Patent Publication Number: US-6910303-B1

Title: Device for actuating an electronic locking system and/or a lock integrated in a door, a flap or the like, especially in a motor vehicle

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The invention relates to a device for actuating an electronic locking system and/or a lock integrated in a door, a flat, or the like, especially in a motor vehicle, including a handle arranged on the exterior side of the door has generally two projections which penetrate openings in the door and project from the back side of the door panel. One projection can comprise a bearing for a pivot support of the handle on a bearing block fixedly connected on the back side of the door, wherein the bearing block has complementary counter bearings. This first projection therefore serves as a bearing projection of the handle. 
   The second projection of the handle serves primarily as a further securing means of the handle on the door. The second projection can also be configured such that, upon actuation of the handle, it cooperates with lock members on the inner side of the door. Accordingly, by means of this working projection a lock can be actuated after actuation of the handle. Mounting of the handle is realized from the exterior side of the door where the bearing projection as well as the working projection are inserted through the respective openings in the door until they are in the prescribed position on the inner side of the door in the area of the bearing block, on the one hand, and in the area of the lock members, on the other hand. In order to achieve this, a certain movement sequence of the handle is required during the mounting movement through the door opening. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   In a device of the aforementioned kind known from DE 196 33 894 A1, the handle comprises electronic components in the handle interior which are connected by an electrical line with an electrical coupling provided on the end of the bearing projection. In the mounted state of the door handle, the electrical coupling is connected by means of an electrical counter coupling part and an electrical control line connected thereto with an electronic device of the vehicle. In this known door handle, the bearings of the handle on the bearing projection are arranged in immediate vicinity of the electrical coupling part. When mounting the handle according to DE 196 33 894 A1, the electrical coupling part within the bearing projection is inserted into an electrical counter coupling part which is provided on a support already mounted on the door. 
   The disadvantage of the device of 196 33 894 A1 is that it is relatively complex with regard to manufacturing technology and that special counter coupling parts must be employed. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is an object of the present invention to develop a reliable device of the kind mentioned above which avoids the aforementioned disadvantages. 
   In accordance with the present invention, the electrical coupling part, which is arranged on the bearing projection of the door handle, is arranged pivotably on it and that the electrical counter coupling part, which must be inserted during mounting of the door handle on the door into the electrical coupling part, is also arranged pivotably at least on a frame part of a support provided on the door. Advantageously, the electrical coupling part can be detachably secured in an initial position on the bearing projection at the beginning of mounting of the door handle on the door so that the electrical coupling part cannot pivot away upon insertion into the electrical counter coupling part. 
   The electrical counter coupling part can have a shaped means which prevents pivoting of the electrical counter coupling part in the initial position of mounting. This could be, for example, a nose which is positioned within the opening area of the electrical counter coupling part. 
   Advantageously, the present invention can be produced relatively simply with regard to manufacturing technology. In comparison to normal door handles or coupling part arranged thereat only one bearing must be provided on the bearing projection of the door handle. The coupling part can be a commercially available electrical coupling part which must only be expanded by a bearing. Also, the employed counter coupling part can be a commercially available counter coupling part which is only modified. 
   In the mounted state the present electrical plug-in coupling has the advantage that the electrical coupling parts cannot move relative to one another upon a pivot movement of the handle. Accordingly, no wear of the electrical plug contact can result. Moreover, the present invention enables a simple and simultaneous mounting of the electrical plug-in coupling and the handle on the door. 
   In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the electrical counter coupling part is arranged on the support part by means of a pivot lever which is rotatably supported twofold. One of these bearings this is preferably lockable in one position so that in this position only one of the bearings is pivotable. This ensures a simple insertion of the electrical coupling part into the electrical counter coupling part upon mounting of the door handle on the door. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     Further advantages and measures of the invention result from the dependent claims, the following description, and the drawings. In the drawings the invention is illustrated with one embodiment. It is shown in: 
       FIG. 1  schematically a longitudinal section of the device fastened on the door of a vehicle, wherein a first mounting position of the handle correlated therewith is illustrated; 
       FIG. 2  schematically an enlarged detail of  FIG. 1  according to the dash-dotted rectangle II of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  schematically a longitudinal section corresponding to  FIG. 1 , with a second mounting position of the device according to the invention illustrated therein; 
       FIG. 4  schematically a section corresponding to  FIG. 1  with a third mounting position of the device according to the invention illustrated therein; 
       FIG. 5  schematically a longitudinal section corresponding to  FIG. 1  with a fourth mounting position of the device according to the invention illustrated therein; 
       FIG. 6  schematically a longitudinal section corresponding to  FIG. 1  with a fifth mounting position of the device according to the invention illustrated therein; 
       FIG. 7  schematically a longitudinal section corresponding to  FIG. 1  with a final mounting position of the device according to the invention illustrated therein; 
       FIG. 8  schematically a section according to the section line VIII—VIII of  FIG. 6 ; 
       FIG. 9  schematically a section according to the section line IX—IX of FIG.  2 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   In  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  9  the device according to the invention is illustrated in a first mounting position. On the backside  42  of a door  40  a support is mounted which is secured in its position by means of one or more screws  29  on the door panel. In the door  40  several openings  44 ,  45 ,  46  are provided which are penetrated, during and after mounting of the door handle  10 , by its forward and rearward projections  11 ,  12 . 
   The door handle  10  has a handle interior  19  in which electronic components are positioned which cooperate with an electronic control device of the locking system or the like. At the leading end of the door handle a projection  11  is formed on the door handle  10  which is embodied as a bearing projection. On this bearing projection  11  a bearing  51  is provided which in the mounted state of the door handle  10  cooperates with a bearing  52  of the support part  20 . The support part  20  has for this purpose a bearing block  21  on which the counter bearing  52  is arranged. In the illustrated embodiment, the door handle is pivotably secured on the bearings  51 ,  52  in the mounted state. An electrical coupling part  31  of an electrical plug-in connection  30  is also arranged on the bearing projection  11 . The electrical coupling part  31  is pivotably supported on the bearing projection  11  by means of a pivot bearing  71 , which is comprised of a bearing hole  17  provided in the bearing projection  11  and a rotary bearing axle  36  provided on the electrical coupling part  31 . The rotary bearing axle  36  is connected by a U-shaped bearing projection  35  with the electrical coupling part  31 . The electrical coupling part has moreover an engagement point  37  which can be engaged by securing means  31  of the bearing projection  11 . In  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  9  a first mounting position of the door handle  10  is illustrated in which the electrical coupling part  31  is in this securing position  77 . 
   The electrical coupling part  31  is electrically connected by a connecting line  18  with electronic components in the handle interior  19 . 
   On the support part  22  securing stays  20 ′ are arranged on which the electrical counter coupling part  32  of the electrical plug connection  30  is secured pivotably and slidably. 
   The detailed configuration and the arrangement of the electrical counter coupling part  32  on the securing stay  20 ′ of the support part  20  can be seen in  FIGS. 2 and 8 . In the area of the door opening  44 , through which the bearing projection  11  of the door handle  11  is guided through the door  40 , a securing stay  20 ′ as an extension of the support part  20  is formed on the support part  20  on opposed sides of the door opening  44  parallel to the direction of extension of the handle. These securing stays  20 ′ are provided with a bearing eye  28  and a guide slot  27  formed thereon. The bearing eye  28  serves for pivoting a bearing pin  24  on a pivot lever  22 . A rearward part of this bearing pin  24  on the pivot lever  22  is formed as a sliding block  26 . The bearing pin  24  with the sliding block  26  can have two positions  75  and  76 . In the first position of the bearing pin  24 , the sliding block  26  is positioned in the guide slot  27  on the securing stay  20 ′. A pivot movement of the bearing  73  formed of the bearing eye  28  and the bearing pin  24  is not possible. In a second position  76  of the bearing pin  24  in the bearing eye  28 , the sliding block  26  is moved out of the guide slot  27  and the bearing pin  24  is positioned entirely within the bearing eye  28  and is rotatable therein. The bearing  73  is now pivotable. On the pivot lever  22  a bearing eye  23  is arranged on its second pivot lever side in which the bearing pin  39  of the electrical counter coupling part  32  is inserted. The bearing pin  39  and the bearing eye  23  from the bearing  74  on which the electrical counter coupling part  32  is pivotably arranged. The bearings  73  and  74  form together a double pivot bearing  72  defined by the pivot lever  22 . On the electric counter coupling part  32  a supply and control line  38  is arranged via which the electrical counter coupling member  32  is connected to an electronic control. 
   Mounting of the device according to the invention is carried out in several movement steps. In  FIG. 1  a first movement step of the assembly is illustrated. The door handle  10  is first inserted, corresponding to the direction of the insertion arrow  53 , with its bearing projection  11  into the door opening  44  and, in this way, the electrical coupling part  31  is inserted, corresponding to the direction of arrow  60 , into the electric counter coupling part  32 . The bearing  74  is blocked during this process by the sliding block  26  which is positioned in the guide slot  27 . 
   In  FIG. 3  the position reached after this first mounting step is illustrated. The electrical coupling part  31  and the electrical counter coupling  32  form together the electrical plug-in connection  30  in which a contacting is achieved via the pin contacts  33  and the bushing contact  34  which are inserted into one another. The two coupling parts  31  and  32  are secured on one another by coupling means  31 ′ and counter coupling means  32 ′. This connection is detachable for repair purposes or the like. 
     FIG. 3  illustrates a further mounting direction of the door handle  10 . Corresponding to the illustrated rotational movement in the direction of rotation arrow  54 , the projection/working projection  12  of the door handle  10  is pivoted into the door opening  45  of the door  40  from the exterior side  41 . In this connection, the bearing  71  is moved in the rotational direction  54 ′, and the securing means  13  is released in the direction of arrow  54 ″ from the engagement point  37  of the electrical coupling part  31 . The electrical coupling part  31  and thus the electrical plug-in connection  30  are now in the release position  78 . 
   At the end of this mounting movement, the leading end of the working projection  10  of the door handle  10  is positioned shortly behind the door opening  45 , as illustrated in FIG.  4 . Starting from this position, the door handle  10  is further pivoted in the direction of rotation arrow  55 . In this connection, the rearward surface  14  of the bearing projection  11  rests against the stop  50  of the support part  20  and becomes the elbow of an elbow lever. The bearing projection  11  is pivoted in this connection in the direction of arrow  55 ″ on the stop  50 . As a result of this pivot movement, a lateral movement  55 ′ is exerted onto the bearing pin  24  and its sliding block  26  which thus moves out of the guide slot  27 . 
   In  FIG. 5  the position of the door handle  10  on the door  40  after completion of mounting movement  55  is illustrated. It is shown that the bearing pin  24  is now completely located within the bearing eye  28  and is thus also rotatable. In  FIG. 5  moreover the further mounting movement of the door handle  10  is illustrated. Corresponding to arrow  56 , the door handle  10  is moved farther into the door. This results in a rotation on the bearing  71  corresponding to the rotational direction  56 ″. The rotation of the bearing  73  is indicated by arrow  56 ′. Corresponding to the eccentricity of the pivot lever  22 , its second bearing with the bearing eye  23  moves upwardly. The bearing  74  compensates the movement of the bearing  73 . 
   In  FIG. 6  the end position of the mounting movement  56  is illustrated. The handle is now positioned against the door  40 . 
   The door handle  10  is now moved corresponding to the mounting movement  54  along the depression  43  of the door  40  in the direction of arrow  57 . This results in a rotation  57 ′ on the bearing  73 . Corresponding to the eccentricity of the pivot lever  22 , its second bearing with the bearing eye  23  moves again downwardly. The bearings  71 ,  74  again provide a flowing pivot movement. At the end of this last mounting movement, the bearing eye  15  has moved about the counter bearing  25  and embraces it. The working projection  12  of the door handle  10  moves behind the locking member  16  with which, by means of the door handle  10 , a lock can be actuated. For further securing of the door handle  10 , the cylinder column  61  and the lock cylinder  62  must be inserted into the door opening  46  so that a return movement of the door handle  10  counter to the mounting movement  57  is no longer possible. 
   It should be noted in this context that instead of the cylinder column  61  and the lock cylinder  62  also a blind cap can be inserted as is the case, for example, in fully automated locking systems which require no mechanical adjusting movement. By means of the illustrated control member  63  the locking system/lock can be secured or released by means of actuation of the lock cylinder  62 . 
   It should be also noted that the present invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiment. Other embodiments are also conceivable. For example, instead of the double pivot bearing  72  also a guide slot can be provided on the securing stay  20 ′ on which the electrical counter coupling part  32  is directly supported (not illustrated in the drawing). 
   Also, on the electrical counter coupling part  32  in the direction of the working projection  12  a further nose can be formed which secures the electrical counter coupling part  32  in position during insertion of the electrical coupling part (not illustrated in the drawing). 
   Instead of the sliding block  26  and the guide slot  27  other means for securing a bearing can also be provided. 
   LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 
   
       
         10  handle (rest position) 
         11  projection/bearing projection 
         12  projection/working projection 
         13  securing means 
         14  rearward surface of  11   
         15  bearing eye of  11   
         16  locking member (rest position) 
         17  bearing hole in  11   
         18  connecting line for  31   
         19  handle interior of  10   
         20  support part 
         20 ′ securing stay of  20   
         21  stationary bearing block of  20   
         22  pivot lever 
         23  bearing eye in  22   
         24  bearing pin on  22   
         25  counter bearing to  15   
         26  sliding block on  22   
         27  guide slot 
         28  bearing eye in  20 ′ 
         29  screw in  20   
         30  electrical plug-in connection 
         31  electrical coupling part of  30   
         31 ′ coupling means 
         32  electrical counter coupling part of  30  (rest position) 
         32 ′ counter coupling means 
         33  pin contact in  32   
         34  bushing contact in  31   
         35  U-shaped bearing projection 
         36  rotary bearing axle of  35   
         37  engagement point for  13   
         38  supply and control line for  32   
         39  bearing pin on  32   
         40  door, door panel 
         41  exterior side of  40   
         42  inner side of  40   
         43  depression in  40   
         44  first door opening for  11   
         45  second door opening for  12   
         46  third door opening for  61   
         50  stop 
         51  bearing on  11   
         52  counter bearing on  21 ,  20   
         53  insertion arrow (mounting movement) 
         54  rotation arrow (mounting movement) 
         54 ′ rotational direction bearing  71   
         54 ″ release movement of  13   
         55  rotation arrow (mounting movement) 
         55 ′ retraction movement of  26   
         55 ″ rotational movement on stop  50   
         56  arrow (mounting movement) 
         56 ′ rotational direction, bearing  73   
         56 ″ rotational direction, bearing  71   
         57  last pushing movement phase (mounting movement) 
         57 ′ rotational movement on the bearing  73   
         60  arrow for insertion direction of  31  into  32   
         61  cylinder column 
         62  lock cylinder of  61   
         63  control member of  62   
         71  pivot bearing 
         72  double pivot bearing 
         73  bearing 
         74  bearing 
         75  first position of bearing pin  24   
         76  second position of bearing pin  24   
         77  securing position of the electrical coupling part ( 31 ) 
         78  release position of the electrical coupling part ( 31 )