GB2353321A - Vehicle door latch release - Google Patents

Abstract

A vehicle door latch is released by the action of member a cable <B>34</B> on a latch mechanism <B>50</B>. A member <B>40</B> mounted on the end of the cable <B>34</B> is secured by a detent <B>58</B> with respect to a fixed housing <B>20</B> against movement by spring <B>68</B>. A door handle <B>2</B> is capable of limited pulled movement to displace a housing <B>10</B> relative to the housing <B>20</B>. This causes the housing <B>10</B> to engage the member <B>40</B> and move it past the detent <B>58</B>. The spring <B>68</B> is then free to move the member <B>40</B> and the attached cable <B>34</B> towards the handle to effect latch release.

Description

2353321 Assembly The present invention relates to an assembly and in

particular to a release mechanism for a latch mechanism for a locking device. The invention has particular, but not exclusive, application in a release mechanism for a motor vehicle door lock.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a release mechanism comprises a first housing, a second housing, and a traveller, relative movement between the first and second housings releasing the traveller thereby to release a latch mechanism.

Preferably, the traveller is retained by the first housing prior to relative movement of the first housing and the second housing.

Preferably, the traveller is secured to a release cable of the latch mechanism.

Preferably first biasing means are provided between the first housing and the traveller and second biasing means act on the second housing. More preferably, the first biasing means are retained within the first housing.

Preferably, the first biasing means comprises spring means.

Preferably, the second biasing means comprises a compliant gasket.

Preferably, detent means operate between the first housing and the traveller.

Preferably, the second housing is provided with a stop to prevent movement of the traveller beyond a predetermined point.

Preferably, means are provided to place the traveller in engagement with the first housing.

The present invention has as an advantage that it provides for an intuitive release action while giving the feel of a solid door. The user does not knowingly operate the latch mechanism, in that only a pulling force needs to be applied not both a release force and a subsequent pulling force. Nevertheless full mechanical latching functionality is retained.

Further advantages of the present invention will be made clear in the discussion of the illustrated embodiment below.

The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure I shows a perspective view of an outside of a door handle incorporating a release mechanism according to the present invention; and Figure 2 shows a diagrammatic side section of a door handle incorporating a release mechanism in accordance with the present invention.

Referring first to Figure 1, there can be seen a door handle 2 adjacent an outer panel 4 of a motor vehicle door. The handle 4 may be adapted to pivot about a first end, but this is not essential, provided the handle 2 moves through and away from a surface of the door panel 4 of the motor vehicle.

The door handle 2 and the interaction of the door handle 2 with other parts of the release mechanism will now be explained with reference to Figure 2. A door panel 4 is provided with an aperture 6 therein to receive the door handle 2. The door handle 2 comprises a first portion 8 to be gripped by a user and a second hollow housing portion 10 extending through the door panel 4. The gripping portion may also be hollow.

The hollow housing portion 10 is provided on an internal surface 12 with a stop 14 in the form of a radially inwardly directed flange. The flange has an first surface 16 directed towards the inside of the handle 2 and an second surface 18 directed away from the inside of the handle.

Within the door panel 4 there is provided a first housing 20. The first housing 20 is secured in position within the door panel. In the illustrated embodiment, the first housing is secured within the door panel by way of first and second lugs 22,24.

The door handle 2 is prevented from impacting on the door panel by the presence of a gasket 26 disposed about a periphery of the aperture 6 in the door panel. The gasket 26 is generally of "C" section. The gasket 26 is formed of a compliant material such as a rubber.

The gasket 26 is fitted about the aperture 6 prior to assembly of the release mechanism. The handle is the final item of the release mechanism to be assembled.

The first housing 20 comprises a generally tubular member open at a first end 28 to receive a traveller 40 to be described below. The first housing 20 is provided with a bore 32 at a second end 28 through which a release cable 34 of a latch mechanism 50 passes.

An outer surface 36 of the first housing adjacent the bore 32 is provided with a first boss 38. The first boss 38 is provided with an annular recess 42 to receive a sheath 44 which extends between the latch mechanism 50 and the first housing 20 to protect the release cable 34. The release cable 34 is provided at an end 46 remote from the latch mechanism 50 with a nipple 48.

The first housing 20 is provided on an inner surface 54 adjacent the bore 32 with a second boss 52, thereby defining a first annular surface 56 at a base of the first housing 20.

The first housing 20 is additionally provided about the first end 28 with detent means 58 formed by a radially inwardly directed lug or series of lugs.

The traveller 40 comprises a generally cylindrical deformable member. The traveller 40 is provided on an inner surface with retention means 60 for retaining the nipple 48 of the release cable 34. The nipple 48 is retained such that the force required to remove the nipple 48 from the retention means will be greater than the force required for operation of the latch mechanism 50.

The traveller 40 is provided with a cap portion 62 extending from a central axially extending shaft portion 64. The cap portion 62 extends radially from a first end of the shaft portion 64. The cap portion 62 is provided with an axially directed flange or series of flanges 66.

The shaft portion 64 is provided with a series of lands and valleys along its length. A first valley 70 is provided between the axially extending flange 66 and a first land 72. A second valley 74 is provided between the first land 72 and a second land 76. A third larger valley 78 extends almost to the end of the shaft portion 64 to a radially outwardly directed flange 80. The flange 80 defines about the shaft portion 64 a second annular surface 82.

The release mechanism may be assembled in the following manner. The first housing 20 is secured in position in the door panel 4 by the first and second lugs 22,24.

15, Biasing means in the form of spring means 68 is placed in the first housing 20 and is seated on the first annular surface 56. The release cable 34 is threaded through the bore 32 in the first housing 20 to the latch mechanism 50.

The nipple 48 is secured in the retention means of the traveller 40. The traveller 40 is inserted into the hollow portion 10 of the handle 2 such that the axially extending flanges 66 are located beyond the first surface 16 of the stop 14. The handle 2 is then inserted into the aperture 6 in the door panel. The "C" shaped gasket 26 is thereby retained between a blind side 84 of the gripping portion 8 of the handle and radially outwardly extending lugs 86 provided on the outside of the hollow portion 10 of the handle.

The hollow portion 10 of the handle 2 is fitted over a part of the outer surface 36 of the first housing 20 such that the detent means 58 of the first housing is seated against the second surface18 of the stop 14.

Any slack in the release cable 34 is taken up such that the axially extending lugs 66 of the traveller 40 are seated on the first surface 16 of the stop 14 of the first housing and the detent means 58 of the first housing engages with the second valley 74 of the traveller 40.

The spring means 68 is compressed and retained between the first annular surface 56 of the first housing 20 and the second annular surface 82 of the traveller 40.

In this position, the latch mechanism 50 is in a latched condition.

I To operate the latch mechanism 50, the handle 2 is pulled. The handle 2 is free only to compress the compliant material of the gasket 26. However, this is sufficient to release the detent means 58 of the first housing from the second valley 74 of the traveller. The spring means 68 urges the traveller 40 into the handle 2. Movement of the traveller 40 away from the second end 30 of the first housing 20 pulls the release cable 34 of the latch mechanism 50 causing the latch mechanism 50 to become unlatched.

There are no problems with insufficient movement of the door handle 2, since the door handle 2 moves only a relatively small distance relative to the door panel, i.e. the required compression of the compliant gasket 26.

In order to reset the mechanism it is necessary to reset the traveller 40 within the release mechanism. This can be done by taking up the slack in the release cable 34, for example by operation of a cam operating off an element of the latch mechanism 50 such as a catch claw, thereby compressing the spring means 68 and drawing the traveller 40 back into position such that the detent means 68 are once again retained within the second valley 74 thereby resetting the release mechanism.

The release mechanism can be used with an internal motor vehicle door handle or an external motor vehicle door handle. The release mechanism may be associated with a vehicle tailgate, or with a closure for a motor vehicle compartment, for example with a glove box within a passenger cell of a motor vehicle.

The various elements of the release mechanism may be formed from any material suitable for the purpose.

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Claims (11)

1. -7CLAIMS

   A release mechanism comprises a first housing, a second housing, and a traveller, relative movement between the first housing and the second housing causing the traveller to release a latch mechanism.
2. 2 A release mechanism according to claim 1, characterised that the traveller is retained by the first housing prior to relative movement of the first housing and the second housing.
3. 3 A release mechanism according to clahn 1 or claim 2, characterised in that the traveller is secured to a release cable of the latch mechanism.
4. A release mechanism according to any previous claim, characterised in that first biasing means are provided between the first housing and the traveller and second biasing means act on the second housing.
5. A release mechanism according to claim 4, characterised in that the first biasing means are retained within the first housing.
6. 6 A release mechanism according to claim 4 or claim 5, characterised in that the first biasing means comprises spring means.
7. A release mechanism according to any of claims 4 to 6, characterised in that the second biasing means comprises a compliant gasket.
8. 8 A release mechanism according to any previous claim, characterised in that detent means operate between the first housing and the traveller.
9. 9 A release mechanism according to any previous claim, characterised in that the second housing is provided with a stop to prevent movement of the traveller beyond a predetermined position.
10. A release mechanism according to any previous claim, characterised in that means are provided to place the traveller in engagement with the first housing.
11. 11 A release mechanism substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

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