Opening control handle.

Abstract

The invention relates to a control paddle (1) designed to equip a control handle for opening a door of a motor vehicle, the paddle (1) extending between a support face (3) and an opposite face (4), the paddle (1) having a rotation axis (AR) provided with two ends (6) and extending between the support face (3) and the opposite face (4), the rotation axis (AR) being designed to allow rotation of the paddle (1) about the rotation axis (AR) when the paddle (1) is mounted in the handle, the paddle (1) comprising an arm (8) projecting from the rotation axis (AR) and having a helical sliding surface (9) designed to allow the sliding of a contact surface of an actuator on the sliding surface (9) extending along a helical axis (AH) inclined with respect to the rotation axis (AR). (Figure 2)

Description

Title of the invention: Opening control handle.

[0001] The technical field relates to control paddles and cable actuators designed to equip a control handle, opening control handles comprising such a cable actuator and such a paddle, openings comprising such a control handle and finally motor vehicles comprising at least one such opening.

[0002] For car manufacturers, the quality of finish and aesthetic appearance of their vehicles are essential to differentiate themselves from other brands. Therefore, manufacturers make considerable efforts to constantly improve these areas.

[0003] Historically, the side doors of motor vehicles have been equipped with an opening control, the visible part of which is a handle generally forming a significant protrusion on the sides of the vehicle's body. Given the paramount importance of aesthetics and aerodynamics, a current trend is to conceal the opening controls by recessing them into the door.

[0004] While the aesthetics are well-designed, the user experience of the opening control could be improved. Indeed, the effort required to operate the control to open the door remains particularly significant, on the order of 85 N. Furthermore, the opening control mechanism requires varying degrees of force during operation. These two factors make the user experience less than ideal, if not unpleasant. This inconvenience is particularly amplified when the opening control is designed to be positioned at an angle to the vehicle's horizontal plane, so as to be housed within a frame.

[0005] Thus, there is a need for a solution to improve the experience felt by a user who manipulates the opening command.

[0006] The present invention aims to overcome the problems described above. In this technical context, one objective of the present invention is to provide a paddle and a cable actuator that make it possible to form an opening control handle requiring less effort to open than a conventional control, with better stability of the required force compared to a conventional control.

[0007] To this end, the present invention relates to a control paddle designed to equip a control handle for opening a door of a motor vehicle, the paddle extending between a support face and an opposite face, the paddle having an axis of rotation equipped with two ends and extending between the support face and the opposite face opposite, the axis of rotation being designed to allow rotation of the pallet around the axis of rotation when the pallet is mounted in the handle, the pallet comprising an arm projecting from the axis of rotation and having a helical sliding surface designed to allow the sliding of a contact surface of a cable actuator on the sliding surface, the sliding surface extending along a helical axis inclined with respect to the axis of rotation.

[0008] The invention also relates to a cable actuator designed to equip a control handle for opening a door of a motor vehicle, the cable actuator having a body designed to be mounted movably in rotation in the handle around an actuator axis passing through the body, the body having a helical contact surface, distant from the actuator axis, designed to cooperate by sliding with a sliding surface of a control paddle according to the invention, to allow the cable actuator to rotate around its actuator axis when the helical axis is distant from the actuator axis.

[0009] The invention further relates to a control handle for opening a motor vehicle door comprising a paddle according to the invention, mounted movably to rotate about its axis of rotation, the handle comprising a cable actuator according to the invention, mounted movably to rotate about its actuator axis, the cable actuator and the paddle being arranged so that the contact surface of the cable actuator slides on the sliding surface of the paddle during a rotation of the paddle about its axis of rotation to cause a rotation of the cable actuator about its actuator axis.

[0010] The invention also relates to an opening designed to equip a motor vehicle and comprising at least one control handle according to the invention, the axis of rotation of the paddle extending in a direction inclined with respect to a direction corresponding to a horizontal plane of the vehicle when the opening is mounted on the vehicle.

[0011] The invention finally relates to a motor vehicle having at least one opening according to the invention.

[0012] Thus, the paddle according to the invention and the cable actuator cooperate, within the handle according to the invention, to move the control cable. The sliding of the contact surface on the sliding surface allows for high stability of the force required to move the paddle, due to their helical shapes. By helical, it should be understood that the surface describes at least a portion of a helical envelope. Thus, the paddle and the actuator according to the invention make it possible to obtain a handle according to the invention with an improved user experience during its manipulation.

[0013] According to one embodiment of the control pallet, the helical axis is per- pendulum to the axis of rotation.

[0014] According to one possibility of the pallet, the arm protrudes from the axis of rotation between one of the ends of the axis of rotation and an edge of the bearing face.

[0015] In one embodiment of the control pallet, the arm protrudes on the side of the support face.

[0016] Advantageously, the cable actuator includes fastening means designed to attach a remote control cable for the actuator shaft to the cable actuator.

[0017] Advantageously still, the handle includes a housing delimiting a compartment in which the pallet is placed.

[0018] The invention will be better understood upon reading the following detailed description, given solely by way of non-limiting example and made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0019] [Fig-1] [Fig. 1] represents a perspective view of an opening control handle according to the invention showing a paddle according to the invention;

[0020] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] represents a perspective view of the palette implemented in the handle of the [Fig.l];

[0021] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] represents a perspective view of a cable actuator put into work in the handle of the [Fig.l];

[0022] [Fig.4] [Fig.4] represents a detailed view of the interaction between the palette and the cable actuator in the handle of the [Fig.l];

[0023] In these figures, the same references are used to designate the same elements.

[0024] A control paddle 1 according to the invention, illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, is designed to equip an opening control handle 2, partially illustrated in Figures 1 and 4, of a motor vehicle opening according to the invention, not illustrated.

[0025] As illustrated in [Fig. 1], the paddle 1 extends between a support face 3, visible in [Fig. 2], and an opposite face 4, visible in [Fig. 1]. The support face 3 is designed to allow a user to push the paddle 1 with their fingers resting on the support face 3. In the example illustrated in [Fig. 1], the opposite face 4 has a honeycomb structure 5 to give the paddle 1 strength and lightness.

[0026] As illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the pallet has a rotation axis AR with two ends 6 and extends between the bearing face 3 and the opposite face 4. As illustrated in [Fig. 1], the rotation axis AR is designed to allow the pallet 1 to rotate about the rotation axis AR when the pallet 1 is mounted in the handle 2. In the example illustrated in [Fig. 2], each end 6 has a clipping hole 7 allowing each end 6 to be clipped into the handle 2. thanks, for example, to a clip-on stud, not shown.

[0027] The pallet 1 includes an arm 8, visible in [Fig. 2], projecting from the axis of rotation AR. The arm 8 has a helical sliding surface 9, illustrated in [Fig. 2]. The sliding surface 9 extends along a helical axis AH, illustrated in [Fig. 2], inclined with respect to the axis of rotation AR. Advantageously, the helical axis AH is perpendicular to the axis of rotation AR.

[0028] The sliding surface 9 is designed to allow the sliding of a contact surface 10 of a cable actuator 11, illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, on the sliding surface 9.

[0029] As illustrated in [Fig.2], the arm 8 protrudes from the axis of rotation AR between one of the ends 6 of the axis of rotation AR and an edge 12 of the bearing face 3. In the example described, the arm 8 protrudes from the side of the bearing face 3.

[0030] The cable actuator 11 according to the invention is designed to equip the opening control handle 2. The cable actuator 11 has a body 13 designed to be mounted for rotation within the handle 2, as illustrated in [Fig. 4], about an actuator axis AA passing through the body 13. The body 13 has a substantially cylindrical shape with a circular base and the actuator axis AA as its principal axis. The actuator 11 has a helical contact surface 10, which is located away from the actuator axis AA. The contact surface 10 is, for example, formed on a finger 14 projecting from the body 13. The contact surface 10 is understood to be inclined in a plane with respect to the actuator axis AA.The contact surface 10 is designed to cooperate by sliding with the sliding surface 9 of the control paddle 1 according to the invention, to allow rotation of the cable actuator 11 around its actuator axis AA when the helical axis AH is distant from the actuator axis AA, as is the case when the actuator 11 and the paddle 1 are mounted in the handle 2. Advantageously, the contact surface 10 has a helical shape complementary to the shape of the sliding surface 9.

[0031] In order to actuate a control cable 15, illustrated in [Fig.4], the actuator 11 includes fastening means 16 designed to attach to the actuator 11 one end 17 of the cable 15. The other end of the cable 15, not illustrated, is connected in the opening to a lock of the opening, not illustrated.

[0032] The handle 2 illustrated in the figures comprises a housing 18 designed to allow the attachment of the components of the handle 2, and in particular of the actuator 11 and the paddle 1 according to the invention. The housing 18 also defines a recess 19 leading to an opening 20 allowing, respectively, the rotation of the paddle 1 and the insertion of the fingers of a user of the handle 2 to exert force on the bearing surface 3. In the handle 2, the paddle 1 is mounted to rotate freely about its axis of rotation AR. The actuator 11 is also mounted to rotate freely around its actuator axis AA. The cable actuator 11 and the pallet 1 are arranged so that the contact surface 10 of the cable actuator 11 slides on the sliding surface 9 of the pallet during a rotation of the pallet 1 around its axis of rotation AR to cause a rotation of the cable actuator 11 around its actuator axis AA.

[0033] In a door or hatch according to the invention, designed to equip a motor vehicle according to the invention, the control handle 2 is mounted such that the AR rotation axis of the paddle 1 extends in a direction inclined relative to a direction corresponding to a horizontal plane of the vehicle when the door or hatch is mounted on the vehicle. In particular, the AR rotation axis is mounted in a substantially vertical direction.

[0034] Thus, the paddle 1 according to the invention and the cable actuator 11 cooperate, within the handle 2, to move the control cable 15. The sliding of the contact surface 10 on the sliding surface 9 ensures high stability of the force required to move the paddle 1. Experimental measurements show that the force required to open the handle 2 is reduced by approximately 5 N compared to a control system with point contact on the sliding surface 9.

[0035] The invention is not limited to the embodiments of the control paddle and the handle cable actuator described above, only by way of example, but other embodiments can be designed by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and extent of the present invention.

Claims

Demands

1. A control paddle (1) designed to be fitted to a control handle (2) for opening a motor vehicle door, the paddle (1) extending between a support face (3) and an opposite face (4), the paddle (1) having a rotation axis (AR) having two ends (6) and extending between the support face (3) and the opposite face (4), the rotation axis (AR) being designed to allow rotation of the paddle (1) about the rotation axis (AR) when the paddle (1) is mounted in the handle (2), the paddle (1) comprising an arm (8) projecting from the rotation axis (AR) and having a helical sliding surface (9) designed to allow sliding of a contact surface (10) of a cable actuator (11) on the sliding surface (9), the sliding surface (9) extending along an inclined helical axis (AH). relative to the axis of rotation (AR).

2. Control pallet (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the helical axis (AH) is perpendicular to the axis of rotation (AR).

3. Control pallet (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the arm (8) projects from the axis of rotation (AR) between one of the ends (6) of the axis of rotation (AR) and an edge (12) of the bearing face (3).

4. Control pallet (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the arm (8) protrudes from the side of the bearing face (3).

5. Cable actuator (11) designed to equip a control handle (2) for opening a motor vehicle door, the cable actuator (11) having a body (13) designed to be mounted movably in rotation in the handle (2) about an actuator axis (AA) passing through the body (13), the body (13) having a helical contact surface (10), distant from the actuator axis (AA), designed to cooperate by sliding with a sliding surface (9) of a control paddle (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, to allow rotation of the cable actuator (11) about its actuator axis (AA) when the helical axis (AH) is distant from the actuator axis (AA).

6. Cable actuator (11) according to claim 5, characterized in that it comprises fastening means (16) designed to attach to the cable actuator (11) a remote control cable (15) of the actuator shaft (AA).

7. A motor vehicle opening control handle (2) comprising a paddle (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, mounted movably to rotate about its axis of rotation (AR), the handle (2) comprising a cable actuator (11) according to claim 5 or 6, mounted movably to rotate about its actuator axis (AA), the cable actuator (11) and the paddle (1) being arranged so that the contact surface (10) of the cable actuator (11) slides on the sliding surface (9) of the paddle (1) during a rotation of the paddle (1) about its axis of rotation (AR) to cause a rotation of the cable actuator (11) about its actuator axis (AA).

8. Control handle (2) according to claim 7, characterized in that the handle (2) comprises a housing (18) delimiting a housing (19) in which the paddle (1) is disposed.

9. Opening designed to equip a motor vehicle and comprising at least one control handle (2) according to claim 7 or 8, the axis of rotation (AR) of the paddle (1) extending in a direction inclined with respect to a direction corresponding to a horizontal plane of the vehicle when the opening is mounted on the vehicle.

10. Motor vehicle having at least one opening according to claim 9.

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