Patent Abstract:
A device for activating an opening mechanism and/or closing mechanism for lockable movable parts on vehicles includes a manual actuator which in the activating situation acts on at least one contact maker of at least one switch, wherein the actuated switch switches on a drive for opening or closing the movable part. A car body has a wall thickness which is rigid in itself and non-compressible, but a free car body portion is of such a large size relative to an adjoining substantially shape-stable neighboring area of the car body that, when exerting a pressure, this car body portion will form a dent by a travel stroke and this dent serves for actuating the switch.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a divisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/009,033, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,696,652, filed Oct. 8, 2001 which is a 371 of PCT/EP00/03983 filed May 4, 2000. 
    
    
     The invention relates to a device for activating an opening mechanism and/or a closing mechanism for lockable moving parts on vehicles. The device includes a manual actuator which, upon its actuation, acts on a switch and switches on a drive for opening or closing the movable vehicle part. Such a drive can belong to a closure which is embodied as a rotary latch. The rotary latch is secured by a locking pawl in the locking position and, upon activating the actuator, is transferred into an opening position. Such a device is, for example, used at the rear hatch of a motor vehicle. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART 
     In the known device of this kind (DE 34 40 442 A1) the actuator is a pushbutton which is arranged in a hole in the outer skin. In order to secure the pushbutton in its initial position, a pressure spring is required. In order to protect the mechanism against dirt and moisture, the pushbutton is covered by a foil and sealed. Upon actuating the pushbutton, a ball is moved which acts on a contact maker of a switch which is arranged adjacent to the pushbutton. This known actuator comprises several components which must be manufactured separately and assembled with one another. Despite the elastic cover, dirt and moisture can enter the hole of the outer skin. 
     Moreover, in devices of the kind mentioned above, further decorative elements, can be provided before, on and/or within the outer skin of the vehicle which serve for embellishing or provide a visual information content. A typical example for this is a company emblem. 
     In a device of the latter kind (DE 197 22 503 A1) the decorative element is comprised of a company emblem which is supported rotatably on the outer skin which in its initial position covers a lock body relative to the exterior. The company emblem can be transferred into a release position in which it releases the lock body or another actuator for the vehicle part. In the release position, the company emblem at the same time functions as a grip element in order to completely open the vehicle part, for example, a rear hatch of the vehicle. After actuation of the means, it was necessary to return the company emblem into its initial position. This is cumbersome. 
     It is known to arrange push buttons for interior gauges of motor vehicles under an elastic plastic skin (DE 42 13 084 A1) and to actuate the switches through the skin. The elastic skin serves as a cover of the steering wheel or an arm rest in the vehicle interior. Such a plastic skin cannot be used for the external actuation of doors or flaps of a vehicle. The external actuator of a door must be able to withstand impacts and must be weathering resistant. 
     It is moreover known to employ for actuation of switches in an arm rest (WO 97/11473) pressure-responsive resistors which are connected to a control module. The pressure-responsive resistors are arranged on the surface of a foam material layer and the foam material layer is covered by a flexible skin which may have a soft outer layer. Upon pressure actuation on the flexible skin, the foam material layer is compressed and this results in a thickness change of the soft cover positioned above the pressure-responsive resistors. Such soft inner covers of the vehicles are not suitable for external actuators of doors. 
     It is finally also known in the case of inner covers of vehicles (GB 2 161 122 A) to employ membrane switches underneath an elastic foam material layer, wherein the arrangement locations of the switch, for the purpose of visual and touch recognition, are recessed at some locations. The actuation pressure results in a deformations of the recessed locations of the foam material layer which then act on the membrane switch. Such foamed material layers have also been used for rocker actuators or membrane switches (U.S. Pat. No. 5,448,028), wherein projecting areas in the arm rest indicated the position of the switch. This foam material layer was covered by a flexible skin. The pressure actuation resulted in the compression of the layer above the membrane switch or the rocker with regard to its layer thickness which resulted in pressure being exerted onto the switching elements underneath. Such foam material layers which are compressible with regard to their layer thickness are not suitable for the external actuation of doors. 
     Cushions of elastic material, whose exterior however must be covered by a metallic coating, have been used on the grips or buttons positioned on the exterior side of doors (FR 2 217 784 A). In the elastic cushions a switch with a contact maker was integrated. The contact maker was supported on a bracket arranged before the cover. The car body of the door in this area was provided with a depression in order to provide space for the hand. The hand compressed the elastic cushion from behind, i.e., from the interior of the depression. Accordingly, the cushion together with the switch integrated therein was pressed against the bracket underneath the cover. This door actuators are comprised of numerous components. This known door actuators form disturbing components projecting from the car body which can easily soil and are difficult to clean. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention has the object to provide a reliable device of the kind mentioned above which is of an inexpensive configuration and is easy to manipulate. 
     The invention has recognized that either the outer skin of the vehicle or the decorative element seated on the exterior skin of the vehicle can take over the further novel functions of being the actuator for the switch. According to a first embodiment, a portion of the car body itself is used as an actuator for the switch. The car body is comprised generally of sheet metal. The wall thickness of the car body cannot be compressed but is rigid by nature. The invention suggests to size a car body portion so large relative to the supported neighboring areas of the car body that this portion can be pushed inwardly from an initial position by a certain travel stroke to form a dent. This dent is used for actuating a switch. The car body is outwardly smooth within this dented portion, requires no holes and no insert parts. It is sufficient to arrange the contact maker of the switch either directly or indirectly in the yielding path of the car body portion. Since holes are no longer present in the car body, there are no sealing problems and there is no risk of soiling. 
     In an analog way, according to another embodiment, a portion of the decorative element is the actuator for the switch without this requiring special measures. The provided configuration of the decorative element in the form of stays and intermediate penetrations is used. Such stays result because of the decorative function or its information contents upon which the decorative element is based, for xample, by the lines of a letter. The invention has recognized that the stays generate the elastic yielding in a certain portion of the decorative element and that this area is especially suitable in order to serve as an actuator for the switch. At most, separating cuts or weakening of these stays must be additionally provided. These separating cuts and weakened areas do not interfere with the decorative function nor do they change the information content; for example, a letter remains easily readable even when the line forming its stay has a small gap. The gap transforms the stay into a bar which is fastened at one end and free at the other end which upon pressure exertion can be easily bent. Accordingly, numerous components, which were otherwise required for an actuator positioned underneath the decorative element, are no longer needed. Moreover, the decorative element as a whole must not at all change its initial position in order to trigger the actuator. It is sufficient to push the respective stay of the decorative element in order to obtain the desired switch actuation. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Further features and advantages of the invention result from the dependent claims, the following description, and the drawings. In the drawings, the invention is illustrated in several embodiments. It is shown in: 
     FIG. 1 a longitudinal section of a portion of the outer skin of a vehicle with the actuating location according to the invention, shown in the rest position; 
     FIG. 2 the device illustrated in FIG. 1 in the situation of pressure actuation; 
     FIG. 3 a first alternative embodiment of the invention, i.e., a longitudinal slot through a portion of a rear hatch of a motor vehicle, shown in the rest position; 
     FIG. 4 the device illustrated in FIG. 2 in the actuating situation; 
     FIG. 5 a further embodiment of the device according to the invention, where the actuatable deformation location is integrated into a company emblem which is seated on the outer skin of a rear hatch of the vehicle, shown in a rest position; 
     FIG. 6 a detail of the device shown in FIG. 5 during its pressure actuation; 
     FIG. 7 the spaced position of the company emblem resulting from the pressure actuation of FIG.  6  and now serving as a hand grip for completely opening the flap; and 
     FIGS. 8-9 two modified embodiments of the device illustrated in FIGS. 5 through 7 when the company emblem is in a spaced position. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIG. 1 shows in a longitudinal section a portion of a rear hatch  10  of the motor vehicle which is secured by a lock, not shown in detail, in the closed position. In order to facilitate opening of the lock, a drive, not illustrated in detail, is provided, for example, an electric motor. For switching on or off this drive, a switch  12  is provided which is connected by lines  35  with the drive. In the usually present closed position of FIG. 1 the drive is inactive. The switch  12  is fastened on a support  36  which is integrated into the structure of the hatch  10  in this configuration. A contact maker  13  of the switch  12  is arranged on the backside  41  of the outer skin  40  and should be, if possible, in contact with the backside  41 . The contact maker  13  in the present case is comprised of a pin which is longitudinally movable in the direction of arrow  16  and, according to its movement, can perform different switching functions within the switch  12 . When the pin  13  is pushed in, the contacts within the switch  12  are closed, and a corresponding switch-on signal is transmitted via lines  35  to the drive. 
     Several switches  12  can be provided at this location or in the neighboring area which are correlated with further functions in the vehicle, for example, for closing the closure when closing the rear hatch. Such switches  12  can also activate additional functions on the vehicle, such as closing or opening of the doors, the windows and the sliding roof of a vehicle. These different functions can alternatively also be triggered by different magnitudes of the pushing-in movement  16  of the contact maker  13 . Between the contact maker  13  of the switch  12  and the backside  41  of the skin, it is also possible to arrange transmission members for the switch actuation so that the switch  12  itself could be fastened at a more beneficial location relative to the outer skin  40  which location is moved farther away. 
     The location  43  of the outer skin  40  which is substantially aligned with the contact maker  13  is elastically deformable relative to the adjoining neighboring area  42  when pressure is exerted there according to the force arrow  20  of FIG.  2 . For short, this location  43  will therefore be referred to in the following as “deformation location” of the outer skin  40 . The actuation situation of the deformation location is illustrated in FIG.  2  and the deformation resulting therefrom is indicated at  43 ′. The yielding path, indicated in FIG. 2 at  29 , results in which the contact maker  13  is arranged directly, as mentioned before. The drive is then activated in the described way. The rear hatch  10  can be transferred in the direction of movement arrow  11  of FIG. 2 into the upwardly folded position, not illustrated in detail. 
     The deformation location  43  is suitably embodied such that upon pressure actuation  20  a defined yielding action is realized. This can be realized by a corresponding shaping of the location  43  and/or by a reduction of the wall thickness  45  of this outer skin  40 . Also, weakening of this deformation location  43  by cutouts in the wall of the outer skin  40  would be conceivable. The center of the deformation location  43 , which is especially effective for the exertion of the pressure  20 , should be marked in a special way at the exposed side  46  of the outer skin  40 . The drive, in the actuation situation of the deformation location  23 ′, can be used for a complete opening of the rear hatch  10  without this requiring an auxiliary manual handling. This should also apply in the case of the other embodiments. 
     The embodiment according to FIGS. 3 and 4 shows a modification of the lock wherein for identifying corresponding components the same reference numerals as in the preceding embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 are used. In this connection, the previous description applies. It is sufficient to discuss the differences. 
     The actuator for the switch in the present case is a company mblem  25  with a circular contour  24  which has an elastically deformable portion  23 . The company emblem  25  has a logo which is comprised of several stays  23 ,  27 . The stays  23 ,  27  fulfill a certain decorative function and can also provide a visual information content and can be comprised of letters and/or an image. Between the stays there are penetrations. In the present embodiment there is even a separating cut  26  between two stays  23 ,  27  which make one stay  23  flexible. The stay  23  is fast at one end in the circumferential area  24 , but is flexible at its oppositely positioned free end  28 . The stay  23  fulfills the function of a flexible bar. It is deformed in the direction of arrow  20 ″ of FIG. 4 relative to the neighboring stay  27 , which is in itself rigid, toward the switch  12  and reaches the position  23 ′. This is illustrated in FIG. 4 by the deformation travel  29 . The company emblem is integrated into a neighboring area  22  of the car body. 
     As can be seen in FIG. 4, the company emblem  25  belongs to a modular unit  30  which in itself can be completely pre-assembled and comprises the following components. There is first a mounting plate  17  on whose backside  18  the already mentioned microswitch  12  with its housing is fastened. A guide  14  on the switch housing penetrates a penetration  19  provided within the mounting plate  17  so that the contact-providing pin  13  is positioned at the inner side  31  of the mounting plate  17 . In front of the contact pin  13  a continuous elastic membrane  33  can be arranged, which is illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 only by a dash-dotted line and which is a component of the modular unit  30  and extends over the entire inner side  31  of the plate in a sealing way. The company emblem  25 , together with the membrane  33  and a circumferential seal  34 , is fixedly connected to the mounting plate  17 , for example, by screws. Of course, these fastening screws do not impair the flexibility of the afore described yielding location  23 . This modular unit  30  is mounted in the aforementioned neighboring area  22  of the outer skin in a cutout  32 , illustrated in FIG.  4 . 
     When the force exertion  20  of FIG. 4 is finished, the elasticity within the company emblem  25  ensures that the car body location returns from its actuating position  23 ′ again into its initial position of FIG.  3 . This restoring movement can be supported, if needed, also by additional elastic means such as leaf spring. Normally, this is not required, in particular, because the membrane  33  has a certain restoring elasticity. The membrane  33  has in fact the tendency to return into the curved position illustrated in FIG. 3 which is its stable state. 
     It is understood that, instead of a company emblem  25 , other decorative elements on the outer skin of the vehicle can take over the function of the inventive actuator for a microswitch. For example, it is possible to use decorative parts of a vehicle for this purpose. However, suitable would be also designation parts on the vehicle which are provided anyway, for example, the model designation of the vehicle. 
     In the third embodiment of FIGS. 5 through 7, a modular unit  21  comprised of an attachment  50  and an insert  37  is provided, wherein a company emblem  51  is integrated also in the attachment  50 . This modular unit  21  is pre-manufactured and mounted in the neighboring area  22  of the car body. In contrast to the preceding embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4, the company emblem  51  integrated into the attachment  50  is movable by the same motor  15  which also serves for actuating the lock which is not illustrated in detail. FIG. 7 shows the spaced position  50 . 2  where the attachment  50  has an angle α of approximately 45° relative to the contact position  50 . 1  in FIG.  5 . 
     The insert  37  on the other hand remains stationary. It forms the inner layer of this modular unit  21 , is comprised of elastomeric material, and is seated in a cutout  32  of the outer skin  40 . This inner layer  37  forms an elastic seal and has a central dome  38  in front of the contact maker  13  of a switch  12  which is seated on the support  36 . In a spaced position according to FIG. 7, a closing cylinder  48 , which in an emergency situation allows for a key actuation of the rear hatch lock, is accessible through an opening  39  in the inner layer  37 . The closing cylinder  48  is mounted on the support  36 . On the support  36  two levers  47  are connected at  49 . The levers  47  support the attachment  50 . 
     As can be taken best from FIG. 7, the attachment  50  itself is of a multi-layer configuration comprised of the outer company emblem  51 , a membrane  52  arranged at the backside thereof and having elasticity of extension, and a shape-stiff grip plate  53  which is comprised of metal. The company emblem  51  is comprised of a relatively shape-stable material, i.e., plastic, but has penetrations  54  which provide in the central area of this outer layer  51  a sufficient elasticity of flexure. The company emblem  51  is three-dimensional and has penetrations  54  in the relief between the lettering and the image. The penetrations  54  are closed at the backside by the expandable membrane  52  and are thus sealed. The grip plate  53  positioned underneath is seated on the free ends of the levers  47  and has a hole  55  at a defined location. The three layers  51 ,  52 ,  53  of the attachment  50  are fixedly connected to one another at their periphery  24 . At the central area of the attachment  50  a sufficient spacing is provided between the grip plate  53  and the flexible layers  51 ,  52  positioned above. 
     Normally, the contact position  50 . 1 , which is indicated in FIG. 5 by an auxiliary line  50 . 1 , is present where the modular unit  21  is positioned closely at the inner layer  37  within the cutout  32  of the outer skin  40 . In this case, the central dome  38  of the elastic inner layer  37  projects through the hole  55  of the grip plate and, as illustrated in FIG. 5, is aligned with a yielding location  23  of the company emblem  51 . The yielding action is recognizable for the pressure actuation  20  illustrated in FIG.  6 . In the company emblem  51  the yielding location  23  is transferred into the pushed-in position  23 ′ illustrated therein where the dome of the elastic inner layer  37  positioned behind has been pushed into the area of the grip plate hole  55  and thus has suffered a flattening  38 ′. Accordingly, the contact maker  13  is pushed in and the switch  12  actuated. The grip plate  53  limits the pressure actuation  20  of the actuated deformation location  23 ′ according to FIG.  4 . 
     The actuation of the switch  12  activates the drive  15  by means of an electronic control, not illustrated in detail, which drive, as mentioned already above, first transfers the lock of the rear hatch  10  into a ready position for opening. The same motor drive  15 , expediently after a short delay, is also used for movement of the modular unit  50 . This movement is realized via the levers  47  which are pivoted outwardly. This results in the already aforementioned spaced position of FIG. 7 which is indicated therein by the auxiliary line  50 . 2 . Now the grip plate  53  can be engaged from behind by a human hand  56  in order to transfer the rear hatch  10  in the direction of movement arrow  11  of FIG. 7 into the completely open position. For this purpose, the opening force which is illustrated by the force arrow  57  is provided. 
     From its spaced position  50 . 2  the modular unit  50  is returned manually or by a motor drive into its contact position  50 . 1  of FIG.  1 . This can also be performed automatically upon closing of the rear hatch. 
     The device according to FIGS. 3 to  5  could also be integrated as an immobile attachment  50  or as an insert into the outer skin  40  when the function of a hand grip according to FIG. 5 is not to be utilized. In this case, the grip plate  53  and the lever  47  can be eliminated. However, the outer layer  51  as the company emblem remains in place behind which sealing layers  52  and/or  37  are positioned and which acts through the actuating pressure  20  according to FIG. 4 in the already described way on the contact member  13  of the switch  12 . 
     Should the electrical devices of the vehicle be defective and the switch  12  and the drive  15  therefore not be functioning, the rear hatch  10  can still be opened. The attachment  50  has, as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 7, in the lower area a rearward cutout  58  which is accessible for the fingertips of a human hand. By a manual pulling action, the levers  47  can then be decoupled from a locking position coupled with the motor  15  and make possible a manual pivoting of the modular unit into the spaced position illustrated in FIG.  7 . As already mentioned, the end face of the closing cylinder  48 , which is normally positioned below the modular unit  50 , is then accessible through the opening  39  of the inner layer  37  and makes possible the opening of the rear hatch, as already mentioned, by means of an emergency key. 
     In FIG. 8 a modification of the device of FIGS. 5 through 7 is illustrated. It is sufficient to only discuss the differences while in other respects the description provided above applies. In this case the levers  47  are connected fixedly to a bearing shaft  59  for common rotation. The shaft  59  is driven by a transmission  16  which is arranged downstream of the motor  15 . 
     The emergency situation described in the preceding embodiment can be applied also in this modification of FIG.  8 . In this case, between the bearing shaft  59  and the transmission  60  a locking coupling is provided which can be, for example, a magnetic coupling which acts by means of permanent magnets. By exerting a sufficiently great opening force, the magnetic coupling is decoupled and the levers  47  reach a “freewheeling” position. 
     In the embodiment of FIG. 9, a drive  61 , modified in comparison to FIG. 8, is illustrated which is comprised of a motor, in particular, an electric motor and a transmission. Here, the output member of the transmission is a tooth rack  62  which engages a gear wheel  63 . The gear wheel  63  is fixedly connected with the levers  47  and pivotable together with them about their connecting location  49 . FIG. 9 shows in solid lines the inserted position  62  of the tooth rack. Its retracted position  62 ′ is illustrated in dash-dotted lines. It is present when the attachment  50  is positioned in the contract position illustrated in the second to last embodiment of FIG.  5 . In this case, in an emergency situation it is possible to manually move away the attachment  50  from the outer skin  40 . For this purpose, it is sufficient to employ a double tooth rack or to employ again the afore described magnet coupling between the movable transmission parts. 
     LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 
       10  rear hatch (in closed position), movable vehicle part 
       11  movement arrow of  10  for opening 
       12  switch 
       13  contact maker of  12 , longitudinally movable springy pin 
       14  guide for  13  in the switch housing 
       15  drive, electric motor for opening of  10   
       16  movement arrow of  13   
       17  mounting plate 
       18  backside of  17   
       19  penetration in  17   
       20  force arrow of  23   
       21  modular unit 
       22  neighboring area of  21   
       23  deformation location (in initial position) 
       23 ′ pushed-in position of  23   
       24  periphery, circumferential connection between  51 ,  52 ,  53  of  50   
       25  company emblem in  21   
       26  separating cut between  23 ,  27   
       27  rigid portion of  21  or  25   
       28  free portion end of  23   
       29  yielding path of  23   
       30  modular unit of  17 ,  12 ,  33 ,  34 ,  21 ,  25   
       31  inner plate side of  17   
       32  cutout in  40   
       33  elastic membrane across  17   
       34  circumferential seal of  30   
       35  lines between  12 ,  15  (FIGS. 1,  2 ) 
       36  support for  12   
       37  insert, deformable inner layer 
       38  central dome of  37  (in initial position) 
       38 ′ flattening of  38  in the actuation situation 
       39  opening in  37  for  48  (FIG. 5) 
       40  outer skin of  10   
       41  backside of  40  (FIGS. 1,  2 ) 
       42  neighboring area of  43  (FIGS. 1,  2 ) 
       43  deformation location of  40  in initial position 
       43 ′ deformation of  43  in the actuation situation 
       45  wall thickness of  40   
       46  exposed side of  40   
       47  lever 
       48  closing cylinder 
       49  connecting location of  47  on  36   
       50  attachment comprised of  51 ,  52 ,  53   
       50 . 1  contact position of  50  (FIGS. 5,  6 ) 
       50 . 2  spaced position of  50  (FIG. 7) 
       51  company emblem, decorative element 
       52  membrane with elasticity of extension 
       53  shape-stiff grip plate 
       54  penetration in  51   
       55  hole in  53   
       56  human hand engaging from behind (FIG. 7) 
       57  opening for  10   
       58  cutout at the rear of  50  (FIGS. 5,  7 ) 
       59  bearing shaft of  47  (FIG. 8) 
       60  transmission (FIG. 8) 
       61  drive (FIG. 9) 
       62  tooth rack (inserted position) 
       62 ′ retracted position of  62   
       63  gear wheel (FIG. 9) 
     α angular movement of  50  between  50 . 1 ,  50 . 2

Technology Classification (CPC): 4