(19) |
|
|
(11) |
EP 2 087 186 B1 |
(12) |
EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION |
(45) |
Mention of the grant of the patent: |
|
12.01.2011 Bulletin 2011/02 |
(22) |
Date of filing: 04.12.2007 |
|
(51) |
International Patent Classification (IPC):
|
(86) |
International application number: |
|
PCT/EP2007/063303 |
(87) |
International publication number: |
|
WO 2008/068261 (12.06.2008 Gazette 2008/24) |
|
(54) |
VEHICLE HANDLE WITH A SECURITY DEVICE
FAHRZEUGHEBEL MIT SICHERHEITSVORRICHTUNG
POIGNÉE DE VÉHICULE MUNIE D'UN DISPOSITIF DE SÉCURITÉ
|
(84) |
Designated Contracting States: |
|
AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MT NL PL PT RO
SE SI SK TR |
(30) |
Priority: |
06.12.2006 IT RM20060659
|
(43) |
Date of publication of application: |
|
12.08.2009 Bulletin 2009/33 |
(73) |
Proprietor: Valeo S.p.A. |
|
10026 Santena (TO) (IT) |
|
(72) |
Inventors: |
|
- SAVANT, Fiorenzo
10093 Collegno TO (IT)
- ILARDO, Simone
10046 Torino TO (IT)
- LESUEUR, Guillaume
10099 San Mauro Torinese TO (IT)
|
(74) |
Representative: Jacquot, Ludovic R. G. et al |
|
Valeo Sécurité Habitacle
Propriété Industrielle 76 rue Auguste Perret
ZI Europarc
94046 Créteil Cedex 76 rue Auguste Perret
ZI Europarc
94046 Créteil Cedex (FR) |
(56) |
References cited: :
EP-A- 1 548 214
|
WO-A-2004/042177
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European
patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to
the European patent
granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall
not be deemed to
have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent
Convention).
|
[0001] The present invention relates to a handle for doors or the like, and in particular
to a lever handle which can be employed for unlocking and simultaneously opening the
door of a motor vehicle and is provided with an inertial security device which prevents
the accidental opening of this door in the event of an accident.
[0002] EP-A-1556569, published as
WO-A- 2004/042177, in the name of the same applicant discloses a handle comprising a lever which can
rotate in a frame to be fixed to a door of a vehicle and is mechanically connected
to a rocker which can rotate in the frame when the lever is pulled for unlocking the
door, said rocker being provided with a shoulder suitable to be intercepted by a stop
piece of a locking member comprising a pendulum provided with an inertial mass, so
that the stop piece intercepts the shoulder during a strong oscillation of the pendulum
caused by inertial thrusts acting on this mass. With this arrangement, the handle,
and thus the door, cannot open accidentally because of the inertial thrusts acting
onto the lever during a side impact suffered by the motor vehicle.
[0003] However, the locking member of this known handle does not always work in a correct
manner, since the pendulum can sometimes go back to its normal position during the
impact, for example due to sudden changes of the acceleration acting on the inertial
mass, or due to a bouncing of the pendulum. In other words, it is not always possible
to synchronize the action of the inertial mass with the movement of the lever and/or
to keep the pendulum in the handle locking position for a sufficient time.
[0004] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a handle which is free
from said disadvantage. Said object is achieved with an handle, whose main features
are disclosed in the first claim and other features are disclosed in the subsequent
claims.
[0005] Thanks to the magnetic and/or ferromagnetic members the handle according to the present
invention is provided with, the stop piece is attracted toward the shoulder during
the oscillation of the pendulum, so that the latter remains steady in its locking
position until the end of the impact, after which it is returned to its initial position
because of the elastic means acting on the rocker and on the same pendulum. With this
arrangement, the handle is always locked during an impact and is automatically unlocked
after the impact.
[0006] According to a particular aspect of the invention, said magnetic and/or ferromagnetic
members preferably comprise a permanent magnet and a metal member fixed to the stop
piece and to the shoulder, or vice versa, so that also the known handles can be easily
provided with the device according to the present invention.
[0007] Further advantages and features of the handle according to the present invention
will become clear to those skilled in art from the following detailed and non-limiting
description of an embodiment thereof with reference to the attached drawings, wherein:
- figure 1 shows a view in a longitudinal section of the handle in the normal position;
- figure 2 shows a view sectioned along plane II-II of the handle of figure 1;
- figure 3 shows a view in a longitudinal section of the handle in the impact position;
and
- figure 4 shows a view sectioned along plane IV-IV of the handle of figure 3.
[0008] Referring to figures 1 and 2, it is seen that the handle according to the present
invention comprises in a known way a frame 1 suitable to be fixed for example behind
the outer surface of a door 2 of a motor vehicle. Frame 1 is provided with a transversal
pin 3 acting as a fulcrum, around which a shaped extension 4 of a lever 5 suitable
for being pulled outwards in the direction of arrow 6 for opening door 2 can rotate.
Lever 5 thus rotates around a first axis 7 substantially parallel to the rotation
axis of door 2. The other end of lever 5 is provided with an appendix 8 which protrudes
into frame 1 and comprises a recess 9 in which a tongue 10 is engaged in a rotating
manner. The latter protrudes from one side of a rocker 11 which can rotate in frame
1 around a second axis 12 substantially perpendicular to axis 7. With this arrangement,
lever 5 is mechanically connected to rocker 11, so that the latter rotates around
axis 12 when lever 5 is pulled. A helical spring 13 is arranged in a coaxial manner
in rocker 11 for returning it to the original position, together with lever 5, when
the latter is not pulled anymore. Rocker 11 is in turn connected to the unlocking
mechanism (not shown in the figures) of door 2, so that the latter can be opened by
further pulling lever 5. Said connection is for example carried out by means of a
cable (not shown in the figures) which is pulled by rocker 11 during its rotation.
[0009] Rocker 11 is preferably provided with a cam surface 14 on which a tappet 15, arranged
at an end of the arm of a locking member comprising in particular a pendulum 16 pivoted
to frame 1 or to a body integral therewith, can slide. Pendulum 16 therefore oscillates
around a third axis 17 substantially parallel to axis 7 around which lever 5 rotates
when rocker 11 rotates around axis 12. The other end of pendulum 16 is provided with
an inertial mass 18 which preferably has a flat shape and is arranged close to the
centre of frame 1. Elastic means 19, in particular a helical spring arranged between
pendulum 16 and frame 1 with the longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to
axis 17, exert a force on pendulum 16 for pushing it toward its normal position, in
which tappet 15 is urged against the cam surface 14 of rocker 11. Rocker 11 is suitably
provided with a shoulder 20 arranged at a distance from the cam surface 14 greater
than the height of tappet 15 of pendulum 16. Tappet 15 therefore passes under shoulder
20 without contacting it if it slides on the cam surface 14, while it intercepts shoulder
20, so as to act as a stop piece and to prevent the rotation of rocker 11, when it
moves away from this surface, in particular due to an oscillation of pendulum 16.
In the normal use, when lever 5 is manually pulled in the direction of arrow 6, rocker
11 rotates in the direction of arrow 21, so that tappet 15 slides on the cam surface
14 without interfering with shoulder 20.
[0010] According to the invention, tappet 15 and shoulder 20 are provided with magnetic
and/or ferromagnetic members, in particular a permanent magnet 22 fixed to shoulder
20 and a metal plate 23 fixed to tappet 15, so that when tappet 15 intercepts shoulder
20 said magnetic and/or ferromagnetic members attract tappet 15 toward shoulder 20.
[0011] Referring now to figures 3 and 4, it is seen that, in the event of an accident, if
lever 5 undergoes a thrust which would tend to open it in the direction of arrow 6,
also the inertial mass 18 undergoes the same thrust, so that pendulum 16 oscillates,
thereby overcoming the force of the elastic means 19, so as to move tappet 15 away
from the cam surface 14 in the direction of arrow 24. Tappet 15, in its new position,
intercepts and locks shoulder 20 at the beginning of the rotation of rocker 11 pulled
by lever 5, so as to prevent its complete rotation. Since it cannot rotate further,
rocker 11 does not operate the unlocking mechanism of door 2, so as to prevent its
accidental opening. Simultaneously, tappet 15 is attracted toward shoulder 20 thanks
to the permanent magnet 22 and to the metal plate 23, so as to keep pendulum 16 in
its impact position, i.e. with tappet 15 against shoulder 20. At the end of the impact,
lever 5 is not subject to accelerations anymore, so that lever 5 does not exert anymore
a moment on rocker 11 and spring 13 can slightly rotate rocker 11, thereby moving
the permanent magnet 22 away from the metal plate 23. The attractive force between
tappet 15 and shoulder 20 decreases, so that the elastic means 19 can expand again,
thereby releasing tappet 15 from shoulder 20 and allowing the opening of door 2, if
lever 5 is pulled.
[0012] Possible variations and/or additions may be made by those skilled in the art to the
hereinabove disclosed and illustrated embodiment of the invention while remaining
within the scope of the same invention as defined by the claims.
1. Handle comprising a lever (5) which can rotate in a frame (1) to be fixed to the door
(2) of a vehicle and which is mechanically connected to a rocker (11) which can rotate
in the frame (1) and is provided with a shoulder (20) suitable to be intercepted by
a stop piece (15) of a locking member comprising a pendulum (16) which is provided
with an inertial mass (18) and is pivoted to the frame (1) or to a body integral therewith,
so that during an oscillation of the pendulum (16) the stop piece (15) intercepts
the shoulder (20) and prevents the complete rotation of the rocker (11), characterized in that the stop piece (15) and the shoulder (20) are provided with magnetic and/or ferromagnetic
members (22, 23), so that when the stop piece (15) intercepts the shoulder (20) said
magnetic and/or ferromagnetic members (22, 23) attract the stop piece (15) toward
the shoulder (20).
2. Handle according to the previous claim, characterized in that said magnetic and/or ferromagnetic members (22, 23) comprise a permanent magnet (22)
fixed to the shoulder (20).
3. Handle according to one of the previous claims, characterized in that said magnetic and/or ferromagnetic members (22, 23) comprise a metal plate (23) fixed
to the stop member (15).
4. Handle according to one of the previous claims, characterized in that the rocker (11) is provided with elastic means (13), in particular a helical spring,
suitable for rotating the rocker (11).
5. Handle according to one of the previous claims, characterized in that the pendulum (16) is provided with elastic means (19) suitable for exerting on the
pendulum (16) a force opposing said oscillation.
6. Handle according to the previous claim, characterized in that said elastic means (19) comprise a helical spring arranged between the pendulum (16)
and the frame (1).
7. Handle according to the previous claim, characterized in that the longitudinal axis of said helical spring (19) is substantially perpendicular
to the rotation axis (17) of the pendulum (16).
1. Griff mit einem Hebel (5), der sich in einem an der Tür (2) eines Fahrzeugs zu befestigenden
Rahmen (1) drehen kann und mechanisch mit einer Wipptaste (11) verbunden ist, die
sich im Rahmen (1) drehen kann und mit einem Absatz (20) versehen ist, der geeignet
ist, von einem Anschlagstück (15) eines Verriegelungselements abgefangen zu werden,
das ein Pendel (16) umfasst, das mit einer trägen Masse (18) versehen und zum Rahmen
(1) oder zu einem damit einstückigen Körper geschwenkt ist, so dass das Anschlagstück
(15) den Absatz (20) während einer Oszillation des Pendels (16) abfängt und die vollständige
Drehung der Wipptaste (11) verhindert, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Anschlagstück (15) und der Absatz (20) mit magnetischen und/oder ferromagnetischen
Elementen (22, 23) versehen sind, so dass die magnetischen und/oder ferromagnetischen
Elemente (22, 23) das Anschlagstück (15) zum Absatz (20) hin anziehen, wenn das Anschlagstück
(15) den Absatz (20) abfängt.
2. Griff nach dem vorhergehenden Anspruch, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die magnetischen und/oder ferromagnetischen Elemente (22, 23) einen am Absatz (20)
befestigten Permanentmagneten (22) umfassen.
3. Griff nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die magnetischen und/oder ferromagnetischen Elemente (22, 23) eine am Anschlagelement
(15) befestigte Metallplatte (23) umfassen.
4. Griff nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Wipptaste (11) mit einem elastischen Mittel (13), insbesondere einer Spiralfeder,
versehen ist, das sich zum Drehen der Wipptaste (11) eignet.
5. Griff nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Pendel (16) mit elastischen Mitteln (19) versehen ist, die geeignet sind, eine
der Oszillation entgegenwirkende Kraft auf das Pendel (16) auszuüben.
6. Griff nach dem vorhergehenden Anspruch, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die elastischen Mittel (19) eine zwischen dem Pendel (16) und dem Rahmen (1) angeordnete
Spiralfeder umfassen.
7. Griff nach dem vorhergehenden Anspruch, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Längsachse der Spiralfeder (19) im Wesentlichen senkrecht zur Rotationsachse
(17) des Pendels (16) verläuft.
1. Poignée comprenant un levier (5) qui peut pivoter dans un cadre (1) à fixer à la porte
(2) d'un véhicule et qui est mécaniquement reliée à un culbuteur (11) pouvant pivoter
dans le cadre (1) et est pourvue d'un épaulement (20) conçu pour être intercepté par
un élément de butée (15) d'un élément de verrouillage comprenant un pendule (16) qui
est pourvu d'une masse d'inertie (18) et pivote en direction du cadre (1) ou d'un
corps faisant partie intégrante de celui-ci, de sorte que lorsque le pendule (16)
oscille, l'élément de butée (15) intercepte l'épaulement (20) et empêche la rotation
complète du culbuteur (11), caractérisée en ce que l'élément de butée (15) et l'épaulement (20) sont pourvus d'éléments magnétiques
et/ou ferromagnétiques (22, 23), de sorte que lorsque l'élément de butée (15) intercepte
l'épaulement (20), lesdits éléments magnétiques et/ou ferromagnétiques (22, 23) attirent
l'élément de butée (15) en direction de l'épaulement (20).
2. Poignée selon la revendication précédente, caractérisée en ce que lesdits éléments magnétiques et/ou ferromagnétiques (22, 23) comprennent un aimant
permanent (22) fixé à l'épaulement (20).
3. Poignée selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisée en ce que lesdits éléments magnétiques et/ou ferromagnétiques (22, 23) comprennent une plaque
en métal (23) fixée à l'élément de butée (15).
4. Poignée selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisée en ce que le culbuteur (11) est pourvu de moyens élastiques (13), notamment d'un ressort hélicoïdal,
adapté pour faire pivoter le culbuteur (11).
5. Poignée selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisée en ce que le pendule (16) est pourvu de moyens élastiques (19) adaptés pour exercer une force
opposée à ladite oscillation sur le pendule (16).
6. Poignée selon la revendication précédente, caractérisée en ce que lesdits moyens élastiques (19) comprennent un ressort hélicoïdal agencé entre le
pendule (16) et le cadre (1).
7. Poignée selon la revendication précédente, caractérisée en ce que l'axe longitudinal dudit ressort hélicoïdal (19) est sensiblement perpendiculaire
à l'axe de rotation (17) du pendule (16).
REFERENCES CITED IN THE DESCRIPTION
This list of references cited by the applicant is for the reader's convenience only.
It does not form part of the European patent document. Even though great care has
been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be excluded and
the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.
Patent documents cited in the description