EP2524097B1 - Handle for a closing device of a motor vehicle - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a handle for a locking device of a motor vehicle with an attachable to a door of the motor vehicle handle part having a extending into the door connection element, an operatively connected to the handle portion mass balancing unit, which acts as a result of acting on the handle portion accelerations, which act on the motor vehicle in an accident, prevents accidental opening of the door.

Various approaches are known from the prior art, in which mass balancing units are used due to their inertia for securing motor vehicle doors in the event of an accident. A generic prior art is for example in the EP 1 132 557 A1 or in the EP 2 053 186 A1 described. EP 1207 257 A1 is to be regarded as the closest prior art and discloses a handle which corresponds to the preamble of claim 1. However, it has disadvantageously been shown that in an accident acting on the handle of the motor vehicle Accelerations can change their directions in very short time intervals strong, so that the mass balance unit can even be counterproductive for securing the grip part in its rest position. This means that in extreme situations, the mass balancing unit can exert a force on the handle in the event of an accident, whereby the handle moves into the operating position, with the result that an accidental opening of the door is triggered.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a handle for a locking device of a motor vehicle, in which the mentioned disadvantages are avoided, in particular a handle is provided which reliably absorbs the acceleration acting on the handle in the event of an accident, so that unintentional opening of the Door is prevented.

To solve this problem, a handle with the features of claim 1 is proposed. In the dependent claims preferred developments are carried out. In this case, features and details that are described in connection with the handle according to the invention apply, of course, also in connection with a motor vehicle.

For this purpose, the invention provides that the connection element has a receptacle and the mass balancing unit rotatably mounted about an axis has at least one engagement element which is held in the receptacle, the receptacle is designed with at least one functional surface on which the engagement element during an accident due to acting Accelerations and acts in a manual actuation of the handle portion, in which the grip part between a rest position and an actuating position moves, the functional surface has a first region and a second region, wherein changing in their direction, resulting from an accident accelerations, the engagement member at a Acceleration from a first direction contacted the first region and contacted in an acceleration from a second direction of the second region, wherein the surface of the second region different from the surface of the first Aligned area, which increases the security of accidental opening of the door in the event of an accident.

The essential essence of the invention is that the accelerations and thus resulting forces, which act on the handle in an accident, do not cause the handle moves in the operating position, whereby an accidental opening of the door takes place. The handle part and the mass balance unit each have an inertia. Relative to the center of gravity of the grip part and the mass balance unit, accelerations and forces resulting from the grip part and from the mass balancing unit arise in the event of an accident. If an acceleration acts from a first direction in the event of an accident on the handle, the mass balancing unit with its engagement element exerts on the connection element of the grip part such a force which prevents the grip part from moving from the rest position into the actuating position due to its inertia. Since it often comes in their direction changing accelerations during the accident, it may be provided that a securing element is arranged in the handle, which blocks a movement of the mass balance unit and / or directly the handle part. About this blocking can be effectively prevented that the mass balance unit due to its inertia exerts a force on the handle part and / or on the connecting element, whereby this is transferred unintentionally in the operating position.

However, it has disadvantageously been shown that in the event of an accident, the accelerations can vary greatly in their strength and the directions of the accelerations are also complex in terms of their occurrence and their action on the handle. Thus, it can happen in extreme cases that this fuse element does not trip or triggers too early or too late to prevent harmful movement of the mass balancing unit, whereby the handle is moved into the operating position. In order to exclude this disadvantage as possible, this invention is in the field of geometry of the recording of the connection element, in which engages the engagement element of the mass balance unit. In the "normal", manual operation of the handle portion by the user, in which the handle portion is moved from the rest position to the actuating position, engages the engagement element of the mass balance unit on the first portion of the functional surface, at the same time by the movement of the handle portion in the direction Actuating the mass balance unit is moved. Advantageously, a spring element engages the mass balance unit with a defined force, which automatically transfers the grip part out of the actuation position into the rest position.

In the event of an accident, accelerations can act on the handle from a first direction, as a result of which, due to the mass inertia of the mass balance unit, the engagement element acts with a corresponding force on the first area of the functional area. This force prevents the grip part from being moved in the direction of the actuating position due to its own inertia. This means that a further force acts on the first region of the functional surface of the connecting element, whereby this presses further force on the engagement element of the mass balancing unit. Since this additional force resulting from the inertia of the handle is at least equal to or less than the outgoing of the mass balance unit force acting from the engagement element on the first region of the functional surface, the handle remains in its rest position.

Arise in their direction strongly changing accelerations acting on the handle, it may occur that the engagement element engages the second region of the functional surface of the connecting element and exerts a corresponding force on the handle part. According to the invention, however, the surface of the second region is oriented differently from the surface of the first region, so that due to the different geometry of the surface of the second region relative to the surface of the first region, the acting force is effectively reduced as a result of the mass inertia of the mass balance unit. Only the geometry of the functional surface, in particular of the second region of the functional surface on which the engagement element engages, ensures that the force of the mass balance unit, which is possible due to the inertia, can be substantially reduced, as a result of which the force acting on the grip part is reduced In the case of an accident to move from the rest position to the operating position is substantially reduced. At the same time, counteracting forces, for example the force resulting from the inertia of the grip part, or corresponding spring forces acting on the mass balancing unit and etc. act on the second region, so that unintentional opening of the door is prevented. The differently oriented surface of the second region of the functional surface to the surface of the first region thus causes the possible force resulting from the inertia of the mass balance unit, which can act on the functional surface of the recording is substantially reduced in amount. In this way, for example, the lever arm can be varied, in particular reduced, which is decisive for the amount of forces acting on the second area of the functional area.

In one possible embodiment of the invention, the first region is spaced from the second region, with the engagement element located between both regions. In this case, it is conceivable that the functional area has only a total area in which the first and the second area are located. It is also conceivable that the functional surface consists of two individual surfaces, wherein the first single surface is assigned to the first region and the second individual surface is assigned to the second region. In particular, the functional surface may be designed as a closed lateral surface, wherein the first region and the second region are located within this lateral surface. The distance between the first region and the second region is dimensioned such that the engagement element is reliably held in the receptacle in each position of the grip part.

Advantageously, it can be provided that the second area is not aligned parallel to the first area. In a further conceivable embodiment of the handle, the surface of the first region may be aligned substantially perpendicular to the elongate extension of the connection element, wherein the surface of the second region is aligned obliquely to the surface of the first region. The oblique orientation of the second area of the functional surface effectively ensures that any forces acting on an accident on the functional surface are substantially reduced, thereby increasing the security of the unwanted opening of the door.

Advantageously, the angle β between the surface of the first region and the surface of the second region may be up to about β = 80 °, in particular in the range between 80 ° ≥ β ≥ 30 °, in particular approximately β = 75 °. It has been shown that at large angles, a greater reduction of the force acting on the handle part force can be achieved starting from the mass balance unit. However, care should be taken when choosing the angle that the kinematics for the movement of the handle between its rest position and the operating position is not disturbed. Especially at very large angles, there may be a risk that any tilting or other malfunctions may occur during the movement of the grip part.

In one possible embodiment of the invention, it is conceivable that the surface of the second region is concave or convex. This means that the area of the second area can be a flat area. On the other hand, the surface of the second region may be concave or convex in any direction, or convexly curved in a certain section and a section adjacent thereto. Of course, it is conceivable that the surface of the first region is also a straight and flat surface. In addition, the present invention also includes the possibility that the surface of the first region is also designed in any direction, in particular concave or convex or concave and convex. However, in order to ensure satisfactory kinematics, it is appropriate in a further embodiment of the invention that the geometric configuration of the engagement element is adapted in accordance with the respective geometry of the first and the second region of the functional surface.

The second area of the functional area preferably lies between the first area of the functional area and the grip part. In addition, it is conceivable that the engagement element is always in contact with the surface of the first and the second region. It is also conceivable that a defined distance, in particular a very small distance, exists between the engagement element and the first region and / or the second region of the functional surface. The latter embodiment here refers to the state of the handle, in which the handle part is in its rest position. As the user manually operates the handle portion, the first portion of the engagement member contacts, thereby moving the mass balance unit.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the mass balance unit may be rotatably mounted about a first axis and in particular the handle portion rotatably supported about a second axis during movement between the rest position and the actuating position. In another embodiment of the invention, the grip part can be moved differently out of the door of the motor vehicle.

In order to ensure a good operability of the handle, the receptacle can have two receiving areas, in each of which an engagement element is mounted. It may be conceivable that the engagement element is designed as a cam. In addition, the connection element can be designed T-like in the region of the receptacle. In particular, in each receiving area, a cam can engage in the T-shaped connecting element. The cam may in this case have a cross-sectionally round, square, rectangular or other angular configuration.

Figur 1

eine dreidimensionale Seitenansicht der erfindungsgemäßen Handhabe mit einem Griffteil, an dem eine Massenausgleichseinheit wirkt,

Figur 2

eine mögliche Variante der erfindungsgemäßen Handhabe gemäß Figur 1,

Figur 3

eine weitere Ausführungsform der Handhabe gemäß Figur 1,

Figur 4

ein weiteres Ausführungsbeispiel der Handhabe gemäß Figur 1,

Figur 5

eine weitere Ausführungsform der Handhabe gemäß Figur 1,

Figur 6

ein weiteres Ausführungsbeispiel der Handhabe gemäß Figur 1,

Figur 7

eine weitere Ausführungsalternative der Handhabe gemäß Figur 1,

Figur 8

eine weitere Ausgestaltungsform der Handhabe gemäß Figur 1 und

Figur 9

eine schematische Darstellung der wirkenden Kräfte ausgehend von der Massenausgleichseinheit gemäß Figur 1 bei einem etwaigen Unfall.

Further advantages, features and details of the invention defined by the claims will become apparent from the following description. With reference to the drawings, several embodiments of the invention are described in detail. The features mentioned in the claims and in the description may each be essential to the invention individually or in any desired combination. Show it:

FIG. 1

a three-dimensional side view of the handle according to the invention with a handle portion on which acts a mass balance unit,

FIG. 2

a possible variant of the handle according to the invention FIG. 1 .

FIG. 3

a further embodiment of the handle according to FIG. 1 .

FIG. 4

a further embodiment of the handle according to FIG. 1 .

FIG. 5

a further embodiment of the handle according to FIG. 1 .

FIG. 6

a further embodiment of the handle according to FIG. 1 .

FIG. 7

a further alternative embodiment of the handle according to FIG. 1 .

FIG. 8

a further embodiment of the handle according to FIG. 1 and

FIG. 9

a schematic representation of the forces acting from the mass balance unit according to FIG. 1 in case of an accident.

Features with the same function and mode of action are in the FIGS. 1 to 9 each provided with the same reference numerals.

In FIG. 1 a handle according to the invention for a locking device of a motor vehicle is shown purely schematically. This handle has a handle portion 20 which is attachable to a door 1 of a motor vehicle, wherein the door 1 purely schematically only in the FIGS. 2 and 3 is shown. The grip part 20 has a connecting element 21 which extends into the door 1 and has an extension direction which is identified by reference numeral 2 in FIG FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 is provided. Further, a mass balance unit 10 is disposed within the door 1, which is in operative connection with the handle portion 20. In this case, the mass balance unit 10 engagement elements 12 which engage in a receptacle 22 of the connection element 21. The mass balance unit 10 is rotatably mounted about an axis 11. When the user operates the handle portion 20 from the outside to open the door 1, by a movement of the handle portion 20 which is rotatably mounted about the axis 24, simultaneously the mass balance unit 10 is actuated, which in the present embodiment about the axis 11 against pivoted clockwise. Here, the handle portion 20 is used for manual actuation of a locking device of a motor vehicle, which is not explicitly shown.

The receptacle 22 arranged on the connecting element 21 has a functional surface 23 which is divided into a first region 23.1 and a second region 23.2. In this case, the second region 23.2 of the functional surface 23 is located between the first region 23.1 of the functional surface 23 and the grip part 20, which lies outside the door 1. According to the illustrated embodiments FIG. 1 to FIG. 9 the area of the second area 23.2 is aligned differently to the area of the first area 23.1. With regard to all embodiments FIG. 1 to FIG. 9 the first region 23.1 is arranged at a distance from the second region 23.2, the engagement element 12 being located between the two regions 23.1, 23.2.

In all embodiments, the second region 23.2 is not aligned parallel to the first region 23.1. According to the embodiment according to FIG. 2 to FIG. 4 the area of the first area 23. 1 is substantially perpendicular to the elongated extent 2 of the connecting element 21, wherein the surface of the second region 23.2 is aligned obliquely to the surface of the first region 23.1. According to FIG. 2 the angle β between the surface of the first region 23.1 and the surface of the second region 23.2 is approximately β = 75 °. The angle β can readily vary for further requirements of the handle.

According to FIG. 3 the area of the second area 23.2 is more or less mirror-inverted to the orientation of the second area 23.2 FIG. 2 oriented.

According to the embodiments of FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 is clarified that the surface of the second region 23.2 may also have a concave or a convex curvature. In FIG. 7 a further possibility is shown that the surface of the first region 23. 1 can also have a curvature, wherein the surface of the second region 23. 2 has a planar surface (as in FIG FIG. 3 ), which extends obliquely and at an angle to the extension 2 of the connection element 21.

According to FIG. 4 such as FIG. 8 is a further alternative of a possible handle shown, in which the second region 23.2 also extends obliquely to the surface of the first region 23.1. The oblique orientation according to FIG. 8 in this case runs in the direction of the base surface 25 of the receiving region 22.

The receptacle 22 of the connection element 21 is in this case determined in its size by the first region 23.1, the second region 23.2 and its base surface 25. Of course, it is conceivable that in a further, not explicitly illustrated embodiment, the alignment of the second region 23.2 is a combination of the alignment according to the FIGS. 2 and 3 and the FIGS. 5 to 8 can be.

Furthermore, in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 a spring element 3 shown schematically, which acts on the mass balancing unit 10 with a defined force, which automatically transfers the handle part 20 from the operating position II in the rest position I again. As in FIG. 1 is illustrated, the connection element 21, which forms a common component with the handle portion 20 in the present embodiment, executed in the interior of the door 1 T-like. In this case, the receptacle 22 on two receiving area 22.1, 22.2, each on one side of the Connection element 21 are provided. In each receiving area 22.1, 22.2 engages in each case an engagement element 12 of the mass balance unit 10 a. The engagement elements 12 are formed as cams. When the user operates the handle portion 20, a rotational movement of the handle portion 20 about the axis 24, wherein the handle portion 20 is brought from the rest position I in the operating position II. By the two receiving areas 22.1, 22.2 a particularly reliable operation of the handle is ensured, with a tilting or an inclination of the handle portion 20 and the connecting element 21 to the door 1 is substantially prevented.

If now an accident of the motor vehicle should occur, various accelerations act on the handle. For example, acts a first acceleration 31 from a first direction 31 a, which is schematically in FIG. 2 and in FIG. 3 is shown, the mass balance unit 10 tries to move counterclockwise about the axis 11 due to their inertia. This results in a force F3, which acts from the engagement member 12 to the first region 23.1. Since the grip part 20 also has a mass inertia and would like to move clockwise about the axis 24 due to the acceleration 31, a force F4 acts on the engagement element 12 from the first area 23.1. The overall system of the handle is designed such that the mass of the mass balance unit is such is designed large that in such a crash, the force F3 is at least equal to the force F4, so that due to the inertia of the handle portion 20, there is no unwanted opening of the door 1.

Since it has been shown that in crash cases, the accelerations acting on the handle, in their strength and in their direction can vary greatly and change, there is a possibility that can act on this handle an acceleration 32 with a direction 32 a. In this case, the mass balancing unit 10 exerts a force on the grip part 20, which tries to bring the grip part 20 from the rest position I into the actuation position II. In order to prevent such a force of the mass balance unit 10 on the handle portion 20, it may be provided, for example, that a securing element 4 is provided which is activated at such accelerations 32 and a movement of the mass balance unit 10 or an outward movement of the handle portion 20 blocks immediately. According to FIG. 2 a fuse element 4 is shown schematically, which is a movement of the mass balance unit 10 counterclockwise around the axis 11 in the case of acceleration 32 prevented. This securing element 4 is activated in this case and prevents a corresponding movement of the mass balancing unit 10. According to FIG. 3 is purely schematically shown a fuse element 4, which moves in the direction of the arrow in the possible travel of the handle portion 20 when an acceleration 32 acts. Of course, the fuse elements 4 are made FIG. 3 and 4 interchangeable, especially in the remaining figures used.

The different orientation of the second region 23.2 to the surface of the first region 23.1 causes, in the case of accelerations 32 in the direction 32a, the force acting on the second region 23.2 of the mass balance unit 10, is reduced. This reduction of the force is schematic in FIG. 9 indicated. Since the surface of the second region 23.2 is obliquely aligned, the acting force of the mass balancing unit 10 is divided into F1 and F2. As can be seen, thus, the force F can be reduced to a force F1, which acts on the second region 23.2 in the case of accelerations 32. The force F2 is in contrast directed to the bearings, for example in the region of the axis 24 of the handle portion 20. In such a case, the spring element 3 as well as the force resulting from the inertia of the grip part 20 may be tuned such that the amount of the force F1 is reduced such that it does not cause the grip part 20 to move from the rest position I in FIG the operating position II comes.

It should be noted that the illustrated accelerations 31, 32 and their directions 31 a, 32 a in their amounts and in their directions can continue to vary and change and these accelerations 31, 32 have been described for illustrative purposes only. In practice, complex loads usually occur in the event of an accident due to the rapidly changing accelerations, which can be effectively taken up with respect to the geometrical design of the receptacle 22 with its first region 23.1 and the second region 23.2, whereby unintentional opening of the door 1 can be prevented. Here, the surface of the second region 23.2 is obliquely and / or differently aligned with the extension 2 of the connection element 21.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

door

2

Extension of 21

3

spring element

4

Safety element (crash barrier)

10

Mass balance unit

11

axis

12

engaging member

20

handle part

21

connecting element

22

admission

22.1

first recording area

22.2

second recording area

23

functional surface

23.1

first area

23.2

second area

24

axis

25

footprint

31

acceleration

31a

first direction

32

acceleration

32a

second direction

I

rest position

II

operating position

F

force

F1

force

F2

force

F3

force

F4

force

Claims (15)

1. A handle for a closing device of a motor vehicle with
   a grip part (20) able to be attached to a door (1) of the motor vehicle, which grip part (20) has a connecting element (21) extending into the door (1),
   a mass balancing unit (10) that is operatively connected to the grip part (20), which mass balancing unit (10) prevents an unintentional opening of the door (1) as a result of an effect of accelerations (31, 32) acting on the grip part (20), which act on the motor vehicle in the event of an accident, wherein
   the connecting element (21) comprises a receptacle (22) and the mass balancing unit (10), which is mounted rotatably about an axis (11), comprises at least one engagement element (12), wherein
   the receptacle (22) is embodied with at least one functional surface (23), on which the engagement element (12) acts during an accident due to acting accelerations and when the grip part (20) is manually actuated, in which the grip part (20) moves between a resting position (I) and an actuating position (II),
   characterized in that the engagement element (12) is held in the receptacle (22) and that the functional surface (23) comprises a first region (23.1) and a second region (23.2), wherein during accelerations that occur because of an accident and change in their direction, the engagement element (12) contacts the first region (23.1) on an acceleration (31) from a first direction (31a), and contacts the second region (23.2) on an acceleration (32) from a second direction (32a), wherein the surface of the second region (23.2) is aligned differently with respect to the surface of the first region (23.1), whereby the security against an unintentional opening of the door (1) in the event of an accident is increased.
2. The handle according to Claim 1,
   characterized in that
   the first region (23.1) is arranged spaced apart with respect to the second region (23.2), wherein the engagement element (12) is situated between the two regions (23.1, 23.2).
3. The handle according to Claim 1 or 2,
   characterized in that
   the functional surface (23) is embodied as a closed superficies surface, within this superficies surface the first region (23.1) and the second region (23.2) are situated.
4. The handle according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that
   the second region (23.2) is not aligned parallel to the first region (23.1)
5. The handle according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that
   the surface of the first region (23.1) is aligned substantially perpendicularly to the elongated extent (2) of the connecting element (21), wherein the surface of the second region (23.2) is aligned obliquely to the surface of the first region (23.1).
6. The handle according to Claim 5,
   characterized in that
   the angle β between the surface of the first region (23.1) and the surface of the second region (23.2) is up to approximately β = 80°, in particular lies in the range between 80° ≥ β ≥ 30°, in particular is approximately β = 75°.
7. The handle according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that
   the surface of the second region (23.2) is embodied in concave or convex manner.
8. The handle according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that
   owing to the acceleration from the second direction (32a) a force (F1) acts on the second region (23.2) of the functional surface (23) and hence on the grip part (20), wherein the force (F1) results from the mass balancing unit (10), which is reduced owing to the oblique alignment of the second region (23.2).
9. The handle according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that
   the second region (23.2) of the functional surface (23) lies between the first region (23.1) of the functional surface (23) and the grip part (20).
10. The handle according to one of the preceding claims,
    characterized in that
    the grip part (20) is mounted rotatably about an axis (24) during the movement between the resting position (I) and the actuating position (II).
11. The handle according to one of the preceding claims,
    characterized in that
    the receptacle (22) has two receptacle regions (21.1, 21.2), in which respectively an engagement element (12) is mounted.
12. The handle according to one of the preceding claims,
    characterized in that
    the engagement element (12) is constructed as a cam.
13. The handle according to Claim 12,
    characterized in that
    the engagement element (12) is connected in a single material and/or in one piece with the mass balancing unit (10).
14. The handle according to one of the preceding claims,
    characterized in that
    the connecting element (21) is embodied in the manner of a T in the region of the receptacle (22).
15. The handle according to one of the preceding claims,
    characterized in that
    a spring element (3) is provided, which acts on the mass balancing unit (10) with a force which transfers the grip part (20) from the actuating position (II) into the resting position (I).

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