Abstract:
A component ( 10 ) for vehicle interiors comprising a first fixed assembly ( 12 ) that can be mounted on the wall ( 18 ) of the vehicle interior and a second assembly ( 14 ) that is displaceably attached to the first assembly ( 12 ), the second assembly ( 14 ) being displaceable in opposition to the action of elastic elements ( 20 ) from a resting position into a position of use and vice versa and the second assembly ( 14 ) being displaced from the position of use into the resting position, or being maintained in the resting position by the sole action of the elastic elements ( 20 ), has the distinguishing feature that the elastic elements ( 20 ) take the form of at least one elastically extensible strap or cable or an elastically extensible cord.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to a component for vehicle interiors comprising a first fixed assembly that can be mounted on the wall of the vehicle interior and a second assembly that is displaceably attached to the first assembly, the second assembly being displaceable in opposition to the action of elastic elements from a resting position into a position of use and vice versa and the second assembly being displaced from the position of use into the resting position, or being maintained in the resting position by the sole action of the elastic elements.  
       DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART  
       [0002]     For roof handles in the interior of vehicles use is made of so-called pull handles, which on the one hand allow the roof handle, when not required, to rest closely against the internal wall of the vehicle and which, when in use, afford more manual freedom to grip the handle securely, owing to the relative displacement between the fixed first assembly and the displaceable second assembly. On release, the pull handle automatically returns into the resting position under the action of the elastic elements.  
         [0003]     Metal springs are known to be used as elastic elements. Metal springs, however, have a tendency to generate unwanted noise during operation. In addition, the settling behavior of the metal springs changes with age, so that over time the movement characteristics of the handle vary. Furthermore such metal springs have a tendency to corrosion, so that solutions have had to be developed which provide metal springs with an additional coating. This leads, however, to increased manufacturing costs, which make their use uneconomic.  
         [0004]     In order to ensure a good limit stop behavior of the pull handle, a two-component part is usually formed, that is to say an elastically pliable limit stop unit is additionally molded onto a plastic carrier part. This again means an increased manufacturing cost.  
         [0005]     Roof folding handles are also known, which are subject to the action of elastic elements.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     Proceeding from the state of the art described, the object of the present invention is to specify a component for vehicle interiors which is economic to manufacture, which avoids the disadvantages referred to in the state of the art, which ensures consistently reliable functioning and which imparts an agreeable operating sensation.  
         [0007]     The inventive component of the said type is endowed with the features of the independent claim  1 . Advantageous developments and further embodiments form the subject matter of the subordinate claims.  
         [0008]     Accordingly, a distinguishing feature of the component according to the invention is that the elastic elements take the form of at least one elastically extensible strap or cable, or an elastically extensible cord.  
         [0009]     According to the invention therefore, the metal spring prone to problems is replaced by an elastic strap or cable or an elastic cord which can be readily molded on.  
         [0010]     A distinguishing feature of an especially preferred development is that the elastic elements are already biased towards the resting position.  
         [0011]     A distinguishing feature of an especially preferred alternative development, which is economic to manufacture, is that the assemblies take the form of injection molded plastic parts and the elastic elements are provided as elements molded onto the first assembly or second assembly.  
         [0012]     Possible materials for the elastic elements include elastomers such as rubber, Elastan (registered trademark) or Dorlastan (registered trademark) or thermoplastic elastomers (TPE).  
         [0013]     Silicone is a material especially preferred for the elastic elements. Silicone not only possesses outstanding mechanical characteristics and can be readily injection molded but also in its material properties behaves consistently at different temperatures.  
         [0014]     The component according to the invention may be configured as any kinematic component in the vehicle interior.  
         [0015]     In this context a distinguishing feature of an especially preferred design variant is that the component takes the form of a roof handle, the first assembly taking the form of a fixed bearing unit and the second assembly that of a displaceable stirrup handle, the stirrup handle performing a translational movement and/or a rotational movement from the resting position into the position of use and vice versa.  
         [0016]     A distinguishing feature of an embodiment that is particularly easy to implement in design terms and ensures a consistently reliable functioning, and which moreover makes the two assemblies easy to put together, is that the second assembly has a projection unit, the elastic elements being attached to or molded onto the first assembly and enclosing the projection unit in a looped shape.  
         [0017]     According to the invention, it is possible and particularly advantageous for the elastic elements to be formed (in an injection molding process, for example) in such a way that they simultaneously constitute an elastic limit stop in the resting position and/or in the position of use.  
         [0018]     A distinguishing feature of an especially advantageous embodiment is that the second assembly performs a rotational movement and has a rotational bearing, in particular a reel, onto which the elastic elements are at least partially wound on the outer surface of the rotational bearing or reel when moving from the resting position into the position, or from which they are unwound in the opposite direction.  
         [0019]     At the same time the rotational bearing or reel may advantageously be attached by a positively interlocking connection to the second assembly. It is also possible, however, for the rotational bearing or reel to be integrally formed with the second assembly.  
         [0020]     In an advantageous development the reel itself may be provided with a damping unit, which takes the form, for example, of a viscous damper, permitting an overall damped movement of the second assembly.  
         [0021]     A distinguishing feature of an especially advantageous design variant, which in an especially simple design permits a damped movement of the second assembly, is that at least one elastic damping unit is formed onto the elastic elements, said unit under the movement of the second assembly sliding along a fixed wall of the first assembly, so that the friction produces a damping action on the movement of the second assembly.  
         [0022]     An advantageous further embodiment permits an especially economic form of manufacture in that the elastic elements and the elastic damping unit take the form of an integrally molded component, the elastic damping unit preferably having at least one elastic tab.  
         [0023]     According to an advantageous development the elastic elements are molded on the reel of the second rotatable assembly and are anchored to the first assembly.  
         [0024]     With the component according to the invention it is possible to obtain substantial advantages compared to the state of the art, as will be described in the following examples:  
         [0025]     With the component according to the invention the spring noises deriving from the metal springs during operation are completely suppressed. A separate stop buffer can be entirely dispensed with, since through an appropriate design of the elastic elements the stop buffer may take the form of a single, preferably molded component. The usual metal spring and the requisite spring cover can be entirely dispensed with. A distinguishing feature of the component as a whole is a shallow spring characteristic curve, imparting an agreeable operating sensation. The additional molded attachment of an elastic damping unit means that the elastic elements themselves can transfer a certain damping action to the displacement of the second assembly.  
         [0026]     One significant embodiment resides in the fact that silicone, which can not only be used without any injection molding problems and has outstanding mechanical characteristics but also has material properties that do not vary with temperature, is used as material for the elastic elements.  
         [0027]     Further embodiments and advantages of the invention will be inferred from the features described further in the claims and from the exemplary embodiments specified below. Unless they are obviously mutually exclusive, the features of the claims may be freely combined with one another. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0028]     The invention and advantageous embodiments and developments thereof will be described and explained in more detail below with reference to the examples represented in the drawing. According to the invention the features set forth in the description and in the drawing may each be applied individually, or severally in any combination. In the drawing:  
         [0029]      FIG. 1   a, b  shows a schematic perspective view of a roof handle for vehicle interiors, which takes the form of a pull handle and is subject to the action of elastic elements, in a resting position and in a position of use,  
         [0030]      FIG. 2   a, b  shows a schematic perspective view of a roof handle for vehicle interiors, which takes the form of a folding handle and is subject to the action of elastic elements, in a resting position and in a position of use,  
         [0031]      FIG. 3  shows a schematic section through the roof handle according to  FIG. 1  along the section line I-I in a resting position, showing the elastic elements,  
         [0032]      FIG. 4  shows a schematic section through the roof handle according to  FIG. 1  along the section line I-I in a position of use, showing the elastic elements,  
         [0033]      FIG. 5  shows a schematic section perpendicular to the section line I-I in  FIG. 1  (plan view), showing the elastic elements,  
         [0034]      FIG. 6   a  shows a schematic and transparent perspective view of a detail of the roof handle according to  FIG. 1  in the bearing area, with elastic elements in the form of a loop,  
         [0035]      FIG. 6   b  shows a schematic perspective view of the elastic elements according to  FIG. 6   a  detached,  
         [0036]      FIG. 7  shows a schematic section through the roof handle according to  FIG. 2  along the section line II-II in a resting position, showing the elastic elements and  
         [0037]      FIG. 8  shows a schematic section through the roof handle according to  FIG. 2  along the section line II-II showing the elastic elements, in the position of use. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0038]      FIGS. 1   a  and  b  shows a component  10 , which takes the form of a roof handle  10  for vehicle interiors, the roof handle  10  being configured as a so-called “pull handle”, which can be brought manually from a rest position ( FIG. 1   a ) into a position of use ( FIG. 1   b ).  
         [0039]     The roof handle  10  has a first fixed assembly  12 , which takes the form of a bearing unit  12  and which in the assembled state is fixed to the wall  18  of a vehicle interior. Attached to the bearing unit  12  is a second assembly  14 , which is displaceable in a translational movement basically perpendicular to the wall  18  and which takes the form of a stirrup handle  14 . The two end areas of the U-shaped stirrup handle  14  are attached to corresponding bearing units  12  at both sides. Elastic elements, which will be further described below, act on the stirrup handle  14  in the area of the bearing unit  12 . In using the roof handle  10 , the stirrup handle  14  is first gripped in the resting position according to  FIG. 1   a  and is drawn out in the direction of the arrow Z basically perpendicular to the wall  18  in opposition to the action of the elastic elements. The clearance between the stirrup handle  14  and the wall  18  is thereby increased, ensuring greater manual operating freedom. As soon as the stirrup handle  14  is released when no longer required, the action of the elastic elements causes it to perform an automatic return movement R and it thereby returns from the position of use according to  FIG. 1   b  into the resting position according to  FIG. 1   a.    
         [0040]     The schematic construction of the stirrup handle  14  in the area of the bearing unit  12  along the section line I-I in  FIG. 1   a  with the elastic elements is represented in more detail in  FIG. 3 .  
         [0041]     A laterally extending projection unit  22  is formed onto the stirrup handle  14  in each end face area. A plate unit  28 , onto the top of which elastic elements  20  are formed, is attached to the bearing unit  12  arranged in areas beneath the projection unit  22 . The elastic elements  20  take the form of a loop-like strap surrounding the projection unit  22 . On the upper side of the projection unit  22  the elastic elements  20  have a protecting height Ü, compared to the outer surface of the projection unit  22 , which forms an upper elastic limit stop  30  for the drawn-out position according to  FIG. 4 . A lower limit stop  32 , which is oval in shape and which is connected to the plate unit  28 , is integrally formed onto the underside of the loop-shaped elastic elements  20  basically perpendicular to the plane of the loop. The lower limit stop  32  serves as elastic stop on the underside of the projection unit  22  in the resting position according to  FIG. 3 .  
         [0042]     The stirrup handle  14  can be displaced in a translational movement relative to the bearing unit  12  basically perpendicular to the wall  18  (arrows Z, R). For this purpose guide devices, which are not shown in further detail in FIGS.  3  to  6 , are provided on the wall of the bearing unit  12 .  
         [0043]     In using the roof handle  10  the stirrup handle  14  is gripped and is displaced upwards in the direction of the arrow Z according to  FIG. 3 . This draw-out movement Z can be effected until the upper limit stop  30  of the loop-shaped elastic elements  20  impact elastically on the upper inner side of the bearing unit  12 . The position of use is then reached. If the stirrup handle  14  is released in the state according to  FIG. 4 , under the action of the elastic elements  20  it will automatically return in the direction of the arrow R into the resting position according to  FIG. 3 , until the underside of the projection unit  22  impacts elastically against the lower limit stop  32 , which is formed onto the elastic elements  20 .  
         [0044]     The loop-shaped elastic elements  20  are led around the projection unit  22  preferably already biased towards the resting position according to  FIG. 3 .  
         [0045]      FIG. 6   a  shows a detailed perspective view of a detail of the attachment of the elastic elements  20  in the area of the bearing unit  12 , the bearing unit  12  itself being omitted.  
         [0046]      FIG. 6   b  shows a schematic perspective view of the elastic elements  20  with their lower limit stop  32  and the plate unit  28 , which form their base. Alternatively, elastic damping units  24 , which take the form of elastic tabs  26 , as indicated by dashed lines in  FIG. 6   b , may be molded, preferably in one piece, onto the webs of the loop of the elastic elements  20 . These elastic tabs  26  are in contact with the inner wall of the bearing unit  12 . As soon as the stirrup handle  14  is displaced, the tabs  26  also move owing to the elasticity of the loop-shaped elastic elements  20 , with the result that a frictional force builds up between the tabs  26  and the inner wall of the bearing unit  12 , the force ultimately exerting a damping action on the extending and retracting movement of the stirrup handle  14 .  
         [0047]      FIG. 6   b  further shows an alternative schematic representation of the lower elastic limit stop  32 . Whilst retaining the oval shape of the lower limit stop  32 , upward-pointing stop projections  34 , which clearly define the stop position of the projection unit  22  of the stirrup handle  14 , are formed onto this stop.  
         [0048]      FIGS. 2   a  and  b  show a schematic perspective view of a roof handle  50 , which takes the form of a folding handle, in the resting position and in the position of use. A first fixed assembly  52 , which takes the form of a bearing unit  52 , is attached to the wall  18  of the vehicle interior. The bearing unit  52  has a base plate  64  and forward-projecting bearing flanges  66 , which are spaced parallel to one another and each have a bearing recess  68 . A second, displaceable assembly  54 , which takes the form of a U-shaped stirrup handle  54  is furthermore provided. The end face areas of the flanges of the U-shaped stirrup handle  54  are rotatably supported in the recesses  68  of the bearing flanges  66  by way of a rotational bearing not represented in more detail in  FIGS. 2   a  and  b.  The stirrup handle  54  can thereby be swiveled about the axis of rotation  56  formed by the bearing recesses  68  in the direction of the arrow D 1  or D 2  from the resting position into the position of use and vice versa. In so doing the stirrup handle  54  is under the influence of the elastic elements  60 , in opposition to the action of which the roof handle  50  can be swiveled from the resting position into the position of use, and which cause the roof handle  50  to be automatically folded back into the resting position when it is released from the position of use.  
         [0049]     The elastic elements  60  are shown in more detail in FIGS.  7  to  9 .  
         [0050]     Inside the stirrup handle  54 , in the area of the attachment to the bearing units  52 , a reel  62 , which is supported in the bearing recesses so that it can rotate about a pin structure, not represented further, is attached to the stirrup handle  54 . The elastic elements  70  take the form of an elastic strap  70 . The elastic strap  70  is on the one hand attached to the bearing unit  52  and on the other is molded onto the reel  62 .  
         [0051]     Integrally formed on to the elastic strap  70 , in what is in  FIG. 9  the left-hand end area thereof, is a T-shaped anchoring unit  72 , by means of which the elastic strap  70  can be anchored in a corresponding recess on the bearing unit  52 . The end area  74  of the elastic strap  70  situated opposite the anchoring unit  72  is formed or molded onto the reel  62 . At the same time the geometry of the attachment is designed so that when the stirrup handle  54  is turned from the resting position ( FIG. 7 ) into the position of use ( FIG. 8 ) areas of the elastic strap  70  are peripherally wound onto the external contour of the reel  62 .  
         [0052]     A return force thereby builds up inside the elastic elements  60 , which when the stirrup handle  54  is released in the position of use according to  FIG. 8  causes it to be automatically folded back into the resting position according to  FIG. 7 .  
         [0053]     The elastic strap  70  is preferably fitted so that it is already biased towards the resting position in  FIG. 7 .  
         [0054]      FIG. 9  shows the deformation of the elastic elements due to rotation of the stirrup handle  54  and the reel  62  about D 1 , represented by a dot-and-dash line.  FIG. 9  furthermore shows projection units  76  which at the end are formed onto the reel  62  and which ensure a positively interlocking connection between the reel  62  and the stirrup handle  54 .  
         [0055]     According to  FIG. 9 a  splined unit  78  is formed onto the outside of the reel  62 , said unit permitting an extensive attachment of what in  FIG. 9  is the right-hand area  74  of the elastic strap  70  and at the same time ensuring that the elastic strap  70  rests tangentially on the external contour of the reel  62  in the resting position. This allows an attachment of the elastic strap  70  to the reel  62  which is economic to manufacture, whilst at the same time ensuring a consistently reliable functioning.  
         [0056]     Silicone is preferably used as material for the elastic strap  20 ,  60 . However, any other elastomer may also be used.  
         [0057]     The exemplary embodiments represented show roof handles. However, the present invention is not limited to use in roof handles. The use of elastic elements of the type described can be used in any kinematic components for vehicle interiors, such as ashtrays, cup-holders or movable coat hooks etc.  
         [0058]     The elastic elements shown represent only exemplary embodiments. Strap, cable or cord-like elastic elements of widely varying geometry may be used.