PUSH BUTTON DEVICE WITH PUSH ACTUATION WITH IMPROVED KINEMATICS FOR APPLICATION IN A VEHICLE

• US 20170306662A1
• Filed: 10/27/2015
• Published: 10/26/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Original Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Inventors: Och, Roland, Wilke, Zsolt, Hamacher, Kai
• Granted Patent: US 10,907,387 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 1/0038 Sliding handles, e.g. push buttons E05B13/105 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 17/002 Weather or dirt protection E05B15/029, E05B17/14 take precedence; for vehicle locks E05B77/34
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 17/0083 Sound emitting devices, e.g. loudspeakers
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2015/0431 Modifying spring characteristic or tension E05B2015/0441 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 39/007 Indication by a tactile impulse to the user, e.g. vibration of a lock-, handle- or key-part
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/76 Detection of handle operation; Detection of a user approaching a handle; Electrical switching actions performed by door handles
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/78 as part of a hands-free locking or unlocking operation
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 85/10 Handles
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/02 Controlling members for hand actuation by linear movement, e.g. push buttons
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 21/22 Operating parts, e.g. handle
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 3/122 with enlarged actuating area, e.g. of the elongated bar-type; Stabilising means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 292/37 Push button operators
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/57 Operators with knobs or handles

Abstract

Push button device for a motor vehicle, has: a mechanical and/or electric function controller with a first control state and a second control state; a push button element pressable from a disengaged state into a pressed state, wherein the function controller has the first control state when the push button element is in the disengaged state and the second control state when the push button element is in the pressed state, the push button element connected to the function controller by a first pivot arm mounted rotatably about a first axis of rotation and by a second pivot arm mounted rotatably about a different axis of rotation spaced apart from the first axis of rotation, wherein the first pivot arm and the second pivot arm are designed to be pivoted in an identical direction of rotation as a consequence of a movement of the push button element.

Claims

1. (canceled)

2. Push button device (1) for actuating a functionality in a motor vehicle, wherein the push button device (1) has:

a mechanical and/or electric function controller (10) which has a first control state and a second control state;

a push button element (20) with a manually actuable push button surface, wherein the push button element (20) is pressable from a disengaged state into a pressed state by means of a pressing force (100),

wherein the function controller (10) has the first control state when the push button element (20) is in the disengaged state, and the function controller (10) has the second control state when the push button element (20) is in the pressed state,

characterized in that

the push button element (20) is connected to the function controller (10) via a first pivot arm (51) which is mounted rotatably about a first axis of rotation and via a second pivot arm (52) which is mounted rotatably about a second axis of rotation which is spaced apart from the first axis of rotation, wherein the first pivot arm (51) and the second pivot arm (52) are designed to be pivoted in an identical direction of rotation as a consequence of a movement of the push button element (20).

3. Push button device (1) according to claim 2, wherein the push button device (1) is a door opener of a side door of a motor vehicle.

4. Push button device (1) according to claim 2, wherein at least one of the pivot arms (51, 52) is mounted between the push button element (20) and the function controller (10) via at least one rotary joint (31, 32, 33, 34) having a rotary joint axis.

5. Push button device (1) according to claim 4, wherein the push button device (1) has a first rotary joint (31) and a second rotary joint (32), each having a rotary joint axis, wherein the rotary joint axes of the first and second rotary joints (31, 32) are spaced apart from each other, and the push button element (20) and the function controller (10) are connected to each other via the first rotary joint (31), the first pivot arm (51) and the second rotary joint (32), wherein the first and the second rotary joint (31, 32) are connected in series via the first pivot arm (51), wherein the push button device (1) has a third rotary joint (33) and a fourth rotary joint (34), each having a rotary joint axis, and the push button element (20) and the function controller (10) are furthermore connected to each other via the third rotary joint (33) and the fourth rotary joint (34), and the third rotary joint (33) and the fourth rotary joint (34) are connected in series via the second pivot arm (52).

6. Push button device (1) according to claim 2, wherein the push button device (1) has a coupling arm (53) which is spaced apart from the push button element (20) and which couples the first pivot arm (51) to the second pivot arm (52).

7. Push button device (1) according to claim 6, wherein the push button device (1) has a fifth rotary joint (35) and a sixth rotary joint (36), each having an axis of rotation, wherein the first pivot arm (51) is connected to the coupling arm (53) via the fifth rotary joint (35) and the second pivot arm (52) is connected to the coupling arm (53) via the sixth rotary joint (36).

8. Push button device (1) according to claim 2, wherein the push button surface has a long side (21) and a short side (22), and wherein the axis of the direction of rotation of the first and of the second pivot arm (51, 25) is perpendicular with respect to the long side (21).

9. Push button device (1) according to claim 2, wherein the push button device (1) has:

a first spring (61) which acts upon the push button element (20) with a first force in the direction of the disengaged state,

a retaining device (62) which defines the position of the disengaged state of the push button element (20).

10. Push button device (1) according to claim 9, wherein the first spring (61) is a catch spring.

11. Push button device (1) according to claim 9, wherein the push button device (1) has a second spring (62.1) as part of the retaining device (62), which spring acts upon the push button element (20) with a second force in the direction of the pressed state.

12. Push button device (1) according to claim 11, wherein the push button device (1) has an adjuster (70) by means of which the position of the disengaged state of the push button element (20) is adjustable.

13. Push button device (1) according to claim 12, wherein by means of the adjuster the magnitude of the first force and/or the magnitude of the second force is adjustable and therefore the position of the disengaged state of the push button element (20) is adjustable.

14. Push button device (1) according to claim 2, wherein the push button device (1) has at least one adjustable stop (80) which defines a position of a maximally pressed state of the push button element (20).

15. Push button device (1) according to claim 2, wherein the push button device (1) has a sealing element (90) which surrounds the push button element (20) at least in regions and bears thereagainst and which has a bead (91) which, in the installed state of the push button device (1), bears against the lower side of the immediately surrounding surface (110) of the vehicle.

16. A push button device for actuating a functionality in a motor vehicle, wherein the push button device comprises:

a mechanical and/or electric function controller configured with a first control state and a second control state;

a push button element with a manually actuable push button surface, wherein the push button element is pressable from a disengaged state into a pressed state by means of a pressing force,

wherein the function controller is placed in the first control state when the push button element is in the disengaged state, and the function controller is placed in the second control state when the push button element is in the pressed state,

wherein the push button element is connected to the function controller by a first pivot arm that is mounted rotatably about a first axis of rotation and by a second pivot arm that is mounted rotatably about a second axis of rotation that is spaced apart from the first axis of rotation, wherein the first pivot arm and the second pivot arm are arranged to be pivoted in an identical direction of rotation in response to movement of the push button element.

17. A push button device according to claim 16, wherein the push button device is a door opener of a side door of a motor vehicle.

18. A push button device according to claim 17, wherein at least one of the first and second pivot arms is mounted between the push button element and the function controller by at least one rotary joint having a rotary joint axis.

19. A push button device according to claim 18, wherein the push button device has both a first rotary joint and a second rotary joint, each having a corresponding rotary joint axis, wherein the rotary joint axes of the first and second rotary joints are spaced apart from each other, and the push button element and the function controller are connected to each other by the first rotary joint, the first pivot arm and the second rotary joint, wherein the first and the second rotary joints are connected in series by the first pivot arm, wherein the push button device has a third rotary joint and a fourth rotary joint, each having a corresponding rotary joint axis, and the push button element and the function controller are also connected to each other by the third rotary joint and the fourth rotary joint, and the third rotary joint and the fourth rotary joint are connected in series by the second pivot arm.