Vehicle side door opening control mechanism including an inertial locking weight

Abstract

The invention relates to an opening control mechanism comprising a support bracket (10), a handle rotatably mounted on said bracket, a lever (30) rotatably mounted on said bracket (10) and coupled to said handle such that said lever (30) is rotated when the handle is pulled, a weight (40) rotatably mounted on said bracket (10) and capable, in the event of a lateral impact, of moving from an initial rest position to a locked position in which it contacts said lever (30) so as to prevent its rotation, anti-return means (50) capable of retaining said weight (40) in its locked position, and release means (60, 61) capable of acting on said anti-return means (50) after the occurrence of said lateral impact so that the latter no longer oppose the return of said weight (40) to its initial rest position. Figure to be published with the abbreviation: Fig. 5

Description

Title of the invention: Opening control mechanism for a vehicle side door comprising an inertial locking weight. Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates generally to opening control mechanisms intended for use in the side doors of motor vehicles. More particularly, it relates to such an opening control mechanism equipped with an inertial locking device. Previous technique

[0002] Generally, the closing of a side door of a motor vehicle is achieved by engaging the bolt of the lock in a strike plate located on a door frame. When opening from outside the vehicle, the bolt is released from the strike plate by activating an opening control mechanism.

[0003] This mechanism includes a support bracket intended to be rigidly fixed to the structure of said door, as well as a handle mounted for rotation on said support bracket and capable of being pulled manually from outside said vehicle by a user to open said door.

[0004] Such a mechanism also includes a control lever mounted movable for rotation on said support bracket and coupled to said handle so that, when the latter is pulled, said lever is driven to rotation by acting on a cable connected at one end to this lever and whose second end is connected to the bolt of the lock.

[0005] Thus, the action exerted on the handle results, through the kinematic chain of the external opening control, in the release of the bolt from the strike plate, and therefore in the opening of the door. When the user releases the handle, it is returned to its rest position by a return spring.

[0006] When the vehicle is subjected to a side impact, the inertial force due to the mass of the handle can reach, or even exceed, the pulling force normally required to operate the lever and open the door. Such a side impact is indeed capable of generating instantaneous accelerations on the handle of several hundred times the acceleration due to gravity. The stiffness of the handle's return spring is therefore insufficient to counteract the opening force exerted by the inertial force in the event of a side impact.

[0007] In order to overcome this problem, it is known to equip such an opening control mechanism with an inertial locking device comprising a A weight is mounted to rotate freely on the support bracket and, in the event of a lateral impact and under the effect of a change in acceleration, is capable of assuming a locking position in which a portion of the weight's stop contacts the lever, thus preventing its rotation. A return spring returns the weight to its initial position at the end of the impact.

[0008] These reversible inertial locking devices have the advantage of allowing the door to be opened manually using the handle after the impact. However, they are particularly sensitive to lateral acceleration in both directions as well as to rebounds, so there is a significant risk that they will return to their rest position during the impact, thus allowing the handle to rotate and the door to be opened.

[0009] Irreversible inertial locking devices are also known, ensuring that the rotational locking of the handle is maintained throughout the duration of the shock.

[0010] Document FR 3 133 873 Al thus discloses such an inertial locking device equipped with anti-return means, consisting in this case of a deformable tab and capable of retaining said weight in its locking position so as to ensure that the locking of said lever is maintained during the entire duration of the lateral impact.

[0011] These irreversible inertial locking devices have the advantage of not being sensitive to variations in acceleration during the impact or to rebounds, thus guaranteeing that the door will not open. However, they have the disadvantage of no longer allowing, after the impact, the voluntary opening of the door from outside the vehicle, which leads to an increase in the time required for emergency services to access and treat injured or unconscious passengers who are unable to operate the door opening mechanism from inside the passenger compartment.

[0012] In order to combine the advantages of these two types of inertial locking devices, document EP2616616B1 proposes an advanced type inertial locking device with anti-return means and in which the portion of the lever which comes against the weight forms a mechanical fuse attached to the main body of this lever by a frangible weakening zone configured to break when a tensile force whose intensity is greater than a predetermined threshold is exerted on said handle, so as to allow the rotation of the lever and the opening of the door when the weight is in its locking position.

[0013] This type of mechanism, such as an advanced opening control mechanism, requires specific development, resulting in high design costs. Description of the invention

[0014] The present invention therefore aims to improve the situation.

[0015] To this end, it proposes an opening control mechanism intended to be fitted to a side door of a motor vehicle, comprising: - a support bracket designed to be rigidly fixed to the structure of said door; - a movable, rotating gripping handle mounted on said support bracket and capable of being manually pulled from outside said vehicle by a user to open said door; - a control lever mounted movable for rotation on said support bracket and coupled to said handle so that, when the latter is pulled, said lever is driven to rotate to cause the opening of said door; - an inertial locking device comprising a weight, mounted movably to rotation on said support bracket and capable, in the event of a lateral impact and under the effect of the variation of acceleration, of passing from an initial rest position which it occupies in the absence of external stress to a locking position in which a portion of this weight comes into contact with said lever so as to prevent its rotation; - anti-return means capable of retaining said weight in its locking position so as to ensure that the rotational locking of said lever is maintained throughout the duration of said lateral impact; characterized in that it further comprises unlocking means designed to be operated manually from outside said vehicle and capable of acting on said anti-return means after the occurrence of said lateral impact so that the latter no longer oppose the return of said weight to its initial rest position.

[0016] This door opening control mechanism thus allows the door to be opened intentionally from outside the vehicle after the vehicle has sustained a side impact. Its main advantage is its ease of implementation, since, unlike existing mechanisms, it does not require complex development of the mechanical fuse of one of the mechanism's components.

[0017] According to preferred characteristics of said opening control mechanism according to the invention: - said anti-return means comprise an elastically deformable blade in bending, fixed by one of its ends on said support bracket and capable of deforming during said lateral shock in order to retain said weight in its blocking position; - said unlocking means are capable of causing the said blade to bend to a release position in which it no longer abuts against said weight in order to allow the latter to return to its initial rest position; - said release means comprise a flexible tab attached at one end to said support bracket and carrying a control pin designed to pass through the outer panel of said door, said unlocking means being configured so that pressure on said pin causes the bending of said tab so that the latter forces said blade to bend to its release position; - said flexible leg was molded in one piece from plastic material with said support bracket; - said flexible leg is attached fixedly to said stirrup after the latter has been made; - said unlocking means comprise a push button designed to pass through the outer panel of said door, said push button being movable by translation between a resting extended position to which it is returned by elastic return means, and a depressed position in which it forces said blade to flex to its release position; and / or - said push button is configured so that said blade remains in its release position after the release of this button.

[0018] The invention also relates, in a second aspect, to a side door of a motor vehicle comprising such an opening control mechanism.

[0019] The invention finally relates, in a third aspect, to a motor vehicle comprising at least one such side door. Brief description of the drawings

[0020] The description of the invention will now be continued by a detailed description of an example embodiment, given below by way of illustration but not limitation, with reference to the accompanying drawings, on which: - [Fig.l] schematically represents, in a cross-sectional view in a horizontal plane, an opening control mechanism according to the invention intended to equip a side door of a motor vehicle; - [Fig.2] is a cross-sectional enlargement in a horizontal plane of part of the mechanism of [Fig.1] illustrating the movement of the weight towards its locking position when the vehicle undergoes a lateral impact; - [Fig.3] represents a similar enlargement to that of [Fig.2] after the occurrence of such a lateral shock and illustrating the role of the anti-return means retaining the weight in its locking position; - [Fig.4] is a perspective enlargement of part of the control mechanism of [Fig.1] showing the means of unlocking the weight; and - [Fig.5] represents an enlargement similar to those of figures 2 and 3 during the actuation of the means of unlocking the weight. Description of the implementation methods

[0021] Fig. 1 represents an opening control mechanism according to the invention 1 intended to equip a side door not shown of a motor vehicle.

[0022] By convention, an orthogonal frame XYZ comprising three axes perpendicular in pairs is defined with respect to this opening mechanism 1 in its configuration mounted on a side door of such a motor vehicle, namely: - an axis X, defining a horizontal longitudinal direction, parallel to the ground and coinciding with the general direction of movement of this vehicle; - a Y-axis, defining a horizontal transverse direction, also parallel to the ground, which, together with the X-axis, defines a horizontal XY plane; and - a Z axis, defining a vertical direction, perpendicular to the ground and to the horizontal XY plane.

[0023] In the remainder of the description and with reference to the frame defined above, the terms "longitudinal" or "longitudinally" shall refer to a direction parallel to the X axis, the terms "transverse" or "transversely" shall refer to a direction parallel to the Y axis, and the terms "vertical" or "vertically" shall refer to a direction parallel to the Z axis.

[0024] On the other hand, the terms "front" and "rear" will be used to specify the longitudinal positioning of certain elements relative to the orientation of the X axis, which by convention points forward.

[0025] Finally, the term "substantially" will indicate that a slight deviation is permitted from a predetermined nominal position or arrangement, while remaining within the scope of the invention. For example, "substantially longitudinal" indicates that a deviation of approximately 15 to 20° from a strictly longitudinal orientation is permitted within the scope of the invention.

[0026] With reference to this [Fig.1], the opening control mechanism according to the invention 1 comprises a support bracket 10 intended to be rigidly fixed to the structure of a side door of a motor vehicle, between its outer panel and its inner lining.

[0027] This opening control mechanism 1 also includes a gripping handle 20, suitable for being pulled manually by a user from outside the vehicle to open the side door, and mounted movably for rotation by a first of its longitudinal ends (in this case its front end) on the support bracket 10 around a first vertical axis Ab. The second longitudinal end of this gripping handle 20 extends inside the opening control mechanism 1 by a transverse extension 21.

[0028] The opening control mechanism 1 further comprises a control lever 30 movablely mounted for rotation on the support bracket 10 around a second vertical axis A2 parallel to the axis Ai and elastically returned by a first invisible spring to its rest position illustrated by [Fig.l].

[0029] The control lever 30 includes an arm 31 (see figures 2, 3 and 5) whose free end is coupled to the transverse extension 21 of the gripping handle 20, so that this transverse extension 21 causes the rotation of this control lever 30 when a user pulls on this handle 20 from its rest position illustrated by [Fig.1] and in a transverse direction oriented outwards from the vehicle.

[0030] The lever 30 is further coupled to one end of a traction cable not shown and connected at its other end to the bolt of a lock, so that the rotation of this lever 30 caused by the actuation of the handle 20 causes the bolt to be released from the strike plate of this lock and thus the opening of the side door.

[0031] When the user releases the handle 20, the lever 30 and the handle 20 are returned to their rest position by the first return spring.

[0032] Still with reference to [Fig.1], the opening control mechanism 1 also includes an inertial locking device comprising a weight 40 mounted movably to rotation on the support bracket 10 around a third vertical axis A3 parallel to the axes Ai and A2.

[0033] Advantageously produced from a single piece molding of a thermoplastic polymer possibly reinforced with natural and / or synthetic fibers, this weight 40 is elastically returned by a second spring, not visible in the figures, to its rest position illustrated by [Fig.1] which it occupies in the absence of external stress and in which it does not disturb the stroke of the lever 30, so as to allow it, when the handle 20 is operated by a user, to freely rotate to a position causing the door to open.

[0034] In the event of a lateral impact suffered by the vehicle, the weight 40 is able, due to the intensity of the inertial force related to its mass, to leave its rest position to occupy a locking position illustrated by [Fig.2] and in which a portion of this weight 40 comes into contact with the lever 30 so as to prevent its rotation requested by the handle 20 itself subjected to an inertial force pulling it towards the outside of the vehicle.

[0035] It will be understood that the conformation of this weight 40 will be adapted according to the minimum intensity of the inertial force from which we wish to block the rotation of the lever 30.

[0036] The inertial locking device also includes anti-return means capable of retaining the weight 40 in its locking position so as to ensure that the locking of the lever 30 is maintained during the entire duration of the lateral impact.

[0037] These anti-return means comprise in this case an elastically deformable metal blade in bending 50, fixed by one of its ends on the support bracket 10 and extending substantially longitudinally to the weight 40.

[0038] In the initial rest position of this weight 40 and as illustrated by [Fig.1], the blade 50 occupies a constrained position slightly flexed outwards from the vehicle in which its second free end rests against a support wall of this weight 40.

[0039] In the event of a lateral impact suffered by the vehicle and causing the weight 40 to move towards its locking position, this support wall moves longitudinally away from the blade 50 which comes back to its unconstrained rest position as can be seen in [Fig.2].

[0040] As illustrated by [Fig.3], the second free end of the blade 50 then constitutes a stop for the weight 40 preventing its return to its initial rest position during and after the lateral impact.

[0041] According to the invention and in order to allow the voluntary opening of the door from outside the vehicle after such a side impact, the inertial locking device further includes unlocking means intended to be operated manually from outside the vehicle and capable of acting on the anti-return means, so that the latter no longer oppose the return of the weight 40 to its initial rest position.

[0042] With reference to [Fig.4], the unlocking means comprise a flexible tab 60 attached at one end to the support bracket 10 and carrying a control pin 61 intended to pass through the outer panel of the door at a corresponding opening advantageously provided opposite the gripping handle 20.

[0043] As illustrated by [Fig.5], these unlocking means are configured so that a user's pressure on the pin 61 causes the lug 60 to bend so that the latter forces the blade 50 to bend towards the interior of the vehicle to a release position in which it no longer butts against the weight 40 in order to allow the latter to return to its initial rest position away from the lever 30.

[0044] Thus, by maintaining his support on this pin 61, the user will be able to freely operate the handle 20 so as to cause the rotation of this lever 30 to a position causing the opening of the door.

[0045] The investment required to implement the opening control mechanism according to invention 1 is limited since it differs from an irreversible type opening control mechanism only by the addition of the lug flexible 60 carrying the control pin 61 and by an adapted design of the weight 40.

[0046] In order to limit production costs, the flexible leg 60 will advantageously be made from a single piece of plastic molding with the support bracket 10.

[0047] According to alternative embodiments not shown, the flexible tab carrying the control pin could be fixedly attached to the bracket after its manufacture, for example by screwing, which would have the advantage of allowing the use of a single injection mold for the manufacture of an irreversible type opening control mechanism and an opening control mechanism according to the invention.

[0048] It could also be envisaged that the flexible tab and the control pin be made of two different parts fixed to each other (the control pin could for example for aesthetic reasons be painted the same color as the outer panel of the door).

[0049] According to other unrepresented embodiments, the unlocking means could be different and include, for example, a push button intended to pass through the outer panel of the door, said push button being movable by translation between a rest position to which it is returned by elastic return means, and a pressed position in which it forces the blade 50 to flex towards the interior of the vehicle until its release position.

[0050] Such a push button could further advantageously be configured (for example with the implementation of a double push mechanism) so that the blade 50 remains in its release position after the release of this button.

[0051] According to yet other unrepresented embodiments, these unlocking means could also be configured to force the blade 50 to flex, not towards the inside of the vehicle, but towards the outside of the vehicle so as to be able to resume its position of [Fig.1].

[0052] Many other variants are also possible and it should be recalled in this regard that the invention is not limited to the embodiments described and represented, but also encompasses all variants of execution within the reach of a person skilled in the art.

Claims

Demands

1. Opening control mechanism (1) intended to equip a side door of a motor vehicle, comprising: - a support bracket (10) intended to be rigidly fixed to the structure of said door; - a gripping handle (20) mounted movably to rotate on said support bracket (10) and capable of being pulled manually from outside said vehicle by a user to open said door; - a control lever (30) mounted movably to rotate on said support bracket (10) and coupled to said handle (20) so that, when the latter is pulled, said lever (30) is driven to rotate to cause the opening of said door;- an inertial locking device comprising a weight (40), mounted for rotation on said support bracket (10) and capable, in the event of a lateral impact and under the effect of the change in acceleration, of moving from an initial rest position which it occupies in the absence of external stress to a locking position in which a portion of this weight (40) comes into contact with said lever (30) so as to prevent its rotation; - anti-return means (50) capable of retaining said weight (40) in its locking position so as to ensure that the rotational locking of said lever (30) is maintained throughout the duration of said lateral impact;characterized in that it further comprises unlocking means (60, 61) designed to be manually operated from outside said vehicle and capable of acting on said anti-return means (50) after the occurrence of said lateral impact so that the latter no longer oppose the return of said weight (40) to its initial rest position.;

2. Opening control mechanism (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said anti-return means comprise an elastically deformable blade in bending (50), fixed by one of its ends on said support bracket (10) and adapted to deform during said lateral shock to retain said weight (40) in its blocking position.

3. Opening control mechanism (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that said unlocking means (60, 61) are capable to cause the bending of said blade (50) to a release position in which it no longer abuts against said weight (40) in order to allow the latter to return to its initial rest position.

4. Opening control mechanism (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that said unlocking means (60, 61) comprise a flexible tab (60) attached at one end to said support bracket (10) and carrying a control pin (61) provided to pass through the outer panel of said door, said unlocking means being configured so that pressing on said pin (61) causes said tab (60) to bend so that the latter forces said blade (50) to bend to its release position.

5. Opening control mechanism (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that said flexible leg (60) is molded in one piece from plastic material with said support bracket (10).

6. Opening control mechanism according to claim 4, characterized in that said flexible leg (60) is fixedly attached to said stirrup (10) after the latter has been made.

7. Opening control mechanism (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that said unlocking means comprise a push button provided to pass through the outer panel of said door, said push button being movable by translation between a rest position to which it is returned by elastic return means, and a pressed position in which it forces said blade (50) to flex to its release position.

8. Opening control mechanism (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that said push button is configured so that said blade (50) remains in its release position after the release of this button.

9. Side door of a motor vehicle comprising an opening control mechanism (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. Motor vehicle comprising at least one side door according to claim 9.

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