COMMON CONTROL BOX FOR CONTROLLING SIDE DOOR OPENING MECHANISMS OF DIFFERENT VEHICLES

Abstract

A control box (BC) controls a side door opening mechanism (PL), comprising a door frame (CP) and fitted to a vehicle (V), and comprises a control handle (PC) operable by a user. This control box (BC) is fixedly installed in a part of the door frame (CP) in front of which is installed at least part of an associated trim (EP), while being totally decoupled from this trim (EP) and masked by the latter (EP) with the exception of the control handle (PC), the latter (PC) being located next to a bowl (BP) allowing the passage of at least one finger of the user for its actuation. Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: COMMON CONTROL UNIT FOR CONTROLLING SIDE DOOR OPENING MECHANISMS OF DIFFERENT VEHICLES Technical field of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to vehicles comprising at least one side door comprising a door frame and an opening mechanism. State of the art

[0002] Many vehicles, generally of the automobile type, include at least one side door (and generally two) comprising a door frame and an opening mechanism controlled by a control device.

[0003] Currently, this control device comprises a housing frequently installed in a part of the door frame and housing at least partially various technical elements, including a handle that can be operated by a user, and a trim fixedly secured to an external face of the housing and masking all the technical elements except the handle. The external face is the one that faces the outside of the vehicle. It will be noted that a "bowl" (or concave part) is installed next to the handle in order to allow the passage of at least one user's finger for operating this handle. This bowl can be part of the trim, and in this case it is also part of the control device, or can be installed in a side pillar (rear or central) of the vehicle, located next to the door frame containing the control device.

[0004] Since the hubcap is generally defined according to the style of the vehicle in question, its shape, appearance and coupling means generally vary from one vehicle model to another vehicle model. Consequently, it is necessary to adapt the housing and at least some of the technical elements of its control device to each hubcap. In other words, a new control device must be developed specifically for each new vehicle model, which entails large expenses, both in terms of studies and in terms of tools, or even in terms of the labor ensuring the manufacture or installation. In addition, this complicates stock management and increases the risks of quality problem(s) linked to each new development.

[0005] The invention therefore aims in particular to improve the situation. Presentation of the invention

[0006] It proposes in particular for this purpose a control box, on the one hand, suitable for controlling a side door opening mechanism, comprising a door frame and suitable for equipping a vehicle, and, on the other hand, comprising a control handle operable by a user.

[0007] This control box is characterized by the fact that it is suitable for being fixedly installed in a part of the door frame in front of which at least part of an associated trim is installed, while being completely decoupled from this trim and masked by the latter with the exception of the handle, the latter being suitable for being located next to a bowl allowing the passage of at least one finger of the user for its actuation.

[0008] Thanks to the invention, the same control box is now common to different door frames and independent of style, and can therefore be used in association with different trims, which allows costs to be significantly reduced, significantly simplifies stock management and eliminates the risk of quality problems with the control box.

[0009] For example, this control box may comprise a box housing an end-of-travel stop and / or a force return mechanism and / or an operating force control mechanism and / or an inertial locking mechanism.

[0010] The invention also proposes a vehicle, possibly of the automobile type, and comprising, on the one hand, at least one side door comprising an opening mechanism and a door frame comprising a part in which is fixedly installed a control box of the type presented above, and on which is fixedly secured at least part of a trim associated with this control box while being totally decoupled from the latter and masking this control box with the exception of its handle, and, on the other hand, a bowl installed next to the handle and allowing the passage of at least one finger of the user for the actuation of this handle.

[0011] The vehicle according to the invention may include other characteristics which may be taken separately or in combination, and in particular:

[0012] - in a first embodiment, the bowl can be part of the hubcap;

[0013] - in a second embodiment, it may comprise, next to the door frame, a side post in which the bowl is installed;

[0014] - in a third embodiment, the bowl can be defined on an external face of a side post located next to the door frame when the side door is in a closed position;

[0015] - in the presence of the second or third embodiment, the side amount can be located in a rear part or in a central part. Brief description of the figures

[0016] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on examining the detailed description below, and the appended drawings, in which:

[0017] [Fig.l] schematically and functionally illustrates, in a side view, a part of a first example of a vehicle side door comprising an example embodiment of a control box according to the invention and a first part of a first example of a trim, and located next to a rear side pillar comprising a second part of the first example of a trim comprising a bowl,

[0018] [Fig.2] schematically and functionally illustrates, in a side view, a part of a second example of a vehicle side door comprising the same control box as that of [Fig.l] and a second example of a hubcap subdivided into two parts, one of which comprises a bowl, and located next to a rear side pillar, and

[0019] [Fig.3] schematically illustrates, in a perspective view, an exemplary embodiment of a control box according to the invention. Detailed description of the invention

[0020] The invention aims in particular to propose a common BC control box in order to control the opening mechanisms of PL side doors of different V vehicles.

[0021] In the following, it is considered, by way of non-limiting example, that the vehicles V are of the automobile type. These are, for example, cars with four side doors. But the invention is not limited to this type of vehicle. It relates in fact to any vehicle comprising at least one side door comprising a door frame and a door opening mechanism.

[0022] Furthermore, it is considered in the following, by way of non-limiting example, that the side doors PL are rear doors allowing access to a rear part of the passenger compartment of the vehicle V. But the side doors PL could be front doors allowing access to a front part of the passenger compartment of the vehicle V.

[0023] Finally, it is considered in the following, by way of non-limiting example, that the PL side doors open from the rear to the front. But they could open from the front to the rear.

[0024] Figures 1 and 2 respectively show schematically parts of first and second examples of side doors PL of different vehicles V comprising door frames CP comprising the same control box BC according to the invention associated with first and second examples of trim EP. Each door frame CP may optionally, as illustrated non-limitingly in Figures 1 and 2, frame a window VV (possibly mounted in translation in its side door PL), and is located next to a side pillar ML of its vehicle V.

[0025] It will be noted that in the examples illustrated non-limitingly in Figures 1 and 2, the side pillar ML is located in a rear part of the vehicle V (and more precisely of the passenger compartment of the latter (V)). But the lateral pillar ML could be located in a central part of the vehicle V (and more precisely of the passenger compartment of the latter (V)), in particular when the side doors PL are rear doors which open from the front to the rear.

[0026] It should also be noted that the rear side pillars ML may possibly partially frame a small side window (or quarter window).

[0027] As illustrated at least partially in Figures 1 to 3, a control box BC, according to the invention, comprises in particular a box BB and a control handle PC actuable by a user and rotatably mounted in this box BB. This control box BC is arranged so as to control an opening mechanism of the side door PL. As a result, the box BB can house, in addition to a part of the control handle PC, technical elements such as an end-of-travel stop and / or a force return mechanism and / or an operating force control mechanism and / or an inertial locking mechanism.

[0028] As illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, this control box BC is suitable for being fixedly installed in a part of the door frame CP of its side door PL, in front of which is installed at least part of an associated trim EP. The control box BC is therefore masked by this trim EP, with the exception of its control handle PC so that it is visible to users. For this purpose, the trim EP may, for example, comprise an opening (or cutout) making the handle EP visible. But the control box BC is completely decoupled from this trim EP, that is to say that the latter (EP) is at least fixedly secured to the external face FE of the door frame CP but not to the box BB or to the control handle PC. The external face FE is that which is oriented towards the outside of the vehicle V and therefore which is observable by a person located outside the vehicle V.

[0029] Furthermore, the control handle PC is suitable for being located next to a bowl BP which allows the passage of at least one finger of a user for its actuation (intended to trigger the opening of the side door PL by the opening mechanism of the latter (PL)). It will be understood that this bowl BP is not part of the control box BC.

[0030] The BC control box being totally decoupled from the EP trim associated with it, it is now common to different CP door frames and independent of the style, and therefore can be used in association with different EP trims defined for different styles and / or layouts. There is therefore no longer any need to adapt the BB box and at least some of the technical elements housed in the latter (BB) to each new EP trim developed specifically for each new vehicle model, which makes it possible to significantly reduce costs, both in terms of studies and in terms of tools, or even in terms of the labor ensuring the manufacturing or installation. In addition, this significantly simplifies inventory management and eliminates the risk of quality problems with the BC control box.

[0031] It will be noted that the control box BC is independent of the style, but its control handle PC may possibly include on its external face coupling means allowing the attachment of a trim adapted to the style of its vehicle V or chosen by the owner of the vehicle V.

[0032] For example, and as illustrated non-limitingly in [Fig. 1], in a first exemplary embodiment the bowl BP may be part of the trim EP. In this case, the external face FE, of the part of the door frame CP which houses the control box BC, may possibly comprise a concave housing allowing the housing of the part of the trim EP which comprises the bowl BP.

[0033] Alternatively, in a second embodiment illustrated non-limitingly in [Fig. 2], the bowl BP can be installed in the side pillar ML which is located next to the door frame CP, at the vertical level where the control handle PC is installed. In this case, the trim EP can, for example and as illustrated non-limitingly in [Fig. 2], comprise first PI and second P2 parts. The first part PI is fixedly secured to the external face FE of the door frame CP, leaving the control handle PC visible. The second part P2 is fixedly secured to the external face of the side pillar ML and comprises the bowl BP, the latter (BP) being placed next to the control handle PC (when the side door PL is closed) in order to allow its actuation.

[0034] In a third exemplary embodiment (not illustrated and a variant of the second exemplary embodiment), the trim EP could be fixedly secured to the external face FE of the door frame CP, leaving the control handle PC visible, and the bowl BP could be defined on the external face of the side pillar ML, next to the control handle PC (when the side door PL is closed) in order to allow it to be actuated.

Claims

Claims

1. Control box (BC) suitable for controlling a side door opening mechanism (PL), comprising a door frame (CP) and suitable for equipping a vehicle (V), and comprising a control handle (PC) actuable by a user, characterized in that it is suitable for being fixedly installed in a part of said door frame (CP) in front of which is installed at least part of an associated trim (EP), while being totally decoupled from this trim (EP) and masked by the latter (EP) with the exception of said control handle (PC), the latter (PC) being suitable for being located next to a bowl (BP) allowing the passage of at least one finger of said user for its actuation.

2. Control box according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a box (BB) housing an end-of-travel stop and / or a force return mechanism and / or an operating force control mechanism and / or an inertial locking mechanism.

3. Vehicle (V) comprising at least one side door (PL) comprising a door frame (CP) and an opening mechanism, characterized in that said door frame (CP) comprises a part i) in which is fixedly installed a control box (BC) according to one of claims 1 and 2, and ii) on which is fixedly secured at least part of a trim (EP), associated with said control box (BC) while being totally decoupled from the latter (BC), and masking this control box (BC) with the exception of its control handle (PC), and in that it further comprises a bowl (BP) installed next to said control handle (PC) and allowing the passage of at least one finger of said user for the actuation of this control handle (PC).

4. Vehicle according to claim 3, characterized in that said bowl (BP) is part of said hubcap (EP).

5. Vehicle according to claim 3, characterized in that it comprises, next to said door frame (CP), a side pillar (ML) in which said bowl (BP) is installed.

6. Vehicle according to claim 3, characterized in that said bowl (BP) is defined on an external face of a side pillar (ML) located next to said door frame (CP) when said side door (PL) is in a closed position.

7. Vehicle according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that said side pillar (ML) is located in a rear part.

8. Vehicle according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that said lateral upright (ML) is located in a central part.

9. Vehicle according to one of claims 3 to 8, characterized in that it is of the automobile type.

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