Abstract:
An assembly including a first component and a second component, the first component having a first deformed portion, in which the first deformed portion engages with the second component to allow rotation therebetween and the first deformed portion secures the first component to the second component.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    This application claims priority to Great Britain patent application GB 010 7065.5 filed Mar. 21, 2001.  
           [0002]    The present invention relates to assemblies and in particular assemblies of components used in land vehicles such as cars.  
           [0003]    Assemblies in which components are secured together by fixing mechanisms such as nuts and bolts or rivets are known.  
           [0004]    To reduce the weight of assemblies it is desirable to reduce the number of overall components, and hence secure components without the use of such fixing mechanisms. By deforming the components into an interlocking relationship and therefore securing themselves relative to each other, the need for such fixing mechanisms is eliminated, thereby limiting the number of overall components in the assembly.  
           [0005]    Such deformation techniques are known, with the TOG-L-LOC□ (a trademark of BTM Corp. of Marysville, Mich., USA) system being one example (see U.S. Pat. No. 5,984,563 dated Nov. 16, 1999 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,267,383 dated Dec. 7, 1993). These techniques can be used to secure various components (see U.S. Pat. No. 4,827,671 dated May 9, 1989 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,800,638 dated Jan. 31, 1989). The hemming of sheet metal components is another example which can be used to secure assemblies.  
           [0006]    However such assemblies secured by deformation techniques and fixing mechanisms do not allow free rotation of components relative to each other, and thus cannot be used for assemblies which do require rotation relative to each other.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    It is possible to use a single nut and bolt to secure an assembly which requires components to rotate relative to each other but this results in an additional component being required.  
           [0008]    Therefore an object of the present invention is to provide an improved assembly in which the number of overall components is reduced, with the components being secured but also being capable of rotating relative to each other.  
           [0009]    Thus according to the present invention there is provided an assembly including a first component and a second component, the first component having a first deformed portion, in which the deformed portion engages with the second component to allow rotation there between and the first deformed portion secures the first component to the second component. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]    The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of an assembly according to the present invention,  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of an alternative assembly according to the present invention, and  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 3 is a front view of a vehicle door including an assembly according to the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0014]    With reference to FIG. 1 there is shown an assembly  10  including a first component  12  and a second component  14 .  
         [0015]    The first component  12  and the second component  14  can be produced from a sheet steel and are typically pressed.  
         [0016]    The first component  12  includes a first deformed portion  16 .  
         [0017]    The first deformed portion  16  includes a cylindrical portion  17  and an annular flange  21  contiguous with the end of the cylindrical portion  17 .  
         [0018]    The cylindrical portion  17  defines a through hole  18  and a radially outwardly orientated wall  19 , the through hole  18  and wall  19  being circular.  
         [0019]    The cylindrical portion  17  in conjunction with the annular flange  21  acts to limit axial and radial movement between the first  12  and second  14  component.  
         [0020]    The second component  14  has a second through hole  20 , which is a circular hole. The second hole  20  has a radially inwardly orientated wall  23 .  
         [0021]    The deformed portion  16  engages with the second component  14  to secure the second component  14  to the first component  12 .  
         [0022]    The engagement between the deformed portion  16  and the second component  14  permits the second component  14  to rotate relative to the first component  12  about an axis  26 .  
         [0023]    Thus, engagement between the deformed portion  16  of the first component  12  and the second component  14  defines a first bearing surface  22  (comprising surfaces  22 A,  22 B, and  22 C) of the first component  12  and a second bearing surface  24  (comprising surfaces  24 A,  24 B and  24 C) of the second component  14 .  
         [0024]    The outwardly orientated wall  19  forms surface  22 B.  
         [0025]    The inwardly orientated wall  23  forms surface  24 B.  
         [0026]    In this embodiment it can be seen that a suitable pressing process is required to deform the first component  12  such that it is secured to the second component  14 . This pressing process can include several stages with a first stage to produce the cylindrical portion  17 . Part of the cylindrical portion  17  then protrudes through the hole  20  of the second component  14 . A final pressing stage is then employed to deform the end of this cylindrical portion to produce the annular flange  21 .  
         [0027]    With reference to FIG. 2 there is shown an alternative assembly  110 .  
         [0028]    This assembly includes the same functional features of FIG. 1, but numbered 100 greater. However in this embodiment engagement between the first  112  and second  114  components is different.  
         [0029]    The first component  112  includes a first deformed portion  116  which defines a blind hole  118 . Hole  118  is a circular hole.  
         [0030]    The first deformed portion  116  is substantially in the shape of the Greek symbol Omega (Ω).  
         [0031]    The second component  114  includes a second deformed portion  130 , the second deformed portion being substantially in the shape of the Greek symbol Omega (Ω).  
         [0032]    The second deformed portion  130  defines a second blind hole  120 .  
         [0033]    The second deformed portion  130  engages with the deformed portion  116  of the first component  112  to secure the second component  114  to the first component  112 .  
         [0034]    Engagement between the deformed portions permits the second component  114  to rotate relative to the first component  112  about an axis  126 .  
         [0035]    Engagement between the deformed portion  116  of the first component  112  and the deformed portion  130  of the second component  114  defines a first bearing surface  122  of the first component  112  and a second bearing surface  124  of the second component  114 .  
         [0036]    In this embodiment it can be seen that a suitable pressing process is required to deform the first component  112  such that it is secured to the second component  114 . This pressing process can include several stages with a first stage to produce part of the deformed portions  116 ,  130  of the first  112  and  114  second components, the deformed portions  116 ,  130  defining the blind holes  118 ,  120 . The blind holes  118 ,  120  are then subjected to a stage which includes lateral extrusion, to further deform the blind holes  118 ,  120  such that the blind holes  118 ,  120  interlock and hence secure the first component  112  to the second component  114 .  
         [0037]    Note that in this embodiment the pressing stage to produce the deformed portions  116 ,  130  does not result in the piercing of the components  112 ,  114 , and consequently any coating applied to the components  112 ,  114 , in particular the bearing surfaces  122 ,  124 , will not comprise the integrity of the components, and hence coating life will be prolonged.  
         [0038]    Note that in a further embodiment the second hole  120  may be a blind hole, with a deformed portion  116  of the first component  112  being a through hole and engaging with the blind hole  120  to secure the first component  112  to the second component.  
         [0039]    In the embodiments of FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 the pressing process, and hence the form of the deformed portions  16 ,  116 ,  130  is designed such that the first  12 ,  112  and second  14 ,  114  components are free to rotate relative to each other, but not so loose as to result in excessive rattle between the components  12 ,  14 ,  112 ,  114 .  
         [0040]    A coating may be applied to the first bearing surface  22 ,  122 , the coating being selected to provide high wear resistance when compared to the material of the first component  12 ,  112 . For example a metallic coating such as copper, or a plastic coating such as Polytetraflouroethene (PTFE) may be used.  
         [0041]    The coating can be any material which provides high wear resistance and/or lower friction compared to the material of the first component  12 ,  112  when combined with the material of the second component  14 ,  114 .  
         [0042]    Alternatively, or additionally, a similar coating may be applied to the second bearing surface  24 ,  124 .  
         [0043]    The first  12 ,  112  and/or second  14 ,  114  component may also be subjected to a surface treatment process such as carburizing or induction hardening to provide a similar high wear resistant surface.  
         [0044]    The coatings on the first  12 ,  112  and/or second  14 ,  114  components can have specified thicknesses which may be controlled to tailor the fit between the two components  12 ,  14 ,  112 ,  114  such that it is rattle free and allows rotation between the two components  12 ,  14 ,  112 ,  114 .  
         [0045]    Note that in the embodiment of FIG. 1, a coating applied to both surfaces of the second component  14  prior to pressing of hole  20  will be broken when hole  20  is pierced during the pressing process, and hence there will be no coating on the inwardly facing wall  23  (i.e. bearing surface  24 B). However a coating applied to the first bearing surface  22  (i.e. surfaces  22 A,  22 B, and  22 C) prior to deforming will not be broken since the coating will not be pierced. Hence a coating will be present at surface  22 B for engagement with uncoated bearing surface  24 B.  
         [0046]    Preferably the coating selected for the first bearing surface  22  is sufficiently ductile to maintain integrity during the pressing process.  
         [0047]    Alternatively the bearing surface  24 B can be coated after the through hole  20  has been pierced and hence a coating will be present at surface  24 B for engagement with either a coated or uncoated bearing surface  24 B.  
         [0048]    In the embodiment of FIG. 2 the first  112  and second  114  components are not pierced during the pressing process and hence any coating applied to the first  122  and/or second  124  bearing surface remains unbroken providing the coating is sufficiently ductile to maintains its integrity during the pressing process.  
         [0049]    Note that in further embodiments the inwardly facing wall  19  and the outwardly facing wall  23  need not both be circular, with one of the inwardly facing wall  19  or the outwardly facing wall  23  being non circular.  
         [0050]    Similarly, in the embodiment of FIG. 2 the first hole  118  and the second hole  120  need not both be circular holes, with one of the first  118  and second  120  holes being a non circular hole.  
         [0051]    With reference to FIG. 3 there is shown a vehicle door  350 .  
         [0052]    The vehicle door  350  includes a vehicle door latch  353 , a sill button  356 , a key barrel  354 , an inside door handle  358 , and an outside door handle  352 .  
         [0053]    The vehicle door latch  353  includes a latch bolt  360  which operates to releasably retain the vehicle door  350  in a closed position. The latch bolt  360  is mounted on the vehicle door latch  353 .  
         [0054]    The key barrel  354  is connected to the vehicle door latch  353  by a first transmission path  357 . The key barrel  354  operates to lock and unlock the vehicle door.  
         [0055]    The sill button  356  is connected to the vehicle door latch  353  by a second transmission path  355 . The sill button  356  operates to lock and unlock the vehicle door  350 .  
         [0056]    The inside door handle  358  is connected to an input element of the latch  353  in the form of a first lever  361 , by a third transmission path  370 . The first lever  361  is connected to the latch bolt  360  by a first latch transmission path  363  (shown schematically).  
         [0057]    It can be seen that the third transmission path  370 , the first lever  361  and the first latch transmission path  363  together form a transmission path between the inside door handle  358  and the latch bolt  360 .  
         [0058]    The outside door handle  352  is connected to an input element of the latch  353 , in the form of a second lever  364 , by a fourth transmission path  380 . The second lever  364  is connected to the latch bolt  360  by a second latch transmission path  365  (shown schematically).  
         [0059]    It can be seen that the fourth transmission path  380 , the second lever  364  and the second latch transmission path  365  together form a transmission path between the outside door handle  352  and the latch bolt  360 .  
         [0060]    It should be noted that the key barrel  354 , the sill button  356 , the inside handle  358  and the outside handle  352  are all manually actuable elements.  
         [0061]    Transmission paths  355 ,  357 ,  363 ,  365 ,  370  and  380  and input elements  364  and  361  can take many forms, typically rods and levers. A particular installation may require two adjacent parts of a transmission path to be pivoted together and an assembly according to the present invention can be used to provide such pivoting movement, for example an end of the third transmission path  370  can form a first component  12 ,  112  according to the present invention which can be connected to an end of the input element  361  (which forms the second component  14 ,  114 ) to provide for a pivotal connection at position A.  
         [0062]    Alternatively a component of a transmission path can be pivotally mounted relative to a stationary component such as a latch chassis or a part of the vehicle door via an assembly according to the present invention, for example input element  361  can form a first component  12 ,  112  according to the present invention which can be connected to the latch chassis (which forms the second component)  14 ,  114  to provide for a pivotal connection at position B.  
         [0063]    In other embodiments any component of the transmission paths  370 ,  355 ,  357  or  380  can be connected to the door  350  which can form the first  12 ,  112  or second  14 ,  114  component.  
         [0064]    Two types of locking are known, free wheel type locking and block type locking.  
         [0065]    In a free wheel type locking system a break in the fourth transmission path  380  between the outside door handle  352  and the latch  360  bolt prevents the latch bolt  360  from being released when the latch  353  is locked. With the latch  353  unlocked the transmission path  380  is complete and operation of the outside door handle  352  will release the latch bolt  360 . In a free wheel type locking system the outside door handle  352  is always free to move, but will only release the latch bolt  360  when the latch  353  is unlocked.  
         [0066]    In a block locking type system the fourth transmission path  380  between the outside door handle  352  and the latch bolt  360  is blocked such that with the latch  353  in a locked condition the latch bolt  360  is not released. With the latch  353  unlocked the transmission path  380  is unblocked and operation of the outside door handle  352  will release the latch bolt  360 . In a block type locking system the outside door handle  352  is only free to move when the latch  353  is unlocked.  
         [0067]    When the vehicle door  350  is fitted with a free wheel type locking system, an assembly according to the present invention can be fitted into the fourth transmission path  380  (either in the latch  353  or between the latch  353  and outside door handle  352 ) such that the first  12 ,  112  and second  14 ,  114  component are selectively couplable and decouplable to provide the break in the transmission path  380 .  
         [0068]    Thus with the vehicle door latch  353  in a locked condition (as a result of either sill button  356 , key barrel  354  or some other remote electronic operation), the first  12 ,  112  and second  14 ,  114  components are uncoupled and operation of the outside door handle  352  causes the first  12 ,  112  and second  14 ,  114  components to rotate relative to each other, thus breaking the fourth transmission path  380  between the outside door handle  352  and the latch bolt  360 , such that the latch bolt  360  does not move and the vehicle door  350  remains closed. Thus the outside door handle  352  being connected to one of the first  12 ,  112  and second  14 ,  114  components will be moved, but will not release the latch bolt  360 .  
         [0069]    Furthermore with the vehicle door latch  353  in an unlocked condition (as a result of either sill button  356 , key barrel  354  or some other remote electronic operation), the first  12 ,  112  and second  14 ,  114  components are coupled and operation of the outside door handle  352  causes the first  12 ,  112  and second  14 ,  114  components to move such that the fourth transmission path  380  between the outside door handle  352  and the latch bolt  360  is complete and the latch bolt  360  moves and releases the vehicle door  350 . Thus the outside door handle  352  being connected to the first  12 ,  112  and second  14 ,  114  components will be moved, and release the latch bolt  360 .  
         [0070]    When the vehicle door  350  is fitted with a block type locking system, then an assembly according to the present invention can be fitted into the fourth transmission path  380  (either in the latch or between the latch and handle) such that the transmission path  380  is either selectively blocked or unblocked by one of the first  12 ,  112  and second  14 ,  114  components.  
         [0071]    Thus with the vehicle door latch  353  in a locked condition, the fourth transmission path  380  between the outside door handle  352  and the latch bolt  360  is blocked by either the first  12 ,  112  or second  14 ,  114  component, such that the outside door handle  352  will not move, and will not result in movement of the latch bolt  360 .  
         [0072]    With the vehicle door latch  353  in an unlocked condition the fourth transmission path  380  between the outside door handle  352  and the latch bolt  360  is not blocked, i.e., all parts of the transmission path  380  are free to move, and operation of the outside door handle  352  will move and release the latch bolt  360 .  
         [0073]    Similarly, the inside door handle  358  can also operate on a free wheel or block locking principle, with the third transmission path  370  between the inside door handle  358  and the latch bolt  360  arranged to include an assembly according to the present invention. The transmission path is either blocked/unblocked or broken/unbroken.  
         [0074]    The blocking/breaking of the third transmission path  370  associated with an inside handle  358  can be used to provide for deadlocking (superlocking) i.e., operation of the inside  358  and outside  352  door handles do not cause the door  350  to open.  
         [0075]    Alternatively or additionally the block/breaking of the third transmission path  370  associated with an inside handle  358  can be used to provide for a child safety function i.e., operation of the inside handle  358  does not open the door  350 , and operation of the outside handle  352  will open an unlocked door  350  but will not open a locked door  350 .  
         [0076]    The foregoing description is only exemplary of the principles of the invention. Many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. The preferred embodiments of this invention have been disclosed, however, so that one of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that certain modifications would come within the scope of this invention. It is, therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specially described. For that reason the following claims should be studied to determine the true scope and content of this invention.