CN112513394A

CN112513394A - Handle assembly for motor vehicle

Info

Publication number: CN112513394A
Application number: CN201980049258.1A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 米夏埃尔·卡勒塞; 菲利普·朔伊尔
Original assignee: Huf Huelsbeck and Fuerst GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: Huf Huelsbeck and Fuerst GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 2018-07-25
Filing date: 2019-07-09
Publication date: 2021-03-16
Also published as: WO2020020632A1; EP3791036A1; DE102018117961A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a handle assembly (4) of a motor vehicle (1), comprising: a housing element (5) that can be fixed to a door (2) or a cover (3) of a motor vehicle (1), said housing element comprising an actuation interior (6) and a through-opening (7) allowing access to the actuation interior (6); an actuating element (8) which is designed for electrically opening the door (2) or the cover (3) when actuated by a user and which is arranged and movably supported within the actuating chamber (6); and an emergency actuation element (9) which is designed for mechanically opening the door (2) or the cover (3) when actuated by a user and is arranged within the actuation chamber (6) and is movably supported between a rest position and an open position. According to the invention, the emergency actuating element (9) forms at least one wall section (35; 36) of the actuating interior (6).

Description

Handle assembly for motor vehicle

The invention relates to a handle assembly for a motor vehicle, comprising: a housing element fixable to a door or a cover of a motor vehicle, the housing element comprising an actuation cavity and a through hole allowing access to the actuation cavity; an actuating element designed for electrically opening the door or the cover upon actuation by a user and arranged and movably supported within the actuating cavity; and an emergency actuation element, which is designed for mechanically opening the door or the cover when actuated by a user and is arranged within the actuation cavity and is movably supported between a rest position and an open position.

A handle assembly of the type described at the outset is known, for example, from DE 102013102106 a1 and comprises a handle bracket which can be fixed on the inside of a motor vehicle door; a handle member supported on the handle bracket; and a recess housing which can be mounted from the door outer side through the door module and which in the mounted state extends up to a handle bracket arranged on the door inner side and accommodates a handle element which can be actuated from the door outer side. The handle element has a button which is designed to trigger an electronic door opening process and can be actuated from the outside of the door. The handle element also has a handle body which is designed to trigger a mechanical door opening process, wherein the push button is rotatably supported relative to the handle body. The key and the handle body are disposed within the recess housing. A disadvantage of this known handle assembly is the complex structural design, which comprises a large number of components that should be mounted in a predetermined order, which increases the mounting time, negatively affects the ease of mounting and leads to high manufacturing costs due to the complex structure.

The object of the present invention is to achieve a solution which in a structurally simple manner provides an improved handle assembly which is characterized by a simple mounting with a minimum of parts.

In a handle assembly of the type described at the outset, this object is achieved according to the invention in that the emergency actuating element forms at least one wall section of the actuating interior.

Advantageous and expedient embodiments and refinements of the invention result from the respective dependent claims.

By the present invention, a handle assembly is provided which is characterized by a simple structure including a small number of parts. By forming at least one wall section of the actuating interior by means of the emergency actuating element, the use of, for example, a recess housing and a support housing known from the prior art becomes superfluous. Since the housing element and the emergency actuating element together form a wall of the actuating interior according to the invention, it is not necessary to consider the recess housing, and thus a component can advantageously be omitted in comparison with the known prior art, which additionally contributes to a minimization of the installation space. Since according to the invention the emergency actuating element forms at least one wall section of the actuating interior and the emergency actuating element is used in emergency operation, for example when the current supply of the motor vehicle fails in the event of an empty motor vehicle battery, or instead of normal operation of the handle assembly, the emergency actuating component is implicitly designed to be contour-matched, i.e. at least one section of the emergency actuating component is adapted to the contour of the actuating interior of the housing element, so that the housing element does not have to form the entire contour of the actuating interior, which simplifies and facilitates the production of the housing element.

In one embodiment, the invention provides that the emergency actuating element forms at least one bottom wall of the actuating chamber. The emergency actuating element thus forms the bottom wall as long as no emergency operation or actuation of the emergency actuating element takes place, so that material and thus costs for producing the housing element are saved, since the bottom wall of the housing element can be dispensed with.

In a further embodiment, the invention provides that the emergency actuating element forms at least one back plate of the actuating interior opposite the through-opening. By this measure, material and thus the costs for manufacturing the housing element are likewise saved.

With regard to an efficient installation which requires little installation space, the invention provides in one embodiment for the actuating element to be mounted rotatably about an actuating rotational axis which extends horizontally along the edge side of the through-opening. The actuating element is therefore rotatably or pivotably supported on the actuating pivot axis and, for actuation by a user, is rotated or pivoted about the actuating pivot axis in order to facilitate a motorized opening process of the door or of the cover.

In a further embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the emergency actuating element is mounted so as to be rotatable about an emergency actuating rotational axis, which extends horizontally along the edge side of the through-opening. Here, the emergency actuation turning shaft may be the same as the actuation turning shaft. Alternatively, the emergency actuation rotation shaft may also extend along an edge side of the through hole, which is opposite to the edge side along which the actuation rotation shaft of the actuation element extends.

In order to limit the movement of the emergency actuating element during emergency actuation, in order to thereby avoid damage to the handle assembly, it is advantageous if the housing element has a movement limiting wall which is designed to extend obliquely, starting from the emergency actuating rotational axis, in the direction of the through-opening and to prevent movement of the emergency actuating element beyond the open position.

Furthermore, with regard to an aesthetically pleasing and high-quality design of the handle assembly, the invention also provides that in the rest position of the emergency actuating element the at least one wall section of the emergency actuating element is arranged to terminate flush with an edge side of the through-opening, wherein in the open position of the emergency actuating element the at least one wall section of the emergency actuating element is arranged to be spaced apart from the edge side of the through-opening. By the fact that the emergency actuating element terminates flush in its rest position on the edge side of the through-opening, the user does not feel the emergency actuating element during normal operation of the handle assembly, which for the user acts like a wall of the actuating chamber.

If a component of the handle assembly has to be replaced, it is advantageous if, according to a further embodiment, the housing element comprises a base element in which the through-opening is designed and a cover element which is detachably connected to the base element and forms at least a part of the actuating chamber, the cover element forming a top wall of the actuating chamber.

In a further embodiment, an arrangement is structurally particularly orderly and makes full use of the installation space, wherein the actuating element is rotatably mounted on the cover element, and wherein the emergency actuating element is rotatably mounted on the base element.

In a further embodiment of the invention, it is structurally particularly advantageous if the actuating element is designed in the form of a lever arm and the free end of the actuating element has an actuating section which extends out of the actuating interior through an opening designed in the housing element and which interacts with a microswitch arranged on the outside on the housing element in order to electrically open the door or the cover when actuated by the user. By extending the actuating section through an opening in the housing element, a very compact handle assembly can be achieved which requires little installation space.

In a further embodiment, the compactness can be increased by the actuating section having an actuating ramp which is designed to press and trigger the microswitch when actuated by a user in order to electrically open the door or the cover. In this way, the movement of the actuating element can be directed in another direction than the direction required for pressing the microswitch.

Finally, in a further embodiment, it is provided that the emergency actuating element is connected to the cable system in order to mechanically open the door or the cover when actuated by a user, such that the emergency actuating element pulls the cable system in the direction of the actuating chamber when the emergency actuating element is moved from the rest position into the open position. By this measure, the installation space and the space necessary for the function of the handle assembly are minimized, and the compactness of the handle assembly is additionally improved.

It is to be understood that the features mentioned above and those yet to be explained below can be used not only in the respectively given combination but also in other combinations or alone without departing from the framework of the invention. The framework of the invention is defined only by the claims.

Further details, features and advantages of the subject matter of the invention result from the following description with reference to the drawing, in which exemplary preferred embodiments of the invention are shown.

In the drawings:

figure 1 shows a schematic side view of a motor vehicle comprising a plurality of handle assemblies according to the invention,

figure 2 shows a perspective view of a handle assembly according to the invention,

figure 3 shows a perspective rear view of a handle assembly according to the invention,

figure 4 shows a perspective exploded view of a handle assembly according to the present invention,

figure 5 shows a partially cut-away perspective side view of a housing element of a handle assembly according to the invention,

figure 6 shows a partially cut-away perspective view of a handle assembly according to the present invention,

fig. 7 shows a partially cut-away perspective view of a housing element of a handle assembly according to the invention, and an emergency actuating element arranged therein, wherein the emergency actuating element is arranged in a rest position,

fig. 8 shows a further partially sectioned perspective view of the housing element and the emergency actuating element, wherein the emergency actuating element is arranged to be moved from a rest position towards an open position,

FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of an actuating element of the handle assembly according to the present invention, and

FIG. 10 shows a top view of a handle assembly according to the present invention.

Fig. 1 shows an exemplary motor vehicle 1 in the form of a passenger car, which in the example has four doors 2a (two of which are visible in fig. 1) and a cover 3, which can be opened by means of a corresponding handle assembly 4, wherein it is provided that the respective door 2 or cover 3 has been unlocked beforehand. Therefore, the handle assembly 4 is not only suitable for the vehicle door 2. Rather, it can also be used on vehicle covers 3, such as rear covers or trunk lids. Fig. 2 shows a perspective front view of the handle assembly 4 according to the present invention, while fig. 3 shows a perspective rear view of the handle assembly 4. Finally, fig. 4 shows a perspective exploded view of the handle assembly 4. As described in the foregoing, the handle assembly 4 is intended for being mounted in one of the doors 2 or in the cover 3 of the motor vehicle 1 and comprises a housing element 5 that can be fixed on the door 2 or on the cover 3 of the motor vehicle 1. The housing element 5 itself has a frame 10 and an actuating interior 6, wherein the frame 10 is designed as one piece with the housing element 5 and forms an external optical closure in the body of the motor vehicle. The user can gain access to the actuation chamber 6 by means of a through-hole 7 designed in the housing element 5 (see e.g. fig. 2), wherein the through-hole 7 is designed in the frame 10. On the frame 10 of the housing element 5, a bulkhead frame 11 is detachably fastened, which can have, for example, electronic components for detecting an authorized user and for communicating with a control device of the motor vehicle 1, so that the door 2 or the cover 3 is unlocked upon detection of an authorized user.

The handle assembly 4 further comprises an actuating element 8 and an emergency actuating element 9, as can be seen for example from the exploded view of fig. 4 or the side sectional view of fig. 6.

The actuating element 8 is designed to electrically open the door 2 or the cover 3 when the door 2 or the cover 3 is unlocked and the user actuates the actuating element 8 in normal operation of the handle assembly 4. The actuating element 8 is designed according to the type of lever arm which is mounted so as to be rotatable about an actuating rotational axis 12, wherein the actuating rotational axis 12 extends horizontally along an edge side 14 (see, for example, fig. 6) of the through-opening 7. More precisely, the actuating element 8 has two shaft extensions 15, by means of which the actuating element 8 is rotatably supported in corresponding shaft receptacles 25 on the housing element 5 (see, for example, fig. 4), wherein an imaginary straight line between the two shaft extensions 15 defines the actuating rotational axis 12. In this way, the actuating element 8 is arranged and movably supported in the actuating chamber 6. The actuating element 8, which is of lever-arm-like design, has a free end 16, on which an actuating section 17 (see, for example, fig. 9) is designed, which extends out of the actuating interior 6 through an opening 18 in the shaped housing element 5, as is shown, for example, in fig. 3, 6 and 10. When actuating the actuating element 8, the user reaches his hand into the actuating interior 6 and grasps the actuating element 8 from behind in order to deflect it in the direction of the through-opening 7 about the actuating rotational axis 12 in order to electrically open the door 2 or the cover 3. In the process, when the user actuates the actuating element 8, the actuating section 17 interacts with a microswitch 19, which is arranged on the outside of the housing element 5, wherein the pushbutton 24 is pressed by the microswitch. The actuating section 17 has an actuating ramp 20, which can be seen in the detailed top view of fig. 10 and is designed such that the actuating section 17 tapers in the direction of the through-opening 7. In fig. 10, the initial position of the actuating element 8 and its actuating section 17 is shown, wherein the actuating element 8 is held in the initial position by a restoring element 21 designed in the manner of a leaf spring and the actuation of the actuating element 8 is effected against the restoring force generated by the restoring element 21 in order to electrically open the door 2 or the lid 3, as is known from the prior art, so that no further details of this known opening process will be discussed in more detail. The restoring element 21 is designed as a leaf spring (see fig. 4) and is held in a corresponding receptacle designed in the housing element 5. Thus, when actuating the actuating element 8, the user must exert a corresponding force in order to overcome the return force of the restoring element 21 and press the actuating element 21 in the direction 22 (see fig. 6) of the through-hole 7. In the process, the actuating element 8 pivots about the actuating rotational axis 12, so that a wider section 23 (see, for example, fig. 10) of the actuating ramp 20 presses a button 24 of the microswitch 19 and triggers the microswitch 19, the microswitch 19 thereby generating a signal for electrically opening the door 2 or the cover 3. As can be seen from fig. 10, when the actuating element 8 is actuated, the movement of the actuating section 17 is elongated tangentially to the microswitch 19, or transversely to the longitudinal extension 38 of the microswitch 19 and transversely to the pressing-in direction of the pushbutton 24, i.e. transversely to the actuating direction of the microswitch 19.

As can be seen, for example, from fig. 4, the housing element 5 is designed in multiple parts and comprises a base element 26 and a cover element 27, which are detachably connected to one another by means of a snap connection. For this purpose, latching hooks 28 are provided on the cover element 27, which latching hooks engage behind latching projections 29 provided on the base element 26 (see, for example, fig. 4). A through-opening 7 is formed in the base element 26, wherein the base element 26 forms at least part of the actuating interior 6. Further, a cover element 27 detachably connected with the base element 26 forms a top wall 30 of the actuation cavity 6 (see e.g. fig. 6). As can further be seen, for example, from fig. 6, the actuating element 8 is rotatably mounted on the cover element 27, while the emergency actuating element 9 is rotatably mounted on the base element 26.

The emergency actuating element 9, like the actuating element 8, is also arranged in the actuating chamber 6, wherein the emergency actuating element 9 is rotatably supported about an emergency actuating rotational axis 31, which extends horizontally along an edge side 32 of the through-opening 7. This edge side 32 is opposite the edge side 14 on the frame 10 along which the actuating rotation shaft 12 extends. The emergency actuating element 9 is designed for mechanically opening the door 2 or the cover 3 when actuated by a user, wherein the emergency actuating element 9 is movable in the direction from a rest position (see fig. 7) towards an open position (see fig. 8) when actuated. Subsequently, upon reaching the open position, the mechanical opening of the door 2 or the cover 3 is completed. For this purpose, during mechanical opening of the door 2 or the cover 3 upon actuation by a user, the emergency actuation element 9 is connected to the cable system 33 such that the emergency actuation element 9 pulls the cable system 33 in the direction of the actuation chamber 6 when the emergency actuation element 9 is moved from the rest position into the open position. The cable system 33 is designed as a bowden cable, which is fastened to a suspension 34 of the emergency actuating element 9 (see, for example, fig. 6) and is guided to the outside of the housing element 5. The suspension 34 is arranged on a through-opening 39 of the housing element or base element 26. The emergency actuation element 9 is a two-armed lever extending from the emergency actuation shaft 31 and having an L-shaped cross-section, as shown, for example, in fig. 4, 6, 7 and 8. As can further be seen from fig. 6, the emergency actuating element 9 forms at least in sections a wall of the actuating interior 6. Here, the emergency actuating element 6 forms a back plate 35 of the actuating interior 6 opposite the through-opening 7. In particular, the emergency actuation element 9 also forms a bottom wall 36 of the actuation cavity 6. In the rest position of the emergency actuating element 9 (see fig. 7), the lever arm of the emergency actuating element 9 forming the bottom wall 36 is arranged to terminate flush with the edge side 32 of the through-hole 7. In case of emergency actuation, the user must press the bottom wall 36 downwards in order to mechanically open the door 2 or the lid 3. Thereby, the emergency actuating element 9 is moved from the rest position into an open position (see fig. 8), wherein in the open position of the emergency actuating element 9 the lever arm forming the bottom wall 36 of the emergency actuating element 9 is arranged spaced apart from the edge side 32 of the through hole 7 and from the through hole 7. The movement of the emergency actuating element 9 in the direction of the open position is limited in such a way that the housing element 5 has a movement limiting wall 37 (see, for example, fig. 5, 6, 7 and 8) which, starting from the emergency actuating rotary shaft 31, is designed to extend obliquely in the direction of the through-opening 7 and to prevent a movement of the emergency actuating element 9 beyond the open position.

The invention described above should naturally not be limited to the embodiments described and shown. It will be apparent that numerous modifications may be made to the embodiments shown in the drawings without departing thus from the scope of the invention, where such modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art corresponding to the intended use. The invention includes all matters contained in the description and/or shown in the accompanying drawings including departures from the specific embodiments as would be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Claims

1. A handle assembly (4) of a motor vehicle (1), comprising:

a housing element (5) that can be fixed to a door (2) or a cover (3) of the motor vehicle (1), said housing element comprising an actuation interior (6) and a through-hole (7) allowing access to the actuation interior (6),

an actuating element (8) which is designed for electrically opening the door (2) or the cover (3) upon actuation by a user and is arranged and movably supported in the actuating chamber (6), and

an emergency actuation element (9) designed to mechanically open the door (2) or the cover (3) upon actuation by the user and arranged within the actuation cavity (6) and movably supported between a rest position and an open position,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the emergency actuating element (9) forms at least one wall section (35; 36) of the actuating interior (6).

2. Handle assembly (4) according to claim 1, characterized in that the emergency actuation element (9) forms at least one bottom wall (36) of the actuation cavity (6).

3. Handle assembly (4) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the emergency actuation element (9) forms at least one back plate (35) of the actuation cavity (6) opposite the through hole (7).

4. Handle assembly (4) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the actuating element (8) is rotatably supported about an actuating rotation axis (12) which is horizontally elongated along an edge side (14) of the through hole (7).

5. Handle assembly (4) according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that the emergency actuation element (9) is rotatably supported around an emergency actuation rotation axis (31) which is horizontally elongated along an edge side (32) of the through hole (7).

6. Handle assembly (4) according to claim 5, characterized in that the housing element (5) has a movement limiting wall (37) which is designed to elongate obliquely starting from the emergency actuation rotary shaft (31) in the direction of the through-opening (7) and to prevent a movement of the emergency actuation element (9) beyond the open position.

7. Handle assembly (4) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the rest position of the emergency actuating element (9) at least one wall section (36) of the emergency actuating element (9) is arranged to terminate flush with the edge side (32) of the through hole (7), wherein in the open position of the emergency actuating element (9) at least one wall section (36) of the emergency actuating element (9) is arranged spaced apart from the edge side (32) of the through hole (7) and from the through hole (7).

8. Handle assembly (4) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing element (5) comprises a base element (26) in which the through-hole (7) is designed and a cover element (27) detachably connected to the base element (26), which forms at least a part of the actuation inner chamber (6), which cover element forms a top wall (30) of the actuation inner chamber (6).

9. Handle assembly (4) according to claim 8, characterized in that the actuating element (8) is rotatably supported on the cover element (27), wherein the emergency actuating element (9) is rotatably supported on the base element (26).

10. Handle assembly (4) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the actuating element (8) is designed lever-arm-like and the free end (16) of the actuating element (8) has an actuating section (17) which extends out of the actuating interior (6) through an opening (18) designed in the housing element (5) and which interacts with a microswitch (19) which is arranged externally on the housing element (5) in order to electrically open the door (2) or the cover (3) when actuated by a user.

11. Handle assembly (4) according to claim 10, characterized in that the actuation section (17) has an actuation ramp (20) designed to press and trigger the microswitch (19) when actuated by the user, in order to electrically open the door (2) or the cover (3).

12. Handle assembly (4) according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that for mechanically opening the door (2) or the cover (3) upon actuation by the user, the emergency actuation element (9) is connected to a cable system (33) such that the emergency actuation element (9) pulls the cable system (33) towards the actuation cavity (6) when the emergency actuation element (9) is moved from the rest position to the open position.