Locking lip with inserted metal strip

Abstract

Device (1) for a motor vehicle lock (2) comprising at least a carrier plate (3) with a receptacle (4) for a lock holder (5), wherein the receptacle (4) comprises an opening area (6), an end area (7) and at least one resiliently designed lock guide lip (8), wherein the lock guide lip (8) laterally limits the receptacle (4) and has a contact surface (9) facing the receptacle (4) for guiding the lock holder (5), characterized in that the contact surface (9) of the lock guide lip (8) has a non-metallic surface in a first section (15) and is at least partially formed by at least one metal strip (14) in a second section (16).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for a motor vehicle lock, preferably used for securing vehicle doors or hatches in a closed position. In particular, the invention relates to a lock for a motor vehicle door comprising a carrier plate with a locking mechanism consisting of a rotary latch and a locking pawl, wherein the rotary latch interacts with a lock retainer (also called a locking bolt, locking bar, etc.) and the carrier plate has a lock entry lip that defines a receptacle in a lateral area for guiding the lock retainer as it enters the lock during the closing and opening movements.

[0002] In principle, such locking mechanisms for vehicle doors are already known. With these vehicle locks, the locking bolt, usually made of metal and attached to the body or an adjacent door, penetrates the receptacle from the opening area during the closing movement and strikes the lower part of the receptacle, which is designed as a spring-loaded locking lip. This locking lip (as well as the mounting plate) is typically made of plastic, primarily to largely prevent undesirably loud noise when the metal lock pin strikes the locking lip. The lock pin then slides, guided by the locking lip, towards the end of the receptacle and the rotating latch located there, which is thus pivoted by the lock pin against its spring tension.The rotating movement of the latch brings the locking bolt into a locked position, where it is securely and, above all, as quietly as possible held by the latch, the lock guide lip, and, if applicable, by damping elements attached to the receiver. Such vehicle locks have generally proven to be very reliable.

[0003] During the operation of a motor vehicle, the locking mechanism is regularly subjected to high dynamic forces in the form of shocks, vibrations, and the like, which can lead to relative movement between the locking bolt and the lock cylinder lip. Dirt particles, such as sand or pollen, that accumulate in the locking mechanism over time can act like an abrasive between the locking bolt and the lock cylinder lip. After many hours of operation, this can lead to wear in the form of abrasion of the lock cylinder lip, which is typically made of plastic. These altered conditions can also result in noise from the lock during subsequent operation.Furthermore, the grinding process can lead to a hollowing of the lock guide lip in the area of ​​the contact surface between the lock guide lip and the lock holder in the locked position, thereby reducing the contact pressure between the locking bolt and the lock guide lip. In the long term, this can lead to an increase in play of the locking bolt in the locked position, which can also cause undesirable noise during operation.

[0004] Devices according to the preamble of claim 1 are known from DE 37 25 496 A1 and DE 25 51 288 A1.

[0005] The object of the present invention is to at least partially solve the problems described with reference to the prior art. In particular, a device for a motor vehicle lock is to be provided which can be opened and closed quietly and smoothly over a long operating period of the motor vehicle lock and under the dynamic and static loads prevailing thereafter.

[0006] These problems are solved by a device according to the features of independent claim 1. Further advantageous embodiments of the device are described in the dependent claims. In addition, the description mentions a multitude of further embodiments of the invention, which are also very advantageous.

[0007] The device according to the invention for a motor vehicle lock comprises at least one carrier plate with a receptacle for a lock holder, wherein the receptacle forms an opening area and an end area and comprises at least one resiliently designed lock guide lip, wherein the lock guide lip has a contact surface facing the receptacle for guiding the lock holder, laterally limiting the receptacle. The device is characterized in that the contact surface of the lock guide lip has a non-metallic surface in a first section and the contact surface of the lock guide lip is at least partially formed by at least one metal strip in a second section.

[0008] Such a vehicle lock is typically attached to a movable vehicle flap (e.g., a vehicle door), while the lock holder is typically fixed in place within the corresponding flap frame of the vehicle body. When the vehicle flap closes, the lock holder penetrates the laterally open opening area into the receptacle of the carrier plate and there typically comes into contact with the contact surface of the lock guide lip. From there, the lock holder slides over the contact surface of the lock guide lip until it reaches the closed position in the area of ​​the (opposite, closed) end of the receptacle. The lock guide lip is preferably formed from a spring-mounted projection of the carrier plate, thus creating a lock guide lip length extending from the opening area to a lock guide lip tip, and a lock guide lip width perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.The contact surface is the outer surface of the lock guide lip that faces the receiver, and it does not necessarily have to extend across the entire width of the lock guide lip. Thus, the contact surface can, for example, consist of several contact surfaces spaced apart from recesses (which do not come into contact with the lock holder).

[0009] This contact surface has, extending from the opening area of ​​the receptacle, a first section and a second section, preferably adjoining this first section. The contact surface of the lock guide lip in the first section is non-metallic. The contact surface in the second section is formed at least partially by or with a metal strip; optionally, several metal strips (of different material and / or shape) can be used. This metal strip can, for example, be attached to the lock guide lip as a (separate, optionally replaceable) additional element adhesively and / or by screw connections and / or by clamping connections and / or by other connecting means, or it can be applied to the lock guide lip as a coating, e.g., by vapor deposition.It is considered advantageous that the area of ​​the second section of the contact surface of the lock guide lip is selected such that the metal strip forms a contact surface for the lock holder at least at the point where the lock holder is in the locked position. In this locked position, the lock holder is therefore in contact with at least the rotary latch and the metal strip of the lock guide lip. Since shocks and vibrations regularly occur during the operation of a motor vehicle, relative movement regularly takes place between the lock holder and the metal strip of the lock guide lip. The metal strip, which is in contact with the lock holder when the lock holder is in the locked position, advantageously largely prevents wear of the lock guide lip.

[0010] According to the invention, the contact surface of the lock entry lip comprises at least one groove in the longitudinal direction, wherein the groove has a depth that decreases towards the first end of the groove, and the lock entry lip has at least one metal strip that is at least partially arranged in the groove, and the metal strip is guided through the groove in a first section below the contact surface of the lock entry lip and the metal strip projects beyond the groove of the contact surface of the lock entry lip in the second section.

[0011] The contact surface of the lock guide lip has at least one groove. This groove extends longitudinally up to 25%, preferably up to 50%, or particularly preferably up to 100% of the lock guide lip's length. The groove depth, extending from the contact surface of the lock guide lip to the groove bottom, decreases longitudinally (especially continuously). At the first groove end, which points towards the end region of the receptacle, it is preferred that the groove bottom transitions seamlessly into the contact surface of the lock guide lip or forms a depth less than the thickness of the metal strip. In other words, the groove depth at the first groove end need not be zero.

[0012] Preferably, a metal strip is arranged in this groove, the first end of which projects beyond the first end of the groove and the second end of which is attached to the groove or to a separate bearing, wherein the bearing is located in the groove or in a remote area (e.g., below) of the groove. Optionally, the second end of the metal strip can also be attached to a bearing located remotely (e.g., below) from the lock guide lip, wherein the lock guide lip includes, for example, at least one opening through which the metal strip is guided to the bearing. Additionally or alternatively, the metal strip can be attached to the lock guide lip adhesively and / or by screw connections and / or clamp connections and / or other fasteners. Starting from the second end of the groove, the metal strip can, for example, extend in a first section...The metal strips are guided below the contact surface of the lock's entry lip and, beginning with a second section, positioned above this contact surface. This can be achieved by appropriately selecting the groove depth and / or the metal strip thickness.

[0013] During the closing movement of the vehicle lock, the lock holder initially slides over the contact surface of the lock entry lip until the beginning of the second section, and from there the lock holder slides over the sliding surface of the metal strip until the lock holder has reached the closing position and is securely locked with (exclusive) contact with the metal strip of the lock entry lip.

[0014] Furthermore, an advantageous embodiment of the device is proposed, wherein the at least one groove is provided in the lock guide lip, and the at least one metal strip is arranged essentially in a transverse direction centrally to the lock guide lip. In principle, the groove and / or the metal strip should be designed to achieve the functions according to the invention, optionally including short versions of the groove and / or metal strip, which may have correspondingly adapted depths or material thicknesses. This central arrangement of the groove and / or the metal strip prevents a torsional force from being introduced into the lock guide lip when the lock holder slides over the metal strip. This reduction in the mechanical stress on the lock guide lip increases its fatigue strength.

[0015] According to a further advantageous embodiment of the device according to the invention, the metal strip, starting from the opening area of ​​the receptacle, forms the contact surface of the lock guide lip only after more than 20%, preferably more than 30%, of the lock guide lip length. This first section is thus designed as a low-noise impact zone for the lock holder, with the lock guide lip preferably arranged at an angle to the entry direction of the lock holder in this area, i.e., the receptacle is tapered. If necessary (e.g., with shallowly inclined lock guide lips), it may also be advantageous to extend the first section without a metal strip to up to 50% of the lock guide lip.

[0016] According to a further advantageous embodiment of the device according to the invention, the contact surface of the lock guide lip has an impact surface located in front of the second section, starting from the opening area of ​​the receptacle. This ensures that the lock holder, which is usually made of metal, impacts the non-metallic surface of the lock guide lip during the closing movement of the lock mechanism, thereby preventing excessive noise when the lock holder strikes the lock guide lip.

[0017] Furthermore, a further development of the device is proposed in which the width of the metal strip in the second section essentially corresponds to the width of the lock guide lip. This advantageous design allows the contact force between the lock holder and the lock guide lip to be distributed over a larger area, thereby reducing the contact pressure. This, in turn, reduces the wear of the lock holder and the contact surface of the metal strip caused by friction between the lock holder and the contact surface of the metal strip as the lock holder slides over the contact surface of the metal strip.

[0018] According to a further advantageous embodiment of the device according to the invention, the first end of the metal strip, oriented towards the end region, is bent by at least 90°, preferably by at least 180° or even by at least 270° about the axis formed by the lock entry lip tip. This bending of the first end of the metal strip, oriented towards the end region, about the axis formed by the lock entry lip tip ensures a particularly secure, positive-locking hold of the metal strip on the lock entry lip.

[0019] Particularly advantageous is the use of a motor vehicle comprising a motor vehicle lock comprising a locking mechanism consisting of at least one rotary latch and a locking pawl, wherein the motor vehicle lock comprises at least one device according to the invention.

[0020] The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, whereby the invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments.

[0021] They show schematically: Fig. 1: a motor vehicle lock with a device according to the invention, Fig. 2: a sectional view of the lock mechanism along the cutting edge AA, Fig. 3: a sectional view of the lock inlet lip along the cutting edge BB, and Fig. 4: a motor vehicle comprising a lock latch with a device according to the invention.

[0022] Fig. Figure 1 schematically shows a possible embodiment of the device 1 for a vehicle lock 2, which is indicated schematically here. The vehicle lock 2 has a carrier plate 3. This carrier plate 3 comprises a receptacle 4 with an opening area 6 and an end area 7, as well as a lock guide lip 8, which is resiliently mounted on the carrier plate 3 and limits the receptacle 4 in a lower area. The receptacle 4 is sometimes also referred to as a guide jaw and allows the vehicle lock 2 and a lock holder 5, for example, attached to the vehicle body, to engage. When the vehicle lock 2 is closed, the lock holder 5 is securely held in the end area 7 by the locking mechanism (rotary latch and pawl). It is clear that the illustrated carrier plate 3 is only shown schematically; it regularly comprises a multitude of wall sections, recesses, etc., for attaching various functional components (e.g.,Locking mechanism, lever, sensor, switch, damper, spring, ...) of the motor vehicle lock 2 .

[0023] In detail, it shows Fig. 1. A lock guide lip 8 with a predetermined lock guide lip length 18 extending from the opening area 6, with an indicated groove 12 having a first groove end 31 near the opening area 6 of the receptacle 4, a second groove end 32 further away from the opening area 6 of the receptacle 4, and a groove bottom 35, wherein the groove 12 extends (partially) in a longitudinal direction 11 over a contact surface 9 of the lock guide lip 8. A separate metal strip 14 (e.g., in the form of a sheet metal strip) is arranged in this groove 12, having a first end 22 and a second end 30. This metal strip 14 is guided in a first section 15 below the contact surface 9 of the lock guide lip 8 and forms the contact surface 9 of the lock guide lip 8 in a second section 16.In this way, the arriving lock holder 5 in the first section 15 only comes into contact with the contact surfaces 9 formed laterally by the groove 12 and not with the metal strip 14. Only in the second section 16, where the metal strip 14 projects beyond the groove 12, does (only) the metal strip 14 form the contact surface 9 with the lock holder 5.

[0024] To fix the metal strip 14 in the groove 12 and on the surface of the lock entry lip 8, the first end 22 of the metal strip 14 is, for example, turned around the axis 24 formed by the lock entry lip tip 23 (see figure). Fig. 2) bent and the second end 30 of the metal strip 14 is fastened in a bearing 28, the bearing 28 being located below the contact surface 9 of the lock entry lip 8. Of course, it is also possible (alternatively or cumulatively) for the metal strip 14 to be fixed laterally and / or fastened in the first section 15 and the second section 16 in the same way. In addition to mechanical connections, adhesive connections can of course also be implemented (alternatively or cumulatively).

[0025] Furthermore, it shows Fig. 1. A lock holder 5, which at the beginning of its closing movement encounters an impact surface 19 – which here is not formed by the metal strip 14, but only by the material or the contact surfaces of the base of the lock guide lip 8. As the closing movement of the motor vehicle lock 2 continues, the lock holder 5 slides over the contact surface 9 of the lock guide lip 8 until the beginning of the first section 15, and in the subsequent second section 16 over the contact surface 33 of the metal strip 14 in the direction of the closed position 29. During the closing movement, the lock guide lip 8 guides the lock holder 5 so that it can be securely fixed in the closed position 29 on the metal strip 14 by a rotary latch (not shown here).

[0026] Fig. 2 shows schematically in a sectional view along the cutting edge AA from Fig. 1. The lock entry lip 8 in a top view. The lock entry lip 8 has a lock entry lip length 18 and a lock entry lip width 21. Furthermore, it shows Fig. 2 a metal strip 14 with a metal strip width 20, which is arranged in a groove 12 and on the contact surface 9 of the lock entry lip 8. The respective widths are dimensioned in the transverse direction 17, the lengths in the longitudinal direction 11. Preferably, in this illustrated embodiment, the lock entry lip length 18 is shorter than the length of the metal strip and / or the lock entry lip width 21 is (at least partially) wider than the metal strip width 20.

[0027] Fig. Figure 3 shows a cross-section of the lock inlet lip 8 along the cut edge BB in Fig. 2. The cross-section of the groove 12, with a depth 13 and a groove width 36, is shown. This groove forms a recess in the contact surface 9 on the upper side of the lock entry lip 8. The metal strip 14, arranged in a frictional fit within the groove, is also visible. In this embodiment, the metal strip 14 has a width 20 that essentially corresponds to the groove width 36. The thickness 34 of the metal strip is less than the depth 13 of the groove 2. However, in a further inward section, this depth 13 decreases, so that the metal strip 14 ultimately protrudes from the groove 12 and serves as the contact surface 9.

[0028] Fig. Figure 4 schematically shows a motor vehicle 27 having a motor vehicle lock 2 comprising a locking mechanism 25, which has a rotary latch 26, a pawl 10 and a device 1 according to the invention. Reference symbol list 1 Device 2 Motor vehicle lock 3 Carrier plate 4 recording 5 lock holders 6 Opening area 7 End area 8 Lock inlet lip 9 Contact area 10 locking latches 11 Longitudinal direction 12 Nut 13 Depth 14 metal strips 15 first section 16 second section 17 transverse direction 18 Lock entry lip length 19 impact area 20 metal strip width 21 Lock entry lip width 22 first end of the metal strip 23 Castle entrance lip tip 24-axis 25 locks 26 Rotary Trap 27 Motor vehicle 28 Storage 29 Closing position 30 second end of the metal strip 31 first end of groove 32 second groove end 33 Contact surface of the metal strip 34 metal strip thickness 35 grooved floor 36 groove width

Claims

[1] Device (1) for a motor vehicle lock (2) comprising at least a carrier plate (3) with a receptacle (4) for a lock holder (5), wherein the receptacle (4) comprises an opening area (6), an end area (7) and at least one resiliently designed lock entry lip (8), wherein the lock entry lip (8) laterally limits the receptacle (4) and has a contact surface (9) facing the receptacle (4) for guiding the lock holder (5), characterized by, that the contact surface (9) of the lock entry lip (8) has a non-metallic surface in a first section (15) and is at least partially formed by at least one metal strip (14) in a second section (16), wherein the contact surface (9) of the lock entry lip (8) comprises at least one groove (12) in the longitudinal direction (11), wherein the groove (12) has a depth (13) that decreases in the direction of a first groove end (31), and the lock entry lip (8) has at least the metal strip (14) which is at least partially arranged in the groove (12), and the metal strip (14) is guided through the groove (12) in the first section (15) below the contact surface (9) of the lock entry lip (8), and the metal strip (14) projects beyond the groove (12) of the contact surface (9) of the lock entry lip (8) in the second section (16). [2] Device (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized by, that at least one groove (12) is provided in the lock entry lip (8), and that at least one metal strip (14) is arranged substantially in a transverse direction (17) centrally to the lock entry lip (8). [3] Device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the metal strip (14) starting from the opening area (6) of the receptacle (4) only forms the contact surface (9) of the lock inlet lip (8) after 20% of a lock inlet lip length (18). [4] Device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the contact surface (9) of the lock inlet lip (8) has an impact surface (19) which is located in front of the second section (16) starting from the opening area (6) of the receptacle (4). [5] Device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by, that a metal strip width (20) in the second section (16) essentially corresponds to a lock entry lip width (21). [6] Device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by , that a first end (22) of the metal strip (14) oriented towards the end region (7) is bent by at least 90° about an axis (24) formed by a lap inlet lip tip (23). [7] motor vehicle (27) comprising a motor vehicle lock (2) comprising a locking mechanism (25) consisting of at least one rotary latch (26) and a locking pawl (10), wherein the motor vehicle lock (2) comprises at least one device (1) according to one of the preceding claims.

Images