) comprising means (64) for elastically returning the locking lever (62) to the locking configuration.

11. Device (20) according to the preceding claim, in which the locking lever (62) comprises a cam profile (66) and the handle (22) comprises an actuating branch (36) configured to act on a transmission assembly of the lock provided at the end with a follower finger (38) cooperating along the cam profile (66) when a tensile force is applied to the handle (22).

12. Device (20) according to the preceding claim, in which the cam profile (66) has a ramp provided with at least one inflection point (P) defining the two parts of trajectories.

13. Device (20) according to any one of claims 10 to 12, in which the lever (62) forms a return lever configured to pull a traction cable of the lock, during its movement towards its release configuration.

14. Device (20) according to any one of claims 10 to 13, in which the support (26) comprises a housing (80) for receiving and guiding the elastic means (64) and the lever (62) is mounted to slide in the longitudinal direction of the housing (80).

15. Device (20) according to any one of claims 10 to 14, in which the support (26) comprises a passageway (82) which extends from the outside to the lever (62) in which a tool (84) for mounting the handle (22) can be engaged to temporarily move the lever (62) against the means (64) in order to allow the release of the movement of the handle (22) towards a mounting position.

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