Actuating mechanism for actuating vehicle doors

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12503889-B2
Application number	US-202318123033-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 17, 2023
Priority date	Mar 30, 2022
Publication date	Dec 23, 2025
Grant date	Dec 23, 2025

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to an actuating mechanism for actuating, in particular opening, vehicle doors, wherein the actuating mechanism comprises the following: an actuating element, which is transfer-able from a home position into an actuating position in order to generate an electrical actuation signal and into a second actuating position for manual actuation of the vehicle doors; a first flat spring, which is connected to the actuating element in such a way that the first flat spring generates haptic and/or acoustic feedback when the actuating element is transferred into the first actuating position and that the first flat spring preferably biases the actuating element into the home position; and a second spring, in particular a second flat spring, which is connected to the actuating element.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A mechanism for actuating a vehicle door, the mechanism comprising:
an actuating element, wherein the actuating element is configured to move from a home position into a first actuating position configured to engage a switch to generate an electrical actuation signal and into a second actuating position configured for manual actuation of the vehicle door by a user; a first flat spring connected to the actuating element and configured as a snap spring to provide tactile or acoustic feedback to confirm to the user when the actuating element is transferred into the first actuating position, wherein the first flat spring is configured to bias the actuating element into the home position; and a second flat spring connected to the actuating element and configured to bias the actuating element toward the home position.

2 . The mechanism according to claim 1 ,
wherein the second flat spring is connected to the first flat spring and configured to position the first flat spring in a resting position by forming a stop for the first flat spring when the actuating element is transferred from the home position into the first actuating position, and wherein the second flat spring permits a further movement of the actuating element from the first actuating position into an intermediate position through deformation of the second flat spring.

3 . The mechanism according to claim 2 ,
wherein the second flat spring is connected to the actuating element and configured to bias the actuating element into the home position or generate haptic or acoustic feedback when the actuating element is transferred into the intermediate position.

4 . The mechanism according claim 1 ,
wherein the first flat spring and the second flat spring are arranged in series opposite the actuating element.

5 . The mechanism according to claim 1 ,
wherein the actuating element is configured such that a return force of the first flat spring must be overcome in order to transfer into the first actuating position and that a return force of the first flat spring and the second flat spring must be overcome in order to transfer into the second actuating position.

6 . The mechanism according to claim 1 ,
wherein the actuating element are arranged in such a way with respect to the first spring and second spring that a higher force is required in order to transfer into the second actuating position than is required in order to transfer into the first actuating position.

7 . The mechanism according to claim 1 ,
wherein the first flat spring has a lower return force than the second flat spring.

8 . The mechanism according to claim 1 ,
wherein the second flat spring comprises leaf springs arranged side-by-side, or wherein the second flat spring comprises a flat spring that is stronger than the first flat spring.

9 . The mechanism according to claim 1 ,
wherein the first flat spring or the second flat spring is formed as a buckling spring.

10 . The mechanism according to claim 1 ,
further comprising a push-push element, which is configured in order to transfer actuating element into the second actuating position.

11 . The mechanism according to claim 10 ,
wherein the push-push element is arranged in such a way that the push-push element is activated after a deformation of the second flat spring.

12 . The mechanism according to claim 1 ,
wherein the actuating element is pivotally fastened to a pivot axis in such a way that the actuating element is movable relative to the first flat spring.

13 . The mechanism according to claim 12 ,
wherein the first flat spring is fastened to a pivot arm that is pivotally fastened to the pivot axis.

14 . The mechanism according to claim 13 ,
wherein, in the home position and in the first actuating position of the actuating element, the pivot arm abuts the second flat spring without deforming the second flat spring.

15 . A vehicle having the mechanism according to claim 1 .

16 . The mechanism according to claim 2 ,
wherein the second flat spring is configured to hold the first flat spring in the resting position.

17 . The mechanism according to claim 2 ,
wherein movement of the actuating element from the first actuating position into the intermediate position activates a mechanism that transfers the actuating element into the second actuating position.

18 . A mechanism for actuating a vehicle door, the mechanism comprising:
an actuating element configured to move from a home position into one of a first actuating position to engage a switch to generate an electrical actuation signal and a second actuating position configured for manual actuation of the vehicle door by a user; a first spring connected to the actuating element and configured as a snap spring to provide tactile or acoustic feedback to the user when the actuating element is transferred into the first actuating position, wherein the first spring is configured to bias the actuating element into the home position; and a second spring connected to the actuating element, wherein the first spring and the second spring are arranged in series opposite the actuating element.

19 . The mechanism according to claim 18 ,
wherein the second spring is connected to the first spring and configured to position the first spring in a resting position by forming a stop for the first spring when the actuating element is transferred from the home position into the first actuating position, and wherein the second spring permits a further movement of the actuating element from the first actuating position into an intermediate position through deformation of the second spring.

20 . The mechanism according to claim 19 ,
wherein the second spring is configured to hold the first spring in the resting position.

Assignees

• Illinois Tool Works

Inventors

• Wilke Zsolt
• Rudolf Andreas

Classifications

• E05Y2400/81

  Feedback to user, e.g. tactile · CPC title

• E05Y2201/48

  Leaf or leg springs · CPC title

• E05B77/02

  for accident situations · CPC title

• E05B79/20

  using flexible connections, e.g. Bowden cables · CPC title

• E05Y2400/812

  Acoustic · CPC title