FR2786312A1 - KEY CONTROL DEVICE, PARTICULARLY FOR MOTOR VEHICLE EQUIPMENT - Google Patents

Abstract

A button control device, in particular for motor vehicle equipment, comprises at least one button (12) pivotally mounted on a support (14) between a rest position and a control position. The key (12) comprises, on the one hand, an articulation axis (16) suitable for being received in a longitudinal groove (36) extending on an external face (30) of the support (14) and to be maintained by latching tabs (46) from the support and, on the other hand, at least one retaining tab (24) extending orthogonally to the articulation axis (16) and able to pass through an opening (52 ) of the support to form a stop (28) defining the rest position.

Description

Key control device, in particular for control equipment

  motor vehicle The invention relates to touch control devices, in particular those intended for motor vehicle equipment. Control devices of this type are already known which can be integrated into a control panel of a motor vehicle to actuate electrical equipment.

  and / or electronic equipment of said vehicle.

  Such devices usually include at least one button pivotally mounted on a support between a rest position and a control position. Such a key, also called "piano key" or "hinged key", is intended to be actuated by the user. This exerts a pressure on the key to move it from its rest position to its control position, thereby ensuring the compression of spring means. In the operating position, the key actuates an electrical contactor such as a switch or the like directly or indirectly. Then, when the pressure exerted by the user has ceased, the button automatically returns to the control position

  towards the rest position under the effect of the spring means.

  We already know, in particular from EP 0 409 342 and

  EP 0 418 936, control keys of this type which include

  elastic strips adapted to cooperate with

appropriate support openings.

  There are also known control keys of this type which include a hinge pin held by hooks

of support.

  Furthermore, there are known control keys of this type which are connected to the support by a "film hinge" formed

  by local thinning of a plastic material thickness.

  All of these button control devices have the particular disadvantage of requiring the button to be mounted in two.

  movements, which complicates the mounting operation.

  In addition, there is always a risk that a button is not correctly inserted during the mounting operation.

  The object of the invention is in particular to overcome the drawbacks

mentioned above.

  It aims in particular to provide a key control device allowing the mounting or assembly of a key

in one movement.

  To this end, it offers a key control device, of the type defined in the introduction, in which the key comprises, on the one hand, a hinge pin suitable for being received in a longitudinal groove extending on one face.

  external of the support and to be maintained by lugs

  quetting from the support and, on the other hand, at least one

  retaining lug extending orthogonally to the articulation axis

  lation and clean to pass through a support opening for

  forming a stop defining the rest position.

  The assembly of the key on the support is carried out in a single movement which allows both the hinge pin of the key to be received in the latching lugs and the key retaining lug to enter the opening of the

support to form a stop.

  After this movement, the groove of the support ensures precise control of the position of the articulation axis of the key to allow its rotation from the rest position to the

  control position, and vice versa.

  At the same time, the retaining tab forms a stop to define

the rest position.

  According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the groove extends parallel to the external face of the support and it is open towards the outside to allow the mounting of the articulation axis of the key according to a perpendicular insertion movement on the outside. In other words, this movement is carried out by moving the key so that the axis of articulation extends parallel to the axis

defined by the groove.

  Advantageously, the groove is bordered, on one side, by a longitudinal wall projecting from the external face of the support and forming a guide for the articulation axis of the key. The groove advantageously has a cross section having substantially the shape of a V. As a result, the axis

  of articulation of the key is in contact by two gener-

  respectively on the two V-shaped faces of the groove.

  In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the device further comprises a stop formed projecting in the rib and suitable for being received in a recess provided in the central region of the axis of the joint for

  contribute to the axial maintenance of the latter.

  The groove is advantageously formed in a rib

protruding from the support.

  Preferably, the latching tabs are capable of coming to bear against two opposite ends of

the axis of articulation of the key.

  Advantageously, these latching tabs have retaining spouts facing one another and suitable for retaining the two ends of the axis of the key respectively,

  said legs being elastically deformable to allow

  be with the retaining spouts to move away from one another when the key is put in place and then to approach one of

  the other to ensure axial retention of the key.

  According to another characteristic of the invention, the retaining lug is elastically deformable and ends with a clean projecting stop protruding against an internal face of the support when the key is in the rest position. According to yet another characteristic of the invention, the device comprises spring means for pressing the control key towards its rest position, after a pressure action having caused it to move from the

  rest position to control position.

  The control key is advantageously made in one piece with the hinge pin and the retaining tab,

  preferably by molding a plastic material.

  Similarly, the groove and the latching tabs are advantageously made in one piece with the support,

  preferably by molding a plastic material.

  In the following description, made only as

  example, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which: - Figure 1 is a partial exploded perspective view of a key control device according to the invention; and - Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of a control device comprising a control key

according to the invention.

  First of all, reference is made to FIG. 1 which shows a control device that can be integrated into a control panel provided on the dashboard of a motor vehicle for actuating electrical equipment and / or electronic equipment. Such a device can be used,

  for example, to control a heating installation-

air conditioning of said vehicle.

  The control device 10 shown in FIG. 1 comprises a button 12 suitable for pivoting on a support 14 around a hinge pin 16 extending in a direction XX. The key 12 comprises a frame 18 of generally rectangular shape surrounding a central boss 20

  can be actuated by pressure by a user.

  The articulation axis 16 extends parallel to one side of the frame 18 and projects laterally from it to form two pins 22 which constitute the two opposite ends of

the axis of articulation.

  The key 12 further comprises a retaining tab 24 which extends in a direction generally perpendicular to the frame 18, and orthogonally to the articulation axis 16. This retaining tab 24 is attached to a side 26 of the frame 18 which is parallel to the axis 16. The retaining tab 24 extends on one side of the frame 18, opposite the boss 20, and it ends in a stop 28 serving to limit the pivoting movement of the key on the support, as we will see

further.

  The control button 12, including its hinge pin 16 and its retaining tab 24, is formed in one piece by

  molding, advantageously of a plastic material.

  The support 14 is materialized here in the form of a wall, shown partially, having an external face 30 and a

opposite internal face 32.

  In the example, the support 14 is made in one piece by molding a plastic material and it includes a rib 34 molded and forming a projecting block on the outer face 30. This rib 34 defines a longitudinal groove 36 having a cross section having substantially the shape of a V which opens outwards and

  which is intended to receive the hinge pin 16.

  The groove 36 is bordered on one side by a longitudi-

  nale 38, extending over the entire length of the groove, and I. 17

  suitable for forming a guide wall for the articulation axis

tion 16.

  The rib 34 further comprises, substantially at mid-length, a stop 40 formed projecting in the groove 36 and present

  both two opposite side faces 42 which extend parallel-

  Lement between them and perpendicular to the generatrices that defines the groove 36. This stop 40 is intended to be received in a recess 44 provided in a central region of the hinge pin 16 and thus forming an interruption of the axis. This recess 44 extends over a width, in the direction of the axis XX, which is slightly greater than the width of the stop 40 (as defined by its faces 42) to contribute to the axial maintenance of the axis of

  the joint 16, once received in the groove 36.

  In this position, the axis is maintained, at its two ends

  tees, by two latching tabs 46 from the support 14, and molded therewith. These two tabs extend projecting from the outer face 30, in a direction substantially perpendicular thereto. These legs are elastically deformable and end with spouts

  48 facing each other and intended for many

  nir the ends 22 of the axis 16. The support 14 has openings 50 provided next to the legs 46 and allowing the

  production by molding the nozzles 48.

  Furthermore, the support 14 has an opening 52 of generally rectangular shape suitable for delivering passage to the retaining lug 24, including its end stop 28. In addition, the support 14 comprises a stud 54 formed projecting from the face external 30 and having a form homologous to that

  of the hollow part of the boss 20. This stud 54 defines itself

  even a passage opening 56 passing through the support.

  The device further comprises an electrical contactor 58 comprising a base 60 and a pusher 62 passing through the opening 56 of the support. This pushbutton comes into contact either directly with the button 12, or with a tab (not --- -; v

  shown) attached to the button. The pusher is suscep-

  tible to be moved in the direction of arrow F against the force of a spring member (not shown)

  that comprises the contactor 58. This is placed inside

  of the support 14, that is to say on the side of the internal face 32. Of course, it is possible to actuate the contactor

  electric in another way, for example through

diary of an elastomeric membrane.

  It will be understood that the button 12 can be assembled on the support in a single movement, as shown by the arrow G.

  Just move the button in a general movement-

  ment perpendicular to the external face 30 so that the axis 16 is moved parallel to the generatrices of the groove 36. The axis is then presented in the groove 36 so that the ends 22 of the axis separate the spouts 48 from the legs

  latching 46 and that the stop 40 is received in the recess

44.

  At the same time, the retaining tab 24 is introduced into the opening 52 of the support. When the movement is complete, the ends 22 of the axis are received between the legs 46, because the spouts 48 have moved towards each other by elastic effect. When the key is assembled, it can thus pivot relative to the support around the axis 16, which is perfectly immobilized axially. In this position, the stop 28 is able to cooperate with the internal face 32 of the support to prevent excessive movement of the key. Thus, the retaining tab is used, during assembly, to maintain the key along the axis XX and, after assembly, to maintain the key along the axis XX. The stop 28 serves only for blocking the key in its position of

rest.

  The key can thus pivot between a rest position as defined above and a control position in

  which the key is close to the support. If the use

  tor exerts pressure on the key, the latter pivots towards the control position causing the pusher 62 to move in the direction of arrow F to control

  electrical contactor 58 and control electrical equipment

  and / or appropriate electronics. When the user stops exerting pressure on the key, the latter returns to its rest position by the elastic return exerted by the pusher 62. In this rest position, the stop 28 comes

  resting against the internal face 32 of the support.

  It should be noted that the electrical contactor could

  variant be of the switch or elastomer membrane type

  re. As a variant or in addition, maintaining the key, in its rest position, can be ensured by a facade or "cover" (not shown) extending near the support 14 and having a sufficient opening to provide passage to the boss 20 but insufficient to allow passage of the frame 18. Thus, in such a case, it is the frame 18 which could form a stop, in cooperation with the opening of the facade, to provide the rest position. Alternatively the recall of the key to its rest position could be

  carried out by spring means other than those of the contact

  tor. We now refer to FIG. 2 which shows another control device similar to that of FIG. 1, the elements common with those of FIG. 1 being designated by

  the same reference numbers.

  The support 14 here carries not only a control button 12 of the "piano" type according to the invention, but in addition two rocking buttons 64 and 66. The device further comprises a cover 68 provided with an opening 70 for the button 12 and two openings 72 and 74 for the respective passage of

rocker keys 64 and 66.

  The button 12 is suitable for actuating an electrical contactor 58 provided with a pusher 62. The button 64 is suitable for actuating two electrical contactors 76 and 78, while the button 66 is suitable for actuating two electrical contactors 80 and 82. The contactors 58, 76, 78, 80, and 82 are mounted on a

platinum 84.

  As in the previous embodiment, the pusher 62 is actuated by the key 12. After placing the keys on the support 24, the cover 68 is put in place and closely surrounds the keys, including the key 12. It will be noted that, as mentioned above, the opening 70 is adapted to the contour of the boss of the key, so that the frame 18 of the key contributes to forming a stop for the

rest position.

  The invention can be used for the control of different types of electrical and / or electronic equipment, in

  particularly for motor vehicles.

Claims (12)

Claims   1. Key control device, in particular for motor vehicle equipment, comprising at least one key (12) pivotally mounted on a support (14) between a rest position and a control position, characterized in that the key (12) comprises, on the one hand, a hinge pin (16) adapted to be received in a longitudinal groove (36) extending on an external face (30) of the support (14) and to be held by snap tabs (46) from the support and, on the other hand, at least one tab   retainer (24) extending orthogonally to the articulation axis   lation (16) and adapted to pass through an opening (52) of the support to form a stop (28) defining the rest position. 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the longitudinal groove (36) extends parallel to the external face (30) of the support (14) and is open towards the outside to allow the mounting of the axis d articulation (16) of the key following an introduction movement   perpendicular to said outer face.   3. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the groove (36) is bordered, on one side, by a longitudinal wall (38) projecting from the external face (30) of the support and forming a guide for the hinge pin (16) of the button.   4. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3,   characterized in that the groove (36) has a section   transverse having substantially the shape of a v.   5. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that it further comprises a stop (40) formed projecting in the groove (36) and adapted to be received in a recess (44) provided in a central region of the hinge pin (16)   to contribute to the axial maintenance of the latter.   6. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5,   characterized in that the groove (36) is formed in a   rib (34) projecting from the support (14).   7. Device according to one of claims 1 to 6,   characterized in that the latching tabs (46) are able to bear against two opposite ends (22)   of the articulation axis (16) of the key.   8. Device according to claim 7, characterized in that the latching tabs (46) have retaining spouts   (48) turned towards each other and adapted to retain respecti-   the two ends (22) of the articulation axis (16) of the key, said tabs being elastically deformable to allow the retaining spouts (48) to move away from each other when putting in place of the key, then move closer to one another to ensure axial retention of the axis of articulation of the key.   9. Device according to one of claims 1 to 8,   characterized in that the retaining tab (24) is elastically deformable and ends with a projecting stop (28) capable of bearing against an internal face (32) of the   support (14) when the key is in the rest position.   10. Device according to claim 9, characterized in that it comprises spring means (62) for pressing the key towards its rest position, after a pressure action having caused it to move from the position of rest in control position.   11. Device according to one of claims 1 to 10,   characterized in that the control button (12) is made in one piece with the hinge pin (16) and the retaining tab (24), preferably by molding a plastic material.   12. Device according to one of claims 1 to 11,   characterized in that the groove (36) and the lugs   quêtage (46) are made in one piece with the support   (14), preferably by molding a plastic material.