FR3080638A1 - LOCKING DEVICE FOR DOORS - Google Patents

Abstract

The locking device (100) is for locking together a movable panel (4) and a fixed panel (2). It comprises a slider (10) moving in a rectilinear translation movement between a non-locking position (100-1) and a locking position (100-2). It also includes a sole (30) sole, which is installed on the fixed panel (2). The slider (10) is carried by said sole (30). Application to the locking of vehicle doors.

Description

The present invention relates to the technical field of locking devices.

It finds a preferred application in the field of locking devices for mobile vehicle panels.

The expression mobile panel covers:

- either a sliding side door, movable relative to a fixed panel of the vehicle,

- either a simple door, movable relative to a fixed panel of the vehicle,

- Either one of two hinged rear doors of the vehicle, movable relative to the other which is kept fixed, the movable door coming to block the fixed door.

Locking devices for mobile vehicle panels are already known. For example, document FR 2 997 986 discloses a key locking device for vehicle doors. This locking device comprises a slide carrying a barrel, and two profiled bases. One of the bases is arranged on a first panel while the other base is arranged on a second panel. The slide moves in rectilinear translation between a non-locking position in which it is received by a single base and a locking position in which it is received by the two bases. The movement of the slide is guided by a system of slides thanks to the cooperation of grooves made in the body of said structure with other grooves made on said bases.

The locking device according to the invention is an alternative locking device, of a simpler design, using a reduced number of parts, and consequently generating lower manufacturing costs.

According to the invention, the locking device, intended to lock together a movable panel and a fixed panel, comprising a slide moving in a rectilinear translational movement between a non-locking position and a locking position, is characterized in that that it comprises a single sole, which is installed on the fixed panel, and in that said slide is carried by said sole.

Thus, unlike the locking device of the prior art, the device according to the invention comprises a single sole instead of two soles. The number of parts to be machined is reduced, therefore the manufacturing costs are lower.

Another advantage of the locking device according to the invention lies in the fact that the mounting operations are simpler than for a locking device according to the prior art, since there is only one piece to be fixed on a vehicle sign.

According to a characteristic of the invention, the locking device comprises guide means, which cooperate to guide the movement of the slide relative to the sole, so that the only movement authorized is a rectilinear translational movement, said guide means comprising:

- first guide means, arranged on the slide, and

- second guide means, arranged on the sole.

Preferably:

the first guide means comprise two grooves provided with notches, formed on one face of said slide, and

- The second guide means comprise two lateral edges provided with projections, with the sole.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the locking device comprises stop means which cooperate to limit the stroke of the slide, said stop means comprising:

- first stop means, arranged on the slide, and

- Second stop means, integral with the sole.

Preferably:

said first abutment means comprise grooves hollowed out in the bottom of grooves made in the slide, and

- Said second stop means comprise rods integral with the sole and which protrude from said sole so that their ends are received in said grooves.

According to yet another characteristic of the invention, the locking device is, moreover, equipped with locking means which cooperate to keep the locking device in the non-locking position or in the locking position, said locking means comprising:

- first locking means, integral with the slide, and

- second locking means, arranged on the sole.

Preferably:

said first locking means comprise a retractable finger capable of moving into a retracted position and an extended position, and

- Said second locking means comprise at least one locking hole formed in the sole.

The cooperation of said blocking means acts as follows:

- when the retractable finger is in the retracted position, it does not prevent the slide from moving relative to the sole, and

- When the retractable finger is in the extended position, it is positioned in said blocking hole, and thus prevents the displacement of the slide relative to the sole.

According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, said second locking means comprise two locking holes formed in the sole, and the positioning of the retractable finger in one of the locking holes corresponds to the non-locking position of the locking device , while the positioning of the retractable finger in the other blocking hole corresponds to the locking position of the locking device.

Preferably, said retractable finger is carried by a barrel integral with the slide, and is actuated by means of a key.

According to another advantageous characteristic of the invention, the slide and the sole are arranged relative to each other and dimensioned in such a way that the slide permanently covers the sole during its movement between the position of non lock and lock position.

The invention will be better understood on reading the detailed description which follows of a particular embodiment, provided by way of illustration and in no way limiting, with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

- Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of the locking device showing its various constituent parts;

- Figures 2 to 5 show the slide, respectively in perspective view, in end view, in top view and in bottom view;

- Figure 6 is a perspective view of the sole;

- Figure 7 is a perspective view of a wedge;

- Figures 8 and 9 are two rear perspective views of the barrel showing the latter in two different configurations;

- Figure 10 is a front perspective view of the barrel;

- Figure 11 is a partially exploded perspective view of the locking device showing the assembly of the slide and the sole;

- Figure 12 is a perspective view showing schematically two panels and two locking devices, one in the non-locking position and the other in the locking position.

Figure 1 shows, in an exploded perspective view, the different parts of a locking device 100 according to the invention, namely a slide 10, a barrel 20, a sole 30, a wedge 40 and assembly screws 50, 60.

The slide 10, shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, comprises a base 12 and a body 16 which surmounts said base 12.

The base 12 of the slide 10 generally has the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped, with in particular a rectangular lower face 122 and side walls 124 substantially perpendicular to said lower face 122. At one of its ends the base 12 has a wall transverse 126 substantially perpendicular to the lower face 122 and to the side walls 124. The other end of the base 12 has an oblique face 128 which gives said base 12 a beveled end and which extends over the body 16.

In the base 12 are formed two longitudinal grooves 130, each near a side wall 124. Said grooves 130 have a generally rectangular section and are provided with a longitudinal notch 132 on one side.

According to the illustrated embodiment, the notches 132 are oriented towards the outside of the base 12, that is to say towards each of the side walls 124. According to a variant (not shown) the notches 132 could be oriented towards the inside the base 12. Other geometries can also be envisaged.

The grooves 130 open on the lower face 122. At one of their ends, the grooves 130 are open out on the transverse wall 126 of the base 12, while at the other of their ends they are not open out and each end on a groove wall 134.

Between the two longitudinal grooves 130, the base 12 has a first recess 138, hollowed out from the lower face 122 and having a constant height. The first recess 138 opens out on the side of the transverse wall 126. On the opposite side, the first recess 138 stops on a recess wall 140.

On the bottom of each groove 130 is hollowed out a groove 136. Each groove 136 is substantially shorter than the corresponding groove 130. In particular, the grooves 136 do not open out on the side of the transverse wall 126 of the base 12 and do not extend to the groove walls 134. The grooves 136 are slightly shorter than the first recess 138 (FIG. 5). The role of the grooves 136 will be described later.

A second recess 142 is hollowed out from the first recess 138. This second recess 142 has a constant height. According to the illustrated embodiment, the second recess 142 is of oblong shape with two rectilinear longitudinal sides and rounded ends.

The second recess 142 occupies the entire width of the first recess 138. Its length is shorter than the length of the first recess 138. According to the illustrated embodiment, the second recess 142 is approximately twice as short as the first recess 138. The second recess 142 is not centered with respect to the first recess 138, it is positioned closer to the transverse wall 126 than to the oblique face 128.

At the center of the second recess 142, an orifice 18 is produced, the axis of which is perpendicular to the lower face 122 of the base 12. This orifice 18 extends into the body 16 and thus crosses the entire slide 10.

In addition, the second recess 142 has two tapped holes 146, distributed respectively on either side of the central orifice 18.

The body 16 of the slide 10 has an upper face 162 in the form of an isosceles trapezoid having a large base 164, sides 166 and a small base 168. The upper face 162 is substantially flat, inclined relative to the lower face 122 of the base 12 and has a surface smaller than that of said lower face 122. The through orifice 18 opens into said upper face 162.

From the large base 164 of the trapezoid, the upper face 162 of the body 16 joins the oblique face 128 of the base 12 by means of a curved connection face 170 (see FIGS. 2 and 4).

From the sides 166 of the trapezoid, the upper face 162 of the body 16 joins the side walls 124 of the base 12 via partially curved connecting faces 172 (see FIGS. 2 and 4).

From the small base 168 of the trapezoid, the upper face 162 of the body 16 joins the transverse wall 126 of the base 12 via a curved connection face 174 (see FIGS. 3 and 4).

As shown in Figures 2, 4 and 12, the upper face 162 of the body 16 of the slide 10 is inclined so that said slide 10 is higher on the side of the transverse wall 126 than on the side of its bevel end.

FIG. 1, which is an exploded view of the locking device 100, illustrates the respective functions of the base 12 and of the body 16 of the slider 10 for assembling said locking device 100.

The main function of the body 16 of the slide 10, for assembly, is to receive the barrel 20.

The barrel 20 comprises a cylinder 222 fixed to a plate 242 of oblong shape. At one of its ends, the cylinder 222 is provided with a lock 26 (FIG. 10) intended to cooperate with a key (not shown). At the opposite end, the cylinder 222 is provided with a retractable finger 224 (FIGS. 1, 8, 9) which can be moved by actuation of the key in the lock 26 between an extended position (FIG. 8) and a retracted position (figure 9).

The plate 242 has a central hole 244 through and smooth, arranged opposite the retractable finger 224 and in which said finger 224 can move axially. In its extended position, the finger 224 protrudes from the plate 242, while in its retracted position, it does not protrude from said plate 242.

The plate 242 also has two holes 246, tapped and through, arranged on either side of the central hole 244.

The shape of the cylinder 222 is complementary to that of the orifice 18 passing through the slide 10 while the shape of the plate 242 is complementary to that of the second recess 142 formed in the base 12 of said slide 10. In particular, the thickness of the plate 242 is substantially equal to the height of the second recess 142. Also, the holes 246 of the plate 242 of the barrel 20 and the holes 146 made in the second recess 142 of the slide 10 have diameters and substantially equal centers.

As an alternative to the illustrated embodiment, it could be envisaged a plate 242 having a rectangular outline rather than rounded ends. In such a case, the second recess 142 would have a complementary contour adapted accordingly.

The main function of the base 12 of the slide 10, for assembly, is to receive the sole 30 which will be described below.

Figures 1 and 6 show the sole 30, respectively in two complementary perspective views.

The sole 30 is in the form of a flat plate having a rectangular outline, on one face of which is formed a notch 322 which separates two lateral edges 324.

The notch 322 has a rectangular outline and a constant height. Its width is substantially equal to the width of the first recess 138 of the base 12 of the slide 10

The side edges 324 have a rectangular outline and a constant thickness. Each lateral border 324 is provided with a longitudinal projection 326 extending laterally outwards from the upper face of said lateral border 324. Each lateral border 324 of the sole 30, provided with its longitudinal projection 326, has a profile complementary to that of a groove 130 of the base 12 of the slide 10, provided with its notch 132.

The sole 30 also has blocking holes 34 passing through its indented part, which are two in number and which are smooth. The locking holes 34 are aligned along a central longitudinal axis (not shown) of the sole 30 and are arranged so as to be closer to one of the two ends of the sole 30 than to its other end. The distance between the locking holes 34 is carefully determined, its role will be explained later in the description. According to a variant (not shown), the blocking holes 34 could be blind holes and not pass through the sole 30.

The sole 30 also has fixing holes 36 passing through the side edges 324. According to the illustrated embodiment, the fixing holes 36 are six in number and are distributed by three on each side edge 324. They are tapped.

The fixing holes 36 pass completely through the sole 30 and open onto a flat face of said sole, called the contact face and designated by the reference 38 in FIGS. 1 and 11.

Figure 7 shows, in perspective view, a wedge 40 in the form of a flat plate, rectangular and of constant thickness.

The wedge 40 has through holes 42, smooth and through. There are six through holes 42. They are distributed over the periphery of the wedge 40, at the rate of three passage holes 42 along each longitudinal edge of the wedge 40.

The length and width of the shim 40 are substantially equal to the length and width of the contact face 38 of the sole 30. The distribution of the through holes 42 on the shim 40 is similar to the distribution of the fixing holes 36 on the contact face 38 of the sole 30. As a variant, a different number of through holes 42 could be envisaged, for example four holes distributed at the four angles of the wedge 40. The number of fixing holes 36 of the sole 30 would then be adapted accordingly.

The shim 40 is made of a non-metallic material, preferably a plastic material, such as for example a thermoplastic polymer. It is preferred to use a material having hydrophobic properties, such as for example the material known under the name Teflon (registered trademark).

The other constituent parts of the locking device 100, namely the slide 10, the barrel 20, the sole 30 and the assembly screws 50, 60 are made of metal. The slide 10 and the sole 30 are preferably obtained by machining.

The assembly of the slide 10 and the sole 30 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 11.

During a first assembly step, the key is actuated in the lock 26 so that the finger 224 is in its retracted position.

Then the cylinder 222 of the barrel 20 is introduced into the through hole 18 of the slide 10 (FIG. 1), until the plate 242 of the barrel 20 is entirely housed in the second recess 142 of said slide 10.

The plate 242 perfectly fills the second recess 142 and does not protrude therefrom. The finger 224 of the cylinder 222 does not protrude from the first recess 138.

The barrel 20 is fixed on the slide 10 by means of first assembly screws 50. Preferably, said screws 50 are screws with flat countersunk heads, and the holes 246 of the plate 242 have a complementary shape, in such a way that the screws 50, once in place, do not protrude from the plate 242.

The length of the cylinder 222 is such that its free end carrying the lock 26 is flush with the upper face 162 of the body 16 of the slide 10. Thus the lock 26 of the barrel 20 is accessible through the slide 10.

During a second assembly step, the sole 30 is introduced by one of its ends into the grooves 130 of the base 12 of the slide 10. The introduction is made on the side of the transverse wall 126 of the base 12. The side edges 324 and their longitudinal projections 326 cooperate with the grooves 130 and their longitudinal notches 132 to produce a sliding connection between the sole 30 and the slide 10.

The sole 30 is not pushed until it comes into abutment against the groove walls 134. It is positioned in such a way that its end opposite to the insertion end is flush with the transverse wall 126 of the base 12 , as illustrated by the reference 310 in FIG. 11.

Due to the appropriate dimensions of the sole 30, the barrel 20 and the slide 10, the position of the sole 30 on the slide 10 is such that one of the locking holes 34 of the sole 30 is then opposite the finger. 224 of the barrel 20. More precisely, it is the blocking hole 34 furthest from the entry of the grooves 130 which is located opposite the finger 224.

The key is then actuated in the lock 26, which has the effect of bringing the finger 224 from its retracted position to its extended position. The finger 224 then comes to be housed in the blocking hole 34 opposite which it is located, which has the effect of immobilizing the sole 30 relative to the slide 10, since, in this position, the finger 224 obstructs the movement of sliding of the sole 30 relative to the slide 10.

The assembly is completed, the slide 10 and the sole 30 are made integral by being able to slide or slide relative to each other.

To install the locking device 100 on the fixed panel 2, the only part which must be fixed is the sole 30. The fixing operation is very simple. Holes are drilled in the fixed panel 2. These holes are arranged in a similar fashion to the fixing holes 36 of the sole 30 and to the through holes 42 of the shim 40. The shim 40 is approached from the sole 30 until that it comes into contact with said contact face 38. Second assembly screws 60 are screwed by successively passing through the holes in the fixed panel 2, the through holes 42 of the shim 40 and the fixing holes 36 of the soleplate 30. The ends of the rods 62 of the second assembly screws 60 protrude from the sole 30 beyond the lateral edges 224 and arrive in the grooves 136 hollowed out in the bottom of the grooves 130 of the base 12 of the slide 10 (FIG. 11).

We will now describe the operation of the locking device 100, in relation to FIG. 11.

The actuation of the key in the lock 26 has the effect of moving the finger 224 between its retracted position and its extended position. When the finger 224 is in its retracted position, the slide 10 can move relative to the sole 30. The sliding movement, or sliding, is guided by the grooves 130, the notches 132, the side edges 324 and the projections 326 .

The sliding stroke is limited by the length of the grooves 136 hollowed out at the bottom of the grooves 130 of the slider 10. In fact, during the displacement of the slider 10 relative to the sole 30, the ends of the grooves 136 abut against the rods 62 second assembly screws 60, which are integral with the sole 30.

At the end of the travel, on one side or the other, the key is actuated in the lock 26, so that the finger 224 of the barrel 20 comes to be housed in one or the other of the locking holes 34 of the sole 30. The distance between the blocking holes 34 is chosen to correspond to the travel of the movement.

When the finger 224 is housed in the locking hole 34 closest to the transverse wall 126 of the slide 10, as shown in FIG. 11, the sole 30 does not protrude outwards beyond said transverse wall 126 (item 310 in Figure 11). When the finger 224 is housed in the other blocking hole 34 (configuration not shown in the figures), the sole 30 also does not protrude outwards relative to the slide 10.

Throughout the movement of the slide 10 relative to the sole 30, the slide 10 covers the sole 30. This characteristic results from the fact that the sole 30 is shorter than the slide 10 and from the fact that the travel of the movement is advantageously limited. by the cooperation of the rods 62 of the second assembly screws 60 with the grooves 136 to produce an end of travel stop.

Figure 12 illustrates the operation of the locking device 100 in use. It shows a fixed panel 2 and a movable panel 4, and the locking device 100 installed on the fixed panel 2.

More specifically, two locking devices 100 are shown for purely illustrative purposes, a single locking device 100 being sufficient in real situations. The lowest locking device 100 is shown in the non-locking position (item 100-1) while the highest locking device 100 is shown in the locking position (item 100-2).

Whether in the non-locking position 100-1 or in the locking position 100-2, the only part of the locking device 100 that is visible is the slider 10, since, as previously indicated, the slider 10 permanently covers the sole 30.

In addition, unlike the locking device of the prior art, the slide which allows the sliding between the slide 10 and the sole 30 is not visible either, since it is entirely contained in the base 12 and operates at inside the locking device 100.

The sole 30 and the elements 130, 132, 324, 326, 136, 62 linked to the sliding are entirely concealed.

Thanks to these features, the security of the locking device 100 according to the invention is improved compared to the device of the prior art. In particular, it has no grip or weakness areas.

In addition, the slider 10 has a convex volume, which is massive and chunky, which allows a good grip by a user and which makes it more robust than the slider of the prior art.

It appears that in the non-locking position 100-1, the locking device 100 is fully positioned on the fixed panel 2. No part is installed on the movable panel 4.

As the operator must fix only one piece on the fixed panel 2, he is not confronted with delicate operations of aligning pieces which would be installed opposite one another on two different panels.

The sole 30 is positioned such that the beveled end of the slide 10 is flush with the edge of said fixed panel 2 (configuration 100-1).

The presence of the wedge 40 between the fixed panel 2 and the sole 30 has the advantage of ensuring the tightness of the locking device 100 and of shifting the slide 10 relative to the fixed panel 2, which avoids the possible risks of friction. .

To pass from the non-locking position 100-1 to the locking position 100-2, it suffices to move the slide 10 in rectilinear translation 5 in the direction of the arrow 6.

The locking device 100 according to the invention can be used as a main locking device or as a complementary locking device of a pre-existing locking device on a vehicle delivered by an automobile manufacturer.

Claims (10)

claims 1. Locking device (100), intended to lock together a movable panel (4) and a fixed panel (2), comprising a slide (10) moving in a rectilinear translational movement between a non-locking position (100 -1) and a locking position (100-2), characterized in that it comprises a single sole (30), which is installed on the fixed panel (2), and in that said slide (10) is carried by said sole (30). 2. Locking device (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises guide means (130, 132, 324, 326), which cooperate to guide the movement of the slide (10) relative to the sole (30), so that the only movement authorized is a rectilinear translational movement, said guide means comprising: - first guide means (130, 132), arranged on the slide (10), and - second guide means (324, 326), arranged on the sole (30). 3. Locking device (100) according to claim 2, characterized in that: the first guide means comprise two grooves (130) provided with notches (132) formed on one face of said slide (10), and - The second guide means comprise two lateral edges (324) provided with projections (326), with the sole (30). 4. Locking device (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it comprises stop means (136, 62) which cooperate to limit the stroke of the slide (10), said means stop comprising: - first stop means (136), arranged on the slide (10), and - Second stop means (62), integral with the sole (30). 5. Locking device (100) according to claim 4, characterized in that: said first abutment means include grooves (136) hollowed out in the bottom of grooves (130) formed in the slide (10), - Said second stop means comprise rods (62) integral with the sole (30) and which protrude from said sole (30) so that their ends are received in said grooves (136). 6. Locking device (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it is, moreover, equipped with locking means (224, 34) which cooperate to maintain the locking device (100 ) in the non-locking position (100-1) or in the locking position (100-2), said locking means comprising: - first locking means (224), integral with the slide (10), and - second locking means (34), arranged on the sole (30). 7. Locking device (100) according to claim 6, characterized in that: said first locking means comprise a retractable finger (224) capable of moving into a retracted position and an extended position, and - said second locking means comprise at least one locking hole (34) formed in the sole (30), and in that: - when the retractable finger (224) is in the retracted position, it does not prevent the displacement of the slide (10) relative to the sole (30), and - When the retractable finger (224) is in the extended position, it is positioned in said blocking hole (34), and thus prevents the displacement of the slide (10) relative to the sole (30). 8. Locking device (100) according to claim 7, characterized in that said second locking means comprise two locking holes (34) formed in the sole (30), and in that: - The positioning of the retractable finger (224) in one of the locking holes (34) corresponds to the non-locking position (100-1) of the locking device (100), while the positioning of the retractable finger (224 ) in the other blocking hole (34) corresponds to the locking position (1002) of the locking device (100). 9. Locking device (100) according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that said retractable finger (224) is carried by a barrel (20) 5 secured to the slide (10), and in that it is actuated by means of a key. 10. Locking device (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the slide (10) and the sole (30) are arranged relative to each other and dimensioned in such a way that the slide (10) permanently covers the sole (30) during 10 its movement between the non-locking position (100-1) and the locking position (100-2).