Abstract:
The vehicle door handle ( 2 ) is arranged in such a way that an inertial mass ( 18 ) in the handle passes irreversibly from a rest configuration in which it allows the door to be opened into a locking configuration which it prevents opening and passes from the locking configuration into an unlocked configuration, different from the rest configuration and from the locking configuration, the handle being arranged so that placement of the inertial mass ( 18 ) in the unlocking configuration has the effect of it once again being possible for the door to be opened.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     The invention concerns vehicle door handles. 
     Door handles are known equipped with an inertial system adapted, in the event of side impact and by virtue of the effect of the acceleration variation, to assume a locking position that inhibits the mechanism of the handle to prevent any unintentional opening of the door. 
     There are known in particular reversible type inertial systems and non-reversible type inertial systems. 
     A reversible system reverts to the rest position after the impact. It has the advantage of allowing opening of the door by means of the handle after the impact. However, it has the drawback of generally being highly sensitive to lateral accelerations in both directions as well as to rebounds. Accordingly, if variations in the direction of the acceleration occur during the impact, it can happen that the system returns to its rest position and renders the mechanism of the handle that was initially inhibited active again. This can lead to movement of the handle because of the effect of the impact and to opening of the door. 
     A non-reversible inertial system remains in the locking position throughout and after the impact. It has the advantage of not being sensitive to acceleration variations during the impact or to rebounds. It is therefore certain that the handle mechanism is appropriately inhibited throughout the impact, so that the door does not open. However, this system has the disadvantage that the handle mechanism remains inhibited after the impact and thus makes intentional opening of the door by maneuvering the handle impossible. 
     An object of the invention is to provide a handle that combines the advantages of both types of system without their disadvantages. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     To this end the invention provides a vehicle door handle such that an inertial mass in the handle passes irreversibly from a rest configuration in which it allows the door to be opened to a locking configuration in which it prevents opening and goes from the locking configuration into an unlocking configuration and then to the rest configuration. 
     Accordingly, thanks to the non-reversible change from the rest configuration to the locking configuration, the handle mechanism remains inhibited throughout the impact. This therefore prevents any unintentional opening of the door during the impact. However, after going from the locking configuration to the unlocking configuration and then to the rest configuration, the handle mechanism is rendered active again, so that the door can be opened to enable an occupant to exit the vehicle. This handle thus combines the advantages of the systems of the two types cited above at the same time as alleviating their disadvantages. 
     The handle preferably includes clipping means adapted to immobilize the mass in the locking configuration when it reaches it from the rest configuration. 
     The handle is advantageously such that the movement from the locking configuration to the unlocking configuration leads to disengagement of the clipping means. 
     The handle is preferably such that the movement from the locking configuration to the unlocking configuration can be commanded by means of an external member of the handle. 
     Accordingly, subject to intentional action on the external member, the handle mechanism is disinhibited. This action can be effected by an occupant of the vehicle or by an external person as appropriate and according to the embodiment chosen for the handle. It notably takes place when opening can be effected safely. 
     The external member is advantageously a member for opening the door. 
     Accordingly, it is the actuating member of the handle itself that enables disinhibition of the mechanism to open the door. 
     The handle is preferably such that the movement from the locking configuration to the unlocking configuration can be commanded only by application of a force exceeding a predetermined threshold. 
     Accordingly, the risks of unintentional unlocking of the mechanism of the handle are reduced. The person who wishes to open the door must apply a particular force in this sense. 
     In one embodiment the handle includes an abutment adapted to be deformed during the movement from the locking configuration to the unlocking configuration. 
     This is a particularly simple way to implement the aforementioned feature relating to the intensity threshold. 
     The handle advantageously includes a member for returning the mass to the rest configuration. 
     One element of a pair of elements comprising a support and the mass preferably includes a ramp and the other element of the pair of elements comprising the support and the mass preferably includes a follower adapted to come to bear on the ramp so that the ramp and the follower guide the movement from the rest configuration to the locking configuration and then to the unlocking configuration. 
     In one embodiment the mass is rotatably mounted on a support of the handle. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       Other features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent in the course of the following description of an embodiment given by way of nonlimiting example with reference to the appended drawings, in which: 
         FIGS. 1 to 3  are three views in horizontal section of a handle of one embodiment of the invention, showing three respective steps in the operation of the handle; 
         FIGS. 4 to 9  are partial views in perspective of the same handle showing different steps in the operation of the handle; and 
         FIG. 10  is a view in elevation showing the trajectory of the follower relative to the ramp in the handle from the preceding figures. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     An automobile vehicle door handle of one embodiment of the invention will be described hereinafter. The door can be a front door, a rear door or a tailgate. Here reference is made to an external handle enabling maneuvering of the door to unlock it and open it from outside the vehicle. The invention is nevertheless equally applicable to an internal handle for opening the door. 
     There is used hereinafter the orthogonal system of axes XYZ in which the horizontal directions X and Y are respectively parallel and perpendicular to the direction of movement of the vehicle and the direction Z is vertical. 
     Referring first to  FIGS. 1 to 3 , the handle  2  includes a support or frame  4  rigidly fastened to the structure of the door. 
     It includes an external holding part  6  intended to be actuated manually by a user wishing to open the door from outside the vehicle. Here this part  6  is articulated to the support  4  about a vertical shaft  8  by means known in themselves that are not described in detail here. The holding part  6  is extended inside the handle and the door by an extension  10  extending in the direction Y. 
     The handle  2  includes a lever  12  mounted to be mobile in rotation relative to the support  4  about a vertical shaft  14 . This lever notably includes an arm  16  on the trajectory of an edge of the extension  10  so that, when a user maneuvers the holding part  6  outwards in the direction Y, the extension  10  entrains the arm  16 , which causes the lever  12  to turn. Two positions of the lever  12  about its axis are shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     The lever is connected in a manner that is not shown and that will not be described here to other parts of the handle mechanism, notably a traction cable. This mechanism serves to unlock the door relative to the body of the vehicle. 
     The handle  2  also includes an inertial system including a part  18  forming a mass mounted to be mobile in rotation relative to the support  4  about a vertical shaft  20 . This part comprises two profiled portions  22  and  24  such that the part as seen in section in FIGS.  1  to  3  is generally V-shaped. 
     The mass  18  can occupy different positions about its shaft  20 . 
     In the rest position shown in  FIG. 1 , the locking part  22  is not on the trajectory of the lever  12  and therefore allows it to rotate and enables the door to be opened by the action of the holding part  6 . 
     In the locking position shown in  FIG. 2 , the compression part  24  of the mass  18  bears against an abutment  26  rigidly fastened to the support  4 . The locking part  22  is on the trajectory of the lever  12 , which it therefore prevents from turning, with the result that it inhibits the handle mechanism. Because of this it holds the holding part  6  in position and prevents opening of the door. 
     The compression part  24  has a mass greater than that of the locking part  22 . 
     A spring  19  for returning the mass to its rest position bears on the one hand on the mass and on the other hand on the support  4 . 
     An idea of the operation of the handle may already be obtained from  FIGS. 1 to 3 , although it will nevertheless be described in detail hereinafter. 
       FIG. 1  shows the handle in the rest configuration of all the parts. The locking part  22  is not on the trajectory of the lever and its compression part  24  is at a distance from the abutment  26 . If a user wishes to open the door, they actuate the holding part which with the extension  10  entrains the lever  12  in rotation about its shaft to unlock the door. The return spring  19  holds the mass  18  out of the trajectory of the lever  12  in order for the extension  10  to be able to entrain the latter freely. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , it is assumed that a lateral impact to the vehicle occurs in the direction Y and that this impact is such that, through inertia, the holding part  6  begins a movement toward the exterior of the vehicle. The inertial mass  18  has moved beforehand by turning anticlockwise relative to its  FIG. 1  position until the part  24  comes to bear against the abutment  26 . In this locking configuration the part  22  is on the trajectory of the lever  12 , any further rotation of which it prevents, despite the load exerted by the extension  10 . The holding part is therefore retained in position against the force generated by the acceleration of the impact. This therefore prevents any unintended opening of the door. As will emerge hereinafter, the movement of the mass  18  from the  FIG. 1  rest configuration to the  FIG. 2  locking configuration is effected in an irreversible manner, with the result that this mass remains in the locking configuration throughout and after the impact. 
     In  FIG. 3  it is assumed that the impact phase has ended and that a user wishes to open the door from the outside. The user actuates the holding part  6 , applying a force having an intensity exceeding a predetermined threshold and such that the load transmitted by the lever  12  to the mass  18  forces the latter to deform the abutment  26 . This movement causes the mass  18  to move from the  FIG. 2  locking configuration to the unlocking configuration shown in  FIG. 3 . 
     The user releases the holding part, which causes the mass  18  to return to the rest configuration because of the effect of the spring. 
     By maneuvering the holding part  6  again, the user can thus open the door normally. 
     Some aspects of the handle  2  will now be described in more detail. 
     The compression part  24  of the mass  18  carries at its free end a tongue  28  parallel to the shaft  20 . The tongue is rigidly fastened to the part  24  by and only by its lower end area so that it is elastically flexible relative to the rest of the mass  18 . It is at the level of its free upper end that it has the greatest amplitude of movement relative to the rest of this part. 
     The support  4  has on an upper wall  32  a raised pattern  34  forming a ramp for the tongue  28  that functions as a follower. The raised pattern  34  has a convex curved front face  36 , an internal face  38 , a front face  40 , an internal face  42  and a rear face  44 . The faces  38 ,  40 ,  42  and  44  are plane and vertical. The faces  38  and  42  are perpendicular to the direction Y while the faces  40  and  44  are perpendicular to the direction X. 
     The raised pattern and the tongue form clipping means adapted to cooperate as follows. 
     Various positions of the free end of the tongue  28  relative to the raised pattern  34  are shown in  FIG. 10 . 
     In the rest position a shown in  FIGS. 1 and 5 , the end of the tongue  28  faces the raised pattern and the rear part of the curved face  36 . 
     When the mass  18  moves from the rest configuration to the locking configuration, the tongue  28  comes into contact with the rear part of the face  36 , after which, by virtue of a ramp effect, it follows the latter as far as the position b at its inner end. This contact is maintained along the face  36  because of the elastic loading applied to the raised pattern by the tongue, given the deformation of the tongue. After the tongue has passed beyond the inner end of the face  36 , it is returned elastically and rearwardly against the face  40  and remains abutted against both the latter and the face  38  in the position c. The locking configuration has been reached at this stage. Given this abutment, the mass  18  is not able to pass directly from the locking configuration to the rest configuration by the reverse movement, thus rendering the movement that has just been described non-reversible. 
     When, starting from the locking configuration, a user actuates the holding part  6  to force rotation of the mass against the abutment  26 , the tongue  28  moves in the direction Y from the position c to the position d in which it is no longer abutted against the facet  40  in the direction X. It faces the face  38  but no longer faces the face  40 . The elastic return force resulting from the deformation of the tongue then moves the latter in the direction X to the position e, beyond the face  44 , after passing beyond the face  42 . An additional rigid abutment may be provided for certain prevention of movement of the mass beyond the unlocking position when it is moved in this way from the locking position. 
     When the user releases the holding part  6 , the rotation of the lever  12  in the anticlockwise direction allows rotation of the mass  18  in the clockwise direction by the spring  19 . This rotation is allowed because the raised pattern  34  is no longer on the trajectory of the tongue. The latter therefore moves in the direction Y in front of the face  44  to return to the position a. 
     During this operation, the trajectory of the end of the tongue forms a loop and does not pass through the same position twice. It follows in particular from this that the mass  18  must move from the locking configuration via the unlocking configuration to be able to return to the rest configuration. 
     The abutment  26  is elastic. Its dimensions and its shape condition the intensity of the force that the user must apply to cause the mass  18  to move from the locking configuration to the unlocking configuration. 
     Note that the tongue  28  and the raised pattern  34  form clipping means. The engaged or clipped position corresponds to the locking configuration. The movement from the latter configuration to the unlocking configuration leads to disengagement of the clipping means. 
     The handle of the invention therefore has the advantage both of providing a non-reversible inertial system which therefore remains in the locking configuration throughout and after the impact and of allowing intentional opening of the door under the control of a user after the impact. 
     Of course, numerous modifications may be made to the invention without departing from the scope of the invention. 
     The move from the locking configuration to the unlocking configuration could be driven by a member other than the external holding part or an internal holding part of the handle, for example by means of a member dedicated to this function. 
     The deformable abutment could be carried by the inertial mass and not by the support. 
     In one embodiment, the rotation shaft of the inertial mass may be chosen to be sufficiently deformable for a rigid abutment  26  to be used, the deformability allowing the movement to the unlocking configuration being provided by the deformability of the shaft for elastic swinging of the mass  18  around the abutment  26 . 
     The tongue  28  could be carried by the support and the raised pattern could be carried by the inertial mass. 
     In one embodiment of the invention the unlocking configuration is in itself a configuration in which opening of the door by actuating the exterior holding member is allowed. 
     This is notably the case when the inertial mass  18  is forcibly movable out of the trajectory of the lever  12  to allow that lever to reach its position for opening the door. The return to the rest position may thereafter be allowed or not. Returning to the rest position is for example allowed by the means described with reference to  FIG. 10 . 
     The retraction of the inertial mass  18  can equally be produced by providing for the inertial mass to come to bear because of the effect of the impact against one or more elastic abutments but not to come to bear against any rigid abutment, in contrast to the embodiment described above in which such an additional rigid abutment can be provided for certain stopping of the mass in the unlocking position. 
     The deformable plastic material abutment  26  then has a rigidity adapted to prevent retraction of the inertial mass because of the effect of the inertia of the impact as transmitted to the inertial mass by the lever  12 , but is sufficiently flexible to allow retraction of the inertial mass by crushing of the abutment  26  because of the effect of manual traction applied to the exterior holding member of the handle. 
     In another embodiment the deformable abutment  18  may be replaced by a leaf spring or a coil spring the rigidity and the travel of which are adjusted to the same end. 
     The deformable abutment  26  may equally be produced in the form of an elastomer shoe fixed to the handle support and the deformability of which allows the inertial mass no longer to inhibit opening when the handle is forced open, but is sufficiently firm to stop the inertial mass in the locking configuration because of the effect of the inertial force transmitted thereto, notably via the transmission lever. The positioning of such an elastomer abutment is for example the same as that of the elastic abutment  26  described above. 
     In a further embodiment, a rigid or elastic abutment is provided for the mass  18  together with a rotation shaft of the inertial mass  18  having a deformability that is such as to allow swinging of the inertial mass out of the trajectory of the lever  12 , but movement of the inertial mass transversely to that shaft. The shaft is then advantageously made of metal with spring return means for reverting to the initial operating situation of the handle after an impact followed by forced opening of the handle. The rotation shaft is for example chosen to be sufficiently deformable for a rigid type abutment  26  to be adopted for the inertial mass, the deformability allowing the movement to the unlocking configuration being provided by the deformability of the shaft itself. Again, the shaft advantageously has sufficient rigidity to retain the inertial mass in the locking configuration because of the effect of the inertial forces alone.