EP1465118B1 - Remote control for operating a motor vehicle locking device - Google Patents

Abstract

Remote control for activating a motor vehicle central locking system has a housing (1) with switching surfaces (B 1-B 3) each of which can be pressed against the housing area below it to contact an elastic switching element. Each switching element, in the form of a skin, on the outside of the housing forms a composite element with the housing.

Description

The invention relates to a remote control for actuating a closing device of a motor vehicle, comprising a housing comprising at least one electrical switch, wherein a housing shell forming a part of the housing has an actuating region associated with each switch, which is for actuating a switch arranged below such an actuating region relative to the adjacent Areas of the housing shell is compliant, and wherein each actuation area is associated with an associated with the housing elastic actuator.

Remote controls of this type are known as part of motor vehicle keys. While the mechanical key of such a remote control is used to open and close a motor vehicle and to actuate the ignition starter switch, the remote control is provided to open and close the motor vehicle without using the mechanical key. The remote control usually includes a transmitter to transmit a signal to a motor vehicle side arranged transceiver unit with respect to the desired operation. The transmitter and the other components of the remote control are housed in a plastic housing. For triggering the sending of a signal, a plurality of switches are usually provided, with which different functions can be triggered, for example, a push-button switch for unlocking the doors of the motor vehicle, one for locking the same and one for opening the tailgate. These switches are arranged inside the housing. To actuate the switch, the overlying housing shell is opened by means of a respective opening. These openings are covered on the outside by a soft plastic element forming a curvature as an actuating element. This curved soft plastic element has material-elastic properties, so that by pressing in the curvature of a below such as actuation opening to be designated opening of the housing shell arranged switch can be actuated. It is envisaged that the actuating opening of the housing or the housing shell is just large enough so that actuation the switch below can be done with a finger. The soft plastic element covering this actuating opening is significantly larger in terms of its diameter than the actuating opening introduced into the housing shell. This serves the purpose that on the one hand by the top of the soft plastic element, a sufficiently large actuation area is formed and on the other side actuation of the switch possible only from a single direction is possible, namely that which is aligned with the direction of movement of the switching element of the switch , Due to the small space available in such a remote control, only very small switches can be used. For these to switch as intended, the movable switching element must be controlled in its direction of movement; deviates the applied actuation direction by a few degrees from the ideal, in spite of exerting a subjectively noticeable shift stroke by pressing the soft plastic element actually the switch is not actuated. Consequently, the desired action, such as unlocking the vehicle doors is not performed.

The individual operating areas of such a remote control are usually arranged on an upper side of the remote control. If the remote control is in the hand of a user, the switches are operated with the thumb of this hand. Due to the different arrangement of the switches to the thumb, each switch is controlled with a different, acting on each operating area direction of movement. This not only has the consequence that in an unfavorable holding the remote control in the hand, the switch can be controlled with a wrong actuation movement, but in particular that the individual switches, despite the same configurations convey a different shift feeling (haptics).

The soft plastic element spanning an opening of the housing shell is not inconsiderably larger in terms of its extent than the opening itself and forms a bulge starting from its peripheral connection with the housing shell. This has the disadvantage that in unfavorable handling of the remote control, the soft plastic element can be damaged by sharp fingernails or the like.

By the DE 199 15 969 A1 a remote control according to the preamble of claim 1 has become known. An actuator for actuating a switch received in the housing is formed in this article by an elastically deformable, an opening of the housing shell spanning surface. The actuator acts upon actuation of the remote control via a prefabricated as a half-part and pre-assembled with the actuator before assembly with the housing shell support element on the switch.

By the EP 0 347 375 A1 discloses a push-button assembly in a printed circuit board, wherein a provided for actuating a conductor track contact snap-action disc is mounted in a recess of a spacer, which spacer is coated with an elastic cover, which thus extends protectively over the snap disk and its deformability allows actuation of the snap-action disc ,

Based on this discussed prior art, the invention is therefore the object of developing a generic remote control mentioned above in such a way that not only the risk of the above-described damage is minimized, but also suitable for a more defined switching movement on the one operating range of Remote control assigned switch.

This object is achieved by a remote control according to claim 1.

In this remote control forms in contrast to the prior art, the actuator no raised from the outside of the housing shell buckle, but forms a skin with the housing shell a composite. It is considered particularly expedient to coat the entire housing shell with such a skin, for example by way of overmolding the housing shell. In this case, not only the operating portions of the housing shell are spanned with a soft plastic component as the actuator, but the entire housing shell is given a uniform external appearance in terms of the material used. The bond between the soft plastic component and the housing shell can be achieved, for example, by spraying the soft plastic component as a coating over the housing shell, although this is hardened but still warm. Such a composite can be supported by introducing micro-openings into the housing shell into which the material of the soft plastic material enters and clamps. As a result of the support of the soft plastic element on the outside of the housing shell is - should additional measures are not provided - only that portion of an operating range is not supported, which is yielding to the switch operation. Since the switching stroke of the switches used for such remote controls is very low, this basically unsupported area, which can represent an opening of the housing shell, be designed so small that damage to the soft plastic component even with an operation of the same with a fingernail avoided is. In the event that the operating areas of the housing shell are not defined as an opening, but only by externally introduced into the housing shell recesses, the soft plastic component filling these recesses is supported in total. The recesses provided in the housing shell in this embodiment on the outside weaken the housing shell in such an actuation area that it can be pressed in to exert the necessary switching stroke.

In the event that the operating areas of the housing shell are characterized by openings, it is provided in a development of the claimed remote control, that the operating areas are characterized by structures that support the soft plastic element and each actuation area, starting from the center of the actuation area radially outwardly successively give decreasing flexibility. Such a structuring of the actuating regions of the housing shell can be realized by using structural elements which have more elastic properties than the adjacent regions of the housing shell, but advantageously have a lower elasticity than the soft plastic component. Since the housing shell of such a remote control is usually made by injection molding of plastic, it makes sense to produce these structural elements by way of a two- or multi-component injection molding process with the creation of the housing shell. In principle, it may also be provided to use the material of the housing shell itself for forming such structural elements and to structure the actuating regions of the housing shell accordingly.

Fig. 1:

eine perspektivische Ansicht nach Art einer Explosionsdarstellung eines Teils eines Gehäuses einer Fernbedienung zum Betätigen der Schließeinrichtung eines Kraftfahrzeuges,

Fig. 2:

eine Unteransicht des Gehäuseteils der Figur 1,

Fig. 3:

eine schematisierte Unteransicht der Betätigungsbereiche einer Gehäuseschale einer weiteren Fernbedienung,

Fig. 4:

einen Querschnitt durch den Betätigungsbereich der Gehäuseschale der Figur 2 entlang der Linie A - B der Figur 3,

Fig. 5a, 5b:

beispielhafte Darstellungen zweier weiterer Ausgestaltungen zum Ausbilden eines Betätigungsbereiches einer Gehäuseschale für eine Fernbedienung jeweils aus einer Ansicht entsprechend derjenigen der Figur 3,

Fig. 6a bis 6d:

schematisierte Querschnitte durch jeweils einen Betätigungsbereich einer Gehäuseschale einer Fernbedienung in unterschiedlichen Ausgestaltungen eines Ausführungsbeispiels,

Fig. 7a, 7b:

schematisierte Darstellungen unterschiedlicher Ausgestaltungen eines weiteren Ausführungsbeispiels einer Gehäuseschale einer Fernbedienung,

Fig. 8a, 8b:

schematisierte Darstellungen unterschiedlicher Ausgestaltungen noch eines weiteren Ausführungsbeispiels einer Gehäuseschale einer Fernbedienung und

Fig. 9:

eine Darstellung nach Art einer Explosionsdarstellung eines weiteren Gehäuseteils einer weiteren Fernbedienung.

The invention is described below by means of embodiments with reference to the accompanying figures. Show it:

Fig. 1:

a perspective view in the manner of an exploded view of a portion of a housing of a remote control for operating the locking device of a motor vehicle,

Fig. 2:

a bottom view of the housing part of FIG. 1 .

3:

a schematic bottom view of the operating areas of a housing shell of another remote control,

4:

a cross section through the operating region of the housing shell of FIG. 2 along the line A - B of FIG. 3 .

5a, 5b:

exemplary representations of two further embodiments for forming an operating range of a housing shell for a remote control respectively from a view corresponding to that of FIG. 3 .

6a to 6d:

schematic cross sections through in each case an actuating region of a housing shell of a remote control in different embodiments of an embodiment,

Fig. 7a, 7b:

schematic representations of different embodiments of a further embodiment of a housing shell of a remote control,

8a, 8b:

schematic representations of different embodiments of yet another embodiment of a housing shell of a remote control and

Fig. 9:

a representation in the manner of an exploded view of a further housing part of another remote control.

A housing shell 1 is part of a housing of a remote control for actuating a locking device of a motor vehicle. The housing shell 1 comprises a lower shell 2 and an upper shell 3 representing a composite with the lower shell 2. The lower shell 2 is a multi-component injection-molded part, one component of which represents a support body 4. The support body 4 comprises three openings D ₁ - D ₃ , in each of which a structural part S ₁ - S ₃ is inserted from a different plastic component. The plastic component for forming the structural parts S ₁ -S ₃ is more elastic than that for the formation of the support body 4. The directly the openings D ₁ - D ₃ enclosing portions of the support body 4 are formed tapered. Such a taper is exemplified to the opening D ₁ denoted by the reference V. In the side walls of the lower shell 2 numerous openings are introduced, which serve to clamp the upper shell 3, which is sprayed onto the lower shell 2 in total. In the illustrated embodiment, the upper shell 3 is formed by an elastic soft plastic, which in the region of the structural parts S ₁ - S ₃ spanning areas can be referred to as an actuating element as a soft plastic element.

The openings D ₁ - D ₃ are formed approximately oval-shaped, wherein the longitudinal axis of each opening D ₁ - D ₃ of the rear end of the housing shell 1 is groundbreaking. The wide region of each aperture D ₁ -D ₃ lies in the rear region of each aperture D ₁ -D ₃ . Such an embodiment of the apertures D ₁ - D ₃ supports the ergonomics when operating the remote with the housing shell 1 remote control, if this is in the hands of a user and the operating areas to be operated with the thumb. From the bottom view of the housing shell 1 in the FIG. 2 it can be seen that not only the directly the perforations D ₁ - D ₃ enclosing portions of the support body 4 are made thinner than the adjacent portions of the support body 4, but that the lower side larger areas have a thinner thickness. These areas are in FIG. 2 characterized by the opening D ₁ with the reference numeral 1. These thinner areas 5 cause a certain flexibility of the support body 4 and thus the entire housing shell 1, which supports the previously described ergonomic embodiments of the openings D ₁ - D ₃ .

The upper shell 3 is sprayed through a spraying operation on the lower shell 2, namely such that the structural parts S ₁ - S ₃ are enclosed in the region of its center from the material of the upper shell 3, as shown particularly clearly in FIG. 2 can be seen on the structural part S ₃ .

Due to the material of the upper shell 3 which has passed through the structural part S ₃ , not only is there a form-locking clamping between the upper shell 3 and the lower shell 2 in the region of the structural parts S ₁ -S ₃ , but the shape of the housing shell 1 on its underside is designed in this way in that a switching disk protruding from the underside of the structural parts S ₁ - S ₃ , designated by reference numeral 6 to the structural part S ₃ , has formed. The underside of the switching disc 6 - in FIG. 2 this is due to the bottom view the top - is applied to the switching element of an electrical switch.

By the structural elements S ₁ - S ₃ and directed to the apertures D ₁ - D ₃ strength reduction of the support body 4, an actuating movement of a user for actuating an operating range B ₁ - B _{3 of} the remote control to the center of each structural element S ₁ - S ₃ executed - almost guided. Therefore, an actuation of the below the structural elements S ₁ - S ₃ each arranged switch takes place in accordance with a largely defined switching movement.

FIG. 3 shows in a bottom view, the actuation areas B ₁ - B _{3 of} a housing shell 7 otherwise not shown, which is basically constructed as the to the Figures 1 and 2 described housing shell 1. The structural elements S ₄ - S _{6 of} the operating areas B ₄ - B ₆ are designed in this embodiment spider web-like. The reduced with respect to their strength portions of the lower shell are increasingly formed to the adjacent portions of the lower shell of this housing shell 7 of the respective structural element S ₄ - S ₆ in the radial extent, as shown in the cross section of FIG. 4 is recognizable. The actual opening of the operating region B ₁ enclosing portions of the support body 8 of the housing shell 7 have a paragraph 9, in which during the encapsulation of the support body 8 with the material for forming the upper shell 10 material is flowed, so that the upper shell 10 with the support body. 8 is positively connected in the region of the operating range B ₄ . It also turns off FIG. 4 clearly that with the support body 8 of the lower shell forming a composite upper shell 10 by the structural part S ₄ in the direction of actuation - indicated by the arrow - is supported. Through the central opening of the structural part S ₄ material is also flowed to form a switching disk 11 and also forms a positive connection in this area with the lower shell of this housing shell. 7

The FIGS. 5a and 5b show further possible embodiments for forming operating areas B ₇ and B ₈ , which differ by different structural parts S ₇ , S ₈ .

The Figures 6a - 6d show different embodiments in which, in contrast to the embodiment of the housing shells 1 or 7 no discrete structural part is inserted into the opening of a support body. The support body of these embodiments are marked T ₁ -T ₄ . The respective upper shell of the different embodiments is marked with O ₁ - O ₄ . The designs of Figures 6a - 6d is common that the support body T ₁ - T ₄ taper towards the actual opening out with respect to their strength, so that the actual opening enclosing portions of the respective support body T ₁ - T _{4 have} a certain flexibility and thus upon application of an actuating force the respective operating region B ₉ - B _{12 can} also be elastically deformed. In the embodiment according to FIG. 6d are the actual opening enclosing areas in addition to a film hinge 12 in the direction of actuation movable. The underside of the upper shell O ₁ - O ₄ is pulled down in the region of the respective electrical switch so far that it rests on the upper side of the switching element of the electrical switch. Since the switches used have only a very small switching stroke, the resilience of the upper shell O ₁ - O ₄ and correspondingly also the areas of the support bodies T ₁ - T ₄ enclosing the actual openings need only have a low elastic compliance. In any case, it becomes clear in these embodiments that damage to the upper shell O ₁ - O _{4 is} hardly possible.

The FIGS. 7a and 7b show two further embodiments of a respective housing shell, shown in a section of each one of their operating areas B ₁₃ , B ₁₄ , in which the respective lower shell U ₁ , U _{2 is} not broken in the region of the respective electrical switch, but by an annular recess A ₁ , A _{2 is} marked. Through these recesses A ₁ , A ₂ , the lower shell U ₁ , U ₂ each weakened so far that in this area, the lower shell U ₁ , U _{2 is} yielding, so that when a force is applied to the respective operating area B ₁₃ or B _{14 of} the lying below the respective operating range B ₁₃ or B ₁₄ switch can be operated. The recesses A ₁ , A ₂ have been filled during application of the upper shell O ₅ , O ₆ , so that the recesses A ₁ , A ₂ are not visible from the outside. In this embodiment, the upper shell O ₅ , O ₆ over the entire operating range B ₁₃ and B ₁₄ across the entire surface supported.

The Figures 8a, 8b show two further possible embodiments of each of an operating range B ₁₅ , B ₁₆ a housing shell each a remote control. In the support body T ₅ , T _{6 of} the respective lower shell openings D ₄ , D ₅ in the operating areas B ₁₅ , B _{16 are} introduced. The openings D ₄ , D ₅ enclosing areas of the support body T ₅ , T ₆ are reduced in strength with respect to the adjacent areas. Through the upper shell O ₇ and O ₈ , the openings D ₄ , D _{5 are} spanned. The underside of each upper shell O ₇ , O ₈ carries reinforcement structures in the region of the openings D ₄ , D ₅ on the underside and a switching dome 13 or 14 in the region of the center. The reinforcement structures are a plurality of concentrically arranged annular beads, which are shown in FIGS Cross sections of the FIGS. 8a and 8b make noticeable by the corrugated formation of the underside of the upper shells O ₇ , O ₈ .

FIG. 9 shows in the manner of an exploded view, another housing shell 15 a remote control for operating the locking device of a motor vehicle. The operating areas of this housing shell are marked on the lower shell 16 of the housing shell 15 with the reference symbol B ₁₇ -B ₁₉ . In this embodiment, the lower shell 16 is formed in the region of the operating areas B ₁₄ - B ₁₆ by forming tabs SZ ₁ - SZ ₃ with paddle-like contour. The resilience or mobility of the circuit SZ ₁ - SZ ₃ is supported in the illustrated embodiment in that the tabs SZ ₁ - SZ _{3 are held} with a film hinge on the lower shell 16. To form the film hinge, a corresponding groove is introduced into the underside of the lower shell 16. The individual tabs SZ ₁ - SZ ₃ each carry a function symbolics F ₁ - F ₃ , which are made of a different plastic component than the other areas of the lower shell 16. The plastic component for the realization of the function symbols F ₁ - F ₃ is in the illustrated embodiment, light-conducting , The individual function symbols F ₁ - F ₃ are connected to each other in a light-conducting manner and thus constitute a separate component - a light-guiding body 17 - (cf. FIG. 9 below). The light guide 17 has a circular structure 18, below which an LED is arranged as a light source and is coupled via the light for illuminating the function symbols F ₁ -F ₃ .

Covered is the lower shell 16 of the housing shell 15 with an upper shell 19, which is sprayed onto the lower shell 16 and forms a composite with this. The upper shell 19 covers the lower shell 16 as a skin.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

shell

2

subshell

3

Upper shell

4

support body

5

thin area

6

switching disk

7

shell

8th

support body

9

paragraph

10

Upper shell

11

switching disk

12

film hinge

13

switch dome

14

switch dome

15

shell

16

subshell

17

fiber-optic element

18

structure

19

Upper shell

A ₁ , A ₂

recess

B ₁ - B ₁₉

operating range

D ₁ - D ₅

perforation

F ₁ - F ₃

function icon

O ₁ - O ₆

Upper shell

S ₁ -S ₆

structure part

SZ ₁ - SZ ₃

reed

T ₁ - T ₆

support body

V

rejuvenation

Claims (14)

1. Remote control for operating a locking facility of a motor vehicle, comprising a housing incorporating at least one electric switch, with the housing featuring an actuating zone (B₁- B₁₉) allocated to each switch which is elastic in comparison to the adjacent zones of the housing for the purpose of actuating a switch located below such an actuating zone (B₁ - B₁₉) and with an elastic actuating element connected to the housing being allocated to each actuating zone (B₁ - B₁₉), characterised by the fact that the actuating element forms a composite material as a membrane directly on the outer surface of the housing shell (1, 7, 15), bordering on the same, wherein the membrane is designed as a flexible plastic component.
2. Remote control in accordance with Claim 1, characterised by the fact that the actuating zones (B₁ - B₈) of the housing shell (1, 7) feature a through-hole (D₁, D₃) penetrating the housing shell (1, 7) and a resilient structural element (S₁, S₈) is inserted in the through-hole (D₁, D₃) so that the resilience of the actuating zone (B₁, - B₈) successively diminishes in a radial direction from its centre outwards.
3. Remote control in accordance with Claim 2, characterised by the fact that the structural element (S₁, - S₈) consists of a plastic component showing more elastic properties in comparison to a plastic utilised for forming the housing shell (1, 7).
4. Remote control in accordance with any of Claims 1 to 3, characterised by the fact that the actuating zones (B₁, - B₁₂; B₁₅, B₁₆) of the housing shell (1, 7) feature a through-hole (D₁, - D₅) penetrating the housing shell (1, 7) and the sections of the housing shell (1, 7) directly encompassing this through-hole (D₁, - D₅) are formed thinner than the adjacent sections of the housing shell (1, 7).
5. Remote control in accordance with Claim 4, characterised by the fact that between the thinner sections bordering an actuating aperture (B₁, - B₁₂; B₁₅, B₁₆) and the adjacent sections of the housing shell (1, 7) there is a transitional zone in which the thickness of the housing shell increases from the direction of a through-hole towards the sections adjacent to the transitional zone.
6. Remote control in accordance with Claim 4 or Claim 5, characterised by the fact that the sections of the housing shell directly surrounding the one through-hole are separated from the adjacent sections of the housing shell by an integral hinge (12).
7. Remote control in accordance with any of Claims 4 to 6, characterised by the fact that the bottom surface of the actuating element spanning the through-hole (D₄, D₅) bears reinforcement structures on its underside.
8. Remote control in accordance with Claim 7, characterised by the fact that the reinforcement structures are annular beads located concentrically to one another.
9. Remote control in accordance with Claim 1, characterised by the fact that the actuating zones (B₁₃, B₁₄) of the housing shell are formed by recesses (A₁, B₂) that are incorporated in the outer surface of the housing shell and filled in with the material of the actuating element.
10. Remote control in accordance with Claim 9, characterised by the fact that the recesses (A₁, A₂) are designed as annular structures that encompass a dome-shaped bulge beneath which is located the switch to be actuated by this actuation zone (B₁₃, B₁₄).
11. Remote control in accordance with Claim 11, characterised by the fact that the actuating zones (B₁₇, B₁₉) of the housing shell (15) feature the through-holes penetrating the housing shell (15) and that a switching reed (SZ₁ - SZ₃) is provided that projects into this through-hole, essentially filling the same.
12. Remote control in accordance with Claim 11, characterised by the fact that the switching reeds (SZ₁ - SZ₃) are connected to the adjacent sections of the housing shell by means of an integrated hinge.
13. Remote control in accordance with Claim 11 or Claim 12, characterised by the fact that the housing shell (15) is made as a two- or multi-component injection moulded part and one of the plastic components has a different colouring compared to the at least one other plastic component thus forming a functional symbolism (F₁ - F₃) as a result.
14. Remote control in accordance with Claim 13, characterised by the fact that the plastic component representing the functional symbolism (F₁ - F₃) is light-conducting and the individual functional symbols (F₁ - F₃) formed by this plastic component are interconnected and this plastic component is provided with a coupling-in structure for the purpose of injecting light from a light source allocated to the remote control.

Images