DE102008031218A1 - Gripping unit for e.g. door, of motor vehicle, has function body provided with locking hook for detachable arrangement of cap, where function body is designed as single-piece with cap that exhibits plastic material - Google Patents

Abstract

The unit (1) has a lock cylinder (4) covered by a covering cap (5) towards an outer side of the unit, where the cap is arranged in a part of the unit in a detachable manner. A function body (6) is provided with a locking hook for detachable arrangement of the cap, where the function body is designed as a single-piece with the cap that exhibits a plastic material. The function body has a plastic material that is different from the plastic material of the cap. The plastic material of the function body exhibits flexibility higher than the plastic material of the cap.

Description

The The present invention relates to a handle unit for a movable part of a motor vehicle, in particular for a door or a flap, with a lock cylinder, the by means of a cap towards the outside the handle unit is covered, wherein the cap releasably on at least a part of the handle unit is arranged.

modern Handle units for doors and flaps of a motor vehicle are predominantly via electronic means per Radio, operated by infrared or by means of RFID technology. Therefore falls to the conventional mechanical lock cylinder The grip unit is only of secondary importance. For example There are keyless go systems that even use the remote of the locking system via a transmitter key superfluous do.

at Power failure in the motor vehicle, however, has a possibility to get the motor vehicle open. Therefore, be the lock cylinder of such a handle unit only very rarely operated with a mechanical key. To the Lock cylinder to protect and from the outside To cover, cover caps are known which on the handle unit or on the cylinder housing of the lock cylinder be releasably attached. The caps cover the lock cylinder towards the outside of the handle unit or the door of the motor vehicle, and then have to be taken, if the door or flap through the lock cylinder be opened with a mechanical key got to.

From the EP 1 738 042 B1 a handle unit for a door or a flap of a motor vehicle is known which has a lock cylinder which is provided with a cap. The cap is located in the extension of the door handle and is adapted to the shape of the door handle. In order to make the appearance of the handle unit with the cap high quality, the attachment of the cap is designed concealed and implemented via internal locking geometries. Due to the design of the cap as a plastic injection-molded component results due to the internal geometry with the locking means in the cap the need to provide a simple and manufacturing technology feasible latching possibility of the cap. Previously known solutions of attaching the cap on internal locking geometries with separately clipped to the cap snaps are not sufficiently resilient when the cap must be removed from the lock cylinder. Disadvantageously results in a complex design of the inner locking geometry of the cap and a high manufacturing cost.

It is therefore the object of the present invention, a simply executed Cover for a handle unit for a mobile Part of a motor vehicle to create a simple attachment on a part of the handle unit allows.

These Task is based on a handle unit for a motor vehicle according to the preamble of claim 1 in conjunction solved with the characterizing features. advantageous Further developments of the invention are in the dependent claims specified.

The The invention includes the technical teaching that a functional body with at least one latching hook for releasable arrangement of Cover is provided, wherein the functional body in one piece is formed with the cap and wherein the cap a first plastic material and the functional body one deviating from the first plastic material second plastic material having.

Of the Functional body serves as a link of the cap with a part of the handle unit. By a one-piece Training the cap with the functional body is the advantage achieved that a complex connection geometry deleted between the functional body and the cap and also a mechanical joining step for joining the functional body in the cap no longer required is. The result is a one-piece, one-piece component provided to protect the lock cylinder in the handle unit on the carrier body outside can be clipped on. A direct and one-step production a cap with the functional body is due The complex geometry is not possible because of injection molding the production of undercuts a considerable amount of tools requires or is often impossible. on the other hand is a clip connection between the cap and the functional body disadvantageous, there for removing the cap from the counter-locking means on the carrier body a significant force on the functional body must be exercised. Consequently, the problem arises that a clip connection between the functional body and the Cap can not absorb these forces, and it too Damage to the cap comes. However, according to the invention is the Functional body with the cap in one piece executed, a corresponding dimensioning is unnecessary the locking connection between the functional body and the Cover by means of a positive clip connection. Consequently, another advantage is achieved according to which the cap designed with the functional body considerably more robust can be.

The cover cap preferably comprises egg NEN first plastic material, wherein the functional body has a different, deviating from the first plastic material second plastic material. The plastic material of the functional body must be able to withstand high forces and have a certain elasticity, since in particular the latching hooks must resiliently spring back during operation. The plastic material of the cap, however, may have the same plastic as, for example, the door handle or the carrier body, which requires a lower elastic compliance.

Preferably the plastic material of the cap has a larger Hardness as the plastic material of the functional body, wherein the plastic material of the functional body a has higher elastic compliance than the plastic material the cap. Thus, the material of the cap a polyamide PA6 and preferably have a fiber-reinforced polyamide, wherein the material of the functional body is a polyamide PA12 and preferably also comprises a fiber-reinforced polyamide.

One Another advantage is achieved in that the functional body has at least one and preferably two locking hooks, with Gegenrastmittein a releasable positive connection form the cap with the carrier body. The Handle unit has a carrier body for formation its basic structure, wherein the latching hook in at least one of the carrier body trained counter-latching means can be latched to a detachable positive connection of the cap with the carrier body to build. Alternatively, the counter-locking means on the housing be arranged of the lock cylinder. In particular, you can the latching hooks are molded onto the cap itself, so that the functional body the structure between the latching hooks and the cap forms. The latching hooks designate resilient Elements on which each end a detent is formed. The counter-locking means can be carried out in the same way be, and also include an undercut formed by locking lugs can be. If the cap on the carrier body pressed on, so snap the locking hooks of the cover in the counter-locking means of the carrier body. The positive locking geometry between the latching hook and the Gegenrastmittein can be executed in such a way that the locking hooks only by a another element from the locking position pushed back resiliently must be to solve the locking connection and the cap from the carrier body or from To be able to remove the cylinder housing.

According to one further advantageous embodiment of the invention Handle unit is the functional body with the material the cap is molded in an injection molding process, in such a way that the material of the cap the functional body in Essentially encloses, to formulate a Connection between the functional body and the cap to accomplish. The material of the cap encloses the Functional body then essentially when the functional body so predominantly form-locked by the material of the cap is that the functional body held in the cap is and can not be solved by this. The overmolding the material of the cap around the functional body can be carried out so completely that only the locking hooks protrude from the material of the cap, to fulfill their function. The injection molding process includes at least two process steps, namely the insertion of the functional body in the injection mold and secondly the step of overmolding the functional body with the Material of the cap, while the shape of the cap even done. The functional body and the cap advantageously thus form a 2-component injection molded part.

advantageously, can the functional body and the cap also have a cohesive connection to one another, to the one-piece design of the cap to form with the functional body. The functional body has a base region with a contact surface, the with a counter contact surface formed inside the cover cap is brought into coverage. The cohesive Connection takes place between the contact surface of the Functional body and the mating contact surface of Cap. The cohesive connection between the Cover and the functional body can in different ways be prepared, with some possibilities below are listed.

The Joining connection between the contact surface of the Functional body and the mating contact surface of Cover cap can by means of an ultrasonic welding process be generated. In this case, both the functional body as also clamped the cap into a respective receptacle, with between the recordings an ultrasonic motion is generated. Through the between the contact surface and the mating contact surface arising Frictional heat is the material of the functional body and / or the cap melted at least near the surface, so that a thorough mixing of the materials and the cohesive Connection is made. It is between the recordings a Contact force applied over the contact surfaces the joining components is passed. By the melting of the material or materials is followed by a repositioning, so that the functional body thereby can be aligned in the cap accordingly.

According to one another possible embodiment of the preparation the cohesive connection between the contact surface of the functional body and the mating contact surface The cap can be applied by laser beam welding become. When laser beam welding is one of two joining partners, in this case preferably the cap, transparent to the laser radiation, so that these in the Contact level between the functional body and the cap can be radiated. The non-transparent joining partner absorbs the laser radiation in the plane of the contact surface, so that a heat is introduced into the contact surface can be. This can not melt the material transparent joining partner, whereby by heat transfer the material of the transparent joining partner also is melted. The result is a common melt Both materials of the joint partners, so after finishing the laser irradiation made a cohesive connection is. There are materials that are not known in the visual field have transparent properties, but for laser radiation certain wavelength have a transparency. The cap can improve the appearance at least on the outside painted or coated so that the material of the cap for the appearance plays a secondary role.

According to one Still another embodiment of the present invention is between the contact surface of the functional body and the mating contact surface of the cap an adhesive provided, this particular as a two-component adhesive can be executed. Chemically curing adhesives are also referred to as reaction adhesives which are between two or multi-component adhesives can be distinguished. Two-component adhesives consist of a first component, the binder, and a second component, the so-called hardener. Before applying the adhesives, the binder with the hardener mixed in a correct ratio. By the mixing starts a chemical reaction and between the Components are cured within a setting time. The strength of the adhesive bond can be so high that too in a release of the cap with a tool and simultaneous introduction of force into the functional body Breakage of the adhesive bond did not take place. Other possible adhesives are in cyanoacrylate adhesives, in methyl methacrylate adhesives, in anaerobic-curing adhesives, in radiation-curable Adhesives, in phenol-formaldehyde adhesives and in silicones to see. Also, physically setting adhesives such as solvent-based wet adhesives, dispersion adhesives or fast-acting and contact adhesives find application.

Of Further, it is advantageous that in the cap an opening is introduced, starting from a fictitious guide channel extends through the functional element and through the one Tool is feasible, with the latch hooks in such a way can be pressed from the detent position that the cap detachable from the counter-locking means of the carrier body is. As a tool, the ignition key or the emergency key of the motor vehicle can be used. Consequently, the opening has an elongated extension on, according to the extension direction of the latching hook runs. Will be the most flat trained ignition key can be inserted into the opening, by simply inserting or in addition by a slight lever movement a force be exercised on the locking hooks. This can be the latching hook from the latching connection with the counter-locking means in the carrier body solve, and the cap can be removed. In assembled condition the opening of the cap is preferably on the bottom of the handle unit, so that these from the outside is only partially visible.

advantageously, the functional body has a supporting structure a guide surface adjacent to the guide channel on to the interaction of the tool with the latching hook mechanically to support. The tool is placed between the locking hooks and the guide surface of the support structure inserted through the opening, leaving the tool on the opposite side of the latching hook mechanically is supported. By a slight lever or rotary movement of the ignition key, the latch hooks elastic in the direction away from the support structure direction be bent elastically to release the locking connection. The support structure supports the handling of the tool.

Further, The measures improving the invention will be described below together with the description of a preferred embodiment of the invention with reference to the figures shown in more detail. It shows:

1 the sectional view of the arrangement of a handle unit in a door or a flap of a motor vehicle with a lock cylinder, wherein a cap is provided to cover the lock cylinder;

2 the sectional view of the cap with a functional body, which is arranged inside the cap inside;

3a the perspective view of a functional body for arrangement within a cap;

3b the perspective view of an Ab cover cap and

4 the perspective view of a cap with an internally arranged in this functional body.

1 shows the arrangement of a handle unit 1 inside a door 2 or a flap 2 of a motor vehicle, with the door 2 or the flap 2 is indicated as sheet outer skin of the motor vehicle with a dash-dotted line. The handle unit 1 has a carrier body 3 on, essentially inside the door 2 is introduced. The door 2 has several openings and passages, so that the controls of the handle unit 1 outside on the door 2 are attached, and through the openings with the carrier body 3 can be connected.

As an operating element is a handle 12 for manual operation of the handle unit 1 shown in the form of a door handle 12 is executed and can be enclosed with one hand. The door handle 12 acts with a lock cylinder 4 together, so with locked lock cylinder 4 the door handle 12 can not be operated effectively. The lock cylinder 4 is inside the door 2 arranged of the motor vehicle and is itself in a cylinder housing 20 added. The carrier body 3 owns a passage 13 through which then a key can be passed through, if the lock cylinder 4 For example, in case of power failure of the motor vehicle must be operated with a mechanical key. The lock cylinder 4 can also be directly inside the carrier body 3 be introduced, so this with the door 2 of the motor vehicle is flush or the lock cylinder 4 is in a part of the carrier body 3 integrated, allowing a direct passage 13 can be omitted.

For a protection of the lock cylinder 4 as well as the inside of the door 2 To create, it is beneficial to the passage 13 by means of a cap 5 to close. The cap 5 extends over the entire opening of the passage 13 , and may further with a sealing element against the door 2 or against the carrier body 3 caulk. The cap 5 is cup-shaped and has an interior, which is towards the door 2 or in the direction of the carrier body 3 has. To a detachable connection of the cap 5 on the carrier body 3 to enable is a functional body 6 provided within the cap 5 is arranged. The functional body 6 used for locking with the carrier body 3 arranged counter-locking means 18 , being also a catch against the door 2 or the flap 2 of the motor vehicle is possible.

Is it necessary to lock the cylinder 4 Using a key to operate, the cap 5 be temporarily removed. Therefore, the locking connection through the functional body 6 on the carrier body 3 detachable.

2 shows a cross-sectional view through the cap 5 with an internally arranged in this functional body 6 , Both the cap 5 as well as the functional body 6 are made of a plastic material, wherein the material of the plastic material of the cap 5 from the material of the plastic material of the functional body 6 differs. The functional body 6 has two snap hooks 7 , which are designed to be resilient and comprise a detent which in counter-locking means 18 can engage, which are arranged on the carrier body. By another catch structure 16 directly on the cap 5 attached, can by another counter-locking means 18 at least one latching of the cap 5 take place at two spatially separated locations.

In the side area of the cap 5 is an opening 10 provided by a tool in a fictitious guide channel 21 who in 4 is indicated inside the cap 5 can be brought in to the latching hook 7 for releasing the cap 5 to deform elastically and from the latching with the counter-locking means 18 to solve. To create a guide of the tool, through the opening 10 in the cap 5 is insertable, has the functional body 6 a support structure 11 with a guide surface 22 , This is in the direction of the fictitious guide channel 21 inclined by a helix angle and protrudes on the rear, the opening 10 turned away side in the guide channel 21 partially into it. When the tool is guided into the opening, a pressure effect on the tool in the direction of the latching hooks 7 so that they are released from the catch. The guide surface 22 can have an inclined plane surface, a crowned or a curved curved surface. The tool may be in the form of the ignition key or the emergency key of the motor vehicle through the opening 10 be introduced.

To the interaction between the tool and the latching hook 7 to improve, is a pressure hull 14 at the neck of the locking hook 7 formed, wherein the pressure body 14 at least in some areas in the fictitious guide channel 21 protrudes. Both the functional body 6 as well as the cap 5 are produced by means of a plastic injection molding process, wherein the functional body 6 and the cap 5 are made in one piece. For one-piece design of the cap 5 with the functional body 6 can the latch hooks 7 over the functional body 6 to the cap 5 be molded by means of an injection molding step. Further can the functional body 6 with the material of the cap 5 be injection-molded in an injection molding process, such that the material of the cap 5 the functional body 6 essentially encloses a formumschließende connection between the functional body 6 and the cap 5 to accomplish. The functional body 6 and the cap 5 In addition, they can have an integral connection to one another, the connection taking place via contact surfaces which are described in more detail below.

In the 3a is the perspective view of a functional body 6 shown the two locking hooks 7 having. Furthermore, the functional body comprises 6 a support structure 11 to the interaction of the tool with the pressure bodies 14 at the catch hook 7 to support by providing a counter-structure to the latching hook 7 is formed. The pressure hull 14 have a trapezoidal shape with an elongated extension in the longitudinal direction of the locking hooks 7 , Due to the trapezoidal shape of the pressure hull 14 is a slope of the pressure hull 14 directed towards the tool, which is feasible through the opening in the cap. Consequently, the tool bends the latch hooks 7 not in the insertion direction of the tool, but the locking hooks 7 are pressed transversely to the direction of insertion, so that a reliable release of the latching connection of the latching hook 7 is possible. The support structure 11 and the locking hooks 7 are integral with a base area 19 of the functional body 6 produced by injection molding, being attached to the support structure 11 to increase the resilience support ribs 15 are formed. The lower side has the functional body 6 a contact surface 8th , which is brought into coincidence with a mating contact surface within the cap.

3b shows a perspective view of a cap 5 with the mating contact surface 9 , The cap 5 is designed shell-shaped, wherein the mating contact surface 9 for arranging the functional body inside in the cap 5 is trained. The cap 5 has for supporting locking of the cap 5 with the carrier body a latching structure 16 , which together with the locking hooks of the functional body, the cap 5 safely arranges on the carrier body.

For one-piece design of the functional body 6 with the cap 5 Various cohesive connections can be provided which are produced by means of a laser beam welding method, an ultrasonic welding method, a friction welding method or an adhesive method.

4 shows a perspective view of the cap 5 with a one-piece formed with this functional body 6 , Further, the arrangement of the opening 10 shown to a tool in the inside of the cap 5 trained fictitious guide channel 21 Introduce that with the locking hooks 7 can interact. The cohesive connection between the cap 5 and the functional body 6 is through a connection area 17 indicated. This is located both between the contact surfaces - not visible here - as well as in the edge region of the functional body 6 towards the cap 5 ,

The invention is not limited in its execution to the above-mentioned preferred embodiment. Rather, a number of variants is conceivable, which makes use of the illustrated solution even with fundamentally different types of use. In particular, the type of integral design between the functional body 6 and the cap 5 in the sense of the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned manner, so that the latching hook 7 also in other ways in the inside of the cap 5 can be injected, and the functional body 6 is on a base area 19 for connecting the locking hooks 7 with the cap 5 limited. In particular, despite the one-piece design of the functional body 6 with the cap 5 the material of the functional body 6 of the material of the cap 5 to distinguish.

1

handle unit

2

Door, flap

3

support body

4

lock cylinder

5

cap

6

function body

7

latch hook

8th

contact area

9

Against the contact surface

10

opening

11

support structure

12

Handle, door handle

13

passage

14

pressure vessels

15

supporting rib

16

Rest structure

17

connecting area

18

Securing means

19

base region

20

cylinder housing

21

fictitious guide channel

22

guide surface

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list The documents listed by the applicant have been automated generated and is solely for better information recorded by the reader. The list is not part of the German Patent or utility model application. The DPMA takes over no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• - EP 1738042 B1 [0004]

Claims (13)

Handle unit ( 1 ) for a moving part of a motor vehicle, in particular for a door ( 2 ) or a flap ( 2 ), with a lock cylinder ( 4 ), which by means of a cap ( 5 ) towards the outside of the handle unit ( 1 ) is covered, wherein the cap ( 5 ) releasably on at least a part of the handle unit ( 1 ), characterized in that a functional body ( 6 ) with at least one latching hook ( 7 ) for the detachable arrangement of the cap ( 5 ) is provided, wherein the functional body ( 6 ) in one piece with the cap ( 5 ) is formed and wherein the cap ( 5 ) a first plastic material and the functional body ( 6 ) has a second plastic material deviating from the first plastic material. Handle unit ( 1 ) according to claim 1, characterized in that the plastic material of the cap ( 5 ) has a greater hardness than the plastic material of the functional body ( 6 ), wherein the plastic material of the functional body ( 6 ) has a higher elastic compliance than the plastic material of the cap ( 5 ). Handle unit ( 1 ) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a carrier body ( 3 ) for forming the basic structure of the handle unit ( 1 ) is provided, wherein the latch hook ( 7 ) in at least one of the carrier body ( 3 ) trained counter-latching means ( 18 ) can be latched to a releasable positive connection of the cap ( 5 ) with the carrier body ( 3 ) to build. Handle unit ( 1 ) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the lock cylinder ( 4 ) a cylinder housing ( 20 ), wherein the counter-locking means ( 18 ) on the cylinder housing ( 20 ) is arranged and the cap ( 5 ) via the locking hooks ( 7 ) and the counter-locking means ( 18 ) on the cylinder housing ( 20 ) is attachable. Handle unit ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the functional body ( 6 ) with the material of the cap ( 5 ) is injection molded in an injection molding process, such that the material of the cap ( 5 ) the functional body ( 6 ) substantially encloses a formumschließende connection between the functional body ( 6 ) and the cap ( 5 ) to accomplish. Handle unit ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the functional body ( 6 ) a base area ( 19 ) with a contact surface ( 8th ), which with an inside in the cap ( 5 ) formed counter contact surface ( 9 ) is brought into overlap. Handle unit ( 1 ) according to claim 6, characterized in that between the contact surface ( 8th ) and the mating contact surface ( 9 ) of the cap ( 5 ) a cohesive joining connection is provided which is produced by means of a laser beam welding method, an ultrasonic welding method or a friction welding method or that between the contact surface ( 8th ) and the mating contact surface ( 9 ) An adhesive is provided, which is designed in particular as a 2-component adhesive. Handle unit ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the cap ( 5 ) an opening ( 10 ), from which a fictitious guide channel ( 21 ) by the functional element ( 6 ) and through which a tool can be guided, so that the latching hooks ( 7 ) are pressed out of the detent position such that the cap ( 5 ) from the counter-locking means ( 18 ) is solvable. Handle unit ( 1 ) according to claim 8, characterized in that the functional body ( 6 ) a support structure ( 11 ) with a to the guide channel ( 21 ) adjacent guide surface ( 22 ) to the interaction of the tool with the latching hook ( 7 ) mechanically assist. Handle unit ( 1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the material of the cap ( 5 ) comprises a polyamide PA6 and preferably a fiber-reinforced polyamide, wherein the material of the functional body ( 6 ) comprises a polyamide PA12 and preferably a fiber-reinforced polyamide. Handle unit ( 1 ) according to one of claims 9 or 10, characterized in that the guide surface ( 22 ) towards the fictitious guide channel ( 21 ) is inclined by a helix angle. Handle unit ( 1 ) according to one of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that the guide surface ( 22 ) on the back, the opening ( 10 ) side facing away partially in the guide channel ( 21 ) protrudes through the opening ( 10 ) in the fictitious guide channel ( 21 ) insertable tool in the direction of the locking hooks ( 7 ) and a force for releasing the latching connection of the latching hooks ( 7 ) to exercise the tool. Handle unit ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the latching hooks ( 7 ) with a pressure body ( 14 ) are formed, at least partially in the guide channel ( 21 ) protrudes.