Door latch

Abstract

A door latch (1) for closing a door of a vehicle, such as a motor vehicle, comprises a holding unit, an electric gear (13), an inner release lever (17), a central opening lever (10) driven into an active position by movement of the inner release lever (17) or the electric gear (13), an outer release lever (20), a locking lever (23), the locking lever (23) is configured to be moved from a locked position to an unlocked position by movement of the central opening lever (10) driven by movement of the internal release lever (17) from a rest position to an active position and by movement of the electric gear (13) from the rest position to the active position, the locking lever (23) remaining in the unlocked position after release of the door latch (1).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a door latch, such as a latch for a side door or trunk lid, particularly for vehicles, such as motor vehicles. Background Technology

[0002] Traditional door latches have a purely mechanical release system. The end user directly activates a mechanical opening control, which moves a cable that releases the door latch, allowing the door to open. There are typically two mechanical opening controls on the door: an internal handle and an external handle. Both mechanical opening controls can still be used in the event of a power failure.

[0003] Today, door latches include an electric release mechanism, also known as an E-release mechanism, which enables the door to be opened by simple pressure on a switch or by movement in front of a detector.

[0004] These door latches can be electrically locked and unlocked. The locking function prevents entry into the vehicle from the outside.

[0005] In terms of internal mechanical release kinematics, there exists a function called over-control, which allows the door latch to be mechanically unlocked from inside the vehicle by pulling the interior handle. When the user activates the interior handle, the latch is unlocked without first electrically unlocking it. This unlocking function can be completed in one action: the latch is unlocked and released in the same action, or the unlocking function can be completed in two actions: the latch is unlocked when the interior handle is first pulled by the user, and then released when the interior handle is pulled a second time by the user.

[0006] However, after the user releases the door latch via E, the latch remains in the locked position. Therefore, if the user gets out of the vehicle via E, he / she can be locked out. Summary of the Invention

[0007] The object of this invention is to provide a door latch that at least partially addresses the shortcomings of the prior art.

[0008] Therefore, the present invention relates to a door latch for closing a door of a vehicle, such as a motor vehicle, comprising:

[0009] - A retaining unit, comprising a pawl and a ratchet, which engages with a striker of the vehicle in the closed position and releases the striker in the open position to release the latch.

[0010] - An electric gear, configured to move from a rest position to an active position by releasing a motor.

[0011] - An internal release lever, configured to move from a rest position to an active position via an internal mechanical release control.

[0012] - A central opening lever, configured to move between a rest position and a movable position, the central opening lever being driven to the movable position by movement of the internal release lever from the rest position to the movable position or by movement of the electric gear from the rest position to the movable position.

[0013] - An external release lever, configured to move from a rest position to an active position via an external mechanical opening control.

[0014] - A locking lever, configured to move between an unlocked position and a locked position, in which movement of the external release lever releases the retaining unit of the latch, and in the locked position, the locking lever disengages the external release lever from the retaining unit.

[0015] The locking lever is configured to move from the locked position to the unlocked position by the movement of the central opening lever driven by the internal release lever from the rest position to the active position and by the movement of the electric gear from the rest position to the active position. After the latch is released, the locking lever remains in the unlocked position.

[0016] Therefore, the latch can be unlocked by rotating an internal release lever (i.e., by the user activating an internal mechanical control from inside the vehicle), which disengages the pawl from the pawl, and by rotating an electric gear (i.e., by the user activating an electric opening control), which disengages the pawl from the pawl.

[0017] Therefore, the latch includes a mechanical chain that transmits the mechanical unlocking function (unlocking the latch), regardless of whether the release originates mechanically or electrically from inside the vehicle. The mechanical and electrical release mechanisms thus operate in parallel and synchronously. If electric unlocking is performed, the mechanical movement is also unlocked, and conversely, if mechanical unlocking is performed from inside the vehicle, the electric movement is also unlocked. This ensures that the user is neither locked inside nor locked outside after both internal mechanical and electric unlocking.

[0018] A door latch may also include one or more features described individually or in combination below.

[0019] According to one embodiment, the latch includes an override lever configured to move a locking lever from a locked position to an unlocked position and configured to be driven by a central opening lever from a rest position to an active position.

[0020] As an example, the control lever is hinged to the locking lever.

[0021] According to the first embodiment, the internal release lever, the central opening lever, and the electric gear are pivotally mounted on the same axis of the door latch.

[0022] As an example, the internal release lever and the central opening lever have corresponding ends that project axially, such that the end of the central opening lever is located on the path of the end of the internal release lever in the direction in which the internal release lever moves to the active position.

[0023] According to the second embodiment, the internal release lever pivots about an axis passing through the central opening lever.

[0024] As an example, the central opening lever has a lug that can move in the hole of the internal release lever. When the internal release lever is driven to its active position, the lug of the central opening lever is adjacent to one side of the hole to be driven to move by the internal release lever. When the central opening lever is driven to rotate by an electric gear, the lug of the central opening lever moves in the hole.

[0025] According to one embodiment, the latch includes an actuator comprising a first lever, a second lever, and a paddle clutch. The first lever is configured to move a pawl to an open position. The second lever is driven by movement of an external release lever. The paddle clutch is configured to move via a locking lever to an extended position between the first and second levers of the actuator, such that, in an unlocked position of the locking lever, movement of the second lever toward an active position drives movement of the first lever to move the pawl to an open position to release the latch. The paddle clutch is also configured to move via the locking lever to a retracted position, in a locked position of the locking lever, disengaging the paddle clutch from between the first and second levers.

[0026] According to the first embodiment, the first lever is configured to be driven by the movement of the central opening lever. Then, the paddle clutch can be configured to be driven to the unfolded position by the locking lever simultaneously with the central opening lever driving the first lever, such that the latch is unlocked and released during the same movement of the central opening lever.

[0027] According to the second embodiment, the second lever is configured to be driven by the movement of the central opening lever. Then, the paddle clutch can be configured to be driven to the deployed position by the locking lever after the second lever has been moved to the blocking position by the central opening lever, in which the second lever blocks the movement of the paddle clutch, such that once the central opening lever is released, the paddle clutch, subjected to an elastic restoring force, moves to the deployed position.

[0028] The latch may include a locking motor configured to move a locking lever from an unlocked position to a locked position.

[0029] The locking motor can be configured to move to the unlock position as the locking lever moves from the locked position to the unlock position.

[0030] The present invention also relates to a vehicle door including an internal mechanical opening control and an external mechanical opening control, wherein the vehicle door includes a latch as described above; the internal mechanical opening control is mechanically linked to the internal release lever, and the external mechanical opening control is mechanically linked to the external release lever. Attached Figure Description

[0031] Referring to the accompanying drawings, the invention will be better understood from the following description, wherein:

[0032] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of some elements of a latch according to the first example, in the closed and locked position.

[0033] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A perspective view of some components of a door latch.

[0034] Figure 3 yes Figure 2 A perspective view of the internal release lever, central opening lever, electric gear, and overdrive lever of the latch.

[0035] Figure 4 yes Figure 1 A perspective view of some components of a door latch.

[0036] Figure 5 yes Figure 4 A similar view shows the latch being released and unlocked during the internal mechanical release.

[0037] Figure 6 yes Figure 4 A similar view, where the latch is released and unlocked during electrical release.

[0038] Figure 7 This is a perspective view of some elements of a latch according to the second example, in the closed and locked position.

[0039] Figure 8 yes Figure 7 A perspective view of the internal release lever, central opening lever, electric gear, overdrive lever, and actuator of the latch.

[0040] Figure 9 yes Figure 8 A perspective view of the internal release lever and central open lever (in the return position) of the latch.

[0041] Figure 10 yes Figure 7 A perspective view of some components of a latch that is unlocked during the first internal opening mechanical release.

[0042] Figure 11It is in the unlocked position after the first internal mechanical release. Figure 10 A perspective view of the door latch.

[0043] Figure 12 yes Figure 11 A similar view of the latch, which is released during the second internal opening mechanical release.

[0044] In these figures, identical or similar elements have the same reference numerals. Only elements necessary for understanding the invention are shown. Detailed Implementation

[0045] The following achievements are examples. Although the specification relates to one or more embodiments, it does not mean that every reference relates to the same embodiment or feature applies only to a single embodiment. Simple features of different embodiments may also be combined to provide other embodiments.

[0046] Figures 1 to 6 A first embodiment of a door latch 1 is shown, which is used to close the door of a vehicle such as a motor vehicle, particularly a side door or a trunk lid.

[0047] The latch 1 includes a retaining unit, which includes a pawl 2 and a ratchet 3.

[0048] Both claw 2 and pawl 3 are configured to be in the open position ( Figure 5 and Figure 6 ) and closing position ( Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 4 The door pivots between the two positions. In the closed position, the retaining unit engages with the vehicle's striker (not shown), which is trapped in pawl 2, and pawl 3 prevents pawl 2 from rotating. In the open position, the retaining unit releases the striker to release the latch 1, pawl 3 allows pawl 2 to rotate, and the rotation of pawl 2 releases the striker, so the door can be opened.

[0049] Pawl 3 can be subjected to an elastic restoring force, which pushes pawl 3 toward pawl 2. Pawl 2 can be subjected to an elastic restoring force, which pushes pawl 2 to the open position.

[0050] The latch 1 includes an electric gear 13, which is configured to release the latch 1 from a rest position via a release motor 11. Figure 1 ) Moves electrically to the active position ( Figure 6 ).

[0051] More precisely, the release motor 11 has an output shaft 12 with a worm gear configured to rotate the electric gear 13. The electric gear 13 may include teeth only on a portion of a circle, depending on the angular difference between the rest position and the moving position of the electric gear 13.

[0052] When a user activates an electric (or electronic) opening control (e.g., a door or key switch) or moves in front of a detector, the release motor 11 is activated by the control unit of the latch 1. According to one embodiment, the release motor 11 is a reversible motor (the output shaft 12 of the release motor 11 can rotate clockwise or counterclockwise).

[0053] The door latch 1 also includes an internal release lever 17, which can be released from the vehicle interior via an internal mechanical opening control (e.g., an internal handle) from a rest position. Figure 1 Move to the active location ( Figure 5 The internal release lever 17 is, for example, via a cable 19 fixed to hole 18 (see...). Figure 10 (In the second embodiment) it is mechanically linked to an internal mechanical opening control. The cable 19 can be pulled by the user activating the internal mechanical opening control.

[0054] The internal release lever 17 can be a pivot lever. The internal release lever 17 can be subjected to an elastic restoring force that pushes the internal release lever 17 to a stationary position.

[0055] The latch 1 includes a movable position ( Figure 5 and Figure 6 ) and stationary position ( Figure 1 The central opening lever 10 moves between ( ).

[0056] The central opening lever 10 is driven to the active position by the movement of the internal release lever 17 from its rest position to its active position or by the movement of the electric gear 13 from its rest position to its active position.

[0057] The central opening lever 10 can be a pivot lever. The central opening lever 10 can be subjected to an elastic restoring force, which pushes the central opening lever 10 to a stationary position.

[0058] According to the embodiment, the movement of the central opening lever 10 from the rest position to the active position causes the first lever 5 of the actuator 4 of the latch 1 to move, the first lever 5 being configured to move the pawl 3 (more precisely the lever 3a of the pawl 3) to the open position to release the latch 1.

[0059] The first link 5 can be a pivot link. The first link 5 is configured to move between a rest position and a moving position. The first link 5 can be subjected to an elastic restoring force that pushes the first link 5 back to the rest position.

[0060] In order to rotate the first lever 5 of the actuator 4, the central opening lever 10 has, for example, a tab 14 that engages with a pin 15 of the first lever 5 of the actuator 4. Therefore, when the central opening lever 10 rotates, the tab 14 pushes the pin 15, thereby causing the first lever 5 to rotate.

[0061] The door latch 1 also includes an external release lever 20, which can be moved from a rest position to an active position from outside the vehicle via an external mechanical opening control of the door (e.g., an external handle). The external release lever 20 is mechanically connected to the external mechanical opening control, for example, via a cable 21, which can be pulled by a user to activate the external mechanical opening control. Figure 2 ).

[0062] The external release lever 20 can be a pivot lever. The external release lever 20 can be subjected to an elastic restoring force that pushes the external release lever 20 to a stationary position.

[0063] As an example, the movement of the external release lever 20 from the rest position to the active position causes the second lever 6 of the drive 4 to move.

[0064] The second link 6 can be a pivot link. The second link 6 is configured to move between a rest position and a moving position. The first link 6 can be subjected to an elastic restoring force that pushes the first link 6 to the rest position.

[0065] The first lever 5 and the second lever 6 of the driver 4 can have the same axis (coaxial).

[0066] The door latch 1 can be locked. The locking function prevents entry into the vehicle from the outside. To this end, the door latch 1 includes a lockable position (…). Figure 1 ) and unlock location ( Figure 5 and Figure 6 Locking lever 23 that moves between )

[0067] The locking lever 23 can be configured to translate.

[0068] At the unlock location ( Figure 5 and Figure 6 The movement of the external release lever 20 releases the retaining unit of the latch 1, allowing the door to open, and in the locked position, the locking lever 23 disengages the external release lever 20 from the retaining unit.

[0069] More precisely, as an example, the drive 4 includes a paddle clutch 24 configured to move from the unlocked position of the locking lever 23 to the unfolded position. Figure 5 and Figure 6 ), and from the locked position of the locking lever 23, it moves to the retracted position by the locking lever 23 ( Figure 1 ).

[0070] The paddle clutch 24 can withstand an elastic return force, which, for example, pushes the paddle clutch 24 to the deployed position via a spring 28, one end of which is connected to the paddle clutch 24 and the other end of which is connected to the first lever 5.

[0071] According to one embodiment, the paddle clutch 24 is configured to slide between a retracted position and an extended position in the slot of the first lever 5. Figure 1 and Figure 2 ).

[0072] In the deployed position, the paddle clutch 24 deploys between the first lever 5 and the second lever 6 of the drive 4, such that the movement of the second lever 6 toward the active position drives the movement of the first lever 5, causing the pawl 3 to move to the open position to release the latch 1.

[0073] In the retracted position, the paddle clutch 24 disengages from between the first lever 5 and the second lever 6. Figure 5 and Figure 6 This ensures that the movement of the second lever 6 toward the active position does not cause the first lever 5 to move. The latch 1 is thus not released.

[0074] According to one embodiment, in order to move the paddle clutch 24, the locking lever 23 is configured to drive the axial pin 22 of the paddle clutch 24 through a hole in the locking lever 23. The movement of the hole in the locking lever 23 drives the movement of the axial pin 22 of the paddle clutch 24, thereby driving the movement of the paddle clutch 24.

[0075] Therefore, the movement of the first lever 5 can be driven by the movement of the central opening lever 10 from the rest position to the active position, or by the second lever 6 driven from the rest position to the active position by the external release lever 20 in the unlocked position of the locking lever 23.

[0076] In the closed and locked position ( Figure 1 The outer release lever 20 cannot release the latch 1. The second lever 6 can be driven to rotate by moving the outer release lever 20 from its rest position to its active position, but it faces the paddle clutch 24 radially and therefore does not drive the paddle clutch 24 to rotate, and therefore does not drive the first lever 5, and does not release the latch 1. When the paddle clutch 24 is in the retracted position, a gap is formed between the first lever 5 and the second lever 6, such that the second lever 6 can rotate toward the active position within the gap without interacting with the first lever 5. Therefore, the first lever 5 remains in the rest position.

[0077] The locking lever 23 is configured to move from a locked position to an unlocked position by movement of the central opening lever 10, driven by the internal release lever 17, from a rest position to an active position, and by movement of the electric gear 13 from a rest position to an active position. The locking lever 23 remains in the unlocked position after the door latch 1 is released. After the door latch 1 is released, the locking lever 23 remains in the unlocked position regardless of whether the release is mechanically actuated by activating an internal mechanical control or electrically actuated by activating an electric opening control.

[0078] According to an embodiment, the electric gear 13 and the central opening lever 10 are coaxial. They have corresponding axially projecting ends 13a and 10b, so that the end 10b of the central opening lever 10 lies on the path of the end 13a of the electric gear 13 in the direction in which the electric gear 13 moves to the active position. Figure 2 Therefore, when the electric gear 13 is driven to the active position, the electric gear 13 and the central opening rod 10 rotate together.

[0079] When the central opening lever 10 is driven to its active position by the internal release lever 17, the end 13a of the electric gear 13 is outside the path of the central opening lever 10, so that the electric gear 13 is not driven to move (or not significantly).

[0080] In this first example, the internal release lever 17, the central opening lever 10, and the electric gear 13 are coaxial. The internal release lever 17, the central opening lever 10, and the electric gear 13 are pivotally mounted on the same axis of the door latch 1. The electric gear 13 may be axially positioned between the internal release lever 17 and the central opening lever 10.

[0081] According to one embodiment, the internal release lever 17 and the central opening lever 10 have corresponding axially projecting ends 17a, 10a, such that the end 10a of the central opening lever 10 is located on the path of the end 17a of the internal release lever 17 in the direction in which the internal release lever 17 moves to the active position. Figure 3 Therefore, when the inner release lever 17 is driven to the active position, the inner release lever 17 and the central opening lever 10 rotate together.

[0082] When the central opening lever 10 is driven to its active position by the electric gear 13, the end 17a of the internal release lever 17 is outside the path of the central opening lever 10, so that the internal release lever 17 is not driven to move (or not significantly).

[0083] The latch 1 may include a locking motor 25 configured to move the locking lever 23 from the unlocked position to the locked position, for example, upon a user’s next locking request.

[0084] The locking motor 25 here has an output shaft 26 with a worm gear configured to rotate the locking pinion 27. As an example, the locking pinion 27 has a rib on one of its faces, which is configured to engage with the locking lever 23 to move the locking lever 23 to the locked position (translated to the left in the figure) when the locking pinion 27 rotates through the output shaft 26 of the locking motor 25.

[0085] The locking motor 25 is configured to move from the locked position to the unlocked position as the locking lever 23 moves from the locked position to the unlocked position.

[0086] According to the embodiment, the locking motor 25 is a reversible motor (the output shaft 26 of the locking motor 25 can rotate clockwise or counterclockwise). The movement of the locking lever 23 from the locked position to the unlocked position (translated to the right in the figure) drives the locking pinion 27 to rotate in the opposite direction, and thus drives the locking motor 25 to rotate in the opposite direction.

[0087] According to one embodiment, the latch 1 includes an overdrive lever 30 configured to move the locking lever 23 from a locked position to an unlocked position. The overdrive lever 30 is configured to be driven by the central opening lever 10 from a rest position to an active position, thereby releasing the striker from the holding unit to release the latch 1.

[0088] The control lever 30 can be a pivot lever.

[0089] In this example, the overdrive lever 30 is hinged to the locking lever 23.

[0090] The over-lever 30 remains in the unlocked position after releasing the latch 1, such that the locking lever 23 remains in the unlocked position after releasing the latch 1, regardless of whether the release is mechanically initiated by the activation of an internal mechanical control or electrically initiated by the activation of an electrically open control.

[0091] The control lever 30 may have a beak-like portion configured to engage with the end of the central opening lever 10, for example, the same end 10a that is an axially projecting portion of the central opening lever 10 to engage with the end 17a of the internal release lever 17.

[0092] According to the embodiment, when the central opening lever 10 drives the first lever 5, the paddle clutch 24 is moved to the unfolded position by the locking lever 23 through the movement of the central opening lever 10 from the rest position to the active position, so as to unlock the door latch 1, so that the door latch 1 is unlocked and released in the same movement of the central opening lever 10.

[0093] The control lever 30 (especially the shape of its beak-like portion) is adapted to move the locking lever 23 from the locked position to the unlocked position via the central opening lever 10, while the central opening lever 10 disengages from the holding unit and releases the latch 1. Thus, unlocking and releasing occur in the same movement.

[0094] As the locking lever 23, activated by the locking motor 25, moves toward the locked position, the overdrive lever 30 can be driven from the unlocked position to the locked position.

[0095] In another embodiment not shown, the locking lever 23 can be driven directly (without intermediate overdrive lever 30) from the locked position to the unlocked position by the movement of the central opening lever 10 from the rest position to the active position, thus intending to release the striker from the holding unit to release the latch 1 via the central opening lever 10.

[0096] During the mechanical release process (from inside the locked latch 1) Figures 4 to 5 The internal release lever 17 is rotated by the user activating the internal handle from inside the vehicle. Rotation of the internal release lever 17 drives the central opening lever 10 to rotate to its active position. Pivoting of the central opening lever 10 pivots the override lever 30, which moves the locking lever 23 to the unlocked position, thereby disengaging the paddle clutch 24 of the drive 4, allowing release via the external release lever 20. The door latch 1 is then unlocked. Furthermore, the locking lever 23 can activate one or more switches 35, which can send an electrical unlocking signal to the control unit of the door latch 1. Figure 1 With the mechanical activation of the user pulling the internal handle, the activation of the switch can trigger an electric assist to move the locking lever 23 from the locked position to the unlocked position via the locking motor 25.

[0097] At the same time, the central opening lever 10 causes the first lever 5 of the driver 4 to rotate and move, which causes the pawl 3 to move from the pawl 2, so that the pawl 3 disengages from the pawl 2, thereby releasing the latch 1.

[0098] During the internal opening mechanical release, the electric gear 13 does not move or moves only slightly. In fact, when the central opening lever 10 is driven to rotate from its rest position to its active position by the internal release lever 17, the electric gear 13 disengages from the central opening lever 10.

[0099] After the mechanical release is activated from the inside of the door, the internal release lever 17 rotates back to its rest position when the user releases the internal handle. The overlock lever 30 and locking lever 23, and thus the door latch 1, remain in the unlocked position.

[0100] During the internal mechanical release of the unlocked latch 1, except that the rotation of the central opening lever 10 does not cause the overdrive lever 30, which is already pivoted in the unlocked position, to pivot, the steps are the same as those of the initially locked latch 1, with the paddle clutch 24 engaged between the first lever 5 and the second lever 6 of the drive 4.

[0101] During the electrical release of the locked latch 1 (from Figures 4 to 6 The user activates the electric open control, which in turn activates the release motor 11. The rotation of the output shaft 12 of the release motor 11 causes the electric gear 13 to rotate. This rotation engages the central open lever 10 to rotate it to the active position.

[0102] The following steps are the same as during the internal opening mechanical release: pivoting the central opening lever 10 pivots the override lever 30, which moves the locking lever 23 to the unlocked position, thereby disengaging the paddle clutch 24 of the actuator 4, allowing the external release lever 20 to release. The latch 1 is then unlocked. Furthermore, the locking lever 23 can activate one or more switches (not shown) that can send an electrical unlocking signal to the control unit of the latch 1.

[0103] At the same time, the central opening lever 10 causes the first lever 5 of the driver 4 to rotate and move, which causes the pawl 3 to move so that the pawl 3 disengages from the pawl 2, thereby releasing the latch 1.

[0104] During electrical release, the internal release lever 17 does not move or moves only slightly. In fact, the internal release lever 17 disengages from the central opening lever 10 when the central opening lever 10 is driven to rotate from its rest position to its active position by the electric gear 13.

[0105] After the electric door releases, the control unit of the latch 1 can control the release motor 11 to return to the rest position, thereby driving the electric gear 13 to return. The release motor 11 causes the electric gear 13 to rotate in the opposite direction, thus rotating the central opening lever 10 back. The over-lever 30 and locking lever 23, and therefore the latch 1, remain in the unlocked position.

[0106] During the electric release of the unlocked latch 1, except that the rotation of the central opening lever 10 does not cause the overdrive lever 30, which is already pivoted in the unlocked position, to pivot, the procedure is the same as that of the initially locked latch 1, with the paddle clutch 24 engaged between the first lever 5 and the second lever 6 of the drive 4.

[0107] Therefore, the latch 1 can be unlocked by rotating the internal release lever 17 (i.e. by the user activating the internal mechanical control from inside the vehicle), the rotation of the internal release lever 17 being intended to disengage the pawl 3 from the pawl 2, and by rotating the electric gear 13 (i.e. by the user activating the electric opening control), the rotation of the electric gear 13 being intended to disengage the pawl 3 from the pawl 2.

[0108] Therefore, the latch 1 includes a mechanical motion chain that transmits the mechanical over-control function (unlocking the latch 1), regardless of whether the release originates mechanically or electrically. The mechanical and electrical release mechanisms thus operate in parallel and synchronously. If electrical unlocking is performed, the mechanical motion is also unlocked, and conversely, if mechanical unlocking is performed from inside the vehicle, the electrical motion is also unlocked. This ensures that the user is neither locked inside nor locked outside after both internal mechanical and electrical unlocking.

[0109] This feature conforms to the mechanical kinematics of child locks.

[0110] Figures 7 to 11A second example of latch 1 is shown.

[0111] The following description will only cover elements that differ from the first embodiment.

[0112] As in the first example, the locking lever 23 is configured to move from the locked position to the unlocked position by the movement of the central opening lever 10 driven by the internal release lever 17 from the rest position to the active position and by the movement of the electric gear 13 from the rest position to the active position. The locking lever 23 remains in the unlocked position after the latch 1 is released.

[0113] In this embodiment, the central opening lever 10 is coaxial with the electric gear 13 driven by the release motor 11. However, in this example, the inner release lever 17 and the central opening lever 10 are not coaxial.

[0114] As in Figure 8 As can be seen more clearly, the internal release lever 17 pivots about the axis 31 that passes through the central opening lever 10.

[0115] According to Figure 9 In a more clearly visible embodiment, the central opening lever 10 has a lug 32 that can move within a hole 33 (e.g., arc-shaped) in the internal release lever 17. When the internal release lever 17 is driven from a rest position to an active position, the lug 32 of the central opening lever 10 abuts against one side of the hole 33 to be driven by the internal release lever 17. When the central opening lever 10 is driven to rotate by the electric gear 13, the lug 32 of the central opening lever 10 moves within the hole 33 without (significantly) moving the internal release lever 17.

[0116] In this embodiment, the central opening lever 10 has a leg 34 configured to engage with the overdrive lever 30, more specifically with the beak-shaped portion of the overdrive lever 30, to move the locking lever 23 from the locked position to the unlocked position.

[0117] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the second lever 6 is configured to be driven by the movement of the central opening lever 10.

[0118] To rotate the second lever 6 of the actuator 4, the tab 14 of the central opening lever 10 can engage with the pin 15 of the second lever 6 of the actuator 4. Therefore, when the central opening lever 10 rotates, the tab 14 pushes the pin 15, thereby rotating the second lever 6.

[0119] Therefore, the movement of the first lever 5 can only be driven by the second lever 6, which is driven by the external release lever 20 or the central opening lever 10, moving from the stationary position to the active position via the paddle clutch 24 in the unlocked position of the locking lever 23.

[0120] Furthermore, the paddle clutch 24 is configured such that after the second lever 6 has been moved to the blocking position by the central opening lever 10, it is driven to the unfolded position by the locking lever 23 by the movement of the central opening lever 10 from the rest position to the active position. In the blocking position, the second lever 6 blocks the movement of the paddle clutch 24, so that once the central opening lever 10 is released, the paddle clutch 24, which is subjected to an elastic restoring force, moves to the unfolded position.

[0121] After the second lever 6 has been moved to the blocking position by the central opening lever 10, the overdrive lever 30 (especially the shape of its beak-like portion) can be adapted to drive the paddle clutch 24 to the unfolded position.

[0122] As in the first example, the locking motor 25 can also be configured to move from the locked position to the unlocked position as the locking lever 23 moves from the locked position to the unlocked position.

[0123] Therefore, unlocking occurs when the first internal opening mechanism of the locked latch 1 is released, and release can occur when the second internal opening mechanism is released (in both movements), or by external opening release, or by electrical release.

[0124] During the mechanical release process (from inside the locked latch 1) Figures 7 to 10 The internal release lever 17 rotates and moves by the user activating the internal handle from inside the vehicle.

[0125] The lug 32 of the abutment hole 33 of the central opening rod 10 drives the central opening rod 10 to rotate.

[0126] Therefore, the central opening lever 10 causes the second lever 6 of the drive 4 to rotate and move, but does not drive the paddle clutch 24, and therefore does not drive the first lever 5 to rotate, and therefore does not release the latch 1.

[0127] The pivoting of the central release lever 10, via the leg 34, pivots the overdrive lever 30, which moves the locking lever 23 to the unlocked position. However, the second lever 6 has already moved radially toward the paddle clutch 24, thus preventing the paddle clutch 24 from moving in the deployed position. This compresses the spring 28 of the paddle clutch 24.

[0128] When the user releases the internal mechanical opening control, the internal release lever 17 rotates back to the rest position, thereby releasing the central opening lever 10 and thus the second lever 6, which releases the paddle clutch 24 to the deployed position. Figure 11 ).

[0129] Then latch 1 is unlocked.

[0130] Then, the user can release the latch 1 by pulling the internal mechanical opening control a second time, thereby moving the central opening lever 10. The central opening lever 10 causes the second lever 6 of the actuator 4 to rotate, which moves the first lever 5 via the movement of the paddle clutch 24 deployed between the first lever 5 and the second lever 6, thereby moving the first lever 5 and disengaging the pawl 3 from the pawl 2 to release the latch 1. Figure 12 ).

[0131] During the internal opening mechanical release, the electric gear 13 does not move or moves only slightly. In fact, when the central opening lever 10 is driven to rotate from its rest position to its active position by the internal release lever 17, the electric gear 13 disengages from the central opening lever 10.

[0132] During the electrical release of the locked latch 1 (not shown), the user activates the electrical opening control, which in turn activates the release motor 11. The rotation of the output shaft 12 of the release motor 11 causes the electric gear 13 to rotate. This rotation engages the central opening lever 10 to rotate it to the active position.

[0133] The lug 32 of the central opening lever 10 moves within the hole 33 of the internal release lever 17 without abutting against the hole 33, and therefore does not drive the internal release lever 17. Thus, the internal release lever 17 does not move or moves only slightly.

[0134] The following steps are the same as during the internal opening mechanical release.

[0135] The central opening lever 10 causes the second lever 6 of the drive 4 to rotate and move, but does not drive the paddle clutch 24, and therefore does not drive the first lever 5 to rotate, and therefore does not release the latch 1.

[0136] The pivoting of the central release lever 10, via the leg 34, pivots the overdrive lever 30, which moves the locking lever 23 to the unlocked position. However, the second lever 6 has already moved radially toward the paddle clutch 24, thus preventing the paddle clutch 24 from moving in the deployed position. This compresses the spring 28 of the paddle clutch 24.

[0137] Then, the control unit of the latch 1 controls the release motor 11 to return to the rest position, thereby driving the electric gear 13 to return. The release motor 11 causes the electric gear 13 to rotate in the opposite direction, thus rotating the central opening lever 10 backward, thereby releasing the second lever 6, which in turn releases the paddle clutch 24 in the deployed position.

[0138] The latch 1 is then released, as... Figure 11 As shown.

[0139] The release motor 11 can be controlled by the control unit of the latch 1 to be activated twice when the user activates the electric (or electronic) opening control.

[0140] After the release motor 11 moves the electric gear 13 from the rest position to the active position to unlock the latch 1 for the first time, and after the release motor 11 returns to the rest position to drive the electric gear 13 back, the release motor 11 can move the electric gear 13 from the rest position to the active position a second time to unlock the latch 1.

[0141] According to the control unit programming, the release can then occur after the control is opened once or twice by pressing the button.

Claims

1. A door latch (1) for closing a door of a vehicle such as a motor vehicle, comprising: - A retaining unit comprising a pawl (2) and a ratchet (3), the retaining unit engaging with the striker of the vehicle in the closed position and releasing the striker in the open position to release the latch (1). - Electric gear (13), which is configured to move from a rest position to an active position by releasing a motor (11), - Internal release lever (17), which is configured to move from a rest position to an active position via an internal mechanical opening control. - A central opening lever (10) configured to move between a rest position and an active position, the central opening lever (10) being driven to the active position by movement of the internal release lever (17) from the rest position to the active position or by movement of the electric gear (13) from the rest position to the active position. - External release lever (20), which is configured to move from a rest position to an active position via an external mechanical opening control. - Locking lever (23), which is configured to move between an unlocked position and a locked position, in which movement of the external release lever (20) releases the retaining unit of the latch (1), and in the locked position, the locking lever (23) disengages the external release lever (20) from the retaining unit. The locking lever (23) is configured to move from the locked position to the unlocked position by the movement of the central opening lever (10) driven by the internal release lever (17) from the rest position to the active position, and by the movement of the electric gear (13) from the rest position to the active position. The locking lever (23) remains in the unlocked position after the door latch (1) is released.

2. The latch (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein, The latch (1) includes a control lever (30) configured to move the locking lever (23) from the locked position to the unlocked position and configured to be driven by the central opening lever (10) from the rest position to the active position.

3. The latch (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein, The control lever (30) is hinged to the locking lever (23).

4. The latch (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The internal release lever (17), the central opening lever (10), and the electric gear (13) are pivotally mounted on the same axis as the latch (1).

5. The latch (1) according to claim 4, wherein, The internal release lever (17) and the central opening lever (10) have corresponding axially projecting ends (17a, 10a) such that the end (10a) of the central opening lever (10) is located on the path of the end (17a) of the internal release lever (17) in the direction in which the internal release lever (17) moves to the active position.

6. The latch (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The internal release lever (17) pivots about an axis (31) passing through the central opening lever (10).

7. The latch (1) according to claim 6, wherein, The central opening rod (10) has a lug (32) that can move in the hole (33) of the internal release rod (17). When the internal release rod (17) is driven to its active position, the lug (32) of the central opening rod (10) abuts against one side of the hole (33) to be driven to move by the internal release rod (17). When the central opening rod (10) is driven to rotate by the electric gear (13), the lug (32) of the central opening rod (10) moves in the hole (33).

8. The latch (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The latch (1) includes an actuator (4) comprising a first lever (5), a second lever (6), and a paddle clutch (24). The first lever (5) is configured to move the pawl (3) to the open position. The second lever (6) is driven by the movement of the external release lever (20). The paddle clutch (24) is configured to be moved by the locking lever (23) to an unfolded position between the first lever (5) and the second lever (6) of the actuator (4), such that in the unlocked position of the locking lever (23), the movement of the second lever (6) toward the active position drives the movement of the first lever (5) to move the pawl (3) to the open position to release the latch (1). The paddle clutch is also configured to be moved by the locking lever (23) to a retracted position, in the locked position of the locking lever (23), disengaging the paddle clutch (24) from between the first lever (5) and the second lever (6).

9. The latch (1) according to claim 8, wherein, The first lever (5) is configured to be driven by the movement of the central opening lever (10), and the paddle clutch (24) is configured to be driven to the unfolded position by the locking lever (23) when the central opening lever (10) drives the first lever (5), such that the latch (1) is unlocked and released in the same movement of the central opening lever (10).

10. The latch (1) according to claim 8, wherein, The second lever (6) is configured to be driven by the movement of the central opening lever (10), and the paddle clutch (24) is configured to be driven by the locking lever (23) to the unfolded position after the second lever (6) has been moved to the blocking position by the central opening lever (10), in which the second lever (6) blocks the movement of the paddle clutch (24) such that once the central opening lever (10) is released, the paddle clutch (24) subject to an elastic restoring force moves to the unfolded position.

11. The latch (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The latch (1) includes a locking motor (25) configured to move the locking lever (23) from the unlocked position to the locked position, and the locking motor (25) is configured to move to the unlocked position as the locking lever (23) moves from the locked position to the unlocked position.

12. A vehicle door, comprising an internal mechanical opening control and an external mechanical opening control, wherein, The door includes a latch (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, the internal mechanical opening is mechanically linked to the internal release lever (17), and the external mechanical opening control is mechanically linked to the external release lever (20).

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