Locking device for a motor vehicle, motor vehicle

Abstract

A locking device (2) for a motor vehicle (1), in particular a tailgate, which can be arranged or is arranged on a vehicle frame (3) to close a first frame opening (5) of the vehicle frame (3) in a closed position and to at least partially release it in at least one open position, wherein the locking device (2) has a first flap part (6) and at least a second flap part (7), wherein the first flap part (6) can be pivotably mounted or is mounted on the vehicle frame (3), wherein the second flap part (7) is arranged to be displaceable on the first flap part (6), wherein the second flap part (7) is held displaceably on the first flap part (6) by at least one four-joint (10), and wherein the first flap part (6) is designed to completely cover the first frame opening (5) and has a second frame opening (9).which is closed by the second flap part (7) in a first position of the second flap part (7) and at least partially released in a second position of the second flap part (7), characterized in that the at least one four-joint (10) is slidably mounted on the first and / or on the second flap part (6,7).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a locking device for a motor vehicle, in particular a tailgate, which can be arranged or is arranged on a vehicle frame in order to close a first frame opening of the vehicle frame in a closed position and to at least partially release it in at least one opening point, wherein the locking device has a first flap part and at least one second flap part, wherein the first flap part can be pivotally mounted or is mounted on the vehicle frame, and wherein the second flap part is arranged displaceably on the first flap part.

[0002] Furthermore, the invention relates to a motor vehicle with a vehicle frame having at least one first frame opening, in particular a rear opening, and with a locking device for closing or releasing the frame opening.

[0003] Locking devices and motor vehicles of the type mentioned above are already known from the prior art. For example, the published patent application EP 0 774 370 A2 shows a tailgate for a motor vehicle which is designed in two parts, wherein a first flap part is pivotably mounted on the vehicle frame, and a second flap part is displaceable on the first flap part such that, when the first flap part is in the closed position, it either completely closes the frame opening or, when displaced towards the first flap part, at least partially opens the frame opening. This enables advantageous loading of the motor vehicle or the trunk of the motor vehicle. If the first flap part is pivoted, the second flap part is pivoted along with the first flap part such that it moves with the second flap part regardless of whether the second flap part is in the first or second position.A similar locking device is also shown in published patent application DE 10 2004 032 750 A1. There, the first flap element has its own or second frame opening, which can be opened or closed by the second flap part in order to open or close a partial opening of the first frame opening. The second flap part is slidably mounted on the first flap part for its support. Patent application DE 196 31 213 C1 discloses a motor vehicle with a multi-part tailgate, wherein the flap parts of the tailgate are pivotally mounted on one another. Published patent application WO 2015 / 106082 A1 also discloses a multi-part tailgate, wherein a first flap part has a second frame opening, which can be opened or closed by the second flap part. When the second flap element opens the second frame opening, it serves as a support for luggage.

[0004] A locking device of this type is known, for example, from published patent application EP 1 078 795 A2.

[0005] US Pat. No. 6,007,139 A discloses a closing device comprising a first flap part and a second flap part, wherein the second flap part is displaceably held on the first flap part by a four-bar linkage. Such a closing device is also disclosed in patent DE 10 2004 022 426 B4.

[0006] The invention is based on the object of creating an improved locking device which ensures simple operation and a long service life at low cost.

[0007] The object underlying the invention is achieved by a locking device with the features of claim 1. This is characterized in that the second flap part is displaceably held on the first flap part by at least one four-bar linkage. The four-bar linkage or four-bar mechanism has the advantage that there is clear, positive guidance of the second flap part on the first flap part, which prevents incorrect operation of the second flap part. Furthermore, the four-bar linkage is resilient and robust, so that operation of the entire locking device using a handle on the second flap part is reliably guaranteed. Furthermore, the four-bar linkage offers low-wear movement of the second flap part on the first flap part.

[0008] Furthermore, the invention provides that the first flap part is designed, on the one hand, to completely cover the first frame opening and, on the other hand, has a second frame opening which is closed by the second flap part in a first position of the second flap part and at least partially opened in a second position. The first flap part therefore forms its own or second frame opening which can be opened or closed by the second flap part. Because the first flap part completely covers or fills the first frame opening in the closed position, the locking device as a whole is designed to be particularly robust and resilient. The second frame opening can be securely closed or opened by the second flap part.

[0009] Alternatively, it is preferably provided that the first flap part is designed to only partially close the first frame opening in the closed position, and that the second flap part is designed to close the remaining part of the first frame opening in the first position. The first flap part and the second flap part therefore close the first frame opening of the vehicle frame together, or together in a complementary manner. The two flap parts therefore lie next to one another in the closed position and are held on the one hand to the vehicle frame and on the other hand to one another. This results in the advantage that when the second flap part is moved into the second position, a particularly large second frame opening, namely the frame opening remaining between the first flap part and the vehicle frame, is exposed. The first flap part is preferably locked in place by a locking element.

[0010] According to a preferred development of the invention, the second flap part is displaceably held on the first flap part by two four-bar linkages or four-bar mechanism arranged or aligned parallel to one another. As a result, the second flap part is securely and advantageously guided on the first flap part. If the closing device has only one four-bar linkage, this is preferably arranged centrally - relative to a horizontal line. If the closing device has two four-bar linkages, these are preferably arranged horizontally spaced from one another on the edge sides of the first and second flap parts in order to ensure uniform guidance of the second flap part on the first.

[0011] According to the invention, it is further provided that the respective four-bar linkage is displaceably mounted on the first and / or second flap part. This results in an additional degree of freedom, which allows even greater travel distances of the second flap part relative to the first flap part. For example, this allows the pivot radius of the second flap part to be reduced while still allowing it to reach the second position.

[0012] Preferably, the second flap part overlaps the first flap part at least partially in the second position. Thus, by moving the second flap part into the second position, the second flap part is pushed over the first flap part, so that they lie, for example, parallel to one another or one above the other. This ensures a particularly compact arrangement of the flap parts relative to one another in a partially open position of the frame opening.

[0013] According to an alternative embodiment of the invention, it is preferably provided that the second flap part is arranged at a distance from the first flap part in the second position such that the second frame opening is formed between the first and the second flap part. If the closing device is designed as a tailgate, for example, the second flap part can be displaced into a second position below the first flap part so that the second frame opening, which is smaller than the first frame opening, is exposed between the two flap parts. The four-bar linkage is preferably designed to push the second flap part over a bumper of the motor vehicle in the second position so that a collision with other elements of the motor vehicle is avoided.

[0014] It is particularly preferably provided that at least one spring device is present which urges the second flap part into the second position. This assists the user when actuating the second flap part, so that he can at least release the second frame opening without great expenditure of force. If the second flap part is designed to be arranged in the second position below the first flap part, as described above, it is preferably provided that the spring device is designed to urge the second flap part into the first position in which it closes the second frame opening. This ensures that the user can return the second flap part to the closed position or first position at any time and does not require great expenditure of force.

[0015] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the spring device comprises at least one gas pressure spring. The gas pressure spring allows the force component of the spring device supporting the user to be adjusted and easily optimized. Furthermore, the gas pressure spring is preferably designed to only make the spring pressure available when the user needs it. In particular, the spring device is a spring damper device, whereby a movement speed of the second flap part is reduced or limited in order to prevent damage to the locking device. In particular, this ensures that the second flap part does not reach a stop in the first or second position at high speed.

[0016] The motor vehicle according to the invention with the features of claim 7 is characterized in that the locking device is designed according to the invention. This results in the advantages already mentioned. Further advantages and preferred features emerge in particular from the above description and from the claims. The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the drawing. Fig. 1 a motor vehicle with an advantageous locking device in a perspective view, Fig. 2 the locking device in a simplified exploded view, Fig. 3A to 3C the locking device according to a second embodiment, Fig. 4A and Fig. 4B a third embodiment of the locking device and Fig. 5A and Fig. 5B shows a further embodiment of the advantageous locking device.

[0017] Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a motor vehicle 1 with an advantageous locking device 2. The motor vehicle has a vehicle frame 3 which is covered by a panel 4. The vehicle frame 3 forms a frame opening 5 at the rear of the motor vehicle 1, which can be closed or opened by the locking device 2. The locking device 2 is designed as a tailgate of the motor vehicle 1, which is constructed in several parts. For this purpose, the locking device 2 has a first flap part 6 and a second flap part 7. The first flap part 6 is pivotally mounted about a horizontal axis by joints 8 which are fastened in the roof area of ​​the motor vehicle 1 or the vehicle frame 3.The flap part 6 is designed such that it covers or fills the entire frame opening 5 and thereby closes the first frame opening 5 when the flap part 6 is in the pivoted-down, closed position. The flap part 7 is displaceably arranged on the flap element 6. In the lower region, in particular on the half facing away from the hinges 8, the flap element 6 has a second frame opening 9, to which the second flap part 7 is assigned. Fig. 1 shows the flap part 7 in a position releasing the second frame opening 9.

[0018] The second flap part 7 is coupled to the first flap part 6 by two four-bar linkages 10. The four-bar linkages 10 or four-bar linkages are arranged parallel to each other, so that the flap part 7 is essentially vertically movable. The four-bar linkages 10 are arranged at the upper edge of the second frame opening 9, laterally next to the frame opening 9, and at the lower edge area of ​​the rear side of the flap part 7.

[0019] Fig. Figure 2 shows an exploded view of the locking device 2 in its individual components. Each four-bar linkage 10 has a bearing element 11 assigned to the first flap part 6 and a bearing element 12 assigned to the flap part 7. The two bearing elements 11, 12 are each coupled to one another by two pivot levers 13, 14, with the pivot levers 13, 14 being rotatably or pivotably mounted on the respective bearing element 11, 12. This results in simple and clear guidance of the flap part 7 on the flap part 6.

[0020] Optionally, the frame opening 9 is enclosed by an annular sealing element 15 which follows the contour of the frame opening 9 and cooperates with the flap part 7 to tightly close the frame opening 9.

[0021] Optionally, at least one of the four-bar linkages 10 is also assigned a spring device 16, in particular in the form of a gas pressure spring, which is coupled, for example, to the pivot lever 14 in order to apply a spring force to the flap part 7, which moves the flap part 7 into the Fig. 1. This will force the user to move the flap part 7 into the opening position shown in Fig. 1, so that it does not have to move the full weight of the flap part 7 upwards. Alternatively, the force can also be generated by one or more drive devices (e.g., electric, hydraulic, pneumatic, etc.).

[0022] Fig. 3A to 3C show a second embodiment of the locking device 2, wherein Fig. 3A shows the locking device in the closed position, Fig. 3B the locking device 2 with the second flap part 7 open and Fig. 3C a side view of the locking device 2 according to the state of Fig. 3B.

[0023] Fig. 3A shows the closed locking device 2, as it would essentially appear in the previously described embodiment, even if the flap part 7 also closes the second frame opening 9. According to the second embodiment, however, it is provided that the second frame opening 9 is not formed by an opening in the flap part 6. Rather, the locking device 2 in this case is designed in two parts such that the second frame opening 9 is formed by the flap element 6 and the vehicle frame 3. Thus, the first flap element 6 extends only slightly over half of the first frame opening 5. The second flap part 7 is designed to close the remaining part of the frame opening 5. Thus, the flap part 7 interacts directly with the vehicle frame 3. In particular, the flap part 7 has a locking device 17 that interacts directly with the vehicle frame 3.In this case, the second frame opening 9 is formed by the remaining opening between the first flap part 6 and the vehicle frame 3.

[0024] In order for the flap part 6 to remain in the closed position when only the flap part 7 is to be moved to partially open or release the frame opening 5, the flap part 6 also has one or more locking devices 18 which interact with the vehicle frame 3, as shown in Fig. 3A and Fig. 3B. This ensures that the flap part 7 can be moved independently of the flap part 6 and, at the same time, the locking device 2 as a whole can be firmly locked to the vehicle body in order to close the frame openings as a whole.

[0025] Fig. 4A and Fig. 4B show a third embodiment of the locking device 2, which differs from the previous embodiments in that the second flap part 7 is not movable upwards into the second position, but downwards, so that it covers, for example, a bumper of the motor vehicle 1. Fig. 4A shows the motor vehicle 1 in a rear view and Fig. 4B in a simplified side view. The four-bar linkage 10 or the four-bar linkages 10 are designed such that the flap part 7 in the first position closes the second frame opening 9, according to the first embodiment, or closes the remaining section of the frame opening 5, according to the embodiment of Fig. 3, and in the second position releases the frame opening 9 by being pushed or shifted downwards, as in Fig. 4A indicated by an arrow 19.

[0026] Fig. 5 shows a further embodiment of the advantageous locking device 2, which differs from the previous embodiments in that the four-bar linkages 10 are additionally displaceably mounted on the flap part 7 by sliding bearings 20. Fig. 5A shows the locking device 2 in the state in which the flap part 7 covers the remaining frame opening 9, and Fig. 5B shows the locking device 2 in the state in which the flap part 7 is displaced upwards over the flap part 6 to expose the frame opening 9 or a part of the frame opening 5. It can be seen that the bearing element 11, 12 is displaced linearly or vertically on the flap part 7 when the flap part 7 is moved from one position to the other.

[0027] This reduces the pivoting space of the flap part 7 while still ensuring complete release or closure of the second frame opening 9. By reducing the pivoting space, which is achieved by shortening the pivot levers 13, 14, the space outside the motor vehicle 1 required to open the flap part 7 is reduced, which is advantageous in tight parking spaces.

[0028] Due to the advantageous kinematics of the four-bar linkages 10, only a limited amount of movement is already required for the second flap part 7. The additional displacement allows for further reduction of the movement. In tight parking situations, this improves access to the interior of the motor vehicle 1. Assembly and manufacture of the locking device 2 are simple and cost-effective. The locking device 2 can also be retrofitted to the existing motor vehicle 1, thus creating the advantageous access to the motor vehicle without interfering with the body shell.

[0029] While, in contrast to the present exemplary embodiment, the locking device 2 is provided for a tailgate, it is also conceivable to provide the locking device on side frame openings of a motor vehicle. List of reference symbols 1 motor vehicle 2 locking device 3 vehicle frame 4 Cladding 5 Frame opening 6 Flap part / flap element 7 flap part 8 joint 9 Frame opening 10 four-bar linkage 11 Bearing element 12 bearing element 13 swivel lever 14 swivel levers 15 Sealing element 16 Spring device 17 Locking device 18 Locking device 19 Arrow 20 sliding bearings 21 Gas spring

Claims

[1] A locking device (2) for a motor vehicle (1), in particular a tailgate, which can be arranged or is arranged on a vehicle frame (3) in order to close a first frame opening (5) of the vehicle frame (3) in a closed position and to at least partially release it in at least one open position, wherein the locking device (2) has a first flap part (6) and at least one second flap part (7), wherein the first flap part (6) is pivotably mounted or mounted on the vehicle frame (3), wherein the second flap part (7) is displaceably arranged on the first flap part (6), wherein the second flap part (7) is displaceably held on the first flap part (6) by at least one four-bar linkage (10), and wherein the first flap part (6) is designed to completely cover the first frame opening (5) and has a second frame opening (9),which is closed by the second flap part (7) in a first position of the second flap part (7) and at least partially released in a second position of the second flap part (7), , characterized by that the at least one four-bar linkage (10) is displaceably mounted on the first and / or second flap part (6,7). [2] Locking device (2) according to claim 1, characterized by that the second flap part (7) is held displaceably on the first flap part (6) by two four-bar linkages (10) arranged or formed parallel to one another. [3] Locking device (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the second flap part (7) in the second position covers the first flap part (6) at least in part. [4] Locking device (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the second flap part (7) is arranged in the second position at a distance from the first flap part (6) such that the second frame opening (9) is formed between the first and the second flap part (6,7). [5] Locking device (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that at least one spring device (16) is present which urges the second flap part (7) into the second or the first position. [6] Locking device (2) according to claim 5, characterized by that the spring device (16) has a gas pressure spring (21) and / or at least one drive device. [7] Motor vehicle (1) with a vehicle frame (3) which has at least one first frame opening (5), in particular a rear opening, and with a locking device (2) for closing, releasing or partially releasing the frame opening (5), characterized bythe design of the locking device (2) according to one or more of claims 1 to 6.

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