FR2798417A1 - REMOTE CONTROL DEVICE FOR LOCKING / UNLOCKING OPENING ELEMENTS OF A MOTOR VEHICLE - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a remote control device for locking I unlocking the doors of a motor vehicle, of the type comprising: - a lower half-shell (12) assembled to an upper half-shell (11) to form a key body ( 17) and, - a key bit (13), inserted by one of its ends into the key body and comprising at this end, a through hole (13a) adapted to receive a retaining means (16) of the bit inside the key body. According to the invention, this device is characterized in that the retaining means (16) consists of an elastic arm (18) integral with a protection element (19) of an electronic circuit (14) placed at the inside the key body.

Description

The present invention relates to a remote control device for

  locking / unlocking the doors of a motor vehicle. More particularly, the invention relates to a means of retaining a paneton in

a key body.

  The key to a motor vehicle is generally carried out in the following manner. Two half-shells enclose between them an electronic circuit for controlling the locking / unlocking of the vehicle and receive inside them a key bit. This bit is in the form of an elongated metal element having a toothing suitable for door locks and the contact lock. This bit has, at its end opposite to this toothing, a through hole. A fixing element

  (for example a screw) crosses this hole and fixes the bit in the half

  cockles. However, this type of screw fixing takes a long time to set up and

  The use of screws has significant cost and time impacts.

  To overcome this drawback, it has been proposed (FR 2 749 123) to secure the bit to the key body by elastic interlocking. The fixing device is then produced integrally with one of the half-shells. This fixing process is faster and less expensive, however it presents

  The disadvantage of requiring a specific shape of the mold making the half

  cockles. However, these half-shells have every advantage in remaining simple and robust because they are very frequently handled by the driver of the vehicle. The realization of the retaining means in solidarity with one

  half-shells can cause rupture zones in this half-hull.

  The object of the present invention is to overcome this drawback and to create a key remote control device which achieves the fixing of the bit in the key body by elastic interlocking without however requiring modifications to the half-shells themselves. This is so as not to weaken these half-shells. Another object of the invention is to protect the electronic circuit present in the key body from any untimely manipulation, in particular when the battery supplying this circuit is changed, without adding

  additional elements and without complicating the manufacture of the key.

  To this end, the present invention relates to a remote control device for locking / unlocking the doors of a motor vehicle, of the type comprising: - a lower half-shell assembled with an upper half-shell to form a key body and, - a key bit, inserted by one of its ends in the key body and comprising at this end, a through hole adapted to receive a means for retaining the bit inside the key body, said device being characterized in that the retaining means consists of an elastic arm secured to a protective element of an electronic circuit

  placed inside the key body.

  Thanks to this arrangement, the retaining means is an element independent of the half-shells. These half-shells keep a simple structure

and robust.

  The retaining means also provides a mechanical and electrical protection role for the electronic circuit. In addition, the fixing of the retaining means on the electronic circuit and the insertion of one of its ends between the half-shells makes it possible to confer on this retaining means a relative elasticity by producing a fold between the elastic arm and the protective element. Advantageously, the retaining means is made of plastic. The elastic arm part is stiffened by adding a load in the plastic, so as to firmly block the bit in the key body, while the protective element part for the printed circuit is loaded with conductive particles so protect the electronic circuit from electromagnetic radiation and keep all

  electric discharge from this electronic circuit.

  Other objects, features and advantages of this

  invention will moreover emerge from the description which follows, by way of example not

  limiting and with reference to Figure 1 attached, representing in a manner

  schematic, in section, a key body according to the invention provided with a bit.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the remote control device 10 according to the present invention comprises: an upper half-shell 11, a lower half-shell 12, assembled with the upper half-shell to form a key body 17, - a bit 13 provided with a toothing in the vicinity of one of its ends and of a through hole 13a at its other end, - an electronic circuit 14 for locking / unlocking control of the opening elements of a vehicle and for setting when the vehicle engine is running, - a battery 15 intended to supply the electronic circuit 14, and

- a retaining means 16.

  This retaining means 16 of the bit 13 in the key body 17

  comprises an elastic arm 18 and a protective element 19.

  The elastic arm 18 comprises a lug 20 for blocking the bit in the key body, and a counter-locking element 21. The blocking of the

  bit is ensured by the insertion of the lug in the through hole 13a.

  It will be noted that when the two half-shells are closed, the counter-locking element bears against one of the two half-shells while the lug is flush with the other half-shell. This results in a blockage in translation of the elastic arm between the two half-shells, preventing the withdrawal of the lug and holding the bit firmly inside the key body. The

  removal of the lug is only possible after opening and separation of the two half

  cockles. A reinforcement 22 integral with one of the two half-shells is suitable for

  pinch the elastic arm of the retaining means between the two half-shells.

  Thus, this arm is firmly held in position.

  The retaining means 16 has an intermediate part 23 located between the protective element 19 and the elastic arm 18. This part

  intermediate has a fold, giving the elastic arm 18 its elasticity.

  This elasticity is particularly necessary during the engagement (or

  disengagement) of the lug 20 in the through hole 13a.

  Advantageously, the elasticity of the arm 18 is increased by the fact that the protective element is pinched between the two half-shells, which has for

  effect of locking in position one of the ends of the retaining means.

  Note that the protective element covers the underside (in the example shown) of the electronic circuit 14. This protects this electronic circuit from any manipulation when opening the key body

  to change the battery.

  Note that the retaining means is preferably made of plastic. In this case, the elastic arm may have a structure

  reinforced by the addition of a filler in this plastic.

  In addition, the protective element can be charged with conductive particles so as to create an electromagnetic protection of the electronic circuit. These conductive particles are in fact adapted to distance from the electronic circuit any electric discharge liable to deteriorate it, in particular by driving them outside the housing at the level of the part of the

  retaining means taken in compression between the two half-shells.

  Thus advantageously, the retaining means according to the present invention achieves the elastic fitting of the bit in the key body,

  but also the mechanical and electrical protection of the printed circuit.

  Of course, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described and shown, and encompasses any variant within the reach of ordinary skill in the art. Thus, the protective element can cover the underside

  and / or the upper face of the electronic circuit.

Claims (7)

  1. Remote control device (10) for locking / unlocking the doors of a motor vehicle, of the type comprising: - a lower half-shell (12) assembled with an upper half-shell (11) to form a body (17) of key and, - a key bit (13), inserted by one of its ends in the key body and comprising at this end, a through hole (13a) adapted to receive a retaining means (16) of the key inside the key body, said device being characterized in that the retaining means (16) is constituted by an elastic arm (18) secured to a protective element (19)   an electronic circuit (14) placed inside the key body.   2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the retaining means (16) consists of: - an elastic arm (18) comprising: - a lug (20) adapted to engage in the through hole (1 3a) of the key bit, and - a counter-locking element (21) adapted to block said pin in the hole, and - a protective element (19) adapted to cover the electronic circuit (14), in order to protect it from accidental handling. 3. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the counter-locking element (21) bears against one of the two half-shells and   the lug (20) is flush with the other half-shell.   4. Device according to any one of the preceding claims,   characterized in that the elastic arm (18) of the retaining means (16) is made of stiffened plastic and in that the protective element (19) is loaded with conductive particles in order to ward off any electrical discharge of the printed circuit.   5. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that the   stiffening is obtained by adding a filler in the plastic.   6. Device according to any one of the preceding claims,   characterized in that the elasticity of the elastic arm (18) is obtained by means of a fold (23) produced in an intermediate part of the retaining means,   between the elastic arm (18) and the protective element (19).   7. Device according to any one of the preceding claims,   characterized in that a reinforcement (22) integral with one of the half-shells (11, 12), is adapted to pinch the elastic arm (18) of the retaining means (16) between the two half-shells.