This invention relates to an opening switch for the doors or rear hatches of vehicles, of the type which the user operates manually to cause the door latch to open after the latch has been released through the corresponding locking mechanism.
Switches which are used in the rear hatches and side doors of vehicles comprising a body enclosed beneath by a flexible membrane, especially of elastomer material, are known. When the user presses on the flexible membrane with his fingers it causes the latch of the lock to open (cf.
A switch of this type comprises a lever operating a microswitch; the said lever can be moved between two positions, a first open position in which it is separated from the said microswitch and a second closed position in which it is in contact with the said microswitch when the user presses on the flexible membrane, and when the pressure ceases it returns to its initial resting position as a result of elastic return means.
Known switches have conventional helical metal springs for the function of returning the operating lever.
In practice it has been found that the inclusion of conventional springs for returning the operating lever gives rise to yet another complication in assembly of the switch and affects its cost.
The object of he switch for opening the doors or rear hatches of a vehicle according to claim 1 of this invention is to overcome the disadvantages presented by the switches known in the art, providing a switch which is easier to assemble and is of lower cost.
The opening switch for the doors or rear hatches of a vehicle according to this invention comprises elastic return means which comprise at least two flexible spring members of plastics material incorporated with the operating lever as a single part.
As the operating lever and the spring members constitute a single part, the cost of manufacturing the switch is reduced because of the fewer parts which have to be produced. At the same time assembly is simplified and made cheaper because it is not necessary to fit springs in the assembly as is the case with known switches.
Furthermore, when it is necessary to dismantle the switch, loss of the springs and a consequent need to replace them is avoided.
According to one embodiment of the invention the elastic return means comprise spring members in the form of curved wings incorporated into a zone close to the centre of the said operating lever which extend to the extremities thereof.
According to another embodiment of the invention the elastic return means comprise two spring members in the shape of curved springs incorporated into a zone close to the extremities of the said operating lever and which extend to the centre thereof.
According to another embodiment of the invention the elastic return means comprise two spring members in the form of bellows incorporated in zones close to the extremities of the said operating lever.
In accordance with these embodiments the microswitch and the operating lever with the incorporated springs are housed within a body which is closed by a flexible membrane on which a user presses to cause the operating lever to move from the said first position to the said second position.
According to the invention the switch comprises a cover connected to the body.
Preferably the cover comprises tangs on its outer surface for connection with matching openings made in the body.
According to another embodiment the body comprises clips on its upper surface which connect with matching openings made in the cover. Likewise this comprises a perimetral seal fitted between the cover and the body.
This structural configuration is appropriate when it is necessary to seal the switch against water or moisture originating from the interior of the vehicle or the switch embellisher.
The cover is moulded onto the assembly comprising the cable ends connected to the two metal blades soldered to the microswitch.
Additionally the body comprises tangs on its outer surface for mounting on the frame of the door or rear hatch of the vehicle.
According to another embodiment the elastic return means comprise springs in the form of curved U-shaped wings, these wings being incorporated at one extremity into a zone close to the centre of the said operating lever and joined together at the other extremity by means of a bar provided with supporting clips for connection to matching openings made in a printed circuit board.
Preferably the microswitch is located on the printed circuit board, this printed circuit board being connected within a cover.
In this case the operating lever is directly connected to the printed circuit board with the help of the supporting clips without transmitting forces to it.
Advantageously the operating lever comprises securing members to support ribs located within the cover.
These securing members prevent the transmission of permissible greater forces to the microswitch, thus ensuring that it operates satisfactorily.
Preferably the operating lever with the incorporated springs and the securing members are housed within a body which is closed by a flexible membrane on which a user presses to cause movement of the operating lever from the said first position to the said second position.
Advantageously the body comprises attachment members for attaching it to the cover.
In this way it is ensured that the switch is leaktight because the said flexible membrane is moulded over the body and kept under pressure by the said fixing members over the cover.
Preferably the part comprising the operating lever and the spring members is of polyoxymethylene (POM) or any elastic plastics such as butyl polyterephthalate (BPT), polyamide (PA), polypropylene (PP), etc.
Advantageously the operating lever includes a push-button incorporated in the same part designed to come into contact with the microswitch.
In order to assist the description of what has been set forth above drawings are appended in which four practical embodiments of the switch for opening the doors or rear hatches of a vehicle according to the invention are illustrated diagrammatically and purely by way of non-restrictive examples, in which drawings:
Opening switch 1 comprises a body 2 which is closed beneath by a flexible membrane 3 and is closed at the top by a cover 4.
Within body 2 there is a lever 5 to operate a microswitch 6. Said lever 5 can be moved between two positions, a first open position in which it is separated from said microswitch 6 (see
It also comprises elastic means for returning lever 5 from the said second position to the said first position. Said elastic return means include two flexible spring members 7 of plastics material incorporated with lever 5 as a single part.
In this case the two spring members 7 have a configuration in the form of curved wings incorporated into a zone close to the centre of said lever 5 and which extend to the extremities thereof.
Preferably the part incorporating lever 5 and spring members 7 is a polyoxymethylene, or any elastic plastics material such as PBT, PP or PA.
In addition to this, lever 5 includes a press button 8 incorporated into the same part which is intended to come into contact with microswitch 6.
The operation of switch 1 according to the invention is described below:
When a user presses on flexible membrane 3 this causes lever 5 to move and in turn operates microswitch 6 closing the switch's circuit (see
Once the user ceases to apply pressure spring members 7 move said lever 5 to its initial position (see
In addition to this, cover 4 comprises tangs 9 on its outer surface for connection to matching openings 10 made in body 2.
Additionally body 2 comprises tangs 11 on its outer surface for assembly to the frame of the door or rear hatch of the vehicle.
In this case the elastic return means comprise two spring members 7a in the form of curved wings incorporated into a zone close to the extremities of said lever 5 which extend to the centre thereof.
In this case the elastic return means comprise spring members in the form of bellows 7b which are incorporated in the zones close to the extremities of said lever 5.
In this case body 2 comprises clips 9a on its outer surface for connection to matching openings 10a made in cover 4. It also includes a perimetral seal 12 fitted between cover 4 and body 2.
This structural configuration is appropriate when it is necessary to seal the switch against water or moisture proceeding from the interior of the vehicle or the switch embellisher.
As can be seen in
In this case the elastic return means comprise springs in the form of U-shaped curved wings 7c, these wings 7c being incorporated at one extremity into a zone close to the centre of said operating lever 5 and joined together at the other extremity by means of a bar 15 provided with supporting clips 16 for connection to matching openings made in a printed circuit plate 17.
Microswitch 6 is located on printed circuit plate 17, this printed circuit plate 17 being connected to the interior of a cover (which is not shown for greater clarity).
Operating lever 5 also comprises securing members 18 to support ribs located within the interior of the said cover.
Operating lever 5 with incorporated springs 7c and securing members 18 are housed within a body 2 which is closed by a flexible membrane 3 onto which a user presses to cause operating lever 5 to move from the said first position to the said second position. Likewise body 2 comprises attachment members 19 for attaching it to the cover.
The switch is fitted in the following way:
First printed circuit board 17 is placed within the cover on one side in a longitudinal direction, nesting within the ribs of the said cover.
Then operating lever 5 is placed in the lower part of the cover, being securely fixed to printed circuit board 17 through supporting clips 16.
Finally body 2 with flexible membrane 3 moulded thereon is connected to the cover by connection members 19, ensuring that the switch is leaktight.
In this way a switch is obtained which has a reduced number of parts, is easier to fit and operate satisfactorily, because in this case the travel of operating lever 5 is limited by being enclosed by the aforesaid supporting ribs for printed circuit board 17, thus preventing forces from being transmitted to microswitch 6.
In addition to the configurations described above the invention provides for other configurations of spring members incorporated in the lever, such as springs of the helical type.
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.