FR3112161A1 - Method of manufacturing a vehicle opening and closing device - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method of manufacturing (5) a device for opening and closing (1) a vehicle (2), characterized in that it comprises:- the injection (E1) of a material in elastomer to produce a main body (10), a button (11), and a membrane (12) of said opening and closing device (1), said membrane (12) connecting said main body (10) and said button ( 11), - the positioning (E2) of a printed circuit board (13) in said main body (10), said printed circuit board (13) comprising all or part of a switch (14). Figure for the abstract: Figure 1

Description

Method of manufacturing a vehicle opening and closing device

The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a vehicle opening and closing device. It also relates to a vehicle opening and closing device produced by said manufacturing method. It finds a particular but non-limiting application in motor vehicles.

In the field of motor vehicles, a method of manufacturing a device for opening and closing a vehicle well known to those skilled in the art comprises:
- a first injection of material to produce a main body of said opening and closing device,
- a second injection of material to make a button of said opening and closing device,
- a third injection of material to produce a membrane of said opening and closing device,
- the assembly of the main body and the button by means of said membrane,
- the positioning of a printed circuit board comprising all or part of a switch in said main body,
- assembling a cover with said main body.

A disadvantage of this state of the prior art is that the manufacturing process comprises many steps. The manufacturing process is therefore long to carry out.

In this context, the present invention aims to provide a method of manufacturing a vehicle opening and closing device which makes it possible to solve the mentioned drawback.

To this end, the invention proposes a method of manufacturing a vehicle opening and closing device, characterized in that it comprises:
- the injection of an elastomeric material to produce a main body, a button, and a membrane of said opening and closing device, said membrane connecting said main body and said button,
- the positioning of a printed circuit board in said main body, said printed circuit board comprising all or part of a switch.

Thus, as will be seen below, by replacing three injection steps with a single injection step, the manufacturing time of the opening and closing device is reduced and its manufacturing process is simplified.

According to non-limiting embodiments, said manufacturing method may also comprise one or more additional characteristics taken alone or according to all the technically possible combinations, among the following.

According to a non-limiting embodiment, said elastomeric material is silicone.

According to a non-limiting embodiment, said elastomeric material comprises a hardness of 50 shore A.

According to a non-limiting embodiment, said main body and said button are rigid, and said membrane is flexible.

According to a non-limiting embodiment, said main body and said button have a thickness of between 1.5mm and 3mm, and said membrane has a thickness of between 0.5mm and 1mm.

According to a non-limiting embodiment, the step of positioning said printed circuit board in said main body is positioning by snap-fastening by means of positioning slats formed on said main body.

According to a non-limiting embodiment, said manufacturing method further comprises a step of casting a resin into said main body.

According to a non-limiting embodiment, said manufacturing method further comprises a step of connecting electrical connection wires to said printed circuit board

According to a non-limiting embodiment, said manufacturing method further comprises a step of passing said electrical connection wires through at least one orifice of said main body.

According to a non-limiting embodiment, said switch is a micro-switch integrated into said printed circuit board or formed by a metal cup integrated into said button and a contact located on said printed circuit board.

According to a non-limiting embodiment, said manufacturing method further comprises a step of assembling a cover with said main body.

According to a non-limiting embodiment, the printed circuit board comprises the entire switch.

There is further proposed a vehicle opening and closing device, said opening and closing device comprising:
- a main body,
- a button,
- a membrane which connects said main body and said button,
- a printed circuit board comprising all or part of a switch,
characterized in that said main body, said button and said membrane are made of one and the same elastomeric material.

According to non-limiting embodiments, said vehicle opening and closing device may also comprise one or more additional characteristics taken alone or in any technically possible combination, among the following.

According to a non-limiting embodiment, said opening and closing device further comprises a resin cast in said main body.

According to a non-limiting embodiment, said main body has positioning slats.

According to a non-limiting embodiment, said opening and closing device further comprises a lid assembled with said main body.

According to a non-limiting embodiment, said main body has abutments.

According to a non-limiting embodiment, electrical connection wires are connected to said printed circuit board and said resin encompasses said electrical connection wires in said main body so as to seal said button.

The invention and its various applications will be better understood on reading the following description and on examining the accompanying figures:

is a flowchart of a method of manufacturing a vehicle opening and closing device, according to a first non-limiting embodiment of the invention,

is an exploded perspective view of a vehicle opening and closing device implemented by the manufacturing method of Figure 1, said vehicle opening and closing device comprising a main body, a button, a membrane, a printed circuit board, and a resin, according to a first non-limiting embodiment,

is an assembled view of said vehicle opening and closing device of Figure 2, according to a non-limiting embodiment,

illustrates a vehicle door handle, said handle comprising said vehicle opening and closing device of Figures 2 and 3, according to a non-limiting embodiment,

is a top view of the main body, of the button and of said membrane of said vehicle opening and closing of Figures 2 and 3, according to a non-limiting embodiment,

is a bottom view of the main body, of the button and of said membrane of said vehicle opening and closing mechanism of Figures 2 and 3, according to a non-limiting embodiment,

is a top view of said printed circuit board of said vehicle opening and closing of Figures 2 and 3, according to a non-limiting embodiment,

illustrates a step of the manufacturing method of Figure 1, said step comprising positioning said printed circuit board of said vehicle opening and closing device in said main body, according to a non-limiting embodiment,

illustrates a step of the manufacturing method of Figure 1, said step comprising the casting of said resin in said main body, according to a non-limiting embodiment,

illustrates a sectional view of the vehicle opening and closing device when the resin has been poured into the main body according to the step in figure 9, according to a non-limiting embodiment,

is a flowchart of a method of manufacturing a vehicle opening and closing device, according to a second non-limiting embodiment of the invention,

is an exploded perspective view of a vehicle opening and closing device implemented by the manufacturing method of Fig. 11, said vehicle opening and closing device comprising a main body, a button, a membrane, a printed circuit board, and a cover, according to a second non-limiting embodiment,

illustrates a sectional view of the vehicle opening and closing device of FIG. 12 assembled, according to a non-limiting embodiment.

Identical elements, by structure or by function, appearing in different figures retain, unless otherwise specified, the same references.

The method 2 of manufacturing a device 1 for opening and closing a vehicle 3 according to the invention is described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 13. In one non-limiting embodiment, the vehicle 3 is a motor vehicle. Motor vehicle means any type of motorized vehicle. This embodiment is taken as a non-limiting example in the remainder of the description. In the remainder of the description, vehicle 3 is thus otherwise called motor vehicle 3.

As illustrated in Figures 2 and 12, in a non-limiting embodiment, the opening and closing device 1 comprises:
- a main body 10,
- a button 11,
- a membrane 12 which connects said main body 10 and said button 12,
- A printed circuit board 13 comprising all or part of a switch 14 (illustrated in Figures 10 and 13).

In a first non-limiting embodiment illustrated in Figure 2, the opening and closing device 1 further comprises a resin 15. In a second non-limiting embodiment illustrated in Figure 12, the opening and closing device closure 1 further comprises a cover 16.

In one non-limiting embodiment, the opening and closing device 1 is integrated into a handle 4 of the motor vehicle 3 illustrated in FIG. 4. When a user of the motor vehicle 3 presses the button 11, it triggers the opening or closing of the motor vehicle 3. Thus, he presses once to open the motor vehicle 3 if the latter was closed before, or conversely he presses once to close the motor vehicle 3 if the latter was open before. As can be seen in Figure 4, when the opening and closing device 1 is integrated into a handle 4, only the button 11 is visible. A finger of a user of motor vehicle 3 can thus be in contact with said button 11 when the user grips handle 4, and press said button 11 to trigger the opening or closing of motor vehicle 3.

The main body 10, otherwise called housing 10, forms a housing configured to receive the printed circuit board 13. As illustrated in Figure 2 or Figure 12, the main body 10 includes walls 106 which extend relatively perpendicularly to a base 107. In one illustrated non-limiting embodiment, the walls 106 are parallel to each other in pairs and opposite each other in pairs. The membrane 12 in particular connects the base 107 of the main body 10 and the button 12. In a non-limiting embodiment, the main body 10 comprises positioning slats 100 (illustrated in FIGS. 6, 10 or 13) configured to hold in position the printed circuit board 13. In a non-limiting embodiment, the main body 10 further comprises at least one hole 101 (illustrated in Figures 2, 10, or 13) configured to pass electrical connection wires 17. In a non-limiting embodiment, the main body 10 further comprises at least one abutment 102 (illustrated in Figures 10 or 13) which serves as a support for the printed circuit board 13.

In a non-limiting embodiment, the printed circuit board 13 is a rigid board otherwise called in the English language "Printed Board Circuit Assembly". It is configured to be housed in the main body 10. The printed circuit board 13 comprises all or part of a switch 14. In a non-limiting embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7, the printed circuit board 13 comprises a micro -Switch 14. In another non-limiting embodiment not shown, it comprises a contact configured to be closed by a metal cup integrated in said button 11. This contact is formed of tracks. This makes it possible to perform the opening and closing function of the motor vehicle 3. Since a micro-switch and a metal cup are known to those skilled in the art for performing the opening and closing function of a vehicle, they are not described here.

As shown in Figures 10 and 13, switch 14 is located under button 11 when printed circuit board 13 is inserted into main body 10. Button 11 can assume a released position and a depressed position. In the released position, the button 11 is not in contact with the switch 14 when the printed circuit board 13 comprises all of the switch 14, or with the part of the switch 14 located on the printed circuit board. 13 when the latter comprises only part of the switch 14. In the depressed position, the button 11 comes into contact with the switch 14 so as to activate the opening or closing of the motor vehicle 3 in the case where switch 14 is a micro-switch. In the case where the switch 14 is a metal cup, in the depressed position, the button 11 makes it possible to translate the metal cup which closes the contact located on the printed circuit board 13. . This enables the opening or closing of the motor vehicle 3.

As illustrated in Figure 1, according to a first non-limiting embodiment, the manufacturing method 2 of the opening and closing device 1 comprises the following steps.

In a first step E1) illustrated F1(10, 11, 12), the main body 10, the button 11 and the said membrane 12 of the said opening and closing device 1 are injected into an elastomeric material. Thus, these three elements are formed in a single step and in a single material. The injection is carried out so that the membrane 12 connects the main body 10 and the button 11 as illustrated in Figures 5 and 6. Thus, a single injection mold is necessary to form the three main body elements 10 , button 11 and membrane 12.

It will be noted that the elastomeric material is thermosetting. In one non-limiting embodiment, the elastomeric material is silicone. In a non-limiting embodiment, the elastomeric material comprises a hardness of 50 shore A. In a non-limiting embodiment, said main body 10 and said button 11 are rigid, and said membrane 12 is flexible. This allows a user of the motor vehicle 3 to be able to press the button 11 and the latter to be able, thanks to the membrane 12, to move from a released position to a depressed position to activate the opening and closing function of the motor vehicle 3 via the switch 14. Thus, the fact that the membrane 12 is flexible provides elasticity which allows movement of the button 11. The rigidity or flexibility of the elements is obtained thanks to the thickness of said elements. In a non-limiting embodiment, the main body 10 and said button 11 have a thickness e1, e2 (illustrated in Figure 10) of between 1.5 millimeters (mm) and 3mm. This provides rigidity to the main body 10 so that it can hold the printed circuit board 13 in position and so that it can be easily integrated into a handle 4 of a motor vehicle 3. This provides the necessary rigidity to the button 11 so that it can support pressing pressure from a user's finger. In a non-limiting alternative embodiment, the main body 10 and said button 11 have a thickness e1, e2 of 2mm. In a non-limiting embodiment, the membrane 12 has a thickness e3 (illustrated in FIG. 10) of between 0.5 mm and 1 mm. This brings flexibility to said membrane 12 to allow movement of button 11. In a non-limiting variant embodiment, membrane 12 has a thickness of 0.8 mm.

In a non-limiting embodiment, during the injection, positioning slats 100 in the main body 10 are made. These positioning slats 100 illustrated in FIG. 6 will allow positioning of the printed circuit board 13 in the main body 10 by snap-fastening. The printed circuit board 13 will therefore be blocked in the main body 10. In one embodiment not limitation illustrated in Figure 6, four positioning slats 100 are formed on the four sides inside the main body 10. They are opposed in pairs. These positioning slats 100 are flexible so that they can be deformed. In a non-limiting embodiment, they have a thickness e4 (illustrated in FIG. 5) of between 0.2mm (millimeters) and 1mm.

In a non-limiting embodiment illustrated in Figures 2 or 10, during injection, at least one orifice 101 in the main body 10 is also made. In the non-limiting example illustrated, two orifices 101 are made. This makes it possible to pass electrical connection wires 17 to connect the printed circuit board 13 to an electronic control unit (not shown) of the motor vehicle 3. The electrical connection wires 17 make it possible to send the signals emitted by the switch 14 to the motor vehicle electronic control unit 3 to perform the opening and closing function. The switch 14 is illustrated in Figure 7 in a non-limiting embodiment. It is arranged in whole or in part on a face 13a of the printed circuit board 13.

In a non-limiting embodiment illustrated in Figure 10, during injection, at least one stop 102 in the main body 10 is also made. In the non-limiting example illustrated, two stops 102 are made. This will allow the printed circuit board 13 to bear when inserted into the main body 10 and to position the printed circuit board 13 correctly relative to the button 11, namely the stops 102 allow the switch to be positioned. 14 or the part of the switch 14 located on the printed circuit board 13 at a determined distance from the button 11.

After thermosetting of the material forming the main body 10, button 11 and membrane 12 assembly, in a step E2), illustrated F2(13, 10) in FIG. 1, the printed circuit board 13 is positioned in the body main 10. This step is illustrated in Figure 8. In Figure 8, the printed circuit board 13 is shown seen from below. Thus, only one face 13b is visible in this figure. The opposite face 13a is visible in Figure 7. In a non-limiting embodiment, the positioning of the printed circuit board 13 is carried out by snap-fastening by means of the positioning slats 100 formed on the main body 10.

As illustrated in Figures 8 or 10, the printed circuit board 13 is thus locked in position by means of positioning slats 100 described above. During positioning, the printed circuit board 13 presses on the positioning blades 100 which are flexible so that the latter deform to let the printed circuit board 13 pass then reform after its passage and thus lock it in position in the main body 10.

Furthermore, during the positioning of the printed circuit board 13 in the main body 10, the latter is stopped in its course and also held in position by the stops 102 previously described as illustrated in FIG. on the stops 102.

The manufacturing method 2 further comprises a step of connecting E2′) of the electrical connection wires 17 to the printed circuit board 13 (step illustrated F2′(17, 13) in FIG. 1). The printed circuit board 13 includes a connector 130 (illustrated in Figure 10) suitable for this purpose.

In a non-limiting embodiment, the manufacturing method 2 further comprises a step E2″ of passing said electrical connection wires 17 through at least one orifice 101 of said main body 10 (step illustrated F2″(17, 101 ) in Figure 1). As illustrated in Figures 2 or 10, in a non-limiting example, there are two electrical connection wires 17 which are inserted into two respective holes 101. In Figure 10, a single electrical connection wire 17 is shown.

In a non-limiting embodiment, in a step E3) illustrated F3(15,10), a resin 15 is poured into the main body 10. This keeps the electrical connection wires 17 in place. This makes it possible to ensure the cohesion of the electrical connection wires 17. Indeed, during casting, the resin 15 surrounds the electrical connection wires 17. The electrical connection wires 17 are cast in the resin inside the main body 10 as shown in Figure 10. They thus no longer move. The resin 15 makes it possible to seal the electrical connection wires 17 in the main body 10 and consequently said button 11. The resin 15 also makes it possible to close the opening and closing device 1. It thus makes it possible to replace a cover .

Thus, the manufacturing method 2 according to this first embodiment makes it possible to obtain the opening and closing device 1 illustrated in FIG. 2 and FIG. 10. FIG. 3 and the section of FIG. opening and closing 1 when all these elements are assembled. It can be seen that the electrical connection wires 17 protrude partly from the main body 10 in order to be able to connect to the electronic control unit of the motor vehicle 3. In one non-limiting embodiment, they are protected by an electrical protective sheath 18.

In a second non-limiting embodiment, a cover 16 can be provided which is assembled with the main body 10 either in addition to the resin 15, or without the resin 15. Thus, in a second non-limiting embodiment illustrated in the Figure 11, the manufacturing method further comprises a step E4 of assembling a lid with said main body (illustrated in Figure 11 F4 (16, 10)). In this non-limiting embodiment, there is no resin 15. The cover 16 replaces the resin 15 to close the opening and closing device 1. The other steps E1, E2, E2', E2'' are the same as in the first non-limiting embodiment. As described in the first embodiment of the manufacturing method 2, in a non-limiting embodiment, during injection, at least one stop 102 in the main body 10 is also produced. When positioning the printed circuit board 13 in the main body 10, the latter is stopped in its course and also held in position by the stops 102 previously described as illustrated in FIG. 13. Similarly, as described in the first embodiment of the manufacturing method 2, in a non-limiting embodiment, during the injection, at least one orifice 101 in the main body 10 is also made.

Thus, Figure 12 illustrates the opening and closing device 1 according to a second non-limiting embodiment obtained by the manufacturing method 2 of Figure 11. Said opening and closing device 1 comprises:
- a main body 10,
- a button 11,
- a membrane 12 which connects said main body 10 and said button 12,
- a printed circuit board 13 comprising all or part of a switch 14,
- a cover 16.

The cover 16 is assembled to the main body 10. This protects the printed circuit board 13 and the electrical connection wires 17 against water infiltration. As illustrated in Figure 12, in a non-limiting embodiment, the cover 16 comprises walls 160 (four which are opposed two by two and parallel two by two) which will be inserted into the main body 10 along of the walls 106 of said main body 10 and thus close the opening and closing device 1. In one non-limiting embodiment, the cover 16 is made by injection molding a thermoplastic material. The sectional view of Figure 13 illustrates the cover 16 assembled with the main body 10. In a non-limiting embodiment, the main body 10 and said button 11 have a thickness e1, e2 (illustrated in Figure 13) between 1.5 millimeters (mm) and 3mm. In a non-limiting alternative embodiment, the main body 10 and said button 11 have a thickness e1, e2 of 2mm. In a non-limiting embodiment, the membrane 12 has a thickness e3 (illustrated in FIG. 13) of between 0.5 mm and 1 mm. The printed circuit board 13 is locked in position by means of positioning slats 100 described previously. In a non-limiting embodiment, the positioning slats 100 have a thickness e4 (illustrated in FIG. 5) of between 0.2mm (millimeters) and 1mm. It will be noted that FIGS. 4 to 8 apply to this second non-limiting embodiment.

Of course, the description of the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and to the field described above. Thus, in another non-limiting embodiment, instead of the orifices 101, passage grooves can be provided formed in the main body 10 to hold the electrical connection wires 17 in position and so that they can partially come out of the main body 10 outwards to be accessible for connection with an electronic control unit (not shown) of the motor vehicle 3.

Thus, the invention described has in particular the following advantages:
- it makes it possible to replace three parts with a single elastomer part thanks to the injection of the main body 10 of the button 11 and of the membrane 12 at one time and in a single material,
- it thus makes it possible to reduce the manufacturing time of an opening and closing device 1 of a vehicle 3 and consequently its manufacturing cost,
- it thus makes it possible to simplify the manufacture of a device for opening and closing 1 of a vehicle 3,
- it thus makes it possible to reduce the cost of manufacturing a device for opening and closing 1 of a vehicle 3.

Claims (15)

Method of manufacturing (2) a device for opening and closing (1) a vehicle (3), characterized in that it comprises:
- the injection (E1) of an elastomeric material to produce a main body (10), a button (11), and a membrane (12) of said opening and closing device (1), said membrane (12 ) connecting said main body (10) and said button (11),
- the positioning (E2) of a printed circuit board (13) in said main body (10), said printed circuit board (13) comprising all or part of a switch (14). A method of manufacture (2) according to claim 1, wherein said elastomeric material is silicone. A method of manufacture (2) according to any preceding claim, wherein said elastomeric material comprises a hardness of 50 shore A. Manufacturing method (2) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said main body (10) and said button (11) are rigid, and said membrane (12) is flexible. Manufacturing process (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which said main body (10) and said button (11) have a thickness (e1, e2) of between 1.5mm and 3mm, and said membrane (12 ) has a thickness (e3) of between 0.5mm and 1mm. Method of manufacture (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the step of positioning (E2) of said printed circuit board (13) in said main body (10) is positioning by snap-fitting by means of strips positioning (100) formed on said main body (10). Manufacturing method (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, according to which said manufacturing method (2) further comprises a step of casting (E3) a resin (15) into said main body (10). Method of manufacture (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, according to which said method of manufacture (2) further comprises a step of connecting (E2') electrical connection wires (17) to said printed circuit board ( 13). Manufacturing process (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which said manufacturing process (2) further comprises a step of passing (E2'') said electrical connection wires (17) through at least one orifice ( 101) of said main body (10). Manufacturing process (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which said switch (14) is a micro-switch integrated into said printed circuit board (13) or is formed by a metal cup integrated into said button (11 ) and a contact located on said printed circuit board (13). Manufacturing process (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which said manufacturing process (2) further comprises a step of assembling (E4) a cover (16) with said main body (10). Vehicle (3) opening and closing device (1), said opening and closing device (1) comprising:
- a main body (10),
- a button (11),
- a membrane (12) which connects said main body (10) and said button (11),
- a printed circuit board (13) comprising all or part of a switch (14),
characterized in that said main body (10), said button (11) and said membrane (12) are made of one and the same elastomeric material. Opening and closing device (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein said opening and closing device (1) further comprises a resin (15) cast in said main body (10). Opening and closing device (1) according to claim 12 or claim 13, wherein said main body has positioning slats. Vehicle (3) handle (4) comprising a vehicle (3) opening and closing device (1) according to any one of claims 12 to 14.