This disclosure relates generally to vehicle doors, and more-specifically to lock actuators or indicators for vehicle doors.
Vehicle doors may generally be formed from at least three layers or panels. An exterior body panel may be the layer viewed from the outside of the vehicle. An interior trim panel may be the layer viewed from the interior or cabin of the vehicle, and may include door pull handles or cups along with mounting surfaces for controls such as window buttons and door locks. An outer sheet metal panel may be intermediate the exterior body panel and the interior trim panel. The outer sheet metal panel may be structural and provide the attachment points for the interior trim panel and door hardware, such as locks and window motors.
A lock indicator arm for a door having a latch mechanism is provided. The lock indicator arm includes a rod portion connectable on a first end to the latch mechanism. A knob portion is located on a second end of the rod portion opposite the first end, and is formed as a one-piece (single, continuous) structure with the rod portion.
The door into which the lock indicator arm is placed may include an interior panel and an exterior panel. The rod portion may further include a spring region which is configured to bias the rod portion against either the interior panel, the exterior panel, or both panels.
The knob portion and the rod portion of the lock indicator arm may be formed from a matrix material and a filler material. The filler material may include a plurality of fibers, and the plurality of fibers may be oriented substantially longitudinally along the rod portion. The rod portion of the lock indicator arm may have one of an H-shape cross section and a W-shape cross section.
The above features and advantages and other features and advantages of the present invention are readily apparent from the following detailed description of the best modes and other embodiments for carrying out the invention when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.
Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference numbers correspond to like or similar components throughout the several figures, there is shown in
While much of the present invention is described in detail with respect to automotive applications, those skilled in the art will recognize the broader applicability of the invention. Those having ordinary skill in the art will also recognize that terms such as “above,” “below,” “upward,” “downward,” et cetera, are used descriptively of the figures, and do not represent limitations on the scope of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.
The door 10 may be configured such that the exterior panel 14 acts as a barrier against the passage of dirt, debris, and moisture. Alternatively the exterior panel 14 may have a vapor barrier (not shown) attached thereto to prevent the passage of moisture. In either case, the chamber formed between the exterior panel 14 and the interior panel 12 is, therefore, substantially sealed against ambient conditions outside of the vehicle. A latch mechanism 18 (shown schematically in dashed lines) is disposed intermediate the exterior panel 14 and the interior panel 12. The latch mechanism 18 selectively allows and restricts opening and closing of the door 10. The latch mechanism 18, alone or in combination with other components, may control locking and unlocking of the door 10.
A lock indicator arm 20 for a door 10 is also disposed intermediate the exterior panel 14 and the interior panel 12. The lock indicator arm 20 may be used as one of the actuators for unlocking and locking the door 10 through the latch mechanism 18. Alternatively, the lock indicator arm 20 may be used only as a status indicator of the unlocked or locked state of the latch mechanism 18.
The lock indicator arm 20 has a rod portion 22 connectable on a first end 24 to the latch mechanism 18. The first end 24 may extend substantially into the latch mechanism 18 or may interact with other actuators—such as, without limitation, buttons or levers—to actuate the latch mechanism 18.
A second end 26 of the rod portion 22 is opposite the first end 24, and has a knob portion 28 formed thereon. The knob portion 28 extends through or above (as viewed in
The knob portion 28 is formed as a one-piece structure with the rod portion 22. The knob portion 28 and rod portion 22 are elements formed as a single piece, such that the two elements are part of one, contiguous piece (the lock indicator arm 20) and are not formed from two or more pieces which are simply attached or assembled. The lock indicator arm 20 may be formed by, for example, and without limitation: casting or injection molding the whole lock indicator arm 20—including the rod portion 22 and the knob portion 28—in substantially one forming or manufacturing process. As further discussed herein, the lock indicator arm 20 may be formed from one or more plastic or plastic-like materials, such as polypropylene (PP).
Referring now to
A lock indicator arm 120 for the door 10 is also disposed intermediate the exterior panel 14 and the interior panel 12. The lock indicator arm 120 may be used as one of the actuators for unlocking and locking the door 10 through the latch mechanism 18.
Similar to the locking indicator arm 20 shown in
The rod portion 122 of the lock indicator arm 120 shown in
The spring feature 130 creates pressure and friction between the rod portion 122 and the interior panel 12. Therefore, when the door 10 is open and closed, or when the vehicle experiences vibrations or bumps, the lock indicator arm 120 is less likely to oscillate and less likely to impact the interior panel 12 or the exterior panel 14. Reduction or prevention of multiple impacts may reduce the chance of shake and rattle sounds from the door 10. Furthermore, the lock indicator arm 120 is less likely to impact—or to move away from and then impact—the interior panel 12 or the exterior panel 14 during actuation of the lock indicator arm 120 and the latch mechanism 18.
As shown in
The snap feature 132 may cooperate with a corresponding or reciprocal snap feature (not shown) of the latch mechanism 18 or may interact with a grasping feature (not shown) configured to restrain the snap feature 132 and facilitate load transfer between the latch mechanism 18 and the lock indicator arm 120. The lock indicator arm 20 shown in
Referring now to
As shown in
Referring now to
The lock indicator arm 120 shown in
As shown in
The fibers of the filler material 142 may be oriented and aligned longitudinally during the manufacturing process of the lock indicator arm 120 (or the lock indicator arm 20, if similarly constructed with a fiber filler). The lock indicator arm 120 may be manufactured by, for example and without limitation, injecting the matrix material 140 and the filler material 142 into a female mold from only one end of the lock indicator arm 120, such as the knob portion 128. As the matrix material 140 and the filler material 142 are injected from the knob portion 128 through the length of the rod portion 122 (or vise versa), the long glass fibers of the filler material 142 will align and orient longitudinally along the rod portion 122.
While the best modes and other embodiments for carrying out the claimed invention have been described in detail, those familiar with the art to which the invention relates will recognize various alternative designs and embodiments for practicing the invention, as defined in the appended claims.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20110252708 A1 | Oct 2011 | US |