EP2208841B1 - Support arm for holding open the engine bonnet of a motor car - Google Patents

Abstract

The tool has a rod (4) e.g. telescopic rod, whose one end is provided with a widened base (6) and another end is provided with a hooking device (7). A movable element (9) is mounted pivotingly on a fixed element (8). The fixed element comprises a straight edge. The movable element is extended by a tab (12). The fixed element and the movable element are arranged such that an edge (13) of the tab is jointed against the straight edge of the fixed element. A space formed between the edge of the tab and the straight edge is provided with a housing. An independent claim is also included for a method for opening an opening and maintaining opening position of an opening of a motor vehicle.

Description

The technical field of the invention relates to manual tools used in the manufacture of motor vehicles, and more specifically, those for opening an opening, and to keep it open on the body. More specifically, the invention relates to a manual stand, which can be easily handled by an operator, and whose functions are improved. The tooling covered by the present invention is particularly suitable for opening a front hood of a vehicle and keeping it in the open position. The invention also relates to a method of opening and holding a vehicle door, implementing the tool mentioned above.

For a good understanding of the invention, the terms "crutch" and "opening and holding tool" are equivalent.

The crutches for opening and holding open a vehicle door, exist and have already been the subject of patents. One can, for example, quote the patent US6217938 , which discloses this type of tool. The peculiarity of this crutch is that it has a locking carabiner at the lock strike. A latch is operated via a rod controlled by a handle. The implementation of this crutch is relatively complex, and involves the interaction of a plurality of parts, articulated to each other, thus increasing the risk of malfunction.

The document US 2,434,598 A describes a manual tool according to the preamble of the independent claim 1. Another manual tool is known from the document US 2003/0001398 A1 .

The manual tool according to the invention makes it possible to open an opening and to keep it in the open position, by means of a simple and secure attachment device, insofar as, by a simple rotation of said stand, in the continuity of the opening movement of said opening, said attachment device is locked on the opening, without the possibility of inadvertent detachment during the opening operation, and during the holding phase in the open position. The two main features of the crutches according to the invention are therefore extremely easy to use, associated with a good level of safety for the operator.

The present invention relates to a manual tool comprising a rod. The main characteristic of such a tool is that the first end of said rod has an enlarged pedestal, and that the second end has a hooking device consisting of a fixed element connected to said rod and a movable element. having a housing, said movable member being pivotally mounted on the fixed member, and said housing to be at least partially closed by pivoting of the movable member. This tool can thus be manipulated to enter, at its second end, a portion of an object, which has been previously inserted into the housing, and to lock this socket, by a rotation of the rod around the movable member which will partially overlap the movable element and the fixed element, to partially close said housing. The preferred use of such a tool consists in introducing a predetermined part of an object to be grasped in the housing of the movable element, then in rotating the assembly "rod + fixed element" around the movable element, which will have been previously locked in rotation by said predetermined part of the object.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the fixed element and the movable element are in two parallel planes, located at the end of the rod, the axis of rotation of the movable element around the element. fixed being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the rod.

Advantageously, the fixed element has a rectilinear edge, and the movable element is extended by a tab ending in a straight edge, the two elements being arranged so that the edge of the tab is found opposite the edge. rectilinear of the fixed element, the space between said flange and said edge having the housing. In this way, the housing is located on the periphery of the fixed element, and is partially delimited by the right edge of the movable element, which is flush with a portion of the housing contour.

Preferably, the housing is comparable to a groove whose section is U-shaped housing conformation, makes the tool particularly suitable for objects to grasp, provided with a tapered portion, such as, for example, a wire or a ring.

Advantageously, the movable element is locked in rotation in one direction, by means of an abutment emerging from the fixed element, said movable element being maintained pressed against said stop, thanks to a return means connecting this movable element to this stop. This particular arrangement thus allows, at rest, to maintain the movable element in a defined position relative to the fixed element, this position corresponding to the implementation of the housing.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the return means is a spiral spring.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the rod is telescopic, and has locking means allowing it to remain deployed.

Preferably, the rod has surface reliefs, to facilitate the manual gripping of said tool by an operator. It is a relief intended for the fingers of the hand, to ensure a firm grip and mastered the tool. These reliefs constitute an ergonomic feature of the tool.

Advantageously, the base has two edges spaced and parallel to each other, said flanges extending the rod. In this way, the tool can be placed on an object having a rib, the width of which would be smaller than the spacing of said flanges.

• se saisir d'un outil conforme à l'invention,
• Amener la deuxième extrémité de l'outil vers la gâche,
• Placer une partie de la gâche dans le logement de l'outil,
• Faire pivoter l'outil autour de l'élément mobile bloqué en rotation dans la gâche, de manière à emprisonner ladite gâche dans le logement,
• Exercer un effort de poussée sur l'ouvrant pour l'ouvrir et finaliser le verrouillage,
• Maintenir l'ouvrant en position ouverte, en calant le socle de l'outil sur une partie fixe de la carrosserie.

The invention also relates to a method of opening and maintaining in the open position of a motor vehicle door with a keeper. The main feature of this method is that it comprises the following steps:

• to seize a tool according to the invention,
• Bring the second end of the tool to the strike,
• Place a part of the striker in the housing of the tool,
• Pivoting the tool around the mobile element locked in rotation in the striker, so as to trap said striker in the housing,
• Exert a thrust on the opening to open it and finalize the lock,
• Keep the opening in the open position, by wedging the base of the tool on a fixed part of the bodywork.

Advantageously, the opening is a front hood of a motor vehicle, provided with a rigid striker placed in front of said hood, said striker having a U-shaped and forming a vertical plane parallel to a longitudinal direction of said vehicle.

The tools according to the invention have the advantage of combining a dual function, which is that of being able to hook a part of an object to be grasped, and to lock this socket so as to make it safe, thanks to a simple handling of the tool, consisting of combining two movements of the tool, naturally in continuity of one another. They have the advantage of being compact, and to be practical to handle because of their geometry and lightened weight.

• La figure 1 est une vue en perspective d'une carrosserie de véhicule automobile, montrant l'outil selon l'invention, maintenant en position ouverte le capot avant.
• La figure 2, est une vue agrandie de la figure 1, se focalisant sur l'outil.
• La figure 3 est une vue en perspective du dispositif d'accrochage d'un outil selon l'invention.
• La figure 4 est une vue en perspective, sous un autre angle, du dispositif d'accrochage de la figure 3.
• La figure 5 est une vue du dispositif d'accrochage de la figure 4, montrant son interaction avec la gâche du capot avant d'un véhicule automobile.
• La figure 6 est une vue, sous un autre angle, du dispositif d'accrochage de la figure 5.
• La figure 7 est une vue du dispositif d'accrochage de la figure 6, en position verrouillée.
• La figure 8 représente une première étape d'ouverture du capot, avec un outil selon l'invention.
• La figure 9 représente une étape intermédiaire d'ouverture du capot, avec un outil selon l'invention.
• La figure 10 représente une étape finale d'ouverture du capot, avec un outil selon l'invention.

The following is a detailed description of a preferred embodiment of a tool according to the invention "with reference to the Figures 1 to 10 .

• The figure 1 is a perspective view of a motor vehicle body, showing the tool according to the invention, now in the open position the front cover.
• The figure 2 , is an enlarged view of the figure 1 , focusing on the tool.
• The figure 3 is a perspective view of the attachment device of a tool according to the invention.
• The figure 4 is a perspective view, from another angle, of the attachment device of the figure 3 .
• The figure 5 is a view of the shackle of the figure 4 , showing its interaction with the strike of the front hood of a motor vehicle.
• The figure 6 is a view, from another angle, of the attachment device of the figure 5 .
• The figure 7 is a view of the shackle of the figure 6 , in locked position.
• The figure 8 represents a first step of opening the cover, with a tool according to the invention.
• The figure 9 represents an intermediate step of opening the cover, with a tool according to the invention.
• The figure 10 represents a final step of opening the cover, with a tool according to the invention.

Referring to the figure 1 , a manual tool 1 according to the invention makes it possible to open a front hood 2 of a motor vehicle, and to keep it in the open position. this opening is often made necessary during certain stages of manufacture of a motor vehicle, to intervene in the compartment 3 located below said cover 2.

Referring to the figure 2 , the tool 1 consists of an elongated rod 4, comprising over a part of its length, reliefs 5, delimiting a handle allowing easy manipulation of the tool 1 by an operator, at the time of this opening phase 2. The rod 4 has, at its first end, a base 6 represented by a part having a U-shaped section, to highlight two flanges, parallel to each other, and extending said rod 4. This base 6 defines a groove, the longitudinal opening of which represents the furthest part of said base 6 with respect to the rod 4, this groove being disposed perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the rod 4. In this way, when the hood 2 is open, the tool 1 is keyed at its base 6, by overlapping a rabbet of the body. The rod 4 has at its second end, a hooking device 7 for cooperating with a keeper 20 implanted under the hood 2 of the motor vehicle.

Referring to Figures 3, 4 and 5 , the attachment device 7 comprises a stationary fixed element 8, implanted on the rod 4, and a plane movable element 9, pivotally mounted on said fixed element 9, said two elements 8, 9 being parallel to each other and having an interface of contact. These two elements 8, 9 are located at the end of the rod 4. In this way, the axis of rotation 10 of the movable element 9 around the fixed element 8 is found perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the rod. 4. The fixed element 8 has a rectilinear edge 11, and the movable element 9 is extended by a lug 12 of smaller thickness, detached from the contact interface, and ending in a perpendicular flange 13, said lug 12 being shaped to provide a U-shaped section groove in said movable member 9. The end of the perpendicular flange 13 of the tab 12 is aligned with the contact interface. The movable element 9 is positioned relative to the fixed element 8, so that one of the two sides of said U-shaped groove is extended by the straight edge 11 of the fixed element 8. This positioning between the two 8,9 elements of the attachment device 7, is provided jointly by a spiral spring 15 and a stop 16, in the form of a cylindrical pin, whose axis is parallel to the axis of rotation 10 of the movable member 9. In this way, the movable member 9 is prevented from rotating in one direction due to the presence of the stop 16, said movable member 9 being however pressed against this stop 16 by means of the prestressed spring 15, connecting the tab 12 of the movable element 9 to said abutment 16. For implantation convenience, the spring 15 connects the end of the pin 16 forming a stop, to the end of a second cylindrical pin 17 secured to the tab 12 , the two pins 16,17 having parallel longitudinal axes.

The method of opening and maintaining the hood 2 in the open position, by means of the tool 1 according to the invention, is carried out respecting the following chronological steps. For the example considered, and which corresponds to the reality of the facts, the striker 20 is a filiform piece having a U-shaped profile, and is part of a vertical plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. As shown in Figures 4, 5 and 8 , the operator is placed in front of the cover 2, with the tool 1 by hand, and brings, in a transverse direction of the vehicle, the attachment device 7 to the striker 20 of the cover 2, until the intermediate segment 21 of the striker 20 fits into the groove. The figure 6 , shows, from another angle, the insertion of this segment 21 in said groove. Referring to the figure 7 once this contact is established between the attachment device 7 and the striker 20, the operator locks this hooking, by pushing the rod 4 in front of it, so as to make it rotate about the axis of rotation connecting the movable member 9 to the fixed member 8. Since the movable member 9 is locked in rotation in the keeper 20, the fixed element 9 accompanies the rotation of the rod 4, and partially occludes the groove, trapping the segment 21 of the keeper 20 in said groove, avoiding lateral movement of the attachment device 7, which is would dissociate from the waste. 20. Referring to the figure 9 , after this locking operation by means of a forward rotation of the rod 4, the operator naturally continues its upward movement, to open the hood 2. Referring to the figure 10 this operation continues until a maximum opening of the cover 2, the tool 1 is then wedged at its base 6, on a projecting rib of the bodywork. The cover 2 is then kept open by the tool 1, thus stabilized.

Claims (10)

1. Hand tool (1) comprising a rod (4), the first end of said rod (4) having an enlarged base (6) and the second end having a latching device (7) formed by a fixed element (8) which is connected to said rod (4) and by a movable element (9) which comprises a housing and is pivotally mounted on the fixed element (8), said housing needing to be closed, at least in part, by pivoting the movable element (9), characterised in that the fixed element (8) has a rectilinear edge (11) and in that the movable element (9) is lengthened by a foot (12) which ends in a straight flange (13), the two elements (8, 9) being arranged in such a way that the flange (13) of the foot (12) is located opposite the rectilinear edge (11) of the fixed element (8), the space formed between said flange (13) and said edge (11) comprising the housing.
2. Tool according to claim 1, characterised in that the fixed element (8) and the movable element (9) are located in two parallel planes situated at the end of the rod (4), the axis of rotation (10) of the movable element (9) about the fixed element (8) being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the rod (4).
3. Tool according to claim 1, characterised in that the housing is comparable to a groove which is U-shaped in cross-section.
4. Tool according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the movable element (9) is rotationally locked in one direction by means of a stop (16) emerging from the fixed element (8), said movable element (9) being held pressed against said stop (16) owing to a return means (15) which connects this movable element (9) to this stop (16).
5. Tool according to claim 4, characterised in that the return means is a spiral spring (15).
6. Tool according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the rod (4) is telescopic and has locking means which allow it to remain extended.
7. Tool according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the rod has surface reliefs (5) to promote manual gripping of said tool by an operator.
8. Tool according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the base (6) has two flanges which are spaced apart and parallel, said flanges lengthening the rod (4).
9. Method of opening and holding in an open position a motor vehicle door leaf equipped with a strike plate (20), characterised in that it comprises the following steps:

   - grasping a tool (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9,

   - bringing the second end (7) of the tool (1) towards the strike plate (20),

   - placing a portion (21) of the strike plate (20) in the housing of the tool (1),

   - pivoting the tool (1) about the movable element (9) which is rotationally locked in the strike plate (20), so as to trap said strike plate (20) in the housing,

   - exerting a push force on the door leaf (2) to open it and complete the locking process,

   - holding the door leaf (2) in an open position by wedging the base (9) of the tool (1) on a fixed portion of the bodywork.
10. Method according to claim 9, characterised in that the door leaf is a motor vehicle front bonnet (2) equipped with a rigid strike plate (20) placed at the front of said bonnet (2), said strike plate (20) being U-shaped and being located in a vertical plane parallel to a longitudinal direction of said vehicle.

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