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BERTOLOTTI POTACHIN, Angelo (Via A. Cruto, 18/1, Torino, Torino, IT)
| CLAIMS 1. A handle group (1) for a vehicle door (2) comprising a support (3) fixable to the door, a grip (4) carried by the support in a tilting manner between a resting position, in which the grip lays substantially parallel to the support, and a working position, in which the grip is rotated with respect to the support so as to be arranged with at least one first end (5) thereof away from the support, a control body (8) carried by the support rotatable between a locking position, in which it is adapted in use to keep respective door locking means (10) engaged, and an unlocking position, in which it is adapted in use to disengage the door locking means; and one arm (12) operatively connected to the first end (5) of the grip to rotate the control body (8) to the unlocking position when the grip (4) is in the working position; characterized in that the control body (8) comprises: a first (13) and a second (14) element pivotally mounted, independently of each other, on a same first axis (A) and against the bias of first elastic means (15), one element (13) operatively connected to the arm (12) and the other element (14) operatively connected in use to the locking means (10); and means (19) for selectively constraining and releasing the first and second elements to/from each other, and comprising a mass (20) pivotally carried by the first element about a second axis (B) parallel to the grip, said selective constraining/releasing means (19) being arranged so that the mass (20) is free to rotate in use towards the grip (4) for releasing the first element (13) from the second element (14). 2. A handle group according to claim 1, characterized in that said mass (20) is an eccentric mass with respect to the second axis (B) . 3. A handle group according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said mass (20) consists of a third element (21) made of a metal alloy and L-shaped, having a first arm (22) pivoted to the first element (13) at a first end thereof, so as to pivot about the second axis (B), and a second arm (23) transversally carried by the first arm at a second end thereof, opposite to the first end, and arranged parallel to the second axis (B) ; the second axis being parallel to the first axis (A) and being arranged between the latter and the arm (12) operatively associated with the first end (5) of the grip, the length of the first arm (22) of the third L- shaped element being such that the second arm (23) thereof is arranged further away from the arm (12) operatively associated with the first end of the grip with respect to the first axis (A) . 4. A handle group according to claim 3, characterized in that second elastic elements (25) are operatively associated with said third element (21), are arranged at the second axis (B) and have a preset stiffness so as to normally make the third element (21) angularly integral with the first element (13) and to allow a relative rotation between the third and first elements due to the elastic yield, when the third element (21) is subjected to a transversal acceleration (T) of preset entity with respect to the second axis (B), e.g. because of a side crash experienced by the vehicle, a door of which is provided with said group. 5. A handle group according to claim 4, characterized in that said selective constraining/releasing means (19) further comprise a recess (26) obtained in the second element (14) in a position immediately adjacent to the first element (13) and on one face (27) of the second element facing the grip, the recess (26) being open towards the grip and laterally towards the first element, and being delimited by a bottom wall (28) arranged on the side opposite to the grip which, due to the second elastic means (25), is normally engaged in use in abutment against the second arm (23) of the third L-shaped element (21), so that the first element (13) is adapted to drive the second element (14) in rotation by means of the second arm (23) of the third element whenever the grip (4) is taken to the working position by a user. 6. A handle group according to claim 5, characterized in that said recess (26) is shaped so as to be adapted to be abandoned by the second arm (23) of the third L-shaped element whenever the stiffness of said second elastic means (25) is exceeded due to a stress exerted on the third element (21) to rotate towards the grip upon applying said acceleration (T) thereon, which acceleration is transversal to the second axis; said recess (26) being obtained at one end (29) of the second element (14) distal from the first axis (A) and arranged further away from the arm (12) operatively associated with the first end of the grip with respect to the first axis (A) . 7. A handle group according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first and second elements (13,14) are mounted so as to rotate about the first axis (A) against the bias of the same first elastic means (15), which consist of a helical spring ending with opposite rectilinear ends (30,31) which tangentially and overhangingly extend with respect to a winding axis (C) thereof to tangentially engage the first and second elements (13,14), respectively, the helical spring (15) being carried by the support (3) with the winding axis (C) thereof arranged away from the first axis (A) and from the rotating mass (20) . 8. A handle group according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first element (13) has a first fork-shaped end (16), which is engaged by said arm (12) operatively associated with a first end of the grip, and a second end (17), opposite to the first, pivoted to the support (3) so as to rotate about the first axis (A) . 9. A handle group according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said second element (14) is operatively associated with a Bowden cable (11) connectable in use to said door locking means (10). 10. A vehicle door (2) provided with a handle group (1) made according to one of the claims from 1 to 9. |
The present invention relates to a handle group for a vehicle door provided with a safety releasing system from the door locking means, for example consisting of a lock, so as to avoid the door from accidentally opening in case of side crash of the vehicle.
BACKGROUND ART
It is known, for example from EP 1950366, a handle group for a vehicle door provided with a safety device which prevents the inertia forces, which are developed during a side crash, from opening the door; such a phenomenon occurs in handle groups provided with a tilting grip, in which in order to open the door, the user rotates the grip with respect to a support for the same restrained to the door, so as to move one end of the handle away from the support; such an end is normally associated with a control arm, which is operatively associated with a rotating body carried by the support and connected to a Bowden cable, connected in turn to door locking means consisting of the lock itself. By manually rotating the grip, the user pulls the Bowden cable and produces the unlocking of the lock. In case of a side crash of the vehicle, however, the grip may be rotated by the inertia forces, thus releasing the lock and causing the door to open with severe danger for the passengers. In order to avoid this drawback, in the handle group according to EP 1950366, the grip is normally disconnected from the rotating body and integrally provided with a safety lever carried on the back of the grip so as to be pressed by the user during the manual rotation of the grip; the safety lever controls a coupling lever which only at this point, i.e. with the safety lever beign manually pressed, connects the grip to the rotating body, thus allowing the door locking means to be manually released, but not to be accidentally released due to a side crash.
The described handle group is however relatively complex and expensive to be manufactured, and may imply operating difficulties during manual opening.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art by providing a handle group for a vehicle door which is simple in construction, reliable, compact and relatively cost- effective to be manufactured, while avoiding the door from opening in case of side crash of the vehicle.
The present invention thus relates to a handle group for a vehicle door, as defined in claim 1.
In particular, the handle group comprises a support fixable to the door, a grip carried by the support in a tilting manner between a resting position, in which the grip lays substantially parallel to the support, and a working position in which the grip is rotated with respect to the support, so as to be arranged with at least a first end thereof away from the support, a control body carried by the support so as to rotate between a locking position, in which it is adapted in use to keep the respective door locking means engaged, and an unlocking position in which it is adapted to disengage the door locking means; and one arm operatively connected to the first end of the grip to rotate the control body to the unlocking position when the grip is in the working position.
According to a feature of the invention, the control body is split into several elements and, in particular, comprises: a first and a second element pivotally mounted, independently of each other, on the same first axis and against the bias of first elastic means, one of the elements being operatively connected to the arm and the other being operatively connected in use to the locking means; and means for selectively constraining and releasing the first and second elements to/from each other, and comprising a mass pivotally carried by the first element about a second axis parallel to the grip, where said selective constraining/ releasing means are arranged so that the mass is free to rotate, in use, towards the grip to release the first element from the second element.
In particular, the mass is an eccentric mass with respect to the second axis.
The invention further relates to a vehicle door provided with the handle group according to the invention .
Thereby, the grip which is made of synthetic plastic material, as well as the first and second elements of the control body, is normally always connected to the Bowden cable connected to the door lock, whereby the manual opening of the door is free from difficulties. In the case of a side crash, however, the eccentric mass particularly consisting of a third L- shaped element of the control body made of a metal alloy, is subjected to an inertial effect which is higher than that of the grip, the acceleration applied to the vehicle and therefore to the handle group being egual, transversally to the first and second axes, which are normally parallel; therefore, the mass rotates before the grip, disconnecting the first element of the control body from the second element; when the grip is also rotated by the inertia forces, it only rotates the element of the two elements of the control body to which it is operatively connected by means of the arm, while the other, connected to the Bowden cable which actuates the door locking means remains open, thus preventing the door from accidentally opening.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Further features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment, merely provided by way of non-limitative example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
- figure 1 shows an axonometric, three-quarters back view of a handle group for a vehicle door made according to the invention, depicted in a first configuration of use;
- figure 2 shows the same view as figure 1, with parts removed, of the handle group of the invention depicted in a second configuration of use;
- figure 3 shows a detail on enlarged scale, seen in the perspective three-quarters front view of the handle group in figure 1; and
- figures 4 and 5 show the handle group according to the invention, depicted in a third configuration of use, in a front perspective view and from different angles.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
With reference to figures from 1 to 5, numeral 1 indicates as a whole a handle group for a door 2 of a vehicle, known and not shown.
Handle group 1 comprises a support 3, only diagrammatically shown in figure 1, mostly transparently, which may be fixed in a known manner to door 2, and a grip 4 carried by support 3 in a tilting manner between a resting position, shown in figure 1, in which grip 4 lays substantially parallel to support 3, and a working position, shown in figure 2, in which grip 4 is rotated with respect to support 3 so as to be arranged with at least a first end 5 thereof away from support 3, only one known element 6 of which is shown in figure 2, intended to accommodate a key latch (known and not shown for simplicity) in a through seat 7, adapted to prevent the rotation movement of grip 4, keeping its end 5 restrained to element 6.
Handle group 1 further comprises a control body 8 carried by support 3 so as to rotate about an axis A defined by a pin 9 integrally carried by support 3 in a known manner: in particular, body 8 pivots about axis A between a locking position, shown in figure 1 and in which it is adapted in use to keep the respective (known) door locking means 10 engaged in a known manner, shown by a block only for simplicity, and an unlocking position, shown in figure 2, which is rotated with respect to the position in figure 1 in the direction of the arrow in figure 2, in which body 8 is adapted in use to disengage the door locking means 10, in this case due to pulling, upon the rotation of body 8, of a (known) Bowden cable 11, which connects in use the means 10 to body 8, tangentially thereto.
Handle group 1 finally comprises one arm 12, operatively connected to the first end 5 of the grip 4, in this case integrally obtained in one piece with the same, so as to protrude towards and through support 3, perpendicularly to grip 4, for rotating, as explained below, the control body 8 to the unlocking position, i.e. to the position in figure 2 starting from the position in figure 1, when grip 4 is in the working position, i.e. is manually subjected by a user to a direct traction in the arrow direction in figure 2.
According to the main feature of the invention, the control body 8 is divided into several elements which are independent of one another and in particular comprises a first element 13 and a second element 14 pivotally mounted, independently of each other, on the same axis A, being idly engaged, side-by-side, on pin 9, and opposed in their possibility of rotating from the position in figure 1 to that in figure 2, by first preloaded elastic means 15, adapted to normally keep both elements 13 and 14 in the position in figure 1, in which the Bowden cable 11 is not pulled.
According to the invention, any one of the elements 13 and 14 of body 8 is operatively connected to the arm 12 and not to the Bowden cable 11, while the other element is operatively connected, in use, to the locking means 10 by means of the Bowden cable 11 and is not directly connected to arm 12 in any way.
In particular, according to the non-limitative example shown, the first element 13 has a first fork- shaped end 16, which is engaged by the arm 12, and a second end 17, opposite to end 16, pivoted to the support 3, in particular to pin 9, so as to rotate about axis A. In contrast, the second element 14 is operatively associated, in a known manner, with the Bowden cable 11 connectable in use to the door locking means 10, in particular by means of its ears 18 (figure 5), radially and overhangingly protruding from element 14 with respect to axis A.
Control body 8 further comprises means, indicated by numeral 19 as a whole, for selectively constraining and releasing the first element 13 and the second element 14 to/from each other, comprising a mass 20 (figure 3) pivotally carried by the first element 13 about a second axis B parallel to grip 4, and in this case shown, to the first axis A: the selective constraining/releasing means 19 are further arranged, as explained below, so that the mass 20 is free to rotate in use about axis B and towards grip 4 for releasing the first element 13 from the second element 14.
In particular, mass 20 is an eccentric mass with respect to the second axis B and consists (figures 3, 4, 5) of a third L-shaped element 21, made of a metal alloy (e.g. ZAMA) , while grip 4, elements 13 and 14, and support 3 are all made by molding a synthetic plastic resin .
Element 21 has a first arm 22 pivoted to the first element 13 at a first end thereof, so as to pivot about the second axis B, and a second arm 23 transversally carried by arm 22 at a second end thereof, opposite to the first end, and arranged parallel to the second axis B, defined by a pin 24 (figure 3) integrally driven through element 13.
According to an aspect of the invention, the second axis B is parallel to the first axis A and is arranged between the latter and the arm 12, while the length of the first arm 22 of the third L-shaped element 21 is such that the second arm 23 thereof is always arranged further away from the arm 12 than the first axis A defined by pin 9.
Furthermore, according to a non-secondary feature of the invention, there are second elastic means 25 operatively associated with element 21, which are arranged at the second axis B and having a preset stiffness such as to normally make element 21 angularly integral with the first element 13 while allowing, due to elastic yield, a relative rotation between the elements 21 and 13 when element 21 is subjected to an acceleration T (indicated by the arrow in figure 4) of preset entity and transversal to the second axis B, e.g. because of a side crash experienced by the vehicle, the door of which is provided with group 1.
In particular, according to the example shown, the second elastic means 25 may comprise a Belleville washer mounted to pin 24 so as to elastically press element 21 against a lateral side of element 13 opposite to element 14, so as to normally keep the elements 21 and 13 angularly integral by friction. However, if element 21 is urged to rotate with respect to element 13 in the arrow direction in figure 4, if the stress exceeds the force exerted by spring 25, element 21 may rotate with respect to element 13 about axis B against the bias of the elastic means 25, which elastically yield, indeed, thus allowing such a movement.
The selective constraining/releasing means 19 further comprise a recess 26 (figures 3, 4, 5) obtained in the element 14 in a position immediately adjacent to the element 13 and on one face 27 of element 14 facing grip 4; recess 26 is open towards grip 4 and laterally towards element 13, and is delimited by a bottom wall 28 (figure 4) arranged on the side opposite to grip 4, which wall 28, due to second elastic means 25, is normally engaged in use in abutment against arm 23 of the third L-shaped element 21, so that element 13 is adapted, until the locking action of spring 25 is not overcome, to drive element 14 in rotation by means of the arm 23 itself whenever grip 4 is taken by a user to the working position in figure 2.
However, recess 26 is shaped so as to be adapted to be abandoned by the second arm 23 of the L-shaped element 21 whenever the stiffness of said elastic means 25, i.e. their locking action, is exceeded due to a stress directly exerted on element 21 to rotate towards grip 4, e.g. upon the application of the mentioned acceleration (T) transversal to the second axis B thereon; in particular, recess 26 is obtained at one end 29 of element 14 distal from axis A and arranged further away from arm 12 than the axis A itself.
Finally, according to the non-limitative example shown, the elements 13 and 14 are mounted so as to rotate about the first axis A, i.e. on the common pin 9, against the bias of the same elastic means 15, which consist of a helical spring ending with opposite rectilinear ends 30,31 which tangentially and overhangingly extend with respect to a winding axis C of spring 15 to tangentially engage element 13 and element 14, respectively; in particular, the helical spring 15 is carried by support 3 on a pin 32 which is integral with support 3, with the winding axis C thereof being substantially coaxial to pin 32 and arranged away from axis A and from the rotating mass 20 as well.
In use, as previously disclosed, spring 25 ensures an angular connection between element 21 and element 13. By pulling grip 4, the user forces it to rotate with respect to support 3 so as to move end 5 away therefrom, which end, by means of arm 12, engaging the fork-shaped end 16, forces the elements 13 and 21 and, by means of the cooperation of arm 23 of the latter with wall 28, also the element 14 to rotate about axis A in the arrow direction (figure 2), thus pulling the cable 11 and releasing the means 10. Under these conditions, by continuing to pull grip 4, the user opens door 2. If grip 4 is not pulled, instead, cable 11 is not urged, and therefore the means 11 remain inserted and door 2 remains closed.
In case of side crash with respect to door 2, this produces an acceleration T transversal to the axes A and B due to dynamic effect; with the applied acceleration T being egual, however, and having a much greater mass than grip 4, as it is made of metal material, and having its mass eccentrically arranged with respect to axis B, as it is concentrated in the arm 23, element 21 is subjected to a stronger dynamic stress in the direction of arrow T, such to overcome the force exerted by spring 25; therefore, before grip 4 (also urged by acceleration T) starts to rotate with respect to support 3, making the same move away from end 5, arm 23 abandons recess 26 and the contact with wall 28 (figure 4) by rotating about axis B and thus releasing element 14 from element 13.
When the movement induced by the acceleration T on grip 4 urges element 13 to rotate towards grip 4 to follow it in its movement, by means of arm 12, the rotation of element 13 may not cause any rotation of element 14, which remains idle on pin 9. Means 10 are not actuated and door 2 remains closed and locked.
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