EP4656824A1

EP4656824A1 - A device and its use for alternately operating first and second cables

Info

Publication number: EP4656824A1
Application number: EP24178272.1A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Stefanos PASCHALIS; Robin SANDERS
Original assignee: Toyota Motor Europe NV SA; Toyota Motor Corp
Current assignee: Toyota Motor Europe NV SA; Toyota Motor Corp
Priority date: 2024-05-27
Filing date: 2024-05-27
Publication date: 2025-12-03

Abstract

A device comprises first and second cables (2) operated in locking and unlocking a vehicle door, upon movement of a manipulating member (3) of the device arranged on a first rotational axis (R1) between positions at opposite sides of a normal position, alternately via structures of connections from each of the first and second cables (1, 2) to the manipulating member (3) with openings respectively accommodating the cables' ends and arranged for a movement on an arc with a radius extending from either the first or a second rotational axis (R1, R1). The structures provide a slot twice or combined with a set of structures formed by a cooperating member (5) arranged on the second rotational axis (R2) arranged for and interacting portions of the manipulating and cooperating members (3, 5) shaped for synchronizing parts of the movements for which the openings are arranged, each slot (4) forming one of the openings for moving an accommodated cable end.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the invention

The present disclosure relates to a device for alternately operating a first cable and a second cable in a process of locking and unlocking a vehicle door and a use of the device for alternately operating the first cable and the second cable in this process.

2. Description of Related Art

A vehicle door lock system with a latch mechanism connected to a door handle by a single push-pull control cable is shown in GB 2 161 854 A with an intermediate unlocked position, a push to lock position and a pull to release position. US Patent 3,264,081 shows a concept of operating a door latch with coupling an actuator to a door latch mechanism when operating a handle for vertical movement placed in an armrest on the door. The product sold under the trademark Mach-E from Ford has a handle for vertical movement in an armrest on the door for controlling on an actuator of a door latch, while a cable coupled to the door latch is only provided for an emergency operation. Other cars like that under the trademark Aixam City GTO from AIXAM MEGA SAS, 73101 Aix-Les Bains Cedex, France or that under the trademark C-HR from Toyota have a front door mechanism of a type with two cables, in particular of a type with a pull cable operated to open the door and a push cable to lock the door. In such classical concepts a lever, pulled by the passenger towards inside of the cabin, to unlatch the side door and a knob pushed by the passenger to lock the door and pulled to unlock the door typically each operate a dedicated steel cable connected to an unlatching/locking mechanism of a side door ("lock assembly"). One steel cable is operated by the lever, connected to the lock assembly of the door, pulled to unlatch the door ("unlatch cable"). The second steel cable operated by the knob is connected to the lock assembly of the door, pushed to lock the door and pulled to unlock the door ("lock cable"). Due to the location of the handle on the door, a sequence of operations to open the door in order to exit the vehicle is required, with

step 1: pulling the lever to unlatch the door,
step 2: while holding the lever, pushing the door with the elbow to open the door by a small amount,
step 3: moving the hand from the lever to a grip in an arm rest at the door (located in the middle of the door's cabin/inner side), and
step 4: opening fully the door by applying a push force onto the grip.

SUMMARY

It is an object of the invention to provide a convenient and/or efficient concept of operating a door mechanism of a type with two cables for operation of a latch or lock of the door. It is an object of the invention to offer an ergonomic concept of operating a door mechanism of this type. It is a particular object of the invention to allow alternately operating a first cable and a second cable in a process of locking and unlocking a vehicle door with a single handle in a convenient position.
In this respect, the present disclosure relates to a device for alternately operating a first cable and a second cable in a process of locking and unlocking a vehicle door, comprising the first and second cables, a manipulating member arranged on a first rotational axis for a movement between positions at opposite sides of a normal position in the alternately operating the first cable and the second cable, as well as a pair of connections being connections from each of the first and second cables to the manipulating member and comprising structures for the alternately operating the first cable and the second cable, an opening accommodating a cable end of the first cable, and an opening accommodating a cable end of the second cable. Each of the openings is arranged for a movement on an arc with a radius extending from either the first or a second rotational axis. The structures comprise at least two of the following:

a set of structures formed by a cooperating member and by a pair of interacting shapes formed by portions of each of the manipulating member and the cooperating member for (in particular shaped for) synchronizing parts of the movements for which the openings are arranged, the cooperating member being arranged on the second rotational axis for the synchronizing (e.g. with a parallel arrangement of the first and second rotational axes),
a slot forming one of the openings and providing clearance to the cable end accommodated in the one of the openings (particularly for moving this cable end at a constant or at varying distance to the arc for movement on which the one of the openings is arranged), and
a further slot forming another one of the openings and providing clearance to the cable end accommodated in the another one of the openings (particularly for moving this cable end at a constant or at varying distance to the arc for movement on which the another one of the openings is arranged).

The present disclosure further relates to a use of the device according to the invention for alternately operating a first cable and a second cable in a process of locking and unlocking a vehicle door.
According to preferences, the manipulating member may comprise a handle and/or may be a single-piece member. The first and second cables preferably form a cable pair of a push cable and a pull cable.
As indicated above the device may be one comprising the slot and the set of structures formed by the cooperating member and the pair of interacting shapes, e.g. toothed portions or a toothed wheel section. In this device and according to a preference,

the cooperating member comprises a lever portion on the second rotational axis,
the manipulating member extends from the first rotational axis with a pair of segments comprising arms limiting a movement range of the lever portion,
one of the openings is arranged in the cooperating member and another one of the openings is arranged in a portion of one of the segments of the manipulating member different from the arm of the one of the segments, and
more preferably
- ∘ the slot is arranged in the manipulating member and the opening other than the opening formed by the slot is arranged in the cooperating member, and/or
- ∘ the cooperating member comprises distal from the second rotational axis and at the lever portion an attaching portion comprising one of the openings at a position distal from the lever portion and extending from the lever portion to at least the one of the openings in an arc shape, in particular so as to define a relative movement range of one of the arms of the manipulating member with respect to the cooperating member.

As indicated above the device may be one comprising the slot and the further slot. Theses slots may be both arranged in the manipulating member and for moving the cable end accommodated in the respective opening at a constant distance to the arc for movement on which the respective openings is arranged, the arcs for movement on which the openings are arranged being more preferably concentric arcs. Theses slots may also be both arranged in the manipulating member and for moving the cable end accommodated in the respective opening at varying distance to the arc for movement on which the respective openings is arranged.
According to a preference the slot and/or the further slot for moving the cable end accommodated in the respective opening at varying distance to the arc for movement on which the another one of the openings is arranged comprises a central section crossing the arc for movement on which the opening(s) formed by the slot and/or the further slot is (are) arranged. This kind of slot may have a connecting portion as the central section and portions of the slot extending from the connecting portion on concentric circumferences around a rotational axis associated with movement of the slot.
In the sense of the preceding and the following description

a cable is a link for transferring a push or a pull force and movement of the device to a latch or a lock of a door like a push cable or a pull cable or a push-pull cable,
a manipulating member is a structure moved, in particular rotated for the alternately operating, e.g. with a handle portion of the manipulating member or an in particular mechanical switch mechanism for operating the manipulating member and mechanically coupled to the manipulating member for this purpose, thus for (indirectly) causing the alternately operating,
structures for alternately operating the first and second cables provide for each cable a clearance of the cable's mechanical link to and in a dedicated movement of the manipulating member (so as to allow alternately operating the first and second cables),
a cable end is a portion of a cable for attaching the cable a member of the device, like e.g. a ball shaped cable end structure, a hook, a loop, or suitable bulging structure,
openings accommodating the cables are any kinds of recesses or holes in a member of the device for accommodating cable ends so as to allow alternately operating the first and second cables, and slots are such structures for accommodating cable ends with clearance, and
interacting shapes are those ensuring a mesh, and interlock, or engaging function between two members of the device and a cooperating member is one theses two members.

The invention allows particularly providing inside handles in a car with a double functionality for locking and unlocking a door and suitable for a convenient location of the inside handle on the door like or similar to the location of a handle shown in US patent 3,264,031 . The invention allows particularly positioning a handle in a vertical position and/or for vertical movement so that instead of pulling inside the cabin, it will be pulled/pushed forwards and rearwards (away and towards a user's arm). Such a handle is ergonomic and easily reached by the passengers, requires less effort to open the door, and it is more intuitive to lock the door. A complicated mechanism or high number of components can be avoided with the invention's device while compatibility with conventional surrounding parts (i.e., steel cables, door lock, door panes, door trim etc...) is ensured.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Features, advantages, and technical and industrial significance of exemplary embodiments of the invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like signs denote like elements, and wherein:

FIGs. 1A, 1B, 1C show a variant of device according to the invention with a cooperating member and a slot in the manipulating member,
FIG.2 shows a further variant of device according to the invention with a cooperating member and a slot in the manipulating member,
FIGs 3A, 3B show a variant of device according to the invention with a slot and a further slot, and
FIG.4A, 4B shows partially a further variant of device according to the invention with a slot and a further slot.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

According to exemplary functionalities illustrated hereafter, when a handle is pushed forward, to lock the door, the lock steel cable that is connected to the lock assembly of the door needs to move backward. Vice versa, when the handle is being pulled backwards, to unlatch the door, the unlatch steel cable that is connected to the lock assembly of the door needs to move forwards. When one cable is engaged and is operated, the other cable remains stationary and disengaged for the alternate operation of first and second cables.
As shown in Figs. 1A, 1B, 1C, 2, 3A, 3B, 4A and 4B a device comprises first and second cables 1, 2. A manipulating member 3 arranged on a first rotational axis R1 for a movement between positions at opposite sides of a normal position in the alternately operating the first cable 1 and the second cable 2, and a pair of connections being connections from each of the first and second cables 1, 2 to the manipulating member 3 and comprising structures for the alternately operating the first cable 1 and the second cable 2, an opening accommodating a cable end of the first cable 1, and an opening accommodating a cable end of the second cable 2. For this purpose, each of a dumbbell-shaped cable end of a respective illustrated cable 1, 2 is held in a slot 4 or a hole.
In each illustrated case, the manipulating member comprises a handle forming an upper end and a protruding part in a door-side arm rest (not shown) or a recess in the arm rest and is a single-piece member and the first and second cables 1, 2 form a cable pair of a push cable and a pull cable. The rotational axis or axes R1, R2 is/are suitably held in a frame 6 (not shown in Figs. 1A, 1B, 1C, 2, 4A and 4B). Cables are suitable guided to a locking, unlocking and/or latch mechanism to be operated via the cables.
The illustrated variants having this concept in common are now further described.

First and second variants

Figs. 1A and 2 show that each of the openings is arranged for a movement on an arc with a radius extending from a second rotational axis R2 parallel to the first rotational axis R1, and the structures comprise:

a set of structures formed by a cooperating member 5 arranged on the second rotational axis R2 and by a pair of interacting shapes formed by portions of each of the manipulating member 3 and the cooperating member 5 for synchronizing parts of the movements for which the openings are arranged, and
a slot 4 forming one of the openings for accommodating with clearance and moving the cable end accommodated in the one of the openings at a constant distance to the first rotational axis R1. For this purpose the slot is arranged in the manipulating member 3 and the opening other than the opening formed by the slot is a hole in the cooperating member 5. It is also possible to exchange these arrangements to have the slot is arranged in the cooperating member 5 and the opening other than the opening formed by the slot as a hole in the manipulating member 3, and then preferably to connect the pull cable to the slot and the push cable to the hole via respective cable ends in respective openings. In the exemplary first and second variants, the second rotational axis R2 extends parallel to the first rotational axis R1, which is particularly illustrated with broken lines in Figs. 1B and 1C.

In the first variant shown in Figs. 1A, 1B, 1C the cooperating member 5 comprises a lever portion 5a on the second rotational axis R2 and the manipulating member 3 a pair of segments each comprising an arm 3a, 3b arranged distal to the first rotational axis R1, the arms 3a, 3b limiting a movement range of the lever portion 5a. Thus, the member 3 extends from the first rotational axis R1 with the pair of segments. One of the segments comprises the slot 4 and the opening other than the opening formed by the slot 4 is arranged in the cooperating member 5. The cooperating member 5 comprises distal from the second rotational axis R2 and at the lever portion 5a an attaching portion 5b comprising one of the openings at a position distal from the lever portion 5a and extending from the lever portion 5a to at least the one of the openings in an arc shape defining a relative movement range of one of the arms of the manipulating member 3 with respect to the cooperating member 5.
From its rotation axis, i.e. the first rotations axis, R1 the manipulating member 3 extends with a handle segment and with a pair of segments each comprising one of the arms 3a, 3b so as to form an L-shape with the arm and a portion between arm 3a, 3b and first rotational axis R1, particularly visible in Fig. 1B with arm 3a and Fig. 1C with arm 3b. Fig. 1C is a view onto a straight cut through both ball-shaped cable ends visible in Fig. 1A at the segment including the slot 4 accommodating the end of cable 1 and Fig. 1B is a view onto a straight cut through the arm 3a and a portion of lever portion side part of a portion of the cooperating member 5 which extends between the lever portion 5a and the end of cable 2, at the segment including the slot 4 accommodating the end of cable 1.
The positioning of the arms 3a, 3b at opposite ends of a V-shape formed by the above-mentioned segments with their extension from the first rotational axis R1 and visible in Fig. 1A provides a clearance allowing the second cable 2 to rest in its position when pulling the first cable 1 by rotating the handle segment down and into a direction opposite to a direction into which the cables 1, 2 extend from the device for alternately operating the cables. The slot 4 provides a clearance allowing the first cable 1 to rest in its position when pushing the second cable 2 by rotating the handle segment into the opposite direction with pressing arm 3a onto the lever portion 5a to push the second cable 2 via the cooperating member 5. Again, reversing rotation of the manipulating member 3 presses the other arm 3b onto the lever portion 5a for an unlocking operation with pulling the second cable 2 along with pulling the first cable 1 for an opening operation. Accordingly, the handle segment is pushed and the manipulating member's arm 3a is pushing the locking part. The push cable/second cable 2 is activated and door is locked. To unlock, the handle segment is pulled back with arm 3b pushing the locking part to the starting position and the door is unlocked. Due to the slot 4 the pull cable slides freely and is not engaged during the locking/unlocking process. When handle is pulled again the pull cable/first cable 1 is activated to open the door and the lever portion 5a moves freely without activating the locking part. As apparent the first cable's end when moved with abutment against an end of the slot 4 stay at constant distance to the first rotational axis R1.
In the illustrated first variant a lower end protrusion 7 of the cooperating member 5 next to the opening accommodating the end of the second cable 7 may cooperate with a lamellar or spring suspension to provide a barrier for leaving the position of cooperating member 5 illustrated in Fig. 1A and this the normal position of manipulating member 3.
The interacting shapes formed by portions of each of the manipulating member 3 and the cooperating member 5 are toothed wheel portions in the second variant shown in Fig. 2. A common concept with that of the first variant is embodied but with alternative interacting shapes. Here parts of the manipulating member 3 and cooperating member 5 from gears while non toothed (smooth) circumferential portions ensure the clearance which in case of the first variant shown in Fig. 1A is provided by the arms 3a, 3b at opposite ends of a V-shape formed by the above-mentioned segments with their extension from the first rotational axis R1. Operation of the first cable proceeds according to the same concept in the first and second variants. In the second variant, when handle is pushed, the push cable/second cable 2 is activated and the door is locked and the slot 4 allows the pull cable/first cable 1 to slide freely/not engaged. When the handle is pulled the pull cable/first cable is activated to open the door without pushing the locking part.

Third and fourth variants

As shown in Figs. 3A, 3B, 4A, 4B each of the openings is arranged for a movement on an arc with a radius extending from the first rotational axis R1. Slots 4 form each one of the openings for moving the respective cable end accommodated in the one of the openings at a constant distance in case of the third variant shown in Figs. 3A, 3B or at varying distance the fourth variant shown in Figs. 4A, 4B to the first rotational axis R1.
Figs. 3A, 3B show views of the device of the third variant onto opposite sides of the manipulating member 3. The slots 4 are both arranged in the manipulating member 3. Arcs for movement, on which the openings are arranged, are concentric arcs an correspond to slot shapes visible in Figs. 3A, 3B.
In the illustrated third variant, a lower end protrusion 7 of the manipulating member 3 next to the opening is part of a material portion in which a hole like a bolt hole is provided. Here, the hole is the opening accommodating the end of the second cable 2. It is also possible to establish a cooperation of the protrusion 7 with a lamellar or spring suspension to provide a barrier against leaving the normal position of manipulating member 3 illustrated in Fig. 3A and 3B (like in case of protrusion 7 shown in Fig. 1A).
The device has one slot for a pull cable/cable 1 and one for a push cable/cable 2 and has an upper end handle segment. When the handle is pushed the push cable is activated to lock the door and the pull cable is free to slide due to the clearance provided by being accommodated in a slot shaped opening. Likewise, when handle is pulled, the pull cable is activated to open the door and the push cable is free to slide inside the slot 4 connecting it to the manipulating member 3.
Of the fourth variant Fig. 4B shows the manipulating member 3 only and in a perspective view and Fig. 4A shows the manipulating member 3 with the end of the first cable 1 accommodated in one of its slots 4. The end of the second cable 2 is likewise accommodated in the other one of its slots 4. These slots 4 are both arranged in the manipulating member 3 for moving the cable end accommodated in the respective opening at varying distance to the first rotational axis R1 and thus between concentric circumferences around the first rotational axis R1 (shown with a respective dotted line in Fig. 4A, 4B). The slots 4 comprise each a central/connecting portion and portions of the slot extending from the connecting portion, each on a respective dedicated one of the concentric circumferences.
Although the present disclosure refers to specific exemplary embodiments, modifications may be provided to these examples without departing from the general scope of the invention as defined by the claims. In particular, individual characteristics of the different illustrated/mentioned embodiments may be combined in additional embodiments. Therefore, the description and the drawings should be considered in an illustrative rather than in a restrictive sense.

Claims

A device for alternately operating a first cable (1) and a second cable (2) in a process of locking and unlocking a vehicle door, comprising
the first cable (1),

the second cable (2),

a manipulating member (3) arranged on a first rotational axis (R1) for a movement between positions at opposite sides of a normal position in the alternately operating the first cable (1) and the second cable (2), and

a pair of connections being connections from each of the first and second cables (1, 2) to the manipulating member (3) and comprising
structures for the alternately operating the first cable (1) and the second cable (2), an opening accommodating a cable end of the first cable (1), and an opening accommodating a cable end of the second cable (2), wherein each of the openings is arranged for a movement on an arc with a radius extending from either the first or a second rotational axis (R1, R2) and the structures comprise at least two of the following:
a set of structures formed by a cooperating member (5) and by a pair of interacting shapes formed by portions of each of the manipulating member (3) and the cooperating member (5) for synchronizing parts of the movements for which the openings are arranged, the cooperating member being arranged on the second rotational axis (R2) for the synchronizing,

a slot (4) forming one of the openings and providing clearance to the cable end accommodated in the one of the openings, and

a further slot forming another one of the openings and providing clearance to the cable end accommodated in the another one of the openings.
The device according to claim 1, wherein the manipulating member (3) comprises a handle.
The device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the manipulating member (3) is a single-piece member.
The device according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first and second cables (1, 2) form a cable pair of a push cable and a pull cable.
The device according to any of claims 1 to 4, comprising the slot (4) and the set of structures formed by the cooperating member (5) and the pair of interacting shapes.
The device according to claim 5, wherein
the cooperating member (5) comprises a lever portion (5a) on the second rotational axis (R2),

the manipulating member (3) extends from the first rotational axis (R1) with a pair of segments comprising arms (3a, 3b) limiting a movement range of the lever portion (5a),

one of the openings is arranged in the cooperating member (5) and another one of the openings is arranged in a portion of one of the segments of the manipulating member (3) different from the arm of the one of the segments.
The device according to claim 6, wherein the cooperating member (5) comprises distal from the second rotational axis (R2) and at the lever portion (5a) an attaching portion (5b) comprising the one of the openings at a position distal from the lever portion (5a) and extending from the lever portion (5a) to at least the one of the openings in an arc shape.
The device according to claim 5, wherein the interacting shapes formed by portions of each of the manipulating member (3) and the cooperating member (5) are toothed portions.
The device according to any of claims 6 to 8, wherein the slot (4) is arranged in the manipulating member (3) and the opening other than the opening formed by the slot is arranged in the cooperating member (5).
The device according to any of claims 1 to 4, comprising the slot (4) and the further slot.
The device according to claim 10, wherein the slot (4) and the further slot are both arranged in the manipulating member (3) and for moving the cable end accommodated in the respective opening at a constant distance to the arc for movement on which the respective openings is arranged.
The device according to claim 11, wherein the arcs for movement on which the openings are arranged are concentric arcs.
The device according to claim 10, wherein the slot (4) and the further slot are both arranged in the manipulating member (3) and for moving the cable end accommodated in the respective opening at varying distance to the arc for movement on which the respective openings is arranged.
The device according to claim 10 or 13, wherein the slot (4) and/or the further slot comprises a central section crossing the arc for movement on which the opening(s) formed by the slot and/or the further slot is (are) arranged.
A use of the device according to any of claims 1 to 14 for alternately operating a first cable (1) and a second cable (2) in a process of locking and unlocking a vehicle door.