WO2011000909A1

WO2011000909A1 - Vehicle lock device

Info

Publication number: WO2011000909A1
Application number: PCT/EP2010/059358
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jean Pierre Maringe; Stephan Carteron
Original assignee: Valeo Securite Habitacle
Priority date: 2009-07-03
Filing date: 2010-07-01
Publication date: 2011-01-06
Also published as: FR2947585B1; FR2947585A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a vehicle lock device comprising: - a cylinder (100) comprising an external face (104) and a housing (102) opening onto the external face and intended to accept a key (300), - a cover (200) designed to be attached to the external face (104) of the cylinder (100) so as to conceal the external face (104) at least partially and comprising an opening (203) to provide free access to the housing (102), - the cover (200) comprising a recess (205) made in its face facing the cylinder (100) and the cylinder (100) comprising a guiding rim (107) designed to fit at least partly into the recess (205) to define a guide to guide the key (300) into the recess (205).

Description

Vehicle lock device

The present invention relates to a lock device. She finds her

5 application particularly in the automotive industry for closing storage compartments inside a vehicle interior or for locking and unlocking airbag type airbag.

The design of a vehicle must meet ever increasing requirements in terms of cost and aesthetic limitations. The lock barrels fitted to the storage compartments such as glove boxes or fitted to the airbags do not escape these constraints.

These barrels must present to the user a chrome appearance. To meet this requirement while limiting costs, the barrels have long been made of zamak fully coated chromium. A barrel in 15 zamak induces much lower cost costs than a barrel made entirely of chrome. However, obtaining this type of barrel is accompanied by a high scrap rate.

Another solution has been proposed. It consists in reporting on a zamak cylinder a chrome cover having an opening to allow free passage of the key. The barrel is therefore largely obscured by the cache, thereby improving the visual appearance of the whole.

However, the robustness of this solution has proved poor in practice. Indeed, the manipulation of the key in the barrel often causes an extraction of the cache. This unwanted separation and too much

25 easy cache relative to the barrel is not satisfactory in terms of robustness and quality.

There is therefore a need to provide a lock device having improved strength while maintaining a neat aesthetic appearance and a low cost.

For this purpose, there is provided according to the invention a lock device comprising:

- A barrel having an outer face and a housing opening on the outer face and for receiving a key, a cover arranged to be attached to the outer face of the barrel so as to mask at least part of the outer face and having an opening to allow free access to the housing,

- The cover comprising a recess made in its face arranged in relation to the barrel and the barrel comprising a guide flange arranged to be housed at least partially in the recess so as to define a guide for the key inside the barrel. recess.

The barrel thus provides a guide that extends inside the recess of the cache. The dimension of the guidance provided by the barrel is thus increased and the size of the cache that is accessible by the key is significantly reduced. A torque exerted on the key along an axis substantially perpendicular to the direction of insertion of the key thus generates a lever effect bearing on the guiding rim of the barrel. The key does not therefore leverage the cache. The latter therefore remains attached to the barrel.

However, in the context of the design of the invention, it has been found that in existing devices the handling of the key often generates a torque perpendicular to the direction of insertion on the inner walls of the cache guiding the key. This torque leverages the cache and easily causes its extraction even involuntary.

Therefore, the invention strengthens the holding of the cache on the barrel while maintaining a neat aesthetic appearance and a limited cost.

The device according to the invention may furthermore optionally include at least any of the following features:

- The housing defines an axis of insertion of the key and at least one main direction around which the user is able to perform a lever movement with the key and which the guide flange having surfaces forming a stop of the part and another of said main direction. By conforming the guide flange so that the key is guided by the barrel on either side of the main direction, it avoids any support of the key on the cover on both sides of this direction when a movement Leverage is applied to the key according to this main direction. This feature makes it possible to further improve the behavior of the cover on the cylinder even in the event of leverage. Advantageously, the guide flange forms a stop for the key regardless of the direction around which the key is rotated by the user and which is perpendicular to the direction of insertion.

- The guide flange extends longitudinally inside the housing beyond the outer face of the barrel to form a guide surface. This increases the guidance of the key at the beginning of insertion.

- The guide flange defines an inner periphery whose dimensions are substantially smaller than that of the opening of the cache. Thus, it further reduces the risk that the key bears against the cover and disengages the latter from the barrel by leverage effect.

- The guide flange and the recess have substantially complementary profiles. This improves the accuracy of positioning and enhance the stability of the cache on the barrel.

- The cover comprises at least one clipping lug for insertion into a cavity carried by the barrel to ensure the maintenance of the cache on the barrel. Thus the cover is easily mounted on the barrel. Preferably there are two clipping tabs disposed on either side of the axis of the housing.

- The housing defines an insertion axis of the key and the cavity extending from the housing in a radial plane to said axis. This characteristic makes it possible in particular to reduce the difficulty and the cost of obtaining the cavity.

- The cavity and the clipping lug are arranged so that the clipping lug does not protrude inside the housing. This reduces the risk that the key bears only on the cache and exerts on the latter a leverage effect.

- The guide flange is configured to form an abutment surface within the housing, this abutment surface being radially disposed forward of the clipping lug.

- The housing defines an insertion axis of the key and at least one main direction around which the user is able to perform a lever movement with the key, the cache comprising two clipping lugs each associated with a cavity, the two cavities being disposed relative to each other symmetrically with respect to said axis and unsymmetrically with respect to said main direction. Thus, in any plane parallel to the axis of the dwelling and perpendicular to the principal direction, the rim of guiding guiding the key at least on one side of the axis of the housing. In any of these plans the key is guided on both sides of the axis by the cache. The risks of removing the cover by leveraging are therefore limited. In addition, the clipping tabs are symmetrically distributed which facilitates the handling of the cover and provides a good distribution of the retaining force.

- The device is arranged so that the transmission of force between the cover and the barrel in a longitudinal direction is effected by contact between the bottom of the recess of the cover and the guide flange of the barrel. In an alternative embodiment, the transmission of force between the cover and the barrel in a longitudinal direction is effected by contact between the inner face of the cover and the outer face of the barrel.

- The barrel is in zamak. The cover is made of plastic, at least partially covered with chrome.

The invention further relates to a bolt assembly formed by a device according to any one of the preceding features and by a complementary key of the barrel. Advantageously, the key has a radius of curvature greater than the thickness of the border defining the opening of the cache. Thus, when the end of the key is disposed at the entrance of the opening formed by the cover and a rotation is applied to the key along an axis parallel to that defining the radius of curvature of the end of the key, then the end of the key slides on the edge of the opening of the cache without dragging it with it. The cache remains in place on the barrel. Therefore, even when the key is out of the guiding flange, the risk of removal of the cache lever effect is reduced.

The invention also relates to a lock comprising such a barrel.

Also provided according to the invention is a storage compartment such as a glove box or such a tool storage compartment equipped with a device according to any of the preceding features.

According to another object of the invention, there is also provided an airbag passenger safety system, usually designated airbag, whose activation and deactivation are controlled by a lock comprising a device according to any one of the preceding characteristics. Other features, objects and advantages of the present invention will appear on reading the detailed description which follows and with reference to the appended drawings, given by way of non-limiting examples and in which:

- Figure 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary device according to the invention, the cover and the cylinder being assembled.

- Figure 2 is a perspective view of the example illustrated in Figure 1 in which the cover and the barrel are not assembled.

- Figure 3 is another perspective view of the example illustrated in Figure 1 in which the cover and the barrel are not assembled.

- Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the device illustrated in Figure 1 and wherein a key is inserted in a first position.

- Figure 5 is a view similar to that of Figure 4 wherein a key is inserted in a second position.

- Figure 6 is a view similar to that of Figure 4 in which a key is inserted in a third position.

FIG. 7 is a view along section YY of the device illustrated in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a view in section QQ of the device illustrated in FIG. 1. Referring to FIGS. 1 to 8, an example of a device according to the invention will now be detailed.

The device comprises a cylinder 100 and a cover 200. The cylinder 100 comprises a housing 102 accessible from the outside and intended to receive a key insert. The housing 102 defines an axis 103 for insertion of the key 300. A longitudinal direction is then designated a direction parallel to this axis 103 and radial direction or radial plane a direction or a plane perpendicular to this axis 103.

The cover 200 has an outer face 202 intended to remain visible by the user as well as an inner face 201 to be arranged facing an outer face of the cylinder 104.

An opening 203 is made in the cover 200 to allow free access to the housing 102 when the cover 200 is mounted on cylinder 100. Preferably, the cover 200 almost completely covers the outer face 104 of the cylinder 100 as shown in Figure 1 Once the cache 200 assembled on the barrel 100, the latter is thus hidden by the cache 200 in the eyes of the user. Advantageously, one can choose for the barrel material advantageous in terms of robustness and cost without being constrained by aesthetic considerations.

The cover 200 has a recess 205 formed in its inner face 201. This recess 205 extends radially from the opening 203 as shown in Figure 3. It extends substantially around the opening 203.

The barrel 100 comprises a relief extending in a substantially longitudinal direction. This relief forms a guide flange 107 for the insertion of the key 300 into the housing 102. The guide flange 107 extends substantially around the entire periphery of the housing 102 as clearly illustrated in FIG. 2.

Typically, the recess 205 of the cover 200 and the guide flange 107 are arranged so that the latter enters the recess 205 when the cover 200 is assembled on the cylinder 100 so as to prolong the guiding of the key 300 by the cylinder 100 in the longitudinal direction.

The cover 200 is shaped so that its thickness at the opening, i.e. the longitudinal dimension of the edge 204 defining the opening 203 is considerably reduced. This reduction in thickness is clearly shown in FIGS. 4 to 6. It bears the Y-side in FIGS. 4 and 5.

The guide flange 107 defines an inner profile whose dimensions are small enough to provide reliable and easy guiding of the key 300.

Thus, the invention considerably reduces the length on which the key 300 is not guided by the barrel 100. The length over which the key 300 can be brought into contact with the cover 200 only, without being guided by the barrel 100 is therefore reduced. It follows that the invention significantly limits the possibility that the cache 200 is extracted from the cylinder 100 even when the user exerts on the key 300 a rotation axis perpendicular to that of the insertion of the key 300. Indeed, in case of lever movement applied by the user, the key 300 abuts the barrel 100 in a longitudinal plane on either side of this axis of rotation. Cache 200 can not be extracted by leveraging. Advantageously, the guide flange 107 extends longitudinally towards the inside of the housing 102 to define a guide surface 108. The guide of the key 300 in the inlet of the housing 102 thus has a longitudinal dimension substantially longer than the relief formed by the guiding rim 107 beyond the outer face 104 of the cylinder 100. The guiding surface 108 appears clearly in FIGS. 2 and 4 to 6. Beyond this guide surface 108, at least one surface of guide 101 provided inside the housing ensures the guiding of the key 300 when the latter is widely inserted into the barrel 100.

The cover 200 and the cylinder 100 comprise securing means.

Advantageously, these securing means comprise clipping means facilitating the maintenance of the cover 200 on the barrel 100. In the example illustrated, the cover 200 comprises two clipping lugs 207, each intended to be housed in a cavity 106 carried by the barrel 100. Preferably, each of the cavities 106 extends radially from the housing 102 which facilitates their obtaining and reduces the cost of the barrel. This configuration therefore interrupts the guide flange 107 at the level of the cavities 106.

Each of the clipping lugs 207 has a shaped head to cooperate with a complementary surface 109 carried by the barrel so as to oppose the disengagement of the cover and the barrel.

Particularly advantageously, the guide flange 107 is arranged to act as a stop for the key 300, regardless of the angular displacement applied to the key in a direction perpendicular to the insertion axis 103. Thus, regardless of this direction, the key 300 does not come into contact with the cover 200 without being supported on the cylinder 100. Any risk of extraction of the cache 200 by leverage is greatly reduced.

As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 7 in particular, the clipping tabs 207 are arranged relative to one another symmetrically with respect to the axis 103 of the housing 102. The retaining force exerted by the clipping lugs 207 is therefore distributed homogeneously. However, these clipping lugs 207 are not arranged symmetrically with respect to the main direction 208 around which the user is likely to exert a lever effort with the key 300. The main direction 208 depends essentially by the radial section of the housing 102. This main direction 208 represents a direction in which the user, by manipulating the key 300, has a strong tendency to drive the latter in rotation, even involuntarily, along an axis perpendicular to the axis 103 insertion. The main direction 208 is illustrated in FIG. 7. This figure clearly shows the non-symmetry of the clipping tabs 207 with respect to this main direction 208.

In this same figure, reference A designates the supports between the span of the key and the guide surface 108. These supports serve as a guide for the key. They also act as a stop for the key, especially when a rotation of axis parallel to the main direction 208 is applied to the key 300.

One can provide a contact between the clipping tabs and the key as shown in reference B. The clipping tabs 207 may have a certain flexibility and any force applied by the key 300 on the clipping tabs 207 is transmitted to the barrel 100 via the guide surface 108, possibly after a slight deformation of the clipping lugs 207. Thus in the position illustrated in Figures 4 and 7, the key 300, although not inserted, is already guided by the cylinder 100. It can not do not lean on the cover and pry it out of the barrel.

In the position illustrated in Figure 5, the key 300 is largely inserted into the housing 102. Its end is then guided by the guide surfaces 101 carried by the interior of the housing 102. This guidance is provided over a large length which prevents any significant angular deflection of the key 300 along an axis perpendicular to that of the housing. The key 300 does not rely on the cache 200. Any risk of removing the cache 200 by leverage is therefore removed.

In the position illustrated in FIG. 6, the end of the key 300 is not inserted into the guide flange 107. Advantageously, the end of the key 300 has a radius of curvature that is less than the thickness of the cover. 200 at the opening. The radius of curvature and the thickness of the cover are respectively the ribs X and Y in FIG. 5. More precisely, an angular displacement exerted on the key 300 along an axis parallel to the axis of the circle defining the radius of curvature of the key has the effect of sliding the curved end of the key on the edge 204 of the opening. Preferably, a slight chamfer or a rounding is provided between the edge 204 of the opening and the outer face of the cover 202. This facilitates the sliding of the key relative to the cover. The key 300 then disengages automatically and does not cause the cache 200 with it.

Preferably, the clipping lugs 207 and the cavities 106 are shaped so that the lugs do not form or protrude slightly inside the housing 102.

Preferably, pads 206 extending from the internal face 201 of the cap 200 and intended to cooperate with orifices 105 made in the barrel 100 are also provided. The pads 206 have the function of preventing any rotation of the cap 200 relative to each other. to the barrel 100 about the insertion axis 103.

For this purpose, they are substantially distant from the insertion axis 103. In addition, they contribute to positioning and maintaining the position of the cache 200.

Advantageously, two pads 206 of substantially square section are provided. These pads 206 are distributed symmetrically with respect to the insertion axis 103.

In a preferred manner, the guide flange 107 also extends around the periphery of the orifices 105.

According to a particular embodiment, the transmission of forces between the cover 200 and the barrel 100 is effected by a contact between the bottom of the recess 205 of the cover 200 and the guide flange 107. According to an alternative embodiment, this transmission of forces is effected by a contact between the inner face 201 of the cover and the outer face 104 of the cylinder 100.

Preferably, the barrel 100 is zamak or any other material having a low cost and good strength. The cover 200 is in turn plastic covered with a light layer of chromium. It therefore induces a limited cost while presenting a neat aesthetic appearance.

The invention is not limited to the previously described embodiments but extends to any variant within its spirit.

In particular, it is possible to vary the number and arrangement of the guide tabs and / or pads. In addition, it can be provided that the outer face of the barrel is limited to a narrow peripheral periphery such as a bearing flange, and that the guide flange extends from the housing to this peripheral periphery.

The cover can be one-piece or formed of several parts. REFERENCES

100. Barrel

101. Guide surface

102. Housing

103. Axis

104. Outer side of the barrel

105. Orifice

106. Cavity

107. Guide rail

108. Scope of guidance

109. Complementary surface

200. Cache

201. Internal side of the cache

202. External face of the cache

203. Opening

204. Border

205. Of course

206. Plot

207. Clipping tab

208. Main direction

300. Key

Claims

A vehicle latch device comprising:

- a barrel (100) having an outer face (104) and a housing (102) opening on the outer face and for receiving a key (300),

- a cover (200) arranged to be attached to the outer face (104) of the barrel (100) so as to mask at least part of the outer face (104) and having an opening (203) to allow free access to the housing (102),

characterized in that the cover (200) comprises a recess (205) formed in its face disposed opposite the barrel (100) and the barrel (100) comprises a guide flange (107) arranged to be housed at least partly in the recess (205) so as to define a guide for the key (300) within the recess (205).

2. Device according to the preceding claim wherein the housing (102) defines an axis (103) of insertion of the key (300) and at least one main direction (208) around which the user is likely to perform a lever movement with the key (300) and wherein the guide flange (107) has key stop surfaces on either side of said main direction (208).

3. Device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the guide flange (107) extends longitudinally inside the housing (102) beyond the outer face (104) of the barrel (100) to form a guide surface (108).

4. Device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the guide flange (107) and the recess (205) have substantially complementary profiles.

5. Device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the cover (200) comprises at least one clipping lug (207) for insertion into a cavity (106) carried by the barrel (100) to ensure maintaining the cover (200) on the barrel (100).

6. Device according to the preceding claim wherein the housing (102) defines an axis (103) of insertion of the key (300) and wherein, in a radial plane to said axis (103), the cavity (106) s' extends from the housing (102).

7. Device according to the preceding claim wherein the cavity (106) and the clipping lug (207) are arranged so that the clipping lug (207) does not protrude inside the housing.

8. Device according to any one of the two preceding claims wherein the guide flange (107) is shaped so as to form an abutment surface inside the housing (102), the abutment surface being radially disposed forwardly. the clipping tab (207).

9. Device according to any one of the four preceding claims wherein the housing (102) defines an axis (103) of insertion of the key (300) and at least one main direction (208) around which the user is capable of making a lever movement with the key (300) and wherein the cover (200) comprises two clipping tabs (207) each associated with a cavity (106), the two cavities (106) being arranged one by relative to each other symmetrically with respect to said axis (103) and unsymmetrically with respect to said main direction (208).

10. Device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the barrel (100) is zamak and the cover (200) is partially at least chromium-coated plastic.

11. An assembly formed by the device according to any one of the preceding claims and by a complementary key of the barrel.

12. Assembly according to the preceding claim wherein the end of the key has a radius of curvature greater than the thickness of the edge

(204) defining the opening (203) of the cover (200).

13. Vehicle storage compartment or vehicle airbag comprising a lock device according to any of claims 1 to 10.