KR20120079460A - Electric switch for a rear door or tailgate of an automobile - Google Patents

Abstract

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electrical switch for a rear door or tailgate of a motor vehicle, wherein a microswitch (5) and a driving lever for the microswitch (5) are provided with an inactive position and the driving lever for the microswitch (5). A drive lever 8 movable between two positions of the switching position for driving, said electric switch further comprising a seal 15 between said microswitch 5 and said drive lever 8, said seal 15 is characterized in that it is configured to provide a seal between the microswitch 5 and the drive lever 8 at the two positions of the drive lever 8.

Description

ELECTRIC SWITCH FOR A REAR DOOR OR TAILGATE OF AN AUTOMOBILE}

The present invention relates to an electrical switch for an automobile opening such as a side door, a trunk lid or a tailgate.

The electrical switch can be activated either manually or by an open remote control of the vehicle or by a hands-free vehicle owner recognition system to unlock the door after unlocking through the corresponding closure.

An electrical switch is known for opening a motor vehicle opening comprising a module sealed by a membrane, which module is provided with means for mounting on the frame of the vehicle side door or rear door. The module includes a mechanical subassembly comprising a drive lever fixed under the membrane and an electrical subassembly comprising a microswitch connected to a metallic terminal.

The drive lever can be displaced between two positions, the inactive position and the switching position that triggers the microswitch when the user presses the membrane. When the compression is stopped, the lever is returned to its initial inactive position by the resilient return means, and the triggering of the microswitch causes the lock to open.

However, the seal-tightness of the region between the mechanical subassembly and the electrical subassembly may be insufficient, which may provide intrusion of moisture, water or dust from the outside of the vehicle, which may damage the electrical circuit. When this happens, the switch stops working correctly.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to at least partially solve the problems of the prior art by providing a robust electrical switch that provides better seal-tightness.

To this end, the gist of the present invention is an electric switch for a rear door or tailgate of an automobile,

Microswitch,

A drive lever for driving the microswitch, comprising: a drive lever that can be displaced between two positions of an inactive position and a switching position for driving the microswitch,

And a seal between the microswitch and the drive lever, wherein the seal is configured to ensure seal tightness between the microswitch and the drive lever at the two positions of the drive lever.

And the circumferential seal in the region between the drive lever and the microswitch makes it possible to obtain an electric switch which is airtight against water, moisture or dust from the outside of the vehicle.

According to one embodiment, the seal has an elastic peripheral end cooperating with a complementary appendage of the drive lever in the inactive and switching positions of the drive lever. The elastic properties of the seal then allow the seal to deform so as to maintain the seal-tightness properties at both positions of the drive lever.

The elastic peripheral end is, for example, in the form of a tube, and the accessory also has a complementary cylindrical shape that is inserted into the opening of the tube.

The resilient peripheral end has a protrusion that projects at the level of the opening of the tube toward the complementary appendage. The opening of the tube has a diameter of, for example, a dimension smaller than the diameter of the complementary appendage.

Thus, when the drive lever is introduced into the seal, the seal is assembled to the drive lever by applying some force. And the end of the tube is slightly compressed by this overlap, so that the area between the microswitch and the lever is completely airtight against water, moisture or dust.

Further, the return means having elasticity for returning the drive lever to the inactive position is formed by the compression of the seal. Thus, the force required to activate the electrical switch is significantly reduced and provides good reproducibility. Thus, the return means of the mechanical subassembly is provided by the seal. Thus, the spring can not be placed between the base and the drive lever.

The complementary appendages may include means for guiding and retaining the peripheral end. The means for guiding and retaining may comprise an annular groove for receiving the peripheral end.

Once assembled, the outer wall of the end of the tube is held by the inner wall of the annular groove. When the tube expands, the diameter of the opening thus continues to have dimensions smaller than the outer diameter of the complementary appendages to ensure that the seal remains compacted against the complementary appendages and retains good seal tightness.

According to one embodiment, the seal is at least partially overmolded.

The seal comprises a thermoplastic material, for example a TPE-S elastomer. Elastomers offer the advantage of being strongly attached to rigid plastics, which results in a good seal. In addition, the pressure used in the injection molding machine is lowered, thereby reducing the risk of damage to the switch during manufacture.

The seal may be overmolded over the microswitch to form a cover for the connector of the microswitch. Then they are completely protected. And the seal comprises a cover and at least one lateral chimney for interlocking the cover to the elastic peripheral end, the seal being single piece by overmolding in a single injection step. It is prepared as. In addition, if the connectors are completely seal-sealed, the electrical switch can be placed in any orientation both vertically and horizontally.

Other advantages and features will become apparent by reading the following description of the specific embodiments of the invention and the appended drawings, but the invention is not limited thereto.

1 is a cross-sectional view of an electrical switch in an inactive position,
FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 with the electrical switch activated by the user in the switching position, FIG.
3A is a perspective view from below the electrical subassembly;
3B is a cross-sectional view of the electrical subassembly of FIG. 3A;
4 is a schematic diagram of a microswitch connected to an electrical terminal,
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the drive lever in the disassembled and electrical subassembly of FIG. 3A; FIG.

1 shows an electrical switch 1 intended to be mounted to the frame of an automobile opening, such as a side door, trunk lid or tailgate. The switch 1 can be arranged on the bumper, for example in the case of a trunk lid electrical switch, for example an upper part of an extension of the plastic part of the bumper.

The electrical switch 1 can be activated remotely by manual or open remote control of the vehicle or by a hands-free vehicle owner recognition system to cause the door to open after unlocking through the corresponding closure.

The electrical switch 1 comprises a mechanical subassembly 2 and an electrical subassembly 3.

As can be better understood in the example of FIG. 3B, the electrical subassembly 3 comprises a connector 4 and a microswitch 5.

The microswitch 5 is connected to the electrical terminal 6 by, for example, soldering or the like (see FIG. 4). The microswitch 5 and the electrical terminal 6 are housed in the electrical connector 4. This electrical connector 4 is interlocked with an electrical circuit disposed inside the vehicle.

The electrical terminal 6 comprises, for example, connecting pins at its ends. These connecting pins then ensure the function of the male connector for connecting with a suitable female connector.

The mechanical subassembly 2 comprises a base 7, a drive lever 8 of the microswitch 5, a flexible control membrane 9 and a return means for the drive lever 8.

The base 7 is closed by the flexible control membrane 9. The flexible control membrane 9 is made accessible from the outside of the vehicle to activate the drive lever 8.

The mechanical subassembly 2 and the electrical subassembly 3 also comprise assembly means 10a, 10b, 10c cooperating to secure the subassemblies 2, 3 together.

For example, and as can be seen in FIG. 3A, the connector 4 has a slideway 10a and a lateral hook 10b cooperating with ribs 10c in a complementary relationship supported by the base 7. .

As can be seen in the example of FIG. 1, the drive lever 8 is in the form of a paddle 8a with a central foot 8b. The tip 8c of this central foot 8b is arranged axially with respect to the microswitch 5. The control membrane 9 is externally fixed in the central part of the paddle 8a, leaving the unfixed area 11 around the central part deformable during the control operation. The pressing of the control membrane 9 by the user 12 thus leads between the inactive position (FIG. 1) and the switching position (FIG. 2), over a predefined distance C, for example on the order of 1.5 mm to 2 mm. The displacement of the drive lever 8 is made controllable.

In the inactive position (FIG. 1), the lever 8 does not drive the microswitch 5. The drive lever 8 and the base 7 are spaced apart by the predefined displacement distance C.

In the switching position (FIG. 2), the tip 8c of the drive lever 8 bears on the microswitch 5, causing the lock to open. The drive lever 8 is in contact with the base 7. The return means of the drive lever 8 makes it possible to return the drive lever 8 to the initial inactive position when the compression is stopped.

According to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the drive lever 8 comprises, for example, an assembly arm 13 which cooperates with a corresponding recess 14 of the base 7. For example, there are assembly arms 13 on both sides of the center foot 8b of the drive lever 8.

Each assembly arm 13 has an axis that can axially slide in the associated orifice of the recess 14. This axis ends at the end of the recess 14 of the base 7 in the inactive position (FIG. 1) at the hook which can cooperate with the corresponding joint around the orifice, so that the latter is stressed by the return means. When it is received, the drive lever 8 is held on the base 7. In the switching position (FIG. 2) in which the drive lever 8 has moved a predefined distance C, the assembly arm 13 is in the recess 14 until the paddle 8a contacts the base 7. Sliding.

The electrical switch 1 also comprises a seal 15 between the microswitch 5 and the drive lever 8, which seals the microswitch 5 in two positions of the drive lever 8. And seal-tightness between and the drive lever 8.

The seal 15 has, for example, an elastic peripheral end 15b that cooperates with a complementary accessory supported by the tip 8c of the drive lever 8 in the inactive and switching positions of the drive lever 8. .

Thus, when the user presses the switch 1 (for example with a force between 11N and 19N (see arrow F in Fig. 2)), the control membrane 9 is deformed, and the drive lever 8 is supported upward in the drawing ( It is displaced by the displacement distance C with respect to 7), and the microswitch 5 deforms the seal 15. The displacement of the tip 8c of the drive lever 8 relative to the microswitch 5 drives the microswitch 5 by closing the electrical circuit, thereby making the opening openable. When the user 12 stops applying pressure, the elastic return means displaces the drive lever 8 to its initial position (Fig. 1).

The elastic nature of the seal 15 allows the seal to be deformed to maintain the seal-tightness characteristic at both positions of the drive lever 8. The circumferential seal 15 of the zone between the drive lever 8 and the microswitch 5 then makes it possible to obtain an electrical switch 1 which is airtight against water, moisture or dust from the outside of the vehicle.

The seal 15 is at least partially overmolded.

The plastic used for overmolding is a "soft" plastic. This includes, for example, thermoplastic materials such as TPE-S elastomers. The base 7, the drive lever 8 and the electrical connector 4 are molded of eg "hard" plastic, such as polypropylene.

Elastomers offer the advantage of being strongly attached to rigid plastics such as polypropylene, which results in a good seal. In addition, the pressure used in the injection molding machine is lowered, thereby reducing the risk of damage to the switch during manufacture.

For example, the seal 15 is at least partially overmolded on the microswitch 5 to form a cover 15a for the connector of the microswitch 5 to which the electrical terminal 6 is connected. Then they are protected. In addition, the seal 15 is manufactured entirely in a single overmolding step.

Thus, the seal 15 comprising the cover 15a, the lateral chimney 15d and the elastic peripheral end 15d is produced as a single piece, and the overmolding injection is at the level of the cover 15a and It occurs through the lateral chimneys 15d on both sides of the microswitch 5 and terminates at the level of the elastic peripheral end 15d.

In addition, when the connectors are completely seal-tight, the electrical switch 1 can be placed in any orientation both vertically and horizontally.

Optionally, the base 7 is made of another hard plastic, such as polyamide 66 with 30% glass fiber filling. In this case, the seal 15 does not overmold the base 7.

In the embodiment shown in the figures and in the embodiment of FIG. 5 (as in FIG. 5 the paddle 8a has a smaller thickness compared to FIGS. 1 and 2 to improve feedback on tactile sensation), elasticity The peripheral end 15b is in the form of a tube (FIG. 3A) and the appendage has a complementary cylindrical shape inserted into the opening 15c of the tube.

The elastic peripheral end 15b forms a protrusion that projects at the level of the opening 15c toward the complementary appendage of the tip 8c (FIG. 3B). The opening 15c of the tube has a diameter d of a dimension smaller than the diameter D of the complementary appendage (FIG. 5).

Therefore, when introducing the lever 8 into the seal 15, the seal 15 is assembled to the drive lever 8 by applying only a slight force. The end of the tube 15 is then compressed by this overlap, so that the area between the microswitch 5 and the tip 8c of the lever is completely airtight against water, moisture or dust.

In addition, a return means having elasticity for returning the drive lever 8 to the inactive position is formed by the compression of the seal 15. Thus, the force required to activate the electrical switch 1 is significantly reduced and provides good reproducibility. The return means of the mechanical subassembly 2 is thus provided by the seal 15. Therefore, the spring does not need to exist between the base 7 and the drive lever 8.

However, it is also possible to provide a spring to assist the return means formed by the seal 15. For example, it is also possible to arrange the springs 16 on both sides of the center foot 8b of the lever 8. For example, the first end of the spring 16 is received and fixed in the recess 17 of the paddle 8a of the drive lever 8, and the second end of the spring 16 is connected to the pin 18 of the base 7. It is fixed. Thus, it can be seen that the spring 16 extends in the inactive position (FIG. 1) and is compressed in the switching position (FIG. 2).

Complementary appendages of tip 8c may also include means for guiding and holding the peripheral end 15b of the tube.

Thus, according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the means for guiding and retaining comprise an annular groove 19 which receives a peripheral end 15b. The annular groove 19 is formed inside by the side wall of the appendage of the tip 8c and outside by the cylindrical rim.

Once the electrical assembly 3 is assembled to the drive lever 8, the outer wall of the peripheral end 15b is held by the inner wall of the cylindrical rim of the annular groove 19 (FIG. 1). Thus, when the opening 15c of the tube is expanded, the diameter d of the opening 15c continues to have a dimension smaller than the diameter D of the complementary appendage, so that the seal 15 It remains compressed against the complementary appendage and maintains its seal tightness.

Therefore, the electrical switch 1 thus obtained is more robust and provides very high seal-tightness.

Claims (10)

As an electric switch for a rear door or tailgate of a car,
Microswitch (5),
In the electric switch for driving the microswitch (5), comprising a drive lever (8) which can be displaced between two positions of an inactive position and a switching position for driving the microswitch (5).
A seal 15 further between the microswitch 5 and the drive lever 8, the seal 15 being the microswitch 5 and the drive in the two positions of the drive lever 8; Characterized in that it is configured to ensure the seal tightness between the levers 8
Electrical switch. The method of claim 1,
The seal 15 is characterized in that it has an elastic peripheral end 15b which cooperates with the complementary appendage of the drive lever 8 in the inactive and switching positions of the drive lever 8.
Electrical switch. The method of claim 2,
The elastic peripheral end 15b is in the form of a tube,
The accessory is characterized in that it has a complementary cylindrical shape inserted into the opening 15c of the tube.
Electrical switch. The method of claim 3, wherein
The resilient peripheral end 15b is characterized in that it forms a bulge protruding towards the complementary appendage to the level of the opening 15c of the tube.
Electrical switch. The method according to claim 3 or 4,
The opening 15c of the tube is characterized in that it has a diameter d of a dimension smaller than the diameter D of the complementary appendage.
Electrical switch. 6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
Said complementary accessory comprises means for guiding and retaining said peripheral end 15b.
Electrical switch. The method according to claim 6 together with any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein
The means for guiding and retaining are characterized in that they comprise an annular groove 19 which receives the peripheral end 15b.
Electrical switch. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
Said seal 15 is at least partly overmolded
Electrical switch. The method of claim 8,
The seal 15 is characterized in that it comprises a thermoplastic material, such as a TPE-S elastomer.
Electrical switch. The method according to claim 8 or 9 together with claim 2,
The seal 15 has a cover 15a for the connector of the microswitch 5 and at least one lateral chimney 15d for interlocking the cover 15a with the elastic peripheral end 15b. And the seal 15 is produced as a single piece by overmolding.
Electrical switch.

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