EP4366966A2

EP4366966A2 - Vehicle door

Info

Publication number: EP4366966A2
Application number: EP22751439.5A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Etienne Crozier; Clara GULLI; Guillaume Heisel; Stéphane LANDWERLIN; Jean-Luc Thuliez
Original assignee: Softcar SA
Current assignee: Softcar SA
Priority date: 2021-07-05
Filing date: 2022-07-05
Publication date: 2024-05-15
Also published as: WO2023281396A2; CN117642302A; WO2023281396A3

Abstract

The invention relates to a sectional door (20) of a vehicle (10) opening as close as possible to the body (11) of said vehicle (10), having cam strikers (30) for closing, locking and opening same, having actuators (15) for opening same and having a movable window (50) capable of separating from said body (11) and translating horizontally along said door (20). These elements are implemented on a door (20) having surfaces with a complex geometry, thus providing a one-piece body (11) having surfaces with a complex geometry, with a single large opening (12) on the side for accessing the front seats (16) and the rear seats (17), and a single large door (20) for closing said opening (12).

Description

VEHICLE DOOR

CORRESPONDING REQUEST

This application claims the priority of international application PCT/IB2021/056012 filed on July 5, 2021 in the name of SOFTCAR SA, the content of this earlier application being incorporated by reference in its entirety in the present application.

TECHNICAL AREA

The present invention relates to a vehicle door opening as close as possible to the body of said vehicle, means being associated to effect its opening, closing and locking automatically and/or manually. Said door is also equipped with a movable window that can detach from said bodywork and translate along said door. These elements can be implemented on a door having surfaces with complex geometry, thus making it possible to have a one-piece bodywork with significant curvatures, with a single large opening on the side to access the front and rear seats, and a single wide door to close said opening.

PRIOR TECHNIQUE

Automobile doors are mostly made in a single block pivoting around a vertical axis. Therefore, when they are open, they significantly increase the width of the vehicle, and require space on the side of the vehicle. Closing is entirely manual and requires the door to be "slammed", which generates an overpressure in the passenger compartment, requiring the implementation of valves letting the air escape. In some cases, they have a motorized latch blocking a bolt placed on the opening of the bodywork, which requires bringing electricity inside the door. In addition, the movable windows are placed in the upper part of the door and fit inside the lower part when opening. This requires having windows with a ruled surface and doors that remain in one rigid piece. Side-sliding doors are known and require much less space when opening, but they require the presence of rails, which leads to significant design constraints. Closing is entirely manual and requires the door to be “slammed”, which generates an overpressure in the passenger compartment, requiring the implementation of valves allowing air to escape. In some cases, they have a motorized latch blocking a bolt placed on the opening of the bodywork, which requires bringing electricity inside the door. In addition, the movable windows are placed in the upper part of the door and fit inside the lower part when opening. This requires having windows with a ruled surface and doors that remain in one rigid piece.

Some vehicles are fitted with so-called "butterfly" doors which take up a lot of room laterally when opening. They have the same characteristics as the previous doors concerning the closure and the windows. Finally, there are scissor doors which have the advantage of taking up very little space when opening and not being "slammed" when closing, but they have complex kinematics and an anchorage on the bodywork that has to withstand forces. very important.

In addition to windows sliding vertically inside the lower part of the door, there are windows that can be rotated around a vertical axis, but they take up space in width or have a limited opening.

There are also slide-mounted wicket windows, but they do not offer freedom of design and scratch quickly.

Disclosure of Invention

An object of the invention is first of all to improve the known products and systems.

The present invention makes it possible to overcome all the drawbacks mentioned above. It makes it possible in particular, but not exclusively, to produce for a bodywork having surfaces with complex geometry (such as for example surfaces with spherical, toroidal, hybrid or other components, or surfaces with large radii of curvature.) a vehicle door having simple kinematics, which can be adapted to any bodywork design, opening as much as possible close to the bodywork, closing without creating excess pressure, managing closing and locking without electricity supply in the door, and allowing to have a mobile window opening widely whatever its geometry and the shape of the bodywork . A door according to the invention is therefore on the one hand simple to produce and on the other hand very light.

This door can thus be installed on a one-piece bodywork or made in several parts. This bodywork may have two small openings on one side (for example one to access the front seats and one to access the rear seats), or a single large opening allowing access to all the seats (front and rear) and offering a very great accessibility. Depending on the number of openings, the body can thus be fitted with one or two doors per side, or even more (for example one per row of seats). The principle of the door according to the present invention is not limited to use on a side door but can be applied to a trunk door for example.

The door is sectional, ie it is made up of two kinematic groups. The first group is the upper frame which pivots around an upper axis whose orientation is substantially longitudinal (in the longitudinal direction illustrated in FIG. 1a) placed on the roof of the bodywork. The second group is the lower leaf which pivots around a lower axis whose orientation is also substantially longitudinal and placed on the upper frame. When the door is closed, the upper pivot being significantly farther transversely than vertically from the lower pivot, the opening or closing of the door is done along the shape of the bodywork, allowing the door to have a clearance exceeding the overall width of said vehicle by a value which is minimal or even zero. This makes it possible not to injure the user at the time of the automatic opening of the door. When the door is open, the height of the lower leaf is lower than the height of the upper frame. Therefore, the lower leaf does not obstruct the opening and does not interfere with entering or exiting the vehicle. There may be several parts to make these pivots, but these parts are not far apart longitudinally in order to be able to perform their function even if the bodywork has a significant curvature.

When the vehicle is on a relatively horizontal surface, the lower leaves are positioned by gravity in their final closed position without external assistance, due to the positioning of their center of gravity. But for this function to be ensured even when the vehicle is on a slope in the transverse direction (see figure la), a spring can also be installed between the upper frame and the lower leaf in order to bring the latter towards the interior of the vehicle. .

The door preferably has three distinct positions: an open position, a semi-closed position, and a closed position. In the open position, the door does not cover the opening in the body, allowing users to enter or exit the vehicle. In the semi-closed position, the opening of the bodywork is obstructed by the door, but sealing is not yet achieved between the inside and the outside of the passenger compartment of the vehicle. In the closed position, sealing is achieved between the inside and the outside, and the door is ready to be locked in position. Between the closed position and the semi-closed position, the upper frame preferably pivots only a few degrees.

The door is provided with at least one bolt and at least one detectable element, preferably two of each, one at the front and the other at the rear of the door. For each element detectable in the door, a sensor is installed in the body. For each bolt in the door, a cam striker is installed in the body. Thus, when closing the door, it is brought manually from the open position to the semi-closed position. In the semi-closed position, sensors detect detectable elements of the door, triggering the rotation of cams in the cam strikers. These cams pull on the bolts to bring the door towards the inside of the vehicle, until it reaches the closed position. This closing is thus done without "slamming" the door but by a controlled movement, not creating any overpressure in the passenger compartment.

During this step, the bolt is guided in a groove of the cam striker. At the entrance to the cam striker, this groove is substantially wider than the bolt, so that the bolt can enter it even when the latter has a positioning fault. Similarly, the cam has geometries allowing it to be able to pull on the bolt even if the latter is not perfectly positioned.

The door has a locking system to prevent it from being opened from the outside. According to one embodiment, the motor or the transmission rotating the cam have a non-reversible movement. The door is, in fact, locked in this closed position. Otherwise, according to another embodiment, the locking of the door is achieved by the entry of the bolt into a fixed cavity of the cam striker. Unlocking is in this case carried out by a second cam pushing the bolt out of this cavity.

In the closed position, the lower leaf is blocked on a geometry of the bodywork (for example by a leaf-bodywork interlocking), creating a fourth anchor point for the door, in addition to the pivot on the roof, and the two blocked bolts in the cam strikers. These four anchoring points prevent the door from being torn off (vandalism, car-jacking, theft) or from being pushed in (parking impact, side crash vandalism). The curvature of the door means that, in the event of depression, it braces against the edges of the opening, for a better hold in place.

When opening the door, the cam pivots in the opposite direction to that of closing, thus pushing the bolt out of the cam striker, and thus the door to the semi-closed position. This action can also be performed manually by acting on a handle, for example, which will pull on the bolts to make them come out of the cam striker. In this case, it is the elasticity of the door seals that will push the door to its semi-closed position. Once in the semi-closed position, cylinders mounted between the bodywork and the door (or other equivalent means) will push the door to its open position, without the need for manual action on the part of the user. When the sensors no longer detect the presence of the detectable elements of the door, the cam striker returns the cam to a position where it is ready to close again, if it is not already in this position (for example if the passage to the semi-closed position closed was done manually).

In the case of a non-reversible closing movement, unlocking is done simply by pivoting the cam in the opposite direction to that of closing. A handle or a button can also be installed in the passenger compartment of the vehicle, the manual pulling of this handle or the pressing of this button uncoupling the closing motor and the cam. In this configuration, nothing blocks the opening of the door. The elasticity of the seals and/or a manual action on the door makes it possible to push it from the closed position to the semi-closed position, the bolt pushing the cam into its open position, said cam no longer being locked in rotation by the non-reversing engine or transmission.

For the opening, closing, locking and unlocking actions, the only electrified elements are the motor and the sensor. These elements are fixed to the bodywork. Thus, no element requiring electricity is present in the door, making it possible to avoid both additional costs, significant masses and breakdowns. Operation of the door opening-closing system can be manual, partially or totally assisted (for example with jacks, springs, etc.), partially automated or fully automated, the user simply giving a command (by example by pressing a button or other equivalent such as manipulation of a handle of the door) for part of the door movement or for the entire movement (opening and/or closing). The command can also be linked to the status of the vehicle (stopped in the “parking” position, or switched on for a departure) and/or customizable with respect to said status. The command can also be given by a remote control, such as the car key, or by specific sensors, for example the detection of the physical position of the user (RFID etc.).

With this type of door, the implementation of “standard” movable windows sliding inside the lower leaf is impossible since the lower leaf is movable with respect to the upper frame. In addition, this type of window is not compatible with bodywork having surfaces with complex geometry. According to the invention, the movable window of the door therefore opens by unsticking slightly outwards (semi-closed or semi-open position), then by translating backwards (open position).

To achieve the translation, the system is provided with two rails: a fixed rail mounted on the door, and a mobile rail mounted on the mobile window. This makes it possible to have rails twice as short as in a single rail system, and to not see the rails when the window is in the closed position. According to one embodiment, the fixed rail is positioned on the upper frame of the door. According to another embodiment, the fixed rail is positioned on a fixed window. A roller is guided in translation in each rail, and this roller is connected to the rest of the system by a connecting rod allowing the window to be lifted from its closed position to its semi-closed position. Stops are implemented to block the translation of the rollers in the closed position, to limit the separation of the window, and to block the movement of the connecting rods between the semi-closed position and the open position. A locking system is also installed on the mobile window to prevent it from being opened from outside the vehicle. Detachment only from the rear of the window is possible to allow a stream of air to pass at the rear of the passenger compartment.

The invention, its principles and embodiments are defined in the independent claims which follow this description. Particular embodiments of the invention are the subject of the appended dependent claims.

Brief description of the drawings

The present invention and its advantages will appear better in the description below of embodiments given by way of non-limiting examples, with reference to the appended drawings in which:

- Figure la shows a perspective view of the vehicle with the door closed.

- Figure lb shows a perspective view of the vehicle with the door open. - Figure 2a shows a sectional front view of the vehicle with the door closed.

- Figure 2b shows a sectional front view of the vehicle with the door semi-closed. - Figure 2c shows a sectional front view of the vehicle with the door in its maximum lateral travel.

- Figure 2d shows a sectional front view of the vehicle with the door open.

- Figure 3a shows a front perspective view of the inside of the door.

- Figure 3b shows a rear perspective view of the inside of the door.

- Figure 4a shows a perspective view of the cam striker when the door is open or semi-closed. - Figure 4b shows a perspective view of the cam striker when the door is closed.

- Figure 4c shows a sectional view of the cam striker.

- Figure 4d shows a perspective view of the unlocking cam mounted on the cam shaft. - Figure 5a shows a perspective view of the cam striker and the bolt in the vehicle in the semi-closed position.

- Figure 5b shows a perspective view of the cam striker and the bolt in the vehicle in the closed position.

- Figure 6a shows a sectional view of the cam striker and the bolt in the closed position. - Figure 6b shows a sectional view of the cam striker and the bolt in the locked position.

- Figure 7a shows a perspective view of the handle at rest.

- Figure 7b shows a perspective view of the actuated handle. - Figure 8a shows a perspective view of the closed window.

- Figure 8b shows a perspective view of the semi-closed window.

- Figure 8c shows a perspective view of the open window.

- Figure 9a shows a perspective view of the fixed part of the window system.

- Figure 9b shows a perspective view of the movable part of the window system.

- Figure 10 shows a perspective view of the window locking system. - Figure IIa shows a sectional view of the closed window.

- Figure 11b shows a sectional view of the semi-closed window.

- Figure 11c shows a sectional view of the open window.

- Figure 12 shows a curve of the forces at the cylinder as a function of the opening angle of the door - Figure 13 shows a front perspective view of the inside of the door according to another embodiment (bolts fixed).

- Figure 14 shows a sectional view of the cam striker and the bolt in the locked position according to another embodiment (fixed bolts and cam striker with non-reversible movement). - Figure 15a shows a perspective view of the fixed part of the window system according to another embodiment. - Figure 15b shows a perspective view of the movable part of the window system according to another embodiment.

- Figure 16 shows a perspective view of the window locking system according to another embodiment.

- Figure 17a shows a detail view of an element of the mobile window system, in the closed position, according to another embodiment.

- Figure 17b shows a detail view of an element of the mobile window system, between the closed position and the semi-closed position, according to another embodiment.

- Figure 17c shows a detail view of an element of the movable window system, between the semi-closed position and the open position, according to another embodiment.

- Figure 18 shows a detail view of an element of the movable window system in the closed position, according to an embodiment comprising a hook and a tab mounted on a spring.

Numerical references of the elements

- 10: vehicle

- 11: bodywork

- 12: opening

- 12a: top of the opening

- 13: roof

- 14: swing anchor

- 15: cylinder

- 16: front seat - 17: rear seat

- 18: door seal

- 20: door

- 21: upper frame - 21a: frame handle

- 22: lower leaf

- 22a: leaf center of gravity

- 22b: leaf opening stop

- 22c: leaf closing stop - 22d: bottom of the lower leaf

- 22nd: armrest

- 22f: swing handle

- 23: upper pivot

- 24: lower pivot - 25: detectable element

- 26: beating spring

- 27: grip strap

- 30: cam striker

- 31: closing cam - 31a: closing cavity

- 31b: opening cavity

- 32: unlocking cam

- 32a: unlocking inclined plane

- 33: cam motor - 34: cam pin

- 35: guide groove - 35a: guide groove entry

- 36: locking cavity

- 37: door sensor

- 38: bolt sensor - 40: bolt

- 40a: bolt shoulder

- 41: bolt housing

- 42: bolt spring

- 43: handle - 44: rod system

- 50: movable window

- 51: fixed track

- 51a: fixed slide stop

- 51b: fixed closing stop - 52: movable rail

- 52a: movable slide stop

- 52b: movable closing stop

- 53: fixed roller

- 53a: fixed opening stop - 54: movable roller

- 54a: movable opening stop

- 55: fixed rod

- 56: moving rod

- 57: window locking system - 58: window seal

- 59: opening slope 60: closing spring

- 61: hook

- 62: tongue

- 63: tongue spring

Detailed description of mode of execution of the invention The invention is not limited to the embodiments or modes of execution described, but may be modified by using means equivalent to those described.

Referring to the figures, the door (20) is provided to close an opening (12) made in the bodywork (11) of a vehicle (10). Said bodywork (11) can be made in a single block or consist of several elements. It may also have surfaces with complex geometry. Said opening (12) can give access only to the front seats (16) or only to the rear seats (17). Said body (11) may also have two openings (12), one giving access only to said front seats (16) and the other giving access only to said rear seats (17). In this case, said body can be equipped with two doors (20) per side. In the same way, said body may have one opening per row of seats, and as many doors to close them, for example in the case of a van, a bus or a coach. According to another embodiment shown in Figure lb, said opening (12) provides access to the front seats (16) and the rear seats (17), and a single door (20) covers said opening (12).

Said door (20) mainly comprises an upper frame (21) pivoting around an upper pivot (23) placed on the roof (13) of said bodywork (11), and a lower leaf (22) pivoting around a pivot bottom (24) placed on said top frame (21). Said door (20) is described as sectional. The axes of said upper pivot (23) and lower pivot (24) are substantially longitudinal.

Advantageously, said bodywork (11) and said lower leaf (22) are made of the same material so that thermal expansion does not disturb the operation of said door (20), and in order to have an identical color and surface condition. Said upper frame (21) can also be made of the same material, although this is less critical for the operation of said door (20). According to a particular and non-limiting embodiment, said upper frame (21) or said lower leaf (22), or both elements are made of synthetic material or fibers, which avoids damaging the external elements that they could touch, for example the sheet metal bodies of surrounding vehicles.

When said door (20) is in the closed position, said upper pivot (23) is significantly farther transversely than vertically from said lower pivot (24). The opening or closing of said door (20) is therefore done along the shape of said bodywork (11), said leaf bottom (22) not deviating from said bodywork (11) but rising or falling, allowing said door (20) to have a movement exceeding by a minimum value, or even by a zero value, the overall width of said vehicle (10). In this way, said door (20) can open even when a person or an object, in particular another vehicle, or a wall is in front of or near said door (20), on the side of said vehicle ( 10). Moreover, in the open position, said lower leaf (22) has a height less than the height between said upper pivot (23) and said lower pivot (24). Thus, when said door (20) is in the open position, the bottom of the lower leaf (22d) is higher or at the same level as the top of the opening (12a). When a person wants to enter or exit said vehicle (10), he is therefore not bothered by said lower leaf (22) and avoids bumping into it.

According to a non-limiting embodiment, said door (20) opens when it detects the presence of an element identifying its owner, for example an RFID chip contained in a card or a key, and/or when a button exterior opening of said door (20) is pressed. Said button may be next to said door (20). Thus, when a user presses the button, the small lateral movement of said door (20) when it is opened means that the user can stay next to said button and therefore next to said door (20) without risking be struck by it, and without the risk of blocking its opening.

According to a non-limiting mode, two parts make said upper pivot (23) and two parts make said lower pivot (24) in order to ensure good stability of said door (20) when in motion. In this case, the two parts forming said upper pivot (23) and lower pivot (24) are not far apart longitudinally in order to be able to perform their function even if said bodywork (11) has a surface with a complex geometry.

When said door (20) is in the closed position, the center of gravity of the leaf (22a) is further outside said vehicle (10) in the transverse direction than said lower pivot (24). In this way, when closing said door (20), when said vehicle (10) is on a relatively horizontal surface, said lower leaf (22) orienting towards the interior of said vehicle (10) by gravity, s presses on the edges of said opening (12), and the leaf opening abutment (22b) and leaf closing abutment (22c) are housed on the leaf anchor (14) without external assistance. According to a non-limiting mode of operation, in order to ensure this function even when the vehicle is on a slope, a beating spring (26) is installed between said upper frame (21) and said lower leaf (22) in order to orient said lower leaf (22) towards the interior of said vehicle (10), independently of gravity. This spring can be, without limitation, a tension spring, compression spring, torsion spring or a torsion bar. Other equivalent means are of course possible to obtain the same effect.

Said door (20) preferably has three distinct positions: an open position, a semi-closed position (or also called "semi-open"), and a closed position. In the open position, said door (20) does not cover said opening (12) of said bodywork (11), which allows users to enter or exit said vehicle (10). In the semi-closed position, said door (20) is in front of said opening (12), but sealing is not yet achieved between the inside and the outside of the passenger compartment of said vehicle (10). Preferably, in this position, the door (20) rests on the door seals (18), but said door seals (18) are not compressed enough to achieve sealing. Said door (20) can also rest on the edges of said opening (12). Moreover, in this position, no element maintains said door (20) in position, so that the latter can be reopened without any particular effort. In the closed position, said door seals (18) are compressed so that sealing is achieved between the inside and the outside of the passenger compartment of said vehicle (10). The said door

(20) is mechanically blocked in this position so that it cannot be opened without effort, and it is ready to be locked in position. Between the closed position and the semi-closed position, said upper frame

(21) preferably pivots only a few degrees around said upper pivot (23).

In order to be brought from the semi-closed position to the closed position, said door (20) is provided with at least one bolt (40), and with at least one detectable element (25), preferably two of each, one at the front of said door (20) and the other at the rear of said door (20). For each detectable element (25) installed in the door (20), a door sensor (37) is installed in said body (11). For each bolt (40) installed in said door (20), a cam striker (30) is installed in said bodywork (11). According to a non-limiting embodiment, said door sensor (37) is installed directly on said cam striker (30).

Said gate sensor (37) and detectable elements (25) may for example be a Hall effect sensor and a magnet, an inductive sensor and a metal part, an optical barrier and optical reflector, a mechanical switch and a mechanical stop, or a electrical switch and an electrical stop. The invention is however not limited to these elements and can use other equivalent means. These elements represent security for users. The passage of said door (20) from the semi-closed position to the closed position is achieved by the actuation of mechanical elements that can injure the user. These elements can only be set in motion when said door sensors (37) detect the presence of said detectable elements (25). In this position, the mechanical elements will no longer be accessible to users, and their movement cannot therefore injure them.

When closing said door (20), the latter is brought manually from the open position to the semi-closed position. For this, a gripping strap (27) can be installed on said lower leaf (22) so that the user can bring said door (20) into the semi-closed position, even when seated inside said vehicle. (10). An armrest (22e) on said lower leaf (22) makes it possible to assist at the end of the movement, the user being able to simply press on this armrest. Advantageously, said armrest (22e) is not a separate part mounted on said lower leaf (22), but is a geometry making an integral part of said lower leaf (22) in order to be rigid and to avoid fixings which would represent a weak point (and to avoid loss of time for assembly operations). From the outside, a frame handle (21a) is installed on said door (20) to have a grip zone which guides the hand out of said lower pivot (24) to prevent it from getting caught between said upper frame (21 ) and said lower leaf (22). A flap handle (22f) can also be installed, lower than said frame handle (21a), and thus more accessible for people of small stature. In another mode of execution, the movement is not performed manually but is assisted and/or performed automatically by appropriate means (motor, transmission, etc.).

In the semi-closed position, said bolt (40) is at the entrance to a guide groove (35) hollowed out in said cam striker (30), said door sensors (37) face said detectable elements (25) of the door (20) so as to be able to detect their presence. This detection triggers the rotation of a cam motor (33) which drives the rotation of a cam pin (34) on which is mounted a closing cam (31) in said cam striker (30). Said closure cam (31) has a closure cavity (31a). When said closure cam (31) rotates, said closure cavity (31a) is placed around said bolt (40) then drives it in its movement thus pulling on it and at the same time pulling said door (20) towards the interior of said vehicle (10), compressing said door seals (18) until reaching the closed position. This closing is thus done without "slamming" said door (20). There is low air volume displacement, creating no overpressure in the passenger compartment, allowing thus to eliminate the heavy, expensive overpressure valves and in general made of non-recyclable elastomers. These valves are essential in most current production vehicles. Closing the door is also more pleasant for users seated in the vehicle.

When said door (20) is manually placed in the semi-closed position, the positioning of said bolt (40) is not precise. The guide groove entrance (35a) of said guide groove (35) and said closing cavity (31a) have dimensions larger than the diameter of said bolt (40) so that said closing cavity (31a) can push said bolt (40) in said guide groove (35) even if said bolt (40) is initially incorrectly positioned.

Said door (20) has a locking system to prevent its opening from the outside. According to one embodiment, said cam motor (33) or its transmission system pivoting said closing cam (31) has a non-reversible movement. Said door (20) is, in fact, locked in this closed position. This is the case, for example, if said closing cam (31) is fixed to a pinion driven in rotation by a worm having a low helix angle. The invention is however not limited to these elements and can use other equivalent means.

According to another embodiment, said bolt (40) is in sliding connection in a bolt housing (41), a bolt spring (42) pushing it towards the outside of said door (20). When pulled into said groove (35) by said closing cam (31), the inclined plane of said guide groove entrance (35a) pushes said bolt (40) into said bolt housing (41), thereby compressing said bolt spring (40 ). When said door (20) is in the closed position, said bolt is in front of a locking cavity (36) into which said bolt spring (42) pushes it. Said locking cavity (36) being fixed, the position of said bolt (40) and therefore of said door (20) is locked independently of the position of said closing cam (31) and therefore of said cam motor (33).

A bolt sensor (38) can be installed in said locking cavity (36). When said bolt (40) enters said locking cavity (36), the latter is detected by said bolt sensor (38) thus confirming the locked state of said door (20). Said bolt sensor (38) may for example be a Hall effect sensor, an inductive sensor, an optical barrier, a mechanical switch, or an electrical switch. The invention is however not limited to these elements and can use other equivalent means.

In the closed position, said leaf opening abutment (22b) and said leaf closing abutment (22c) are positioned on said leaf anchor (14). In this way, said lower leaf (22) cannot be pulled out or pushed in. According to a particular mode of the invention which comprises a cam striker system (30) at the front of said door (20) and a cam striker system (30) at the rear of said door (20), said door (20) thus has four anchoring points preventing it from being opened: said upper pivot (23) locked in translation in said roof (13), said bolt (40) locked in translation inside said cavity of lock (36) at the front of said door (20), said bolt (40) locked in translation inside said locking cavity (36) at the rear of said door (20), and said lower leaf (22) blocked in translation by said swing anchor (14).

These four anchor points also prevent said door (20) from being pushed inside said vehicle (10), which represents safety in the event of a side crash. Said door (20) is preferably substantially domed. A side crash having the consequence of depressing said door (20), the flattening of its curved shape will increase its frontal surface, causing a phenomenon of buttressing on the edges of said opening (12), preventing said door (20 ) to pass through said opening (12).

According to an embodiment with a bolt (40) fixed on said door (20), said bolt (40) has a bolt shoulder (40a) resting on said closing cam (31) when said door (20) is in closed or locked position. The support between said closing cam 31 and said bolt shoulder (40a) prevents the axial translation of said bolt (40) so that said bolt (40) cannot slip out of said cam striker (30), even when said door (20) is forced and deformed towards the exterior of the vehicle. Said shoulder bolt (40a) thus improves the anchoring of said door (20) in said bodywork (11).

To open said door (20), in the embodiment with locking cavity (36), an unlocking cam (32) is mounted on said axis cam (34). Said unlocking cam (32) is provided with an inclined unlocking plane (32a). When said cam motor (33) rotates in the opposite direction to that of closing, said unlocking inclined plane (32a) pushes said bolt (40) out of said locking cavity (36), compressing said bolt spring ( 42). Once said bolt (40) is out of said locking cavity (36), said cam motor (33) continues to rotate in the same direction and an opening cavity (31b) in said closing cam (31) pushes on said bolt (40) to come out of said guide groove (35). The door is then in a semi-closed position.

This action can also be performed manually by actuating a handle (43) which, via a system of rods (44), will pull on said bolt (40), compressing said bolt spring (42). Said bolt (40) will thus come out of said cam striker (30). In this case, it is the elasticity of said door seals (18) which by decompressing will push said door (20) to its semi-closed position.

In the case where said cam motor (33) or its transmission system have a non-reversible movement, unlocking takes place in the same movement as opening: said cam motor (33) pivots in the opposite direction to that of closing, and said opening cavity (31b) in said closing cam (31) pushes said bolt (40) out of said guide groove (35). The door then moves to a semi-closed position. This action can also be performed manually by activating a handle or a button which, via a transmission system (links, cables, motor or other), will uncouple said closing cam (31) from the non-reversible component said cam motor (33) or its transmission system. Said closing cam (31) being again free in rotation, said door seals (18) can be decompressed thanks to their elasticity and bring said door (20) to its semi-closed position.

Once in the semi-closed position, at least one or preferably two cylinders (15) mounted between said vehicle (10) and said door (20) will push said door (20) to its open position. Said cylinders (15) are mounted in such a way that in the closed position of the door they induce very little torque on said door (20), which makes it possible to place said door (20) in the semi-closed position manually without the need of great strength, and also makes it possible not to force the closing and locking elements described above. The more said door (20) opens, the more the angle between said cylinders (15) and said door (20) increases, which increases the component of force which induces the torque, and compensates for the loss of linear force of said cylinders ( 15) when they unfold. The cylinders thus always have sufficient force to lift said door (20) to its open position, even when they are at the end of their travel.

According to a non-limiting embodiment, said cylinders (15) are housed in the thickness of said roof (13) of said bodywork (11). To can develop sufficient force even when said door (20) is close to the semi-closed position, one of the ends of said jacks (15) will be placed at the highest point relative to the thickness of said roof (13), while the the other will be placed at the lowest relative to the thickness of said roof (13), in order to maximize the angle of said cylinders (15) relative to said door (20), and therefore to maximize the component of force which induces the couple.

By way of example, the curve shown in Figure 12 shows a system in which said cylinders (15) have enough force to open said door (20) when the opening angle of said door (20) is greater than four degrees. In this example, said cam striker (30) will push said door (20) to an angle of four degrees or slightly greater, so that said cylinders (15) can then perform the rest of the opening. The invention is not limited to this particular example. According to other embodiments, the angle may be different from the four degrees mentioned above, or the forces of the cylinders different from those indicated in Figure 12.

Said cylinder (15) may be, without limitation, a gas spring cylinder, a mechanical spring cylinder, an electric cylinder, a hydraulic cylinder, or a pneumatic cylinder. The invention is however not limited to these elements and can use other equivalent means. According to a non-limiting embodiment, said cylinder (15) can be equipped with a damping system slowing down the opening movement of said door (20) when approaching the open position. A spring for compensating the mass of said door (20) can also be installed around said upper pivot (23), the latter being compressed when said door (20) is closed, then assisting said cylinders (15) to take off said door (20) of said body (11) by a few degrees when said door (20) is in the semi-closed position and said cylinders (15) have a force relatively equivalent to that necessary to open said door (20). This action zone is represented by way of example in figure 12. In this particular example, said compensation spring will apply a force to said door (20) when said door (20) has an opening angle of between three and five degrees, which will make it possible to have a more frank opening of said door (20), to have a cam striker (30) opening said door (20) only up to three degrees instead of four degrees , to compensate for the friction and wear of the system, and/or to compensate for the climatic conditions, said cylinders (15) being able for example to have lower forces when the temperature of use is low. Said compensating spring may be, without limitation, a tension spring, compression spring, torsion spring, or a torsion bar. The invention is however not limited to these elements and can use other equivalent means

Assistance can also be provided to facilitate manual movement, in particular when closing, or means can be provided to perform fully automated opening and/or closing, the user merely controlling the movement of the door. According to another non-limiting low cost embodiment, said door (20) can operate without a cylinder, and all movements of said door (20) are performed manually by the user.

During opening, when said door sensors (37) no longer detect the presence of said detectable elements (25) of said door (20), said cam motor (33) rotates in the opening direction in order to return said closing cam (31) in a position where it is ready to perform a new closing. This action is necessary in particular in the case where said door (20) has been brought from the closed position to the semi-closed position manually, by actuating said handle (43).

According to a non-limiting embodiment, said opening (12) formed by the door cut line, and the elements of said door (20) are arranged so that when said door (20) is in the open position, said bottom of the lower leaf (22d) is higher than or at the same level as said top of the opening (12a). Thus, when a person wants to enter or exit said vehicle (10), he is not bothered by said lower leaf (22) and avoids bumping into it.

For the actions of opening, closing, locking and unlocking, preferably the only electrified elements are said cam motor (33) and said door sensor (37). These elements are fixed to fixed elements of said vehicle (10). Thus, no element requiring electricity is present in said door (20) making it possible to avoid the both additional costs, large masses and breakdowns. Of course, another distribution of the elements can be provided.

Said upper pivot (23) being located high on said roof (13), it is far from the front and rear crash zones. Thus, during a crash, said upper pivots (23) are preserved from deformation and retain their functionality even if said bodywork (11) is made of synthetic material. This makes it possible to open said door (20), even after a major crash, thus satisfying the M1 standards on the subject.

Said body (11) having surfaces with complex geometry, and said lower leaf (22) being movable relative to said upper frame (21), the implementation of standard movable windows sliding inside the lower part of the door is impossible. The movable window (50) of said door (20) according to the invention therefore opens by coming off transversely towards the outside of the passenger compartment of said vehicle (10) in a semi-closed position in which the window seals ( 58) are no longer compressed, then translating longitudinally rearward of said vehicle (10) into an open position. The longitudinal translation of said movable window (50) is facilitated by the fact that in this position, said window seals (58) are no longer compressed. Said movable window (50) being detached from said door (20) when it translates longitudinally, the risks of scratching of said movable window (50), or of said door (20) are almost reduced. When closing, said movable window (50) translates in the opposite direction longitudinally towards the front, then glues itself against said door (20) by compressing said window seals (58).

To achieve this kinematics, said door (20) is provided with at least one fixed rail (51) mounted on said upper frame (21), and with at least one movable rail (52) mounted on said movable window (50) . Favorably, to ensure good stability, the system is provided with two fixed rails (51) and two movable rails (52), one in the upper part of said movable window (50), the other in the lower part of said movable window (50). The use of a fixed rail (51) in association with a mobile rail (52) makes it possible to have rails twice as short as in a single rail system, and to not see the rails when said mobile window (50) is in the closed position, said movable rail (52) positioning itself in front of said fixed rail (51). Said fixed rails (51) and mobile rails (52) are preferably made of aluminum but can also be made of steel or polymer. They are embedded in the thickness of said upper frame (21), set back from the exterior surface of said vehicle (10), so that they can be straight and ensure the translation of said movable window (50), even if said bodywork (11) and said movable window (50) have surfaces with complex geometry. According to another embodiment, said fixed rail (51) is positioned on a fixed window of said upper frame (21).

On each fixed rail (51) is mounted a fixed rod (55) in pivot connection therewith. At the other end of said fixed link (55), a fixed roller (53) is mounted in pivot connection with said fixed link (55). Said fixed roller (53) is in sliding connection with said movable rail (52). On each movable rail (52) is mounted a movable rod (56) in pivot connection therewith. At the other end of said movable link (56), a movable roller (54) is mounted in pivot connection with said movable link (56). Said movable roller (54) is in sliding connection with said fixed rail (51).

The rotation of the pivots of said fixed rods (55) and movable rods (56) allows the separation of said movable window (50) from the closed position to the semi-closed position and vice versa. Other equivalent systems are of course possible.

The translation of said fixed rollers (53) and movable rollers (54) respectively in said movable rails (52) and fixed rails (51) allows the translation of said movable window (50) from the semi-closed position to the open position and vice versa .

In the closed position, a window locking system (57) blocks the detachment of said mobile window (50). According to a non-limiting embodiment, said window locking system (57) is a three-point toggle system manipulated by the user and accessible only from inside the passenger compartment of said vehicle (10) in order to prevent the opening from the outside and avoid intrusions. Other equivalent systems are of course possible.

In the closed position, a fixed slide stop (51a) and a movable slide stop (52a) prevent the translation of said movable window (50) towards the back. In the semi-closed position, a fixed opening stopper (53a) a movable opening stopper (54a) block the rotation of said fixed rod (55) and of said movable rod (56), limiting the detachment of said movable window (50). Between the semi-closed position and the open position, a fixed closing stop (51b) and a movable closing stop (52b) prevent said movable window (50) from sticking back transversely towards the interior of the passenger compartment of said vehicle (10) . Said fixed opening stopper (53a), movable opening stopper (54a), fixed closing stopper (51b) and movable closing stopper (52b) therefore prevent movement and excessive vibration of said movable window (50) when the latter is open. and that said vehicle (10) is moving.

According to one embodiment, an opening slope (59) can be positioned at the end of said fixed rail (51) and of said movable rail (52) in order to open said movable window (50) in one single longitudinal movement: said fixed slide stop (51a) and mobile slide stop (52a) have a low height and are followed by said opening slopes (59). When said window locking system is unlocked, the elasticity of said window seal (58) pushes said movable window (50) in transverse translation outwards. Thus, the closing stops (51b and 52b) are found opposite said opening slopes (59). A longitudinal thrust on said movable window (50) will bring said closing stops (51b and 52b) into contact with said slopes (59), forcing said closing stops (51b and 52b) to translate transversely in order to effect the large longitudinal opening. Thus the translation transverse and longitudinal translation are done in a single movement, facilitating handling for the user.

According to one embodiment, or several closing springs (60) can be installed between the fixed and movable parts of said movable window (20). This can for example be a torsion spring resting on said fixed rail (51) and on said fixed link (55) and another torsion spring resting on said movable rail (52) and on said movable link

(56), the two springs forcing to press said movable window (50) against said window seal (58). It can likewise be one or more tension springs connecting said fixed rail (51) to said movable rail (52). The purpose of said closing springs (60) is thus to compress said window seal (58) to obtain sealing even when said movable window (20) is not locked by said window locking system

(57).

A hook (61) can be implemented on said fixed rod (55), said movable rail (52) or an element of the same kinematic group as said movable rail (52) being housed therein when said movable window (50) is in the closed position . Said hook (61) thus makes it possible to block the rotation of said fixed rod (55) and the translation of said movable rail (52) when said movable window (50) is in the closed position. Said hook represents a second locking point of said movable window (50) in the closed position, in addition to said window locking system (57). The invention is however not limited to these elements and can use other equivalent means. Said movable rail (52) exits from said hook (61) by a slight transverse movement of said movable rail (52) performed during passage of said movable window (50) from the closed position and the semi-closed position. This movement can be performed manually by the user. Advantageously, the interface between said movable link (56) and said fixed slide stop (51a) has an inclined plane. Thus, during the passage of said movable window (50) between the closed position and the semi-closed position, the slight transverse movement to release said hook (61) from said fixed rod (55) is imposed by said inclined plane, said mobile link (56) having to follow the geometries of said fixed slide stop (51a) in order to free itself therefrom. Advantageously, a tab (62) mounted on a tab spring (63) can be implemented between said hook and said movable rail (52) in order to reduce and assist the slight transverse movement, while maintaining good locking in position. closed.

To let in a stream of air, the kinematics as described allows the person on said rear seat (17) to half-open said movable window (50) by taking off only the rear. It can be reattached from said rear seat (17) or from said front seat (16). This kinematics only works if the person on said front seat (16) unlocks said window locking system (57).

This mobile window system does not require electricity. The fact of eliminating the electric motor allows at the same time a lightening, a lower cost and the saving of rare earths, therefore an ecological footprint lesser. Said door (20) is therefore entirely non-electrified and of simple construction. Alternatively, assistance means can be provided which partially or totally automate the opening and closing of the window, the user merely placing the order (for example by pressing a button).

The invention also relates to a vehicle comprising the elements described above alone or in combination, namely at least such a door and/or such a cam striker system and/or such a window.

The embodiments described in the present application are by way of illustrative examples and should not be considered as limiting. Other embodiments may make use of means equivalent to those described for example. In the context of the present invention, embodiments can also be combined with each other depending on the circumstances, or means used in one mode can be used in another mode. Similarly, the dimensions and materials indicated herein are not limited to the illustrative examples but variants using equivalent means, dimensions and materials are possible and conceivable.

Claims

1. Door (20) for a vehicle (10), said door (20) comprising an upper frame (21), a lower leaf (22), and a lower pivot (24) between said upper frame (21) and said lower leaf ( 22), said upper frame (21) being connected to the vehicle (10) by an upper pivot (23), said upper pivot (23) being significantly farther horizontally than vertically from said lower pivot (24), allowing opening or closing of the door (20) along the shape of the body (11), further allowing said door (20) to have a clearance exceeding by a minimum the overall width of said vehicle.

2. Door (20) according to claim 1 wherein said door (20) comprises two lower pivots (24) close to each other, making it possible to place said lower pivots (24) on a door (20) having a significant curvature, said lower pivots (24) preferably being as close as possible to the door window (20).

3. Door (20) according to one of the preceding claims, the center of gravity of said lower leaf (22) being farther from the median plane of said vehicle (10) than said lower pivot (24), allowing when closing said door (20) that said lower leaf (22) is positioned by gravity to its closing position.

4. Door (20) according to one of the preceding claims wherein a spring (26) is mounted between said lower leaf (22) and said frame upper (21), allowing when closing said door (20) that said lower leaf (22) is positioned by gravity to its closing position, even when said vehicle (10) is on an inclined plane.

5. Door (20) according to one of the preceding claims comprising at least one cylinder (15) connecting the door to (20) another element of the vehicle (10), further having at least one motorized system pushing said door (20 ) from a fully closed position to a semi-closed position, said cylinders (15) and door (20) having kinematics allowing said cylinder (15) to have sufficient force to open the door (20) when that -it is in a position between the semi-closed position and the open position.

6. Door (20) according to claim 5, said cylinder (15) being able to be a gas spring cylinder, a mechanical spring cylinder, an electric cylinder, a hydraulic cylinder, or a pneumatic cylinder.

7. Door (20) according to one of claims 5 or 6 having two jacks (15) for opening said door (20).

8. Door (20) according to one of claims 5 to 7 wherein said motorized system is a cam striker (30) further allowing said door (20) to be locked in the closed position.

9. Door (20) according to one of claims 5 to 8 comprising two motorized systems, on each side of said door (20).

10. Closing system for door (20) of vehicle (10) comprising at least one cam striker (30), characterized in that said cam striker (30) makes it possible to pass from a semi-closed position not sealing of the door (20) with respect to the body (11) to a position of complete closure substantially sealing of the door (20) with respect to the body (11).

11. System according to claim 10 wherein said cam striker (30) is mounted outside of said door (20) and comprises a closing cam (31) driven in rotation by a motor (33), said door (20) further comprising at least one bolt (40), the assembly being arranged so that said closing cam (31) pulls on said bolt (40) thus compressing the seals (18) of the door (20) and carrying out the complete closing of the door (20), all without the presence of a motorized element in said door (20).

12. System according to claim 10 or 11 wherein said motor (33) has a mechanically non-reversible movement, effecting the locking of the door (20) in the fully closed position with respect to the bodywork (11).

13. System according to claim 12 provided with a handle or a button making it possible to manually uncouple said closing cam (31) of the non-reversible part of said motor (33), in order to be able to open said door (20) even in the absence of electricity.

14. System according to one of claims 10 to 13 wherein said bolt (40) comprises a shoulder (40a) resting on said closing cam (31) to prevent the depression of said door (20) from the interior.

15. System according to one of claims 10 to 14 wherein said bolt (40), after said door (20) has been brought into the fully closed position, translates into a fixed cavity (31a) of said cam striker (30), locking said door (20) in the fully closed position, said locking not depending on the position of said closing cam.

16. System according to one of claims 10 to 15 wherein said cam striker (30) comprises an unlocking cam (32) driven in rotation by a motor (33), said unlocking cam (32) pushing back said bolt ( 40) out of said fixed locking cavity (31a) of said cam striker (30).

17. System according to one of claims 10 to 16 wherein said closing cam (31) and said unlocking cam (32) are mounted on the same motor (33), the direction of rotation of said motor (33) being reversed for unlocking with respect to the direction of rotation to achieve complete closure of said door (20).

18. System according to one of claims 10 to 17, wherein said door (20) comprises a handle (43) allowing said bolt (40) to be brought out manually and at any time from said locking cavity of said strike plate. cam (30), even in the absence of electricity in said vehicle (10).

19. System according to one of claims 10 to 18 wherein said closing cam (31) pushes said door (20) from the fully closed position to the semi-closed position when said motor (33) rotates in the direction opposite to that carrying out the complete closing of said door (20).

20. System according to one of claims 10 to 19 wherein said cam striker (30) comprises a guide groove (35) of the bolt (40) and wherein the geometry of said closing cam (31) is oversized, the whole being arranged so that said closing cam (31) carries out the complete closing of said door (20), even if the bolt (40) is in a position not corresponding precisely to that which it should occupy in the position semi-closed.

21. System according to one of claims 10 to 20 comprising at least one detection sensor (37) of said door (20) in the semi-closed position, the complete closing of said door (20) being triggered only when the sensor ( 37) detects that the door (20) is in the semi-closed position, said cam striker (30) not being accessible for the user in a semi-closed position, thus avoiding the risk of bodily injury when the closing cam (31) is actuated.

22. System according to one of claims 10 to 21 wherein said sensor (37) is a Hall effect sensor, an inductive sensor, an optical barrier, a mechanical switch or an electrical switch.

23. System according to one of claims 10 to 22 wherein said door (20) comprises at least one detectable element (25), said sensor (37) being mounted on an element of the vehicle other than said door (20), detecting the presence of said detectable element (25) when said door (20) is in the semi-closed position, said detectable element (25) being a magnet, a metal part, an optical reflector, a mechanical stop or an electrical stop.

24. System comprising two cam strikers (30) according to one of claims 10 to 23, one acting on a bolt (40) placed on one side of said door, the other acting on another bolt (40 ) placed on the other side of said door (20).

25. System according to one of the preceding claims, the lower part of said door (20) being housed in a geometry of said vehicle (10) in the semi-closed and closed position, said geometry being undercut relative to said bottom door, preventing it from being pulled outward in the fully closed position.

26. System according to one of the preceding claims 10 to 25 comprising at least a single motor (33) for closing, opening, locking, unlocking a door.

27. Mobile vehicle door window (50) which can be placed in three distinct positions: a closed position in which it covers an opening in said door (20) and compresses a gasket (58) surrounding said opening; a semi-closed position in which it is opposite said opening, but does not completely compress said gasket, and an open position in which it is no longer opposite said opening.

28. Movable window (50) of vehicle door (20) according to claim 27, said window being provided with at least one movable rail (52), said door being provided with at least one fixed rail (51), said rails (51, 52) being substantially horizontal and guiding the window in translation between the semi-closed position and the open position, said rails (51, 52) further being masked by the window (50) when the latter is in position closed or semi-closed.

29. Movable vehicle door window according to claim 27 or 28 comprising a fixed rod (55) for each fixed rail (51) and a movable rod (56) for each movable rail (52), said fixed rod having in pivot connection with said door and a pivot connection with a fixed roller (53) sliding in said movable rail, said movable rod having a pivot connection with said window and a pivot connection with a movable roller (54) sliding in said fixed rail, said fixed and movable rods (55,56) making it possible to detach said window (50) from said door between the closed position and the semi-closed position, before causing it to translate into the open position.

30. Movable vehicle door window according to claim 29 comprising slopes (59) pushing said movable window (50) in transverse translation when said movable window (50) is pushed in longitudinal translation.

31. Mobile vehicle door window according to one of claims 27 to 30, comprising a disengageable locking system (57) blocking the rotation of said fixed and mobile rods (55,56), thus preventing said window from moving from the position closed to the semi-closed position.

32. Movable vehicle door window according to claim 31, wherein said locking system is a self-locking toggle (three-point lock) connecting said door (20) to said movable link (56), said toggle being manually operable to unlock the opening of said window.

33. Movable vehicle door window according to one of claims 27 to 32 comprising springs (60) pressing said movable window (50) against a window seal (58).

34. Mobile vehicle door window according to one of claims 27 to 33, said fixed rod (55) comprising a clip (62, 63) which can be released independently of said locking system (57), making it possible to move into position semi-closed the side of said window equipped with said fixed rod (55), the other side of said window being held in the closed position by said locking system (57).

35. Movable vehicle door window according to claim 34, wherein said clip is a tongue (62) mounted on a spring (63) pushing said movable rail (52) or an element forming part of the same kinematic group as said movable rail ( 52) in a hook (61) made in said fixed link (55), a slight translation of said window making it possible to compress said spring (63) to release said movable rail (52) from said hook (61).

36. Mobile vehicle door window according to one of claims 27 to 35, comprising a stop blocking the translation of said fixed (53) and mobile (54) rollers in their respective rails when said window is in the closed position.

37. Movable vehicle door window according to one of claims 27 to 36, said movable rod (56) comprising a first stop (54a) limiting its rotation in the opening direction and therefore the movement of said window between the closed position and the semi-closed position, said fixed rod (55) possibly being provided with an identical stop (53a).

38. Movable vehicle door window according to one of claims 27 to 37, said movable rod (56) comprising a second stop (51b) limiting its rotation in the closing direction when said window is between the half position -closing and the open position, thus blocking, in association with said first stopper, any rotation of said movable link when said window is between the semi-closed position and the open position, said fixed link (55) which can be provided with an identical abutment (52b).

39. Mobile vehicle door window according to one of claims 27 to 38, comprising two mobile rails (52) and two fixed rails (51), a mobile rail (52) and a fixed rail (51) being located in the upper part of said window (50), the other movable rail (52) and the other fixed rail (51) being located in the lower part of said window (50).

40. Mobile vehicle door window according to one of claims 27 to 39, said opening being made in the structure of said door.

41. Mobile vehicle door window according to one of claims 27 to 40, said opening being made in a fixed window mounted on the structure of said door.

42. Mobile vehicle door window according to one of claims 27 to 41, said window having a significant curvature.

43. Vehicle equipped with at least one mobile vehicle door window according to one of the preceding claims 27 to 42, a system according to one of claims 11 to 26 and a door according to one of claims 1 to 10.