Operating device for unlocking at least one swivellable lid of a vehicle, particularly a motor vehicle

• US 5,927,794 A
• Filed: 12/09/1996
• Issued: 07/27/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dr Ing hc F Porsche AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: Dr Ing hc F Porsche AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Droste, Hans, Mobius, Wolfgang
• Primary Examiner(s): Dayoan, D. Glenn
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, LONG B
• Application Number:
  US08/762,805
• Time in Patent Office: 960 Days
• Field of Search: 296/146.1, 296/146.4, 296/65.17, 296/39.1, 296/76, 296/65.01, 180/69.21, 70/256, 70/239, 701/49, 292/DIG. 14, 292/DIG. 43, 292/DIG. 3, 292/DIG. 5
• US Class Current: 296/146.1
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 13/00 Devices preventing the key or the handle or both from being used covers or guards for keyholes E05B17/14
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 83/16 Locks for luggage compartments, car boot lids or car bonnets
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 292/14 Hood latches

Abstract

An operating device for unlocking at least one swivellable lid of a vehicle, particularly a motor vehicle, is arranged on the interior side of a side member and comprises a bearing housing and at least one swivellable operating grip. For achieving an operating device which can be manufactured and mounted in a simple manner and at reasonable cost and for achieving an effective protection against theft, it is provided that the bearing housing is constructed in one piece with an elongated interior side member panel and in that the at least one swivellable operating grip has a molded-on part on its free ends which points to the exterior side of the vehicle and which, when the vehicle door is closed, reaches in sections under an interior door covering such that a swivelling-up of the operating grip and thus an unlocking of the lid is prevented.

Claims

1. Operating device for unlocking at least one swivellable lid of a vehicle, particularly a motor vehicle, which is arranged on the interior side of a vehicle side member adjacent a vehicle door and comprises a bearing housing and at least one swivellable operating grip, wherein the bearing housing is constructed in one piece with an elongated interior side member panel, and

wherein the at least one swivellable operating grip has a molded-on part which has a free end pointing to an exterior side of the vehicle and which, when a vehicle door is closed, extending under an interior door covering such that a swivelling-up of the operating grip and thus an unlocking of the lid is prevented when the vehicle door is closed.

2. Operating device according to claim 1, wherein the operating device has front and rear operating grips, the front operating grip being assigned to a forward lid and the rear operating grip being assigned to a rearward lid.

3. Operating device according to claim 1, wherein the operating grip is operably swivellable from an approximately horizontal inoperative position into a swivelled-up operative position only when the vehicle door is open.

4. Operating device according to claim 2, wherein the operating grips are operably swivellable from an approximately horizontal inoperative position into a swivelled-up operative position only when the vehicle door is open.

5. Operating device according to claim 1, wherein, on the interior side member panel, on a side facing a passenger compartment, a receiving space is provided laterally next to bearing sections for the operating grip, a switch unit being inserted in the receiving space which can be operated also when the door is closed.

6. Operating device according to claim 4, wherein, on the interior side member panel, on a side facing a passenger compartment, a receiving space is provided laterally next to bearing sections for the operating grip, a switch unit being inserted in the receiving space which can be operated also when the door is closed.

7. Operating device according to claim 5, wherein the switch unit has several memory switches and at least one storage unit for at least one electrically adjustable seat.

8. Operating device according to claim 6, wherein the switch unit has several memory switches and at least one storage unit for at least one electrically adjustable seat.

9. Operating device according to claim 1, wherein the interior side member panel covers a partial area of a top side of the vehicle side member and a partial area of an upright interior covering facing the passenger compartment.

10. Operating device according to claim 4, wherein the interior side member panel covers a partial area of a top side of the vehicle side member and a partial area of an upright interior covering facing the passenger compartment.

11. operating device according to claim 1, wherein the interior side member panel rests in sections on and is detachably held in position on a supporting part situated underneath and fastened to the vehicle side member.

12. operating device according to claim 9, wherein the interior side member panel rests in sections on and is detachably held in position on a supporting part situated underneath and fastened to the vehicle side member.

13. Operating device according to claim 10, wherein the interior side member panel rests in sections on and is detachably held in position on a supporting part situated underneath and fastened to the vehicle side member.

14. Operating device according to claim 1, wherein grip recesses are constructed on the interior side member panel on a side facing an adjoining seat in an area of free ends of the operating grip.

15. Operating device according to claim 4, wherein grip recesses are constructed on the interior side member panel on a side facing an adjoining seat in an area of free ends of the operating grips.

16. Operating device according to claim 6, wherein grip recesses are constructed on the interior side member panel on a side facing an adjoining seat in an area of free ends of the operating grips.

17. Operating device according to claim 1, wherein the side member panel has corresponding depressions in an area of end-side molded-on parts of the operating grip.

18. Operating device according to claim 4, wherein the side member panel has corresponding depressions in an area of end-side molded-on parts of the operating grips.

19. Operating device according to claim 1, wherein the operating grip extends flush with the surface with respect to adjoining sections of the side member panel when in an approximately horizontal inoperative position.

20. Operating device according to claim 4, wherein the operating grips extend flush with the surface with respect to adjoining sections of the side member panel when in an approximately horizontal inoperative position.

21. Operating device according to claim 18, wherein the operating grips extend flush with the surface with respect to adjoining sections of the side member panel when in an approximately horizontal inoperative position.

22. Operating device for unlocking a swivellable lid of a motor vehicle, comprising:

at least one manually operable swivellable operating grip configured with a portion engageable under a vehicle side door such as to only be operable to open a lid when the door is open,

wherein said operating grip is pivotally supported in a bearing housing which is formed integrally with an elongated interior side member panel which includes an upwardly open depression for accommodating said grip.

23. Operating device according to claim 22, further comprising a seat positioning switch assembly housed in the interior side member and disposed to be operably accessible with said door in both closed and open position.

24. Operating device according to claim 22, wherein two of said operating grips are provided for in said side member, one for a forward vehicle lid and one for a rearward vehicle lid.

25. Operating device according to claim 23, wherein two of said operating grips are provided for in said side member, one for a forward vehicle lid and one for a rearward vehicle lid.

26. Operating device according to claim 24, wherein the operating grips are operably swivellable from an approximately horizontal inoperative position into a swivelled-up operative position only when the vehicle door is open.