Arrangement for locking a sliding door of a motor vehicle in the open position.

Abstract

Arrangement for locking a sliding door of a motor vehicle in the open position, comprising: • a rail extending in a first direction, between a first end and a second end of the rail, • a means for connecting the sliding door to a structure of the vehicle capable of placing the sliding door either in a first state, in which the sliding door is held stationary relative to the rail and in the open position, or in a second state in which the sliding door is free to slide in the rail, the means for connecting being arranged such that a first force exerted on the sliding door, comprising a component directed in the first direction and oriented towards the first end of the rail, is necessary to obtain a change of state of the sliding door from the first state to the second state. Figure for the abstract: 3

Description

Title of the invention: Arrangement for locking in the open position of a sliding door of a motor vehicle.

[0001] The invention relates to an arrangement for locking a sliding door of a motor vehicle in the open position. The invention also relates to a motor vehicle comprising a sliding door equipped with a locking arrangement according to the invention. The invention further relates to a method according to the invention for locking a sliding door in the open position and to a method according to the invention for unlocking a sliding door locked in the open position.

[0002] Some motor vehicles are equipped with sliding doors, in particular sliding side doors. These vehicles are advantageously equipped with a device called a "door stop" whose role is to hold a sliding door in an open position.

[0003] There are various embodiments of a door stop for a sliding door of a motor vehicle. However, these embodiments have drawbacks. For example, some door stops do not prevent the sliding door from bouncing back at the end of its travel, which can occur when it is opened too forcefully, potentially causing the door to collide with a user. Other devices require the activation of a control to deactivate the door stop. Deactivation of the door stop is achieved by activating either an interior opening control or an exterior opening control, connected by a cable to the door stop. Such devices are complex, which increases the cost of implementation and complicates their use by the user.

[0004] The object of the invention is to provide an arrangement and a method for locking a sliding door of a motor vehicle in the open position, overcoming the above drawbacks and improving upon prior art arrangements and methods for locking a sliding door of a motor vehicle in the open position. In particular, the invention makes it possible to implement an arrangement and a method that are simple, inexpensive, and reliable, and that allow a sliding door of a motor vehicle to be locked in the open position.

[0005] To this end, the invention relates to an arrangement for locking a sliding door of a motor vehicle in the open position, the arrangement comprising: • a rail intended to be fixed to a structure of the motor vehicle, in particular a body or chassis, the rail extending in a first direction, between a first end of the rail and a second end of the rail, • a means of connecting the sliding door to the structure, the means of connecting comprising a first part disposed on the sliding door and a second part disposed on a structure of the motor vehicle and near the first end of the rail, the first and second parts of the means of connecting being able together to place the sliding door either in a first state, in which the sliding door is held stationary relative to the rail and in the open position, or in a second state in which the sliding door is free to slide in the rail, the first and second parts of the means of connecting are arranged so that a first force exerted on the sliding door comprising a component directed along the first direction and oriented towards the first end of the rail is required to obtain a change of state of the sliding door, from the first state to the second state.

[0006] In one embodiment, the first and second parts of the connecting means are arranged so that a second force exerted on the sliding door oriented in the same direction as the first force is required to obtain a change of state of the sliding door, from the second state to the first state.

[0007] In one embodiment, the rail is a load-bearing rail.

[0008] In one embodiment, the first part of the connecting means comprises a rod that rotates about a first axis fixed directly or indirectly to the sliding door, the first axis being perpendicular to the first direction, and a lug being disposed on a free end of the rod. Furthermore, the second part of the connecting means comprises a guide piece including guide surfaces adapted to guide the movement of the lug for locking and unlocking the sliding door. Moreover, when the sliding door is in the first state, the lug is held against a cup-shaped guide surface of the guide piece.

[0009] In one embodiment, the first part of the connecting means comprises a stop fixed directly or indirectly to the sliding door, and the second part of the connecting means comprises a compression spring collaborating with the stop so that, when the sliding door is in the first state, the compression spring is compressed by the stop and exerts on the lug, via the stop, a force which keeps the lug in the cup-shaped guide surface.

[0010] In one embodiment, a first torsion spring is arranged on the first axis to constrain an angular position of the rod, and the guide piece rotates about a second axis perpendicular to the first direction, and a second torsion spring is arranged on the second axis to constrain an angular position of the guide piece. Furthermore, the first torsion spring, the second torsion spring, and the compression spring work together so as to to force a displacement of the spur, - along a first subset of guide surfaces of the guide piece during a change of state of the sliding door, from the second state to the first state, then - along a second subset of guide surfaces of the guide piece during a change of state of the sliding door, from the first state to the second state.

[0011] In one embodiment, the first direction is a longitudinal axis of the motor vehicle.

[0012] The invention further relates to a motor vehicle comprising an arrangement according to the invention.

[0013] The invention also relates to a method of locking in the open position a sliding door of an arrangement of a motor vehicle according to the invention, the method comprising a step of applying on the sliding door, by a user of the vehicle, a force comprising a component directed along the first direction and oriented towards the first end of the rail.

[0014] The invention also relates to a method of unlocking a sliding door locked in the open position of an arrangement of a motor vehicle according to the invention, the method comprising a step of applying on the sliding door, by a user of the vehicle, a force comprising a component directed along the first direction and oriented towards the first end of the rail.

[0015] Fig. 1 represents a vehicle equipped with a locking arrangement according to the invention.

[0016] The [Fig.2] defines an orthonormal frame of reference of the motor vehicle.

[0017] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of a locking arrangement according to a mode of the realization of the invention.

[0018] The [Fig.4] is a flowchart of a locking method according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0019] Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a first step of a locking method according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0020] Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a second step of a locking method according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0021] Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a third step of a locking method according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0022] The [Fig.8] is a flowchart of an unlocking method according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0023] Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a first step of an unlocking method according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0024] Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a second step of an unlocking method according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0025] An example of a vehicle 100 equipped with an embodiment of an arrangement 3 for locking a sliding door 2 in the open position is described below with reference to [Fig.1].

[0026] The motor vehicle 100 is a motor vehicle of any type, including a passenger vehicle or a commercial vehicle. The motor vehicle 100 may be equipped with a combustion engine and / or an electric motor.

[0027] The motor vehicle 100 comprises a structure 1 including a body 11 and a body 12. The body 12 includes at least one sliding door 2, also referred to as "door 2" in the rest of the document.

[0028] In the remainder of the document, the figures are defined with reference to a direct orthonormal coordinate system (X, Y, Z) represented by [Fig.2], the X axis being parallel to the longitudinal axis of the motor vehicle 100 and oriented towards the rear of the motor vehicle 100, and the Z axis being vertical and oriented towards the top of the vehicle.

[0029] The arrangement 3 is described according to an embodiment in which the sliding door 2 moves in a rail 4 directed along the longitudinal axis X of the motor vehicle 100, a first end 41 of the rail 4 being located further rear of the vehicle than a second end of the rail 4. In the remainder of this document, the term "rear" may be used to describe an element located in a rear area of ​​the vehicle, and the term "front" may be used to describe an element located in a front area of ​​the vehicle. For example, the rail 4 has a so-called "rear" end 41, and a so-called "front" end 42.

[0030] In other words, in the described embodiment, the sliding movement of the door 2 relative to the structure 1 occurs along the X axis, - according to a first direction of increasing X for an opening of the door, or - according to a second direction of decreasing X for a closing of the door.

[0031] The term "locking in open position" of the door 2 corresponds to fixing a position of the door 2 along the X axis so as to keep it open.

[0032] In the embodiment described in [Fig. 3], arrangement 3 comprises - a rail 4 intended to be fixed to a structure 1 of the motor vehicle, in particular a body 11 or a body 12, the rail 4 extending in a first direction X, between a first end 41 of the rail 4 and a second end 42 of the rail 4, - a connecting means 5 between the sliding door 2 and the structure 1, the connecting means 5 comprising a first part 51 disposed on the sliding door 2 and a second part 52 disposed on a structure 1 of the motor vehicle, in particular a body 11 or a body 12, and near the first end 41 of the rail 4, the first and second parts of the connecting means 51, 52 being together capable of place the sliding door 2 either in a first state SI, in which the sliding door 2 is held immobile relative to the rail 4 and in the open position, or in a second state S2 in which the sliding door 2 is free to slide in the rail 4. Furthermore, the first and second parts 51, 52 of the connecting means 5 are arranged so that a first force Fl exerted on the sliding door 2 comprising a first component directed along the first direction X and oriented towards the first end 41 of the rail 4 is required to obtain a change of state of the sliding door, from the first state SI to the second state S2.

[0033] If the first component of the first force Fl is greater than a first minimum threshold Fl_min, then the first force Fl is sufficient to bring about a change of state of the sliding door, from the first state SI to the second state S2, the first minimum threshold Fl_min being able to be 10 Newtons, or even 20 Newtons, or even 30 Newtons. Thus, the first minimum threshold Fl_min is low enough for the door to be easy to operate.

[0034] In other words, a first force Fl, exerted on the sliding door 2 comprising a first component directed along the first direction X and oriented towards the first end 41 of the rail 4, and whose first component is greater than the first minimum threshold Fl_min, is necessary and sufficient to obtain a change of state of the sliding door, from the first state SI to the second state S2.

[0035] Advantageously, the first and second parts 51, 52 of the connecting means 5 are arranged so that a second force F3 exerted on the sliding door 2 oriented in the same direction as the first force Fl, i.e. comprising a second component directed along the first direction X and oriented towards the first end 41 of the rail 4, is necessary to obtain a change of state of the sliding door, from the second state S2 to the first state SI.

[0036] If the second component of the second force F3 is greater than a second minimum threshold F3_min, then the second force F3 is sufficient to bring about a change of state of the sliding door, from the second state S2 to the first state SI, the second minimum threshold F3_min being able to be 10 Newtons, or even 20 Newtons, or even 30 Newtons. Thus, the second minimum threshold F3_min is low enough for the door to be easy to operate.

[0037] In other words, a second force F3, exerted on the sliding door 2 comprising a second component directed along the first direction X and oriented towards the first end 41 of the rail 4, and whose second component is greater than the second minimum threshold F3_min, is necessary and sufficient to obtain a change of state of the sliding door, from the second state S2 to the first state SI.

[0038] Thus, the arrangement 3 comprises a first rail 4, referred to as "rail 4" in the following document, intended to be fixed to the structure 1 of the motor vehicle 100. The rail 4 is advantageously a load-bearing rail, that is to say a rail intended to support the weight of the sliding door 2 and to guide a sliding movement of the door 2 relative to the structure 1.

[0039] With reference to [Fig.3] the first and second parts 51, 52 of the connecting means 5 are described.

[0040] The first part 51 of the connecting means 5 is disposed on the sliding door 2. It advantageously comprises a guide carriage 511 including at least one wheel 5111. In an embodiment of the carriage 511 described by [Fig. 3], the carriage comprises three wheels 5111, 5112, 5113, including a load-bearing wheel 5111 and two wheels 5112, 5113 serving to position the carriage 511 along the transverse axis Y of the motor vehicle 100. The carriage 511 further comprises a stop 516 intended to cooperate with a spring of the second part of the connecting means, as will be described later.

[0041] A rear end of the trolley 511 is further equipped with a transverse axis 512. The first part 51 of the connecting means 5 comprises a rod 513, a first end of the rod 513 being assembled to the axis 512 so as to allow a rotational movement of the rod 513 around the axis 512. A lug 514 is disposed on the second end of the rod 513.

[0042] In other words, the first part 51 of the connecting means 5 comprises a rod 513 moving in rotation about a first axis 512 fixed directly or indirectly on the sliding door 2, the first axis 512 being perpendicular to the first direction X, and a lug 514 being disposed on a free end of the rod 513.

[0043] The lug 514 is intended to collaborate with surfaces 5211, 5212, 5213, 5214, 5215, 5216 and 5217 of a guide piece 521 of the second part 52 of the connecting means 5.

[0044] Advantageously, the second part 52 of the connecting means 5 includes a guide piece 521 comprising guide surfaces 5211, 5212, 5213, 5214, 5215, 5216, 5217 suitable for guiding a movement of the lug 514 for locking and unlocking the sliding door 2. In particular, when the sliding door 2 is in the first state SI, the lug is held in contact with a cup-shaped guide surface 5214 of the guide piece 521.

[0045] Thus, the ergot 514 is intended to - slide successively on surfaces 5211, 5212, 5213 while locking door 2 in the open position, then - remain in contact with surface 5214 (in the hollow of a basin formed by surfaces 5213, 5214 and 5215) as long as the door remains locked in the open position, then - slide successively on surfaces 5215, 5216 and 5217 when unlocking door 2.

[0046] The second part 52 of the connecting means 5 is fixed to the rail 4. It includes the guide piece 521 which is movable in rotation around a transverse axis 522 fixed to the rail 4.

[0047] The second part 52 of the connecting means 5 further comprises a torsion spring 523 disposed on the axis 522. The spring 523 exerts a force intended to constrain an angular position of the guide piece 521.

[0048] The second part 52 also includes a compression spring 524 intended to exert a longitudinal force against the stop 516 of the carriage, the longitudinal force being directed towards the front end 42 of the rail 4.

[0049] The stop 516 is fixed directly or indirectly to the sliding door 2, the compression spring 524 collaborates with the stop 516 so that, when the sliding door 2 is in the first state SI (i.e. locked in the open position), the compression spring 524 is compressed by the stop 516 and exerts on the lug 514, via the stop 516, a force F2 which maintains the lug 514 in the cup-shaped guide surface 5214.

[0050] Furthermore, - a first torsion spring 515 is arranged on the first axis 512 to constrain an angular position of the rod 513, and - the guide piece 521 moves in rotation around a second axis 522 perpendicular to the first direction X, and a second torsion spring 523 is disposed on the second axis 512 to constrain an angular position of the guide piece 521.

[0051] Thus, the first torsion spring 515, the second torsion spring 523 and the compression spring 524 work together to constrain a displacement of the lug 514, - along a first subset of guide surfaces of the guide piece 5211, 5212, 5213, 5214 during a change of state of the sliding door, from the second state S2 to the first state SI, then - along a second subset of guide surfaces of guide piece 5215, 5216, 5217 during a change of state of the sliding door, from the first state S1 to the second state S2.

[0052] The arrangement 3 according to the invention makes it possible to implement a method of locking in the open position of a sliding door according to the invention, comprising the steps E1, E2 and E3 which are carried out successively.

[0053] In step El, the sliding door is in the second state S2, i.e. free to slide in the rail 4.

[0054] The first and second parts 51, 52 of the connecting means 5 are then in a configuration shown in [Fig. 5]. The first and second parts 51, 52 of the connecting means 5 are disjoint. A distance d10, measured along the longitudinal axis X, separates the lug 513 and the guide piece 521. The spring 515 is in a relaxed position, the rod 513 thus defining a first angle AO with a horizontal line passing through the axis 512. The compression spring 524 is also relaxed: a longitudinal distance d30 is measured between the free end of the spring 524 and the stop 516. The distance d20 represents an available length for the compression spring 524, and the distance LO represents a rest length of the compression spring 524.

[0055] In step E2, represented by [Fig. 6], a force Fl oriented along the longitudinal axis X of the motor vehicle 100 is applied to the sliding door 2 by a vehicle user. The first and second parts 51, 52 of the connecting means 5 then collaborate in a first mode.

[0056] Applying the force Fl to the sliding door brings the rod 513 closer to the guide piece 521. The distance d31 between the spring 524 and the stop 516 gradually decreases. The lug 514 then comes into contact with the surface 5211 of the guide piece 521, and, under the impulse of the longitudinal force Fl, the rod 513 of the first part 51 undergoes a rotational movement about the axis 512. The lug 514 is guided by the surface 5211 of the guide piece 521 in a downward movement which induces a rotation of the rod 513 and a compression of the torsion spring 515.

[0057] Still under the impulse of the longitudinal force Fl, the lug 514 then continues its movement towards the rear of the vehicle, guided by the surface 5212 of the guide piece 521.

[0058] When the lug 514 reaches the rear end of the surface 5212, we proceed to step E3.

[0059] In step E3, the sliding door is in the first state SI, that is, locked in the open position. Indeed, when the lug 514 reaches the rear end of the surface 5212, the restoring force of the torsion spring 515 causes the lug to be placed in the notch 5214 (in the hollow of a basin formed by the surfaces 5213, 5214, and 5215 of the guide piece 521). Furthermore, when the lug 514 is in the notch 5214, the compression spring 524 is compressed by the recoil of the stop 516, its length L1 then being strictly less than its initial length L0. The spring 524 then exerts a force F2 -directed towards the front of the vehicle- on the stop 516. The force F2 is transmitted to the rod 513, which -in turn- exerts a force F2 directed towards the front of the vehicle on the guide piece 521.Advantageously, the placement of the lug 514 in the notch 5214 positions the rod 513 along a parallel to the force F2, that is to say along a direction substantially parallel to the axis. longitudinal X. Furthermore, advantageously, the rest position of the torsion spring 523 maintains the position of the guide piece 521 such that a line connecting the notch 5214 to the axis 522 of the guide piece is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis X. Thus, the direction of the force F2 is substantially aligned with the rod 513, which promotes the stability of the SI state. The force F2 created by the compression spring 524 then counteracts the restoring force of the torsion spring 515, which tends to induce an upward rotation of the rod 513 about the axis 512.

[0060] The invention further relates to a method for unlocking a sliding door locked in the open position, comprising three steps E4, E5 and E6.

[0061] Step E4 is illustrated in [Fig. 9]. In step E4, the user exerts a longitudinal force F3 directed towards the rear of the vehicle on the sliding door. The force F3 causes the spring 524 to be compressed by the stop 516, thus counteracting the force F2 produced by the compression spring 524. A gap is thus created between the lug 514 and the notch 5214, the rod 513 then being free to rotate about the axis 512, the rotation of the rod 513 being induced by the restoring force of the torsion spring 515. The lug 514 is then released from the notch 5214, and thanks to the restoring force of the torsion spring 515, it automatically positions itself on the surface 5216 of the guide piece.

[0062] Then in step E5, illustrated by [Fig. 10], the user ceases to exert the force F3, and the compression spring 524 generates a force F4 on the stop which creates a displacement of the stop 516 (and therefore of the sliding door 2) towards the front of the vehicle, the displacement of the lug 514 then being guided by the surfaces 5216 and 5217 of the guide piece 521. The angle between the surfaces 5216 and 5217 induces a rotation of the guide piece 521 around the axis 522 when the lug 514 is in contact with the surface 5217.

[0063] Then, in step E6, the movement of the door towards the front of the vehicle is sufficient so that the lug 514 is no longer in contact with the guide piece 521, and the arrangement 3 returns to the configuration of the first step, described in [Fig. 3]. Indeed, when the lug 514 no longer presses on the guide piece 521, the torsion spring 523 repositions the guide piece 521 so that renewed pressure on the sliding door will again cause it to lock.

[0064] Thus, thanks to the invention, locking in the open position and unlocking a sliding door are simplified.

[0065] Thanks to arrangement 3, the same simple action, consisting of exerting a longitudinal force directed towards the rear of the vehicle on a sliding door, allows a vehicle user, - either to lock a sliding door in the open position, when the action is applied to a door that is not yet locked in the open position, - either to unlock a sliding door, when the gesture is applied to a door locked in the open position.

[0066] Furthermore, arrangement 3 prevents the sliding door from bouncing back when significant force is applied to open it. Indeed, in some prior art systems, when a user opened a sliding door with excessive force, instead of locking in the open position, the sliding door could bounce back at the end of its travel and close on the user. With the arrangement according to the invention, the force produced by the bouncing of a sliding door at the end of its travel is opposite to the force the user must apply to unlock the door. Therefore, an unwanted unlocking of the door cannot be caused by the door bouncing back at the end of its track.

[0067] Furthermore, unlike other technical solutions, arrangement 3 does not require the installation of a control cable for unlocking the door. The system architecture is therefore greatly simplified. In addition, the door stop is unlocked without using the opening controls, making its operation simpler and more intuitive for the user.

[0068] Finally, the invention can be applied to any type of sliding door.

Claims

Claims

1. Arrangement (3) for locking in the open position a sliding door (2) of a motor vehicle (100), the arrangement (3) comprising: • a rail (4) intended to be fixed on a structure (1) of the motor vehicle, in particular a body (11) or a bodywork (12), the rail (4) extending in a first direction (X), between a first end (41) of the rail (4) and a second end (42) of the rail (4), • a connecting means (5) between the sliding door (2) and the structure (1), the connecting means (5) comprising a first part (51) arranged on the sliding door (2) and a second part (52) arranged on a structure (1) of the motor vehicle and close to the first end (41) of the rail (4), the first and second parts of the connecting means (51, 52) being able together to place the sliding door (2) either in a first state (IF),in which the sliding door (2) is kept stationary relative to the rail (4) and in the open position, or in a second state (S2) in which the sliding door (2) is free to slide in the rail (4), the arrangement (3) being characterized in that the first and second parts (51, 52) of the connecting means (5) are arranged so that a first force (F1) exerted on the sliding door (2) comprising a component directed in the first direction (X) and oriented towards the first end (41) of the rail (4) is necessary to obtain a change of state of the sliding door, from the first state (S1) to the second state (S2).,

2. Arrangement (3) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the first and second parts (51, 52) of the connecting means (5) are arranged so that a second force (F3) exerted on the sliding door (2) oriented in the same direction as the first force (F1) is necessary to obtain a change of state of the sliding door, from the second state (S2) to the first state (S1).

3. Arrangement (3) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rail (4) is a carrier rail.

4.

5.

6. Arrangement (3) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first part (51) of the connecting means (5) comprises a rod (513) moving in rotation about a first axis (512) fixed directly or indirectly to the sliding door (2), the first axis (512) being perpendicular to the first direction (X), and a lug (514) being arranged on a free end of the rod (513), in that the second part (52) of the connecting means (5) comprises a guide part (521) comprising guide surfaces (5211, 5212, 5213, 5214, 5215, 5216, 5217) capable of guiding a movement of the lug (514) for locking and unlocking the sliding door (2), and in that, when the sliding door (2) is in the first state (SI), the lug is held in bearing on a cup-shaped guide surface (5214) of the guide part (521). Arrangement (3) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the first part (51) of the connecting means (5) comprises a stop (516) fixed directly or indirectly to the sliding door (2), in that the second part (52) of the connecting means (5) comprises a compression spring (524) collaborating with the stop (516) so that, when the sliding door (2) is in the first state (SI), the compression spring (524) is compressed by the stop (516) and exerts on the lug (514), via the stop (516), a force (F2) which maintains the lug (514) in the cup-shaped guide surface (5214). Arrangement (3) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that - a first torsion spring (515) is arranged on the first axis (512) to constrain an angular position of the rod (513), and - the guide piece (521) moves in rotation about a second axis (522) perpendicular to the first direction (X), and a second torsion spring (523) is arranged on the second axis (512) to constrain an angular position of the guide piece (521), the first torsion spring (515), the second torsion spring (523) and the compression spring (524) collaborating so as to constrain a movement of the lug (514), - along a first subset of guide surfaces of the guide piece (5211, 5212, 5213, 5214) during a change of state of the sliding door, from the second state (S2) to the first state (IF), then

7.

8.

9.

10. - along a second subset of guide surfaces of the guide part (5215, 5216, 5217) during a change of state of the sliding door, from the first state (S1) to the second state (S2). Arrangement (3) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first direction (X) is a longitudinal axis (X) of the motor vehicle (100). Motor vehicle (100) comprising an arrangement (3) according to one of the preceding claims. Method for locking in the open position a sliding door (2) of an arrangement (3) of a motor vehicle (100) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it comprises a step of application to the sliding door (2) by a user of the vehicle of a force comprising a component directed in the first direction (X) and oriented towards the first end (41) of the rail (4). Method for unlocking a sliding door (2) locked in the open position of an arrangement (3) of a motor vehicle (100) according to claim 8, characterized in that it comprises a step of application to the sliding door (2) by a user of the vehicle of a force comprising a component directed in the first direction (X) and oriented towards the first end (41) of the rail (4).

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