The invention relates to a device for mechanically preventing the automatic opening of a vehicle door in the event of a barrier acting thereon. The device includes a mounting clip fixed to an outer door part for an outer door handle. The mounting clip has a door opening mechanism having a balancing mass which is adjustably supported on the mounting clip and operatively connected to the outer door handle and can also be moved from a first operating position into a second operating position and back. A force introduction and locking element is associated with the balancing mass and by means of said element, in the event of said barrier acting on the vehicle door as a result of a relative movement between the balancing mass and the force introduction and locking element toward one another and the contact thereof with one another, a movement of the balancing mass from the first operating position into the second operating position can be prevented, limited and/or reversed. The invention further relates to a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, having such a device.
Due to legal and consumer test requirements (for example EuroNCAP-MDB-2015, ECE-R95, Korea-NACP) it has to be ensured that in the event of a crash, in particular a side crash, a vehicle door does not open automatically by undefined and/or inadvertent actuation of the external handle and/or a force transmission means thereof, such as a Bowden cable. As a result, in the event of an accident an occupant is prevented from being hurled out of the vehicle. In most cases, the reason for the actuation of the external handle in the side crash cited by way of example is a deformation of the door outer panel. In order to counter these adverse circumstances it is known to support the door outer panel by plate doublers, crash rods or padding which, however, are associated with increased costs, material expenditure and weight. Moreover, a device for mechanically preventing an opening of a motor vehicle door in the event of a side impact by a so-called force introduction element is disclosed in DE 10 2012 020 696 A1, which force introduction element in the event of the penetration of a barrier into the motor vehicle door, for example as a result of a side crash, acts on a Bowden cable lever which is operatively connected to an outer door handle of the motor vehicle door, such that an automatic opening of the motor vehicle door is prevented. Such a Bowden cable lever sometimes also functions as a balancing mass for said outer door handle so that after actuation said handle is automatically returned to its basic position. According to the information in the cited publication, the force introduction element is supported, for example, on a door element such as a door lining, a window or a bodywork edge of the motor vehicle door. From practical experience, however, it is known that such door elements in the event of a side crash do not always maintain their original position and may be deformed into the passenger compartment, resulting in an undefined displacement of said force introduction element toward the vehicle interior. As a result, the reliable function of said force introduction element is not ensured. This is achieved by the invention disclosed hereinafter.
It is the object of the invention to provide a device for mechanically preventing automatic opening of a vehicle door in the event of a barrier acting thereon, which is further improved relative to the prior art and which by maintaining the advantages of the prior art ensures a reliable function of the device in a particularly simple and advantageous manner. Moreover, it is the object of the invention to provide a vehicle with such a device.
Proceeding from a device for mechanically preventing automatic opening of a vehicle door in the event of a barrier acting thereon, comprising a mounting clip fixed to a door outer part for an outer door handle, which mounting clip has a door opening mechanism having a balancing mass which is adjustably supported on the mounting clip and operatively connected to the outer door handle and can also be moved from a first operating position into a second operating position and back, wherein a force introduction and locking element is associated with the balancing mass and by means of said element, in the event of said barrier acting on the vehicle door as a result of a relative movement between the balancing mass and the force introduction and locking element toward one another and the contact thereof with one another, a movement of the balancing mass from the first operating position into the second operating position can be prevented, limited and/or reversed, the object set forth is achieved in that, when viewed in the direction of movement of the barrier, the force introduction and locking element is supported against a door lock housing fastened to the vehicle door.
By this measure is it advantageously ensured that the force introduction and locking element and the balancing mass come into operative contact as intended in a defined manner and in the shortest time. In other words, the relative movement to be obtained therebetween is utilized to the full. As the force introduction and locking element, viewed in the direction of movement of the barrier, is directly supported on the door lock, a separate movement of the force introduction and locking element is effectively prevented. The door lock housing is arranged and fastened on a front wall of the door shell and, when the vehicle door is closed, is generally positively connected to a closing bolt or closing bracket arranged on the bodywork side by means of a rotary latch. As a result, the door lock housing maintains its original position in a much more effective manner than other preferred door elements according to the prior art.
The subclaims disclose preferred developments or embodiments of the invention.
Accordingly, it is provided that, viewed in the direction of movement of the barrier, the force introduction and locking element is additionally supported against a frame part and/or a door inner part of the vehicle door. As a result, the support of the force introduction and locking element is advantageously increased. A practical embodiment of said force introduction and locking element is formed by a pressure-resistant shaped body. In this case, the shaped body may consist both of plastics and of metal. A shaped body to be produced in a simple and cost-effective manner is formed, in particular, by a foam body which has a low weight whilst ensuring the required functionality. In a development of the invention, the force introduction and locking element is preferably connected by a non-positive and/or material connection to the door lock housing and/or the frame part and/or the door inner part of the vehicle door, resulting in a secure hold thereof on the vehicle door with simple mounting of the force introduction and locking element.
The invention further relates to a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, having a device of the type described above.
The invention is described in more detail hereinafter with reference to an exemplary embodiment shown schematically in the drawings. However, the invention is not limited thereto but encompasses all of the embodiments defined by the claims. In the drawings:
The balancing mass 9 is operatively connected to a door lock, which is known per se, arranged in a door lock housing 11 and not shown by way of illustration, by means of a first Bowden cable 10 visible in
According to this exemplary embodiment, which merely relates to a rear vehicle door 2 by way of example, the door lock housing 11 is secured to a front wall 14 facing a C-pillar 13 (see in particular
As may be further derived from
In the present case the force introduction and locking element 17 is formed by a pressure-resistant shaped body 19, preferably consisting of a plastic foam. However, the invention is not limited to this material but also encompasses, for example, a pressure-resistant hollow body formed from sheet metal parts or a metallic foam body (not shown by way of illustration). According to this exemplary embodiment, the force introduction and locking element 17, respectively the shaped body 19, viewed in the direction of movement 20 of the barrier 18, is at least supported and fastened against the door lock housing 11, which is fastened to the vehicle door 2, and additionally against the frame part 3 and against the door inner part 4 (see in particular
Hereinafter, the invention is described further in its function with reference to
Accordingly, according to
However, the above-described force introduction and locking element 17 acts counter thereto, said force introduction and locking element being arranged with a specific clearance relative to the balancing mass 9 in a resting position (
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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102015226654.0 | Dec 2015 | DE | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/EP2016/082458 | 12/22/2016 | WO | 00 |
Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
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WO2017/109117 | 6/29/2017 | WO | A |
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