EP2501882A1

EP2501882A1 - Key having a retractable insert with improved mechanical strength

Info

Publication number: EP2501882A1
Application number: EP10781673A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Benoit Delande; Jean-Patrick Favier
Original assignee: Valeo Securite Habitacle SAS
Current assignee: Valeo Comfort and Driving Assistance SAS
Priority date: 2009-11-20
Filing date: 2010-11-19
Publication date: 2012-09-26
Anticipated expiration: 2030-11-19
Also published as: BR112012011615A2; EP2501882B1; US20120285208A1; FR2952956A1; CN102713115B; WO2011061279A1; PT2501882E; CN102713115A; US8479546B2; FR2952956B1; JP5727501B2; JP2013511634A

Abstract

The invention relates to a module for extending a retractable insert of a key, in particular for a motor vehicle, which is intended to be mounted in a casing for said key and which comprises an insert (5, 7), intended to be pivotably mounted relative to said casing (3) between an inoperative and an operative position, and comprising a bit (7) and a bit holder (5), which is pivotably mounted relative to said casing (3), and a mechanism for extending the insert (5, 7), which includes a push-button (19), and an elastic return element (23) for the insert (5, 7) consisting of a helical torsion spring, one end (23a) of which is connected to the insert (5, 7), in order to urge the insert (5, 7) by pivoting towards said operative position, when the push-button (19) is actuated. According to the invention, the push-button (19) comprises a projection (49) for holding the insert (5, 7) in the inoperative position and in the operative position, the mounting position of said projection being different from said inoperative and operative positions.

Description

RETRACTABLE INSERT KEY WITH MECHANICAL RESISTANCE

IMPROVED

The invention relates to a deployment module of the insert of a key, in particular for a motor vehicle, whose head comprises a housing and whose part comprising the bit, called insert, is retractable in the housing.

Key structures forming a box with a retractable mechanical insert have already been proposed, in which the insert is pivotally mounted between a rest position in which the insert is retracted into a housing inside the housing, and a position of use in which the insert is deployed relative to the housing.

Such articulation of the insert requires a deployment mechanism of the insert mounted in the housing. For example, a deployment mechanism is known mounted between the bottom of a half-shell of the housing and a holding wall of this half-shell and comprising:

a clevis secured to the bit pivotally mounted in the housing around a pivot axis between the rest position and the position of use,

a push button mounted in a housing of the yoke to be secured in pivoting of the yoke, and

a spring interposed between the bottom of the half-shell and the push button to resiliently return the yoke in the position of use.

However, this deployment mechanism uses a large number of components which are also relatively bulky and can monopolize a large volume inside the housing. In addition, such a mechanism does not provide a push button to engage the deployment mechanism locked in rotation relative to the housing, to meet certain demands of manufacturers.

The invention aims to provide an optimized deployment module in which the number of parts is limited while allowing to obtain a push button locked in rotation.

To this end, the subject of the invention is a module for deploying a retractable insert of a key, in particular for a motor vehicle, intended to be mounted in a housing of said key and comprising:

an insert intended to be pivotally mounted relative to said housing between a rest position in which the insert is retracted into said housing and a position of use in which the insert is deployed relative to said housing, and comprising a bit and a bit support secured to the blade and pivotally mounted relative to said housing,

a deployment mechanism of the insert comprising a push button, and an elastic return element of the insert consisting of a torsion coil spring, a first end of which is connected to the insert, for biasing the insert in pivoting towards said use position, when the push button is actuated,

characterized in that

the push button comprises means for locking the push button in rotation with respect to said guide housing of the push button in axial translation,

said return element is fixed to said push button by a second end,

the first end of said biasing member is attached to the bit holder, so that said biasing member urges said support pivoting to deploy the bit when the push button is actuated, and

said push button has a projection for holding the insert in the rest position and in the use position, the mounting position of this projection being different from said rest and use positions.

Thus, a module is obtained and therefore a key with a reduced number of parts and a rotationally blocked push button that engages the deployment mechanism.

Such a push button may also have any general shape since it is not rotated.

Such a deployment module is assembled independently of a housing of the key in which the insert is intended to be retracted, and once assembled, this deployment module forms an easily manipulable unit that can be mounted in a simple manner in said housing .

In addition, such a deployment module makes it easy to preload the return element during the assembly of this deployment module.

The fact that the mounting position of this module is different from the positions of rest and use of the insert ensures a maintenance of the pressure force of the coil spring in the rest position and use and therefore does not lead to no effort on the key housing, in operation.

According to a preferred embodiment, said support comprises an open flange for the passage of said holding projection in the mounting position.

Preferably, said collar has two notches cooperating with said retaining projection, so that said retaining projection engages one of said notches in the rest position and the other of said notches in the use position and said retaining projection releases said corresponding notch in the rest position, when the push button is actuated, so as to allow the pivoting of said support.

The invention also relates to a key, particularly for a motor vehicle, equipped with such a deployment module, characterized in that it comprises said housing comprising an upper half-shell forming a cover and a lower half-shell forming a bottom of the housing, and said push button received axially in an associated housing of the upper half-shell and projecting from the upper half-shell to be actuated by a user.

Other features and advantages of the invention will emerge more clearly on reading the following description, given by way of illustrative and nonlimiting example, and the appended drawings among which:

FIG. 1a shows a key according to the invention,

FIG. 1b represents the upper half-shell of the key housing of FIG.

FIG. 1a is an exploded view of the key of FIG. 1a, FIG. 1d is a perspective from below of FIG. 1a, FIG. 2 is a view in more detail of the lower half-shell and the push button of the key. of figure la,

FIG. 3a is an exploded view of a pushbutton and a housing of the push button on the upper half-shell of the key housing of FIG.

FIG. 3b is a view of the push button mounted in the housing of FIG. 3a,

FIG. 4a represents a push button for the key of FIG.

FIG. 4b is a bottom view of the push button of the Figure 4a,

FIG. 5a shows a bit carrier for the key of FIG.

FIG. 5b is a view from above of the bit holder of FIG. 5a,

FIG. 5c is a side view of the bit holder of FIG. 5a,

FIG. 5d is a sectional view of the bit holder of FIG. 5c, and

Figure 5e is a partially side view of the bit holder of Figure 5a.

The key 1 represented in FIGS. La to ld comprises:

a housing 3 forming a key head,

an insert 5.7 comprising a bit support 5 and a bit 7 secured to the support 5, and

a mechanism for deploying the insert 5, 7 with respect to the casing 3 to enable the insert 5, 7 to move between:

a rest position (Figures 1a, 1d) in which the insert 5,7 is retracted into the housing 3 in a recess 9 provided inside the housing 3, for example in a substantially L shape corresponding to the shape of the insert 5, 7, and

a position of use (Figure la), wherein the insert 5, 7 is deployed relative to the housing 3 to be inserted into a lock.

In the illustrated example, the housing 3 is made in two parts in the form of an upper half-shell 3a forming a lid and a lower half-shell 3b forming a bottom of the housing, these two half-shells 3a, 3b being able to be assembled for example by clipping. A seal (not shown) may be arranged between the two half-shells 3a, 3b to provide protection for the interior housing 3 against the outside environment, especially against moisture or dust. One can still provide a decorative belt (not shown) disposed between the two half-shells 3a, 3b to embellish the assembly.

The key 1 can also combine a mechanical key and an electronic key. In this case, a printed circuit board (not shown) is disposed in the housing 3. This board carries the remote control electronic circuits for central locking / unlocking of the vehicle doors, and a transponder (not shown) for the anti-theft system of the vehicle and a battery (not shown) for the remote control function. This remote control function is operated by the operator by means of actuating buttons 11 provided on the upper half-shell 3a.

In addition, the support 5 has two opposite ends 5a, 5b, the end 5a carries the bit 7. For this, one end of the bit 7 can be fitted into a complementary housing (not shown) at the end 5a 5. The support 5 / bit assembly 7 is held fixed for example by a pin (not shown) through holes 17 formed on the support 5 and the bit 7. Of course, the bit 7 can be fixed to the support 5 by any other appropriate means.

Moreover, the deployment mechanism of the insert 5, 7 comprises:

a push button 19 received in an associated housing 21 of the upper half-shell 3a and passing through an orifice 6 of the support 5, the push button 19 projecting from the upper half-shell 3a so as to be accessible to a user for it can operate this push button 19 to deploy the insert 5, 7, and an elastic return element 23 fixed by a first end 23a to the insert 5,7 and a second end 23b to a member locked in rotation relative to the housing 3, to bias the insert 5,7 pivotally to the position of use when the push button 19 is actuated. This return element 23 is a helical torsion spring.

When the push button 19 is actuated by the user, the push button 19 is driven in axial translation along the longitudinal axis A within the support 5.

In order to prevent the push-button 19 from coming into abutment against the bottom wall of the support 5 at the end of the stroke, it is possible to provide a means for stopping the push-button 19. This stopping means may comprise a pin of FIG. stopping in the support 5 on which the push button 19 comes into contact at the end of travel, so that the translational movement of the push button 19 is stopped before the latter reaches the bottom wall of the support 5.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1a, 1d and 2, the support 5 has at its bottom a recess (FIG. 1d), for example with a circular arc greater than 180 °, and the stop means comprises a stud stop 15 (Figures 1 and 2) from the lower half-shell 3b and inserted into the support 5 at this arc. This stop pad 15 further has a recess for defining a surface 15a of contact with the push button 19 at the end of the race. In addition, the push button 19 comprises means for locking the push button in rotation relative to the housing 3. This locking means forms a guide of the push button 19 in axial translation along the longitudinal axis A of the push button 19 and is realized in one piece with the push button 19. Thus, it is the push button 19 which allows both to engage the deployment mechanism, to guide the push button 19 in translation, and to lock the pushbutton 19 in rotation.

In the illustrated example, this guide blocking means comprises at least one guide pin 25 which projects outwardly from the external surface of the pushbutton 19. It can be provided that the pushbutton 19 comprises two diametrically opposed guide pins 25 or three regularly distributed guide pins 25 for optimized translation guidance.

Referring to Figures 3a and 3b, each guide pin 25 cooperates with a corresponding notch 27 provided at the housing 21 on the upper half-shell 3a to guide the push button 19 in translation relative to the housing 3 along the axis A and to immobilize the push button 19 in rotation relative to the housing 3.

Thus, given the height of the guide lugs 25 or first tenons and the extra thickness vis-à-vis the upper shell, these tenons remain engaged in the notches 27 or first cavities and the button remains locked in rotation by bond with the upper shell.

The return member 23 is fixed by its second end 23b to the push button 19 and stable in rotation (Figure 1a) without the need for an intermediate piece between the push button 19 and the return member 23 of the deployment mechanism.

For this purpose, as can be seen in FIGS. 4a and 4b, the push-button 19 has a hollow interior space 20 for housing the second end 23b of the return element 23.

More precisely, two first parallel lips 29 are formed in the bottom of the pushbutton 19 and extend towards the second end 23b of the return element 23 to receive this second end 23b. In this case, the second end 23b extends back to the inside of the return element 23. The first lips 29 thus make it possible to block the second end 23b with respect to the push button 19 and thus to block the second end 23b in rotation with respect to the upper half-shell 3a of the housing 3.

In addition, to bias the insert 5.7 in pivoting, the return element 23 is preferably fixed by its first end 23a to the support 5.

Thus, the spring has its lower end locked in rotation on the yoke or support of the insert, inserted in a groove arranged on the bottom of the latter, and its upper end locked in rotation at the bottom of the button on its closed wall. In said rest position, it is thus prestressed in torsion.

To do this, as can be seen in FIGS. 5a and 5b, the support 5 may comprise a hollow pin 31 for housing the first end 23a of the return element 23 at the bottom wall.

33 of the support 5. This pin 31 is for example connected to an inner side wall 35 of the support 5 by a radial bridge 37 and can be made of material.

In addition, one can provide two second parallel lips 39 formed inside the pin 31 which extend towards the first end 23a of the return element 23 to receive the first end 23a. The first end 23a also extends back inside the return element 23. Thus, the second lips 39 block the first end 23a relative to the pin 31 of the support 5 pivotally mounted relative to the housing 3, in order to allow the transmission of the restoring force of the return element 23 to the support 5.

In addition, as illustrated in Figures 5c, 5d, the pin 31 emerges relative to the bottom wall 33 of the support 5. There is then provided an orifice 41 (Figure 1a) on the inner wall of the lower half-shell 3b at the recess 9 for interlocking the pin 31 when mounting the support 5 in the housing 3.

As described previously (see FIGS. 1a, 1d), the support 5 is open at its bottom in a circular arc, into which the stud 15 is inserted during the mounting of the support 5 on the lower half-shell 3b. This circular arc is centered on the pivot axis A so that during the pivoting of the support 5, the stop pin 15 circulates in this arc until the radial bridge 37 abuts against this stud stop 15, so as to block the pivoting movement of the support 5.

In addition, for the pivoting guidance of the support 5, the support 5 may further comprise two guide fingers (not shown) on either side of the second end 5b, which, under the effect of the actuation of the push button 19, are respectively guided by a first guide groove 43a formed in the upper half-shell 3a and a second guide groove 43b formed in the lower half-shell 3b (see Figures lb and 1c). These guide grooves 43a, 43b have a generally semicircular shape and are each delimited by two stops 45, 47. Thus, when the guide fingers bear against the stops 45, the insert 5, 7 is in the position resting, and when the guide fingers are pressed against the stops 47, the insert 5,7 is in the position of use.

Of course, any other means enabling pivotal guidance of the support 5 may be used.

Furthermore, the push button 19 and the support 5 respectively fixed to the return element 23, cooperate to hold the insert 5, 7 in the rest position and in the position of use.

For this, with reference to FIGS. 4a, 4b and 5b, 5e, the pushbutton 19 comprises a radial retaining projection 49 of the insert 5, 7 in the rest position and in the position of use, and the support 5 comprises a flange 51. This flange 51 is opened by a passage 60 to allow the passage of the retaining projection 49 in said mounting position and has on its underside two notches 53A and 53B aligned and cooperating with the retaining projection 49, so that the retaining projection 49 engages one of these notches 53A in the unfolded use position of the insert and the other of these notches 53B in the retracted position of the insert and releases these notches 53A, 53B when the push button 19 is actuated, so as to allow the pivoting of the support 5. The mounting position of this projection, corresponding to its entrance in the passage 60 of the flange 51, is different from said rest positions and use and offset from them by 90 °.

The assembly comprising the support 5, the bit 7, the push button 19 and the return element 23, form a deployment module of the insert 5.7. This deployment module is assembled independently of the housing 3.

The assembly of this deployment module comprises the following steps (see FIGS. 1a, 4a, 4b and 5a):

the end 7a of the blade 7 is fixed to the end 5a of the support 5,

the return element 23 is introduced through the orifice 6 of the support 5,

the first end 23a of the return element 23 is fixed in the second lips 39 of the hollow pin 31 of the support 5,

the pushbutton 19 is introduced through the orifice 6 and the pushbutton 19 is positioned so as to present the holding projection 49 of the pushbutton 19 above the opening of the collar 51 of the support 5, in the so-called mounting,

the second end 23b of the return element 23 is fixed in the first lips 29 in the interior space 20 of the button pushbutton 19, and

the retaining projection 49 is introduced into the passage 60 of the flange 51 of the support 5 and the pushbutton 19 is rotated at an angle of 90 ° so that the retaining projection 49 engages the notch 53B of the flange 51 of the support 5, in said rest position of the insert.

In addition, the return element 23 being a helical torsion spring, the rotation of the push button 19 until the holding projection 49 engages the notch 53, makes it possible to pre-constrain in a simple manner the spring torsion .

Of course, the order of certain steps of the assembly of this deployment module can be modified.

The deployment module thus assembled, it can be mounted in the housing 3. For this, the support 5 is mounted on the lower half-shell 3b and placed the upper half-shell 3a such that the push button 19 is received in the housing 21 of the upper half-shell 3a protruding from the housing 3. The two half-shells 3a, 3b are then fixed together.

The assembly of the support or clevis of the insert, the button and the spring is thus pre-assembled, with the spring prestressed. This arrangement therefore allows a prefabrication of such a module that can be produced and delivered by a supplier to the manufacturer of the remote control device.

Thus, when an operator wishes to use the insert 5, 7 and thereby move it out of the housing 3, he presses the push button 19 whose actuation releases the holding protrusion 49 from the notch 53B of the support 5, which relaxes the return element 23.

Under the action of the return element 23, the support 5 pivots with respect to the housing 3, the guide fingers of the support 5 being guided by the guide grooves 43a, 43b provided on the housing 3. Under the effect of the pivoting of the support 5, the blade 7 is disengaged from the recess 9 and then moves from its rest position, retracted, into the housing 3, to its use position, deployed relative to the housing 3 in which the bit 7 can be used, making an angle of 180 °.

This use position is reached when the guiding fingers of the support 5 are pressed against the stops 47 of the housing 3, which blocks any further movement. In this extended position, the holding projection 49 has engaged with the notch 53A of the support 5 after a 180 ° pivot.

It is therefore understood that such a deployment module forms a pre-assembled unit for the key 1 to easily constrain the return element 23 during assembly and can be mounted in a simple manner in the housing 3 of the key 1 , while limiting the number of parts required for the articulation of the insert 5.7 relative to the housing 3.

Claims

CLAIMS Deployment module of a retractable insert of a key, particularly for a motor vehicle, intended to be mounted in a housing of said key and, comprising:

an insert (5, 7) intended to be pivotally mounted relative to said housing (3) between a rest position in which the insert (5, 7) is retracted into said housing (3) and a position of use in which insert (5, 7) is deployed relative to said housing (3), and having a bit (7) and a bit carrier (5) integral with the bit (7) and pivotally mounted relative to said case (3) ,

a deployment mechanism of the insert (5, 7) comprising a push button (19), and an elastic return element (23) of the insert (5, 7) consisting of a torsion coil spring, of which a first end (23a) is connected to the insert (5, 7), for biasing the insert (5, 7) towards said use position, when the push button (19) is actuated,

characterized in that

the push button (19) comprises means for locking the pushbutton (19) against rotation with respect to said push button guide housing (19) in axial translation, said return element (23) is fixed to said pushbutton (19). ) by a second end (23b),

the first end (23a) of said return element (23) is fixed to the bit holder (5), so that said return member (23) biases said support (5) to deploy the bit (7) when the push button (19) is actuated, and

said push button (19) has a holding projection (49) of the insert (5, 7) in the rest position and in the use position, the mounting position of this projection being different from said resting positions and use.

2. Module according to claim 1, characterized in that said support (5) comprises a flange (51) open for the passage of said retaining projection (49) in the mounting position.

3. Module according to claim 2, characterized in that said flange (51) has two notches (53A, 53B) cooperating with said retaining projection (49), so that said retaining projection (49) engages one of said notches (53B) in the rest position and the other of said notches (53A) in the use position and that said holding projection (49) releases said corresponding notch at the rest position (53B) when the push button (19) ) is actuated, so as to allow the pivoting of said support (5).

4. Module according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the push button (19) and said guide blocking means are formed in one piece.

5. Module according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said guide blocking means comprises at least one guide pin (25) of the push button (19) for cooperating with a corresponding notch (27) of said housing.

6. Module according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the push button (19) has a hollow interior space (20), inside which is housed the second end (23b) of said return element (23). ).

7. Module according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said support (5) comprises a hollow pin (31) within which houses the first end (23a) of said biasing element (23).

8. Module according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a stop means in translation of the push button (19) disposed at least partially in said support (5).

9. Key, especially for a motor vehicle, equipped with a deployment module according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises said housing (3) having an upper half-shell (3a) forming a lid and a half lower shell (3b) forming a bottom of the housing, and said push button (19) received axially in a housing (21) associated with the upper half-shell (3a) and projecting with respect to the upper half-shell (3a) to be operated by a user.

10. Key according to the preceding claim and claim 7, characterized in that said lower half-shell (3b) of said housing (3) has a recess (9) for receiving said support (5) in said rest position and in that an orifice is provided on the inner wall of said lower half-shell (3b) at the recess (9) for the engagement of said pin (31).