WO2014001500A1

WO2014001500A1 - Key having a retractable insert

Info

Publication number: WO2014001500A1
Application number: PCT/EP2013/063620
Authority: WO
Inventors: Benoît DELANDE; Karim NAMAR; Ahmed El Abidi
Original assignee: Valeo Securite Habitacle
Priority date: 2012-06-29
Filing date: 2013-06-28
Publication date: 2014-01-03
Also published as: FR2992673B1; FR2992673A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a key, in particular for a motor vehicle, comprising: a housing (3) having a lower half-shell (3a) and an upper half-shell (3b); an insert (5, 7) pivotably mounted, relative to said housing (3), between a rest position, in which the insert (5, 7) is retracted inside said housing (3), and a use position, in which the insert (5, 7) is extended relative to said housing (3); and a mechanism for extending the insert (5, 7), which is mounted in the housing (3) and which includes: a push button (19) axially accommodated in an associated recess (21) of the upper half-shell (3a) and projecting relative to said upper half-shell (3a) in order to be actuated by a user; an element (23) for elastically returning the insert (5, 7), the first end (23a) of which is connected to the insert (5, 7) so as to urge the insert (5, 7) to pivot toward said use position when the push button (19) is actuated, characterized in that: the push button (19) comprises a retaining projection (49) and the insert (5, 7) includes at least one notch (53) in which the retaining projection (49) is inserted when the insert (5, 7) is in the rest position, the notches (51) releasing the retaining projection (49) when the push button (19) is actuated; and either the push button (19) or the insert (5, 7) includes teeth (55) that point radially outward so as to form a toothing, while the other includes a plurality of pawls forming, together with the toothing, a means for rotatably blocking the insert, releasing said insert (5, 7) when the push button (19) is actuated.

Description

Key with retractable insert

The present invention relates to a key comprising a housing and an insert which itself comprises the bit of the key, retractable in said housing, in particular for a motor vehicle.

Key structures forming a box with a retractable mechanical insert, in which the insert is pivotally mounted between a rest position, in which the insert is retracted into a housing inside the housing, and a position of use in which the insert is deployed relative to the housing, have already been proposed.

Such articulation of the insert requires a deployment mechanism of the insert mounted in the housing.

International application WO2010023294 shows such a mechanism. In particular, there is shown a deployment mechanism mounted between an upper half-shell forming a cover and a lower half-shell forming a housing bottom comprising:

- A push button received axially in an associated housing of the upper half-shell and projecting from the upper half-shell to be actuated by a user, said push button being connected to the insert and comprising a locking means by relative to the housing and allowing the locking of the insert in the rest position and in the use position, and an elastic return element of the insert for biasing said insert pivotally towards its position of use when the push button is actuated.

When the user actuates the push button, the connection between the push button and the insert is broken, which allows the latter to pivot towards its position of use since nothing hinders its rotation under the effect of the rotational force applied to it by the elastic return element.

The connection of the insert to the push button is in particular provided by a holding projection which cooperates with notches in the insert to fix said insert in rotation relative to the push button. When forces are applied to the insert, the holding projection can be deformed, which results in a greater or lesser game of the insert when it is in one of the positions of rest or use.

This game is inevitably perceived by the user as a sign of lower quality, or fatigue of the material, and offers a power take-off for efforts that could damage the key.

In order to at least partially overcome the aforementioned defects, the invention relates to a key, particularly for a motor vehicle, comprising: a housing with a lower half-shell and an upper half-shell,

an insert pivotally mounted relative to said housing between a rest position in which the insert is retracted into said housing and a position of use, in which the insert is deployed relative to said housing, a deployment mechanism of the insert mounted in the housing, comprising:

a push button received axially in an associated housing of the upper half-shell and protruding with respect to the half-shell superior to be operated by a user,

an elastic return element of the insert, a first end of which is connected to the insert for biasing the insert pivotally towards said use position when the push button is actuated, characterized in that:

the push button has a retaining projection and the insert comprises at least one notch in which the retaining projection engages when the insert is in the rest position, the notches releasing the retaining projection when the push button is actuated,

- The push button and the insert comprise one of the teeth pointing radially outwardly, so as to form a toothing, the other a plurality of notches forming with the toothing a rotational locking means of the insert, releasing said insert when the push button is actuated.

Such a key can undergo greater stress on its insert without suffering damage due to better dissipation of said efforts by the teeth engaged with the notches.

This key may furthermore have one or more of the following features, taken alone or in combination.

The push button has the teeth and the insert has the notches or, conversely, the push button has the notches and the insert has the teeth.

The insert comprises two notches cooperating respectively with the at least one retaining projection when the insert is in the deployed and retracted position and the push button is not actuated.

The insert moves from the rest position to the position of use and vice versa by rotating a half-turn, the two notches are the image one of the other by rotating a half turn about the axis of rotation and the push button has two holding projections, image of one another by rotating a half turn around the axis of rotation. rotation of the insert cooperating with the two notches.

The teeth and the one or more holding projections are located on the vertices of a regular polygon.

The teeth and the at least one retaining projection are disposed on the same annular portion of the skirt of the push button.

The teeth are triangular in shape.

The teeth are in the form of involute circle. Other features and advantages of the invention will emerge more clearly on reading the following description, given by way of illustrative and nonlimiting example, and the appended drawings among which: FIG. 1a represents a key according to the invention, FIG. 1b represents the upper half-shell of the key housing of FIG. 1a; FIG. 1c shows an exploded view of the key of FIG. 1a; FIG. 2a represents a push-button for the key of FIG. FIG. 2b is a bottom view of the push button of FIG. 2a, FIG. 3a shows a bit carrier for the key of FIG. 1a; FIG. 3b is a top view of the bit support of FIG. FIG. 3c is a sectional view of the bit carrier of FIG. 3a, FIG. 3d is a partially side view of the bit carrier of the FIG. FIG. 3a, FIG. 4 is a view from above of the support of FIGS. 3a to 3d, with a push button and mounted on an upper half-shell, FIG. 5 is an exploded view of a key whose lower half-shell FIG. 6 is a top view of part of a second key embodiment according to the invention.

The key 1 shown in Figures la to the comprises: a housing 3 forming a key head, - an insert 5, 7 comprising a bit holder 5 and a bit 7 secured to the support 5, and a deployment mechanism of the insert 5, 7 relative to the housing 3 to allow the insert 5, 7 to move between:

A rest position (FIG. 1a) in which the insert 5, 7 is retracted into the casing 3 in a recess 9 provided inside the casing 3, for example in a substantially L-shaped shape corresponding to the shape of the casing, insert 5, 7, and

• a position of use (Figure la), wherein the insert 5, 7 is deployed relative to the housing 3 to be inserted into a lock. In the illustrated example, the housing 3 is made in two parts in the form of an upper half-shell 3a forming a lid and a lower half-shell 3b forming a bottom of the housing, these two half-shells 3a, 3b being able to be assembled for example by clipping. A seal (not shown) can be disposed between the two half-shells 3a, 3b to protect the interior of the housing 3 against the external environment, in particular against moisture or dust. One can still provide a decorative belt (not shown) disposed between the two half-shells 3a, 3b to embellish the assembly. The key 1 can also combine a mechanical key and an electronic key.

In this case, a printed circuit board (not shown) is disposed in the housing 3. This board carries the remote control electronic circuits for central locking / unlocking of the vehicle doors, and a transponder (not shown) for the anti-theft system of the vehicle and a battery (not shown) for the remote control function. This remote control function is operated by the operator by means of actuating buttons 11 provided on the upper half-shell 3a. A cover 13 may be disposed in the housing 3 to conceal the electrical or electronic components of the remote control housing 3. In addition, the support 5 comprises two opposite ends 5a, 5b whose end 5a carries the bit 7. For this, one end 7a of the bit 7 may be fitted into a complementary housing (not shown) at the end. 5a of the support 5. The support assembly 5 / bit 7 is held fixed for example by a pin (not shown) passing through holes 17 formed on the support 5 and the bit 7. Of course, the blade 7 can be fixed to the support 5 by any other appropriate means. Generally, the insert 5, 7 is made of metal, zamak alloy type.

Furthermore, the deployment mechanism of the insert 5, 7 comprises: a push button 19 received in an associated housing 21 of the upper half-shell 3a and passing through an orifice 6 of the support 5, the push button 19 protruding from the upper half-shell 3a so as to be accessible to a user so that he can operate this push button 19 to deploy the insert 5, 7, an elastic return member 23 fixed by a first end 23a to the insert 5.7 and a second end 23b to an element locked in rotation relative to the housing 3, to bias the insert 5.7 pivotally to the position of use when the push button 19 is actuated. This return element 23 is for example a helical torsion spring.

The push button 19 is shown in Figures 2a and 2b, once from above, the protruding portion pointed towards the observer, and once from below, said protruding portion pointed at the opposite.

When the push button 19 is actuated by the user, said push button 19 is driven in axial translation along the longitudinal axis A in the support 5. In order to prevent the push button 19 from abutting against the wall bottom of the support 5 at the end of the stroke, one can provide a stop means of the push button 19. This stop means may comprise a stop pin formed in the support 5 on which the push button 19 comes into contact in the end stroke, so that the translational movement of the push button 19 is stopped before the latter reaches the bottom wall of the support 5.

In the example illustrated in Figure 1c, the support 5 has at its bottom a recess, for example in a circular arc greater than 180 °, and the stop means comprises a stop pin 15 (Figure 1) of material with the lower half-shell 3b and inserted into the support 5 at this arc. This stop pin 15 further has a recess for defining a surface 15a contact with the push button 19 at the end of the race. In addition, the push button 19 comprises means for locking in rotation said push button 19 relative to the housing 3. This locking means forms a guide of the push button 19 in axial translation along the longitudinal axis A of the push button 19 and is made in one piece with the push button 19.

Thus, it is the push button 19 which allows both to engage the deployment mechanism, to guide the push button 19 in translation, and to lock in rotation the push button 19. In the illustrated example, this means of Guide blocking comprises at least one guide pin 25 projecting outwardly from the outer surface of the pushbutton 19.

It can be provided that the push button 19 comprises two diametrically opposed guide pins 25 or three regularly distributed guide pins 25 for optimized translation guidance. Referring to Figures 3a and 3b, each guide pin 25 cooperates with a corresponding notch 27 provided at the housing 21 on the upper half-shell 3a to guide the push button 19 in translation relative to the housing 3 along the axis A and to immobilize the push button 19 in rotation relative to the housing 3. Thus, taking into account the height of the guide lugs 25 or first tenons and the extra thickness vis-à-vis the upper shell, these tenons remain engaged in the notches 27 or first cavities and the button 19 remains locked in rotation by connection with the upper shell 3a.

The return member 23 is fixed by its second end 23b to the push button 19 and stable in rotation (Figure 1a) without the need for an intermediate piece between the push button 19 and the return member 23 of the deployment mechanism. For this purpose, as can be seen in FIG. 2b, the push-button 19 has a hollow interior space 20 for housing the second end 23b of the return element 23.

More specifically, two first parallel fingers 29 are formed in the bottom of the push button 19 and extend towards the second end 23b of the return element 23 to receive this second end 23b. In this case, the second end 23b extends back inside the return element 23. The first fingers 29 thus make it possible to block the second end 23b with respect to the push button 19 and thus to block the second end 23b in rotation relative to the upper half-shell 3a of the housing 3.

In addition, to urge the insert 5, 7 pivotally, the return element 23 is preferably fixed by its first end 23a to the support 5. Thus, the spring has its lower end locked in rotation on the yoke or support of the insert, inserted into a groove arranged on the bottom of the latter, and its upper end locked in rotation at the bottom of the button on its closed wall. In said rest position, it is thus prestressed in torsion.

To do this, as can be seen in FIGS. 3a to 3d, the support 5 may comprise a hollow pin 31 for housing the first end 23a of the return element 23 at the bottom wall 33 of the support 5. This pin 31 is for example connected to an inner side wall 35 of the support 5 by a radial bridge 37 and can be made of material.

In addition, there may be two parallel second fingers 39 formed inside the pin 31 which extend towards the first end 23a of the return element 23 to receive the first end 23a. The first end 23a also extends back inside the return member 23. Thus, the second fingers 39 block the first end 23a relative to the pin 31 of the support 5 pivotally mounted relative to the housing 3, so as to allow the transmission of the restoring force of the return element 23 to the support 5.

In addition, as illustrated in FIGS. 3b and 3c, the pin 31 emerges with respect to the bottom wall 33 of the support 5. An orifice 41 (FIG. 1a) is then provided on the inner wall of the lower half-shell 3b. at the recess 9 for the interlocking of the pin 31 during mounting of the support 5 in the housing 3. As previously described (see FIGS. 1b, 1c), the support 5 is open at its bottom in a circular arc, in which the stud 15 is inserted during the mounting of the support 5 on the lower half-shell 3b. This circular arc is centered on the pivot axis A so that during the pivoting of the support 5, the stop pin 15 circulates in this arc until the radial bridge 37 abuts against this stud stop 15, so as to block the pivoting movement of the support 5.

In addition, for the pivoting guidance of the support 5, the support 5 may further comprise two guide fingers (not shown) on either side of the second end 5b, which, under the effect of the actuation of the push button 19, are respectively guided by a first guide groove 43a formed in the upper half-shell 3a and a second guide groove 43b formed in the lower half-shell 3b (see Figures lb and 1c). These guide grooves 43a, 43b have a generally semicircular shape and are each delimited by two stops 45, 47. Thus, when the guide fingers bear against the stops 45, the insert 5, 7 is in the position of rest, and when the guide fingers are pressed against the stops 47, the insert 5, 7 is in the position of use.

The push button 19 further comprises at least one holding projection 49 of the insert 5, 7 in the rest position, and the support 5 (see FIGS. 3a to 3d) comprises a flange 51. This flange 51 is open to allow the passage of the retaining projection 49 and has a notch 53 (visible in Figure 3a) cooperating with the holding projection 49, so that the retaining projection 49 engages the notch 53 in the rest position and releases the notch 53 when the push button 19 is actuated, so as to allow pivoting of the support 5. In said embodiment, the push button 19 further comprises a holding projection 49 a plurality of teeth 55. These teeth 55 are arranged on an annular portion of the skirt of the pushbutton 19, here the end opposite the emerging portion of the pushbutton 19, and point radially outwardly of the pushbutton 19. The teeth 55 are regularly distributed over the turn of the skirt of said pushbutton 19, so that they form a toothed wheel toothing.

The annular portion of the skirt carrying the teeth 55 is here the same portion as that bearing the holding projection 49, so that said retaining projection 49, of larger size than the teeth 55, occupies the place of at least l one of the teeth 55 on the periphery, equidistant from the teeth 55 previous and next. The assembly comprising the support 5, the bit 7, the push button 19 and the return element 23 form a deployment module of the insert 5, 7. This deployment module is assembled independently of the housing 3.

The teeth 55 are provided in large numbers, typically larger than eight, here in number of eleven. The number of eight allows, considering the materials used (zamak and plastics) and the dimensions involved (a few millimeters for the teeth and notches), a distribution of forces which dissipates the energy in a non-disruptive way for the parts ( flange 51, push button 19). In particular, the teeth 55 and the retaining projection 49 are placed in a pattern corresponding to the vertices of a dodecahedron on the skirt of the push-button 19. More generally, the teeth 55, regardless of their number, and the protrusion 49 are advantageously arranged in a pattern corresponding to the vertices of a regular polygon whose inscribed circle is the skirt of the push button 19.

Figures 4 and 5 show the insert 5 and the push button 19 in the assembled state. Notches 57, in the form of recesses of complementary shape to that of the teeth 55, are placed on the flange 51, in a pattern corresponding to that of the teeth 55. The teeth 55 are, when the push button 19 is not actuated, engaged with said notches 57.

The flange 51 also has a second notch 59, with which the holding projection 49 is engaged when the insert 5, 7 is in the deployed position and the push button 19 is in the rest position (not actuated).

The two notches 53, 59 and the notches 57 are also arranged at the vertices of a regular polygon pattern, here a dodecahedron, whose flange 51 forms the inscribed circle. The two notches 53, 59 are then disposed at opposite ends of said polygon.

When the push button 19 is not actuated and the insert 5, 7 is in the rest position, the teeth 55 are engaged with the notches 57, and the holding projection 49 is engaged with the first notch 53. the user actuates the push button 19, the holding projection 49 and the teeth 55 are translated axially respectively out of the notch 53 and notches 57.

The insert 5, 7 is then subject only to the action of the elastic return element 23, which brings it in the deployed position. In particular, the holding protrusion 49 being different from the teeth 55 by a larger size, the push button 19 does not return to its rest position, the projection 49 resting on the collar 51 until the position of use is reached by the insert 5, 7.

In said position of use the holding projection 49 is brought to the level of the second notch 59 in which it can engage, which allows the push button 19 to return to the rest position, and thus locks the insert 5, 7 in the deployed position.

The teeth 55 and the notches 57 associated may for example have a triangular or involute shape, as is known to achieve for the gears, with advantages in terms of dissipation efforts.

Alternatively, other forms of teeth 55 and complementary notches 57 are possible. In particular, other involutes of curves (hyperbola, parabola, etc.) are possible, as well as other forms (niche, arc of circle, parabola, etc.).

An embodiment not shown provides that the skirt portion of the push button 19 is made in the form of a regular polygon, for example a dodecahedron, the corners of which form the teeth 55. The flange 51 then takes on a complementary shape, so that analogous to an eye key.

In a mechanism resting only on a predefined number N of teeth 55 (thus without the projection 49) disposed on the vertices of a regular polygon, the teeth 55 and the notches 57 are vis-à-vis every 1 / N towers. This means that every 1 / N turns the push button 19 can return to the non-actuated position, the teeth 55 and the notches 57 then entering into engagement, and the rotation is blocked. The user can not release the push button 19 once the insert 5, 7 released until it has arrived in the rest position or use, otherwise the rotation is blocked every 1 / N turns, with N ie number of teeth 55. The presence of the holding projection 49 which engages the notches 53, 59 which are associated with it only when the insert 5, 7 is in the use or rest position makes it possible to avoid jerky or jerky feeling. of the rotation.

In an alternative embodiment (not shown), it is provided that the flange 51 has a single notch 53. The holding projection 49 engages with this notch 53 when the push button 19 is not actuated, and that the insert 5, 7 is in the rest position.

In this embodiment, when the insert 5, 7 is brought under the effect of the elastic return element 23 in the use position (deployed), the holding projection 49 is opposite to the notch 53, and the push button 19 can not go back to the non-actuated position, the insert 5, 7 is then held in the use position by the action of the elastic return element 23.

To return the insert 5, 7 to the rest position, the user folds the insert 5, 7 into the casing 3 by applying a force opposite to that of the elastic return element 23. When the insert 5, 7 is in the rest position, the projection 49 is at the notch 53. Under the effect of the elastic return element 23, the push button 19 returns to the non-actuated position and the holding projection 49 engages in the notch 53.

FIG. 6 shows another alternative embodiment of the key mechanism 1 as represented in FIGS. 4 and 5.

In this embodiment, the pushbutton 19 has two holding protrusions 49, which are the image of each other by rotation of a half-turn around the axis of rotation A, which engage each in one of the notches 53, 59, which are thus also the image of one another by rotation of a half-turn about the axis of rotation A. The rotation of the insert 5, 7 from the rest position to the position of use here corresponds to half a turn. During this rotation, the holding projections 49 are brought in front of the notch 53, 59 in which was initially the other holding projection 49, and the push button 19 can go back to the non-actuated position.

This embodiment makes it possible to increase the number of holding protrusions 49, which makes it possible to distribute the axial force along A of the return element 23 and the friction that results therefrom. In addition, a second projection 49 prevents a couple from tilting the pushbutton 19 along an axis perpendicular to A, tilting which can prevent the rotation of the insert 5, 7 by engaging a portion of the teeth 55 and notches 57.

The invention therefore makes it possible to obtain retractable insert keys 5, 7, of which said insert 5, 7 can be subjected to greater forces before undergoing deformation of the parts, which would lead to undesirable rotation insert 5, 7.

Claims

Key, particularly for a motor vehicle, comprising:

a housing (3) with a lower half-shell (3a) and an upper half-shell (3b),

an insert (5, 7) pivotally mounted relative to said housing (3) between a rest position in which the insert (5, 7) is retracted into said housing (3) and a position of use, wherein insert (5, 7) is deployed with respect to said housing (3),

a mechanism for deploying the insert (5, 7) mounted in the housing (3), comprising:

- a push button (19) axially received in a housing (21) associated with the upper half shell (3a) and projecting from the upper half-shell (3a) to be actuated by a user,

- an elastic return element (23) of the insert (5, 7), a first end (23a) is connected to the insert (5, 7) to bias the insert (5, 7) pivotally to said position of use when the push button (19) is actuated,

characterized in that

the push button (19) has a retaining projection (49) and the insert (5, 7) comprises at least one notch (53) in which the retaining projection (49) engages when the insert (5) , 7) is in the rest position, the notches (51) releasing the retaining projection (49) when the push button (19) is actuated,

- the push button (19) and the insert (5, 7) comprise one of the teeth (55) pointing radially outwards, so as to form a toothing, the other a plurality of notches (57) forming with the toothing means for locking in rotation of the insert, releasing said insert (5, 7) when the push button (19) is actuated.

Key according to claim 1, characterized in that the push button (19) has the teeth (55) and in that the insert (5, 7) has the notches (57).

Key according to claim 1, characterized in that the push button (19) has the notches (57) and in that the insert (5, 7) has the teeth (55).

Key according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the insert comprises two notches (53, 59) cooperating respectively with the at least one retaining projection (49) when the insert (5, 7) is in position deployed and retracted and the push button (19) is not actuated.

Key according to claim 4, in which the insert (5, 7) moves from the rest position to the use position and vice versa by rotating half a turn, characterized in that the two notches (53, 59 ) are the image of one another by rotation of a half turn around the axis of rotation (A) and in that the push button (19) has two retaining projections (49), image one of the other by rotation of a half-turn around the axis of rotation (A) of the insert (5, 7) cooperating with the two notches (53, 59).

Key according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the teeth (55) and the retaining projection or projections (49) are situated on the vertices of a regular polygon.

Key according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the teeth (55) and the at least one retaining projection (49) are arranged on the same annular portion of the skirt of the push button (19).

8. Key according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the teeth (55) are of triangular shape.

9. Key according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the teeth (55) are shaped involute circle.