Device for controlling the external opening of a motor vehicle opening and motor vehicle comprising such a device

Abstract

Device for controlling the external opening of a motor vehicle opening and motor vehicle comprising such a device. The invention relates to a device (1) for controlling the external opening of a motor vehicle opening, comprising: - a grip handle (5), - a return member (7) movable between a rest position and an open position when said handle is actuated, - an inertia locking system, comprising a safety member (9) movable between a rest position and a prohibiting position preventing the passage of said return member towards said open position during a lateral impact on said opening, - a means for blocking said safety member, comprising a blocking blade (11). According to the invention, the device (1) comprises at least one contact stop (17, 19) arranged in the vicinity of said blocking blade (11) and extending over a portion of the width (blocker) of said blocking blade. Figure 4

Description

Title of the invention: Device for controlling the exterior opening of a motor vehicle opening and motor vehicle comprising such a device Technical field

[0001] The invention relates to the field of motor vehicles, in particular to the field of passive safety of a motor vehicle.

[0002] More particularly, the invention falls within the field of protecting the occupants of a motor vehicle in the event of a side impact suffered by the motor vehicle, and relates to a device for controlling the external opening of a motor vehicle opening and a motor vehicle comprising such an opening. Prior art

[0003] A motor vehicle opening leaf is capable of being locked and unlocked on the structure of the motor vehicle by means of an external opening control device for the opening leaf.

[0004] According to a configuration known from the prior art, the device for controlling the exterior opening of the opening comprises a grip handle mounted on an exterior side of the opening and actuable manually.

[0005] The device for controlling the external opening of the opening further comprises a return member, or counterweight, moved from a rest position to an open position when the grip handle is actuated, and locking means which cooperate with the return member and which occupy an unlocking configuration when the return member passes from its rest position to its open position, the opening then being capable of opening.

[0006] In order to comply with certain safety and regulatory requirements, in the event of a side impact on the opening of the motor vehicle, represented in the standardized tests by an impact against a deformable barrier, the opening must not open in order to avoid any risk of ejection of the occupants of the motor vehicle.

[0007] Among all the solutions implemented on a motor vehicle to avoid this type of situation, it is known to equip the exterior opening control device of the opening with an inertia locking system (known as "inertia lock" in English) which aims to block the locking means of the exterior opening control device of the opening during the impact to avoid the handle being pulled by the inertia effect.

[0008] To do this, the external opening control device of the opening comprises, in a known embodiment of the prior art, a safety member, or blocker, movable between a rest position and a prohibiting position preventing the movement of the return member towards its open position in the event of a side impact on the opening of the motor vehicle.

[0009] The safety member is held in the rest position by means of an elastic means, which permanently urges it towards its rest position.

[0010] The safety member is adapted to start moving by inertia in the event of an impact before the grip handle starts moving, blocking the return member before the latter triggers the unlocking of the opening.

[0011] At the end of the impact, the safety member tends to return to its rest position due to the elastic means which forces it towards its rest position.

[0012] The return of the safety member to its rest position causes the grip handle to open, and therefore the opening to be unlocked.

[0013] In order to prevent the grip handle from opening after the impact, it is known to use a means for blocking the safety member, mounted in the external opening control device of the opening so as to allow blocking of the safety member when it tends to return to its rest position.

[0014] In an embodiment of the prior art, the locking means comprises a flexible blade, or tongue, comprising a fixed end relative to the external opening control device of the opening and a free end which is prestressed against the safety member when the safety member is in its rest position.

[0015] The safety member comprises a retaining element, consisting of a lug or hook, or even a hollow, arranged at the level of the safety member to come to bear against the free end of the blade when the safety member passes from its prohibiting position to its rest position, thus blocking the movement of the safety member in its prohibiting position and therefore preventing the passage of the return member into its open position, preventing the unlocking of the opening at the end of the impact.

[0016] During the impact, the blade is subjected to the vibrations generated at the level of the opening due to the impact it undergoes.

[0017] However, when the blade is subjected to excessive vibration during the impact, the angular movement is such that when the free end of the blade is in a high position, it risks not being caught by the retaining element of the safety member when the safety member returns to its rest position.

[0018] In such a case, the return member is no longer held in its rest position at the end of the impact.

[0019] The locking means of the external opening control device of the opening are then no longer kept blocked, which allows the handle to be pulled, thus increasing the risk of the opening opening accidentally at the end of the impact. Description of the invention

[0020] The present invention aims to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks, and to this end relates to a device for controlling the external opening of a motor vehicle opening, comprising: - a grip handle, capable of being operated by a user from outside said opening, - a return member, movable between a rest position and an open position when said grip handle is actuated, intended to cooperate with locking means adapted to lock said opening on a body structure of said motor vehicle when said return member occupies said rest position and to unlock said opening when said return member occupies said open position, - an inertia locking system, comprising a safety member movable between a rest position and a prohibiting position preventing the passage of said return member towards said opening position in the event of a lateral impact on said opening, - a means for blocking said safety member, comprising a blocking blade comprising a free end prestressed against said safety member when said safety member is in said rest position, mounted so as to maintain said safety member in said prohibiting position when said safety member passes from said rest position towards said prohibiting position, said device for controlling the external opening of the opening being remarkable in that it comprises at least one contact stop of said blocking blade, arranged in the vicinity of said blocking blade, extending over at least part of the width of said blocking blade.

[0021] Thus, thanks to the present invention, in the event of an oscillating movement of the blocking blade which may occur following a lateral impact against the opening, the blocking blade comes into contact with said at least one contact stop, which limits the movement of the blocking blade. In this way, said at least one contact stop limits the amplitude and duration of the vibrations of the blocking blade.

[0022] This advantageously reduces the risk of the locking blade not being caught by the retaining element of the safety member when the safety element returns to its rest position following a lateral impact against the opening, which makes it possible to avoid untimely opening of the opening at the end of the impact.

[0023] Furthermore, the present invention is extremely simple and inexpensive to implement, the sole integration of at least one contact stop near the locking blade allowing the operation of the invention. Also, the mass of the inertia system is not impacted and the stiffnesses of the various mechanical components and the contact forces of the inertia locking system are not modified by the implementation of the invention.

[0024] According to optional characteristics of the control device according to the invention: - said at least one contact stop is arranged above said blocking blade; - alternatively, said at least one contact stop is arranged below said blocking blade; - the control device comprises at least two contact stops arranged near said blocking blade, extending over at least part of the width of said blocking blade, said at least two contact stops being arranged above and below said blocking blade; - said at least one contact stop is arranged near said free end of said blocking blade; - said at least one contact stop has a length less than the width of said blocking blade and greater than or equal to approximately one third of said width of said blocking blade; - said at least one contact stop consists of a lug; - alternatively, said at least one contact stop consists of a beam; - the control device comprises a bracket intended to be fixed in said opening, comprising a cavity in which said blocking blade is mounted, said beam extending over the entire width of said cavity of said bracket.

[0025] The invention also relates to a motor vehicle comprising a body structure comprising an opening, an opening, capable of closing said opening, a device for controlling the external opening of said opening, remarkable in that said device is according to the invention. Brief description of the drawings

[0026] Other characteristics, aims and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the detailed description which follows for the understanding of which reference will be made to the appended drawings in which:

[0027] [Fig-1] shows in horizontal section an opening control device exterior of a motor vehicle opening according to the invention, in the closed position.

[0028] [Fig.2] is a view similar to that of [Fig.l], the control device being shown in the open position.

[0029] [Fig.3] is an enlargement of zone III of [Fig.2] showing the control device when the opening of the motor vehicle has suffered a side impact.

[0030] [Fig.4] is an isometric view of the control device according to the invention. Description of the embodiments

[0031] In the remainder of the description, elements having an identical structure or similar functions are designated by the same reference.

[0032] Reference is made to Figures 1 and 2, which show in horizontal section a device 1 for controlling the exterior opening of an opening leaf 3 of a motor vehicle according to the invention, respectively illustrated in the closed position and in the open position.

[0033] In the remainder of the description, the external opening control device 1 is referred to as “the control device 1”.

[0034] The motor vehicle comprises a body structure (not shown), comprising an opening (not shown) capable of being closed by the opening 3.

[0035] The opening 3 is capable of being locked and unlocked on the body structure of the motor vehicle by means of the control device 1.

[0036] The locking and unlocking of the opening 3 on the body structure of the motor vehicle is ensured by means of locking means (not shown) which can alternately adopt a configuration of locking the opening 3 on the body structure or unlocking the opening 3, the opening 3 being capable of opening when the locking means occupy their unlocking position. The locking means are known to those skilled in the art and are not explained further here.

[0037] The control device 1 comprises a grip handle 5, capable of being manually actuated by a user from outside the opening 3.

[0038] The control device 1 comprises a return member 7, also called a “counterweight”, movable in rotation around a substantially vertical axis between a rest position illustrated in [Fig. 1] and an open position shown in [Fig. 2], when the gripping handle 5 is actuated.

[0039] The locking means cooperate with the return member 7 and occupy their unlocking configuration when the return member 7 passes from its rest position to its open position, the opening 3 then being capable of opening.

[0040] The control device 1 further comprises an inertia locking system designed to prevent untimely opening of the opening 3 in the event of a side impact on the opening 3 of the motor vehicle, in order to comply with certain safety and regulatory requirements in order to avoid any risk of ejection of occupants from the motor vehicle.

[0041] The locking system comprises a safety member 9, also called a “blocker”, held in a rest position illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 by means of an elastic means (not shown), for example a torsion spring, arranged to permanently urge the safety member 9 towards its rest position.

[0042] The safety member 9 is mounted to be able to rotate about a substantially vertical axis between its rest position and a prohibition position shown in [Fig. 3] representing an enlargement of zone III of [Fig. 2] when the opening 3 undergoes a lateral impact.

[0043] The safety member 9 is designed to rotate in the event of impact against the opening 3 before the grip handle 5 itself begins to move.

[0044] Thus, by inertia effect, the safety member 9 moves while the gripping handle 5 tends to remain in place, which causes the safety member 9 to rotate in the anti-clockwise direction until it blocks the return member 7 before the latter triggers the unlocking of the opening.

[0045] In its prohibiting position, the safety member 9 prevents the return member 7 from moving towards its open position.

[0046] At the end of the impact, the safety member 9 tends to return to its rest position due to the elastic means which permanently urges it towards its rest position.

[0047] In order to prevent the gripping handle 5 from opening after the impact, the control device 1 comprises a means for blocking the safety member 9, comprising a blocking blade 11, also called a “tab”.

[0048] The blocking blade 11 is flexible and is for example made of steel. The blade adopts for example a generally rectangular geometric shape, comprising a length Lbioqueur and a width lbioqueur (shown in [Fig.4]). However, the blocking blade 11 can adopt other geometric shapes. For example, the width Ibioqueur of the blocking blade 11 is between approximately 5mm and approximately 10mm.

[0049] The blocking blade 11 comprises a first end 11a fixed relative to the control device 1 and a second free end 11b, prestressed against the safety member 9 when it is in its rest position. The first end 11a of the blocking blade 11 is for example mounted in the control device 1 by means of a fixing screw 13 (visible in [Fig.4]).

[0050] The blocking blade 11 is mounted in the control device 1 so as to interact with the safety member 9 when it tends to return to its rest position.

[0051] To do this, the safety member 9 comprises a retaining element 15, consisting of a lug or hook, or even a hollow, arranged at the level of the safety member 9 to come to bear against the free end 11b of the blocking blade 11 when the safety member 9 passes from its prohibiting position to its rest position.

[0052] In this way, the cooperation of the blocking blade 11 and the retaining element 15 of the safety member 9 makes it possible to counter the return movement of the safety member 9 towards its rest position, which makes it possible to maintain the safety member 9 in its prohibiting position reached during an impact against the opening 3, and therefore to avoid an untimely opening of the opening 3 at the end of the impact.

[0053] Reference is made to [Fig.4] showing the control device 1 in isometric view.

[0054] In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the control device 1 comprises two contact stops 17, 19 of the blocking blade 11, arranged near the blocking blade 11.

[0055] The contact stops 17, 19 frame the blocking blade 11. For this purpose, the contact stops 17, 19 are arranged in the control device 1 so as to allow contact of the blocking blade 11 against the contact stops 17, 19 when the blocking blade 11 oscillates around a rest position in which it is prestressed against the safety member 9.

[0056] In this way, in the event of an oscillating movement of the blocking blade 11 which may occur following a lateral impact against the opening 3, the blocking blade 11 comes into contact with the contact stops 17, 19, which limit the movement of the blocking blade 11. In this way, the contact stops 17, 19 limit the amplitude and duration of the vibrations of the blocking blade 11.

[0057] The contact between the blocking blade 11 and the contact stops 17, 19 advantageously makes it possible to attenuate the vibration of the blocking blade 11, which makes it possible to reduce the risk of the blocking blade 11 not being caught by the retaining element 15 of the safety member 9 when the safety element 9 tends to return to its rest position following a lateral impact against the opening 3.

[0058] In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the contact stop 17 is arranged above the blocking blade 11 while the contact stop 19 is arranged below the blocking blade 11.

[0059] However, according to an alternative embodiment not shown in the figures, the contact stops 17, 19 can both be arranged on the same side of the blocking blade 11.

[0060] According to another variant embodiment not shown in the figures, the control device 1 may comprise a single contact stop, arranged above or below the blocking blade 11, a single contact stop being able to sufficiently attenuate the oscillations undergone by the blocking blade 11.

[0061] Also, according to another variant embodiment not shown in the figures, the control device 1 may comprise more contact stops, for example three or four contact stops.

[0062] The contact stops 17, 19 are for example arranged close to the free end 11b of the blocking blade 11, without however coming into contact with the safety member 9.

[0063] In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the length Lstop of each contact stop 17, 19 is greater than the width lbioqueUr of the blocking blade 11.

[0064] However, in an embodiment of the control device 1 not illustrated in the figures, the length Lstop of each contact stop 17, 19 is less than the width lbioqueur and is greater than or equal to approximately one third of the width lbioqUeur of the blocking blade 11, this in order to effectively attenuate the oscillations undergone by the blocking blade 11 while limiting the material necessary to produce the contact stops 17, 19.

[0065] In the exemplary embodiment of the control device 1 illustrated in the figures, the contact stops 17, 19 consist of beams.

[0066] However, according to an exemplary embodiment not illustrated in the figures, each contact stop 17, 19 may consist of a lug.

[0067] In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the control device 1 comprises a bracket 21 intended to be rigidly fixed in the opening 3.

[0068] The stirrup 21 comprises a main body comprising a cavity 23 in which the various components of the control device 1 can be mounted, in particular the return member 7, the safety member 9, the blocking blade 11 and the contact stops 17, 19.

[0069] The contact stops 17, 19 can be made of the same material as that used to make the stirrup, for example plastic.

[0070] The contact stops 17, 19 may be an integral part of the stirrup 21, for example by injection molding during the manufacturing step of the stirrup 21. This makes it possible to limit the number of parts and therefore to avoid significant additional costs.

[0071] However, as a variant, the contact stops 15, 17 can be attached to the stirrup 21.

[0072] When the contact stops 17, 19 consist of beams, the beams may extend across the entire width of the cavity 23 of the stirrup 21, as shown in [Fig. 4],

[0073] According to an alternative embodiment not illustrated, when the contact stops 17, 19 consist of beams, the beams can extend over only part of the width of the cavity 23 of the stirrup 21. In this case, the beams comprise a fixed end fixed in the cavity 23 of the stirrup and a free end.

[0074] As goes without saying, the present invention is not limited to the sole embodiments of this device for controlling the external opening of an opening and of this motor vehicle comprising such a control device, described above solely as illustrative examples, but on the contrary it embraces all the variants involving the technical equivalents of the means described as well as their combinations if these fall within the scope of the invention.

Claims

Claims

1. Device for controlling the external opening (1) of an opening (3) of a motor vehicle, comprising: - a grip handle (5), capable of being actuated by a user from outside said opening (3), - a return member (7), movable between a rest position and an open position when said grip handle (5) is actuated, intended to cooperate with locking means adapted to lock said opening (3) on a body structure of said motor vehicle when said return member (7) occupies said rest position and to unlock said opening (3) when said return member (7) occupies said open position, - an inertia locking system, comprising a safety member (9) movable between a rest position and a prohibiting position preventing the passage of said return member (7) towards said open position in the event of a lateral impact on said opening (3),- a means for blocking said safety member (9), comprising a blocking blade (11) comprising a free end (11b) prestressed against said safety member (9) when said safety member (9) is in said rest position, mounted so as to maintain said safety member (9) in said prohibiting position when said safety member (9) passes from said rest position to said prohibiting position, said external opening control device (1) of the opening (3) being characterized in that it comprises at least two contact stops (17, 19) arranged in the vicinity of said blocking blade (11), extending over at least a portion of the width (1bioqUeur) of said blocking blade (11), said at least two contact stops (17, 19) being arranged above and below said blocking blade (11).,

2. Device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said at least two contact stops (17, 19) are arranged near said free end (11b) of said blocking blade (11).

3. Device (1) according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that said at least two contact stops (17, 19) have a length (Lstop) less than the width (lbioqUeur) of said blocking blade (11) and greater than or equal to approximately one third of said width (lbioqUeur) of said blocking blade (11).

4. Device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that each of said at least two contact stops (17, 19) consists of a lug.

5. Device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that each of said at least two contact stops (17, 19) consists of a beam.

6. Device (1) according to claim 5, comprising a stirrup (21) intended to be fixed in said opening (3), comprising a cavity (23) in which said blocking blade (11) is mounted, characterized in that said beams extend over the entire width of said cavity (23) of said stirrup (21).

7. Motor vehicle comprising a body structure comprising an opening, an opening (3), capable of closing said opening, an external opening control device (1) for said opening (3), characterized in that said device (1) is according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

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