EP1201851B1 - Handle arrangement for a vehicle sliding door - Google Patents

Abstract

The control device for one or more door mechanisms comprises a support (16) and a control handle (20) pivoted on the support. The handle is pivoted along two axes extending near the handle opposite ends (32,34). Each of the handle ends is provided with activating cables (12,14) of the mechanisms.

Description

The present invention relates to a device for control of one or more mechanisms.

It concerns in particular a device for control of one or more opening mechanisms of motor vehicle according to the preamble of the claim 1.

These devices are adapted to control, from a part, the lock of the door, which locks this last in closed position and, on the other hand, a lock security that is intended to keep the door open and prevent accidental closing.

For this purpose, according to a known arrangement of this type of device, the handle is adapted to act simultaneously on both mechanisms.

Although relatively effective, this technique has a major drawback to the extent that efforts required to operate the handle are necessarily high.

This technique also strongly penalizes the ergonomics of the handle for the control of one of the mechanisms.

It is also known from DE-A-198 33 168 a mechanism control device to unlock a sliding leaf in open and closed positions by rotating the handle in two opposite directions.

This device comprises an actuating finger central, actuating two unlocking mechanisms different depending on whether the handle pivots in one direction or In another.

Moreover, it is known from the patent document EP-A-1 041 221 a mounted vehicle door handle pivoting around two distinct and parallel axes, extending near the two opposite ends of the handle.

The rotation of the handle around each of the two axes is in the same direction of rotation.

The object of the invention is to overcome these disadvantages.

This goal is achieved by using the characteristics of the characterizing part of claim 1.

It is thus possible to rotate the handle always in the direction of moving the door sliding.

• le support comporte deux paliers sur lesquels reposent respectivement les extrémités de la poignée et qui délimitent chacun un axe de pivotement pour la poignée, des moyens élastiquement déformables sollicitant la poignée en appui contre lesdits paliers ;
• les moyens élastiquement déformables comportent une tige élastique dont les extrémités mutuellement opposées sont ancrées respectivement sur les extrémités de la poignée et dont la zone médiane est portée par une butée équipant le support ;
• les extrémités mutuellement opposées de la poignée se prolongent chacune par un bras s'étendant transversalement par rapport à l'axe général de la poignée, sur l'extrémité libre duquel sont montés lesdits moyens d'actionnement ;
• lesdits moyens d'actionnement comportent deux câbles fixés chacun sur l'extrémité libre de l'un des bras et assurant chacun l'actionnement d'un mécanisme respectif ;
• lesdits moyens d'actionnement comportent deux secteurs dentés s'engrenant l'un dans l'autre et montés chacun à rotation sur le support sous la commande de l'un des bras, entre une position de repos et une position active d'actionnement des mécanismes, et un organe de raccordement de l'un des secteurs dentés au mécanisme ou à chaque mécanisme à commander ;
• il comporte deux leviers montés à rotation sur le support et comportant chacun une première zone d'extrémité en appui sur une butée portée par l'un des bras et une deuxième zone d'extrémité dans laquelle est ménagée l'un des secteurs dentés ;
• l'un desdits leviers est pourvu d'un bras de levier prolongeant latéralement ladite deuxième extrémité et sur lequel est ancré l'organe de raccordement ;
• il comporte en outre un organe élastiquement déformable s'étendant entre la tige et le support et sollicitant les secteurs dentés en position de repos ;
• l'organe de raccordement est constitué par un câble ou une bielle.

This control device may also include one or more of the following features:

• the support comprises two bearings on which the ends of the handle respectively rest and which each delimit a pivot axis for the handle, elastically deformable means urging the handle bearing against said bearings;
• the elastically deformable means comprise an elastic rod whose mutually opposite ends are respectively anchored to the ends of the handle and whose median zone is carried by a stop equipping the support;
• the mutually opposite ends of the handle are each extended by an arm extending transversely to the general axis of the handle, on the free end of which are mounted said actuating means;
• said actuating means comprise two cables each fixed on the free end of one of the arms and each ensuring the actuation of a respective mechanism;
• said actuating means comprise two toothed sectors meshing with each other and each rotatably mounted on the support under the control of one of the arms, between a rest position and an active actuating position of the mechanisms, and a connecting member of one of the toothed sectors to the mechanism or to each mechanism to be controlled;
• it comprises two levers rotatably mounted on the support and each having a first end zone resting on an abutment carried by one of the arms and a second end zone in which is formed one of the toothed sectors;
• one of said levers is provided with a lever arm laterally extending said second end and on which is anchored the connecting member;
• it further comprises an elastically deformable member extending between the rod and the support and urging the toothed sectors in the rest position;
• the connecting member is constituted by a cable or a connecting rod.

• La figure 1 est une vue en perspective d'un premier exemple de réalisation d'un dispositif de commande conforme à l'invention ;
• La figure 2 est une vue de dessus du dispositif de la figure 1, en position de repos ;
• La figure 3 montre le dispositif des figures 1 et 2 en position active de commande d'un premier mécanisme ;
• La figure 4 montre le dispositif des figures 1 et 2 en position active de commande d'un deuxième mécanisme ;
• La figure 5 est une vue de dessus d'un autre exemple de réalisation d'un dispositif de commande conforme à l'invention, pour la commande d'un seul mécanisme ;
• La figure 6 montre le dispositif de la figure 5 selon un premier mode d'utilisation ; et
• La figure 7 montre le dispositif de la figure 5 selon un deuxième mode de d'utilisation.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge from the following description, given solely by way of example, and with reference to the appended drawings in which:

• Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a control device according to the invention;
• Figure 2 is a top view of the device of Figure 1, in the rest position;
• Figure 3 shows the device of Figures 1 and 2 in the active position of controlling a first mechanism;
• FIG. 4 shows the device of FIGS. 1 and 2 in the active position of control of a second mechanism;
• Figure 5 is a top view of another embodiment of a control device according to the invention, for the control of a single mechanism;
• Figure 6 shows the device of Figure 5 according to a first mode of use; and
• Figure 7 shows the device of Figure 5 according to a second mode of use.

With reference to FIGS. 1 to 4, a description will be first embodiment of a device for control according to the invention.

This device, designated by the numerical reference 10, is intended to control two mechanisms (no represented), by means of 12 and 14 each constituted by a cable sheath extending between the device and the mechanism order.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, the device is intended to control two mechanisms of a sliding door of a motor vehicle, namely a door lock, now the latter in closed position, and a security lock now the door in open position.

It mainly includes a support 16 coming from mount on the plate 18 of the door and a handle 20 pivotably mounted on the support 16.

As seen in FIG. 2, the support 16 is basically placed inside the panel of the door. However, it has two legs 22 and 24 which protrude outward from the door and which are each provided with an end surface concave, 26 and 28, delimiting a pivot bearing for the handle 20, against which the latter comes take support.

The handle 20, in turn, has a zone 30 gripping center manually operable by the user and two end zones mutually opposed 32 and 34 each provided with an end nose 36 and 38 journalled in pivot bearings 26 and 28 and an arm 40 and 42 extending laterally in the door panel, that is to say perpendicular to the general axis of the gripping zone 30, towards the support 16.

An elastically deformable element constituted by an elastic rod 44 whose ends mutually opposites 46 and 48 are respectively anchored on the end arm 40 and 42 of the handle 20 and whose middle part is mounted on a stop 50 carried by the support 16, urges the handle 20 to bear against the bearings.

We finally see in Figures 1 to 4 that the end free of each arm 40 and 42 is provided with a point anchor, such as 52, securing the cable sheathed 12, 14 on the handle, the sheath being, as for it, fixed relative to the support 16 by means of a fixing member 53 suitable.

With reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, the device 10 just described works as follows.

As mentioned previously, the handle has two pivot axes each located in the vicinity of one of the mutually opposite ends of the handle.

Similarly, these ends are each provided with a actuation cable of one of the mechanisms to be controlled.

Thus, with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, the pivoting the handle around the pivot bearing 26 and 28 located opposite one of the ends 32 and 34 of the handle causes traction, depending on the direction designated by the arrow F, on the cable carried by the other end of the handle and therefore an action on the corresponding mechanism.

As soon as the handle is released, it is returned to its rest position under the action of the rod 44 elastically deformable.

As we understand it, the device that has just been described allows two different mechanisms to be manipulated means of the same handle by maneuvering the latter according to two specific directions of rotation, and this with a increased ergonomics when it is intended to equip a sliding door of a motor vehicle, because the direction of rotation of the handle for actuating one of the mechanisms of the door is adapted to the direction of movement of the latter.

We will now describe, with reference to the figures 5 to 7, another embodiment of a device for control according to the invention.

This device, designated by the numerical reference 54, is intended for the control of a single mechanism.

As in the embodiment described previously, it comprises a support 56 mounted on a sheet 58 of a vehicle door and provided with two spouts 60 and 62 projecting delimiting pivot bearings, and a handle 64, similar to the handle described previously with reference to Figures 1 to 4, climb of pivotally on the support 56 around the bearings of pivoting.

An elastically deformable rod 66 solicits the handle in rest position, ie in support against the bearings.

Unlike the embodiment previously described, the device 54 is provided with two levers 68 and 70 each rotatably mounted on the support 56 and provided each of a first end zone, respectively 72 and 74, bearing on a stop, 76 and 78, carried by free end of a respective arm of the handle 64 of to be rotated by the latter, and a second end zone, 80 and 82, equipped of a toothed sector, such as 84. These second zones end positions are positioned opposite each other so that they mesh one into the other.

A lever arm 86, on which is anchored a operating member 88 of the mechanism to be controlled extends laterally from the second end of one levers. For example, this maneuvering organ is constituted by a cable or a connecting rod, preferably a rod.

Finally, a helical spring 90 extends between the support 56 and the arm 86 so as to solicit the levers resting against stops 76 and 78.

This device works as follows.

With reference to FIG. 6, the pivoting of the handle 64 in a first direction, for example around the pivot bearing formed by the nozzle designated by the reference numeral 60, causes displacement consecutive arm carried by the opposite end of the handle and a corresponding lever rotation 70. This last causes an action on the actuator 88 according to the direction indicated by the arrow F 'and a control of the mechanism to which the latter is connected.

On the contrary, with reference to Figure 7, when the handle 64 is actuated to pivot according to the clockwise, that is, around the landing defined by the nozzle designated by the numeral 62, the arm carried by the opposite end to the pivot bearing causes the rotation of the corresponding lever 60 in the clockwise direction.

This movement is transmitted through the intermediary of toothed sectors 84, to the other lever 70, which causes a consecutive traction on the operating member 88, according to the direction indicated by the arrow F ', and therefore a action on the mechanism to be controlled.

At the end of these movements, according to one or the other the pivoting direction of the handle, the spring 90 and the elastically deformable shaft 66 reposition together the handle in the rest position.

As in the embodiment described previously, this embodiment makes it possible to improve considerably the ergonomics of the worsted because the pivoting direction of the handle is adapted to the direction of movement of the opening on which she went up.

Claims (11)

1. A device for operating one or more mechanisms, for unlocking a motor vehicle sliding door in closed and open positions, this device comprising a support (16; 56) and an operating handle (20; 64) mounted on the support (16; 56) to pivot about two substantially parallel pivot axes and operable manually by a user to operate the mechanism or each mechanism, the two pivot axes of the handle (20; 64) respectively extending, in the rest position of the handle, in the vicinity of the mutually opposite ends (32; 34) of the handle, each of the ends of the handle being provided with means (12, 14; 68, 70, 88) for operating said mechanism or one of said mechanisms, which device is characterised in that the handle (20; 64) pivots about one of the pivot axes in a first rotation direction to unlock the door in the closed position and about the other pivot axis in a second rotation direction opposite to the first to unlock the door in the open position, the first and second rotation directions being such that the handle (20; 64) is moved each time in the direction of movement of the door.
2. A device according to claim 1, characterised in that the support (16; 56) includes two bearings (26, 28; 60, 62) on which respective ends of the handle rest and each of which delimits a pivot axis for the handle, elastically deformable means (44; 66) pressing the handle (20; 64) against said bearings.
3. A device according to claim 2, characterised in that the elastically deformable means include an elastic rod (44; 66) whereof the mutually opposite ends are anchored to respective ends of the handle (20; 64) and whereof the median area is carried by an abutment (50) of the support.
4. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that each of the mutually opposite ends of the handle (20; 64) is extended by an arm (40; 42) extending transversely to the general axis of the handle, on the free end whereof said operating means (12, 14; 68, 70, 88) are mounted.
5. A device according to claim 4, characterised in that said operating means include two cables (12; 14) each fixed to the free end of one of the arms (40; 42) and each operating a respective mechanism.
6. A device according to claim 4, characterised in that said operating means include two toothed sectors (84) that mesh with each other and each of which is mounted on the support (56) to be rotated by one of the arms between a rest position and an active mechanism operating position, a member (88) connecting one of the toothed sectors to the mechanism or to each mechanism to be operated.
7. A device according to claim 6, characterised in that it includes two levers (68; 70) rotatably mounted on the support (56) and each including a first end area (72; 74) in bearing engagement with an abutment (76; 78) carried by one of the arms and a second end area in which one of the toothed sectors (84) is formed.
8. A device according to claim 7, characterised in that one of said levers (70) has a lever arm (86) extending said second end laterally and to which the connecting member (88) is anchored.
9. A device according to claim 8, characterised in that it further includes an elastically deformable member (90) extending between the lever arm (86) and the support (56) and urging the toothed sectors (84) toward their rest position.
10. A device according to any one of claims 6 to 9, characterised in that the connection member (88) is a cable or a link.
11. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterised in that it constitutes a device (10; 54) for operating mechanisms of a motor vehicle sliding door.

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