Abstract
A side door of a motor vehicle has a door lock actuator for a door lock, and a pivoting lever pivotable about a rotational axis of a joint. The pivoting lever has a coupling section coupled to a mechanical actuating member of the door lock in the installed state. An interior door pull handle has one or more fastening regions and at least one handle region having an axial extent. The pivoting lever is integrated into the handle region of the interior door pull handle. The rotational axis is oriented substantially transversely with respect to the axial extent.
Claims
1. A side door of a motor vehicle, comprising: a door lock having a mechanical actuating means; a door lock actuator connected to the door lock, the door lock actuator being an interior door actuator and having a pivoting lever pivotably mounted about a rotational axis of a joint, the pivoting lever having a coupling section connected to the mechanical actuating means; an electric switch disposed in the pivoting lever and connected to the door lock via a signal line; and an interior door handle having one or more fastening regions, and at least one handle region, the handle region defining an opening to receive a hand and having an axial extent, wherein: the pivoting lever is integrated into the handle region of the interior door handle, and the rotational axis is oriented substantially transversely with respect to the axial extent.
2. The side door of claim 1, wherein: the pivoting lever extends into at least one of the fastening regions, and the handle region has curved surfaces.
3. The side door of claim 1, wherein: the pivoting lever has an upper side, and the upper side is configured to mate with one or more of the fastening regions.
4. The side door of claim 1, wherein: the door lock actuator has an inertia compensation spring, the inertia compensation spring urges the pivoting lever in a first pivoting direction, the first pivoting direction is counter to a second pivoting direction for actuating the mechanical actuating means, and the inertia compensation spring urges the pivoting lever in the first pivoting direction only when the pivoting lever has been moved from a stowed position into a protruding position.
5. The side door of claim 1, wherein: the door lock actuator has a push-push element, and when the pivoting lever is pushed, the push-push element pivots the pivoting lever into a protruding position from a stowed position.
6. The side door of claim 1, wherein: the door lock actuator has a locking device, the locking device is unlockable, and the locking device selectively retains the pivoting lever in a stowed position.
7. The side door of claim 6, wherein the locking device has a first spring and a second spring to control movement of the pivoting lever from the stowed position to a protruding position.
8. The side door of claim 7, wherein the first spring is a catch spring to urge the pivoting lever toward the stowed position.
9. The side door of claim 6, wherein: the locking device has a rocker, the rocker is movable between a latched position and an unlatched position, when the rocker is in the latched position, the rocker retains the pivoting lever in the stowed position, when the rocker moves from the latched position to the unlatched position, the rocker pushes the pivoting lever to a protruding position, and the rocker exits the latched position via one or more of a predefined pivoting movement and manual tensioning of a spring element.
10. The side door of claim 1, wherein: the door lock actuator has a locking device, the locking device has a push-push element, the push-push element selectively retains the pivoting lever in a stowed position, when the push-push element is released via a movement of the pivoting lever in a first direction, the push-push element pushes the pivoting lever in a second direction from the stowed position into a protruding position, and the second direction is opposite the first direction.
11. The side door of claim 1, wherein the electric switch selectively electrically actuates the door lock.
12. The side door of claim 11, wherein the electric switch and the mechanical actuating means are actuated in a first movement direction.
13. The side door of claim 11, wherein: the door lock actuator has a locking device, when the pivoting lever moves in a first direction, the pivoting lever unlocks the locking device, and when the electric switch moves in the first direction, the electric switch actuates the door lock.
14. The side door of claim 1, wherein: the door lock actuator has a pressure mechanism, and the pressure mechanism is configured to push the pivoting lever from a stowed position to a protruding position.
15. A module for a side door of a motor vehicle comprising: a door lock actuator connected to a door lock, the door lock actuator being an interior door actuator and having a pivoting lever pivotably mounted about a rotational axis of a joint, the pivoting lever having a coupling section connected to a mechanical actuating means of the door lock; an electric switch disposed in the pivoting lever and connected to the door lock via a signal line; and an interior door handle having one or more fastening regions, and at least one handle region, the handle region defining an opening to receive a hand and having an axial extent, wherein: the pivoting lever is integrated into the handle region of the interior door handle, and the rotational axis is oriented substantially transversely with respect to the axial extent.
Description
(1) The invention is now to be illustrated further by way of example using outline drawings, in which:
(2) FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a detail of a side door according to the invention having a module according to the invention with a door lock actuator and an interior door pull handle,
(3) FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a module having a door lock actuator and an interior door pull handle from the prior art,
(4) FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of one embodiment of the invention based on FIG. 1, there additionally being a switch,
(5) FIGS. 4a-4c show perspective views of different operating states of the invention, based on FIG. 1 and FIG. 3,
(6) FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a further embodiment of the invention based on the preceding figures with an engagement recess,
(7) FIGS. 6a-6d in each case show details of perspective views (FIGS. 6a-6c) and a sectional view (FIG. 6d) of a further embodiment of the invention based on FIG. 1,
(8) FIGS. 7a-7c in each case show details of sectional views (FIGS. 7a, 7c) and a perspective view (FIG. 7b) of one embodiment of the invention based on FIGS. 6a-6d, there additionally being a switch,
(9) FIGS. 8a-8b in each case show details of sectional views of one variant of an embodiment of the invention as shown in FIGS. 7a-7b,
(10) FIGS. 9a-9b in each case show details of a perspective (FIG. 9a) and sectional (FIG. 9b) illustration of one embodiment based on FIGS. 8a-8b, one example of a locking device (40) additionally being shown,
(11) FIG. 10 shows an outline illustration of the positioning of a push-push element based on FIG. 1, and
(12) FIGS. 11a-11c shows an outline illustration of a door lock actuator having an additional pressure mechanism in different states based on FIG. 1.
(13) FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a detail of a side door 100 according to the invention of a motor vehicle having a module according to the invention with a door lock actuator 1 and an interior door pull handle 130. The side door has: a door lock actuator 1 for a door lock, the door lock actuator 1 being an interior door actuator and having a pivoting lever 30 which is mounted such that it can be pivoted about a rotational axis 21.1 of a joint 21, the pivoting lever 30 having a coupling section 33 for a mechanical actuating means 140 of the door lock, to which coupling section 33 the mechanical actuating means 140 (here, a Bowden cable) is coupled in the installed state, an interior door pull handle 130 having preferably two fastening regions 132.1, 132.2 here and having a handle region 131 which can be reached behind by a hand, can be reached around completely over 360 here, the handle region 131 having an axial extent 131a. The pivoting lever 30 is integrated into the handle region 131 of the interior door pull handle 130, the rotational axis 21.1 being oriented transversely with respect to the axial extent 131a. The pivoting lever 30 preferably has a longitudinal extent 30a in the lever direction.
(14) FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a module having a door lock actuator 1 and an interior door pull handle 130 from the prior art, in which module the pivoting lever 30 is not integrated into the handle region 131 of the interior door pull handle 130 and, in addition, the rotational axis 21.1 is not oriented transversely with respect to the axial extent 131a.
(15) FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of one embodiment of the invention based on FIG. 1, there additionally being a switch 10. The electric switch 10 is connected via a signal line to the door lock, with the result that the door lock can be actuated electrically by way of the switch 10. In addition, the door lock actuator 1 has a push-push element 41 which (for example, as shown in FIG. 10) is arranged in a lower half of the interior door pull handle 130, here the handle region 131, and which is set up, as a consequence of a pressure on the pivoting lever 30, to pivot the latter into a position (see FIG. 4b) which can be gripped by a hand or can be gripped in an improved manner by a hand. In its rest position (see FIG. 1, FIG. 3a), the pivoting lever 30 merges all the way around in a flat and flush manner into the surfaces of the handle region 131 which adjoin it. The interior door pull handle 130 is fastened to the door 100 in a manner which runs obliquely from the front at the top. In addition, auxiliary lines are illustrated which preferably help to differentiate the different regions 132.1, 131, 132.2 of the interior door pull handle 130 from one another. The longitudinal extent 30a is preferably measured from the rotational axis 21.1 as far as the distal end of the pivoting lever 30. The axial extent 131a of the handle region 131 is preferably measured by way of the shortest free path on the door trim surface between the attaching points of the interior door pull handle 130. The pivoting lever 30 overlaps the handle region 131 with 100% of its longitudinal extent 30a. Approximately 80% of the longitudinal extent 131a of the handle region 131 overlaps with the pivoting lever 30. Here, the switch 10 can preferably be actuated by means of pivoting of the pivoting lever 30 in direction B.
(16) The push-push element can preferably be part of a locking device 40, with the result that the push-push element not only causes the pivoting lever 30 to pivot outward but rather also blocks the pivoting lever 30 with respect to a movement A for mechanical door lock actuation in a blocked state. In this case, the door lock actuator 1 which is shown here has a locking device 40 which can be unlocked by means of a manual unlocking movement and by means of which a preferably positively locking locking action of the pivoting lever 30 with respect to a movement in direction A of the actuation of the mechanical actuating means is provided. The locking device 40 has a latching element which is situated in a latched position in a certain angular position or a certain angular range of the pivoting lever 30, it being possible for the latched position to be left by way of manual indirect stressing of a spring element which is, for example, part of the push-push element 41. The locking device 40 has the push-push element 41. The push-push element 41 has the latching element. In a blocked position, the push-push element blocks the pivoting lever 30 with respect to a pivoting movement in direction A (see FIG. 4c) of a door lock actuation by means of the mechanical actuating means 140. The latching element is released by way of a movement of the pivoting lever 30 in a direction B (see FIG. 4a) which is opposed to the movement in direction A of the door lock actuation by means of the mechanical actuating means 140, which is initiated by way of manual indirect or direct pressing of the pivoting lever against the spring element, with the result that the actuation of the door lock is possible by means of the mechanical actuating means 140. The locking device 40 can be unlocked by means of the manual unlocking movement in direction B, and the movement direction for actuating the switch 10 is identical to said direction B. In addition, the switch 10 is necessarily actuated before or at the same time as the unlocking action when the unlocking movement is carried out.
(17) FIG. 4a-4c show perspective views of different operating states of the invention, based on FIG. 1 and FIG. 3.
(18) FIG. 4a shows how the switch 10 can be actuated by way of pressure (which is direct here, but a further operating element can also be connected in between) on the pivoting lever 30 in direction B, preferably in the vicinity of that end of the pivoting lever 30 which is distal from the axis 21.1. If a push-push element is integrated, the push-push element can be activated by way of further pressing from the switching point, with the result that it presses the pivoting lever 30 into a protruding position, in which the pivoting lever can be gripped at all or can at least be gripped in an improved manner compared with previously (that is to say, in particular, by way of pulling surfaces), which is shown in FIG. 4b. As an alternative, the pivoting lever 30 can be moved into the position which is shown in FIG. 4b manually (for example, by way of a manual clamping grip on both side surfaces or by means of a finger which engages into the engagement recess 133 which is shown in FIG. 5), with the result that the push-push element can also be dispensed with, depending on which form of comfort and operation is desired. In the position which is shown in FIG. 4b, the pivoting lever 30 can then be gripped by a hand satisfactorily and can be pulled further in direction A as far as into the position which is shown in FIG. 4c and in which the mechanical actuating means 140 actuates the door lock.
(19) FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a further embodiment of the invention based on the previous figures with an engagement recess 133. In its rest position which is shown here, the pivoting lever 30 merges in a flat and flush manner into the surfaces of the handle region 131 which adjoin it, apart from an engagement recess 133 for two fingers.
(20) FIG. 6a-6d in each case show details of perspective views (FIGS. 6 a-6c) and a sectional view (FIG. 6d) of a further embodiment of the invention based on FIG. 1. The pivoting lever 30 extends into the fastening region 132.2. There, which is illustrated in conjunction with FIG. 7c, it defines surfaces 34, 35, 38 which are bent or curved by angles 37, 37, 37 in the range from 30 to 225 with respect to the pivoting lever 30 in the handle region 131, the angle 37 being approximately 30, the angle 37 being approximately 135 and the angle 37 being approximately 190. A push-push element as in FIG. 3 can also be present here. The pivoting lever 30 forms an upper side 34 in a fastening region 132.2. At the end of the upper side 34, it forms a front side 35 which forms an overhang and can be hooked into by means of one or more fingers of a hand, which is indicated in FIG. 6d. A finger recess 38 for from one to three, preferably two fingers is preferably formed below the overhang. The interior door pull handle 130 is formed by at least one outer grip plate 134 and one inner grip plate 135, the pivoting lever 90 being mounted there such that it can be pivoted between the two grip plates 134, 135. The position, in which the pivoting lever 30 actuates the mechanical actuating means for door lock actuator, is indicated in each case in a dashed manner by way of outline/detail and is marked with 30. Since action surfaces are available for moving the pivoting lever 30 in direction A on account of the angled-away upper side 34 and, in particular, the front side 35 which is angled away yet further and/or also aided further by the finger recess 38 even without a push-push element, it is preferred if the pivoting lever 30 merges all the way around in a flat and flush manner into the surfaces of the handle region 131 which adjoin it.
(21) FIGS. 7a-7c in each case show details of sectional views (FIGS. 7a, 7c) and a perspective view (FIG. 7b) of one embodiment of the invention based on FIGS. 6a-6d, there additionally being a switch 10. The manually actuable electric switch 10 is connected via a signal line to the door lock, with the result that the door lock can be actuated electrically by way of the switch 10. As shown in FIG. 7a and as can be seen from the section in FIG. 7c, the switch can be actuated in a particularly satisfactory manner via a pressure on the upper surface 34, it not being necessary in this embodiment for the pivoting lever 30 to be pivoted in direction B for this purpose, since the switch 10 can be pressed by means of a flexible upper wall of the pivoting lever. As an alternative, it is also conceivable that the switch 10 is arranged in such a way that the pivoting lever 30 is pivoted completely in direction B, in order to actuate the switch 10. The mechanical door lock actuation is produced, furthermore, via a pulling action on the front surface 35 and/or the finger recess 38, as shown in FIG. 7a.
(22) FIGS. 8a-8b in each case show details of sectional views of one variant of an embodiment of the invention as shown in FIGS. 7a-7b. Here, the switch 10 is actuated by way of a pressure on the front surface 35 and/or the finger recess 38. The movement direction for actuating the switch 10 and the movement direction for actuating the mechanical actuating means 140 are substantially identical, since both the switch 10 can be switched (FIG. 8a) and the pivoting lever 30 can be pivoted back (FIG. 8b) by means of a manual force which is applied to the surface 35. The switch can be actuated behind a flexible wall 36 of the front side 35 of the pivoting lever 30 with deformation of said wall 36, but as an alternative an (uncovered) pushbutton is also conceivable.
(23) FIGS. 9a-9b in each case show details of a perspective (FIG. 9a) and sectional (FIG. 9b) illustration of one embodiment based on FIGS. 8a-8b, one example of a locking device 40 being additionally shown. The door lock actuator 1 has the locking device 40 which can be unlocked by means of a manual unlocking movement. By means of said locking device 40, a preferably positively locking locking action of the pivoting lever 30 is provided with respect to a movement in direction A of the actuation of the mechanical actuating means. The locking device 40 has a latching element 42 which is situated in a latched position in a defined angular position or a defined angular range of the pivoting lever 30. Said latched position can be left by way of manual stressing of the flexible wall 36 which acts as a spring element. In its latching position (FIG. 9a) and the rest position of the pivoting lever 30, the latching element 42 (here, a latching web) bears with a blocking contour (not shown) at a part which is stationary with respect to the pivoting lever 30, for example against at least one of the grip plates 135, 135. The latching web therefore prevents a rotation of the pivoting lever 30 in direction A. If the latching web is then moved into a released position by means of pressure on the flexible wall 36, the latching web can rotate past the blocking contour when the pivoting lever 30 is pivoted in direction A.
(24) The locking device 40 can therefore be unlocked by means of a manual unlocking movement. Here, in addition, a movement direction for actuating the switch 10 and a direction of the unlocking movement are substantially identical. Moreover, the switch 10 is necessarily actuated before or at the same time as the unlocking action when the unlocking movement is carried out.
(25) FIG. 10 shows an outline illustration of the positioning of a push-push element, based here on the FIG. 1 and FIGS. 3-5, which, however, is preferably arranged in the same way as in the embodiments of FIGS. 6a-9b. Here, the coupling region 33 has a freewheel in the form of a slotted guide for the Bowden cable nipple.
(26) In all embodiments which are shown, the longitudinal extent 30a of the pivoting lever 30 is preferably greater than the transverse extent or the cross section of the interior door pull handle 130, and the rotational axis 21.1 is preferably oriented substantially parallel to the roadway plane or the vehicle floor and transversely with respect to the straight-ahead driving direction of the motor vehicle. In addition, it is preferred in all embodiments if a spring prestresses the pivoting lever 30 in direction B, counter to direction A, this preferably being a separate spring to a possible spring, for example, of the door catch, counter to which spring the mechanical actuating means 140 already operates.
(27) FIGS. 11a-11c show an outline illustration of a door lock actuator 1, based on FIG. 1, having an additional pressure mechanism 50 in different states. The embodiment as an interior door actuator, an interior door pull handle 130 and the integration of the pivoting lever 30 into the handle region 131 of the interior door pull handle 130 are not absolutely necessary, which can be claimed, for example, as a separate application.
(28) The pivoting lever 30 has a stowed position (FIG. 11a) and a protruding position (FIG. 11b). In the stowed position, the pivoting lever 30 merges all the way around in a flat and flush manner into the surfaces which adjoin it. In the protruding position, the pivoting lever 30 can be gripped by a hand, with the result that it can be pulled.
(29) The door lock actuator 1 has an unlockable locking device 40, by means of which a locking action of the pivoting lever 30 with respect to a movement in direction A of the actuation of the mechanical actuating means is provided in the stowed position. The locking action takes place by means of a retaining force maximum which has to be overcome, in order to move the pivoting lever 30 in direction A of the actuation of the mechanical actuating means, starting from the stowed position, the force which is necessary for the further movement of the pivoting lever in the direction of the actuation of the mechanical actuating means first of all being smaller again, after the holding force maximum is overcome, than the retaining force maximum. The stowed position and the protruding position are defined by means of the locking device 40 in such a way that, insofar as they have been assumed, they are stable positions, in which the pivoting lever 30 remains, if no additional active force (for example, manual pushing/pulling, electrically produced force) is applied to it. The locking device 40 has two springs 43, 44 which are stressed antagonistically with respect to one another and the one rest position of which defines the protruding position of the pivoting lever 30. The spring 44 The spring 43 is a catch spring 43 and the other spring 44 is a linear spring. Together with the other spring 44, the catch spring 43 defines a second rest position which defines the stowed position of the pivoting lever 30. Here, the linear spring 44 is a spiral spring which is plugged onto a fixed pin and the one end of which presses against a pin of the pivoting lever 30. In FIG. 11a, the catch spring 43 is pressed in to the greatest extent and is situated on the other side (in relation to the relieved state, FIG. 11c) of the snap-over point in the second region, the catch spring 43 is on this side of the snap-over point in the first region in FIG. 11a, and the catch spring 43 is completely relieved in FIG. 11c. The catch spring 43 loads the pivoting lever 30 in direction A, that is to say it presses it from the stowed position into the protruding position; the other spring 44 loads the pivoting lever 30 in direction B.
(30) The door lock actuator 1 has a manually actuable electric switch 10 which is connected via a signal line to the door lock, with the result that the door lock can be actuated electrically by way of the switch 10.
(31) In addition to the pivoting lever 30, the door lock actuator 1 has a pressure mechanism 50, the pressure mechanism 50 being set up to deflect a manual pressure force which acts on it (arrow in FIG. 11b) onto the pivoting lever 30 in direction A of the actuation of the mechanical actuating means.
(32) The pressure mechanism 50 has a touch surface 51 which can be manually pressed directly as part of the rocker 52 which is mentioned in the following text. The touch surface 51 is arranged directly adjacently with respect to the pivoting lever 30. The pressure mechanism 50 is a purely mechanical gear mechanism which couples the touch surface 51 to the pivoting lever 30. The pivoting lever 30 can be pressed out actively by means of the pressure mechanism 50, with the result that it can be gripped. The pressure mechanism 50 is mounted on its own in relation to the vehicle door, via the rocker axis 52.1 here (see below).
(33) The pressure mechanism 50 has a rocker 52. The rocker 52 is mounted such that it can be rotated about a rocker axis 52.1. The rocker axis 52.1 is parallel to the pivoting axis 21.1 of the pivoting lever 30. The rocker 52 has a pivoting lever coupling section 52.2. The latter is arranged rotated by approximately 180 about the rocker axis 52.1 with regard to the touch surface 51. The rocker axis 52.1 lies between the touch surface 51 and the pivoting lever coupling section 52.2. In FIGS. 11b and 11c, the pivoting lever coupling section 52.2 bears against the pivoting lever 30 and is set up to transmit a rotation of the rocker 52 about the rocker axis 52.1 to the pivoting lever 30, with the result that the pivoting lever 30 pivots in direction A.
(34) The rocker 52 is set up to directly actuate the manually actuable electric switch as a consequence of a pressure on the sensor surface 51 and the resulting movement of the touch surface 51. In that pivoting range of the rocker 52 which is required for actuating the switch 10, the rocker 52 preferably does not yet bear against the pivoting lever 30, with the result that no deflection of the pressure force onto the pivoting lever 30 yet takes place during a switch actuation and said pivoting lever 30 remains at rest. The rocker 52 is set up to move the pivoting lever 30 in direction A during a movement of the touch surface 51 which goes beyond the movement for actuating the electric switch 10. The switch can thus be actuated by way of light/normal pressing, and the pivoting lever 30 is moved, for example, into the protruding position by way of pronounced pressing.
(35) The rocker 52 is prestressed by means of a spring into a rest position (FIG. 11a). Here, it is the other spring end of the spring 44, which also prestresses the pivoting lever 30 in direction B into the stowed position, which loads the rocker 52, with the result that only one spring 44 is necessary, in order to hold the pivoting lever 30 and rocker 52 in their rest position. The rest position of the rocker 52 is such that the touch surface 51 merges in a flat and flush manner into the surfaces which adjoin it.
(36) The locking device 40 can be unlocked by means of a manual unlocking movement (pressure on the pressure surface 51), and a movement direction for actuating the switch 10 and a direction of the unlocking movement are therefore identical, since, in the case of a further pressure beyond the actuating point of the switch 10, the pivoting lever 30 can be moved out of its stowed position which is locked by means of the two springs 43, 44 into the protruding position which is then no longer locked.
(37) It is also conceivable, however, that the pivoting lever 30 is prestressed permanently in the direction of the protruding position by way of (preferably only) one spring and then forms a rest position there by way of another spring (which can also be a spring of the mechanical door actuation). A blocking element, however, locks the pivoting lever 30 in the stowed position first of all. By way of pivoting of the rocker 52 beyond the actuating point of the switch 10, the blocking element is then released and the pivoting lever 30 jumps out.
(38) A possible operation of the example which is shown in FIGS. 11a-11c is as follows: in order to actuate the door lock electrically, the user can actuate the switch 10 via the rocker 52 by way of light pressure on the pressure surface 51. The pivoting lever 30 does not move here. If the user releases the pressure surface 51 again, the rocker 52 is restored back into its flush starting position on account of the spring 44. Then, for example in the case of an emergency, the pivoting lever 30 can be moved out of the stowed position into the protruding position (FIG. 11b) by means of the rocker 52, by means of a more pronounced pressure on the pressure surface 51. During the transition from the stowed position into the protruding position, the catch spring 43 snaps back from the snapped-over state into the non-snapped-over state, said catch spring 43 exerting a greater force on the pivoting lever 30 than previously in the non-snapped-over state close to the snap-over point (FIG. 11b). The force which is applied to the pivoting lever 30 in the opposite direction in this position by way of the spring 44 is not sufficient, in order to move the catch spring 43 into the snapped-over state again (FIG. 11a). As a consequence, when the user releases the pressure surface 51, although the rocker 52 moves back into its rest position again (FIG. 11a) on account of the spring 44, the pivoting lever 30 remains in the protruding position, since a spring equilibrium of the non-snapped-over catch spring 43 and the spring 44 is present in said position. From here, the user can grip the pivoting lever 30 and mechanically actuate the door lock in a pulling manner (FIG. 11c).
(39) This invention has presented a door handle for the interior actuation of the vehicle side door including the door lock, in the case of which door handle there is firstly a large lever for mechanical door lock actuation, and secondly there is very satisfactory integration and therefore an installation-saving manner with few components.
