Handle module for a motor vehicle door

Abstract

A handle module is provided for fastening an outer door handle to a motor vehicle door with a modular basic body that in a final assembly state with its outer door handle protrudes through an opening in the outer door panel and comes to lie on the inside of the outer door panel. A giver is mounted on the modular basic body in a manner allowing pivoting or turning can be brought in operational connection with a taker of the door lock via an actuation rod. A shielding device is provided that at least partially encloses the giver at least in some regions.

Claims

1. A handle module for the fastening of an outer door handle to a motor vehicle door, comprising: a modular basic body having an outer door handle, said modular basic body being configured to be arranged on an inside of an outer door panel of a motor vehicle door with the outer door handle protruding through an opening of the outer door panel; the modular basic body including a planar transmission element secured to the modular basic body and extending towards an actuation rod to bring about a breakage of the actuation rod upon occurrence of an external force that deforms the motor vehicle door, the planar transmission element having an L-shaped cross section, wherein a first leg extends in a vehicle transverse direction towards the actuation rod and a second leg of the L-shaped configuration extends between the modular basic body and the outer door panel; a giver mounted on the modular basic body and adapted for an operational connection with a taker of a door lock via the actuation rod; and a shielding device at least partially enclosing a region of the giver to protect and secure the giver against external manipulation, wherein the giver is pivotably mounted on the modular basic body and wherein the giver can be pivoted between a basic and an actuation position by actuating the outer door handle, wherein the actuation rod comprises a rod part, a connecting part articulated on the giver and a predetermined breaking point formed between the rod part and at least a portion of the connecting part.

2. The handle module according to claim 1, wherein the shielding device is fixed to the modular basic body.

3. The handle module according to claim 1, wherein the shielding device is unreleasably arranged on the modular basic body so that at least partial destruction of at least one of the shielding device and the modular basic body is required to disassemble the shielding device from the modular basic body.

4. The handle module according to claim 1, wherein the shielding device is a box-shaped cover and adapted to open towards a bottom and towards the door lock.

5. The handle module according to claim 1, wherein the shielding device is arranged on a side of the modular basic body facing away from the outer door handle.

6. The handle module according to claim 1, wherein the shielding device substantially extends over an entire height of the modular basic body and extends along a vehicle vertical axis.

7. The handle module according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined breaking point is formed in the connecting part.

8. A method for assembly of a closing device on a motor vehicle door, comprising: providing a handle module comprising a modular basic body having an outer door handle; arranging the handle module on an inside of an outer door panel of a motor vehicle door with the outer door handle protruding through an opening of the outer door panel, the modular basic body including a planar transmission element secured to the handle module and extending towards an actuation rod to bring about a breakage of the actuation rod upon occurrence of an external force that deforms the motor vehicle door, wherein the planar transmission element has an L-shaped cross section with a first leg extending in a vehicle transverse direction towards the actuation rod and a second leg of the L-shaped configuration extending between the modular basic body and the outer door panel and wherein the actuation rod comprises a rod part and a connecting part; mounting a giver on the modular basic body adapted for an operational connection with a taker of a door lock via the actuation rod; preassembling the connecting part to the giver; thereafter, at least partially enclosing a region of the giver with a shielding device to protect and secure the giver against external manipulation; connecting the connecting part to the rod part in a second operational connection with the taker of the door lock; and fastening the handle module to a door structure.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the mounting the giver is pivotably mounting.

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein the mounting the giver is rotatably mounting.

11. The method according to claim 8, further comprising fixing the shielding device to the modular basic body.

12. The method according to claim 8, further comprising unreleasably arranging the shielding device on the modular basic body.

13. The handle module according to claim 1, wherein a connection of the connecting part and the rod part comprises the predetermined breaking point.

14. A handle module for the fastening of an outer door handle to a motor vehicle door, comprising: a modular basic body having an outer door handle, said modular basic body being configured to be arranged on an inside of an outer door panel of a motor vehicle door with the outer door handle protruding through an opening of the outer door panel; the modular basic body including a planar transmission element secured to the modular basic body and extending towards an actuation rod to bring about a breakage of the actuation rod upon occurrence of an external force that deforms the motor vehicle door, the planar transmission element having an L-shaped cross section, wherein a first leg extends in a vehicle transverse direction towards the actuation rod and a second leg of the L-shaped configuration extends between the modular basic body and the outer door panel; a giver mounted on the modular basic body and adapted for an operational connection with a taker of a door lock via the actuation rod; and a shielding device fixed to the modular basic body, the shielding device having a box-shape and extending over an entire height of the modular basic body and extending along a vehicle vertical axis to protect and secure the giver against external manipulation, wherein the giver is pivotably mounted on the modular basic body and wherein the giver can be pivoted between a basic and an actuation position by actuating the outer door handle, wherein the actuation rod comprises a rod part, a connecting part articulated on the giver, and a predetermined breaking point formed between the rod part and at least a portion of the connecting part such that the planar transmission element contacts and breaks the actuation rod at the predetermined breaking point when the door is subjected to an external force in the vehicle transverse direction.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the following drawing figures, wherein like numerals denote like elements:

(2) FIG. 1 is an isolated perspective representation of a handle module, seen from the vehicle inside;

(3) FIG. 2 is a further perspective representation of the handle module according to FIG. 1 from another perspective;

(4) FIG. 3 is the handle module in the representation according to FIG. 1 with shielding device arranged thereon;

(5) FIG. 4 is the handle module according to FIG. 3 seen from a face end; and

(6) FIG. 5 is the handle module according to FIG. 4 along the section line A-A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(7) The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit application and uses. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any theory presented in the preceding background or summary or the following detailed description.

(8) The handle module 10 shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 4 in partially different perspective representations comprises a modular basic body 12 on which towards the door inside a pivotable giver 14 designed according to the type of a crank is arranged. The giver is moveable by means of an outer door handle 13 and arranged on the side of the modular basic body 12 located opposite the giver 14 and protruding through an outer door panel 15 of the vehicle door. For opening a door lock with a taker 17 it is for instance provided that the giver 14 designed in the manner of a crank with its free end moves upwards in the representation according to FIG. 1.

(9) Upon a corresponding opening movement the actuation or lock rod 16 articulated thereon is likewise pulled upwards so that the actuation lever of the door lock, which is likewise preferentially in an operational connection in a pivotable manner with a lower end portion of the lock rod 16, is pulled upwards into its release position. The lock rod 16 in the present embodiment according to FIG. 1 to FIG. 5 is at least designed in two parts, and a connecting part 20 is located at the top is pivotably articulated on the giver 14. The connecting part 20 is additionally connected to a rod part 22 that in turn is in engagement with the not explicitly depicted actuation lever of the door lock. Between rod part 22 and connecting part, or in the transition region of connecting part 20 and rod part 22 a predetermined breaking point 24 or a weakening is provided, which ensures a defined breaking-apart of the actuation rod 16 as soon as for example during the course of a break-in attempt external forces act on the door structure.

(10) Such forces can preferentially be absorbed with a transmission element 26, as is shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, by an outer door panel deforming as a result of the force effect and directly transmitted to the connecting part 20 and/or the rod part 22, which ultimately results in the breakage of the predetermined breaking point 24. As a consequence of this the lower rod part 22 due to the force of gravity will fold away downwards so that it can no longer be grasped with the help of conventional break-in means and opening of the door lock will consequently be no longer possible.

(11) In addition a shielding device or cover 18 acting as cover is shown in FIG. 3, FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 that largely completely encloses the connecting region of giver 14 and actuation rod 16, rendering it inaccessible to possible break-in tools. Here, the cover 18 is preferentially unreleasably connected to the basic body 12 of the handle module 10 so that following reciprocal assembly, disassembly of the connecting part 20 and the cover 18 from the basic body 12 or from the giver 14 can no longer be effected in a non-destructive manner. Additionally, it proves an advantage if the connecting part 20 and the rod part 22 of the actuation rod 16 are only connected to each other during the course of a final assembly of the closing device on the motor vehicle door. Because of this it is made possible to fasten the connecting part 20 already preconfigured on the giver 14 and to arrange such a handle module 10 provided with a cover 18 as a whole on the door structure of the motor vehicle in a simple manner.

(12) The connection of connecting part 20 and rod part 22 in this case can be preferentially effected via positive connection means for example via a bayonet-like closure mechanism which requires twisting of the rod part 22 relative to the connecting part 20 during the course of the final assembly. Turning back releasing the bayonet closure in this case is prevented for example through the fastening of door lock and handle module 10 to the door structure.

(13) While at least one exemplary embodiment has been presented in the foregoing summary and detailed description, it should be appreciated that a vast number of variations exist. It should also be appreciated that the exemplary embodiment or exemplary embodiments are only examples, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration in any way. Rather, the foregoing summary and detailed description will provide those skilled in the art with a convenient road map for implementing an exemplary embodiment, it being understood that various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements described in an exemplary embodiment without departing from the scope as set forth in the appended claims and their legal equivalents.