EP0724051B1 - Vehicle door handle with quick rotatable-pions assembly - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a door handle for a fast-mounting motor vehicle.

The invention relates more particularly to a control handle of a motor vehicle door locking mechanism, of the type comprising a base received in an opening of a door panel, the base comprising a bearing surface against the face external of the door panel, a control pallet which is articulated on the base between a rest position and an unlocking position and which is connected to the locking mechanism, and of the type in which the door panel is clamped between the surface support and a clamping element attached to the base.

Such devices are known for example from US-A-5 248 175 and implemented, but they require, for the establishment of the clamping element of the base, to be able to access the rear of the handle from the inside of the door.

The present invention aims to provide a door handle for a motor vehicle capable of being mounted quickly, for example automatically, and without the need for access to the interior of the door.

For this purpose, the invention provides a control handle for a locking mechanism of the type mentioned above, characterized in that the clamping element of the base is an element mounted to move on the base between a mounting position and a fixing position to which it is moved during assembly of the handle by a link articulated on the pallet, during the first passage of the pallet from the rest position to the unlocking position.

• l'élément mobile est un pion cylindrique, qui est muni à son extrémité libre d'au moins un doigt disposé radialement et qui est monté pivotant sur l'embase, autour de son axe perpendiculaire au panneau de porte, entre la position de montage et la position de fixation ;
• l'extrémité libre du pion qui porte le doigt traverse axialement une tôle du panneau de porte qui comporte une lumière de forme complémentaire et comportant au moins une entaille radiale pour le passage du doigt ;
• la tôle du panneau de porte délimite une face interne qui comporte au moins un cran radial décalé angulairement par rapport à l'entaille radiale et destiné à recevoir le doigt lorsque le pion est en position de fixation afin de le bloquer dans cette position ;
• l'entaille est reliée au cran de blocage par une portion de tôle formant rampe de manière à provoquer le serrage axial du panneau de porte lors de la rotation du pion de serrage de sa position de montage vers sa position de fixation ;
• l'extrémité libre du pion de serrage est munie de trois doigts disposés radialement, et en ce que la lumière comporte trois entailles radiales correspondantes ;
• la face interne de la tôle comporte trois crans de blocage dont chacun est agencé angulairement entre deux entailles consécutives ;
• la biellette est composée de deux éléments qui coulissent l'un par rapport à l'autre selon la direction longitudinale de la biellette, le coulissement relatif étant limité dans un sens par une butée ;
• lorsque le pion est en position de montage, les deux éléments de la biellette sont en butée ;
• lorsque la palette est amenée pour la première fois de la position de repos à la position de déverrouillage, les deux éléments de la biellette sont sollicités en butée et la biellette transmet le mouvement de rotation de la palette au pion de manière à amener ce dernier en position de fixation ;
• lorsque le pion est en position de fixation, les éléments de la biellette coulissent librement l'un par rapport à l'autre, le pion n'étant plus entraîné par le mouvement de la palette ;
• la palette est articulée autour d'un axe perpendiculaire à l'axe de rotation du pion ;
• la poignée est munie de plusieurs pions pour sa fixation ;
• il est prévu un renvoi monté articulé sur l'embase qui est commandé par une tige rigide reliée à la palette et qui commande les pions en rotation par des biellettes.

According to other preferred characteristics of the invention:

• the movable element is a cylindrical pin, which is provided at its free end with at least one finger disposed radially and which is pivotally mounted on the base, around its axis perpendicular to the door panel, between the mounting position and the fixing position;
• the free end of the pin carrying the finger axially crosses a sheet of the door panel which has a light of complementary shape and comprising at least one radial notch for the passage of the finger;
• the sheet of the door panel defines an internal face which comprises at least one radial notch angularly offset relative to the radial notch and intended to receive the finger when the pin is in the fixing position in order to block it in this position;
• the notch is connected to the locking notch by a portion of sheet metal forming a ramp so as to cause the axial tightening of the door panel during the rotation of the clamping pin from its mounting position to its fixing position;
• the free end of the clamping pin is provided with three fingers arranged radially, and in that the slot has three corresponding radial notches;
• the internal face of the sheet has three locking notches, each of which is arranged angularly between two consecutive notches;
• the link is composed of two elements which slide relative to each other in the longitudinal direction of the link, the relative sliding being limited in one direction by a stop;
• when the pin is in the mounting position, the two elements of the link are in abutment;
• when the pallet is brought for the first time from the rest position to the unlocked position, the two elements of the link are pressed into abutment and the link transmits the rotational movement of the pallet to the pin so as to bring the latter into fixing position;
• when the pin is in the fixing position, the elements of the link slide freely relative to one another, the pin no longer being driven by the movement of the pallet;
• the pallet is articulated around an axis perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the pin;
• the handle is provided with several pins for its fixing;
• a reference is provided mounted articulated on the base which is controlled by a rigid rod connected to the pallet and which controls the pins in rotation by connecting rods.

• La figure 1 est une vue en perspective éclatée d'un premier mode de réalisation d'une poignée de porte conforme aux enseignements de l'invention ;
• les figures 2A et 2B sont des vues en perspective de la poignée de porte selon l'invention illustrée à la figure 1 et représentée assemblée respectivement avant et après son montage sur une porte ;
• les figures 3A, 3B et 3C illustrent, en perspective, le principe de fonctionnement du système de fixation d'une poignée de porte selon l'invention ;
• la figure 4 est une vue en perspective éclatée d'un deuxième mode de réalisation d'une poignée de porte selon l'invention ;
• la figure 5 est une vue en perspective de la poignée selon la figure 4 illustrée assemblée ;
• les figures 6 et 7 sont des vues en perspective d'un troisième mode de réalisation d'une poignée de porte selon l'invention, représentée respectivement avant et après son montage sur une porte.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the following detailed description for the understanding of which reference will be made to the appended drawings in which:

• Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a first embodiment of a door handle according to the teachings of the invention;
• Figures 2A and 2B are perspective views of the door handle according to the invention illustrated in Figure 1 and shown assembled respectively before and after mounting on a door;
• Figures 3A, 3B and 3C illustrate, in perspective, the operating principle of the fixing system of a door handle according to the invention;
• Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of a second embodiment of a door handle according to the invention;
• Figure 5 is a perspective view of the handle according to Figure 4 illustrated assembled;
• Figures 6 and 7 are perspective views of a third embodiment of a door handle according to the invention, shown respectively before and after mounting on a door.

In Figures 1, 2A and 2B there is shown in perspective a control handle of a motor vehicle door locking mechanism.

The handle 10 comprises in particular a base 12 intended to be received in an opening of a door panel (not shown) on the external face of which it is in contact by a bearing surface 14.

A control pallet 16 is articulated on the base 12, around a hinge axis A1 vertical and parallel to the plane of the door panel, between a rest position and an unlocking position.

The pallet 16 is provided with an arm 18 for controlling the locking mechanism (not shown) intended to pass through the base 12 through a passage 15 of the base 12 provided for this purpose, as well as a spring (not shown) ) to return to its rest position.

Two cylindrical pins 20A and 20B are articulated on the base 12 between a mounting position and a fixing position.

The cylindrical pins 20A and 20B are articulated relative to the base 12 around their respective axes A2 and A3, parallel and substantially perpendicular to the bearing surface 14 of the base 12.

The pins 20A and 20B carry, at their free ends 22A, 22B, each three fingers 24A and 24B, arranged perpendicular to the axes A2 and A3 of the pins 20A, 20B and distributed angularly in a regular manner.

The pins 20A, 20B are moreover provided with a radial lever 26A, 26B for their rotation control.

A cylindrical return 28 is mounted for rotation on the base 12, around its axis A4 substantially perpendicular to the bearing surface 14 and arranged between the pins 20A and 20B.

The reference 28 is provided with two radial crankpins 36 and 50.

The crank pins 36 and 50 of the reference 28 as well as the levers 26A and 26B of the pins 20A and 20B are located substantially in the same plane parallel to the plane of the door panel and perpendicular to the axes A2, A3 and A4.

The pallet 16 controls the rotation of the return 28 by a rigid rod 30, of constant length, which is articulated at the free end 32 of the arm 18 of the pallet 16 and at the free end 34 of the crank pin 36 of the return 28.

The crank pin 36 of the reference 28 is connected to the lever 26A of the pin 22A by a link 38 forming a tie rod.

The tie rod 38 is composed of a slide 40 which is articulated on the free end 34 of the crank pin 36, around an axis parallel to the axis A4, and which is mounted in a slide 42 articulated on the free end of the lever 26A around an axis parallel to the axis A2.

The slide 40 is provided with a stop 44 so as to be able to exert a tensile force on the slide 42 and therefore on the lever 26A.

The reference 28 controls the pin 22B by a rod 46 forming a pusher which comprises a blind sleeve 48 articulated about an axis parallel to the axis A4, on the free end of the second crank pin 50 of the reference 28, and which comprises a rod 52 sliding axially in the sleeve 48 and which is articulated on the free end of the lever 26B of the pin 22B, about an axis parallel to the axis A3.

The rod 52 can abut against the bottom of the sleeve so that the latter can push the rod and, consequently, the lever 26B.

FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C show the operating principle of a fastening system using a rotary pin with three radial fingers.

Elements identical or similar to those shown in the previous figures are designated by the same reference numerals.

The pin 20 is presented in the mounting position facing a light 55 formed in a sheet 54 and intended for the passage of the end 22 carrying the fingers 24 of the pin 20. The light 55 has for this purpose a circular shape in its central part and it is provided with as many radial cuts 57 as there are fingers 24 on the pin 20.

Radial notches 56 are formed on the internal surface 53 of the sheet metal 54, between each notch 57, each of which has a shape complementary to the cylindrical lateral face of the fingers 24 of the pin 20 and each of which constitutes a rotation locking notch of a finger.

Between a notch 57 and a notch 56, the sheet metal 54 is curved so as to produce a ramp 59. The plane of the notches 57 and the plane of the notches 56 are thus slightly offset.

The pin 20 can be introduced axially through the sheet 54, as shown in FIG. 3B, and a control member (not shown) acting on the lever 26 causes the pin 20 to rotate so as to bring the fingers 24 into the notches 56 of the sheet 54 which ensure the blocking of the pin 20 in the fixing position (see FIG. 3C).

The pin 20 is thus found in abutment against the sheet 54, it can no longer be removed and a tightening effect of the sheet 54 along the axis of the pin 20 is obtained.

On the handle shown in FIGS. 1, 2A and 2B, the members for controlling the rotation of the pins 20A, 20B are the tie rod 38 and the pusher 46 respectively.

When the pin 20A is in the mounting position, as in FIG. 2A, the tie rod 38 is arranged so that the stop 44 of the slide 40 cooperates with the slide 42.

During the rotation of the pins 20A and 20B, by a sixth of a turn, the fingers 24 are supported by their lateral faces on the curved planes 59, which causes a slight axial displacement of the pins 20A, 20B suitable for ensuring the tightening handle 10 on the outside of the door panel.

Prior to mounting, the handle is assembled with its pins 20A and 20B arranged in the mounting position.

For its assembly, the handle 10 is brought so that the pins 20A, 20B are found facing the corresponding slots 55 of the sheet metal 54 of the door panel.

The pins 20A, 20b are introduced axially into the slots 55 until the bearing surface 14 of the base 12 of the handle 10 is pressed against the external sheet of the door panel.

When the pallet 16 is actuated for the first time between its rest position and its unlocking position, the arm 18 of the pallet 16 pivots clockwise by considering FIG. 2A, driving, by the rod 30, the return 28 in clockwise rotation.

The reference 28 causes the pin 20A to rotate by pulling on the tie rod 38. The pin 20A thus finds itself in the fixing position.

When the pallet 16 is released and returns to its rest position, the return 28 returns to the initial position as shown in FIG. 2B.

However, during this return movement, the slide 40 is free to move in the slide 42 which prevents the transmission of the movement to the pin 20A which thus remains definitively in the fixing position.

In the same way, the pin 20B is driven in rotation, to its fixing position, by the reference 28 via the pusher 46.

In fact, when the pin 20B is in the mounting position, the rod 52 is in abutment at the bottom of the sleeve 48 as shown in FIG. 2A.

When the pallet 16 is actuated for the first time, the reference 28 pushes the sheath 48 and the rod 52 and therefore causes the rotation of the pin 20B to its fixing position.

When the pallet 16 returns to the rest position, the reference 28 brings with it the sheath 48 but the rod 52 slides inside the sheath and does not transmit movement to the pin 22B, as shown in FIG. 2B.

The device described therefore allows, during the first passage of the pallet 16 from its rest position to its unlocking position, to cause the simultaneous rotation of the pins 20A and 20B from their mounting position to their fixing position, at the as a result of which the successive movements of the pallet 16 no longer have any effect on the pins 20A, 20B.

Once the pallet 16 is released, the handle 10 is fixed to the door.

There is shown in Figures 4 and 5 a second embodiment of a door handle according to the invention.

Elements identical or similar to those shown in the previous figures are designated by the same reference numerals.

We find a door handle 10 having a base 12 on which is hinged a pallet 16 about an axis A1 horizontal and parallel to the plane of the door panel. The axis A1 is materialized by a rod 61.

The pallet 16 is provided with a spring 58 for returning to its rest position.

This door handle 10 is intended to be fixed using a pin 20 as described above in a sheet metal 54 provided with a light 55.

It should be noted that in this case, a single pin 20 is used for fixing the handle 10.

To actuate the pin, a vertical link 60 is provided, articulated at its ends around two rods 68, 70 with respective axes A5 and A6 parallel to A1, respectively on an arm 18 of the pallet 16 and on a slide 62.

The slide 62, which extends vertically from the rod 60, is provided with a vertical oblong hole 63 constituting a slot in which a stop 64 can move, linked to the lever 26 of the pin 20.

As shown in FIG. 5, in the mounting position, the stop 64 cooperates with the upper end 66 of the oblong hole 63.

For mounting, the pin 20 is introduced into the lumen 55 formed in the sheet metal 54.

The pallet is brought from its rest position to its unlocking position.

The link 60 and the slide 62 are then pushed downwards when considering FIG. 5 and cause the rotation of the pin 20 in the clockwise direction, considering FIG. 5.

The pin 20 is thus brought into the fixing position.

When the pallet 16 is returned to its rest position, the stop 64 of the lever 26 is free to slide in the oblong hole 63 and the return movement of the link is not transmitted to the pin 20. Similarly, the successive subsequent movements of the pallet 16, of the link 60 and of the slide 62 do not affect the position of the pin 20.

There is shown in Figures 6 and 7 a third embodiment of a door handle according to the invention.

Elements similar or identical to those shown in the preceding figures are designated by the same reference numerals.

This embodiment is a variant of the second mode in which the fingers 24 of the pin 20 have been replaced by two diametrically opposite arms 72.

The lumen 55 formed in the sheet 54 has a shape complementary to the arms 72.

The operating mode is identical to that described above.

For clamping the sheet 54, the arms 72 carry, at their free ends, elements (not shown) forming a ramp on their face opposite the sheet 54.

The sheet 54 also includes notches (not shown) intended to receive these elements in order to block the rotation 72 of the arms 72 of the pin 20 when the latter is in the fixing position.

Claims (14)

1. A control handle for a motor vehicle door lock mechanism, of the type comprising a base (12) received in an aperture in a door panel, the base (12) having a surface (14) for engagement against the outer face of the door panel, a control pallet which is articulated on the base (12) between a rest position and an unlocking position, and which is coupled to the lock mechanism, and of the type in which the door panel is gripped between the engagement surface (14) and a clamping element mounted on the base (12),
   characterised in that the clamping element (20) of the base (12) is an element which is mounted for movement on the base (12) between an assembly position and a fastening position, towards which it is displaced during fitting of the handle (10), by means of a crank articulated on the pallet (16), during the first displacement of the pallet (16) from the rest position to the unlocking position.
2. A handle according to Claim 1, characterised in that the movable element (20) is a cylindrical spigot member (20), which is provided at its free end (22) with at least one finger (24) disposed radially, and which is mounted for pivoting movement on the base (12) about its axis at right angles to the door panel, between the assembly position and the fastening position.
3. A handle according to Claim 2, characterised in that, in the assembly position, the free end (12) of the spigot member (20) that carries the finger (24) extends axially through an element (54) of the door panel which has a through hole of complementary form which includes at least one radial recess for passage of the finger (24) through it.
4. A handle according to Claim 3, characterised in that the door panel element (54) defines an internal face (53) which has at least one radial notch (56) offset angularly with respect to the radial recess (57) and adapted to receive the finger (24) when the spigot member (20) is in the fastening position, whereby to secure it in that position.
5. A handle according to Claim 4, characterised in that the recess (57) is joined to the securing notch (56) by a door panel element portion (54) which defines a ramp (59), so as to cause the door panel to be gripped axially during rotation of the clamping spigot member (20) from its assembly position towards its fastening position.
6. A handle according to any one of Claims 3 to 5, characterised in that the free end (22) of the clamping spigot member (20) is provided with three fingers (24) disposed radially, and in that the through hole (55) has three corresponding radial recesses (57).
7. A handle according to Claim 6 taken in combination with Claim 4 or Claim 5, characterised in that the internal face (53) of the door panel element (54) has three securing notches (56), each of which is located circumferentially between two consecutive recesses (57).
8. A handle according to any one of the preceding Claims, characterised in that the crank (38) consists of two elements (40, 42) which slide with respect to each other in the longitudinal direction of the crank, the relative sliding movement being limited in one direction by a stop element (44).
9. A handle according to Claim 8 taken in combination with any one of Claims 2 to 7, characterised in that, when the spigot member is in the assembly position, the two elements of the crank (38) are in abutment.
10. A handle according to Claim 9, characterised in that, when the pallet (16) is brought for the first time from the rest position to the unlocking position, the two elements of the crank (38) are urged into abutment and the crank (38) transmits the rotational movement of the pallet (16) to the spigot member (20), so as to put the latter in its fastening position.
11. A handle according to Claim 9, characterised in that, when the spigot member (20) is in the fastening position, the elements (40, 42) of the crank (38) slide freely with respect to each other, with the spigot member (20) being no longer driven by the movement of the pallet (16).
12. A handle according to Claim 2, characterised in that the pallet (16) is articulated about an axis (A1) at right angles to the axis of rotation of the spigot member (20).
13. A handle according to Claims 2 to 12, characterised in that the handle is provided with a plurality of spigot members (20) for fastening it.
14. A handle according to Claim 13, characterised in that a transfer member (28) is articulated on the base (12), the transfer member being controlled by a rigid rod (30) coupled to the pallet (16), with the transfer member controlling rotation of the spigot members (20) by means of cranks (38).