Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
  • H01H13/00—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch
  • H01H13/02—Details
  • H01H13/04—Cases; Covers
  • H01H13/06—Dustproof, splashproof, drip-proof, waterproof or flameproof casings
  • H01H13/063—Casings hermetically closed by a diaphragm through which passes an actuating member
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
  • E05B—LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS
  • E05B81/00—Power-actuated vehicle locks
  • E05B81/54—Electrical circuits
  • E05B81/64—Monitoring or sensing, e.g. by using switches or sensors
  • E05B81/76—Detection of handle operation; Detection of a user approaching a handle; Electrical switching actions performed by door handles
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
  • E05B—LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS
  • E05B83/00—Vehicle locks specially adapted for particular types of wing or vehicle
  • E05B83/16—Locks for luggage compartments, car boot lids or car bonnets
  • E05B83/18—Locks for luggage compartments, car boot lids or car bonnets for car boot lids or rear luggage compartments
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
  • H01H3/00—Mechanisms for operating contacts
  • H01H3/02—Operating parts, i.e. for operating driving mechanism by a mechanical force external to the switch
  • H01H3/12—Push-buttons
  • H01H3/122—Push-buttons with enlarged actuating area, e.g. of the elongated bar-type; Stabilising means therefor
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
  • H01H2231/00—Applications
  • H01H2231/026—Car

Definitions

• the present invention relates to an electric switch for opening a motor vehicle, such as a side door, a rear door trunk or rear hatch.
• the electrical switch opens the door, after unlocking the lock through the corresponding closure; manually or activated with the vehicle's remote control opening or vehicle owner's hands-free recognition system.
• Electric opening switches are known for a motor vehicle opening comprising a module closed by a membrane, the module being provided with mounting means on the frame of a side door or a rear door of the vehicle.
• the module comprises a mechanical subassembly comprising an actuating lever fixed under said membrane and an electrical subassembly comprising a microswitch connected to metal terminals.
• the lever is movable between two positions, a rest position and a switching position in which it engages said microswitch when the user presses on the membrane.
• the lever returns to its initial rest position by means of elastic return means when the pressure stops, the engagement of the microswitch causing the opening of the lock.
• the area between the mechanical subassembly and the electrical subassembly may have an insufficient sealing level, providing entry doors for moisture, water or dust from outside the vehicle. and may damage electrical circuits. The switches then lose their proper functioning.
• the present invention therefore aims to at least partially solve the problems of the state of the art by providing a robust electrical switch that has a better seal.
• the subject of the invention is an electric switch for a door or rear hanger of a motor vehicle comprising:
• an actuating lever of said microswitch said actuating lever being movable between two positions, a rest position and a switching position in which it actuates said microswitch,
• the circumferential seal at the area between the operating lever and the microswitch provides an electrical switch that is watertight, moisture or dust-proof from the outside of the vehicle. .
• the seal has an elastic peripheral end cooperating with a complementary appendix of said actuating lever in said resting and switching positions of said actuating lever.
• the elastic properties of the seal then allow it to deform and retain the sealing properties in both positions of the actuating lever.
• Said elastic peripheral end has for example the shape of a tube and said appendix has a complementary cylindrical shape s' inserting into an opening of said tube.
• Said elastic peripheral end has a bulge projecting at said opening of said tube to said complementary appendage.
• Said opening of said tube has for example a diameter smaller than the diameter of said complementary appendix.
• the seal is assembled on the actuating lever forcing a little during the introduction of the lever in the seal.
• the end of the tube is then slightly compressed by this overlap, so that the area between the microswitch and the lever is made perfectly tight against water, moisture or dust.
• the elastic return means of the actuating lever in the rest position is formed by the compression of the seal.
• the return means of the mechanical subassembly is thus provided by the seal. It is thus possible to dispense with having springs between the base and the actuating lever.
• Said complementary appendix may comprise means for guiding and holding said peripheral end.
• Said guiding and holding means may comprise an annular groove receiving said peripheral end.
• the outer wall of the end of the tube is held by the inner wall of the annular groove. In case of expansion of the tube, it is thus ensured that the diameter of the opening remains smaller than the external diameter of the complementary appendage so that the seal remains compressed against the complementary appendix and retains good sealing properties.
• said seal is at least partially overmolded.
• Said seal comprises for example a thermoplastic material, such as a TPE-S elastomer.
• Elastomers have the advantage of strongly adhering to hard plastics, which consequently makes it possible to obtain a good seal.
• the pressures used in the injection machines are lower, which reduces the risk of deterioration of the switch during manufacture.
• Said seal may be overmoulded on said microswitch to form a cover of the connector of said microswitch. These are then perfectly protected. Said seal then comprises a cover and at least one lateral chimney for connecting said cover to said peripheral end elastic, made in one piece by overmoulding in a single injection step.
• the electrical switch can be arranged in any orientation, both vertically and horizontally.
• FIG. 1 represents a sectional view of an electrical switch in the rest position
• FIG. 2 represents a view similar to FIG. 1 in which the electrical switch is activated in the switching position by a user
• FIG. 3A represents a perspective view from below of an electrical subassembly
• FIG. 3B represents a sectional view of the electrical subassembly of FIG. 3A
• FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a micro-switch connected to electrical terminals
• FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the electrical subassembly of FIG. 3A and of a disassembled operating lever.
• Figure 1 shows an electric switch 1 to be mounted on the frame of a motor vehicle door, such as a side door, a trunk door or rear hatch.
• the switch 1 can be disposed above the bumper in the case of a rear door electric door switch, for example in an upper part of an extension of the plastic part of the bumper.
• the electrical switch 1 causes the opening of the door, after unlocking the lock through the corresponding closure; manually or distance activated with the remote control of opening of the vehicle or hands-free system of recognition of the owner of the vehicle.
• the electrical switch 1 comprises a mechanical subassembly 2 and an electrical subassembly 3.
• the electrical subassembly 3 comprises a connector 4 and a microswitch 5.
• the micro-switch 5 is connected, for example by welding, to electrical terminals 6 (FIG. 4).
• the micro-switch 5 and the electrical terminals 6 are housed in the electrical connector 4.
• the connector 4 is intended to be connected to the electrical circuits arranged inside the vehicle.
• the electrical terminals 6 comprise, for example, connection pins at their ends.
• the connection pins then provide the function of a male connector capable of coupling to a suitable female connector.
• the mechanical subassembly 2 comprises a base 7, an actuating lever 8 of the microswitch 5, a flexible control membrane 9 and a return means of the actuating lever 8.
• the base 7 is closed by the flexible control membrane 9.
• the control membrane 9 is made accessible from the outside of the vehicle to activate the actuating lever 8.
• the mechanical and electrical subassemblies 2, 3 further include assembly means 10a, 10b, 10c cooperating to secure the subassemblies 2, 3 between them.
• the connector 4 has a slide 10a and lateral hooks 10b to cooperate with a complementary rib 10c carried by the base 7.
• the actuating lever 8 has the shape of a pallet 8a having a central leg 8b.
• the tip 8c of the central leg 8b is arranged axially at the microswitch 5.
• the control membrane 9 is fixed on a central portion of the pallet 8a, outside, leaving unfixed areas 11 at the periphery of the part to be able to be deformed during an order.
• the support on the control membrane 9 by the user 12 thus makes it possible to controlling the displacement of the operating lever 8 over a predefined stroke C, for example of the order of 1.5 to 2 mm, between a rest position ( Figure 1) and a switching position ( Figure 2).
• the lever 8 In the rest position (FIG. 1), the lever 8 does not actuate the microswitch 5.
• the actuating lever 8 and the base 7 are spaced apart from the predefined travel path C.
• the actuating lever 8 comprises for example assembly arms 13 cooperating with corresponding housing 14 of the base 7. There is for example an assembly arm 13 from and other of the central foot 8b of the actuating lever 8.
• Each connecting arm 13 has an axis capable of sliding axially in an associated hole of the housing 14.
• the axis is terminated by a hook adapted to cooperate with a corresponding abutment around said orifice, at the end of the housing 14 of the base 7 in the rest position ( Figure 1), so as to hold the lever 8 in the base 7 when it is biased by the biasing means.
• the switching position in which the lever 8 has traveled the predefined stroke C, the assembly arms 13 have slid into the housing 14 until the pallet 8a is in abutment on the base 7.
• the electric switch 1 further comprises a gasket 15 between the microswitch 5 and the actuating lever 8, the gasket 15 being configured to seal between the microswitch 5 and the lever. actuation 8 in the two positions of the actuating lever 8.
• the seal 15 has for example an elastic peripheral end 15b cooperating with a complementary appendage carried by the tip 8c of the actuating lever 8 in the rest and switching positions of the actuating lever 8.
• the control membrane 9 is deformed and the actuating lever 8 moves towards the top in the figures, the displacement stroke C against the support 7 and the micro-switch 5 deforming the seal 15.
• the displacement of the tip 8c of the lever 8 against the micro - switch 5 activates the micro-switch 5 by closing the electrical circuit, which allows the opening of the opening.
• the elastic return means move the activation lever 8 to its initial position (FIG. 1).
• the elastic properties of the seal 15 allow it to deform and retain the sealing properties in both positions of the actuating lever 8.
• the seal 15 peripheral to the area between the actuating lever 8 and the microswitch 5 then provides an electrical switch 1 waterproof, moisture or dust from outside the vehicle.
• the seal 15 is at least partially overmolded.
• the plastic used for overmolding is a "soft" plastic. It comprises for example a thermoplastic material, such as a TPE-S elastomer.
• the base 7, the actuating lever 8 and the electrical connector 4, for example are molded from a "hard” plastic, for example polypropylene.
• Elastomers have the advantage of strongly adhering to hard plastics, such as polypropylene, which consequently makes it possible to obtain a good seal.
• the pressures used in the injection machines are lower, which reduces the risk of deterioration of the switch during manufacture.
• the seal 15 is at least partially overmolded on the microswitch 5 to form a cover 15a of the micro-switch 5 connection where the electrical terminals 6 are connected. These are therefore protected.
• the seal 15 is completely made by a single overmolding step.
• the seal 15 comprising the lid 15a, the side chimneys 15d and the elastic peripheral end 15d is thus made in one piece, the injection of the overmolding taking place by the lid 15a, then by side chimneys 15d on either side of the micro-switch 5, to finish at the elastic peripheral end 15b.
• the electrical switch 1 can be arranged in any orientation, both vertically and horizontally.
• the base 7 is made of another hard plastic, such as polyamide 66 loaded with 30% glass fibers.
• the seal 15 does not overmold the base 7.
• the elastic peripheral end 15b has the shape of a tube ( Figure 3A) and the appendix has a complementary cylindrical shape s' inserting in an opening 15c of the tube.
• the elastic peripheral end 15b forms a bulge projecting at the opening 15c to the complementary appendage of the tip 8c ( Figure 3B).
• the opening 15c of the tube has a diameter d of dimension smaller than the diameter D of the complementary appendage (FIG. 5).
• the seal 15 is assembled on the actuating lever 8 by forcing a little during the introduction of the lever 8 into the seal 15.
• the end of the tube 15b is then compressed by this overlap, so that the area between the microswitch 5 and the tip of the lever 8c is made perfectly tight against water, moisture or dust.
• the elastic return means of the operating lever 8 in the rest position is formed by the compression of the seal 15.
• the force required to activate the electrical switch 1 is significantly reduced and has a reduced better reproducibility.
• the means of recall of the subset Mechanical 2 is thus provided by the seal 15. It can thus be dispensed with having springs between the base 7 and the actuating lever 8.
• a spring 16 may be placed on each side of the central leg 8b of the lever 8. For example, a first end of the spring 16 is received and fixed in a housing 17 of the pallet 8a of the actuating lever 8 and a second end of the spring 16 is fixed to a pin 18 of the base 7. It is thus clear that the springs 16 are expanded in the rest position ( Figure 1) and compressed in the switching position ( Figure 2).
• the complementary appendix of the tip 8c may comprise means for guiding and holding the peripheral end of the tube 15b.
• the guiding and holding means thus comprises an annular groove 19 receiving the peripheral end 15b.
• the annular groove 19 is formed inside by the side walls of the appendix of the nozzle 8c and outside by a cylindrical rim.
• the electric switch 1 thus obtained is therefore more robust, has a very high degree of tightness.

Landscapes

• Push-Button Switches (AREA)
• Switch Cases, Indication, And Locking (AREA)
• Lock And Its Accessories (AREA)

Priority Applications (4)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=41404207

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (6)

Families Citing this family (5)

Citations (8)

Family Cites Families (6)

• 2009
  • 2009-07-29 EP EP09382126.2A patent/EP2282316B1/fr not_active Not-in-force
• 2010
  • 2010-07-23 JP JP2012522122A patent/JP2013500561A/ja active Pending
  • 2010-07-23 BR BR112012000347-0A patent/BR112012000347B1/pt active IP Right Grant
  • 2010-07-23 KR KR1020127002241A patent/KR101779219B1/ko not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2010-07-23 WO PCT/EP2010/060751 patent/WO2011012556A1/fr not_active Ceased
  • 2010-07-23 IN IN1211DEN2012 patent/IN2012DN01211A/en unknown

Patent Citations (8)

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