Opening control device for a door or window, door or window and method for assembling such a door or window

Abstract

Opening control device, opening mechanism, and method for assembling such an opening mechanism. The invention relates to an opening control device (1) for a vehicle opening mechanism, comprising an interior opening control (13) intended to be mounted in a trim panel (5) and a sheath housing (19) intended to be mounted in a metal structure of said opening mechanism, comprising a paddle (15) movable for rotation about an axis (17), a lever, mounted on said axis, actuated by said paddle, said sheath housing comprising a cable (21) including a cable end (39) cooperating with said lever, actuating said paddle causing displacement of said cable. According to the invention, said axis extends horizontally and said sheath housing has a positioning and guiding groove for said cable end formed in a plane perpendicular to said axis.The invention also relates to an opening comprising such a device and a method for assembling such an opening. Figure 7.

Description

Title of the invention: Opening control device for a window or door, window or door and method for assembling such a window or door. Technical field

[0001] The invention relates to the field of motor vehicles, in particular to the field of door locks, and more particularly concerns a door opening control device.

[0002] The invention also relates to an opening and a method of assembling such an opening. Previous technique

[0003] A motor vehicle includes a plurality of openings capable of being locked and unlocked by an opening control device intended to control the locking or unlocking of a lock located remotely in the opening.

[0004] In particular, the doors of the motor vehicle each include an opening control device, comprising an interior opening control, mounted inside a door trim panel, and a cable, sliding in a sheath made in a sheath housing.

[0005] The cable has a first end which cooperates with the lock and a second end, called the "cable end", which cooperates with a lever carried by a housing of the interior opening control and which is capable of being driven into motion by the actuation of a paddle operable by an occupant of the vehicle when the opening control device is mounted in the vehicle.

[0006] The vehicle door has a metal structure, consisting of a closed hollow body made up of an outer skin and an inner skin called a door lining.

[0007] The door lining is adorned on its inside with a trim piece, for example plastic, called a trim panel, visible from inside the vehicle's passenger compartment by the occupants.

[0008] In the door assembly process, the trim panel arrives on the assembly line for assembly with the metal door frame. The interior opening control is pre-assembled onto the trim panel, while the lock, cable, and sheath housing are pre-assembled onto the door lining of the metal frame.

[0009] An assembler holds the trim panel with one hand and, with his other hand, grasps the cable end, for example consisting of a barrel fitting, and engages it in the lever of the interior opening control, then he assembles, for example by clipping, the sheath housing into the housing of the interior opening control.

[0010] Two steps are thus necessary to assemble the cable end with the internal opening control, which makes the assembly step relatively long.

[0011] Moreover, this assembly step is very complex for the assembler to carry out, who must hold the bulky and heavy trim panel with one hand, and blindly perform with the other hand the assembly operations of the cable end in the lever of the interior opening control and of the sheath housing in the housing of the interior opening control.

[0012] The prior art document FR2750726B1 is also known, which discloses an opening control device comprising an interior opening control pre-assembled in the door trim panel and extending in a substantially vertical plane, the movement of the lever in its housing occurring about a vertical axis in a horizontal plane. The opening control device further comprises a cable sliding in a sheath formed in a sheath housing, the sheath housing and the cable being pre-assembled on the door lining. The cable has a first end cooperating with a door lock and a second end comprising a cable end.The opening control device further includes suitable means to allow positioning and clipping of the cable end onto the internal opening control in a single step via a movement along an axis perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the pallet.

[0013] For aesthetic purposes, it is envisaged to integrate the interior opening control horizontally in the armrest of the door trim panel, so that the movement of the paddle in its housing takes place in a vertical plane around a horizontal axis.

[0014] The use of a device of the type disclosed by document FR2750726B1 in a horizontal interior opening control would involve mounting the cable end on the interior opening control via a movement along a vertical axis.

[0015] However, this type of assembly kinematics is incompatible with the constraints of online assembly.

[0016] Thus, the integration of a device of the type disclosed by document FR2750726B1 is not feasible in a configuration where the lever of the interior opening control is horizontal and rotates around a horizontal axis. Description of the invention

[0017] The present invention aims to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks, and relates to to make a control device for opening a door of a motor vehicle, intended to control the locking and unlocking of a lock located in said door and intended to be mounted in said door, comprising an interior opening control intended to be mounted in a trim panel of said door and a sheath housing intended to be mounted in a metal structure of said door, said internal opening control comprising a paddle, movable in rotation about an axis and operable from the outside when said internal opening control is mounted in said trim panel, a lever, mounted on said axis and capable of being moved when said paddle is actuated, said sheath housing comprising a cable, sliding in a sheath formed in said sheath housing and comprising a first end intended to cooperate with said lock and a second end comprising a cable end cooperating with said lever, so that the actuating of said paddle causes the movement of said cable, remarkable in that said axis extends substantially horizontally when said interior opening control is mounted in said trim panel and in that said sheath housing has a positioning and guiding groove for said cable end made in a plane perpendicular to said axis when said sheath housing is mounted in said metal structure of said opening and said interior opening control is mounted in said trim panel.

[0018] Thus, by providing a positioning and guiding groove for the cable end in the sheath housing in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the paddle of the internal opening control, the cable end is guided in the sheath housing in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the paddle, which allows the assembler a horizontal assembly, in particular along a transverse axis, of the cable end on the internal opening control with a horizontal axis.

[0019] Thus, the cable end and the pallet axis are coaxial during assembly, which allows horizontal mounting of the cable end on the internal opening control, which allows compliance with the assembly constraints.

[0020] Thanks to the present invention, the assembly of the cable end on the horizontal axis interior opening control is greatly simplified compared to the prior art, greatly improving the ergonomics of the fitter's station.

[0021] According to optional features of the assembly according to the invention: - said internal opening control comprises a housing carrying said shaft and comprising an outer face, said lever extends outside said outer face of said housing and said lever includes a housing for receiving said cable end; - said positioning and guide groove is shaped so that when said cable end is against said positioning and guide groove, said cable end and said receiving housing are concentric when said sheath housing is mounted in said metal structure of said opening and when said internal opening control is mounted in said trim panel; - said outer face includes a set of centering devices adapted to guide said duct box into position on said internal opening control box during the assembly of said duct box on said internal opening control; - said lever has a travel groove extending radially from said receiving housing, adapted to allow travel of said cable; - said cable end has a groove adapted to guide said cable end along said positioning and guide groove during the movement of said cable end in said positioning and guide groove; - said positioning and guide groove is shaped to allow a range of motion of said cable end between extreme positions of said pallet; - said sheath housing includes fixing clips and said outer face of said housing of said interior opening control includes additional fixing elements adapted to cooperate with said fixing clips.

[0022] The invention also relates to a motor vehicle opening, comprising a metal structure, a trim panel and an opening control device, notable in that said opening control device is according to the invention.

[0023] The invention also relates to a method of assembling a motor vehicle opening according to the invention, remarkable in that it includes a step aimed at assembling by a translational movement along a horizontal axis said cable end with said lever of said interior opening control. Brief description of the drawings

[0024] Other features, purposes and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, for the understanding of which reference should be made to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0025] [Fig-1] shows an opening control device according to the invention in progress mounting in an opening of a motor vehicle viewed from a transverse plane to the vehicle.

[0026] [Fig.2] shows the internal opening control of the opening control device seen in perspective, with the paddle in the closed position.

[0027] [Fig.3] shows the internal opening control of the opening control device seen in perspective, with the paddle in the open position.

[0028] [Fig.4] shows the sheath housing in perspective, seen from inside the housing.

[0029] [Fig.5] shows the sheath housing in perspective, seen from outside the housing.

[0030] [Fig.6] is a perspective view of the cable end and part of the cable.

[0031] [Fig.7] shows the assembly kinematics of the sheath housing on the control interior opening, view according to a transverse plane of the motor vehicle.

[0032] [Fig.8] shows the assembly kinematics of the sheath housing on the internal opening control, top perspective view. Description of the implementation methods

[0033] In the following description, elements having an identical structure or analogous functions are designated by the same reference.

[0034] By convention, and without limitation, longitudinal, vertical and transverse orientations will be adopted as indicated by the direct trihedron (L, V, T) designating the longitudinal, vertical and transverse axes of the vehicle.

[0035] Reference is made to [Fig.1] showing an opening control device 1 according to the invention, being mounted in an opening of a motor vehicle, seen along a transverse plane of the motor vehicle.

[0036] In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the opening of the motor vehicle is constituted by a door 3.

[0037] The door 3 includes a trim panel 5 comprising within it an armrest 7 opening into the passenger compartment 9 of the motor vehicle and comprising an upper face 11 on which an occupant can rest his arm.

[0038] The door 3 has on the outside of the trim panel 5, i.e. on the right of the figure, a metal structure (not shown), consisting of a closed hollow body made up of an outer skin and an inner skin forming a door lining, on which the trim panel 5 is mounted.

[0039] The door 3 is capable of being locked and unlocked by a lock (not shown) located remotely in the opening, the locking and unlocking of which is controlled by the opening control device 1.

[0040] The opening control device 1 includes an internal opening control 13 (designated by the acronym "COI") mounted in the trim panel 5 of the door 3.

[0041] The COI 13 includes a pallet 15, or handle, movable in rotation about an axis 17, operable by an occupant from outside the opening control device 1.

[0042] In the context of the present invention, the COI 13 is said to have a horizontal axis, that is to say that the palette 15 extends along a substantially horizontal plane, that is to say in a plane (L, T) of the motor vehicle, this for primarily aesthetic purposes.

[0043] Thus, the axis 17 of the COI 13 extends in a substantially horizontal plane, for example along a substantially transverse axis of the motor vehicle, so that the movement of the pallet 15 takes place around the horizontal axis 17, in a vertical plane, that is to say in a plane (L, V) of the motor vehicle in the embodiment illustrated in the figures.

[0044] The opening control device 1 also includes a sheath box 19, or sheath stop, mounted in the metal structure of the door 3 and in which is made a sheath 20 in which slides a cable 21 ensuring a link between the COI 13 and the lock.

[0045] Reference is made to figures 2 and 3 showing the COI 13 in perspective, the palette 15 occupying respectively a closed position and an open position.

[0046] In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the COI 13 comprises a housing 23, carrying the shaft 17 on which is mounted a torsion spring 25 adapted to return the pallet 15 to its closed position according to which it extends in a substantially horizontal plane.

[0047] In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the housing 23 has a U-shape comprising two vertical faces 27, 29 and a horizontal face 31 connecting the vertical faces 27, 29. The vertical face 29 is the one opposite the duct housing 19 when the control device 1 is mounted in the door 3.

[0048] The housing 23 has an outer face 33, formed on the vertical face 29, outside of which extends a lever 35 mounted on the axis 17 and capable of being moved when the pallet 15 is actuated. Thus, as can be seen in figures 3 and 4, when the pallet 15 is in its closed position, the lever 35 is to the left of the outer face 33, and when the pallet 15 is in its open position, the lever 35 is to the right of the outer face 33 of the housing 23.

[0049] The lever 35 has a housing 37 for receiving a cable end 39 (visible in figures 4 to 8), or cable stop, forming one of the two ends of the cable 21.

[0050] In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the lever 35 has a travel groove 40, extending radially from the receiving housing 37, adapted to allow travel of the cable 21 when the cable end 39 is received by the receiving housing 37.

[0051] In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the outer face 33 of the housing 23 has a set of centering devices 41 adapted to guide the sheath housing 19 into position on the housing 23 of the COI 13 during their assembly.

[0052] The assembly of the sheath housing 19 onto the COI 13 can, for example, be carried out by via fixing elements 43 carried by the outer face 33 of the housing 23 of the COI 13 adapted to cooperate with fixing clips 45 (visible in figures 4 and 5) carried by the sheath housing 19.

[0053] Reference is made to figures 4 and 5 showing the sheath housing 19 in perspective, respectively seen from inside and from outside the housing.

[0054] The sheath housing 19 includes the sheath 20 in which the cable 21 slides, providing a link between the COI 13 and the lock.

[0055] The cable 21 includes a first end intended to cooperate with the lock and a second end including the cable end 39 intended to cooperate with the lever 35 of the COI 13 when the sheath housing 19 is assembled with the COI 13.

[0056] Thus, when the cable end 39 is assembled to the lever 35, the actuation of the paddle 15 causes the cable 21 to move in the sheath 20, thereby enabling the door lock 3 to be controlled.

[0057] According to the invention, the sheath housing 19 has a positioning and guiding groove 47 for the cable end 39 made in a plane P perpendicular to the axis 17 (visible in figures 1 to 3) when the sheath housing 19 is mounted in the metal structure of the door 3 and when the COI 13 is mounted in the trim panel 5.

[0058] In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the positioning and guiding groove 47 is shaped so that when the cable end 39 is against said groove 47, as shown in figures 4 and 5, the cable end 39 and the receiving housing 37 are concentric when the sheath housing 19 is mounted in the metal structure of the door 3 and when the COI 13 is mounted in the trim panel 5.

[0059] Thus, at the time of assembly of the sheath housing 19 on the COI 13, the cable end 39 is pre-held in position, which allows the sheath end 39 to be correctly placed in the housing 37 of the lever 35 when the sheath housing 19 is engaged on the COI 13.

[0060] In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the positioning and guiding groove 47 is shaped to allow a movement of the cable end 39 between the opening and closing positions of the pallet 15, via the lever 35 with which the cable end 39 cooperates.

[0061] The positioning and guide groove 47 is adapted so as not to generate stress on the cable end 39 during its movement.

[0062] Reference is made to [Fig.6] showing in perspective the cable end 39 and part of the cable 21.

[0063] In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the cable end 39 has a groove 51 adapted to guide the cable end 39 along the groove of position operation and guidance 47 during the movement of the cable end 39 in said groove 47. Thus, the cable end 39 is permanently correctly guided by the positioning and guidance groove 47.

[0064] The presence of the groove 51 on the cable end 39 also allows for proper orientation of the cable end 39 relative to the housing 37 of the lever 35, and thus avoids any misalignment between the cable end 39 and the housing 37.

[0065] Reference is made to figures 7 and 8 showing the assembly kinematics of the sheath housing 19 on the COI 13, respectively seen along a transverse plane of the motor vehicle and in top perspective.

[0066] In the assembly process of the door 3, the trim panel 5 arrives on the assembly line for assembly with the metal structure of the door 3.

[0067] The COI 13 is pre-assembled on the trim panel 5 while the lock, the cable 21 and the sheath housing 19 are pre-assembled on the door lining of the metal structure.

[0068] When the cable end 39 is against the guide and positioning groove 47, the cable end 39 is correctly pre-oriented for assembly in the housing 37 of the lever 35. Thus, the cable end 39 is pre-guided on the sheath housing 19.

[0069] The assembler, positioned to the left of the trim panel 5, holds the trim panel 5 with one hand and grasps with his other hand the sheath box 19 carried by the metal structure of the door 3. He pulls the sheath box 19 towards the trim panel 5, as shown by arrow 53 in [Fig.7], until the cable end 39 is inserted into the housing 37 of the lever 35, as shown by arrow 55 in [Fig.8].

[0070] The presence of the centering devices 41 on the outer face 33 of the housing 23 of the COI 13 advantageously allows the sheath housing 19 to be guided into position on the housing 23 of the COI 13, as represented by the arrows 57, 59 in [Fig.8].

[0071] The sheath box 19 thus self-centers on the COI 13. Thus, the sheath box 19 and the cable end 39 are fixed on the COI 13 by means of a single horizontal movement of the assembler, which saves assembly time and greatly improves the ergonomics of the assembler's station.

[0072] The retention of the sheath housing 19 on the COI 13 is achieved automatically by exerting minimal effort thanks to the fixing clips 45 of the sheath housing 19 which cooperate with the fixing elements 43 of the COI 13.

[0073] Thanks to the present invention, the fact that the positioning and guiding groove 49 of the cable end 39 is made in the sheath housing 19 in a plane perpendicular to the axis 17 of rotation of the pallet 15 of the COI 13 allows the cable end 39 to be guided in the sheath housing 19 in a plane perpendicular to the axis 17 of pallet 15, allowing the assembler a horizontal assembly, in particular along a transverse axis, of the cable end 39 on the COI 13 with horizontal axis.

[0074] Thus, the cable end 39 and the axle 17 of the pallet 15 are coaxial during assembly, which allows horizontal mounting of the cable end 39 on the COI 13, thus complying with the mounting constraints

[0075] Thanks to the present invention, the assembly of the cable end 39 on the horizontal axis COI 13 is greatly simplified, greatly improving the ergonomics of the assembler's station.

[0076] As will be understood, the present invention is not limited to the only embodiments of this opening control device, of this opening and of this method of assembling such an opening, described above only by way of illustrative examples, but on the contrary it encompasses all variants involving the technical equivalents of the means described as well as their combinations if these fall within the scope of the invention.

Claims

Demands

1. A control device (1) for opening a door of a motor vehicle, intended to control the locking and unlocking of a lock located in said door and intended to be mounted in said door, comprising an internal opening control (13) intended to be mounted in a trim panel (5) of said door and a sheath housing (19) intended to be mounted in a metal structure of said door, said internal opening control (13) comprising a paddle (15), movable in rotation about an axis (17) and actuable from the outside when said internal opening control (13) is mounted in said trim panel (5), a lever (35), mounted on said axis (17) and capable of being moved when said paddle (15) is actuated, said sheath housing (19) comprising a cable (21),sliding in a sheath (20) formed in said sheath housing (19) and comprising a first end intended to cooperate with said lock and a second end comprising a cable end (39) cooperating with said lever (35), so that the actuation of said lever (15) causes the displacement of said cable (21), characterized in that said axis (17) extends substantially horizontally when said internal opening control (13) is mounted in said trim panel (5) and in that said sheath housing (19) has a positioning and guiding groove (47) for said cable end (39) formed in a plane (P) perpendicular to said axis (17) when said sheath housing (19) is mounted in said metal structure of said opening and said internal opening control (13) is mounted in said trim panel (5).

2. Opening control device (1) according to claim 1, wherein said internal opening control (13) comprises a housing (23) carrying said shaft (17) and having an outer face (33), characterized in that said lever (35) extends outside said outer face (33) of said housing (23) and in that said lever (35) includes a housing (37) for receiving said cable end (39).

3. Opening control device (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that said positioning and guide groove (47) is shaped such that when said cable end (39) is against the positioning and guide groove (47), the cable end (39) and the receiving housing (37) are concentric when the sheath housing (19) is mounted in the metal structure of the opening and when the interior opening control (13) is mounted in the trim panel (5).

4. Opening control device (1) according to any one of claims 2 or 3, characterized in that said outer face (33) comprises a set of centering devices (41) adapted to guide said sheath housing (19) into position on said housing (23) of said inner opening control (13) during assembly of said sheath housing (19) onto said inner opening control (13).

5. Opening control device (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that said lever (35) has a travel groove (40) extending radially from said receiving housing (37), adapted to allow travel of said cable (21).

6. Opening control device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said cable end (39) has a groove (51) adapted to guide said cable end (39) along said positioning and guide groove (47) during the movement of said cable end (39) in said positioning and guide groove (47).

7. Opening control device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said positioning and guide groove (47) is shaped to permit a deflection of said cable end (39) between extreme positions of said pallet (15).

8. Opening control device (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that said sheath housing (19) comprises fixing clips (45) and in that said outer face (33) of said housing (23) of said inner opening control (13) comprises additional fixing elements (43) adapted to cooperate with said fixing clips (45).

9. Motor vehicle opening, comprising a metal structure, a trim panel (5) and an opening control device (1), characterized in that said opening control device (1) is according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. Method of assembling a motor vehicle opening according to claim 9, characterized in that it comprises a step aimed at assembling by a translational movement along a horizontal axis said cable end (39) with said lever (35) of said interior opening control (13).

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