GB2237056A

GB2237056A - A handle for a motor vehicle door

Info

Publication number: GB2237056A
Application number: GB9019762A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Valentino Biancamano
Original assignee: Gilardini SpA
Current assignee: Marelli Europe SpA
Priority date: 1989-09-22
Filing date: 1990-09-10
Publication date: 1991-04-24
Anticipated expiration: 2010-09-10
Also published as: IT8967786A0; FR2652374A1; IT1232296B; ES2025995A6; GB9019762D0; DE4029694A1; GB2237056B

Abstract

The handle comprises a hand grip (26) fixed to the lock actuating member (24), which is pivoted on a fixed support (23). This is removably fixed in a seating (21) of the door exclusively from the outside, by means of at least one screw engaged in a corresponding hole of a retainer plate (96). This latter is also inserted from the outside through an aperture in the seating (21) and cooperates with an element (49) of the support (23) to dispose it in an angular position such as to remain engaged within the seating (21). <IMAGE>

Description

4 d- 3 -7 C-2>E15 GS A HANDLE FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE DOOR The present

invention relates to a handle for a motor vehicle door, adapted to be mounted removably on the door.

Normally the door handle unit of a motor vehicle comprises a handle fixed to a lock actuating member, which is pivoted to a support removably fixed in an appropriate seating in the door. For assembly and dismantling of the supports of known handles on the door, it is necessary to act simultaneously both from the inside and from the outside of the door. This operation is therefore difficult, especially in the case of repair or replacement of the unit since, on the one hand it is necessary preliminarily to dismantle the internal door cladding, and on the other hand to position the fixing members on two sides of the door it is necessary to act with the door open, which therefore tends to rotate on its hinges.

The object of the invention is that of providing a handle for a motor vehicle door which greatly simplifies the assembly and dismantling operations, and makes it possible to effect these operations by working only from one side of the door. This can therefore be held fixed during these operations, for example in the closed position.

This object is achieved by a handle according to the 2 - invention, which comprises a support adapted to be fixed in a seating of the door, a member pivoted on the said support for actuation of the door lock, and a handle fined to the said member, and is characterised by the fact that the said support is removably fixed to the said seating.by fixing means accessible exclusively from the outside of the door.

According to another characteristic of the invention the said fixing means comprise at least one screw adapted to engage from the outside in a corresponding hole of the said support and to be screwed into a threaded hole of a retainer element, the said seating being provided with an aperture to allow the said screw, partially screwed onto the said retainer element, to be inserted from the outside of the said support, the said support including means for locking the said element against rotation in the said seating.

For a better understanding of the characteristics of the invention a preferred embodiment and several associated variants are now described, by way of non-limitative example with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a rear view of a handle according to a first embodiment of the invention, partially mounted on a motor vehicle door; 0 f Figure 2 is a vertical section taken on the line IIII of Figure 1; Figure 3 is another vertical section taken on the line III-III of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a horizontal section taken on the line W-W of Figure 1; Figure 5 is a vertical section taken on the line V-V of Figure 1; Figure 6 is another vertical section taken on the line VI-VI of Figure 1; Figure 7 is a rear view of a handle formed as a variant of the embodiment of Figures 1 to 6, mounted on a door; Figure 8 is a horizontal section taken on the line VIII-VIII of Figure 7 in a partially mounted condition; Figure 9 is a vertical section taken on the line IX IX of Figure 7; Figure 10 is another vertical section taken on the line X-X of Figure 7; Figure 11 is a further vertical section taken on the line XI-XI of Figure 7; Figure 12 is an external exploded perspective view of a handle and associated seating in the door, illustrating another embodiment of the invention; Figure 13 is a horizontal section of a detail of the handle of Figure 12; Figure 14 is a vertical section of another detail of 1 0 the handle of Figure 12; Figure 15 is a horizontal section of a handle formed as a variant of the embodiment of Figure 12; Figure 16 is a vertical section taken on the line - xvI-Xvi of Figure 15; Figure 17 is another vertical section taken on the line XVII-XVII of Figure 15; and Figure 18 is a further vertical section taken on the line XVIII-XVIII of Figure 15.

With reference to Figures 1 to 6, the reference numeral 20 indicates the sheet metal structure of a motor vehicle, for example a motor car. The structure 20 includes a seating, generally indicated 21, adapted to house a handle unit 22, which hereinbelow will simply be called the handle. The door further carries a window glass 19 (Figures 2-6), and is clad internally by a panel which covers the various mechanisms.

The handle 22 essentially comprises a support 23 of complex form, made in light alloy or in very strong plastics, which constitutes the part of the handle by which it is fixed to the seating 21. The handle 22 further includes a pivot member 24 for actuating the door lock, not visible in Figures 1 to 6. The member 24 is preferably made of the same material as the support 23 and is pivoted on this latter. On the member 24 there is 1 - 5 fixed a handle 26, preferably of metallised plastics material, for actuation of the member 24 itself.

The seating 21 is constituted by a hollow region 27 (Figures 2, 3, 5 and 6) to allow the user manually to grip tie door handle 26. The seating 21 is provided with a wide aperture 28 (Figure 1) of substantially rectangular form, to allow the application from the outside of the unit constituted by the support 23 and the member 24. The aperture 28 has lateral edges 29 (Figure 4) and horizontal shaped edges 31 (Figures 2 and 3) the shape being such as to allow the engagement of corresponding edges 32 and 33 of the support 23.

The member 24 is constituted by a crosspiece 34 having two lateral arms 35 each of which is provided with a transverse hole, in which is engaged a spindle or fulcrum 36 carried by two projections 37 (Figures 1 and 6) of the support 23. A torsion spring 38 has one end 39 engaged with the crosspiece 34 and the other end 40 engaged in a slot 40' of the support 23. The spring 38 normally holds the member 24 in its rest position indicated in solid outline in the drawings, with one edge 126 of the handle 26 resting against a projection of the support 23.

In correspondence with each arm 35 the member 24 carries a channel 42 (Figures 1, 2 and 4), in each of which is 0 engaged a pair of resilient hook tongues 43 integral with the handle 26. This is fixed on the member 24 with the interposition of two seals 44 disposed on the outer edge of the two channels 42, from the outside of the door, simply by introducing the tongues 43 into the channels 42 and pressing on the handle 26 until the hook ends of the tongues 43 snap beyond the edge of the channel 42 in the position indicated in Figure 4.

The support 23 includes two seats 45 for receiving two screws 46 for fixing the support 23 to the structure 20 of the door. The seats 45 are equidistant from the axis of the spindle 36 and are each constituted by a bottom wall 47 connected to the support 23 by means of a substantially cylindrical wall 48. The wall 47 is flat and pierced with. a lateral slot of C-shape form. A portion of the wall 48 extends beyond the flat wall 47 to form a projection 49 having two edges 50 and 51 with complementary cam profiles of substantially helical shape.

Each seat 45 further includes a resilient projection 52 adapted to cooperate with the head of the respective screw 46, both to hold it in engagement against the wall 47 of the seat 45 and to avoid any easy unscrewing of the screw 46 during use of the motor vehicle due to the vibrations of the door. Each screw 46 is adapted to be screwed into a threaded hole of a retainer member constituted by a metal plate 53 (Figures 1, 4 and 5), of rectangular form and having a C- shape longitudinal section. The -length of the plate 53 is greater than the height of the aperture 28 and is such that two chamfered ends 54 of the two arms of 5 the plate 53 can engage on the inside of the two shaped eclges 31 of the aperture 28. Mounting the handle 22 onto the structure 20 of the door is effected in the following way.

With the handle unit 22 assembled, the handle 26 is first separated from the member 24 by pressing the hook tongues 43 of the handle 26 and extracting them from the channels 42. Then the screws 46 are inserted into the respective seats 45 and screwed with several turns into the respective holes of the plates 53.

When the ends of the screws 46 have been screwed in for the whole of the thickness of the plate 53, as indicated in Figures 1 and 4 for the left hand screw 46, one of the lateral edges of the plate 53 engages on the terminal part of the two cam edges 50 and 51 assuming a position parallel to the spindle 36. With the two plates 53 in this position the support 23, together with the pivoted member 24 and the plates 53 is introduced into the aperture 28 of the seat 21 from the outside of the structure 20. The support 23 is now engaged with the edges 32 and 33 against the edges 29 and 31 of the aperture 28 itself.

Now the two screws 46 are turned from the outside. Each screw 46 then tends to draw the respective plate 53 into rotation in an anti-clockwise sense, but since this is restrained by the profile of the edge 50 it can only turn gradually as it advances axially. The complementary shape of the edge 51 contributes positively to this rotation. It is to be noted that when the screws 46 are unscrewed the two complementary shaped edges 50 and 51 are moreover adapted to make the respective plate 53 turn positively in a clockwise sense, therefore allowing an easy dismantling of the handle 22.

After a certain displacement of the plate 53 this has turned through 900 with respect to the initial position as indicated in Figures 1 and 4 of the right hand plate 53. The two chamfered ends 54 remain hooked within the interior of the structure 20 over the edges 31 of the aperture 28. Each screw 46 can now be further screwed to bring the two ends 54 against the edges 31 as indicated in Figure 5, and firmly hold the plate 53 against the flat wall 47 of the seat 45. The edges 31 of the aperture 28 thus remain clamped between the chamfered ends 54 of the plate 53 and the edge 33 of the support 23.

Finally, still acting from the outside of the door, the 0 tongues 43 are introduced into the channels 42 of the handle 26 (Figure 4) fixing this to the member 24 as first seen. In Figures 1 and 4, purely for the sake of illustration, the left hand plate 53 is indicated in the initial position even though the handle 26 is shown fixed tO'the member 24.

It is therefore evident that the support 23 of the handle 22 is removably fixed in the seating 21 by the fixing means 46, 53 which are accessible exclusively from the outside of the motor vehicle.

In the variant of Figures 7-11 the elements having a similar function to those of Figures 1 to 6 have been indicated in the drawings with the same reference numerals, for which reason the description thereof is not repeated here. In this variant the support 23 carries two seats 55 for the screws 46, which are constituted by two pierced depressions equidistant from the spindle 36. The support 23 is provided with two projections having two edges 56 and 57 parallel to the axis of the screw 46, which are adapted to cooperate with one edge of the corresponding plate 53.

Mounting the handle of Figures 7-11 is effected from the outside in a similar manner to that seen for the handle of Figures 1 to 6. In particular, after having separated the 1 0 - handle 26 from the membgr 24 the screws 46 are introduced into the seats 55 and enter the mouths of the holes of the plates 53. Holding these parallel to th - e spindle 36, as indicated in Figure 8 for the left hand plate 53, the support 23, together with the pivot member 24 and the plate 53, are introduced into the aperture 28 of the seat 21.

To screw up each screw 46 this is first of all extracted axially for a certain distance, in such a way as to carry the associated plate 53 axially in correspondence with the edge 56 or 57 respectively. Now by screwing the screw 46 this draws the associated plate 53 into rotation until it stops against the associated edge 56, 57. Subsequent rotation of the screw 46 now causes only approach of the plate 53 towards the door structure 20. The plate 53 remains however engaged with its ends 54 within this structure. This approaching movement continues until the ends 54 come up against the interior of the edge 31 of the aperture 28 as in the preceding case.

In the two variants described above the plates 53 are turned through 900 with respect to the initial position, parallel to the spindle 36. It is evident that the edge 31 of the aperture 28 of the seat 21 can be designed in such a way as to block the movement of the plate 53 after a rotation through a different angle, for example an angle 0 11 - lying between 300 and 1500 In the embodiment of Figures 12-14 the seat 21 in the structure 20 for the handle 22 comprises an aperture 58 having an upper region 59 of greater width,and a lower region 61 of smaller width. The aperture 58 has an edge 62 shaped to allow the engagement of the support 23 of the handle. The edge 62 includes two lateral portions 63 parallel to one another and disposed in correspondence with the lower region 61 of the aperture 58, and a horizontal portion 67 between the two portions 63.

The support 23 is made of plastics material and includes a crosspiece 64 having an inverted L-shape section with two chamfered edges 65 parallel to one another and adapted to engage the portions 63 of the edge 62 from the outside. The crosspiece 64 has a lower step 66 adapted to engage against the horizontal portion 67 of the edge 62. The crosspiece 64 is carried by two upwardly tapered arms 68 and 69, each provided with a hole 70 for receiving a spindle 71 for pivoting the pivot member 24. This includes an upper pierced crosspiece 72 adapted to be disposed between the two arms 68 and 69 of the support 23.

The spindle 71 is fitted in the hole of the crosspiece 72.

One side of the crosspiece 72 carries a projection 73 extending laterally into the interior of the structure 20.

1 The spindle 71 has a length such as to project from the arm 68 towards the left, to receive a torsion spring 74 one end 76 of which engages against the projection 73, whilst the other end 77 engages against the arm 68. The 5 spring 74 normally holds the member 24 engaged against a v shoulder of the support 23, not visible in the drawings. The end of the projection 73 is adapted to act on a slide block 78 (Figure 14) of the lock mechanism 79.

The member 24 further includes two channels 81 (Figure 12) having a square cross-section connected by-a lower reinforcement 82. Each channel 81 is adapted to receive a pair of resilient hook tongues 83 (Figure 13) integ-ral with the handle 26 of the handle unit, which can therefore be connected to the pivot member 24 in a manner similar to that seen for the embodiment of Figures 1 to 6.

To each of the two arms 68 and 69 (Figure 12) of the support 23 is connected a laterally extending tongue 84 adapted to engage at the top and sides on the edge 62 of the corresponding part of the zone 59 projecting from the lower zone 61. Each tongue 84 is further connected to the respective arm 68. 69 of a triangular reinforcing rib 86.

The central Part of the crosspiece 64 carries a seat 87 in the form of a square section channel, adapted to be disposed in the space between the two channels 81. The 0 seat 87 has a bottom wall pierced to receive a screw 88, which is fitted into the seat 87 together with &.metal washer 89. The seat 87 is further adapted to receive from the front a small cover 90 for covering the head of the 5 screw 88.

v A robust vertical tab 91, which carries two lateral tongues, each generally indicated 92, is connected o the crosspiece 64. Each tongue 92 has a substantially rectangular shape and includes a portion 93 of reduced cross-section to allow, by flexure, the rotation of the tongue itself with respect to the tab 91. Each tongue 92 further includes a chamfered edge 94 adapted to engage the two edges 63 of the internal part of the structure 20. At rest the tongues 92 are disposed at about 450 with respect to the axis of the screw 88.

Each tongue 92 is adapted to cooperate With a retainer element for the screw 88, constituted by a metal plate 96.

This has an inverted T-shape and is provided with a threaded hole 97. The plate 96 is provided with two arms 98 adapted to engage the rear surface of the tongues 92.

Mounting the handle of Figure 12 is effected by acting exclusively from the outside of the door. After having assembled the support 23 and the pivoted member 24 by means of the spindle 71 and the spring 74, the screw 88 is 0 1 - 14 introduced with the washer 89 into the seat 87 and the 1 screw 88 itself is turned through several revolutions, within the hole 97 of the plate 96 until the two arms 98 engage the rear surface of the tongues 92.

Then the unit is introduced into the aperture 58 by making the tongues 92 and the plate 96 pass into the zone 61 of the aperture 58. The arms 68 and 69 of the support 23 and the crosspiece 72 with the projection 73 are then disposed within the interior of the structure 20, whilst the two tabs 84 engage against the associated portions of the edge 62 from the outside and the step 66 engages from the outside against the horizontal portion 67 of the edge 62.

The screw 88 is now turned, which causes the plate 96 to displace axially. Since this engages the tongues 92 it cannot however follow the rotation of the screw 88. By means of the arms 98 the plate 96 causes the tongues 92 now to separate until the chamfered edge 94 of these engage from the interior against the two portions 63 of the edge 62. Therefore each of these portions 63 remains trapped between the chamfered edge 65 of the crosspiece 66 and the chamfered edge 94 of the associated tongue 62. After having screwed the screw 88 to the bottom the cover 90 is inserted frictionally into the seat 87 and the handle 26 is fixed with the hook tongues 83 into the channels 81, as first seen.

V f - 15 In the variant of the embodirent of Figure 12 shown in Figures 15 to 18 the elements having a function similar to those of Figure 12 are indicated with the same reference numerals and the associated description is not repeated 5 here. The crosspiece 64 (Figures 15 and 16) of the

1 support 23 is now substantially flat and is provided with two C-shape arms 68' and 69' (Figure 16) and is connected to the lateral tongues 84, not visible in the drawings, by means of two triangular reinforcement 86. The seat 87 of the screw 88 projects partially towards the outside of the crosspiece 64 and is connected to it by two ribs 99 (Figure 15).

The two tongues 92 are connected, by means of the portion 93 of reduced thickness, to a pierced rear wall 100 of the seat 87. As well as the chamfered edge 94 these are provided also with the shoulder 101 on which the arms 98 of the plate 96 act during the clamping stage.

At rest the tongues 92 can interfere with the internal panel 19, as indicated in Figures 15 and 17. However. upon mounting of the handle to the door already provided with the panel 19, this interference has only the effect of slightly folding the tongues 92 upon insertion of the unit 23, 24 into the seat 21. Alternatively, the screw 88 can be turned before insertion of the unit 23, 24 into the seat 21 in such a way as to eliminate the separation of - 16 the tongues 92 from the.arms 98 caused by the engagement of the tongues 92 with the panel 19.

It is evident that the handles described can have various modifications and improvements introduced thereto without departing from the ambit of the invention. For example the handles of Figures 1-11 can be provided with a single fixing screw 46. Moreover in the handles of Figures 12-18 the support 23 can be provided with more than two separable tongues 92 and the plate 96 may have a corresponding number of arms 98.

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Claims

1. A door handle for motor vehicles, comprising a support (23) adapted to be fixed into a seating (21) of the door, a member (24) pivoted to the said support for actuation of the door lock (82) and a handle (26) fixed to the said member, characterised by the fact that the said support is removably fixed into the said seating by fixing means (46, 53; 88, 96) which are accessible exclusively from the outside of the door.

2. A handle according to Claim 1, characterised by the fact that the said fixing means include at least one screw (46, 88) adapted to engage from the outside a corresponding hole in the said support (23) and to be screwed into a threaded hole of a retainer element (53, 96), the said seating (21) being provided with an aperture (28, 58) to allow insertion from the outside of the said support with the said screw partially screwed onto the said element, the said support (23) including means (49; 56, 57; 92) for angularly locking the said element in the said seating (21).

3. A handle according to Claim 2, characterised by the fact that the said angular locking means include an edge (50, 51; 56, 57) adapted to cooperate with the said element (53) when the screw (46) is turned, in such a way 1 - is - as to cause the said element to be disposed in an angular position such as to remain hooked in the said seating (21).

4. A handle according to Claim 3, characterised by the fact that the said angular position is turned through an angle lying between 300 and 1500 with respect to the insertion position, in which the said element (53) can be inserted into the said seat (21).

5. A handle according to Claim 4, characterised by the fact that the said element (53) has a rectangular shape, the said position being rotated substantially through 900 with respect to the said insertion position.

6. A handle according to Claim 5, characterised by the fact that the said element (53) has a longitudinal C-shape cross-section the arms of which have an end (54) adapted to engage over two edges (31) of the said seat (21).

7. A handle according to any of Claims from 4 to 6, characterised by the fact that the said edge of the said locking means is constituted by a shoulder (56, 57) substantially parallel to the axis of the said screw (46).

8. A handle according to any of Claim from 4 to 6, characterised by the fact that the said edge of the said locking means is constituted by a helical cam (50, 51) adapted to cause, together with a rotation of the said element (53), its approach to the inner 'Surface of the said seating (21).

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9. A handle according to Claim 8, characterised by the fact that the said cam (50, 51) includes two complementary profiles adapted to positively rotate the said element (53) in both directions.

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10. A handle according to any of Claims from 2 to 9, characterised by the fact that the said fixing means include a pair of screws (46) equidistant from a spindle (36) on which the said member (24) is pivoted.

11. A handle according to Claim 3, characterised by the fact that the said locking means include at least two resilient tongues (92) carried by the said support (23) and adapted to be engaged by the said element (96) to be separated and engaged over two corresponding edges (63) of the said seating (21).

12. A handle according to Claim 11, characterised by the fact that the said support (23) is made of plastics material and the said tongues (92) are integral with the said support, each tongue including a portion (93) of thickness such as to flex when engaged by the said element - 20 (96), and a hook portion (94'i for engaging over the said two edges (63). 1

13. A handle according to any preceding Claim, characterised by the fact that the said handle (26) includes at least one pair of resilient hook tongues (43, 83) which are adapted to allow the snap-fixing of the said handle into a corresponding seat (42, 81) of the said member (24) by pressure on the said handle from the 10 outside of the door.

14. A handle for a motor vehicle door, substantially as described with reference to the attached drawings.

Published 1991 atThe Patent Office. State House. 66/71 High Holborn. London WC I R 47P. Further copies Tnay be obtained from Saks Branch. UnIt6. Nine Mile Fbint. Cwrnrclinrach. Cross Keys. Newport, NPI 7HZ. Printed by Multiplex techniques Itd, St Mary Cmy, Rent.

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