FR2971536A1 - Control device for controlling interior opening of e.g. right-hand side door of motor vehicle, has movable element moved between two positions where pushbutton blocks movement of element by traction, in one position - Google Patents

Abstract

The device has a control unit (8) including a pushbutton (11) movably mounted relative to a fixed body (13) and controlled by a spring (14) i.e. helicoid spring in a direction (D1). A movable element (15) is placed inside the fixed body and controlled by another spring (16) in another direction (D2) transverse to the former direction. The element is moved between a position in which the pushbutton blocks movement of the element, and another position in which the element is engaged in an opening (17), by a traction exerted on the cable by a cable tensioner actuated upon closure of a door.

Description

DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING THE INNER OPENING OF A PUSH BUTTON OPENER AND CABLE TENSIONER

The present invention relates to a device for controlling the internal opening of an opening comprising a lock which comprises a movable bolt cooperating with a fixed striker and a control member of the opening of the opening connected to the bolt by a cable. The invention also relates to the application of such a device to the control of the interior opening of a motor vehicle door.

Figure 1 shows schematically the interior of a side door 1 of a motor vehicle having an inner opening control device. This device comprises a lock 2 which comprises, as shown schematically in FIG. 2, a movable bolt 3 cooperating with a fixed striker 4.

The bolt 3 is pivotally mounted on an axis 5 and is connected by a cable 6 (see FIG. 1) or a rod to a member 7 for controlling the opening of the door 1. This member 7 generally comprises a pivoting lever of the 'front to back to pull on the cable to release the latch strike to open the door.

The lever is recalled in the opposite direction by a spring. The disadvantage of such a device is that it is relatively bulky, because it must be sufficiently robust. In addition, its aesthetic appearance is no longer attractive enough compared to current requirements in terms of style.

In addition, the use of these levers is not very convenient and they can escape from the hands because they are metal therefore heat sensitive and can be wet. Also known control members consist of push buttons that do not have the disadvantages above.

However, these push buttons are associated with electric locks that are expensive and unreliable. The object of the present invention is to overcome these disadvantages.

This object is achieved, according to the invention, by means of a device for controlling the interior opening of an opening comprising a lock which comprises a movable bolt cooperating with a fixed striker and a control member of the opening of the opening member connected to the bolt by a cable, characterized in that said control member comprises a push button mounted movable relative to a fixed body and biased by a first spring in a first direction, a member movable within said fixed body and biased by a second spring in a second direction transverse to the first direction, said member being connected to said cable, and said member being movable between a first position in which said push button blocks movement of said member and a second position also blocked by the push button, the displacement between these two positions being obtained thanks to a traction exerted on the cable by a tensioner of cable actuated when closing the opening. The control device of the device according to the invention is thus of particularly simple structure since it consists of a small number of parts. This controller overcomes the disadvantages of known pivoting levers and push buttons associated with an electric lock. Preferably, the push button is integral with a plug having an opening in which said element can engage during its displacement 20 between said first position and said second position. In a preferred version, the opening of the plug has a larger section than that of said element, the end of this element adjacent to this opening is rounded and the edge of the opening of the plug has a tapered portion on which can slide. end of said element when the latter is moved to said second position. In this preferred version, the displacement of said element to the second position is controlled by a traction exerted by said cable, said traction being greater than the restoring force of the second spring and the displacement of said element to the first position is controlled by the force of return biased by the second spring, when the traction exerted by the cable has ceased. In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, said element comprises a groove in which the beveled portion of the edge of the opening of the plug can be snapped under the action of the restoring force exerted by the first spring, when said element is in the second position. When the opening is closed, the movement of said element to the first position is controlled by a thrust exerted on said push button against the restoring force exerted by the first spring to release the beveled portion of the opening of the bushel of the throat of said element. In this embodiment, the movement of said element to the second position from said first position is controlled by a push on said push button against the restoring force exerted by the first spring to release the bevelled portion of opening the bushel of the end of said element, to unlock the opening. Preferably, the cable tensioner comprises a housing intended to be fixed to the opening, enclosing a movable rod whose one end comprises a stop intended to bear on a fixed surface, when closing the door, the another end of this rod cooperating with a drive sector of the cable, rotatably mounted on a fixed axis relative to the housing. According to other advantageous features: - the end of the cable is connected to a circular portion of said sector and is partially wound on it and said other end of the rod is in contact with the sector at a point which is eccentric relative to to the axis of rotation of the sector; said rod is guided in translation against at least one return spring; said rod is in two parts connected to each other by means making it possible to rotate one of the two parts of the rod relative to the other, during the translation of the rod; - Said means comprise a connecting ring between the two parts of the rod, this ring having on its inner surface two helical grooves in which are engaged respectively two fingers carried by one of the two parts of the rod. In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the device according to the invention comprises two cables, the first cable being connected on the one hand to the bolt of the lock and on the other hand to the movable element of the knob control member. pusher, the second cable being connected on the one hand to the tensioner and on the other hand to a reversing unit of unidirectional movement; Preferably, said unidirectional movement reversing casing comprises a slide movable in translation inside the casing between two stops of this casing, this slide being connected to the first cable by a fixed connection with respect to this slide and being connected to the second cable by a link slidable in an elongated slot in said slider, this slot extending in a direction parallel to the translation direction of the slider. The cable tensioner and the unidirectional movement reversing casing have the particular advantage of allowing the opening control device of an opening to operate with a conventional lock, such as those mounted on most motor vehicles. According to another aspect, the invention relates to the application of the device according to the invention to the control of the interior opening of a motor vehicle door. Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent throughout the description below. In the accompanying drawings, given by way of nonlimiting example: FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the control device of the device according to the invention, the movable element being in the first position, FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 1, the movable element being moved in the second position; FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 1, the movable element being in the first position and the pushbutton being depressed to controlling the displacement of the movable member to the second position; - Figure 6 shows schematically a preferred version of the door opening control device according to the invention, comprising a cable tensioner and a unidirectional movement reverser FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of the cable tensioner, FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the connection between the two parts of the push rod of the cable tensioner, FIGS. 1 1 are views similar to FIG. 8 showing successive phases of operation of the cable tensioner; FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the unidirectional movement reverser; FIGS. 13 and 14 are views similar to FIG. 12 showing successive phases of operation of the unidirectional motion reverser. FIGS. 3 to 5 show a control member 8 of a device for controlling the interior opening of an opening such as the door shown in FIG. 1. This control member 8 is connected to a cable 9 engaged in a 10. This cable 9 is itself connected to a movable latch such as the bolt 3 of the lock 2, shown in Figures 1 and 2, which cooperates with the stationary strike 4. In this device, when closing the door 1, the bolt 3 pivots by exerting a traction on the cable 9.

According to the invention, the control member 8 comprises a push button 11 integral with a plug 12 movably mounted in a fixed body 13 and biased by a first spring 14 in a first direction D1, a member 15 movable to the inside the fixed body 13 and biased by a second spring 16 in a second direction D2 transverse to the first direction D1.

The movable element 15 is connected to the cable 9. The plug 12 has an opening 17 and the element 15 is movable between a first position in which (see Figure 3) the plug 12 blocks the displacement of the element 15 and a second position in which (see Figure 3) the element 15 is engaged in the opening 17 of the plug 12.

In the example shown, the first spring 14 is a helical spring surrounding a portion 12a of the plug 12 projecting outside the body 13 and bearing respectively on the body 13 and the push button 11. Similarly, the second spring 16 is a helical spring surrounding a cylindrical portion of the element 15 and bearing respectively on a flange 15a located at the rear of this element 15 and on a partition 18 of the body 13 located behind the plug 12 and s' extending parallel to the latter. This partition 18 limits a recess 19 in which is engaged the plug 12.

It can be seen in FIGS. 3 to 5 that the opening 17 of the plug 12 has a larger section than that of the mobile element 15 and that the end 15b of this element 15 adjacent to this opening 17 is rounded. In addition, the edge 17a of the opening 17 of the plug 12 has a bevelled portion on which the rounded end 15b of the element 15 can slide when the latter is moved towards the second position shown in FIG. the movable element 15 towards the second position, shown in FIG. 4, is controlled by a traction exerted by the cable 9 in the direction of the arrow F (see FIG. 4) due to the displacement of the bolt 3 of the lock 2 during the closing of the door 1. The displacement of the element 15 to the first position, indicated in FIGS. 3 and 5, is controlled by the restoring force exerted by the second spring 16, exerted in the direction D2. Furthermore, the element 15 comprises a groove 20 in which the beveled portion of the edge 17a of the opening 17 of the plug 12 can be snapped under the action of the restoring force exerted by the first spring 14 in the direction D1 when the element 15 is in the second position. In addition, when the door is closed, the movement of the element 15 to the first position is controlled (see FIG. 5) by a thrust P exerted on the push-button 11 against the restoring force exerted by the first spring 14 to release the tapered portion of the edge 17a of the opening 17 of the plug 12 of the groove 20 of the element 15 and allow the element 15 to move back with the return force of the spring 16. Similarly, the movement of the element 15 to the second position, from the first position, shown in Figure 5, is controlled by a thrust P exerted on the push button 11 against the restoring force exerted by the first spring 14 to release the opening 17 of the plug 12 relative to the element 15, to unlock the door 1. Thus, the device described above operates as follows.

When closing the door 1, the bolt 3 of the lock puts the cable 9 under tension. The element 15 pulled by this cable 9 then passes through the opening 17 of the plug 12, as shown in FIG. 4.

This crossing is facilitated by the beveled edge 17a of this opening 17 and the rounded end 15a of the element 15. During this movement of the element 15, the spring 16 is compressed. When the traction exerted on the cable 9 is released, at the end of the stroke, the element 15 is held in position thanks to the locking of the beveled edge 17a of the opening 17 of the plug 12 in the groove 20 of the element 15. unlocking the bolt 3 with respect to the striker 4, it suffices to exert a pressure P on the pushbutton 11, as shown in FIG. 5. The downward movement of the plug 12 makes it possible to disengage the beveled portion of the edge 17a from the opening 17 of the plug 12 of the groove 20, which allows the recoil of the element 15 to the initial position. The above cycle of operations can then begin again. Figure 6 schematically illustrates a preferred version of the control device according to the invention mounted on a door 1 of a motor vehicle.

This device mainly comprises a control member 8 with a push button, such as that described above which is connected to the bolt of the lock 2 by means of a cable 9. The device further comprises a cable tensioner 21 which, when closing the door 1, exert on the cable 9 a traction to move the element 15 of the control member 8, between the first position and the second position as described above. The cable tensioner 21 is shown in detail in FIGS. 7 to 11. This cable tensioner 21 comprises a housing 22 intended to be fastened to the door 1, enclosing a movable rod 23, one end of which has an axially adjustable stop 24 intended to resting on a fixed surface (such as the surface 25 shown in FIG. 6) when closing the door 1. The end of this rod 23 opposite the abutment 24 bears against a driving sector 26 9a cable, rotatably mounted on an axis 27 fixed relative to the housing 22.

The end 9b of the cable 9a is connected to a circular portion of the sector 26 and is partially wound thereon.

Furthermore, the end of the rod 23 opposite the stop 24 is in contact with the sector 26 at a point 28 which is eccentric with respect to the axis 27 of rotation of the sector 26. The rod 23 is guided in translation to the inside of a cylindrical recess 22a of the housing 22 against a return spring 29. Thus, a translational movement of the rod 23 along the arrow F1 of FIG. 7 causes a rotation of the sector 26 in the direction of the arrow F2 which has the effect of applying on the cable 9a a traction in the direction F3. In addition, the rod 23 is in two parts 23a, 23b connected to each other by means for rotating one of the two parts 23a, 23b of the rod 23 relative to the other, during the translation of the rod 23. In the example shown, said means comprise a connecting ring 30 between the two parts 23a, 23b of the rod 23. This ring 30 comprises (see Figure 8) on its inner surface two grooves helical 31 (of which only one is visible in Figure 8) in which are engaged respectively two radial fingers 32 carried by one 23a of the two parts of the rod 23. These two helical grooves 31 are concentric to the axis of the rod 23. The tensioner 21 shown in Figure 7 operates as follows.

In Figure 7, the tensioner 21 is shown in its initial position, the door being open. This initial position is maintained thanks to the return exerted by a torsion spring (not shown) connecting the sector 26 to the housing 22 and to the compression spring 29.

In the case of Figure 9, the door is closed. By relying on the fixed surface 25, the abutment 24 of the tensioner 21 integral with the portion 23b of the rod undergoes a force which has the effect of compressing the spring 29 and rotating on itself the portion 23b of the rod in the helical grooves 31, which translates this portion 23b relative to the portion 23a.

Thus, a translation of 10 mm from the abutment 24 rotates 90 ° the portion 23b of the rod. When the fingers 32 come into abutment on the helical grooves 31, the compression spring 29 is compressed on half of its useful stroke.

At this point, sector 26 has not moved. In the position shown in Figure 10, the tensioner is in the final position. The compression spring 29 and the spring 29a adjacent the abutment 24 are both compressed to a maximum. The portions 23a and 23b of the rod 23 made integral with each other have been subjected to a translation that has pivoted the sector 26, which caused the cable 9a in the direction of the arrow F3. In the position shown in Fig. 11, the springs 29 and 29a are still compressed over their entire stroke and the sector 26 has returned to its initial position by driving with it the cable 9a in the direction of the arrow F4. The return of the sector 26 to its initial position was possible thanks to the helical groove connection 31 between the two parts 23b and 23a of the rod 23 which allows one to rotate 90 ° relative to the other. By opening the door 1, the pressure exerted on the stop 24 is released and the assembly returns to the initial position shown in FIG. 7. FIG. 6 shows that the preferred version of the invention further comprises a motion inverter. In this version, a first cable 9 is connected on the one hand to the latch of the lock 2 and on the other hand to the movable element 15 (not shown in FIG. 6) of the control member 8. a push button and a second cable 9a is connected to the tensioner 21 and secondly to the unidirectional movement reversing casing 33. This unidirectional movement reversing casing 33 is shown in detail in FIGS. 12 to 14. These figures show that the unidirectional movement reversing casing 33 comprises a slide 34 movable in translation inside the casing 33 between two stops 33a, 33b of this casing. This slider 34 is connected to the first cable 9 by a link 35 fixed with respect to this slider 34 and is connected to the second cable 9a by a link 36 which can slide in an elongate slot 37 formed in the slider 34, extending in a direction parallel to the direction of translation of the slide 34.

The fixed link 35 is constituted by a screw which blocks the cable 9 in a slot 38 formed in the slide 34 having a sinuous profile. The unidirectional motion reversing housing operates as follows. Figure 12 shows the initial state.

The slide 34 is in abutment against the abutment 33a which is located opposite the cable 9a which is connected to the tensioner 21 shown in FIGS. 7 to 11. This initial position corresponds to the initial position of the tensioner 21, as represented on FIG. FIG. 7. When closing the door, the cable 9a undergoes a tension exerted by the tensioner 21. This traction has the effect of pulling the slider 34 towards the position shown in FIG. 13 in which the slider 34 bears against the abutment 33b opposite the abutment 33a. The traction exerted by the cable 9a also pulls the cable 9 which is connected to the movable element 15 of the push button control member 8 shown in FIGS. 3 to 5. This movable element 15 is thus displaced towards the position shown in Figure 4 in which the spring 16 is compressed and the movable member 15 is blocked by the plug 12.

In the position shown in Figure 14, the cable 9a connected to the tensioner 21 is returned to its initial position, after sliding of the end 36 of the cable 9a in the slot 37 of the slider. The opening of the door can then be controlled by pressing the push button 11 of the control member 8 to release the movable member 15.

The cable 9 can then be displaced by the movable element 15 by the expansion of the spring 16. A new operating cycle can then be performed from the initial position, shown in FIG. 12. The main advantages of the device are that the 'just described are the following. The push button controller is more compact than a lever control.

It has a lower mass and can be mounted more easily on a door. The push button controller is identical on a right door and a left door.

It is more convenient to use and more ergonomic. It has a great latitude of implantation. It is more reliable than an electric control. The cable tensioner and the unidirectional motion reversing casing allow the push button opener to operate with a conventional lock such as those mounted on most motor vehicles.

Claims (16)

REVENDICATIONS1. Device for controlling the inner opening of an opening (1) comprising a lock (2) which comprises a movable bolt (3) cooperating with a fixed striker (4) and a member (8) for controlling the opening of the opening (1) connected to the bolt (3) by a cable (9), characterized in that said control member (8) comprises a push button (11) movably mounted relative to a fixed body (13) and urged by a first spring (14) in a first direction (D1), a member (15) movable within said fixed body (13) and biased by a second spring (16) in a second direction (D2) transverse to in the first direction (D1), this element (15) being connected to said cable (9), and said element (15) being movable between a first position in which said push button (11) blocks the displacement of said element (15) and a second position also blocked by the push button (11), the displacement between these two positions being obtained gr at a traction exerted on the cable (9) by a cable tensioner actuated during closing of the opening (1). 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the push button (11) is integral with a plug (12) having an opening (17) in which can engage said member (15) during its movement between said first position and said second position. 3. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the opening (17) of the plug (12) has a larger section than that of said element (15), the end (15a) of this element (15) adjacent to this opening (17) is rounded and the edge (17a) of the opening (17) of the plug (12) has a tapered portion on which can slide the end (15a) of said element (15) when the latter is moved to said second position. 4. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that the displacement of said element (15) to the second position is controlled by a traction exerted by said cable (9), said traction being greater than the restoring force of the second spring (16). ). 5. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that the displacement of said element (15) to the first position is controlled by the restoring force exerted by the second spring (16), when the traction exerted by the cable (9) has ceased . 6. Device according to one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that said element (15) comprises a groove (20) in which can snap the beveled portion of the edge (17a) of the opening (17) of the bushel (12) under the action of the restoring force exerted by the first spring (14), when said element (15) is in the second position. 7. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that when the opening (1) is closed, the movement of said element (15) to the first position is controlled by a thrust (P) exerted on said push button (11) to against the return force exerted by the first spring (14) to release the tapered portion (17a) of the opening (17) of the plug (12) of the groove (20) of said element (15). 8. Device according to claim 7, characterized in that the displacement of said element (15) to the second position from said first position is controlled by a thrust (P) exerted on said push button (11) against the return force exerted by the first spring (14) to release the tapered portion (17a) of the opening (17) of the plug (12) of the end of said element (15), in order to unlock the opening (1 ). 9. Device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the cable tensioner (21) comprises a housing (22) intended to be fixed to the opening, enclosing a rod (23) movable, one end comprises an abutment (24) intended to bear on a fixed surface (25), when closing the opening leaf, the other end of this rod (23) cooperating with a drive sector (26) of the cable, rotatably mounted on an axis (27) fixed relative to the housing (22). 10. Device according to claim 9, characterized in that the end of the cable (9a) is connected to a circular portion of said sector (26) and is partially wound on it and said other end of the rod (23) is in contact with the sector (26) at a point (28) which is eccentric with respect to the axis (27) of rotation of the sector (26). 11. Device according to one of claims 9 or 10, characterized in that said rod (23) is guided in translation against at least one return spring (29). 12. Device according to claim 11, characterized in that said rod (23) is in two parts (23a, 23b) connected to one another by means for rotating one of the two parts ( 23a, 23b) of the rod relative to the other, during the translation of the rod (23). 13. Device according to claim 12, characterized in that said means comprise a ring (30) connecting the two parts (23a, 23b) of the rod (23), this ring (30) having on its inner surface two grooves. helical (31) in which are engaged respectively two fingers (32) carried by one of the two parts (23a, 23b) of the rod. 14. Device according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that it comprises two cables (9, 9a), the first cable (9) being connected on the one hand to the bolt of the lock (2) and on the other hand to the movable element (15) of the pushbutton control member (8), the second cable (9a) being connected on the one hand to the tensioner (21) and on the other hand to an inverter housing unidirectional movement (33). 15. Device according to claim 14, characterized in that said unidirectional movement reversing housing (33) comprises a slide (34) movable in translation inside the housing (33) between two stops (33a, 33b) of this housing , this slider (34) being connected to the first cable (9) by a connection (35) fixed with respect to this slider (34) and being connected to the second cable (9a) by a link (36) slidable in an elongated slot (37) made in said slider (34), this lumen (37) extending in a direction parallel to the direction of translation of the slider (34). 16. Application of the device according to one of claims 1 to 15 to the control of the inner opening of a motor vehicle door.