FR2843606A1 - Automobile hatchback door comprises vertical articulation and locking fingers located on lateral edges and horizontal articulation and locking fingers on transverse edge allowing disengagement of door from rest of vehicle by means of handle - Google Patents

Abstract

The door (2) comprises on a first (2a) and second (2b) lateral edges vertical articulation and locking means (10,20) which can be disengaged from the rest of the vehicle. These means comprises two fingers (11,21) located on a vertical spindle fixed to the door. On one of the transverse edges (2c,2d) are horizontal articulation and locking fingers (31) which can be disengaged from the rest of the vehicle. A handle (40) controls the disengagement fingers.

Description

The present invention relates to a motor vehicle door,

like for example a tailgate.

  The doors of motor vehicles are connected to the bodywork by

  hinge means forming two hinges which make it possible to pivot, in a horizontal plane, the door, between a closed position and an open position, in order to have access to the interior of the motor vehicle.

  Certain motor vehicles are fitted with a door at the rear called a tailgate which gives access to a vehicle storage compartment. This is particularly the case for station wagon, people carrier or monocoque or pick-up type motor vehicles.

  Until now, such tailgate type doors have been movable by pivoting along a single axis of articulation. This articulation axis is either located at the lower part of the door, thus making it possible to pivot this door in a vertical plane between a vertical position for closing the trunk.

  and a horizontal open position located in the extension of the floor of this chest, or located on a lateral edge of said door thereby allowing this door to pivot in a horizontal plane between a closed position of the chest and a position opening this trunk located in the extension of a side of the body of the motor vehicle.

  The object of the invention is to propose an alternative embodiment of a

  motor vehicle door which makes it possible to increase the functionality thereof and in particular the possibilities of pivoting the door.

  The subject of the invention is therefore a door for a motor vehicle, ca25 characterized in that it comprises: - on a first lateral edge, disengageable means of vertical articulation and locking on the rest of the vehicle, - on a second edge lateral, disengageable means of vertical articulation and blocking on the rest of the vehicle, - on at least one of the transverse edges, disengageable means of horizontal articulation and blocking on the rest of the vehicle, and

  - A control member of these disengageable means.

  According to other characteristics of the invention: - each of the vertical articulation means forms a hinge for pivoting the door in a horizontal plane when, on the one hand, one of the vertical articulation means is in the active position and the other of said means is disengaged and, on the other hand, the horizontal articulation means are disengaged, - the horizontal articulation means form a pivot hinge of the door in a vertical plane when said horizontal articulation means are in the active position and the vertical articulation means are disengaged, - the vertical articulation means comprise, on each lateral edge of the door, at least two fingers arranged on a vertical axis and integral with the door, said fingers being movable in translation by the control member between the active position to engage in orifices made on the rest of the vehicle and a disengaged position, - the hor articulation means horizontal comprise at least two fingers arranged on a horizontal axis and integral with the door, said fingers being displaceable in translation by the control member between the active position to engage in orifices provided on the rest of the vehicle and a disengaged position , the vertical articulation means comprise at least two axes aligned on a vertical axis and integral with the rest of the vehicle and at least two locks each pivoted on the door between the active position locked on the corresponding axis by a sliding finger and the disengaged position releasing said axis, each finger being movable in translation by the control member between a bolt locking position and a position released from said bolt, the horizontal articulation means comprise at least two axes aligned on an axis horizontal and integral with the rest of the vehicle and at least two locks each pivoted on the door between the positi active 30 blocked on the corresponding axis by a sliding finger and the disengaged position releasing said axis, each finger being movable between translation by the control member between a first locking position of the lock and a second position released from said lock, - The finger control member of each of said vertical articulation means and horizontal articulation means are formed by a handle which can be moved between three positions each corresponding to an open position of the door and controlling the movement of each of said fingers by an electrical system, for example an electromagnet, - the door forms a tailgate of a motor vehicle,

  the tailgate comprises a lower portion provided with said disengageable means of vertical articulation and of said disengageable means of horizontal articulation and an upper portion that can be moved so as to slide in the lower portion.

  The invention will be better understood on reading the description which will

  follow, given by way of example and made with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: - Figure 1 is a schematic elevation view of the rear part 15 of a motor vehicle equipped with a door according to the invention , - Figures 2 and 3 are two top views of the rear part of the motor vehicle illustrating the two possibilities of pivoting of the door in a horizontal plane, - Figure 4 is a side view of the rear part of the mobile auto20 vehicle illustrating the pivoting of the door in a vertical plane, - Figure 5 is a schematic view partially in section of a first embodiment of the disengageable means of articulation of the door according to the invention, - Figure 6 is a schematic view in vertical section of the door 25 at the level of the control member, - Figures 7A to 7C are schematic sectional views on a larger scale illustrating the operation of the disengaged articulation means according to the first embodiment, FIGS. 8A to 8C are schematic sectional views illustrating the operation of the disengageable articulation means according to a second

embodiment.

  In Figure 1, there is shown schematically a motor vehicle designated by the general reference 1 and which is of the minivan or single-body type or of the station wagon type. This motor vehicle 1 comprises, at the rear,

  a door designated by the general reference 2 also called tailgate.

  In the embodiment shown in the figures, the door 2 has a lower portion 3 and an upper portion 4 provided with a window 5. The upper portion 4 is movable by sliding relative to the lower portion 3 between a position active, in which it projects relative to the lower portion, and a retracted position in which

  it is housed in this lower portion 3.

  Door 2 can be moved by pivoting in a horizontal plane from right to left, as shown in FIG. 2, or from left to right, as shown in FIG. 3, or by pivoting in a vertical plane between a vertical position and a horizontal position,

as shown in figure 4.

  For this, the door 2 comprises: - on a first lateral edge 2a, disengageable means 10 for vertical articulation and locking on the rest of the vehicle to allow the pivoting of the door 2 in a horizontal plane from right to left , - on a second lateral edge 2b, disengageable means of vertical articulation and locking on the rest of the vehicle to allow the pivoting of the door 2 in a horizontal plane from left to right, - on at least one transverse edges 2c or 2d, disengageable means of horizontal articulation and locking on the rest of the vehicle to allow the pivoting of the door 2 in a vertical plane from the top to the bottom, and

  - A member (40) for controlling these disengageable means.

  In the embodiment shown in the figures, the disengageable means of horizontal articulation are mounted on the transverse edge

lower 2c.

  Each of the means 10 and 20 for vertical articulation comprises at least two fingers, respectively 11 and 21 (FIG. 5), arranged on the same vertical axis and integral with the door 2. Likewise, the means 30 for horizontal articulation comprise at least two fingers 31 arranged on an axis

  horizontal and integral with door 2.

  The control member of the fingers 11, 21, 31 and 25 of each of the

  means 10 and 20 for vertical articulation and means 30 for horizontal articulation are formed by a handle 40.

  As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the handle 40 is displaceable, from a central position A for holding the door 2 in the closed position, between a first position B tilted to the left when the door 2 opens from the left to the right, a second position C for opening this door 2 from right to left and a central position D (Fig.

  6) spaced from the outer wall of said door 2 for opening the door 2 10 by tilting in a vertical plane.

  Referring now to Figures 5 and 7A to 7C, we will describe a

  finger 11, the other fingers 21 and 31 being identical.

  As shown in these figures, the finger 1 1 is slidably mounted in a sheath 12 supported by the door 2 and is movable by the handle 15 40 between an active position in which it is engaged in an orifice 13 formed on the rest of the vehicle automobile, as shown in Figure 7A, and a disengaged position in which it is released from the orifice 13, as shown in Figures 7B and 7C, to allow pivoting of the door, as will be seen later. The finger 11 is biased in the active position 20 by elastic means designated by the general reference 14 and

  which are formed, for example, by a helical spring.

  Each finger 11, 21 and 31 is associated with a control system

  electric actuated by the handle 40. Each electrical control system is constituted for example by an electromagnet designated as a whole by reference 41.

  Likewise, each finger 21 is associated with an electromagnet 41 and each finger 31 is associated with an electromagnet 41.

  To rotate door 2 for example from right to left

  in a horizontal plane (Figure 2), the user rotates the handle 40, for example in position C, which has the effect of actuating the electromagnets 41 of the fingers 21 and 31 to bring these fingers 21 and 31 into the disengaged position , that is to say in the retracted position relative to the orifices

  on the rest of the body. The fingers 11 remain in the active position and

  form a pivot hinge for door 2.

  To rotate the door 2 in a horizontal plane from left to right (Figure 3), the user rotates the handle 40 in position B 5 in order to actuate the electromagnets 41 of the fingers 11 and 31 to bring these fingers 11 and 31 in the disengaged position, that is to say in the retracted position relative to the orifices provided on the rest of the body. Fingers 21

  form, in the active position, a pivot hinge of the door 2.

  Finally, to pivot the door 2 in a vertical plane, that is to say 10 between a vertical closed position and a horizontal open position, as shown in FIG. 4, the user pulls on the handle 40 in position D in order to actuate the electromagnets 41 of the fingers 11 and 21 to bring these fingers 11 and 21 into the retracted position while the fingers 31

  in the active position form a pivot hinge of said door 2.

  To close door 2, the user pushes said door or raises it.

  The fingers which are released from the orifices abut against the vehicle body, then retract. As soon as the door 2 is closed, these fingers under the effect of the helical springs 14 penetrate into the corresponding orifices and lock the door.

  Referring now to FIGS. 8A to 8C, there will be described a second embodiment of the disengageable means of vertical articulation, the other disengageable means of vertical articulation and the means

  disengageable horizontal articulation being identical.

  In this embodiment, the means 10 and 20 of vertical articulation and the means 30 of horizontal articulation comprise at least two

  axes 22 each secured to the rest of the vehicle by a tab 22a and aligned on a vertical axis in the case of means 10 and 20 of vertical articulation and aligned on a horizontal axis in the case of means 30 of horizontal articulation.

  These articulation means also include at least two latches 23 each pivoted on the door 2 about an axis 24. Each of said latches 23 is pivotable on the axis 24 between a first locking position on the axis 22 (FIG. 8A) and a second position for releasing said axis 22. Each lock 23 is held in these two positions by a sliding finger 25. For this, each finger 25 is displaceable in translation by an electromagnet 41 between a first active locking position of the latch 33 between the two previously mentioned positions and 5 a second position released from said latch 23 allowing the corresponding latch 23 to switch between these two positions. Each finger 25 is biased in said active position by elastic means designated by

  the general reference 26 and formed for example a helical spring 26.

  To pivot the door 2 in a horizontal plane, for example from the right to the left, as shown in FIG. 2, the user rotates the handle 40 in the position C which has the effect of actuating the electromagnets 41 of the fingers 25 of the vertical articulation means 20 as well as of the horizontal articulation means 30 and of bringing these fingers into the disengaged position while the fingers 25 of the horizontal articulation means 10 are held in the active position and block the latches 23 on the axes 22 so as to form a vertical hinge. The user pulls on the door 2 thereby causing the latches 23 to tilt the means

  and hinge, as shown in Figure 8B.

  Similarly, to rotate the door 2 in a horizontal plane from left to right, the user rotates the handle 40 to position B and 30a by

  so as to retract the latches 23 of the means 10 and 30 of articulation by means of the electromagnets 41 while the fingers 25 hold the latches 23 on the axes 22 of the means 20 of vertical articulation which constitute a hinge thus allowing the door pivoting around said axes 22.

  To pivot the door 2 in a vertical plane, the user pulls the handle 40 in position D so as to retract the fingers 25 of the means 10 and 20 of vertical articulation by means of the electromagnets 41 in order to release the latches 23 while the fingers 25 of the horizontal articulation means 30 hold the latches 23 on the pins 22 which form a

  horizontal hinge.

  When door 2 is closed, the inertia of this door 2 pivots the corresponding locks 23 around the axes 24, which has the effect of

  retract each finger 25 against the restoring force of the helical spring 26.

  At the end of closing, the latches 23 engage on the axes 22 and they

  are held in this active position by the corresponding fingers 25.

  In this embodiment, the door 2 has at each lock 23 a safety hook 27 intended to engage on the axis 22

  corresponding in the closed position of said door.

  According to a first variant, the disengageable means of horizontal articulation can be mounted on the upper transverse edge 2d.

  According to a second variant, disengageable means of horizontal articulation can be mounted on the lower transverse edge 2c and also on the upper transverse edge 2d so as to tilt the

  door 2 in a vertical plane, either up or down.

  It is understood, in view of the foregoing, that such a door makes it possible to improve its functionality by allowing a horizontal opening both from the right to the left or vice versa from the left to the right or an opening by pivoting in a vertical plane so as to allow

  easier loading of the vehicle depending on the external dimensions.

  Thus, in the closed position of the door, all the fingers are in clutched position, which makes it possible to strengthen the cohesion of the motor vehicle.

  When the door is opened in the horizontal plane, the operation of the control means unlocks the fingers of the vertical axis opposite

  and also the fingers of the horizontal axis.

  When opening the door in the vertical plane, the operation of the

  control means unlocks the fingers of the vertical axes.

  It goes without saying, of course, that different embodiments of the

  disengageable means of articulation and blocking can be envisaged and the door according to the invention can be a rear door or a side door 30 of a motor vehicle.

Claims (10)

  1.- Door for a motor vehicle, characterized in that it comprises: on a first lateral edge (2a), means (10) disengageable for vertical articulation and locking on the rest of the vehicle, - on a second edge lateral (2b), disengageable means of vertical articulation and locking on the rest of the vehicle, - on at least one of the transverse edges (2c, 2d) means (30) disengageable of horizontal articulation and locking on the rest of the vehicle, 10 and   - A member (40) for controlling these disengageable means.   2. A door according to claim 1, characterized in that each of said means (10, 20) of vertical articulation forms a hinge for pivoting the door (2) in a horizontal plane when, on the one hand, a means of vertical articulation is in active position and the other of said   means is disengaged and, on the other hand, the means (30) of horizontal articulation are disengaged.   3. Door according to claim 1, characterized in that the means (30) of horizontal articulation form a pivot hinge of the door (2) in a vertical plane when said means (30) of horizontal articulation are active position and the means (10, 20) of vertical articulation are disengaged.   4. A door according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the means (10, 20) of vertical articulation comprise, on each lateral edge (2a, 2b) of the door (2), at minus two fingers (11, 21)   arranged on a vertical axis and integral with the door (2), said fingers (11, 21) being movable in translation by the control member (40) between the active position to engage in orifices (13) provided on the rest   of the vehicle and a disengaged position.   5. Door according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the means (30) of horizontal articulation comprise at least two fingers (31) arranged on a horizontal axis and integral with the door (2), said fingers (31) being movable in translation by the member   control (40) between the active position to engage in holes (13)   provided on the rest of the vehicle and a disengaged position.   6. A door according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the means (10, 20) of vertical articulation comprise at least two axes (22) aligned on a vertical axis and integral with the rest of the vehicle and at least two latches (23) each pivoted on the door (2) between the active position locked on the axis (22) corresponding by a sliding finger (25) and the disengaged position releasing said axis (22), each finger (25) being movable in translation by the control member (40) between a first position for locking the lock (23) and a second position disengaged from said latch (23).   7. A door according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the means (10, 20) of horizontal articulation comprise at least two axes (22) aligned on a horizontal axis and integral with the rest of the vehicle and at least two latches (23) each pivoted on the door   (2) between the active position locked on the corresponding axis (22) by a sliding finger (25) and the disengaged position releasing said axis (22), each finger (25) being movable in translation by the control member ( 40) between a first position for locking the lock (23) and a second position 20 released from said lock (23).   8.- Door according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the finger control member (11,21,31; 25) of each of said means (10, 20) of vertical articulation and horizontal articulation means (30) are formed by a handle (40) movable between three positions, each corresponding to an open position of said door (2)   and controlling the movement of each of said fingers (11, 21, 31; 25)   by an electrical system, for example an electromagnet (41).   9.- Door according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it forms a tailgate of a motor vehicle.   10.- Door according to claim 9, characterized in that the tailgate comprises a lower portion (3) provided with said means (10, 20) disengageable for vertical articulation and said means (30) disengageable for articulation   horizontal and an upper portion (4) movable by sliding in the lower portion (3).