EP2011940A1

EP2011940A1 - Door-stop device for vehicles

Info

Publication number: EP2011940A1
Application number: EP07425404A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Vittorio Audisio
Original assignee: Gammastamp SpA
Current assignee: Gammastamp SpA
Priority date: 2007-07-02
Filing date: 2007-07-02
Publication date: 2009-01-07
Anticipated expiration: 2027-07-02
Also published as: ATE442501T1; ES2330586T3; PL2011940T3; EP2011940B1; BRPI0802125A2; DE602007002394D1

Abstract

A door-stop device for vehicles, comprises:
- a tie-rod (12) having an external surface provided with at least one retention seat (14a, 14b, 14c);
- a casing (26) having a chamber (32) and two facing through openings (62, 63), through which the tie-rod extends (12);
- two opposed retention elements (52), housed in said chamber (32); and
- elastic means (54), housed in said chamber (32) and arranged for pushing the retention elements (56) elastically against the tie-rod (12),

wherein the casing (26) comprises a hollow base body (28) and a lid (30) fixed to the base body (28).

The base body (28) and the lid (30) are provided with coupling means, which co-operate with one another and include a groove (50) formed on one of said bodies forming the base (28) and the lid (30) and a complementary engagement formation (44) provided on the other of said bodies forming the base (28) and the lid (30).

Description

The present invention relates to a door-stop device for vehicles.
The document No. EP-A-525 268 describes a door-stop device for vehicles having the characteristics contained in the preamble of Claim 1. This document describes a door-stop device comprising a tie-rod having an external surface provided with at least one retention seat and a supporting casing having a chamber and two facing through openings, through which the tie-rod extends. Housed within the chamber of the supporting casing are two opposed retention bodies and elastic means that push the retention bodies elastically against the external surface of the tie-rod. The supporting casing is formed by a base body having an opening for the insertion of the retention bodies and of the elastic means in said chamber and a lid fixed to the base body for closing said opening. The base body and the lid are made of stamped metal plate.
In order to simplify the production process of said door-stop devices, it would be desirable to provide the base body and the lid of the supporting casing made of plastic material rather than of stamped metal plate. However, the use of plastic material for the construction of the supporting body and of the lid renders the supporting casing less resistant and more subject to deformations during use. This problem is rendered more critical in that the base body must be provided with an opening of ample dimensions to enable insertion of the retention bodies and of the elastic means in the chamber formed within the base body.
There have already been proposed door-stop devices, in which the supporting casing is made of plastic material. Examples of said devices are described in the documents Nos. US 6 842 943 , EP-A-1 588 066 and US-A-2006/0207058 . The solutions described in these documents envisage supporting casings having a shape different from that of the casing described in the document No. EP 525 268 . The main drawback of these solutions is the high cost of the equipment necessary for the moulding and assembly of the supporting casing.
The purpose of the present invention is to provide an improved door-stop device that will overcome the aforesaid drawbacks.
According to the present invention, said purpose is achieved by a door-stop device having the characteristics forming the subject of Claim 1.
The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings, provided purely by way of non-limiting example, in which:

Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a first embodiment of a door-stop device according to the present invention;
Figure 2 is a perspective view from a different angle of the element indicated by the arrow II in Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a perspective view of the door-stop device of Figure 1, assembled;
Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view according to the line IV-IV of Figure 3;
Figure 5 is a detail at an enlarged scale of the part indicated by the arrow V in Figure 4;
Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view according to the line VI-VI of Figure 4;
Figure 7 is a partially exploded perspective view of a second embodiment of a door-stop device according to the present invention;
Figure 8 is an exploded perspective view of the casing of the door-stop device of Figure 7;
Figure 9 is a perspective view of the door-stop device of Figure 7, assembled;
Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view according to the line X-X of Figure 9;
Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view according to the line XI-XI of Figure 10;
Figure 12 is an enlarged detail of the part indicated by the arrow XII in Figure 10;
Figure 13 is an exploded perspective view of a third embodiment of a door-stop device according to the present invention;
Figure 14 is a perspective view of the door-stop device of Figure 13, assembled;
Figure 15 is a cross-sectional view according to the line XV-XV of Figure 14;
Figure 16 is a cross-sectional view according to the line XVI-XVI of Figure 15; and
Figure 17 is an enlarged detail and in cross-sectional view of the part indicated by the arrow 17 in Figure 14.

With reference to Figures 1-3, the number 10 designates a door-stop device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
The door-stop device 10 comprises a tie-rod 12 provided, on its external surface, with at least one retention seat. In the example illustrated in the figures, the external surface of the tie-rod 12 is provided with three retention seats 14a, 14b and 14c, corresponding to the positions of door completely open, and service opening (1 and 2). The tie-rod 14 is preferably formed by a metal core 16, on which a coating 18 made of co-moulded plastic material is applied. The thickness of the coating 18 varies along the longitudinal axis of the tie-rod 12 to form the aforesaid retention seats 14a, 14b and 14c made up of areas with smaller thickness of the coating 18. In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the tie-rod 12 has a rectangular shape in sections orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the tie-rod. Alternatively, the tie-rod 12 could have a circular cross section, as described in the European patent application No. 07 425 355 , filed in the name of the present applicant.
The tie-rod 12 is provided, at a first end, with an arrest portion 20 and, at the opposite end, with an eyelet 22 for articulation to a flange 24, designed to be fixed to the upright of a vehicle (not illustrated).
The door-stop device 10 comprises a box-shaped casing 26, designed to be fixed to a door of a vehicle (not illustrated). The casing 26 comprises a base body 28 and a lid 30, fixed to one another in the way that will be described in what follows. Both the base body 28 and the lid 30 are made of injection-moulded plastic material.
The base body 28 has a chamber 32 having a parallelepipedal shape with one open face and five closed faces. The open face delimits an opening of rectangular shape 34. The base body 28 comprises two larger side walls 36, two smaller side walls 38, and an end wall 40. The base body 38 is moreover provided with a flange 42 that surrounds the opening 34 and that extends towards the outside with respect to the side walls 36 and 38.
The base body 28 is moreover provided with a ribbing 44, which surrounds the opening 34 and projects from a front wall 46.
With reference to Figure 2, the lid 30 has a plane front surface 48, which rests against the front surface 46 of the base body 28. The lid 30 is provided with a groove 50 set in with respect to the front surface 48 and having a shape that is complementary with respect to the ribbing 44. The lid 30 is applied to the base body 28 for closing the opening 34. With reference to Figures 4 and 5, the ribbing 44 of the base body 28 engages with minimum play the groove 50 of the lid 30.
Housed within the casing 26 are two opposed retention elements 52, which are pushed elastically and on opposite sides against the external surface of the tie-rod 12. The retention elements 52 are associated to respective elastic elements 54, made up, for example, of helical springs or else inserts made of elastomeric material. The retention elements 52 have plane side surfaces 56, which are guided by the internal surfaces of the larger side walls 36. Each elastic element 54 is set between a respective retention element 56 and a respective smaller side wall 38.
The retention elements 52 and the elastic elements 54 are inserted in the chamber 32 through the opening 34. The lid 30 is applied and fixed to the base body 38 after insertion of the retention elements 52 and the elastic elements 54 in the chamber 32. The lid 30 and the flange 42 of the base body 28 are provided with respective mutually aligned holes 58, 60, designed to be engaged by rivets or screws (not illustrated) for fixing the lid 30 to the base body 28. The lid 30 and the base body 28 are moreover provided with respective through openings 62, 64, through which the tie-rod 12 extends. The opening 64 is formed on the end wall 40 of the base body 26 and faces the opening 62 of the lid 30.
The lid 30 is preferably provided with two threaded pins 66 that project from its front wall. Preferably, the threaded pins 66 have respective heads that are embedded and co-moulded in the body of the lid 30. The distance between the axes of the threaded pins 66 can be varied during moulding of the lid 30 to adapt the device 10 to the requirements of the user.
The engagement between the ribbing 44 and the groove 50 bestows upon the casing 26 a greater stiffness and reduces the deformations due to the action of the springs 54. Since the casing 26 is entirely made of plastic material, it tends to have lower characteristics of stiffness with respect to those of casings of devices according to the known art made of metal. The higher stiffness of the casing 26 obtained thanks to the coupling between the ribbing 44 and the groove 50 is particularly advantageous in so far as it reduces the noise of the device 10.
Figures 7-12 illustrate a second embodiment of a door-stop device according to the present invention. The elements corresponding to the ones previously described are designated by the same reference numbers.
In this variant, the lid 30 is fixed to the base body 28 by snap-action engagement means. In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the base body 28 is provided with a plurality of elastic teeth 68 that project from the open edge of the base body 28. Preferably, the teeth 68 are substantially aligned to the ribbing 44, and the ribbing 44 is interrupted in a position corresponding to the teeth 68. The elastic teeth 68 engage in the same groove 50 of the lid 30 in which the ribbing 44 of the base body 28 is engaged. The lid 30 can be provided with transverse holes 70 or corresponding engagement slots that give out into the ribbing 50 in a position corresponding to the teeth 68, thus forming surfaces for engagement for the teeth 68.
As may be seen in particular in Figure 12, the elastic teeth 68 are formed integrally on the open edge of the base body 28 and have engagement surfaces facing the outside in such a way that, following upon insertion of the teeth 68 and of the ribbing 44 in the groove 50 of the lid 30, the engagement surfaces of the teeth 68 snap into engagement with the edge formed by the intersection between the holes 70 or corresponding cavities and the groove 50.
Preferably, the lid 30 is provided on its outer front surface with holes 72 that give out into in a position corresponding to the side holes 70, and a blocking element 74 is provided, applied on the front face of the lid 30. The blocking element 74 is provided with a plurality of projections 76 that are inserted into the respective holes 72. Each projection 76 is inserted between the inner side of the respective tooth 68 and the internal edge of the groove 50, preventing disengagement of the teeth 68 from the respective seats. In the condition in which the device 10 is mounted on the door of a vehicle, the blocking element 74 is compressed axially between the front surface of the lid 30 and a wall (not illustrated) of the door, so that the projections 76 are forced between the teeth 68 and the internal edge of the groove 50. The projections 76 of the blocking element 74 eliminate any play between the teeth 68 and the groove 50 and render the snap-engagement between the lid 30 and the base body 28 irreversible.
Figures 13-17 illustrate a third embodiment of the device according to the present invention. Also in this case, the details corresponding to the ones previously described are designated by the same reference numbers.
In this variant, the base body 28 is provided with a front wall 78 opposite and parallel to the end wall 40. The front wall 78 and the end wall 40 are provided with openings 62, 64 for the passage of the tie-rod 12. The threaded pins 66 are fixed by means of co-moulding in the front wall 78. One of the side walls 36 of the base body 28 is replaced by an opening 34 that serves for insertion in the chamber 32 of the retention elements 52 and of the elastic elements 54.
The lid 30 is formed by a rectangular plate made of plastic material, the edges 44 of which engage like a drawer a guide groove 50 provided in the base body 28 in a position corresponding to the opening 34. The edges 44 of the lid 30 couple with minimum play to the groove 50 of the base body 28 in a way similar to the coupling between the ribbing 44 and the groove 50 of the embodiments previously described. The lid 30 is preferably provided with a tooth 80 that engages by snap-action a hole 82 formed on one of the smaller side walls 38 of the base body 28. The lid 30 is preferably inserted in a through slit formed in one of the smaller side walls 38. The internal surface of the lid 30 functions as guide for the retention elements 56 together with the internal surface of the larger side wall 36 opposite to the opening 34.
In all the embodiments described herein of the device according to the invention, the base body 28 of the casing 26 is always provided with a single opening for insertion of the retention elements 52 and of the elastic elements 54. When the lid 30 is applied for closing the opening 34, the base body 28 assumes the conformation of a closed prismatic box, with the lid 30 that functions as closing element and as stiffener of the open side of the base body 28. The lid 30 contributes to increasing the flexural and torsional rigidity of the base body 28, which reduces the noise of the door-stop device.

Claims

A door-stop device for vehicles, comprising:
- a tie-rod (12) having an external surface provided with at least one retention seat (14a, 14b, 14c);

- a casing (26) having a chamber (32) and two facing through openings (62, 63), through which the tie-rod extends (12);

- two opposed retention elements (52), housed in said chamber (32); and

- elastic means (54), housed in said chamber (32) and arranged for pushing the retention elements (56) elastically against the tie-rod (12),
wherein the casing (26) comprises a hollow base body (28) provided with a single opening (34) for the insertion in said chamber (32) of said retention bodies (52) and said elastic means and a lid (30), fixed to the base body (28) for closing said insertion opening (34), and wherein said elastic means (54) act between the base body (28) and said retention elements (52),
said device being characterized in that the base body (28) and the lid (30) are provided with coupling means, which co-operate with one another and include a groove (50) surrounding said insertion opening (34) formed on one of said base body (28) and lid (30) and a complementary engagement formation (44) provided on the other of said base body (28) and lid (30).
The device according to Claim 1, characterized in that said chamber (32) has a substantially prismatic shape with an open face.
The device according to Claim 2, characterized in that said retention elements (56) are guided between two larger side surfaces of said prismatic chamber (32).
The device according to Claim 3, characterized in that said elastic means (54) act between smaller side surfaces of said chamber (32) and said retention elements (56).
The device according to Claim 1, characterized in that said base body (28) is provided with an integral ribbing projecting from the edge bearing said opening (34), said ribbing (44) engaging with minimum play a groove (50) formed on an internal front surface (48) of said lid (30).
The device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said lid (30) is fixed to said base body (28) by means of fixing elements, such as rivets or the like, or else by means of substances or processes that are able to guarantee the mechanical fixing of the two elements.
The device according to any of Claims 1-4, characterized in that said lid (30) is fixed to said base body (28) by snap-action engagement means.
The device according to Claim 7, characterized in that the base body (28) is provided with a ribbing (44) projecting from the edge bearing said opening (34) and a plurality of elastic teeth (68) aligned to said ribbing (44), the ribbing (44) being interrupted in positions corresponding to said elastic teeth (68), the ribbing (44) and said elastic teeth (68) engaging a groove (50) formed on an internal wall (48) of said lid (30).
The device according to Claim 8, characterized in that it comprises a blocking element (74) provided with a plurality of projections (77) that are inserted within respective holes (72) of the lid (30) and between the elastic teeth (68) and an edge of the groove (50) for blocking the elastic teeth (68) in a position of retention of the lid (30).
The device according to any one of Claims 1-5, characterized in that said lid (30) is inserted like a drawer in a groove (30) made in a position corresponding to the open edge (34) of the base body (28).