Security system for a motor vehicle opening leaf

• US 6,218,933 B1
• Filed: 02/04/2000
• Issued: 04/17/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Valeo Securite Habitacle (Valeo SE)
• Original Assignee: Valeo Securite Habitacle (Valeo SE)
• Inventors: Benard, Thierry, Josserand, Luc
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TANG, SON M
• Application Number:
  US09/498,302
• Time in Patent Office: 438 Days
• Field of Search: 340/426, 340/825.31, 340/825.34, 340/430, 307/10.1, 307/10.2, 307/10.3
• US Class Current: 340/426.28
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/77 comprising sensors detecting the presence of the hand of a user
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/78 as part of a hands-free locking or unlocking operation
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 85/16 a longitudinal grip part being pivoted at one end about an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the grip part
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00769 with data transmission performed by wireless means

Abstract

The invention proposes a security system for a motor vehicle opening leaf, a handle of which comprises an external lever articulated to a handle support arranged on the inside of a bodywork panel, of the type in which the security system includes means for remotely detecting, by means of an electromagnetic signal, the presence of a user'"'"'s hand near the handle, the detection means being arranged in a casing which is fixed by elastic snap-fastening on the outside of the handle support.

Claims

1. A security system for a motor vehicle opening leaf, of the type in which the system comprises a handle, of which an external lever for grasping is articulated to a handle support arranged on the inside of a bodywork panel, the lever being moved by a user from a position of rest as far as a position of opening so as to operate a lock which keeps the opening leaf in the closed position, of the type in which the security system includes a detection member including a control circuit and at least one sensor capable of emitting or of receiving an electromagnetic signal, wherein the detection member is arranged in a casing which is fixed by elastic snap-fastening on the handle support so that a window made in an external face of the casing lies facing a window formed in the bodywork panel.

2. The security system according to claim 1, wherein the casing includes positioning pegs which extend transversely inward from an internal face of the casing and which are intended to be housed in corresponding orifices formed in the external face of the handle support.

3. The security system according to claim 1, wherein the support includes elastic tabs which extend transversely outward and which collaborate with catching lugs of the casing so as to fasten the casing to the support.

4. The security system according to claim 1, wherein the casing includes an integral connector body configured to allow the control circuit to be connected to an antitheft unit.

5. The security system according to claim 4, wherein the connector body extends as a protrusion from a main body of the casing in which the control circuit and the sensor are arranged.

6. The security system according to claim 5, wherein the connector body extends roughly in a plane which is parallel to the plane of the bodywork panel and which is offset transversely outward with respect to a plane in which the main body of the casing extends.

7. The security according to claim 1, wherein the window in the casing is delimited by a tubular wall which extends transversely outward and on which there is disposed a seal intended to collaborate with a complementary tubular skirt belonging to a cover which is made of a material that is transparent to the electromagnetic signal and which closes off the window in the bodywork panel.

8. The security system according to claim 1, wherein the detection member includes a switch which is intended to be operated by an actuator of the security system, the switch is arranged inside the casing facing an opening which is formed in the internal face of the casing and which lies facing a corresponding opening formed in the handle support so that the switch can be operated by the actuator through the two corresponding openings.

9. The security system according to claim 8, wherein the actuating opening formed in the casing is closed in leaktight fashion by a flexible membrane which is deformed by the actuator to operate the switch.