Patent Description:
Electronic assemblies for opening and/or closing a vehicle door generally comprise a handle, a bracket to which the handle is secured and electronic means configured to activate a latch, such as an electronic latch, to open the vehicle door.

These assemblies generally also comprise mechanical lockset so that in case of electronic failure, the vehicle door can be manually and mechanically opened, by means of the mechanical lockset. This mechanical lockset is often accessible from behind the handle.

As this mechanical lockset is only used as a back-up device, vehicle manufacturers often seek to arrange the handle such that the mechanical lockset is easily accessible while being the least visible on the assembly. <CIT> discloses a handle with a cover element which can be moved away from an opening, such that a mechanical lockset can be accessed.

An object of the invention is to provide a handle for opening and/or closing a vehicle door arranged such that the mechanical lockset is the least visible while being easy to access.

To this end the invention relates, according to a first aspect, to a handle for opening and/or closing a vehicle door, according to claim <NUM>. In particular, the handle comprises a cover member configured to be secured to a bracket, the cover member comprising:.

For example, the inner wall part extends from the frame part so as to allow access by a user's hand to at least one electronic switch of the bracket.

For example, the at least one electronic switch is configured to be activated by a user's touch to send a signal to an electronic latch to open the door.

The opening of the access to the mechanical lockset can be covered by the cover member so that the mechanical lockset is hidden when the mechanical lockset is not to be used. This allows to provide an aesthetic assembly on the vehicle door.

Furthermore, the configuration of the cover element moveable by rotation permits to provide an easy and fast way to cover the opening of the access with the cover element or to move the cover element away from the opening to allow an access to the mechanical lockset.

The handle can comprise the following features, considered alone or in any technically possible combination, without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims:.

The access portion is arranged on the inner wall part of the cover member. The access part is the thus the least visible on the handle.

The cover element comprises at least one mounting and/or dismounting means and the access part comprises at least one complementary mounting and/or dismounting means disposed at the opening. The at least one mounting and/or dismounting means of the cover element and the at least one complementary mounting and/or dismounting means of the access part cooperate with each other in the locked position.

The at least one mounting and/or dismounting means is a first part of a bayonet mounting and/or dismounting means and the at least second mounting and/or dismounting means is a second part of a bayonet mounting and/or dismounting means.

The at least one mounting and/or dismounting means of the cover member and the at least one complementary mounting and/or dismounting means of the access part cooperate with each other by clipping.

The cover element comprises a slot adapted for receiving a mechanical key such that the cover element can be rotated between the locked position and unlocked position by the mechanical key.

The assembly comprises a connecting element connecting the cover element to another part of the cover member so that the cover element remains connected to the cover member even when the cover element is moved away from the opening such that the mechanical lockset can be accessed.

The cover member comprises guiding means configured to guide the cover element when the cover element is moved to the locked position.

The guiding means comprises a guide rail and a guide shoe, the access portion comprising the guide rail, and the cover element comprising the guide shoe, the guide shoe being configured to cooperate with the guide rail.

According to a second aspect, the invention concerns an assembly for opening and/or closing a vehicle door, the assembly comprising:.

According to a third aspect, the invention concerns a method for opening a vehicle door by means of such assembly, the method comprising a step of moving the cover element from the locked position to the unlocked position by rotating the cover element with respect to the access part according to the opening axis.

The method can further comprises the step of moving the cover element in the unlocked position away from to the opening such that the mechanical lockset can be accessed.

<FIG> illustrates a handle <NUM> for opening and/or closing a vehicle door according to the invention.

The handle <NUM> for opening and/or closing a vehicle door <NUM> (<FIG>) comprises a cover member <NUM> configured to be secured to a bracket <NUM> (<FIG>). The cover member <NUM> comprises a frame part <NUM>. The cover member <NUM> comprises an inner wall part <NUM> extending from the frame part <NUM>.

The cover member <NUM> comprises an access part <NUM>. The access part <NUM> has an opening <NUM> (<FIG>), the opening <NUM> defining an opening axis X. The opening axis X can extend from one side of the opening <NUM> to the other side of the opening. The opening axis X can pass through the opening <NUM>. For example, the axis X connects the two spaces extending from each part of the cover member <NUM> and passes through the opening <NUM>. The opening axis X is for instance a radial axis of the opening.

The cover member <NUM> comprises a cover element <NUM> configured to cover the opening <NUM>. The cover element <NUM> is configured to be movable between a locked position (<FIG>) and an unlocked position (<FIG>), so that when in the unlocked position, the cover element <NUM> can be moved away from the opening <NUM>, the cover element <NUM> being configured to be moved from the locked position (<FIG>) to the unlocked position (<FIG>) by rotating the cover element <NUM> with respect to the access part <NUM> according to the opening axis X.

The opening axis refers to the mathematical axis around which the cover element <NUM> is configured to rotate with respect to the access part <NUM> to be moved from the locked position to the unlocked position.

It is thus possible to easily gain access to a specific part or device of the vehicle door even when an electronic system of the vehicle door <NUM>, for instance the electronic system responsible for unlocking and/or opening the vehicle door <NUM>, is not functional. For instance, it is thus easy to gain access to a backup device, such as a mechanical lockset.

The rotating movement about the opening axis X makes it easy to make such access possible when wanted, while preventing access to be made unintentionally, for instance by mistake when touching the corresponding part of the handle.

This opening mechanism also allows for reduced volume of the parts necessary to allow such access. Therefore, access to a device such as a backup device is made possible while the corresponding mechanical parts take limited space within the door handle.

The access part <NUM> is an access part to a mechanical lockset (not shown) and the cover element <NUM> can be moved away from to the opening <NUM> such that the mechanical lockset can be accessed.

For example, the mechanical lockset can be arranged on the vehicle door <NUM> or on the bracket <NUM>.

The mechanical lockset is a back-up device so that in case of electronic failure, the vehicle door <NUM> can be manually and mechanically opened, by means of the mechanical lockset.

To this end, the handle <NUM> comprises a gripping means <NUM> configured to be graspable by the user's hand to manually open the vehicle door.

For example, the gripping means <NUM> is arranged on the frame part <NUM> of the cover element <NUM>.

For example, the gripping means <NUM> is a strip such as a chrome strip.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the access part <NUM> is arranged on the inner wall part <NUM> of the cover member <NUM>. The access part is the least visible on the handle, for instance from the user's side of the vehicle door, for instance a user's point of view from outside the vehicle when the handle is mounted on the vehicle door and the vehicle door <NUM> is mounted on the vehicle. The inner wall part <NUM> can for instance comprise a wall part and a guide part. The access part <NUM> is arranged on the wall part. The guide part forms a guide extending so as to allow access by a user's hand to at least one electronic switch of the bracket <NUM> as described hereafter. The guide part is for instance arranged sideways with respect to the guide part, for instance such that the wall part extends upstream a path of the guide part going downstream towards the electronic switch.

Upstream, respectively downstream, means for example with respect to a sense going from the outside of the handle towards the electronic switch, for instance with respect to the sense going from the frame part to the electronic switch, for instance with respect to the movement of the user's hand reaching for the electronic switch.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the cover element <NUM> comprises at least one mounting and/or dismounting means <NUM>, <NUM>' and the access part comprises at least one complementary mounting and/or dismounting means <NUM>, <NUM>' disposed at the opening <NUM>.

The at least one mounting and/or dismounting means <NUM>, <NUM>' of the cover element <NUM> and the at least one complementary mounting and/or dismounting means <NUM>, <NUM>' of the access part <NUM> are configured to cooperate with each other in the locked position.

For example, the at least one mounting and/or dismounting means <NUM>, <NUM>' of the cover element <NUM> is a first part of a bayonet mounting and/or dismounting means and the at least one complementary mounting and/or dismounting means <NUM>, <NUM>' of the access part is a second part of a bayonet mounting and/or dismounting means.

According to the invention, the at least one mounting and/or dismounting means <NUM>, <NUM>' of the cover element <NUM> is or comprises a lug or ridge <NUM>, <NUM>' or any other suitable element configured to ensure a rotation stop.

The lug <NUM>, <NUM>' is arranged on a first side <NUM> of the cover element <NUM> and protrudes with respect to the first side <NUM> of the cover element <NUM>. The first side <NUM> can for instance correspond to a side that is opposite to a second side accessible to the user. The first side <NUM> can be an inner side facing away from the outside of the vehicle door <NUM> when the vehicle door <NUM> is mounted on the vehicle. The opening <NUM> can for instance connect the first side and the second side. The opening axis X can for instance connect the first side and the second side.

For example, the lug <NUM>, <NUM>' comprises a first portion <NUM>, <NUM>' and a second portion <NUM>, <NUM>', tilted with respect to the first portion <NUM>, <NUM>'. The first portion <NUM>, <NUM>' can extend away from a central part of the cover element <NUM> from a central extremity to a peripheral extremity. The second portion <NUM>, <NUM>' can extend from the peripheral extremity of the first portion <NUM>, <NUM>'. For example, the second portion <NUM>, <NUM>' extends from a proximal portion thereof, connected to the peripheral extremity, to an extremal portion thereof. For example, second portion <NUM>, <NUM>' comprises a connecting portion connecting the proximal portion and the extremal portion.

The central part of the cover element <NUM> may present a protrusion. The protrusion can be formed by a slot <NUM> as described hereunder, the slot <NUM> extending on the other side of the cover element <NUM>. The first portion <NUM>, <NUM>', for instance the central extremities thereof, can extend from the protrusion. The protrusion have an elongated shape. The protrusion ensures that the slot <NUM> is closed, thus preventing dirt to enter that way.

The at least one complementary mounting and/or dismounting means <NUM>, <NUM>' of the access part <NUM> can be or comprise a housing <NUM>, <NUM>' arranged on a wall <NUM>, <NUM>' of the cover member. The housing <NUM>, <NUM>' can be arranged at the level of opening <NUM>, for instance around the opening <NUM>. The housing <NUM>, <NUM>' can form an aperture, for instance an opening within the wall <NUM>, <NUM>', for instance an opening connecting the first side and the second side.

The housing <NUM>, <NUM>' is configured to receive at least a portion of the lug <NUM>, <NUM>', for example at least a portion of the second portion <NUM>, <NUM>' of the lug <NUM>, <NUM>', for instance the extremal portion thereof, so that the lug <NUM>, <NUM>' ensures a rotation stop when received in the housing <NUM>, <NUM>', for example in the locked position. To this extent, the connecting portion is for example thinner than the extremal portion and/or the extremal portion and the connecting portion are arranged so as to form a hook, for instance the extremal portion extending from the connecting portion so as to be directed back towards a face of the first side of the cover element and/or towards the second side of the cover element, for example facing away from the mechanical lockset.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the cover element comprises two mounting and/or dismounting means <NUM>, <NUM>' and the access portion comprises two complementary mounting and/or dismounting means <NUM>, <NUM>' disposed at the opening <NUM>.

According to this embodiment, the cover element comprises a first mounting and/or dismounting means <NUM> and second mounting dismounting means <NUM>' and the access part comprises a first complementary mounting and/or dismounting means <NUM> and a second complementary mounting and/or dismounting means <NUM>', disposed at the opening <NUM>.

The first mounting and/or dismounting means <NUM> of the cover element and the first complementary mounting and/or dismounting means <NUM> of the access part cooperate with each other in the locked position, and the second mounting and/or dismounting means <NUM>' of the cover element and the second complementary mounting and/or dismounting means <NUM>' of the access part cooperate with each other in the locked position.

The mounting and/or dismounting means of the cover member and the complementary mounting and/or dismounting means of the access part cooperate with each other by clipping.

For example, the at least one lug <NUM>, <NUM>' comprises a recess <NUM> (<FIG>) configured to cooperate with the walls <NUM>, <NUM>' of the access part. For example, when the extremal portion is received in the housing <NUM>, <NUM>', in the locked position, the recess result in the connecting portion forms a bridge connecting the proximal portion and the extremal portion over a portion of the access part separating the opening <NUM> and the aperture of the housing <NUM>, <NUM>'.

The cover member <NUM> comprises guiding means <NUM> configured to guide the cover element <NUM> when the cover element is moved to the locked position.

The guiding means <NUM> comprises a guide rail <NUM> and a guide shoe <NUM>, the access part <NUM> comprising the guide rail <NUM>, and the cover element <NUM> comprising the guide shoe <NUM>.

The guide shoe <NUM> is configured to cooperate with the guide rail <NUM>.

For example, the guide rail <NUM> is a third wall <NUM>" disposed at the opening <NUM>.

For example, the guide shoe <NUM> comprises an arm <NUM> arranged on a first side <NUM> of the cover element <NUM> and protrudes with respect to the first side of the cover element.

The arm <NUM> comprises an end comprising a notch <NUM> (<FIG>) so that the arm <NUM> can cooperate with the third wall <NUM>" of the guide rail.

As illustrated in <FIG>, <FIG>, the access part <NUM> comprises a housing <NUM> arranged between two walls <NUM>', <NUM>"disposed at the opening. This housing <NUM> permits to guide the cover element with respect to the opening when the cover element is assembled to the opening to cover the opening.

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the cover element <NUM> comprises a slot <NUM> adapted for receiving a mechanical key such that the cover element <NUM> can be rotated between the locked position and unlocked position by the mechanical key.

For instance, in the unlocked position, the cover element can be moved away from the opening by pulling and/or pushing the cover element, for instance with the help of a mechanical key inserted therein. The handle can be configured such that in the unlocked position, the cover element <NUM> is in an instable equilibrium position such that it tends to fall when solicited, for instance solicited by pulling and/or pushing, for instance with the help of a mechanical key inserted therein. The handle can be configured such that the cover element <NUM> is press fit with respect the cover member <NUM>, for example the press fit being undone upon reaching the unlocked position, and/or by pulling and/or pushing the cover element <NUM>, for instance with the help of a mechanical key inserted therein, thus resulting in the cover element <NUM> being moved away from the opening.

For instance, the mechanical key, once inserted, can cooperate with the slot so as to allow pulling of the cover element when pulling the key towards the user's side.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the handle <NUM> comprises a connecting element <NUM> connecting the cover element <NUM> to another part of the cover member <NUM> so that the cover element <NUM> remains connected to the cover member <NUM> even when the cover element <NUM> is moved away from the opening <NUM> such that the mechanical lockset can be accessed.

The connecting element allows easy retrieval of the cover element when it is not in the locked position.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the connecting element allows the cover element to be moved with respect to the another part of the cover member while remaining at a predetermined maximum distance thereof.

within such limitations, it is to be understood that the connecting element <NUM> does not prevent the cover element from being moved freely in translations and rotations with respect to the another part.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the cover element <NUM> comprises a first retaining element <NUM> configured to retain a first portion of the connecting element <NUM>, and the cover member <NUM> comprises a second retaining element <NUM>' configured to retain a second portion of the connecting element <NUM>, such that the cover element is linked to the cover member if the cover element is dismounted from the opening.

The second retaining element <NUM>' can form the another part of the cover member. The second retaining element <NUM>' can for example extend from one of the clipping means <NUM>, <NUM>' described hereafter.

The connecting element <NUM> can comprise or form a wire and/or a chain.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the connecting element <NUM> connects the cover element <NUM> to another part of the cover member <NUM>. The connecting element <NUM> comprises a first end secured to the first retaining element <NUM> of the cover element end a second end secured to the second retaining element <NUM>'of the cover member.

The first retaining element <NUM>, and/or respectively the second retaining element <NUM>', can have a hole for retaining the first portion of the connecting element48, and/or respectively the second portion of the connecting element <NUM>.

The first retaining element can extend from the central part of the cover element <NUM>, for instance from the protrusion. The first retaining element can extend from the central extremity of the first portion <NUM>'.

<FIG> illustrates an assembly for opening and/or closing according to the present invention.

The assembly <NUM> comprises a bracket <NUM> configured to be assembled to an inner side of the vehicle door <NUM>. The bracket <NUM> comprises at least one electronic switch configured to be activated by a user's touch to send a signal to an electronic latch to open the door. The assembly <NUM> comprises the handle as previously described.

According to the invention, the bracket <NUM> is configured to be assembled to the inner side of the vehicle door <NUM>.

By "assembled to the inner side" it is to be understood that the bracket <NUM> can be fixed or attached or assembled by any suitable means to the inner side of the vehicle door <NUM>.

By "inner side of the door", it is understood for example the side of the door destined to face the vehicle interior, by opposition to an outer side of the door destined to be disposed towards the exterior environment.

For example, as illustrated in <FIG>, the bracket is fixed to the inner side of the door <NUM> by means of screws <NUM>, <NUM>'. For example, the bracket <NUM> is fixed to the inner side of the vehicle door by means a first screw <NUM> and second screw <NUM>'.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the bracket <NUM> is positioned against the inner side of the vehicle door.

The bracket <NUM> comprises at least one electronic switch configured to be activated by a user's touch, for example, by mean of a user's finger touch.

When activated by the user's touch, the electronic switch sends a signal to an electronic latch (not shown) so that the electronic latch open the vehicle door <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the at least one switch is arranged on an upper part <NUM>' of the bracket <NUM>.

The at least one switch is arranged behind a casing <NUM> arranged on the upper part <NUM>' of the bracket <NUM>.

The cover member <NUM> is configured to be secured to the bracket <NUM>.

To this end, the bracket <NUM> and the cover member <NUM> comprise complementary fastening means which cooperate with each other so that the cover member can be secured to the bracket.

For example, the bracket <NUM> comprises clipping means <NUM> (<FIG>) and the cover member <NUM> comprises at least one housing (not visible) configured to receive the clipping means <NUM> of the bracket <NUM>. The bracket <NUM> can comprise at least one aperture, the assembly being configured such that the clipping means <NUM> can be inserted through at least one aperture of the bracket <NUM>, for example so as to reach the at least one housing.

As illustrated in <FIG> the cover member <NUM> comprises two clipping means <NUM>, <NUM>' and the bracket <NUM> comprises two corresponding housings <NUM>, <NUM>' (<FIG>) each configured to receive one of the clipping means <NUM>, <NUM>' of the cover member <NUM>.

For instance, the assembly is configured such that the cover member <NUM> can be locked in position to the bracket <NUM>. To this extent, the bracket <NUM> can comprise a locking element. The locking element can be configured such that a sliding of the locking element with respect to a body of the bracket allows for locking the cover member on the bracket <NUM>. The locking can result from the locking element being positioned at least partially between the clipped clipping means <NUM>, <NUM>' and the aperture.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the cover member <NUM> is configured to be assembled to the external side of the vehicle door <NUM>, opposite to the inner side of the door.

To this end, the vehicle door <NUM> comprises an opening <NUM> (<FIG>) so that the cover member <NUM> can be assembled to the external side of the door and secured to the bracket <NUM>.

The frame part <NUM> is sized so that a user's hand can passes through the frame part <NUM>.

The frame part <NUM> is configured to be positioned against the external side of the vehicle door.

The inner wall part <NUM> of the cover member <NUM> extends from the frame part <NUM>. The inner wall part <NUM> extends from the frame part <NUM> so as to allow access by the user's hand the at least one electronic switch of the bracket when the handle is secured to the bracket. The inner wall part can form a guide to the at least one electronic switch.

To this end, the inner wall part <NUM> can be tilted with respect to the frame part <NUM>. This configuration permits to guide the user's hand toward the at least one electronic switch arranged on the upper part of the bracket <NUM>.

By "upper", respectively "lower", it is for example understood with respect to a vertical axis, for example the axis orthogonal to the ground when the vehicle is on a flat ground.

For example, the inner wall part is curved (<FIG>).

The frame part <NUM> and the tilted inner wall part <NUM> may form a bowl shape element. For instance, the frame part <NUM> and the tilted inner wall part may form a handle of the bowl type, for instance a bowl-shaped handle.

The frame part <NUM> and the inner wall part <NUM> can be made integrally.

The mechanical lockset is arranged on the bracket <NUM> (not visible).

The opening <NUM> of the access part <NUM> allows an access to the mechanical lockset arranged on the bracket.

The cover element <NUM> hide the opening <NUM>.

In case of electronic failure, the user remove the cover element <NUM> from the opening <NUM> of the access part <NUM> so that the mechanical lockset can be accessed.

The vehicle door can be unlocked using a mechanical key inserted in the mechanical lockset.

The user can pull on the strip <NUM> of the handle <NUM> to open the vehicle door manually.

A system can comprise such an assembly <NUM> and the corresponding vehicle door. The assembly is assembled to the vehicle door. The assembly can further comprise the vehicle including the vehicle door mounted thereon.

The system can comprise the mechanical lockset. The system can comprise the mechanical key configured to cooperate with the mechanical lockset and/or with the slot.

A method for opening a vehicle door by means of the assembly as previously described comprises a step of moving the cover element <NUM> from the locked position to the unlocked position by rotating the cover element <NUM> with respect to the access part <NUM> according to the opening axis X.

The method for opening further comprises a step of moving the cover element <NUM> in the unlocked position away from to the opening <NUM> such that the mechanical lockset can be accessed.

Claim 1:
Handle (<NUM>) for opening and/or closing a vehicle door, the handle (<NUM>) comprising a cover member (<NUM>) configured to be secured to a bracket, the cover member (<NUM>) comprising:
∘ a frame part (<NUM>), and
∘ an inner wall part (<NUM>) extending from the frame part (<NUM>) so as to allow access by a user's hand to at least one electronic switch of the bracket, the at least one electronic switch being configured to be activated by a user's touch to send a signal to an electronic latch to open the door,
wherein the cover member (<NUM>) comprises:
∘ an access part (<NUM>) to a mechanical lockset, the access part (<NUM>) having an opening (<NUM>) through which the mechanical lockset can be accessed, the opening (<NUM>) defining an opening axis (X) passing through the opening,
∘ a cover element (<NUM>) configured to cover the opening (<NUM>), characterized in that the cover element (<NUM>) is being configured to be movable between a locked position and an unlocked position, so that when in the unlocked position, the cover element (<NUM>) can be moved away from the opening (<NUM>) such that the mechanical lockset can be accessed, the cover element (<NUM>) being configured to be moved from the locked position to the unlocked position by rotating the cover element (<NUM>) with respect to the access part (<NUM>) according to the opening axis (X).